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Releasing your grip and descending into freefall, you snap your fingers and call out. "Come, Ride Hopper!"
Responding to your command, the roar of your mechanized companion echoes from beyond the stairwell. An explosive breach in the wall sends debris swirling outwards as the Ride Hopper charges in, riderless. With a determined grunt, you seize the handlebars and deftly maneuver mid-air, landing with practiced precision on the seat. Navigating the Hopper's descent, you aim yourself between Henry and the advancing crowd. Through the dusty haze, you catch sight of Henry's rifle firing on full-auto, emitting scorching beams that pierce the walls and sear through armored limbs. The flickering lights of the cyberized prisoners' head mounts make for an eerie sight. But it's not fear you feel from them, rather you feel it for them.
"Henry, stop shooting!" You urgently call, your voice cutting through the turmoil. Touching down on the ground, you intercept one of the assailants just as they launch themselves at Henry. He grapples back, delivering a powerful haymaker to shake off the attacker's grip. Yet, the relentless onslaught of the other cyberized individuals surges forward, their twisted minds seemingly immune to pain or fear.
"Stop? Are you fried?!"
As you approach, you deftly swing your leg over the bike and land a forceful kick on one of the attackers, sending them sprawling. Planting your foot, you twirl the Hopper like a shield, each bash aimed to control the fray and keep them at bay. With this, you hope to shield Henry from their frenzied attacks, as well as protect them from his practiced aim. Yet, each blow you land weighs heavily on your conscience; they might not even be aware of what they're doing.
Darting through the turmoil, you strive to maintain your focus on both Henry and the cybers advancing on you. Noticing that not all of them are armored, you carefully pull your punches, aiming to use just enough force to send them reeling. Hopefully they'd stay down. That's not the case though. Even while you and Henry are beating more of them back, the fallen ones simply rise up with an unsettling shudder.
"Henry, they're human!"
"I can see that! Why don't you let them know!"
A surge of cybers charges at you, forcing you to stand your ground as you delivering a flying roundhouse kick unto them, only for another group to suddenly pile onto your bike. At first it looks like they're only trying to hold it down, then your eyes see further, they're grabbing the handlebars, while clawing at your fingers. Did they just use a distraction? Are they trying to take the bike? Those head mounts, you'd wondered what those devices were, if they were merely tools to brainwash them, or if they had some other purpose. Now it seems like you might have an idea.
