I heard a slight sizzling noise and I turned to see Flicker transforming. The metal parts of her hands and forearms seemed to melt out of form, only to reemerge into the form of wickedly sharp serrated blades that stretched out further than her arms had in a lethal display of hidden capability. At times I forgot just how lethal Flicker could really be.
"You've got to tell me how you do that?" I exclaimed in awe.
She shrugged, "It is very complex, but suffice it to say that I control the metal much the same as I do my armor suit."
"Okay, that really doesn't explain it at all."
"I know." She said, as she positioned herself in preparation to hack anything apart that came through the door.
I clutched one machine pistol in my hand, as with a loud protesting creak I pulled the hatch door open.
It was an utter scene of chaos inside the other room. Most of the alarm lights looked as if they'd been smashed. Only a few still glowed or flashed weakly.
I started to move forward, but one of Flicker's bladed arms tapped me slightly, "Sorry for the hit to your pride, but I go first."
I glanced back inside and said, "Ladies first." It was with reluctance that I followed her inside the room, as there was little I could do to offset whatever Flicker got it in her mind to do, which rankled me deeply.
Flicker stopped and turned to me, "I know Utah. I promise to work on that, when this is all done."
"Respect is an important thing for a man." I acknowledged in response.
She nodded quickly.
To lighten the mood I shrugged and said, "Respect aside I'm glad you're along to go in first Saber Girl."
She didn't say anything, but she moved forward again and I sensed a willingness to change in her that gave me hope that I wasn't always going to be overruled by her, when she decided on a course of action different than my own.
It was hard to be silent, because the floor was strewn with a jumbled array of stuff. Computers, file cabinets, chairs, desktop knickknacks, and bones. Just bits and pieces of the bones for the most part. I reached down and picked something up and held it so Flicker could see.
It was a robotic arm like Flickers, only it had been mauled off where bone and metal alloy met. I saw a shudder pass through Flicker. I felt much the same, as I looked at the remaining small knob of chewed bone next to the robotic arm unit.