The sound of sirens could be heard as the heavily armored ships of the police force raced down the roads. According to Mirage fighting had broken out in the Square near where he was.

A team of Rogues were in a fight with Necron soldiers, and it wasn't pretty. Civilians who were unlucky enough to get caught in the fighting were killed or injured, and things were starting to get out of hand.

"Are you safe?" Asked Oracle, looking out at the street from where she, Phoenix and Moonshine were hiding.

"We are. We met up with another team, Delta One. Delta Two got chased halfway across the city. We're all spread out, but heading in the same general direction. Necron isn't far behind, so watch your back." Said Mirage.

"We will." Oracle promised.

"All of you come back in one piece."

"We will, I promise."

"Are we trying to meet at Crimson Shadows?" She asked.

"Yes. That's our way out of here. The other teams have their own ships. We need to focus on getting ourselves out."

"When do you think we will all be able to meet up?"

"Later tonight hopefully."

Overhead thunder rolled, lightning carving bright gashes in the sky. Oracle heard Mirage sigh over the COM channel.

"Never mind. Now it probably won't be until tomorrow morning. We can still try for tonight." Mirage said.

"Okay." Said Oracle.

"We will try to make our way back."

"See you then."

Mirage then cut contact and they were on their own again.

"Well," said Oracle, looking at Moonshine and Phoenix "I need to get back to the ship so I can look at my shoulder, and you don't need to get into any other fights." She said, looking at Moonshine.

Moonshine didn't say anything, but Oracle could tell that she had rolled her eyes. Oracle turned her head when heard voices, unmistakably soldier's voices.

Oracle looked at Moonshine, who gave her the combat blade she had managed to grab before she had found Oracle.

She took it gladly, and saw that Phoenix now possessed one as well. Moonshine carried a pistol, but only had two extra mags.

At least we're all armed. Thought Oracle as the soldiers neared.

She gripped the combat blade tighter, pressing her back up against the wall. Oracle didn't want to fight, and hoped that they would pass by, but she knew that they would check the alleyway.

She was right. When they came around the corner the soldiers checked the alleyway. Oracle stepped away from the wall and wrapped an arm around the first soldier's neck, sliding the blade between his armor and helmet.

Moonshine shot two of them and Phoenix took care of another with her combat blade. Oracle checked to see if there were others, but didn't see any, not yet anyway.

She searched the man she had killed, finding extra mags for assault rifle and a sidearm. She slid the combat blade into the sheath on her arm, and the pistol into the holster on her leg.

The extra mags were stored in a small pouch attached to a belt that normally held three or four grenades. She reloaded her rifle and attached it to her back again. 

"Everyone armed?" She asked the other two.

When they nodded she looked again for more soldiers, spotting what appeared to be two squads over on the other side of the street. Oracle was about to tell the others when one of them spotted her.

"Shit." She muttered, ducking back into the alleyway.

"We have to move!" Said Oracle, moving out onto the sidewalk.

Moonshine caught up with her as they ran down the sidewalk, Phoenix not far behind.

"Aren't we running the wrong way?" She asked.

"There's two full squads of soldiers back the way we came, and probably more. We need to find another way." Said Oracle as they turned down a side street.

Oracle turned the corner and was faced with sixteen soldiers. They stared at each other for a second before they registered each other's existence.

"Halt. Reclaimer wants you brought in alive. You can come in peacefully, or you can choose to fight." Said the soldier that Oracle assumed was their captain.

Well you're not taking me without a fight, but three against sixteen isn't good odds.

Oracle backed up slowly, but the soldiers were pushing her back towards road, cornering her. She saw a supply ship coming. Oracle internally cursed herself for being absolutely insane.

She glanced at Phoenix and Moonshine but didn't have enough time to tell them her plan. Oracle ran towards ship and jumped, grabbing onto the side.

She heard the Captain curse loudly and  order his soldiers to follow her. Oracle heard Moonshine and Phoenix fire back at the soldiers, and felt badly for leaving them behind. It wasn't what she had wanted to do, but she hadn't had time to tell them what she was about to do.

With the soldiers focused on her however, there would be less soldiers worried about them.

"Oracle, where are you planning to go?" Asked Moonshine over the COM channel.

"Don't worry about me, get to Crimson Shadows. I'll figure out my plan."

"So you're winging it." Said Moonshine.

"More or less." Oracle answered, hoisting herself up in top of the steel grey ship.

"You're crazy, you know." She said.

"I know." Said Oracle, wincing as her shoulder throbbed in pain.

"Be careful. I don't want to be the one to tell Mirage you didn't make it,"

"I'll be fine."

With those parting words Moonshine cut contact.

Please let me make it out alive. She thought as rain slid across her visor.

The bright neon lights of the city were streaks of color, blurred by the rain sliding across her visor. The top of the ship was slick, but the traction her armor provided was enough to keep her from sliding straight off the top.

She looked behind her when bullets started to ping off the sides of the ship, spotting soldiers on speeders chasing after the ship.

They dodged around the other luxury ships and speeders on the road, trying to get closer her.

