Thursday, October 30, 2003

   Cream Filling & Nougat: World's Finest (Chapter X)
"So, that walkie-talkie's gettin' pretty chatty," Cream said, motioning to the device that was unceremoniously lying on the ground.
"So it is," Nougat commented, searching the dead sentry's belt for extra submachinegun magazines. "Guess we have to hurry, then?"
"Guess so." Cream hastily shoved an extra pistol into his belt. "I still can't believe we took these guys out so quickly . . ." Nougat chuckled.
"I know, we totally Metal Gear'ed 'em . . . they never had a chance!" Cream returned the chuckle.
"It is a shame that that trucker didn't want to stick around after giving us a lift here . . . could've been a useful getaway driver . . ." Cream helped himself to more submachinegun magazines.
"Hey," Nougat added, locking his new weapon's bolt into place, "if you were some random trucker who managed to pick up two bloodied guys carrying guns, would you stick around?" Cream grinned.
"He knew we were the good guys . . ."
"I'm sure . . ."
"Let's go already, man . . ."

Making their way to the main building of the refinery, they saw two more guards walking along its side; they were back-to-back and highly alert. The two made their way around a low wall and peeked over. Nougat called the shots.
"Band of Brothers, part five," he said.
"I got right," Cream stated quietly.
"On three . . ." Nougat and Cream steadied their shoulders and took aim . . . "one . . . two . . . . ."
"THREE!" Cream cried as he saw the guards look their way and raise their weapons. A quick flash of gunfire instantly lit up the area. A second later, all was silent - both men had taken down their targets with near-pinpoint accuracy.

Shouts were being made from all around the area and were getting closer.
"Noug'," Cream said as they ran towards the building, "front doors are gonna be covered like ants at a picnic!" Nougat nodded.
"Roof?" Cream nodded.
"Roof."

The shouts transformed into concussions of ignited gunpowder as the entire refinery came upon the two rogues, who were responding in a like manner as they dashed their way up and along the metal walkways that hugged the refinery. Bullets riccoched all around them: off the stucco walls next to them, off the guard rails alongside them, and off the steel platforms under them. The flight finally reached its apogee: ten feet away from them, completely in the open, was the ladder leading to the roof. Cream called the shot.
"Saving Private Ryan, 'sniper on the beach'."
"Just give me a rosary," Nougat said, somewhat shakily. Cream reloaded his gun and shouted,
"Go!"

Nougat charged full-tilt for the ladder as Cream sprayed fire at every mass of Pi members as he could see. The total effect was to be desired, as there were simply too many men for Cream to cover at once. Nevertheless, Nougat was able to swing himself over the top of the ladder and shouldered his own machinegun.
"Go!" he shouted before spraying the same groups Cream had just been covering. Cream followed suit, sprinting to the ladder and flying up the steel rungs as gunshots plowed into the walls all around him. "What is it with all these damn ladders tonight?!" Nougat shouted as he slammed another magazine into his weapon. Cream finally popped his head over the top of the ladder and laughed for the sheer ridiculousness of the entire night . . . . . though he quickly changed his expression abruptly, his torso slumping over the top of the ladder and leaving him unmoving half hanging over the side of the building.

"Cream!" Nougat cried as he sprayed more random fire downwards with one hand and dragged his shot comrade off the ladder. He searched his back and quickly found the smoking hole in Cream's jacket. He put pressure on the point with both hands, cursing heavily all the while - a brief second later, he pulled his hands away and looked at the mild, spherical burn mark on his palm. Checking back, he found the small, flattened bullet sitting neatly between Cream's shoulder blades.
"Hey," Cream said somewhat meekly as he sat himself up, "when you write that 'thank you' letter to Mrs. Kwolek, you be sure to put my name on it too, okay?" Nougat just laughed in surprise at both of their dumb luck as he helped Cream up.

They ran towards the roof entrance to the refinery with full haste. Getting within two meters of the door, it suddenly burst open, having been kicked by a Pi backed by three of his team. Cream and Nougat both swore out loud as they emptied their guns into the doorway. The four dropped into messy piles, dead, but more could be heard coming up the stairs. Cream and Nougat ran behind a large airduct and took cover as they awaited the flood of hostile gang members to wash over them.

Within seconds an especially violent shootout commenced, with Pi's pouring onto the roof from the doorway, and the many ladders around them. Cream was swearing nonstop, and Nougat was already on his last magazine. Fearing the futility of their stand, Nougat looked around as Cream continued to drop the attacking men with great fortitude - he soon found his answer.

Nougat fired a quick burst of fire at the prism-shaped skylight nearby. Cream noticed.
"Oh geez!" he exclaimed, "Now I know you're nuts!"
"What?!" Nougat shouted as he resumed his duty of covering the areas Cream couldn't.
"We jump down there, there's no telling how far we fall! That could be above the ground floor for all we know!"
"Hey, would you rather risk the splat or accept the certainty of bullets?!" Cream swallowed hard, understanding the situation.
"Go!" he shouted. They both rushed the makeshift point of ingress and jumped down as gunfire shattered what was left of the skylight . . . . .
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