Lost Rain

Outrun - Chapter 246

I stared down past Dev’s trembling body as we tightly held onto each other. A loud crash sent a massive dust plume into the air as the tower collapsed, destroying a clear path through the city. We were just above the falling building as it impacted the ground with enough force to cause a localized earthquake.

Maybe since there were two of us? The Drop Chutes on my back jerked around erratically as we dropped, flickering on and off as if it couldn’t quite figure out the weight distri...

Outrun - Chapter 245

I stared at the Valkyrie across from me, waiting for her to speak. I wasn’t sure what she knew, so I didn’t want to reveal anything by speaking carelessly. The Valkyrie likewise stayed silent, looking off the balcony towards the distant rain-clad city. 

If I had a camera, this would be the type of picture that could sell for thousands. With her staring into the distance deep in thought, and the neon-lit backdrop framing her, it was truly a masterpiece moment. Unfortunately, I h...

Outrun - Chapter 244

Outrun - Chapter 243

After setting up the last of the bombs, we moved to the rendezvous point. It was closer to the frontline we’d be holding. And then we waited. For three days, we just sat around waiting. Part of the reason we were waiting was for the demolition crews to come back. Some routes took longer, and like what happened to us, sometimes the intel was just a bit off. Reroutes obviously took longer.

Eventually, though, all the demolition crews were grouped up in a large cavern, waiting patiently....

Outrun - Chapter 242

Our entry into the Underground was pretty far into the AEZ. It was one of the many entrances I marked when handing over my knowledge to the Blue Crusade. It’d been way less stressful getting out here than I thought it would be. Instead of coming out on foot like we had while patrolling, the Crusade brought out its APCs.

I shifted my pack uncomfortably as the last of our group descended into the Underground. Inquisitor Ligh wasn’t kidding when he said we’d be carrying some equipmen...

Outrun - Chapter 241

The conversation with the scouts, planning routes, and figuring out the plan going forward was a long one. Mainly, they picked my brain constantly for alternative routes and pathing. It got to the point that I decided to just draw out the entire section of the Underground as I remembered it.

Thankfully, my skills in creating 3d models had only grown since I started using printers. It took most of the day, but I transferred about a quarter of my knowledge of this area down onto a hologra...

Outrun - Chapter 240

Our patrol ended a few hours later. We ran into several other plant monsters, but it was otherwise quite tame. The rougher parts were when we ran into other people. Although we were all on the same side, there was a certain tension when running into groups of other affiliations. This time, it was just mercs after the bounty, but I really wasn’t looking for to running into PMCs or corporate enforcers.

I was finally given time to rest. Not back at the BC Gym though. No, it was all hands...

Outrun - Chapter 239

The bar Inquisitor Ligh wanted to visit wasn’t that far off our patrol route: Ocean Breeze. It was a dingy hole in the floor. Literally. Ocean Breeze was one of those basement-type bars that only those who know about it go to. Like what I wanted my Speakeasy to be one day.

No clue how Inquisitor Ligh even knew it was here in the first place. Actually, knowing him, I wasn’t all that surprised. He probably knew every bar and watering hole in the city, both those legal and illegal...

Outrun - Chapter 238

I stared out at the malevolent tree from the top of an abandoned apartment building near the Blue Crusade’s temporary base. It’d been an hour since we first arrived, and I could feel my eyes drooping as I looked out across the massive, fifty-square-block abandoned section of the city. 

It encompassed a large section of the East End except for arguably the worst parts, the Scath Heights and Projects. Guess the poor won on this occasion. It was a rarity, though no one was happy a...

Outrun - Chapter 237

A meeting was called shortly after, with most if not all of the present Crusaders grouping up. The conversation was brief and ended before it could really even start. We were in a time crunch, and communications to the outside were still limited by Circle Netrunners. High Lord Lykos made the final call.

A portion of the Crusade was to be left here, cleaning up straggler cultists and finding lost, wounded, or dead members of the Blue Crusade. Another portion was to gear up and head under...