Oracle looked around for any options that might provide her with a way out, and spotted a smaller, faster ship coming up beside her. It was a Blazer, a type of sleek, expensive luxury ship. Inside you could hold a small party if you so wished.

Hope you don't mind if I crash the party. Thought Oracle as she got ready to jump from one ship to the other.

She gave herself a small run up before she jumped across the gap and landed on top of the ship. She could hear the people inside stop what they were doing, and someone came out.

Oracle looked at the man who came out for several seconds before putting a finger up to her visor, telling him to stay quiet. She saw the man swallow and nod, going back inside.

Oracle looked up and saw the bridge coming into view. The beautiful white structure spanned the Miemphai River, one of Vargo's largest rivers. It led out to a gorge that had been carved by the river many many years ago, before humanity had found the planet.

It was a popular tourist attraction, many people would pay thousands to board cruise ships that glided out on the river. When you hit the 50 foot waterfall at the end the ship glided out over the gorge for an incredible view.

There were day trips and overnight trips, where you would stay out over the gorge overnight to see the glowing plant life that thrived at the bottom.

Oracle had always wanted to see it, but now wasn't the time. She kept her focus on staying on top of the ship as they went over the bridge.

She was so focused on staying on top of the ship that she didn't see the soldier land on the top of the ship until it was too late.

They slammed into her and they both went flying over the edge of the bridge, tumbling towards the water far below them. Oracle saw one of the cruise ships come out from underneath the ship just in time to catch them.

She landed hard on her back and slid along the top of the ship, trying to get any sort of grip. Finally managing to regain her footing Oracle looked up to see who had gotten her down here in the first place.

What she saw took her several seconds to process. They soldier had on crimson red armor and held a tritanium staff. Electric blue energy crackled at the blade like top of the staff. A black skull was painted on his chest plate. He stood facing her, staff at the ready.

This soldier was a Peacekeeper, one of Reclaimer's men. Oracle recalled what Reclaimer had told her about them, how they were the most elite of his soldiers, the most brutal as well.

He had used them to capture targets that normal Bounty Hunters would have trouble subduing, such as military targets or certain rogue Bounty Hunters.

High value targets were also captured by Peacekeepers. They were strong, intelligent and experts in hand to hand combat, preferring to use their staffs to take out targets.

He had said he named them Peacekeepers because they protected the planet from people who would wish to harm it. Now she knew he used them only to protect his army from those who wish to stop him.

Oracle glanced at the staff and knew that getting hit with it would paralyze her, and lock up her armor if it was hit in the right spot.

Oracle backed towards the edge of the ship as the Peacekeeper advanced on her, staff held at the ready. She dodged his first attack but he spun around and hit her in the shoulder with the end of the staff, causing her to stumble forward.

Oracle regained her footing and decided what weapon would be the most effective. Her combat blade was what she settled on, though her pistol could come in handy for trying to wound him from far away.

The Peacekeeper advanced again, and Oracle gripped her combat blade tightly. The crimson armored soldier swung at her and she blocked the staff with the combat blade, sparks flying.

Oracle ducked underneath his next swing and slashed at his calf. He caught her across the back with the staff, sending pain zipping down it.

She winced and got on the other side of the Peacekeeper, standing off against him once more. The most unnerving thing about the Peacekeepers was the fact that they rarely spoke. Oracle knew nothing about him, what potential strengths and weaknesses he had.

If it was anger or arrogance, normally she could tell by a person's speech. He was silent, focused only on her and nothing else. She had nothing to go off of. Oracle dodged the next attack but was caught off guard when the Peacekeeper went for her legs.

Oracle fell off the top of the ship and crashed into the table below. She laid on the ship's deck, pain washing through her back and shoulder, the splintered remains of the table lying around her.

She saw the Peacekeeper land much more gracefully a couple steps away. Oracle pushed herself to her feet, gritting her teeth as her arm sent fiery pain up into her neck.

She saw the people inside looking out of the window in shock, and she realized why her arm hurt so badly. The tables were only painted white wood, so when she had hit it it had splintered. A piece of the table was now wedged into her arm like a gigantic splinter.

You have got to be kidding me. She thought, looking at the wound.

She knew that pulling it out wasn't the smartest option, and not using her dominant arm wasn't an option.

Oracle tried to go for her assault rifle but the Peacekeeper pinned her up against the side of the ship, hand wrapped around her neck. The soldier brought the tip of his staff up to her chest and glared at her through his face plate.

Oracle struggled against his grip, trying to breath as he squeezed tighter.

"Time to collect my reward." The Peacekeeper hissed.

Oracle struggled to keep the Peacekeeper from touching the tip of the staff to her chest, but her injured arm wouldn't allow her to. Oracle closed her eyes as she felt the tip of the staff touch her chest, readying herself for what would come next.

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Fun chapter to write most definitely. Another action chapter, one I've been wanting to write for awhile. Sooo what do you think of the Peacekeepers? They were a fun concept to come up with, and I can't wait to potentially integrate them more into the plot. See you in the next chapter!

~~Nightfury107