Wraith had always assumed that Gravlifts were quiet. They weren't machines, at least not in the traditional sense. A mixture of Spelltech and science, they had replaced traditional lifts in most buildings ages ago. Always advertised as fail-safe and sleek, new, a brilliant innovation that purred on its way to the heavens!
So they found themselves particularly agitated at the ravenous groan of the grav-mags chugging their way up the side of the building, and the rattling silver and glassware on the cart gripped between their gloved fingers. Wraith was no longer a fan.
[Fifteen seconds from arrival.]
The windchime voice rippled through Wraith's ear soothingly. A silent thankfulness flowing from head to toe at the report.
"Thanks Aura, you know what to do."
Wraith answered through still clenched teeth as they felt a harsh jolt underneath. The grav-mags clenching tight with a vibrating hiss and creak on all sides that made the reinforced synth-glass vibrate on all sides. The bright lights of the surrounding citadel refract and deform with the motion.
Wraith threw a look outside and watched the barely visible orange cusp of the sun give them one last wink of natural light before it tucked itself away underneath the horizon.
[Disengaging from S.Y.N.A.P.S.E., wiping traceware from Fenritech systems, see you soon Master.]
Wraith did not answer, there was no one left to answer. Going forward they were completely on their own. Wraith let out a soft breath from their nose and steadied their nerves. They had done this hundreds of times by now, it was just another performance.
Turning their attention forward, Wraith's hands released the grips of the trolley in front of them and moved with practiced motion.
The Gravlift ground to a blissfully silent halt. Wraith's fingers deftly curled around one of the small knobs on the rear of the trolley and gave it a slow turn to the right, and then the left, and then right again. The faint clicking sound filling the still air as the appropriate security protocols ran through the doors sealed shut before them. Six more seconds.
A faint hiss and pop came from the trolley and wasting not a motion Wraith gave a tug. Sliding out a sleek silver compartment drawer from the rear of the unassuming utility cart. Two items waited for them inside.
Reaching for the first Wraith glove clad fingers plucked the small rectangular object from inside and lifted it up to the port tucked behind the curve of their ear. With practiced ease they slid the device into the port and emoted with a slight wince at the rush of electric signals pouring through their brain.
[Welcome to Fenritech: Level Executive - Enjoy your business!]
The brash sound of the male voice emitting from the tiny speaker over the sealed silver doors in front of Wraith gave them a slight urgency.
With nothing but a thought they activated the protocol inside the chip. Feeling the cool rush of liquid pour out of their flesh and malform around the curves of their face. Skintight for just a half a second before it expanded outwards into a faceless, reflective, mirror-like mask that concealed Wraith's features.
The doors of the Gravlift whirred for just a moment before sliding open at a leisurely pace.
Reaching their hand down into the compartment again, Wraith's hand closed around the hefty grip of the firearm inside.
As was standard procedure there were multiple levels of security when it came to Executive Level floors at Fenritech. Being one of the premiere Militech Corporations in the world it was easy to imagine the lengths they had to go to in order to protect the heads of the beast they had built. Ware-checks at the entryway to all levels was a standard. Intrusive and expert level A.I and on-call operators sweeping every nook and cranny of installed Cyberware on entrants the moment they set foot in the building.
Privately manufactured Marionettes with the latest combat-ware installed in their systems regularly patrolling each floor with a meticulous and impenetrable schedule. This was accompanied by full-time surveillance protected behind closed circuit firewall systems with their own internal hardware and server farms protected deep below the building. Making it impossible to infiltrate electronically without a direct plug-in to the system. Also guarded by Marionettes, which were impervious to bribery, blackmail, or anything one might use against organics.
All in all these procedures made each and every last one of Fenritechs buildings a certifiable impregnable fortress. With one tiny exception.
Executive Level floors were off limits to non-organic personnel.
'Ridiculous right?'
Wraith thought to themselves as their freshly installed combat-ware activated the moment their fingers clamped securely around the grip of their firearm and raised it to release two controlled shots.
The flash and loud snap of the weapon caused a ringing in their ears as the bullets from the item's snarling muzzle popped the two soft skulls of the surprised pair of guards. A brilliant tapestry of red splashing across the muted grey and green of the walls and carpet in the hallway.
Wraith nudged aside the trolley with a single push of their foot and stepped out of the Gravlift to solid ground. Both of their hands now firmly secured around the weapon, keeping it raised and ready as they stalked down the hall.
The combat-ware was rapidly frying their nerves, the downside of hot-installation. Typically this grade of software would take weeks to adjust to, so Wraith was operating with limited time before the side-effects began to kick in.
If Aura's projections had been correct there would only be four guards total on this floor. Two at the lift, and two…
Pausing their steps Wraith narrowed their eyes as the combat-ware sounded an alert in their mind. Swinging their weight to the right Wraith narrowly managed to side-step the flurry of automatic gunfire that shredded clean through the real wood of the double door in front of them.
Bright flares from the muzzles of the weapon immediately highlighted their trajectory as the shots fired indiscriminately down the hall. Ripping through decorations, furniture, and the seeping corpses of the two deceased guards.