Outrun - Chapter 236

With Joshua supplying me parts, I quickly managed to get one of the consoles up and running. A bit more effort after that, and I finally sent the command to raise the blast shields that covered the windows looking into the cargo hold.

The metal shields groaned and creaked as they lifted, about half of them jamming as plant matter gunked up into their mechanisms. Enough pulled away to get a proper look at our target though.

The cargo hold beyond was a literal jungle. The metal floo...

Outrun - Chapter 235

The discussion lasted a while, though eventually we were sent off to go rest while we could. The higher-ups were planning an all out assault—surprise—on the ritual circle. It was suspected to also house the illusion and spatial distortion magics.

I went off to see one of the medics. They gave me a stim shot to nullify the pain for a couple hours and wrapped my ribs, but otherwise I needed rest. I wasn't one to argue with a medic, so I did as suggested and found myself a cozy enough ...

Outrun - Chapter 234

I felt the ice-cold of Insight as dozens of phantasmal bullets impacted all over my body. I used Burst Step once more to force my way through the door as fast as possible, throwing myself to the side. My breath left in a sharp gasp as the injury from the shield slam caught with the movement.

A moment later, bullets pierced through recently vacated space and impacted the opposite wall. More combatants were filling the room. Out of sight from the borgs, I took a moment to activate my Blin...

Outrun - Chapter 233

After the fire burned itself out, we resumed our journey to the wolf sprite by cutting through the halls. We ran into a few other opponents, though nothing that our combined firepower couldn’t easily handle. Mainly, the combined firepower of Tyrone and Autumn. I kinda just followed behind and updated our direction every once in a while.

Most of the time, more plant monsters were scattered around the halls rather then people. I guess it could be considered luck that we never ran across...

Outrun - Chapter 232

I followed behind the Knights as we headed through one of the bulkheads. Just to be safe, we all held onto each other to ensure we ended up in the same place. The internal dock was quite far from the wolf sprite, so the hope was to get somewhere closer using the spatial distortion.

We left the Supercarrier’s internal dock, the distortion whisking us away to another part of the ship. Like usual, it was a long corridor ending in a T-junction. Tables and cots were dragged out into the ha...

Outrun - Chapter 231

I left the wolf behind, headed for the nearest bulkhead, and passed under it. Immediately, as I entered a new space, my nose was assaulted with the heavy scent of spilled blood and scattered viscera.

I moved to the closest shadow, sticking low as Illusive hid my form in the shadows. My brain churned heavily as I looked around, trying to figure out where I was on the ship and what was happening. 

This time I found myself in yet another hall, one stained almost entirely red by ...

Outrun - Chapter 230

I stared at the plant monster in confusion. Under Aetherial Perception’s enhanced sight, it didn’t look anything like the other plant monsters I’d seen so far. Under the twisting branches and brambles of the beast, I expected to see the twisted corruption of Mother.

Instead the creature looked much more natural. Much closer to a- a sprite. Yeah, a sprite. And from the energy coming off of it, not a weak one. That shape too… a large fox sprite? No- a wolf sprite? Electricity seem...

Outrun - Chapter 229

Unlike the Drop Chutes, there was no gentle bleed of momentum before hitting the ground. I plummeted, slamming into the bottom of the shaft with an insane amount of force. Only- the force scattered just as I hit, magically stolen away so it wouldn’t deal any damage.

It was… alright, I guess. I prefer the Drop Chutes. Mainly since I had more control over them? Or maybe since I just trusted mechanical more than magical means? Still, it was cool to see the magical side of things for on...

Outrun - Chapter 228

Flying over the city from a flyer was always something else. It was an experience I’d only been through a few times in my life, and this time was truly special compared to those other times.

I looked away from the window, glancing around the cabin full of Crusaders. There was a certain… I don’t know what to call it? Pride? Maybe? Traveling with a large group in uniform had a certain warm feeling. Like I was a part of something bigger than myself. It was hard to put into words, but...

Cover Art

I started making a bunch of Cover Art for various books again, and felt like making yet another one for Outrun. I think this is the fourth. I don’t know if I’m actually going to change stuff up like with the last two, buy what do y’all think?