Chapter 10: Last Frontier
IMT
Leena screamed all the vulgar words she knew to Mia but the kidnapper continued reading her magazine. The day was hot and they had strapped Leena outside while they sat relaxing in the shade. Mia and Jas would mumble something to each other once in a while. Jo and Annie were in their second hangar a few miles further down making last minute check ups on their doom machine. Time slowly crossed by.
"Why do you want, Mia! Just what the hell are you trying to prove!" Screamed Leena as she fell on her knees. Dehydration had tired her body and she was barely staying awake.
"Unlike you, I have a purpose in this life. Besides pride and prizes, victory lane isn't everything for me. I have a desire to exterminate all of you bastards! Why? Because I am tired of being stepped on and laughed upon. Just cause I am Jack's sister, they expect more and if I fail, they dishonor my name!" Mia was now facing Leena, tears running down her eyes as she scowled at her prisoner.
"So what? Everyone has to go through that! If you don't, then you never know what it truly takes to be a pilot. It is more than just--" Leena was interrupted as Mia's hand slapped her face leaving her right cheek blazing red.
"You can never understand! I don't feel remorse. I want everyone to suffer like I have. I have been through more embarrassment than anyone in this planet. But there is one person who understands me. I love him but even he won't stop me now!"
"And why is that?!" Everyone turned to the sudden intruder, guns focused immediately.
"Where did you come from, Cloud?" The pilot stood silent, pride showing. His grin gave Leena confidence. His eyes only focused on Mia's.
"It doesn't matter, Mia. Still, all this about love, I hardly believe. You feeling love. Ha!" Bit barked. Mia was now furious, her whole body was trembling. Her gun shaking viciously. "Go ahead, shoot me. If you truly love me, let her go and shoot me. Nothing will hold your pride after that." Bit remained cool. Yet, his words hadn't just taunted Mia, they also forced her to do what he been asking.
"Fine! To hell with you!" Leena felt her heart pound in her chest as Bit was sent back flying. Tears formed instantly in her eyes. Bit landed hard, unconscious, and perhaps, dead. Time stood still.
"Bit! Bit, wake up! Get up, Bit. Please...Get up...Bit!" Leena barely had any strength left in her and the shock of the moment had affected her state as well. The only she saw before fainting was Mia running towards her husband. Her now dead husband.
"You stupid idiot! That was our pilot you just shot!" Mia's mood was still not settled and Jas' words screaming in her ear wasn't helping.
"Shut up already! Damn it!" Mia was now aiming her gun at a terrified Jas who slowly began backing up.
"Jack was right. I knew it. I knew we shouldn't of trusted you, Mia. Now look what you've done!" Jas no longer posed any threat in the eyes of Mia. Nor any importance.
"Fine, join him!" Unlike Bit who had been shot straight in the chest, the bullet with Jas' name on it was sent directly into her brain. Jas stood there, body in shock, mind dead. After a couple of seconds she finally collapsed.
"I don't need you. I got Bit with me. He'll recover and I'll make him drive Armageddon. Nothing will stop me from achieving what I've long to make a reality. Nothing!" Mia walked towards Leena who was still out. She needed her to have a secure Bit.
"Jo. Annie; come to front base. We got a situation." Mia loaded both bodies onto one of the SUVs that was inside the hangar. A few moments later, the other members appeared.
"No!" Mia jumped back surprised and aimed at the source of the scream. After realizing it was the team, she settled.
"It's you guys. Apparently Bit wasn't coming in a peaceful path. Jas was the only casualty. I manage to shoot Bit, but I didn't kill him. We need him for that machine." Mia looked at her soldiers who were still in shock. "C'mon, we got to move out!"
Annie shook her head and finally confronted Mia. "This is too far, Mia!" Mia acted surprised. "Jas was our friend, how can this happen?" Mia lowered her head seemingly showing her last vow to the departed.
"Would you like to join her?" Both girls' eyes widened with horror. Their hearts and minds filled with fear. "I have no use for you, but I'll let you go if you wish to no longer help me. Still, you've got ten seconds to leave my sight...or I'll blow your freaking brains out!" It didn't take another glance at the mad woman for them to run into a car and drive away into the distance. "Idiots. I'm surrounded by mere idiots."
Blitz
Sarah and Jamie were hard at work on the computers using everything to try and see what Project 5 aka Armageddon was all about. So far, faded hints of its originality had been found. Jamie stopped typing and fell back into the chair.
"It's useless, Sarah. The information is protected by the government, we have no access to it." Sarah frowned and sighed.
"Yes, but it is not restricted to the FC. I got as much info as possible. Here, do your work, guys." Everyone paid their attention to Naomi who threw a folder at Sarah. Both her and Jamie began analyzing the data.
"How did it go, Naomi?" Naomi turned to Brad who neared her.
"Not good, they won't get involve until there is real evidence that it has been uncovered. They showed me a satellite photo that revealed some metal parts to a buried machine. It was their explanation that it had not been disturbed." Brad turned towards Doc.
