Hello all, here is the Heavy Object fic I promised a couple of weeks ago. This particular situation is one many people have likely thought of since it is the goal of who could be considered Milinda's rival Ohoho. One problem with this idea is that it's essentially NTR and I'm not into that, but it also lines up for more character motivations so I can work with it as I go.
Anyway, I'll eventually update this later, I'm still waiting for our lord and savior js06 to finish translating Zashiki Warashi before I write a fic for that and I will likely do a silly Kamachi crossover fic after that is done as well.
Anyway, ramblings aside read and enjoy.
"Confirmed ejection of enemy elite, the Impact Pulse has been rendered inoperable!"
Soon after that announcement over the communications of the Legitimacy Kingdom's 37th Mobile Maintenance Battalion, a grand explosion marred the landscape of the Alaskan mountains. Leaning against a tree, the battlefield student Quenser Barbotage let out a long sigh as he observed the surrounding area. Pure white snow covered the ground, contrasting greatly to the two 50 meter masses of flame and armor billowing smoke into the atmosphere. A few kilometers away from the wreckage, the battalion's own Object, the Baby Magnum, slowly circled around towards the maintenance to the east. Even from a distance, Quenser could tell that the Object had taken a tremendous amount of damage in the 2v1 battle it had just participated in, and all seven of its main cannons seemed to be inoperable. Quenser checked his small handheld device as he rested against the tree.
"Seems like both bases are pulling back; that's a relief, I'd be screwed if they kept heading this way." The blonde student stretched his arms as he chatted on the radio. On the screen in his hands, he could see the enemy maintenance battalions to the west slowly retreating from the battlefield. Taking a moment to get his bearings before hiking back to his own base, Quenser moved the map on the screen around.
"Huh, I ended up a lot farther south than I meant to. Hey Heivia, do you think you could get a snowmobile over here? I'm about 7 kilometers south-southwest of the base." Despite asking for a ride, Quenser got up from the ground and dusted himself off before pulling out a small ration bar from his pocket. He started chewing on the tasteless mass as he hiked his way towards the base. Shortly after his request, a familiar voice came over the radio.
"No can do, you're surrounded by all sorts of wreckage, there's a good chance of the snowmobile hitting something buried under the snow and then both of us will end up walking. A skinny boy like you could use some good exercise anyway."
"Yeah, well screw you too Heivia, I'll tell your fiancé you were hitting on some girls in the town the other day." Quenser replied to his terrible friend while walking at a rather leisurely pace through the snowy hills. Only the muffled crunching of the snow under his boots broke the calming silence of nature; a stark contrast to the cacophony of explosions that ended just minutes ago. After walking for a while the student came across a large crater that had been a side effect of the earlier battle. The boy sighed as he pulled out his device to find the best route around when he heard a rumbling in the distance. Quenser frantically checked his handheld as he heard the voice of his commander Froleytia Capistrano.
"The situation has changed! The 41st CMB is pulling back and the Information Alliance's Rush is heading our way. Everybody get everything packed up now!" At that urging, Quenser checked his datapad and saw the map updating to show the enemy Object approaching from the south.
Strange, the Rush is moving at a really slow pace. Is Ohoho worried about the possibility of debris getting caught in her treads? Regardless she's going to arrive long before we can get things packed up and the Princess is in absolutely no condition to fight. Actually, why are they heading for us in the first place anyway? Payback for destroying two of theirs or was something here that important?
The combat engineer checked his backpack for explosives and grimaced. I'm running really low on Hand Axe, and I doubt I'll be able to lock up the strategic AI like last time. He checked the map a few more times before coming to a conclusion. Maybe I can set up a few caltrops with the Object wreckage along one of these canyons and hope she passes through it. It's a bit of a longshot but if I don't buy some time here who knows what will happen to the base.
As he thought, Quenser heard somebody address him over the radio. "I can tell what you're thinking simply by the fact that you stopped moving our way Sir Knight. I know that trying to tell you to not run off isn't going to work but I'm going to try anyway. Get your ass over here; the intelligence division is reporting that the Rush is deploying with infantry escorts. Seriously, what is this, the era before Objects? I don't think I've ever heard of infantry escorting an Object like they did for tanks in the old days. Anyway, two Objects in one day was stretching it, I'm certain your luck is running too thin to make it three and Ohoho will no doubt be much more aware of your ideas after what happened the last time we were here."
