Alright! That last battle was pretty fucking brutal! Alzack died along with several other mages, including one of the Trimens! This didn't even include the massive casualties of the city dying! But now I have a nice springboard for the battle of Corren. Then the next one should be meeting Natsumi during the 'mop up' of the Woodworth region. Now some have asked me if Hisui will be in the harem and I have to say no. While I can have Natsu and her get together for an evening, she wont be joining. Also! The anime convention chapter will be happening, but it can tie in perfectly for chapter 31! So if I post a different one-shot before then, don't worry! Lets see...what else... OH! Got like eleven reviews on my last chapter so thanks everybody! It was awesome! Now onto the story! I still dont own Gears of War or Fairy Tail...
Chapter 29: Corren
Sera. Gale 17th Year 16 A.E. CNV 'Raven's Nest' en-route to Corren
"Alright Gears listen up!" ordered Hoffman as he stood at the front of the briefing room filled with Gears. The bucking and swaying of the deck was barely noticeable as the the aircraft carrier and her escorts traveled south along the Tyran coast. But this was not an issue for the soldiers as they gave the Colonel their attention. Seeing that he had the respect of the room, the grizzled veteran started to speak.
"As all of you know, a few days ago our allies fought a devastating battle in universe 137-C. Queen Myrrah sent a locust army through a portal to invade and capture the "Magnolia Gate' which has become a vital lifeline for food, medicine, and supplies we need. Her ultimate goal was to invade Jacincto and destroy both our peoples. Fortunately, Natsu Dragneel and his people managed to stop and destroy them with a tactical strike with their own Etherion Cannon. The loss of life was heavy for them, over two percent of their country died in a single battle. But that event brought us here today" he paused before a large map was lit up behind him. It was a sprawling industrial city with a river snaking through its center before flowing into the bay. The river flowed south before turning eastward for a mile. Another bend in the waterway dragged it south once more as it fed into the ocean. Studying the map, the ruined metropolis had developed on the southern shore of the continent while a cracked and ruined hiway snaked off to the north. Several hills and mountains were to the east with several smaller roads leading to them.
"This is the city of Corren. It is your target. When you Gears get on the ground, you will have two objectives. The main target is the mines to the east of the city. You'll be attacking from the western hills. It is here we believe the locust have built their dimensional gate inside the old mining tunnels. The secondary objective is this camp near these old factories on the north side of the river" he indicated before Erza Scarlet raised her hand. Nodding to her, the veteran spoke.
"What's so important about this camp, Colonel?"
"It's a slave camp. The locust have been raiding stranded settlements and bringing the survivors to work in the few operating factories which run on the old power plant to the west. Intel suggests they're used to make bullets, guns, and other ordinance. We think there are several hundred survivors, but our satellites aren't what they used to be" He finished as he watched the pain wash over the young woman's eyes. "That's right...she was a slave as a child..." Clearing his thoughts, the leader went back to the briefing. "Zulu and Baker companies will move directly against the mines. I'll make sure you have some Centuars to support you men as you attack from the suburbs along with fire support from our ships. "
Echo" Victor momentarily paused as he studied the four soldiers near the front of the room before resuming. "Your moving against the camp. I'm hoping the locust will be drawn by the main attack and allow you to liberate anybody there. But we all know how those bastards like to ruin our day. Now any questions?" Seeing another raised hand, he pointed to the Gear.
"Sir, should we try to capture this second portal?"
"No. Destroy it on sight" the Colonel replied. Seeing no other questions, he dismissed the men and women going into harms way. "Echo...I'd like to talk with you four" the older man asked as the four mages stayed behind. Walking up to them, his gaze momentarily softened. "Are you four up for this? You all did fight in a major battle less than a week ago"
"We'll be fine sir. Plus we need to destroy that gate and rescue those people...we can't leave them to the locust..." Erza replied as the leader nodded his head. "Alright. And you've explained to your guild back home that they can't be participating in this battle?"
"We have Colonel. While Levy and a few others are still on stand-by just in case, most are still in mourning" Sam replied in a steady tone.
"That's probably for the best...but you four should get ready. We'll be in range within the hour" he lightly ordered before turning and walking to bridge, leaving the soldiers alone.
"Who is on standby back home anyway?" Glenn asked as the four headed to the armory.
"Grey, Lucy, Juvia, and Knightwalker. But I made it abundantly clear they can only come through if we are stuck up shit creek. Don't need anymore dead friends" Natsu replied as he was flanked by Sam and Erza.
"What about Bisca?" asked the red-head.
"Cana, Lisanna, and a few of the others are keeping her company. I know she wont do anything regrettable, but she could use support" the male replied as they arrived at the armory. While the squad was already in their armor, it never hurt to make sure they had enough ammunition. Watching as Natsu and Erza stored extra grenades and ammunition, Glenn couldn't help but scowl a bit.
"You know...sometimes I get jealous you three can do all this fancy magic stuff" the asian commented lightly as he made sure each pocket had a fresh magazine for his lancer. His trusty boomshot adorned his back armor plate along with six spare shells.
"I wouldn't sweat it man. Nobody swings a bat like you can" Natsu replied as they headed to the flight deck. Walking through the corridors of the ship over the next ten minutes, they emerged into rising sunlight and clear skies.
"At least it's warmer. Don't think I could handle another freezing mission like Halvo" Sam told the others as they headed toward one of the raven's in the mild southern winter. Dozens of the machines were prepping for take-off while a few Centaurs rested on the deck, waiting to be air lifted to the battle site. A few hundred Gears were making final preparations, several waving or giving simple greetings to Echo Squad. Nodding in return, the four climbed into the cabin of their transport. Waiting for the start of the mission, the group started to idly talk.
"Hey...did you guys hear that more towns have fallen to remaining locust in the Woodworth region?" asked Glenn twenty minutes later as the pilot climbed in, starting up the rotors.
"Yeah...I heard that" muttered Natsu as he sat next to Erza, the woman with a tired look on her face as she was deep in thought. "Those damn monsters...already over a quarter million dead and now these locust stragglers that escaped the Etherion are just butchering their way across the country side. Already thousands more have perished. Queen Hisui has already ordered evacuations of the whole region while moving in countless Rune Knights with the new rifles. But still...the atrocities are mounting..." she thought sadly as the raven lifted into the sky. Moving across the water toward the ruined city, the helicopter soon broke away from the pack as it headed toward the center of the ruined metropolis.
"I'll be setting you down on 'Cornik Boulevard' It's the closest I can get to the camp without drawing AA or Nemacyst" the pilot told the squad as the King Raven banked downward. The telltale sounds of hail on the underside of the transport gave the four human's knowledge of hardships ahead as the helicopter came into a low cover.
"MOVE!" yelled out Sam as she and the others quickly jumped down the last few feet onto the cracked pavement. Rushing toward a rusting car, she felt a staggering hammerburst round deflect off her shoulder armor before finally reaching safety. Seeing Glenn next to her, Sam nodded as Erza and Natsu took cover behind a concrete barricade to her left. Popping up over the hood of the car, she fired off a quick burst at the closest drone. The bullets smashed through its body, killing the monster instantly as it fell into the street. Ducking down as deadly lead sped her way, she grimaced as the dozen remaining grubs started to move upward.
"Man...fuck these assholes" Glenn shouted out over the gunfire. Leaning out around the side of the rusting trunk, he fired a string of heavy rounds as they smashed into the legs of a sprinting locust soldier. Watching the creature as it tried to crawl to safety, Glenn fired another few bullets into its body to kill it off. Leaning back, he had noticed that the locust numbers were quickly dwindling as the veteran's dispatched more and more of the monsters. Grabbing a grenade from his belt, the non-magic user stood up as a lull in the firing gave him opportunity. Throwing the grenade in a wide arc, it landed behind an overturned truck that had three grub soldiers hiding behind it.
The explosion of steel and shrapnel raced through the air as two of the enemies exploded in an orgy of gore. Seeing one of them jump out of cover to escape death as she rose above the concrete block, Erza simply gunned it down in the middle of the street as her accurate gunfire turned its head to horrible ruin. Watching as the evil creatures started to fall back, the red-head burst from cover. Knowing that Natsu had her back, she ran toward an enemy cowering behind another ruined car. Revving up her chainsaw, she smirked at the fear in its eyes.
"DIE MONSTER!" she yelled in fury as bullets screamed back and forth around her. Bringing the deadly blades down, her weapon dug into the grubs shoulder as sprays of blood and gore splashed against her armor in a nightmarish spray of crimson. Knowing it was dead, Erza ducked behind the same car as the remaining drones tried to rally. Blind firing around the corner of the bumper, the female was rewarded with howls of pain. Taking a quick glance, she saw one of the enemy running forward to help his comrade.
"Oh no you don't.." she muttered to herself before opening fire once more. Watching as her bullets smashed into its throat, she knew it was dead as it fell on the crawling grub as their blood leaked onto the pavement.
"Damn grubs..." Natsu muttered as he fired at a locust soldier toward his front. The bullets went high before the Gear ducked back down. Hearing the sound of concrete shattering under gunfire, the man waited for the onslaught to stop. Springing back up, he fired on the same locust again with better results. Watching it fall backward with a monstrous groan as its heart was completely destroyed, Natsu spotted the last four huddled behind some old police barricades. Letting loose a fireball from from his blue colored gloves, the remaining four were incinerated in a flash of fire and ash. The crackling of burning flesh was ignored by the soldiers as the area was overcome with silence. Seeing the roadway clear, the four soldiers stood up as they quickly regrouped and reloaded.
