"We're not expected and there's no reason to keep a low profile.", you said with a shrug as Yuri drove the militech tank down the main road to the NSA base.

You were practically invincible with that thing anyway. Besides, you had been watching cargo ships come in over the days. So a lot of the heavy weapons and ammunition had already been picked up, many soldiers were due to return to their families earlier.

There was no reason to start a battle when the interests lay elsewhere. Kurt wanted revenge on the people in charge, which actually only included the management level that was allowed to leave the ship last according to protocol.

And you wanted your dogs back. So both targets did not foresee any casualties. Well, no more than the necessary number.

The tank rolled across the border of the neutral zone. And suddenly something popped up in the back of your mind. Your eyes flickered red. You frowned.

Kurt's gaze fell on you. The blade of his Yakut knife danced between the fingers of his hand. He had started to use the right side more, in case he only had one arm for the rest of its life.

You wouldn't let that happen, of course, but he needed something to occupy his mind while the urge for revenge consumed him. How cute he looked when he got angry, gritting his teeth with a growl in his throat.

A real hellhound.

You exchanged a quick glance. You nodded. He understood.

The feeling in your mind was the emergency transfer of your dogs. Whoever had cut the connection must have blocked it at the time and now that you were close enough, the system was reconnecting.

Vital signs flickered before your eyes. Perfection, just as you would have liked it to be at the time of the last battle for Pacifica. Satisfaction spread through you. You couldn't help but grin broadly.

Via a secure link you sent commands to each individual system, had all the algorithms restarted, ran a scan. No viruses, no errors in the code. So they had simply sabotaged the chairs instead of playing it safe.

Half-hearted work, somehow you could guess who that suited.

Softly, you slid a hand in the back of Kurt's neck to make him look at you, one leg propped up on the bench next to him.

"I know you want revenge.", you breathed with a conspiratorial smile so no one else could hear. "But I can make him feel the worst agony."

Kurt's eyes travelled over your face. He thought about it.

"Hmmm.", his hand rested on your hip. "Impress me."

Snorting, you rolled your eyes.

"Haven't I already?", you gestured towards the tank you were sitting in.

"More than anyone before.", he breathed a kiss under your chin. "And now scare me."

You chuckled.

"Maybe that's not what I want.", you breathed against his lips as the armoured car crashed through the gate of the base with a bump.

The loading bay opened and bright daylight flooded the interior. It was warm, the air smelled of rain and acid. With your best expression of a smile and arms spread wide, you strutted down the ramp.

Soldiers stood transfixed. Somewhere, a bulging crate of ammunition fell to the ground. Bullets rolled through the dust, scattering like little balls of copper and gold. Metal crunched under your every step as you placed yourself in the centre of the base.

"Good day!", you chirped while Kurt behind you ordered the men to raid the base. "We didn't seem to have been missed. Too bad."

Fear.

There was so much fear in the faces of those present. Some scurried away unnoticed, retreating into the halls while the others simply stared in confusion. Then a few soldiers broke away and joined the Colonel in the looting.

The irises of your eyes still shimmered red. The connection to Two and Six returned.

Reboot successful.

"Since no one dares to ask, we will take what is here and then leave.", you announced. "Join us. Or leave. Nobody has to die today. Nobody but the general."

As if struck by lightning, heads turned round.

One, Three and Four returned to your network. Now only Five was missing. Seven per cent were missing. The reboot was almost complete, all your skills were updating with the dogs' algorithm.

You could feel data flowing through your veins, electricity making your nerves crackle. You stared intently into the crowd.

Glances were exchanged. Then a wall of soldiers parted to expose the general.

"Roberts.", Kurt stepped to your side, his shadow swallowing you, enveloping your body in beloved darkness.

Fear gleamed in the general's eyes. But this was a fight or die situation. And he decided to fight.

"What's the meaning of this?!", he came at you with bared teeth, one finger raised in warning.

But he stopped three paces away as Kurt growled in warning and stepped forward.

"We have a score to settle.", he hissed.

"This is treason!", the general spat at his feet. "Myers will have y'all executed."

Your eyes darkened. All six dogs had taken their place in your network. They were ready.

"Oh, I don't think so.", all of a sudden your voice was so coldly smooth that it made Roberts shudder. "General, good, good general. I don't think Myers will. Because she can't. Otherwise she would have already."

Kurt looked at you over his shoulder.

"Do you want to know why they call me Whistler?", you asked with a sinister smile.

He nodded.

A sharp whistle slipped over your lips.

Silence.

So much silence.

The tension was so heavy in the air that you could have cut it with a knife. Shadows danced between the buildings.

You whistled again, twice quickly this time. And then suddenly they were there, in all their six perfections.

Your dogs. Like marionettes with glowing red eyes, One, Two, Three, Four, Five and Six moved in a circle around you. Their eyes were fixed on what you wanted to destroy.

The general.

You whistled.

And Four brought him to his knees with a chop. Sparks poured from the joints on his legs. Dirt and blood coloured the white uniform.

Shaking and convulsing, Roberts forced himself to look at you. You smiled.

And whistled.

His neck twisted.

"Beg.", you said.

Choppy sounds gurgled in his throat.

You whistled.

Two's algorithm made his arms burn.

You whistled, sparks rained from all parts of his cyberware.

You whistled.

And your dogs set the man ablaze.