Quenser listened to his friend Heivia over the radio as he carefully plotted his actions while looking at the map on his device. He did a few quick calculations on a different window before coming to a conclusion.
"I don't really have much choice right now Heivia, I'm too far away to make it to the base before the Rush arrives and who knows what the enemy intends to do after we won 1 vs 2. If I'm lucky I can buy a bit of time for you all; if not I was more or less doomed anyway."
After confirming his plan, Quenser started running to his east towards a ravine. As he arrived at his planned point he looked at his watch and grimaced; a full ten minutes had passed. I'm cutting this real close. Let's see, move this piece and this piece like so, just a touch of Hand Axe and…aw hell I don't know if I have enough fuses left. As he checked his pouches for more explosives and fuses, Quenser heard his comrade contacting him over the radio.
"Quenser, I don't know what you plan on doing over there but you have an armored vehicle heading straight for you. I think you might have been detected."
The young student cursed under his breath while looking into the distance and saw a trail of rising snow just over a kilometer away. He tried to keep a low profile as he moved away from the trap he had placed. Shit, looks like Ohoho's unit really did come prepared this time. Did they trace me from the GPS or something? Maybe I should just blow the trap and hope the Rush comes down this way.
Quenser continued to rapidly think as he crawled away, however as he crawled he lost sight of the armored vehicle that was heading in his direction. Where did that vehicle go? Crap it's usually Heivia's thing keeping me alive through this part. Let's see… There are trees just 20 meters away, I might be able to slip away for a while if I can make it there. I can probably make it if I keep low enough.
Despite all of his experience in dealing with Objects, Quenser was still just a novice when it came to normal combat. Just before he prepared to dash to the trees, he poked his head out from the wreckage. Not a moment after, a bullet impacted the ground only a meter away from his head. He quickly pulled back into his cover and had to restrain himself from shouting obscenities at the top of his lungs. Shortly after, he heard Heivia rapidly talking over the radio.
"Quenser, the Rush has just changed its course and is heading right for you; I think you've been spotted!" No shit, you damn noble! Quenser cursed his normal battle buddy in his mind while he frantically checked his device. To his dismay found that the enemy Object was now heading along a completely different path than his trap.
Oh, come on; is she really that mad at me? I thought we were even after that happened in the Himalayas! Okay, think; I'm pinned down by enemy troops, I have a 200,000-ton death bot piloted by a potentially angry young girl heading my way and my trap has been rendered completely worthless.
…
Well this has all just gone to shit. I might have to just surrender and hope for the best. Do I have anything I can make into a white flag or something?
As he slowly wrapped a few bandages into a flag-like shape at the tip of his survival kit's fishing pole, Quenser sighed and addressed his comrades over the radio.
"Heivia, I'm pretty fucked over here, it looks like I'm just going to have to surrender and hope for the best. I'm leaving things over there in your hands, just do me a favor and see if you can get me back before long alright?"
"…Okay, just don't do anything too rash and get yourself shot. Also why are you asking me to get you out? That's not my job you ass." Quenser grinned at the reply from his terrible friend as he spoke to the radio one last time before stepping out from cover.
"I figure I'd ask you since Froleytia is probably busy giving orders right now. I'd say 'don't die' but the good die young so a prick like you should live at least until his nineties."
"Yeah, yeah same to you tech pervert. Catch you later, Quenser."
At that last statement, the noise over the radio cut off, and Quenser took one deep breath as he picked up the makeshift flag. The crunching of boots on the ground drew close enough for him to hear, and he was about to wave his flag when he heard a familiar sweet voice.
"Masssterrrr, come ooooouttttttt~"
Wydine? Why is she…oh right they were actually from the Information Alliance, not Capitalists. Quenser waved his makeshift flag for a moment before slowly stepping out from his piece of wreckage with his hands raised. In front of him was a tan, blonde woman in what appeared to be a combat maid outfit carrying a rifle loaded with various sensors. He could vaguely see two other maids in the distance with their rifles trained on him moving closer as the leader Wydine Uptown approached. Quenser nervously smiled as he tried to engage in some conversation with the person who could almost be considered an acquaintance.