"Hell of welcome party" mentioned Glenn as he kicked the dead body of one of the drones.
"At least we didn't get shot out of the sky" Natsu replied as Sam nodded.
"Got that right. Now let's move. We still have ten blocks and a river to cross" ordered the Sergeant as the four started to walk down the shattered boulevard. Like every other city, this one was washed in destruction as numerous buildings had chunks bitten out or simply collapsed from negligence or war. Reeds were starting to poke up through cracks in the pavement, bringing new life to the desolation as the four continued to walk north.
"Thank the COG that Corren is so far south. This sixty degree day is downright balmy" mentioned Glenn as he walked near Natsu, the man once again on point as they walked along the ruined road.
"Don't get used to it. Storm is heading this way in the next few hours" Samantha told the man as her heavy boots crunched against the pavement. The next two blocks were uneventful except for the occasional burst of gun or cannon fire to the east as the other Gears began their own attack. "At least it doesn't sound too bad yet..." the salmon haired Gear thought as they came to their first obstruction. The top half of a twenty story building had fallen diagonally across the intersection to the west, spilling tons of brick and steel into the roadway as the remaining stories reached to the sky in ruin.
"TAKE COVER!" Screamed out Natsu as his nose picked up the scent of locust nearby. His warning was just in time as bullets filled the air, the heavy machine gun rounds screaming at the four humans as they took cover behind two large blocks of concrete that were once the buildings outer wall.
"Fuck! That Troika has us pinned down!" Sam said in fury as the hailstorm of fire continued from the ruined first floor of the apartment. The loud report of a sniper round smashing away chips of stone kept the soldiers heads down as Sam formulated a plan.
"Scarlet! Toss some smoke! Parks! Get that Boomshot ready! Once you fire, everybody move!" she commanded over the gunfire as the locust kept them pinned down. Watching Erza toss the proper grenade over the lip of the concrete as it landed in the street, the four waited as the billowing smoke started to fill the area. Exposing himself as little as possible, Glenn fired off a grenade round as it sped through the air. Not waiting to see where it landed, the man followed his Sergeant as she sprinted across the street with the others. Using the cloud to stay hidden from the sniper, the four Gears stacked up against the ruined opening to the living room of the old apartment. Not giving the locust time to recover, Sam burst from cover as she shot the closest locust in the face in the ruined dwelling. Moving past the flayed body of the machine gunner, she ran forward before taking cover in front of a ruined couch. Joined by Erza, the two women stayed low as three more drones fired from behind an overturned dining table.
"FRAG OUT!" shouted Natsu as he threw the grenade in a wide arc from the shattered opening in the wall. Bursting to the left of the table moments later, the walls were painted with gore as two grubs exploded into bloody horror. Seeing his two comrades die, the remaining locust soldier tried to make its way to the staircase in the main hallway of the apartment building. The thundering gunfire from the four ended its life before it made it halfway to the stairs as it fell among the ruins of the old wall.
"Upstairs. That sniper needs to die" the brunette ordered as she led the way up the steps. Coming to the second floor landing, she braced herself against the support column. Looking down the hallway from her cover, a locust was charging forward with a shotgun at the ready. The deadly cone of lead went high, only a few connecting with her armor as she ignored the gunshot. Leveling her lancer, she pulled the trigger just as the drone recocked the handle of the Gnasher. Bullets ripping through its stomach, the monster dropped its gun as it slowly bled out on the dusty floor. Walking up, Sam didn't waste anytime before bringing her boot down in a sickening crunch. Knowing that her squad was behind her, the female moved along the hallway toward the far end of the building. Staying crouched low, she was happy for her foresight as another deadly round smashed through the plaster several feet above her head. Feeling the small chips land in her hair, the female Gear stopped at the doorway. Realizing the enemy would still be reloading, Natsu ran past before appearing in the entranceway. Spotting the drone working the bolt, the male simply shot it in the throat with a short burst as the tendons in its neck were almost severed. Watching his hated enemy fall through the window of the room, the man checked for any other threats. Finding none, he turned to his squad who had joined him.
"We're good for now"
"Alright. Check your ammo and head back downstairs" the Sergeant ordered her squad as they clambered back to the first floor. Seeing the original entrance-way collapsed with ruin, the four were back on the street heading east. Spreading out, the soldiers remained quiet as they moved past several rusting cars and shattered shops. Arriving at a T-intersection one block over, Natsu braced himself at the corner. Looking up the street, he saw a dozen of the enemy as they maintained position near another barricade. Luckily for the human's, they hadn't been spotted yet.
"Man...these fucking shitbags" mentioned Natsu as he quickly gathered flames in his mouth. Unleashing a billowing roar moments later, the cone of fire washed over the vile creatures as their skin and flesh quickly lit aflame. Horrid screams reached the squad's ears, bringing a small tug of joy to the dragon slayer as the four moved up. Walking past the still writhing corpses, the Gears didn't even bother executing them, intent on letting them suffer instead. Wrinkling her nose at the burning flesh, Erza joined Natsu at the front as they headed north once more.
"Those things always smell horrible when they burn" she mentioned to her boyfriend as she kept an eye out for ambushes, her combat boots crunching along the pavement and broken glass.
"Yeah...I know" Natsu replied as the cracks of gunfire drifted from the east. Letting out a sigh, the man knew their comrades were starting to face opposition by the increase in volume. Continuing to move north, Echo squad managed to make it three more blocks before more ruins of civilization impeded their progress. Looking at the gridlock of vehicles across the roadway, the squad knew they couldn't pass through. The tinkling of glass twenty feet away gave them pause as each soldier hefted their weapon toward the mass of vehicles as light ticking could be heard.
"SCHREEEECH!"
Snapping his head to the left, Glenn saw a pack of Wretches starting to gallop down an open alleyway as they gripped the walls with their deadly claws. "Wretches!" the man bellowed as he opened fire with Sam, nailing the leader in the face as the gunfire lit up the air. The scurrying and ticking of locust landmines from the gridlock clenched his heart in fear, but the man pushed through as he and Sam continued to enact a deadly toll on the hideous creatures.
"Keep the tickers away from the others!" Natsu yelled out as a dozen of the living landmines burst out from underneath the cars. Kicking one away as it got too close, the detonation had started already as it landed among a knot of its brethren. The small explosive lit up the street, spreading dead flesh and shrapnel through the air as four of them died instantly.
"Fuck these little bastards!" Erza uttered in anger as she constantly switched targets, killing numerous tickers as they got a constant stream of reinforcements. Shooting her fifth one in as many seconds, it blew up in angry fire as bloody pieces spread across the road. Hearing the revving of a chainsaw, Erza took a quick glance over her shoulder to see Sam cutting through one of the wretches that had leapt at her.
"Ugly fucking thing..." the brunette muttered as flesh and gore adorned her armor. Stepping up past the dead monster, she gathered her magic at the remaining six down the alleyway as they continued to run forward. Letting loose a minor blast, the crackling orb of destruction slammed into the lead wretch, vaporizing it instantly as the magical attack detonated. The remaining five died in screams of anger and fire, their ashen bodies consumed by the woman's magic. Unfortunately, her destruction had also slammed into a building at the far end of the alleyway, taking out a supporting wall and several vertical columns of the neighboring six story structure. Watching as it started to lean toward them and the alley, she turned to the others as they continued to fight off the ticker swarm.
"RUN! It's coming down!" she warned before running across the street to the far side. Kicking open the door to an old book store, the Sergeant burst inside as her squad quickly followed. Slamming it shut on several tickers trying to escape the falling ruin as Natsu ran through last, the four hurried away from the wall toward the far side of the building. With a resounding crash and horrible cracking sound, the entrance-way collapsed inward as the falling building spilled glass, concrete, and other debris into the abandoned store.
"Dammit Sam...watch were you fling your magic" Natsu muttered as he checked the squads surroundings.
"Whatever. Those bastards deserved it" she replied before walking toward the collapsed north wall of the bookstore. It had fallen years ago, leading into an old children's toy store. Walking over the pile of rubble, the Sergeant let out a soft sigh at the ruins of her civilization. "When...when will this world know peace?" she internally thought while looking down at a torn doll on the floor. Boots walking past the rotting books that had spilled into the store, the brunette moved forward as particles of dust coated every surface.
"Rumble...rumble..."
"We got incoming!" shouted Scarlet as she took cover underneath the opening for the old display window. Joining her was Glenn as Natsu and Sam braced against either side of the doorway. Taking a swift glance into the street, the salmon haired man saw three E-holes crumble the pavement as numerous cars and piles of concrete littered the road.
"Close em up!" Sam ordered while flinging a frag grenade toward the closest hole. It went high, bouncing safely into the street as it detonated uselessly. Glenn fared much better, his own explosive closing the one on the left. But during those few seconds, the remaining grubs had spilled forth into the road. Gunfire soon filled the air from a dozen rifles while a lumbering Boomer climbed out of the center hole.
"Hehehe...BOOOM!" it graveled out as it pulled the trigger.
