Kaelen didn't buy Shade's explanation. There was a glint in the information broker's eyes, a flicker of something cold and calculating, that spoke of deeper intentions. He trusted his instincts, honed by his experiences in the Scar Lands. Shade wasn't just testing them; he was manipulating them, pushing them towards a goal that was beneficial only to himself.
"That's not true," Kaelen stated, his voice hardening. "You're using us. What are you really after, Shade?"
Shade sighed theatrically, as if dealing with a tiresome child. "Must you always be so suspicious, Kaelen? I assure you, my motives are purely business. I desire the power core at the Core Convergence. I am merely ensuring that we are strong enough to acquire it."
"And what about the Dominion?" Flicker interjected, her eyes narrowed. "Why haven't we seen any Dominion patrols lately? This whole area should be swarming with them, but it's almost deserted. It's like you cleared a path for us."
Shade's composure finally cracked, a hint of irritation flashing across his face. "The Dominion are… aware of our presence. We have… an understanding. They will allow us to acquire the core, in exchange for… a share of the profits."
Kaelen felt a surge of anger. Shade had been working with the Dominion all along, using them as pawns in a larger game. He had betrayed their trust, endangered their lives, all for his own selfish gain.
"You son of a bitch," Kaelen spat, his hand instinctively reaching for the Scrapper I. "You lied to us! You were working with the enemy!"
Shade chuckled, a chillingly predatory sound. "I prefer to think of it as… a strategic alliance. The Dominion and I have a shared interest in acquiring the core. And you, Kaelen, are merely a means to an end."
The mercenaries, sensing the tension, drew their weapons, their expressions hardening. The situation had escalated quickly, transforming a fragile alliance into a deadly confrontation.
"Lower your weapons!" Kaelen commanded, his voice echoing through the crater. "He's playing you all! He's using you to get what he wants, and then he'll betray you, just like he betrayed us!"
The mercenaries hesitated, their loyalty divided. They trusted Shade, but they also respected Kaelen. He had proven himself to be a skilled fighter, a capable leader, and a man of his word.
Shade, sensing the shift in allegiance, acted quickly. He raised his hand, and a hidden compartment in his wrist opened, revealing a small, metallic device. He pressed a button, and a wave of energy washed over the mercenaries, their eyes glazing over, their expressions becoming blank.
"They are loyal to me," Shade stated, his voice dripping with disdain. "Now, Kaelen, it seems we have reached an impasse. I had hoped that you would cooperate, but you have proven to be…unpredictable. It seems I must take matters into my own hands."
The mercenaries, their minds controlled, turned their weapons on Kaelen and Flicker. The fight for survival had begun.
Kaelen and Flicker fought back with ferocity, relying on their skills and their teamwork to evade the onslaught. Kaelen, wielding the Scrapper I, became a whirlwind of destruction, disabling weapons and knocking down mercenaries with brutal efficiency. Flicker, using her stealth and agility, moved through the shadows, disrupting enemy formations and providing crucial support fire.
The odds were stacked against them, but they refused to surrender. They were fighting for their lives, for their freedom, for the chance to reclaim the Titan-Fall.
As the battle raged, Kaelen realized that they couldn't win. They were outnumbered, outgunned, and facing opponents who were being controlled by Shade. They needed to escape, to regroup, to find a way to break Shade's control over the mercenaries.
"We need to go!" Kaelen shouted to Flicker, his voice strained. "We can't win this fight!"
Flicker nodded in agreement. She knew that he was right. They had to cut their losses and escape.
She activated a smoke grenade, filling the crater with a thick, blinding fog. Kaelen grabbed her hand, and they fled into the darkness, leaving Shade and his controlled mercenaries behind.
They ran for what seemed like hours, their lungs burning, their muscles aching. They didn't stop until they had reached a secluded canyon, a narrow crevice hidden deep within the Crimson Zone.
They collapsed against the canyon walls, gasping for breath, their bodies bruised and battered. They had escaped, but they were alone, hunted by Shade and the Dominion, with no resources and no allies.
"What do we do now?" Flicker asked, her voice trembling.
Kaelen looked at her, his expression grim. He knew that they were in a desperate situation. But he refused to give up hope. He would not let Shade win.
"We regroup, we plan, and we fight back," Kaelen said, his voice resolute. "We will not let him take the Core. Not now, not ever."
Little did Kaelen and Flicker know that the most dangerous threat was that Shade was in contact with someone who also had plans for the Core Convergence.