A lesson in pain

"Target in sight. South alley. Can't get a clear shot, too many bystanders"
Daniel's voice over the com was frustrated. So close and yet so far. But Sascha knew the team's marksman would never take a shot if he could harm innocent civilians in the progress. Something he respected fully and what made the red tabby a part of the Spectres.
"I see him, Cobalt, don't worry. I'm going to tail him, maybe I can catch him in a quieter place and take him down. He won't escape. Not this time.
Stay in position should he decide to come back later."
"Understood Ghostbear. Good hunting."
Blending in with the crowd the Freelancer followed his target through the Megaplex. Still, no chance to attack, too many people around that could get hurt. After seemingly endless minutes the man he followed turned left into a side alley, away from the main street. Deeper and deeper into the dirty bowels of the city.
'Now... ' the bear hybrid thought by himself, activated his reflex boosters and drew the razor sharp polymer blade from the mounting on his back.
Just when he was about to assassinate his target some bum stumbled out from behind a large garbage bin and crashed right into Sascha. All the freelancer could do was to turn away his blade, so he didn't gut the poor bastard, but he couldn't avoid sending the Hobo flying into said dust bin with a loud bang.
"Cazzo!"
In one fluid motion his target drew a gun and fired. Sascha felt a hard hit against his shoulder and in an instant his fingers went numb. His brain registered that he just got shot, drowning the pain and blood loss in massive amounts of adrenaline.
The overdose of the stress hormone and his active augmentations somehow kept him on his feet and in fighting condition. Clutching his sword desperately he jumped his target before he could fire again.
Seconds later it was all over. At close range his polymer blade was far superior to a gun and his target crumbled to the ground, twitched and went still.
Panting, Sascha just stood there for a moment, sword dripping red ... then the pain came. And the bleeding.
"Shit... "
Unable to remain standing he stumbled, hit the wall in his back and just slid down onto the dirty pavement. When he tried to support his fall with his sword his wounded arm just gave away and he landed hard on his backside with a pained cry. Groaning slapped his wristcomp to activate the com, then pressed his right paw firmly against the wound to stop the bleeding.
It helped, but only a little. Warm blood was still seeping out between his fingers and running down his back from the penetrating gunshot wound. The blood loss would surely knock him out soon... if the pain did not knock him out first. This wasn't Hollywood where the noble hero would walk away happily with a few gunshots and a "that's just a flesh wound" comment, this was reality. Reality was that he would probably bleed out if he would not get medical attention soon.
"Cobalt ... target is dead" he clutched his teeth in pain, even talking hurt. "Took...took one in the shoulder. Not feeling good. G...get me.. now"
"Damn. I'm on my way but I'm sending Drifter to get you with the car. Where are you?"
"S..side alley." he closed his eyes for a moment as dizzyness washed over him.
"Ghost? Ghostbear? Talk to me man"
North west... 132th."
"Got it. Just hang on buddy"

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A bit darker again. A scene where a targeted killing didn't went the way it was planned. But then ... when things ever go the way they were planned? Probably never. And Freelancers can die very fast in this kind of world.
Really awesome and expressional art, done by the amazing
Thank you so very much for the picture, I really love it!