"I guess I should say it's been a while Wydine, I don't know if I ever properly thanked you for saving me back in the Himalayas."
Sweat slowly dripped down Quenser's face as the combat maid walked closer to him. Even though he had survived dozens of battlefields having a gun pointed at him was still terrifying. However to his surprise the woman proceeded to greet him with a polite curtsy and a beaming smile.
"It is pleasing to see you in good health dear master ~ "
The boy could not hide his shock at a supposed enemy treating him so politely. As the other members of the maid combat squad drew close, they also proceeded to greet their supposed enemy with a polite curtsy and a smile. A faint sense of unease permeated Quenser's mind at this strange action, and he did his best to cope by making a small quip.
"I can't help but feel you're mocking me by saying that while guns are pointed at my head…"
And why are you in maid uniforms again? Not that I'm complaining but I feel like I might be shot if I ask.
"Not at all, I thought this would be a more fitting greeting for a gentleman raised in the Legitimacy Kingdom. Did we perhaps get something wrong?" Wydine cutely frowned as she questioned the person she was pointing a gun at. The members of the maid squad relaxed their weapons as the Rush drew closer to their location. Without moving his head, Quenser glanced towards the 50 meter mass of weapons and armor as a feminine voice could be heard over the speakers.
"Ohoho~ it has been a while dear Quenser Barbotage. I'm glad to see the brutish commanders of the Legitimacy Kingdom have not succeeded in their attempts to get you killed yet."
Why is the Rush stopping over here, weren't they planning to destroy our base or the Baby Magnum? As that thought crossed his mind, Wydine brought a finger to the earpiece on her right ear and started talking to whoever was on the other side. Quenser fell further and further into confusion as the situation progressed far faster than he could keep up.
"Yes? They've finished packing up and pulling out? Well what else could we expect when their Object has no way of fighting another Object right now…No, no there's no need for that, as you can see we have the target captured and we'll be bringing him back shortly."
Tension overcame Quenser as he heard one half of a conversation with rather odd implications. He did not get time to think however as an armored vehicle drove up next to the group of people and Wydine motioned him inside. Quenser quietly obeyed and climbed inside, briefly wondering if he should take a seat on the bench before being offered the spot by one of the combat maids. Despite being a prisoner of war, he was not restrained. Shortly before she stepped inside, Wydine took Quenser's radio and hit the talk button.
"Ahh, ahh, testing, testing, does this still work?"
After speaking slowly and clearly into the radio, Wydine quietly waited a moment before she got a reply. From the voice that came from the device Quenser could tell that it was Heivia.
"Who is this, and why does this voice sound familiar?"
"Oh if it isn't the freeloader, still alive as well I see."
"….Wydine?" Wydine grinned a bit a she continued her conversation over the radio with Heivia. Quenser wondered for a moment if he should try to get involved but came to the conclusion that it would not be wise.
"Well, you'll do just as well as anybody else I guess." Wydine cleared her throat and proceeded to once again be sure to speak clearly for all to hear.
"Attention ladies and gentlemen of the Legitimacy Kingdom. We of the information Alliance will be taking custody of Quenser Barbotage. We do not intend to harm him, but we will not be returning him. Freeloader, pass a message on to your higher-ups: we will not be wasting his talents as you have."
Quenser's eyes widened as his jaw dropped at that proclamation. Wydine tossed the radio back to its owner and closed the door to the vehicle. The engine quietly hummed and the vehicle lurched a bit as it seemed to pick up speed through the snow. The rumbling of the Rush's air cushion propulsion could be clearly heard following them, and one of the maids that Quenser vaguely recalled was called Charm brought some hot tea with accompanying teacups from a side compartment. After giving one to each of the other maids, the brown-haired ponytail woman offered a cup to their prisoner. Quenser looked back and forth between the cup and the girl before meekly accepting the offer and taking a sip. After the warmth of the tea had finished chasing away the cold, he finally decided to ask the question burning in his mind.
"What did you mean with that message you said over my radio?"
The squad of maids all turned to look at Quenser when he spoke up. Wydine put a finger to her chin as she tilted her head in thought for a moment before she replied.
"Think of this as a bit of an aggressive invitation. Our dear elite made you an offer to defect to us before did she not? Your skills are unique even among soldiers and engineers; it should be no surprise that many factions would want to recruit you.