"SHIT!" Natsu let out as he ducked back along with Sam as the two braced themselves in the entrance-way. Ignoring the snapping bullets crashing into the brickwork, they waited for the explosive to hit. Fortunately, it flew right down the middle of the ruined doorway before detonating against the old counter in back. Sighing in slight relief, the pinkette came out of cover and opened fire on the behemoth. Bullets staggering and walking up its body, the male grinned in satisfaction as the final three smashed into its chest, bursting out the back in a cone of splintered bone and blood as they ruined its spine.
Watching the boomer fall, Glenn elected his heavier weapon to deal with the locust. Coming up out of his crouch, the male staggered as a stray round slammed into his armor plate. Ignoring the pain, he fired at two of the drones huddling behind a pile of concrete. The grenade landed perfectly, turning the two to mincmeat as Erza popped up next to him. Watching the woman shatter the kneecap of a drone sprinting forward, the two ducked back down as the remaining seven soldiers unleashed hell on their shattered window. Seeing that the monsters were distracted, Sam leaned out of cover, her lancer at the as she opened fire. Killing a drone crouched behind a car still parked along the streets side, the woman nodded to her lover. Bursting out of the doorway, the two sprinted in a low crouch as gunfire cracked the air above their heads. Reaching the ruined vehicle, Natsu switched to his flamethrower.
"Cover me Sam" he said over his shoulder before moving from cover once more. Feet pounding across the pavement, he targeted a lone drone behind a large block of rubble. The locust saw him, but would not be able to bring its hammerburst to bear in time as Natsu plunged the nozzle into its stomach.
"Buurnnn..." the man hissed out as he squeezed the trigger. The monsters howls were music to his ears as it burned alive from the inside, its organs roasting and dying as flames shot out of its mouth and eyes. Taking his new cover moments later, he huddled down as the remaining three locust tried to kill him. Seeing her precious Natsu in trouble, Erza jumped over the low wall before running to the closest cover she could find.
"Try to hurt my dragon..." she told herself as the man huddled down twenty feet away, the bullets coming from two directions. Sam and Glenn were firing, trying to get beads on the remaining monsters, but were hampered by rubble in the way. Seeing a lone drone firing from Natsu's left, the scarlet haired woman broke cover and moved up to the next block of cover. Leaning around the side, she had a perfect shot. Opening fire, she hit the grub in the side with gunfire. Seeing blood spill from numerous wounds, the woman quickly ran up. Grabbing the beast, she used it as a meatshield as she turned to the last two. One had turned toward her, opening fire on his dying comrade. Feeling the staggering blows being absorbed by her shield, the woman ignored it before using her boltok to shoot the monster in the head. The explosion of gore and bone happened in a heart beat as she switched targets. Luckily, the last one was being dealt with as Natsu fired a burst into its face. Snapping her hostages neck with a sickening crack, silence soon came over the street as the four gathered.
'Is everybody alright?" asked Sam as Glenn helped himself to some Boomshot rounds.
"Yeah...I'm good" replied the Corporal as he reloaded his weapons. Nodding her head, Sam looked north as more gunfire and the starts of screaming could be heard. "We better hurry..." she lightly ordered as her squad nodded in agreement. Breaking off into a light sprint, the four moved along the partially gridlocked roadway. The next few streets were relatively calm, the only threat being a few tickers which had been dealt with easily. But the sounds of distant battle was getting worse as the tinge of water crept into the humans senses. Knowing they were closing in on the river, Echo Squad was once again hampered by rubble in the road. Turning east onto another wide roadway that was four lanes wide, the group was immediately brought under fire once more. Rushing to the old police line and concrete partitions running horizontally across the street, the Gears started firing their next battle. Murderous gunfire was snapping and cracking through the air from numerous locust, including heavy machine gun fire as they waited for an opening.
"God-damn grinder!" Natsu yelled out over the din of combat as he quickly popped up out of cover to fire a burst at the lumbering behemoth. Bullets punching through the heavy helmet, it slewed the machine gun fire to the side. Three drones were cut down, the heavy rounds smashing bone and muscle alike as the remaining locust hunkered down.
"We gotta keep them distracted! Zulu and Baker companies are still moving against the mines!" screamed out Sam as she blind-fired over the barricade, her rounds hitting locust flesh.
"Yeah! I know!" Dragneel shot back as he reloaded. Looking over, Erza was firing into a ruined store on the left side of the street, trying to kill the monsters inside.
"Fuck! These guys are pissing me off" she growled out before hurling a grenade into the store. Seconds later it exploded, debris and bloody parts her reward as she ducked back down.
"They're falling back! Keep hitting em!" shouted Glenn as he leapt over the barricade. Surging forward, he brought his rifle down onto the neck of another locust, the spinning blades digging into the flesh as blood and viscera sprayed against his armor.
"That's right! Fucking die!" the man yelled with hate as the squad moved forward, killing the last few drones as they tried to disengage. Moving further up the street, Natsu stopped at a corner before taking a quick peek. A locust barricade had been set up, blocking the street as two machine guns could be seen while crewed by numerous locust. Ducking back, he silently cursed before looking back at his squad. "We got a nest with no fucking cover. I could try blasting them out, but chances are I'll get shot"
"What about that alley across the street?" indicated Sam as the group looked at the abandoned alleyway.
"That could work. But we'd..."
The ground started trembling, the soldiers instantly knowing what could be coming as they looked around for any incoming E-holes. Looking behind her, Erza studied the street they just fought on as a large portion of the roadway ballooned upwards before collapsing down. Her eyes widened in horror as numerous large limbs shot out of the ground. It barely took five seconds for the terrifying corpser to emerge before it let out a bellowing roar, the massive maw showing numerous teeth the size of a man.
"MOVE! Don't stop for anything!" commanded Sam as the four soldiers burst out of cover, heading for the alley as the large monster gave chase. Gunfire was already ripping through the air, trying to claim the lives of the four as tracers filled the street. Making it to safety, Erza barely looked back as the monstrosity slammed into the opening, trying to kill the four soldiers as they continued to move.
"Like hell I'm letting this asshole chase us through the whole fucking city!" Samantha said as she turned toward the large arachnid. Building up her magic as she pushed her two palms together, the Gear targeted its massive, snarling head even as the brickwork and structure started to give way.
"LASER LIGHT!" she yelled in hate and fury as her deadly magic raced down the alleyway. Smashing into its face, the blast ripped away all the eyes on the left side of its head as it howled in pain. Realizing these humans could harm it, the arachnid quickly burrowed into the street, shattering the pavement as it retreated underground. Taking cover behind some old dumpsters and recessed doorways, the Gears were under immediate fire from the locust. They had abandoned their post, hoping to kill the humans. Unfortunately for them, the corpser's tunnel had dislodged some of the old supports in the ground of the corner buildings.
"CRACK!"
The old apartment building collapsed across the alleyway, killing all the drones as the tons of debris crushed them without mercy. Billowing smoke rushed down the narrow passage, covering the four in light dust. The sounds of coughing could be heard as Natsu looked at his three squad-mates a few minutes later.
"Well...that was fucking fun..." he mentioned as he stood up. Shaking the dust from his hair, he saw his two girlfriends do the same as more screams and gunfire echoed through the air.
"When you mention it...no" Glenn replied as he patted himself down. Looking at his surroundings, the male could see the alleyway split off in two directions. While technically it was an old shopping district for only pedestrians, the war had ended that as the path led east into the unknown. Halfway down however was a T-intersection, resting near an old outdoor cafe and newsstand. The crackling of electricity in the dust laden air gave the squad pause as a hovering window with Levy's image appeared.
"Natsu! You all need to hurry! The locust know your heading for the camp! They've started killing the prisoners! Take the intersection path north toward the...Twelfth Street Bridge. Its raised right now so you'll have to figure it out! But please hurry!" the woman pleaded before shutting off the comm window.
"You heard her! Let's move!" ordered Sam in a commanding tone as the four Gears hurried down the garbage and debris strewn path. Coming to the north bound corner, they momentarily checked for threats. Seeing none except for more ruin, the soldiers pressed on. Ten minutes later they were at the mentioned bridge, the span across the water raised halfway at a forty degree angle along with its companion across the water. Gunfire and screaming could be heard clearly from the north now as well as heavy explosions to the East. Feeling the plight of the people in the slave camp, Erza rushed to the guard house while the others kept watch. Finding the controls, she pulled the switch to lower the bridge. When nothing happened, she tried again. Getting the same result, she smashed her fist into the console, anger across her features.
"DAMMIT! Why isn't it working!"
Feeling a presence next to her, she watched as Natsu studied the controls for a brief moment. "The power's cut...we have to reconnect it" he ordered before leaving the tiny building. Spotting a ladder leading down along the side of the sidewalk, the Gear started to climb down as Erza promptly followed. Boots clanging onto the steel walkway for maintenance personnel, the duo moved around the corner as the river flowed below them. Seeing a lone wretch feeding on the old power lines, Erza simply shot it in the head as its body fell and rolled into the murky water below.
"Explains why the power's cut..." Natsu mumbled as he studied the damage. Luckily for them, it seemed like the monster had just started to destroy the cables.
"Can you fix it? Those people..." Erza asked softly, worry and anger clutching her heart.
"Yeah...gimme a minute" her boyfriend replied as he started to rewire frayed and chewed lines. Watching him work, the female couldn't help but notice the blue gloves with flames on them adorning his hands.
"That's right...he promised Juvia he would wear them on every mission. He keeps his promises...even the small ones" she thought before he broke her out of her thoughts.