"Unbelievable! Project 5 is not buried, I know. I've seen it." Everyone focused on Doc surrounding him. "It is a great machine built for war. It was like a last resort thing build in the same plant as Liger Zero and Berserk Fury. Yet, it was never released officially as it only remained prototype. Still, with every government that came in, more and more was funded into the project. The government began fading the image away, slowly until its existence remained a legend, a myth. Not even the Federal Commission knows where it is. That image they showed you is the same one they were fooled with. The truth is, if it was lost, the system will not accept it publicly." Leon walked towards Jamie who was trying his best to understand what the papers contained.
"Armageddon project, 1782. Built as an ultimate x but capable of much more destructive power. It is a combination of the original Liger Zero with weapons from the Berserk Fury. It is said to be unstoppable and indestructible." Sarah gasped taking everyones attention.
"Vega is gone!"
Leena came inside taking everyones attention away from Sarah. "Berserk Fury has been stolen!"
Sarah stood up, her eyes full of tears. "Vega took it. He's going to save Bit." The 25 year old felt her heart struck as she calculated the possibilities of her trusted pilot. It was too much, her heart fainted. Yet, Jamie caught her just in time.
"Sarah..."
"Alright team. We need to go after Vega, and Bit as well. There is still no real data proving P5 has been activated. If we can rescue Bit in time, we can put a stop to this whole mess before it happens. Leena, stay here with Jamie and Sarah. The rest of you follow me." Everyone nodded and followed Doc.
"Jamie, do you think...do you think Bit is ok?" Leena tried her best to hide her sadness. "I just want him back...That's all I want. I want to be with him. I don't care about what has happened. I just need him..." She could no longer held back her tears. "I love you, Bit..."
Sarah started to wake bringing Jamie's back focus to her. "Vega..." As she opened her eyes, they immediately locked with Jamie's making her blush. She immediately got up to hide her face.
"Are you feeling better, Sarah?" She didn't respond, all she could think was Jamie's face at the moment. She only smiled to herself, it was all silliness. At least, she convinced herself.
"Yes, thank you. I'm feeling better now. Where is everyone.?" Leena turned away as so did Jamie. "Oh no."
Far Away
Life was now the prize at hand. It was the most important priority in Mia's hands now. As she looked at Bit who's blood now had stained the seat of her jeep. The red tainted spot showing the history of the events that had taken place earlier.
"Hang in there, Bit. I need you to stay alive for me. For P5 and the world's future." Mia smiled at herself. Her dream was coming true. The excitement, the adrenaline running and her heart pounding. She grabbed Bit's hand which also shared the tainted color. "Let's do this together, Bit."
A few miles behind, a half repaired Berserk Fury chased the trail furiously. "I'm coming Bit. Don't die just yet!"
The moon was now glancing while awaiting for the sun's departure. Clouds giving way to the brave stars that began to appear above them.
Blitz
Leena was now in the chase for the grand prize. Along with her were Sarah and Jamie who seemed to be avoiding each other's stare. Still, all this made little importance to Leena. Only Bit laid in her mind. Her heart racing for him and her mind fearing the worst had happened. She couldn't bear to lose him. She wouldn't. She'd have to kill herself if anything ever took him away from her. Sarah noticed the tears forming in Leena's eyes.
"Leena..."
They soon reached a station close to Crystal Lake, where they had pinpointed P5 was buried. The car was low on fuel and so were their stomachs. Still, no one wanted to waste more time than needed. Jamie quickly filled the gas tank and before too long they were on the road again.
"Leena, what will you do when we get there?" Said Jamie as he looked into the clouds expecting something to fall for his questions.
"I don't know, Jamie. I just know that I have to save Bit, no matter what." Her heart raced every time she thought of him. It raced and it pained her.
"What about you, Sarah?" The question caught Sarah off guard making her blush. Again, she had no excuse for the reason. "I don't know, Jamie. I just want to find Vega." Jamie sighed. He felt the tense in the air lessen.
"Jamie," Leena turned towards her friend as they slowed down to a stop, "why is it that you and Sarah seem to be avoiding each other?" Sarah reddened fast and turned away. "You two should stop hiding from each other, if you like each other, just admit it." The tense Jamie had lessened earlier seemed to have grown in just seconds.
"We...I can't believe you, Leena? C'mon, he is 5 years younger than me." Leena smiled. "If you love someone like I love Bit, will you let anything stand in your way stop you from being with that...person." Leena's tears had found there way back to her face. Even if she tried to smile through them. "I know...I know he is waiting for me. He promised he be there for me...he promised..."
A/N: So, so, so, sorry for the long delay. Writer's block and personal life kept me away from this fic for the longest. Still, finishing this chapter has diminished the pressure I had to write it sooner or later. I fill more relaxed, next chapter will be on regular schedule (I hope) :)