Wraith let out an irritated growl under their breath.
'Impatient assholes.'
Eventually the bark of gunfire subsided followed by the hurried sound of gunmetal clattering to the ground. Wraith felt a wicked smile paint their lips behind their reflective disguise.
With a strained cry from their leg muscles Wraith burst forward with almost inhuman speed. Lifting their weapon they fired off exactly four rounds. Two through each side of the door that the gunfire had come from. It was a desperate measure, but necessary to let Wraith cross the distance unassailed.
Reaching the brutalized wood of the doorway Wraith parted their lips and uttered a simple spell under their breath, feeling the rush of hot energy flow from their chest and down into the stretched out fingertips of their free hand.
"Pyrda Ignis."
The second the low level incantation completed there was a burst of heat, followed by a blinding flare that blew the doors clean off their hinges and opened the office space for Wraith to blur their way inside.
Wraith wasn't augmented as most. Even opting for mechanical enhancement. There hadn't been enough time to get all of the upgrades they would have normally wanted before this kind of job. So the only thing they had poured their limited resources towards was their legs.
With a quick mental command the moment the spell had gone off the servos and mech-ware grafted into their muscles and bones activated. Providing a surreal burst of speed that sent them past the tattered doors as they seemed to move in slow-motion.
In a fluid and well-practiced motion Wraith's front foot slammed down hard into the marble flooring of the office, sending a spider web of cracks across its surface with the initial impact. Catching their full weight Wraith twisted their torso and with the guidance of their combat-ware flung their arm around in a wild arch of motion and let loose every remaining round stored in the belly of their weapon.
A swarm of bullets viciously ripped through the soft bodies of the two guards who still were mid-stagger from the explosive entrance. Turning them into nothing but a slow moving mist of blood and viscera until what was left slumped unceremoniously down to the floor.
'Not bad.'
Wraith forced their tired muscles to stand them completely upright now. Unable to admire their work for long they turned their menacing shape to glower down at the shocked and enraged jowls of Henrik Kertsch.
'Fatter than the pictures. Probably hasn't had a taste of anything but real food his whole life.'
Behind their mask Wraith's face contorted into a look of contempt, and disdain.
"W- What the hell is this!? Do you think you'll get away with this?!"
Henrik was already shouting. Sickening spittle flying from his lips as his paunchy figure struggled to rise to its feet in indignation. Wraith didn't bother to answer. Instead sliding out the emptied magazine of their firearm to clatter useless and hollow against the ruined marble flooring.
"The alarms went off the moment you set foot on this floor you filthy mongrel! Magtek is already on their way!"
"Slower than expected."
The cold response that echoed from behind Wraith's mask halted the vigorous infuriated shaking that was vibrating Henriks body. His eyes widened in shock. He seemed too surprised at all of this to be truly afraid.
'What a shame.' Wraith thought.
Sliding their hand into their back pocket they slipped free another magazine. This one was significantly lighter, and only contained two bullets inside. Like all the others they had fired, these would ignite after use, and destroy themselves entirely.
With a deafening click the magazine slid into place, and the weapon was unceremoniously cocked. Wraith turned their masked head up to look at Henriks face directly for the first time. Their mask reflected his gaping mouth as sweat poured off the man in droves.
"W-w-wai–!"
Henrik was cut off by his skull being vaporized in a brilliant scarlet mist.
Wraith watched as the headless body teetered for a few lengthy moments and fell forward to thump against the edge of the expensive looking wooden desk, and then roll off it with an almost comical sound to thump useless against the floor.
They let out a sigh. Shifting their weight around to let their haunches rest against the curve of the same piece of furniture. Eyes lingering on the sight of the Gravlift doors at the far end of the hallway.
'I should've taken more time. Waiting is boring.'
Wraith's thoughts were becoming hard to formulate. The aching had begun. Stemming from the port behind their ear, the faint stench of burning flesh and hot iron began to fill their nose. Followed by the slithering burning of fiery pain racing through the veins on the side of their head and down to their neck.
'Great. Now I have to rush it.'
Wraith let out an exasperated sigh and narrowed their eyes behind their mask at the bright light that flared through the crack of the silver doors they had entered through.
The loud ringing of warning began to blare from Wraith's combat-ware as the doors slid open and out burst dozens of heavily armed, thickly armored, and terrifying Magtek officers. All of the Magtek officers' guns all swiftly snapped to aim directly at Wraith as they sat calmly in the middle of the violent chaos they had caused.
"Drop the weapon! Put your hands above your head and do not move!"
The garbled and distorted voice of the lead officer rang out as they filed in and spread in a wide semi circle to flank Wraith's position. Every last barrel trained firmly on them.
Wraith let out a pained breath of air, the side-effects of hot-installation rapidly accelerating with all the processing it was automatically performing with the array of threats on all sides. Wraith had always hated the nauseous feeling bubbling up at the base of their throat. This was always the worst part of these performances. Well, the second worst part.
'Alright. Let's get it done.'
Wraith thought to themselves.
With a quick motion Wraith raised their gun up high, and shot themselves in the head.