"Go try it now. Just don't expect this to work again" he told her as the hasty repairs were barely adequate for anything. Turning and running, she was back in the control shack within moments. Pulling the lever a third time, Erza was rewarded with a shifting of gears and machinery as the drawbridge slowly lowered. Rejoining the others moments later, the squad waited for the roadway to finish lowering. The cracking of gunfire over their heads meant more of the monsters as half a dozen bloodmounts with their riders appeared at the far end of the bridge as it finally lowered into place.
"DRAGNEEL! Roast these fuckers! We don't have time to dick around with them!" shouted Sam as she opened fire while standing in the open, no semblance of cover nearby as the remaining soldiers started trading shots with the hellish abominations. Gathering his breath for his signature attack, Natsu flinched as a hammerburst round cracked past his ear. "Too close! Another two inches over and I'd be done!" he yelled inside his head as the monsters started to rush closer.
"FIRE DRAGON"S ROAR!" he yelled with hate as the cone of fire washed over the metal spanway and approaching locust. Their screams and dying horror was immediate as the flesh started to burn and drip from their bodies. Running past the flailing and dying creatures, the squad continued up the street with heavy footsteps as dark clouds started to gather in the sky. The district they were in had once been the industrial heart of the city, but no more as many of the factories and warehouses had been ruined by war. Ignoring the sounds of gunfire and screaming just ahead, the four found themselves in a a cul-du-sac as a large factory sat at the far end of the road.
"Huuummmannss!"a Kantus pointed out with a snarl from the locust position near the double doors of the half collapsed structure. Two old semi-haulers were still in the loading dock on the right, the drivers presumably long dead as Echo took cover were they could. Ducking down behind a steel column encased in concrete, the four soldiers started trading shots with the drones. The Kantus Priest was spraying sub-machine gun fire through the air, its rapid fire mixing in with the crack and loud bursts from weapons on either side as he lead the twenty grubs in battle. Looking around for any options, Sam spotted a low wall running along the road she was on as an idea formed in her head.
"Scarlet! Bring out a mulcher and keep them busy with Dragneel! Parks! Your with me!" she ordered over the sound of heavy gunfire. Moving in a crouch, her and Glenn sprinted across the narrow gap between cover before leaping over the low wall. Hearing bullets chipping away at brickwork on the other side, the brunette knew that the grubs would figure out her plan.
"Let's move and flank em!" she told the man as she moved up along the wall. Staying hidden from enemy fire, the duo soon heard the heavy sound of machine gun fire as Erza and Natsu kept the locust occupied with the battle.
"DIE YOU BASTARDS!" Erza yelled in hate as she tacked the heavy weapon back and forth, the stream of fire colliding with a trio of locust that were caught in the open. The bullets tore them to pieces, limbs and chunks of flesh flying from their bodies as she ducked into cover, letting the weapon cool. Looking over, she saw Natsu with a longshot in his hands as the gunfire continued to snap and crack above their heads. Grimacing in a deep scowl, the pinkette bid his time as a locust threw a grenade behind their cover. Eyes widening, the male instantly grabbed it before throwing it back, not caring where it landed. Using the confusion of the explosion, the Gear rose out of cover to find his target. Spotting the Kantus hiding behind one of the support columns for the factory entrance, the male waited for the creature to lean its head out as he peered down the scope. The second the priest showed itself, Natsu pulled the trigger as the bullet crossed the fifty foot gap between them in the blink of an eye. Watching as its head burst like a rotting watermelon, the Corporal ducked back down as he sent his sniper rifle away before bringing his lancer to bear once more. Aiming at one of the large blocks on the right seconds later, he saw one of the enemy aiming at Erza. Firing a heavy burst, the bullets smashed its chest to ruin as blood arced through the air. Taking cover with his precious girlfriend, he waited as more gunfire cascaded through the air above their heads.
"Looks like thirteen left" he told her as she reloaded the machine gun, the barrel still glowing red from the friction of heavy firing.
"Good. The others should be in position" Erza replied as locust bullets continued to smash chips away at their temporary safe haven. "The camp...it's right on the other side of this ruined factory...I can feel it" she told herself before resting her mulcher on the lip of the fallen support column as Natsu joined her in opening fire once more as their bullets tore through the air.
Crouching low against the wall with her partner, Sam and Glenn could hear the sounds of battle before them. Not wasting another moment, the two came out of cover as they poured lancer rounds into the exposed flanks of the remaining locust soldiers. Empty shells casings clattering against the pavement, Glenn saw the combined fire of the four Gears decimate the grubs as they died in horror. Blood burst from numerous wounds as bone shattered and broke, the attack not sparing any of the creatures. Targeting one that decided charging was its final option, the male shot it in the throat even as the drone held it's lancer high above its head. Clutching the ghastly wound as it tried to stem the bleeding, the remaining locust gurgled on its life blood as Echo squad walked past it to the large double doors.
'Through here. I can hear them…" Natsu uttered darkly before kicking the metal door open. Bursting inside, the Gears came under fire once more from a Troika set up on an elevated office across the room of the factory. The wall had been blasted out, giving the locust a perfect view of the whole floor where the slaves had worked mere hours before. Running for all she was worth, Erza huddled behind a conveyor belt that was still warm from recent use, the machinery sitting on a metal block every ten yards. Feeling Glenn next to her, she tried to find her boyfriend and Sergeant. Spotting them to her left, she sighed relief as more drones fired from other positions on the factory floor.
"The hell we do? That thing has us pinned down!" Parks shouted as bullets sparked and panged off of the machinery before them. Blind firing over the lip of the belt, he hopefully nailed on of the grubs as the machine gun started to reach a fever pitch.
"Just cover me while that bastard reloads!" the knight bellowed as the dozen grubs on the ground floor continued to fight with Natsu and Sam, the two not using magic for fear of hitting any nearby humans. Hearing the machine gun nest finally go silent, Erza summoned some of her own magic as she targeted the old, second floor office. Pulling a lone mortar shell form her re-equip space, she flung it at the murderous drone. The explosive did its job, detonating upon contact as it washed the room with deadly shrapnel and fire, flaying the grub to bloody pieces. Watching as the room collapsed downward, she smirked internally as the debris crushed two of the locust huddling by a nearby piece of machinery.
"NICE ONE!" cheered out Natsu to his girlfriend before leaping over the belt. Rushing forward, he slammed into cover behind another heavy console as bullets pinged and smashed the metal. Leaning around the side, he shot at a drone, his veteran accuracy ensuring a kill as the speeding lead punched through its chest. Ducking back as a trio of bullets sparked off of the corner, he reloaded his lancer as his squad moved up with him.
Running past Natsu's position, Sam got into cover behind a support pillar as two locust soldiers started firing at her from behind an old shipping crate, the bullets sparking and hissing gouges into the rusting steel. Grabbing a grenade from her belt, she flung it over her shoulder as Erza fired on one of the monsters. Hearing the heavy 'crump' of a grenade detonating mere moments later, the Sergeant was rewarded with locust screams. Taking a quick glance, both were down as the wood had mixed with the deadly projectiles, ripping into their bodies as blood leaked onto the factory floor. Only two of the enemy were left now, huddling behind a conveyor belt still adorned with the half complete forms of several rifles.
Knowing the fight was almost over, Erza and Glenn moved up as they quickly moved through the maze of machinery. Finding a good position as the two drones reloaded, the busty redhead crouched low as she sidled against the narrow end of a fallen block of concrete. Leaning out to the right, she had the perfect target. Firing a long burst, her rifle fire dug into the enemies sides as vital organs were ruptured and destroyed, causing massive damage as the rounds burst out the opposite side. Not wanting to wait and watch them die, she moved through the half destroyed factory to the far wall with the rest of Echo, intent on rescuing any slave survivors. Climbing through the opening, they didn't notice the smell at first…but then it hit them just as the sights of horrors reached their eyes. What had been a green space and park for the numerous workers in years past had been turned into a carnal house of death. Hundreds of burning bodies laid on the ground, the fresh flames still licking at the flesh as the smell of burning pork reached the soldiers noses. Twisted limbs reached for the sky in their final death throes, skin blackened and peeling as ashes rose from the charred bodies. In the center were six locust with flame-throwers, prodding the last three survivors to a large pit in the center of the land that was filled with even more deceased. It looked like they were three young girls, but this wasn't important to the Gears as they rushed forward.
Natsu immediately reacted, opening fire on the locust as he shot from the hip, hoping to delay the deaths of the children. Hitting the tank of one, fuel started to leak out as it burned before brewing up in a bloody fireball as it took another of the drones into death. Barely twenty feet away now, the dragon-slayer could see the evil grins of one of the locust as it pressed the trigger, pointing the nozzle toward the defenseless children. Knowing he would have to do something vile, Natsu started to inhale the liquid fuel from the Scorcher as they flew toward his mouth. But…being a dragon-slayer…all the nearby fire did the same thing…including the charred flames from the countless burning bodies around him. Choking on the ash and flames tainted with the roasted flesh of dead people, Natsu bore through it as the young girls lives were sparred.
Realizing the absolute nightmare her boyfriend was going through, Sam and the others quickly gunned down the remaining locust with efficiency before Dragneel collapsed to one knee, gasping for breath. "Don't think about it…don't think about the flames you just ate…"
"Natsu man…are you alright?" asked Glenn as he stood nearby, concern across his features. Watching as the salmon-haired soldier slowly climbed to his feet, the asian man could almost feel the anguish surrounding his friend.