Quenser quietly stared at the ground as he processed the information provided by that reply. On more than one occasion he had been coerced into helping somebody cripple or destroy and Object, and on many other occasions he had been targeted for that very same reputation. One particular face came to mind from early in his Object destroying career: Sladder Honeysuckle, the Object designer that ran the Mass Driver Conglomerate when it went rogue. He was broken out of his thoughts when the driver of the vehicle shouted back into the rear compartment.
"Hold on to something we're going to have to go fast, the Legitimacy Kingdom Object that turned tail has come back around towards us for some reason." The occupants of the vehicle all frowned as they quickly packed up the tea set and grabbed onto the safety holds on the walls. Quenser looped his arm around one of them and fiddled with his radio a bit, he sifted through the static coming from the speaker before eventually finding the channel he was searching for.
"-allow this traitor to live. We will crush Quenser Barbotage for turning his back on the Legitimacy Kingdom." Quenser had a grim look on his face as he heard the unfamiliar voice over the radio. The maids all turned to observe him as they listened to the conversation between two Legitimacy Kingdom commanders.
"I told you already he was captured, not defecting, and you're the one who pulled back your Object allowing that to happen. Tell me, why did you neglect to cover our retreat after we destroyed two enemy Objects on our own only to turn around to kill one battlefield student who was captured due to your actions?" Quenser could recognize the voice of his commander angrily berating the unfamiliar man on the radio. He did not like the sound of being branded a traitor, but he couldn't help but feel glad that at the very least his commanding officer believed in him. His brief smile quickly faded at the next statement to come from the radio from a different, more authorative voice.
"The council has decided that he is to be branded a traitor and killed, his actions have done far too much to destabilize the world as it stands, and now we run the risk of him working for another faction. The threat is far too high to allow for this. The conversation ends here, get your men packed up and out of here, Lieutenant Colonel."
The compartment where Quenser sat surrounded by maids drew silent except for the noises made by the vehicle itself as the radio communication abruptly cut off. His mind went blank at being cast out by his own country; he almost forgot to even breathe. The sound of the Rush revving up its propulsion systems and taking off into the distance reverberated throughout the compartment. Quenser finally came back to his sense as he felt himself being shaken by Wydine.
"Are you okay master? That must have been a harsh thing to hear all of a sudden." Quenser looked towards the hand touching his shoulder before following it up towards the worried face of the brown skinned woman next to him. His dazed expression slowly turned to a dark focus as he thought over the situation he found himself in.
Am I really being tossed out by the higher-ups again? There was that time with Flide and apparently he had approval until he overstepped his authority by commanding the other armies in the process. I can't rule out the possibility of it being a manipulation by the Information Alliance though, they may have a way to copy voices.
As he shifted into focus, the driver shouted back into the compartment again. "Hold on tight, our Idol has engaged the enemy Object!" At that warning the vehicle sharply veered to the side and a great many explosions could be heard from outside. The APC dipped and turned as it went through the Alaskan hills, and the voice of the commanding officer of the Rush, the woman Quenser vaguely recognized as Lendy Farolito , could be heard over the speakers towards the front of the compartment.
"Wydine, the enemy Object is attempting to bypass our own and target the vehicles instead. Their goal seems to be the death of Quenser Barbotage. Try to keep something big between you and their Object as you make your way over here. Our elite should have this problem sorted out before long so make sure you don't lose her prize before then."
A really bad feeling overcame Quenser as he listened in on that. He knew how things worked: if two Objects were fighting he was going to have to get involved in destroying it at least nine times out of ten. He couldn't help but feel bad at essentially looking down on the Princess and her Object the Baby Magnum, but if he let feeling bad about something stop him he wouldn't have survived as long as he did.
As it turns out, for once he was wrong. The 41st CMBs Object spent so much effort in trying to target the vehicles it was quickly and easily destroyed by the Rush after it closed in and ripped its armor apart with rapid-fire gatling lasers. After a hectic drive through the Alaskan tundra, the vehicle came to a stop and Quenser was lead out of the vehicle by the squad of maids. Quenser noted that a mobile maintenance facility for a foreign Object really wasn't much different from the one he was familiar with. After a few steps from the vehicle, Wydine turned to look at Quenser and spoke with a bright smile.
"I guess I should say welcome to your new home master~ ."