HALT.

Alan halted.

There are motion detectors set up to detect if someone enters the building.

Two small devices besides the doors into the building were highlighted, showing a red screen surrounding the entrance. Alan assumed this was the field Eve detected. As Alan looped around outside the building, he saw that the detection field surrounded the entire first floor. Well, so much for that plan.

Negative. Proceed to the fire escape.

Eve highlighted a fire escape on the side of the building that Alan hadn’t noticed. The detection field didn’t expand outside the building, at least as far as he could see. The only problem was that the fire escape was a bit over 12 feet off the ground.

You should be capable of leaping up and climbing onto it.

Alan carefully considered the jump. He was definitely feeling stronger than he’d ever been before, and he could probably make it if Eve told him he could. It just might hurt a lot. He walked underneath the fire escape, and leapt up with all his might. To his surprise, his fingers managed to brush against the bottom of the un-extended ladder. After a few more leaps, Alan managed to catch on to the edge of the fire escape and pull himself up. The metal squeaked and shifted a bit as it bore the brunt of his weight, but it didn’t give way.

Alan traversed up the fire escape to the 7th floor, the floor below where Eve calculated the sniper to be, remaining invisible all the while. He’d been maintaining his invisibility for about an hour total since getting the power armor. Taking into account the regained energy, he was left with 200 shield energy. It was 2:13 p.m., with a bit over three hours left until the next round in the Survival Test. That meant the shields wouldn’t be done regenerating by the time the round began, unfortunately.

So, um, why’d you have me stop on the 7th floor? Alan sent to Eve.

You will attack the sniper from below, cutting out the floor beneath the sniper, silently, quickly, and carefully, at my direction. How did you expect to get to the sniper? Climb in through the window they’re shooting out of, or through the door that’s no doubt booby trapped?

Alan, who had actually been considering climbing around the outside of the building, replied, No. But wouldn’t maybe coming from above make more sense?

Negative, I have pinpointed their location, and the drop should be disorienting enough for you to finish them off.

Alright.

The window to get into the building from the fire escape was locked, but Eve assured Alan that he could cut through it with the laser knife, and the alarms were all turned off as the building no longer had power. Alan took out the knife, and, sure enough, once activated it cut through the glass and metal like it was butter. As he cut a man-sized hole into the side of the building Alan smiled with glee. It was like his fantasy of wielding a lightsaber was coming true! Unlike a lightsaber, the knife didn’t make a low buzzing sound, or any noise at all, actually. That was probably due to the modifications.