"I'll be fine…" the veteran replied before slowly walking toward the children. They all looked to be ten to twelve years old and in good health, surprisingly unknown for how the locust treat prisoners. Crouching down toward the closest one, he couldn't help but admire the young girls red-hair.
"Are you girls alright? How long have you been here?"
"W…we were captured three days ago…the monsters killed everybody we knew then made us work…the adults here kept us safe…." The girl with platinum blond hair replied, her grimy appearance fitting with the others. Studying the three young females, Erza couldn't help but feel like she had seen them before. "If that girl had white hair…she would be a spitting image of Mira as a kid…wait! Please don't tell me…" as a horrible thought raced through her mind. Gathering her courage, she asked with a tremble in her voice.
"What are your names?" the red-head asked softly.
"I'm Erza Scarlet. This is Mira…she doesn't have a last name. And that's Cana…she doesn't talk much after her father died" the short red-head replied as tears started forming in the knights eyes. "No…not here too! It was bad enough having Grey die here and all the atrocities in the past week…but no…" she internally wailed as her heart fell heavy with anguish and grief. Feeling raindrops starting to land on her head, the woman looked at the sky as it started to open up.
Seeing Natsu's fist clench in anger, Sam immediately clamped a hand onto his shoulder, trying to keep his anger in check.
"LEVY! PORTAL NOW!" the brunette screamed as tears started to wash down Scarlet's face, mixing in with the rain. The words had barely left the Sergeants lips when a shimmering vortex of blue appeared. Turning to the young women, Sam pointed to the dimensional breach.
"Go through. A friend of mine is waiting with food, water, and clothes. There aren't locust there"
"But…what about Mira's brother? He's…out there somewhere…" trailed off the younger Erza as she looked at the field of blackened and charred bodies.
"I'm sorry…but we don't have time to look" Natsu answered in a tone barely controlled by his will power. "I'm gonna make sure Myrrah's whole fucking race dies for this…" the man vowed in silent fury before pointing to the portal. "It's safe for you girls there. Many of my friends are there, including Levy and a very special talking cat. You should go meet them" the scarred man told the girls as they simply nodded. Walking forth, the younger Mira and Cana walked through before the little Erza turned, tears and pain in her eyes as well.
"Thank you for saving us…we know you tried your best to get here in time" she told the four veterans softly before disappearing into the breach. Watching in close, Natsu took a deep breath as he tried to calm himself.
"Those three…have never known peace. They were born in the ruins. We will give them a home in Magnolia. We will give them a future and life worth living" the male stated as the rain turned into a downpour. Resting a hand on Erza's shoulder, he knew his girlfriend was struggling to maintain control.
"This is wrong Natsu….nobody should be enslaved by these monsters…let along children…" she whispered as nightmares from the hollow threatened to break free.
"I know Erza…I know" he replied as the four Gears headed out of the burning nightmare of carnage and suffering as the rain mixed with the ashes. Boots squelching and sucking at the fresh mud, the four made their way into a single story building that was part of the industrial complex. Water dripping from his salmon locks, Natsu pushed the door open as the vile smell assaulted his nostrils. Looking around, his eyes took in the horrors of the bloodmount feeding pens. Part of the roof and far wall had collapsed, spilling rubble and stone into the old administration offices that served a new purpose….feeding humans to the mosnters.
"I think I'm gonna be sick…." Glenn muttered as he looked at an older man that had his stomach ripped open, the body lashed to a table to prevent movement. The blood was still fresh, leaking down the side of the table before splashing against the floor. Looking past the dead man, the soldier saw over a dozen bodies in similar situations as maggots and insects buzzed around the rotting remains.
'CLANG'
The door at the opposite end of the room was kicked open, the metal partition actually flying off the hinges as several butchers walked into the room, carrying locust choppers in their bloody hands. The snarling forms of three bloodmounts had appeared in the rubble strewn opening in the far wall that led to the next street, the abominations already stomping over the rubble of the wall.
"Freesshhh meeeatt" one of the butchers hissed out as it started to march forward with his monstrous brethren.
"KILL THEM!" Erza screamed in fury as she opened fire with her lancer, her heavy rounds smashing into the throat of the closest butcher as it fell backwards, choking on its lifeblood. Seeing Natsu out of the corner of her eye, she saw him quickly fire off a blast of magic at the speeding mounts. Two were caught in the blast, the third spared as it moved behind a large block of rubble just in time. The crackling and popping of locust flesh caused Glenn's breakfast to flip in his stomach, but he maintained his composure before targeting the last locust steed. Leveling his boomshot, the man didn't care if it was excessive use of force…this monster had to die. Pulling down on the trigger, the grenade shot from the barrel before impacting his target a moment later. Flying apart into two different halves as blood coated the last butcher in hellish red, the veteran reloaded promptly as his three squadmates gunned down the last of the locust cooks in a staccato of gunfire.
"Check for survivors…just in case" Samantha ordered as the soldiers fanned out into the nearby rooms. Finding nothing but more horrors and corpses in the other offices, the squad was regrouped after a few minutes of searching. Seeing the looks in her squads eyes, Sam knew the answer as she pressed her fingers to her ear radio.
"Control. This is Echo. We reached the camp"
"Understood Sergeant. Were you able to rescue the prisoners? We have Ravens on standby" the grizzled voice of Colonel Hoffman sounded through the airwaves.
"There…there were only three survivors Colonel…we sent them to Magnolia. The locust burned the rest of the prisoners to death or sent them to the kitchens" she told her leader as silence reigned for half a minute.
"Okay Gears…start heading East and link up with the rest of our forces. They've managed to push into the mines with surprisingly light casualties. Wish I could let you four take a break, but this is important…stay safe soldiers" the commander replied before signing off.
"Well…you heard the man. Let's go" ordered the brunette as the four walked out of the butchery filled office building into the torrential downpour. Sighing as the rain worked its way down her neck and down her back, the leader of the squad walked next to Erza, the woman still subdued. Cradling her rifle, they walked in silence down the rubble strewn street, heading East as the distant cracks of gunshots pierced the air and rain.
Keeping a vigil on his surroundings, Natsu strained his senses for threats as the relentless rain pounded against the pavement. Seeing a large E-hole a block away in the street, the Corporal knew they had to detour as several buildings leaned toward the old locust tunnel.
"Through that machine shop on the left. No way we can get through on the right" the male said over his shoulder as they walked through the ruined industrial sector. His words were true, the right side of the street nothing but debris clogged ruins. Approaching the old garage door of the shop, he grabbed the handle on the left as Glenn took hold of the right.
"Three. Two. One. Pull!" Parks counted down as the squealing metal rose up for the first time in years. Waving the two women inside, the males let the door slam shut behind them with a clatter.
"Groundwalkerrsss!" a locust drone hissed out from the far end of the shop as half a dozen of the monsters started to fire upon the humans. They were supporting a Mauler, the larger locust already marching forward as it spun its heavy flail.
"Frag out!" shouted Sam as she took cover behind a lone drill press, the locust rounds sparking off her cover as she flung the grenade at the approaching mauler. Taking a glance, she opened fire on the behemoth just as the explosive burst behind the lumbering locust. Hearing it grunt in pain from the deadly shrapnel and flying lead, the brunette enacted a heavy toll on its torso before it finally brought down its large shield. Ducking back as more gunfire filled the shop, she glanced to her right. Erza was working her way around a large piece of old machinery as Natsu and Glenn kept up a continuous fire on the drones.
"Fuck yeah! Scratch one!" Parks cheered out as his gunfire stitched across the chest of a locust, the monster trying to close the gap between the humans. Knowing her friends had her back, Scarlet eased herself along the long side of the old technology as the Mauler marched closer to Sam, the bullets still sparking off its blast shield. "Thank god Sam and Natsu don't use their magic indoors…we'd be crushed to death a dozen times over by now" the female thought as the large locust marched past her position. Coming out of cover, she fired into the mace-users back. Hearing howls of rage and pain, the rifle rounds tore into its grey skin and muscle as blood burst from the heavy wounds. Ducking back as gunfire screamed her way, she flinched as a stray bullet sparked off the side of her cover before burying itself into the old floor.
Seeing his favorite knight in trouble, Natsu quickly rose from cover as he sprinted to the next available spot. Staggering as a locust drone shot at him with a hammerburst, the pinkette knew it would bruise later. Luckily, the heavy round didn't go through his chestplate. Instead, it angled off, leaving a large gouge in the armor as he ducked behind an overturned forklift. The sounds of bullets smashing into the ruined factory vehicle reverberated through the building as the firefight continued. "Fucking grubs…" he muttered before rising out of cover. Aiming at the drone that shot him, the monster didn't have a prayer as it was caught in the open. Letting off a heavy burst, the rifle bullets smashed its snarling jaw and teeth to ruin before walking down toward its center chest. Blood and bone bursting out the back, the drone died as the sounds of a chainsaw filled the shop.
"DIE MONSTER!" roared Erza as she met the last locust in a chainsaw battle, the drone trying to kill the woman as the blades hissed and sparked. Firing into the enemy's side, Natsu helped his woman secure victory as the deadly blades dug into the gray hide. The howling screams were mixed with gore and chunks of flesh as they collided with Scarlets armor, coating her chestplate with fresh viscera.
"Feel better?" Sam asked her fellow female.
'A little…but killing a few won't make up for all the evil they've done today" she replied with a tone filled with anger and hate.
"Got that right" muttered Dragneel, the haunted look still across his eyes as rivulets of water dripped down from cracks in the old skylights of the shop. Walking forward past the dead locust, the male started to gather whatever ammo he could find as the others did the same.
Standing up after relieving one of her dead enemies of its ammunition, Samantha studied her boyfriend at the far end of the room. "Hey Dragneel…you alright? We all saw what you breathed in back there" the woman asked in concern.
"I'll be fine. I'd rather breathe in the burning ashes of the dead than see those three die. As far as I'm concerned, the price in nightmares was worth it" he finished as he reloaded his rifle with fresh ammunition. Shutting down any further discussion, the veteran soldier moved past more of the ruined machinery. Much of it was rusting now, the exposure to the elements and years of neglect taking its toll as they approached a closed doorway.
"I got it" voiced out Glenn as his friends covered him. Kicking it open with a strong kick, the wood splintered as the rotting frame gave way to the building's old lunch room and offices. The collapse didn't stop there though, one of the parallel roof beams gave a loud 'CRACK' before falling to the floor. Unknown amounts of debris and rubble came down with it, billowing dust with rain water as the rotting building started to give way.
"Way to go Parks!" yelled out Natsu as the two men sprinted toward the far side of the cafeteria. Hearing more of the building coming down behind them, the two soldiers leapt through a ruined window as the rest of the structure fell to ruin behind them. Picking himself up as water soaked him to the bone, the asian man looked at the destruction he caused.
"Hey! You two alright!?" Samantha asked over the radio from an unknown location. Looking around, Natsu finally noticed the ruined alleyway they were in. The path North was sealed with fresh rubble, meaning the two of them would have to move back onto the street from earlier.
"Yeah…we're fine. You and Erza okay?"
"Just a few scratches. We got pushed further north to the next street. I think it leads to the train yard, regroup with us there"
"Got it..stay safe" Natsu told his ladies before shutting off the radio. "Lets go" he lightly ordered before walking down the alleyway between the buildings. Coming to the corner, Natsu braced himself against the wall before leaning his head out of cover. Looking Eastward down the street, the man saw several of the enemy gathered in the street, some heading their way.
"Cover me" the pinkette let out before moving from cover, flames in his hands. Unleashing the orbs of fire as his comrade started trading shots with the closest locust, the dragon-slayer initiated battle. Charging forward, he ducked behind a rusting car in the street as his magical attack landed in the highest concentration. The screams of monsters in the rain proved it was effective as six of the grubs burned to death, their flesh sizzling despite the downpour. Leaning around the right side of the vehicle, Natsu let off a burst of shots at a running drone. Bullets crossing its chest, it fell to the ground as a river of blood started to pour from it. Ducking back as the remaining four locust retreated in a firing withdrawal, the man waited as Glenn ran up.
"They ducked into that small store. Probably waiting for us" the man said as he tried to see his targets. "Damn this rain…its almost like Halvo..except its not freezing" he muttered while unslinging his boomshot. The whining of a mulcher to their immediate right gave them pause as their eyes widened in realization.
"SHIT! GRINDER!" the man screamed as bullets started to fly through the air. Moving to the far side of the car, the two men huddled down as bullets panged from the heavy weapon. Added to the din of heavy combat was the remaining drones in the store as they fired, bullets snapping and burrowing tunnels in the blinding rain.
"GOD DAMN THIS FUCKING WEATHER!" roared out Natsu as he blind fired toward the shop over the hood of the car. Hearing a locust howl, he knew a tint of satisfaction before gathering another ball of fire in his hand.
"YOUR TELLING ME!" Glenn yelled back, the noise of falling water getting so loud they had to start shouting. Hefting his grenade launcher, the male came out of cover as the heavy machine gun fire finally stopped. Revealing himself to danger, the man pulled the trigger at a looming shadow in a ruined store, the building tumbling into the street. The explosion of fire and shrapnel, tinted with red mist signified a direct hit as Parks ducked back. Hearing another explosion from nearby, he looked through the ruined interior of the vehicle as the other locust stronghold burned.
"Let's get moving and regroup with the others. This storm won't be letting up anytime soon" Natsu told his equally soaked comrade as the two started to make their way down the street once more. Coming to a rubble strewn intersection, the two men took cover behind an overturned truck as several rounds pierced the sheet of water from their front.
"Shit! Where's it coming from!" yelled out Glenn as the bullets raced through the air. Sounding like heavy hail, some impacted the ruined vehicle as the men crouched in the pool of water.
"Who cares! Just fire!" Nasu yelled out as he blind fired around the side of the truck, bullet casings splashing into the puddles around him. "Dammit…can't see shit in this fucking rain" Hearing the clinking of a grenade landing near them, the two men immediately moved from their shelter. Diving behind a large block of concrete as the grenade detonated, Glenn could feel some splinters of shrapnel hit his armor.
"Fucking locust…" he hissed out as the sound of approaching boots could be heard. Snapping up his rifle, the non-magic user spotted three charging forms in the heavy rain. Opening fire, he managed to hit one of the forms as it let out an inhuman grunt before falling to the pavement.
"Fuck this shit!" Natsu let out before unleashing a low roar, the cone of fire burning away into a temporary cloud of steam. Hearing the monstrous screams, there was a cease in the gunfire as the two men looked north.
"Let's hurry. I don't like being separated from my ladies for this long. Hopefully they already reached the trainyard" the dragon slayer told his friend as the two headed north, the rain pouring down as their boots splashed through the pools of water.
Staying low as the bullets smashed the wood toward her front, Erza knew the two of them would have to move soon as the Grinder continued to fire at their position. The building that housed some of the offices for the train employees had been relatively dry, allowing the two females to take temporary shelter from the deluge of water. While the room had been leaking, it allowed them a small break from the previous firefights on the way here. Unfortunately, a fresh E-hole had spit out numerous locust, including one of the giants on the far end of the room. Blind firing over her position, the scarlet women didn't know if she hit anything before hurrying to her left. Rolling into the next available cover, she stood up behind the support column of the old building. Leaning out, saw a drone breaking forth as it ran toward an overturned desk. Snapping off some shots, she grimaced as her aim was bad, allowing the locust to live longer. Ducking back as hot lead sped through the air, she took a deep breath. Coming out once more seconds later, her aim was better as a five round burst caught the monster in the throat. Blood gushing out of the ruined esophagus, the locust pitched over the desk as blood dripped to the floor.
"Reeloadingggg…" the larger locust hissed out as smoke rose from its gun barrel, the machine gun finally out of ammunition.
"Like you'll get the chance! LASER LIGHT!" Sam yelled in hatred as she stood up from behind an overturned desk to the far right of the room. The previous low wall had been chipped away into nothing but splinters, the ruined wood spilling to the floor. But the destruction was not surprising as a blast of magical energy burst from her hands. Traveling through the air in the blink of an eye, the beam of destruction burned away the midsection of the machine gun wielder. Toppling forward as its wounds were cauterized, the explosion behind it consumed the far wall in a hailstorm of shrapnel and destruction. Piercing locust flesh in an instant, the remaining four were flayed to death as their corpses fell to the wooden floor. Silence settling over the room, the two females made sure the enemy was dead as they approached the broken wall of the room. Watching as the water poured down outside, the two Gears resigned themselves to getting soaked before hopping down onto the crunching gravel that adorned the ground between the tracks. A cargo car was pressed against the building, the transport having been flipped over in years past as rust adorned its metal. In fact, many of the rail cars were in disarray, having been destroyed by war or thrown on their sides as the two women walked past one that rested horizontally across the tracks.
"Shit…I think we're pointing north right now" Sam muttered as the rain plastered her hair to her skull.
"I think your right…So how far is it too the mines?" Erza asked as she crouched next to a ruined locomotive, the engine torn open by a shell years ago. Crouching down next to her friend and comrade, Sam kept a sharp eye out before answering.
"A few miles. This storm will slow us down too"
"Shit" Scarlet hissed out in frustration before the crunching of gravel could be hear around the other side of the train. "I barely heard that over this damn water…" the knight concluded as she readied her lancer. Waiting for the right moment, she burst from around the corner, her saw revving as she went to kill the locust. Rifle held high, she was about to plunge it downward before recognizing the familiar pink locks of Natsu and the face of Glenn a few feet away. Shutting off the blade, relief washed over her features as she reunited with her squad and boyfriend.
"Well…at least you were ready to kill the next one" muttered Natsu before his woman grabbed him in a hug, their armors butting against each other.
"Next time say something! I could've killed you by accident!" she lightly scolded before releasing the male.
"And what if we were locust? He was smart staying silent…kinda sucked he got caught flat-footed" the Sergeant mentioned as the rain continued to drum down, hitting the rusting train cars like hail.
"My finger was on the trigger the whole time…" he replied before Parks cleared his throat.
"While this reunion is touching and all, we still need to regroup and destroy that fucking gate" the man replied as the others nodded.
"He's right. And no way will Hoffman order a Raven to fly in this shit. Looks like we're walking" the woman in charge told the others as they spread out. Marching East, they were all thoroughly soaked at this point as Natsu kept point with Erza. Walking past a train engine that had been blown out of the actual locomotive, the four soon ducked underneath another car that had been tossed to a strange angle as it rested upon another. Emerging from the other side, Echo squad came upon the skeletal remains of a Brumak, the monster years dead as it laid near the half- collapsed E-Hole in the ground. Several of the rail ties were missing or twisted, dragged down into the locust tunnels in days long gone.
"Must've happened in the original battle for the city. Probably from naval vessels off-shore" Sam mentioned as the area took on a more cratered look. Numerous shell holes could now be seen, along with the skeletal remains of several drones and humans still in their Coalition armor. Stooping down near the remains of a fallen soldier, Natsu picked up the old COG tags before pocketing them for safety. "I hope this man still has some relatives somewhere…they deserve closure" he told himself before noticing something in the distance. Hurrying his pace, he broke into a quick sprint as the others followed close by. Coming to the locomotive resting on the rails, the dragon-slayer had to admit it sill looked in good condition. While it was still attached to a boxcar that was more rotting wood than traincar, that wouldn't matter.
"Yo! Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" asked Parks as he stood nearby, checking for locust threats.
"Damn right. Let's see if we can get this thing moving" the male replied as he climbed the short ladder to the raised platform on the side. Moving toward the cabin, he stepped inside as he looked at the controls. Flipping some switches, he grinned at the fuel read-out.
"Half a tank. That's good for hundreds of miles on this thing. Luckily we only need to go five" he told Sam who joined him.
"So you can get it running?"
"Yeah…" Natsu replied as he continued to flip switches. Pressing the ignition button, the engine coughed and spluttered before dying. Trying again, it did the same. Moving out of the cabin, he threw open the engine cover while looking inside. Ignoring the rain dripping down his neck,he spotted the small problem before yelling down to Erza and Glenn.
"Climb on! I'll have us moving in a minute!"
Seeing them move, he want back to work as a rumbling could be heard close by. "God-damn locust…" he muttered in his thoughts as an emergence hole appeared three tracks over. In typical fashion, the ground buckled before several drones appeared along with a Boomer.
"COULD USE SOME COVER!" the pinkette yelled as he re-equipped a tool and dug into the machinery.
"You heard him!" roared Sam as she gathered magic into her hands. Releasing a crackling orb as gunfire started to stab the air, it slammed into a knot of locust as they died in a maelstrom of laser energy and electricity.
Rumble…rumble…
"Fuck! Other side!" shouted out Scarlet as she ran through the cabin to the other narrow walkway of the train. Ducking behind the railing plates that ran along the whole length of the locomotive, the emerging locust opened fire from the cover they took in the yard. Hearing another hole opening up to their rear, the red-head's eyes widened.
"HURRY UP NATSU!" she screamed over the rain as bullets started to fly. Bringing out her Mulcher, the knight was done messing around as she fired heavy bursts at the monsters attacking the train. Watching one pitch forward from a long burst, she ignored the river of blood flowing from its body as she continued to switch targets.
"YEAH! ALMOST THERE!" he shouted over the rain as gunfire and monstrous screams rose above the sound of rain. The stabbing beam of light from Sam slamming into a distant enemy spurred the man on. "Come on…come on…" he urged himself on as he tightened the vital parts. Finishing a moment later, he slammed the cover down before running to the cabin. Moving past his squad who were still fighting off numerous locust drones, grinders and boomshots, the man burst into the cabin.
"Can't let them damage the train…" he muttered while pressing the ignition. Roaring to life, the male released the brake before easing the throttle forward. Slowly inching onward, the old locomotive started moving one more time. Flinching lightly as a stray bullet shattered the glass above his head, the man increased the throttle as he led them down the rusting rails.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Scarlet sent away her machine gun before grabbing her lancer. Watching the ruined city starting to roll by, the woman couldn't help but feel sorrow for the suffering of the Seran people before hearing something in the box car attached to the locomotive. Easing forward, she took cover behind the railing plate at the end of the freight train. Seeing a narrow walkway between the two vehicles, she was contemplating crossing when a locust drone burst through the rotting door.
"GRUBS!" she roared out before opening fire on the evil enemy. Her accuracy ended its life in a flash, the lancer bullets smashing its cranium to a horrible red paste as it fell underneath the heavy wheels. Looking to her left as the vehicle rocked, she saw Sam and Glenn taking cover before popping up and opening fire into the ruined car.
"SCARLET! Get a Scorcher out and burn that car! We don't have far to go!" the Sergeant relayed over the noise as several drones returned fire. Bullets flying through the air, the humans and locust alike tried to kill each other over the next few seconds. Staying low as a trio of rounds smashed into the rusting plate before her, the S-class mage brought out her flamethrower. Rising up as a lull in the fighting came over them, she squeezed the trigger as liquid flames spilled from the nozzle. Washing it back and forth, the stream of fire coated the car as the rotting wood quickly lit into a blaze. Hearing the panicked locust voices coming from inside, the three Gears prepared for the rush.
Aiming down his sights, Parks didn't have to wait long as the first subterranean monster emerged from the burning doorway. Opening fire, his bullets were mixed with his Sergeants and Erza's flames.
"I'm fired up now!" he heard her shout as a second abomination tried to escape the rapidly burning car. Rolling his eyes at her choice of words, the remainder of Echo continued to kill the few remaining grubs as they tried to rush the position. Watching as two jumped through a side door to the ground speeding past them, Sam shrugged as the threat was over for the moment. Seconds later, the three were crammed in the cabin with Natsu, basking in the chance to be dry for a few minutes.
"Guys…why is part of the train on fire?"
"Some assholes tried to board with no ticket…we sent em' packing" Samantha replied with a smirk as the howling wind and some water flecked into the cabin from the shattered window.
"Heh…poor bastards probably lost their luggage too" the pinkette replied as he slowed the train for a slight bend in the tracks. They had already made it out of the city proper, moving through the suburbs as the vehicle started to climb the incline into the hills. Cresting the top after a few minutes of travel, the four were overcome with annoyance and anger. Down in the shallow valley was a Brumak on the tracks, waiting for the veteran squad. Opening fire, the rocket salvo raced through the air before landing among the ruins of an old duplex near the tracks. Seeing the heavy ordinance miss, the locust gunner fired the heavy machine guns. All ducking down on instinct as the heavy slugs shattered glass and smashed into metal, Natsu pushed the throttle to max.
"Stupid asshole is about to get a face full of locomotive" the pinkette muttered before looking above the console through the window. Squinting his eyes as the rain pelted against him, he saw how close they were already as the towering artillery piece charged forward.
"BRACE!" he yelled before grabbing onto anything he could grab. Seeing his squad do the same, he was still tossed about as the tons of steel collided with the nightmarish brumak. Miraculously, the train didn't derail as it sped forth, pushing the locust backwards as its feet skidded on slippery terrain. Standing up, the Gears were in disbelief as the maw of teeth tried to bite them, but were unable to reach them in the windowless cabin. Letting out an ear-shattering roar from its hideous maw, the Sergeant had enough as she powered up a small ball of energy. Crackling with power and sparks of electric discharge, she aimed it at the rows of teeth almost her size.
"Suck on this!" she told the monster as it opened its mouth for another roar. Flying through the cabin, the magical attack flew perfectly before exploding…inside the beast's head. The shower of gore, blood, and chunks of viscera was instant, covering the train and the Gears in fresh horror as the body fell away to the side.
Wiping the blood from her face and eyes, Erza glared at her Sergeant.
"Think you could've made it messier?" she asked sarcastically before picking a small chunk of locust flesh from her hair.
"I'll try next time. I was hoping to get the whole body to explode…" the woman pondered as Natsu took the controls once more.
"Don't worry Erza, the rain will wash most of it off" as he guided the train through the hills, the second car still burning as the clock ticked by.
"Still man…that was pretty gross" Glenn mentioned as they started seeing some heavy mining equipment. Ten minutes later, the train was starting to slow as the squad approached a mine brimming with activity. Several Gears were stationed about, manning a first aid center for the wounded and keeping a vigil for their hated enemy. Two Centaurs also maintained watch as a third tank burned nearby, signifying the funeral pyre of good men as the iron beast finally slowed to a halt in a nearby siding with a squeal of brakes.
Dismounting, the four Gears hopped down into the mucky ground as a helmeted Gear approached, the rain still beating down. Luckily, it seemed to finally be letting up as their boots squelched through the mud.
"Figures you guys would show up on a burning train covered in blood and guts" the lieutenant indicated with a wave of his hand as a few other Gears gathered nearby. "What did you hit anyway?"
"Brumak. Was sitting on the tracks waiting for us" Natsu told the officer who nodded in approval. "Better you than us. I don't think we could've stopped one…especially with the wounded here" the man replied as a few mild groans could be heard from some nearby tents.
"So what's the situation?" Asked Samantha, the Sergeant eager for information.
"Well we finally have Raven's inbound for the wounded, so there's that. But I'm guessing your squad is looking for the big fight?"
"It's why we're here"
"Then head down the mine on the left. The rest of the attacking force headed down that way. They've been encountering fairly light resistance last I heard, but the radio's are getting sketchy cause of the rocks" he finished before pointing toward the mentioned cave. The one on the right had caved in barely fifty feet in, giving the squad one option. Nodding and waving farewell to the Gears, Echo moved out as the sounds of King Raven's in the distance grew closer. Moving into the cave entrance, they walked past a few more soldiers standing guard.
"Shit…who knows how far ahead they are…" groaned Glenn after twenty minutes of silent walking. Moving past rusting mining equipment as they kept walking down the middle of the cavern, Erza looked at her compatriot. About to scold him for complaining, she was interrupted as the ground gave a slight tremble. Looking past a large shuttle car that had crashed into the wall of the mine on the left, the four soldiers were already in cover as the ground before them bowed and cracked.
"Remember no magic! We don't need to cause a cave in!" Sam shouted to her boyfriend as numerous drone soldiers burst from the dirt.
"Yeah! I got it!" the dragon slayer replied before leaning out of cover. Firing a burst, he shattered the left leg of a grub as it howled on the ground. Moving in a running crouch, the dragon slayer braced himself against a support beam along the right wall. Hearing the thudding impacts as some of the bullets hit the dirt around him, the male waited. Taking a look moments later, he saw six more drones scattered around the area as they continued to fire. Aiming at a grub hiding behind some old barrels, he pulled the trigger as the rounds punched through the rusting metal.
Seeing the locust die out of the corner of her eye, Erza opened fire on a duo of locust that were crouched behind a large tire that had somehow come to rest in the middle of the mine tracks. Seeing one fall as it clutched the bloody ruin that was its face, she ducked back down behind the pile of unused support beams she had moved to earlier. The pings of bullets hitting the rusting metal sounded like sharp hail as Parks fired a burst at an enemy from her right, the rifle rounds blowing blood and bone out of the drones back. The battle had only lasted a minute, but the locust were already down to one as the lone survivor huddled behind a distant support pillar.
"Scratch one!" the man shouted out as Sam ran past, intending on ending the firefight with her shotgun at the ready. Seeing the last one turning to flee, she shot it in the back, the Gnasher bucking in her hands. The heavy balls of shot etched a patchwork of ruin across its grey skin as it pitched forward, trying to crawl away. Marching up, she fired into the back of it's head as the remains of its brain and skull splattered the nearby gravel and dirt.
"Fucking grub…" she uttered in annoyance before reloading. Seeing her squad nearby, the brunette tilted her head toward the tunnel as the four moved onward once more. Over the next half hour, they encountered the occasional firefight, but nothing serious as they moved further into the mine.
"You know…I really hate being underground…" Erza mentioned to Natsu as the man took point. Nodding his head solemnly, the male could only agree before halting in his tracks. Stopping immediately, Echo knew he had something as the male strained his senses.
"Weapon fire…but still a way's off" he replied as the main pathway started to slope downward.
"Then we better fucking hurry" Sam told them as they broke off into a sprint. However, it was halted a minute later as Echo came to a bend in the tunnel as it went left.
"Griiinnnddd" the two larger locust echoed in unison as they opened fire, splitting the air with deadly gunfire. Ducking behind a fallen support beam, the four human's stayed low as the arc of fire tacked back and forth.
"Frag out!" shouted Scarlet as she hurled a grenade over the lip of the metal beam. Not knowing where it would land, the female promptly started to blind fire as the explosive detonated. Hearing the hiss of shrapnel through the air and a painful grunt, she knew she hit one. Moving to the edge of their cover, Sam leaned out with a scowl on her face. "God damn this day fucking sucks…and to make this fucking worse, there's still locust in Fiore that escaped the Etherion blast. This whole damn month is already a shitstorm"
Snapping up her rifle as one of the Grinders started to reload, she aimed at its armored head. Firing a moment later as her compatriots fought their own battles, she let loose a stream of projectiles that smashed into the helmet. Observing the damage as several slugs destroyed the vision slit, the violence of several bullets turning its head into a bone shattered mess marked its end as the monster fell to the ground.
"FUCKING ASSHOLE!" Natsu roared in anger as the second finally ran dry. Knowing it was defenseless, the four soldiers opened fire as bullets slammed into its body. Blood spurting from numerous wounds, the locust didn't last long as it fell to the ground in a gasp of death. Leaping over their cover, Parks ran forward as he scooped up one of the machine guns before huddling down behind an overturned piece of mining equipment. The cracks of several more bullets screaming through the air gave evidence of more locust as the man double checked the weapon. Heaving it onto the lip of the ruined mining car as several rounds smashed into the rusting metal, he opened fire on the half dozen locust caught in the open. A staccato of muzzle flashes lit up the cave as the heavy rounds collided with grub flesh. Wounds were rendered open and bone shattered as the grubs screamed in horror.
"That's right! Suck it!" he yelled in hatred over the gunfire as one of the monsters was cut in half by a deadly stream of speeding lead. Easing off the trigger, he cooled the weapon before tacking it left toward the last two that huddled behind an overturned cart. Coming out of cover, the drone tried to get off a shot at the Asian male. It failed as the bullet went wide, smashing into the hard rock wall of the mine. Watching as it's head disappeared into a fine mist of red and tiny bone fragments, the male could see Dragneel with a longshot next to him. Breaking cover, the final locust gave a howl of rage while charging forward, trying to cover the thirty feet between them. He didn't make if five as the combined firepower of the four human's riddled its body to bloody chunks, the pieces tumbling to the dusty floor.
"God damn that was satisfying" Parks commented as Erza quickly stored the two Mulchers in her re-equip space for her battles on Sera. Looking at the woman in confusion, the man cocked an eyebrow.
"Don't you have enough weapons stored away in there?"
"Yes. But this way I can deny them to any future locust while returning them to the military. I don't always get the chance, but every bit helps" she relayed to her squadmate as Sam moved past them, a scowl on her face.
"Stop dicking around and chatting, we still have a fucking gate to destroy" she commanded in a cold tone as the soldiers fell in. Moving in relative silence for the next half hour, nobody said a word as they kept an ear out for any approaching enemies.
Walking next to her boyfriend, Erza was trying not to think of the three girls in worry as her combat boots crunched against the loose gravel of the mine. Stepping over the rusting, iron ties upon the ground, she kept her rifle cradled in her arms. "I really hope one of the girls got those three some help right away…they looked kinda skinny. Plus…who knows what kind of horrors those children have witnessed even before seeing all those people burned to death? I'll make sure to check on them after this mission" she told herself as her boyfriend glanced her way.
"I know your thinking about those young girls. But maybe give them a day or two to get acclimated while doctors check them over"
"That obvious to you?" she asked in a soft tone laced with worry.
"Well you are my knight. I'd be an even shittier boyfriend if I didn't know something was bothering you" he momentarily paused as the four hopped down a low ledge, part of the floor caving in a few feet. Continuing to walk, he looked at Erza. "If you want to visit them, that's fine with me. Hell. You, Mira, and Cana could all give them pointers in being future badasses….just make sure to take it easy with them" the man concluded as the sounds of gunfire and yelling could be heard wafting down the tunnel. Picking up the pace, Echo squad moved toward the battle to lend their support. Rounding a corner to the right, they came upon the battle.
"The fuck?'" voiced Glenn as the four stood in the cavern's entranceway. The area was massive with several old mining machines littering the floor below. Toward the back was a massive gate being disassembled by several locust, the grubs trying to hurry In their task. To the left was a dripping pool of Emulsion, the glowing liquid resting in a shallow pool. While this was to be expected, the three way battle in the cave was not. The screaming and crackling of gunfire was flying through the air as the three forces tried to kill each other. Toward their immediate front was the two companies of Gears, the soldiers dividing their attention as they continued to rain down fire from their elevated position behind the old guard rail of the path that led to the main floor. Several dozen locust drones mixed in with Grinders and Boomers stood guard near the gate, pouring fire at any enemies they could see. Running toward the Gears, the squad was taking in the appearance of the last group on the left near the pool of liquid. They looked like normal drones, but mutated as several had bulbous hunchbacks near their shoulders. Several had what looked like glowing stomachs as they fired at the drones across no-man's land. The sound was terrific as hundreds of rifles and other weapons seemed to fire at the same time, the tracers and reports of gun fire echoing off the walls. Finally getting into cover, Sam looked at the nearest soldier.
"What's the situation!?" she asked loudly over the crisscrossing gunfire as a Gear pitched backward nearby, unleashing a howl of pain.
"We got here as the locust were just starting to tear down their gate, so we immediately opened fire on the bastards. But then these lambent showed up and started killing the locust and some of my men! If your squad could concentrate on the glowies, that would help us out!" the Captain yelled once more before rising out of cover and shooting at a random enemy.
"You heard him Echo! Let's move!" roared out the Sergeant as they made their way past numerous Gears. Staying low as gunfire continued to shred the air, the four reached the main floor of the cavern. Taking cover behind several large blocks of concrete that formed a loose L, the group took cover. Rising out of cover from his crouch, Natsu started trading gunfire with one of the glowing locust as Erza re-equipped a mulcher into her hands. Setting the heavy weapon upon the stone as death and destruction reigned around her, she opened fire. Grimacing as the weapon vibrated in her hands, she enacted a murderous toll on the lambent as her compatriots fired into the monstrosities.
"God…these things are disgusting! They look worse than normal drones!" she lamented to herself as a burst slammed into a random lambent. The bullets had shredded its flesh with ease, eliciting a monstrous howl from the nightmarish creature. Expecting it to pitch forward and die, she was completely taken off guard when the creature exploded. Showering blood and yellow liquid across the cavern floor, Scarlet was momentarily surprised before a feral grin spread across her features.
"HEY! If you shoot them enough, they explode!" she yelled to her friends before continuing her battle. Resting on his heels in a low crouch as the other Gears continued to whittle down the locust numbers, Parks gripped his trusty Boomshot. Coming out of a low crouch, he aimed the grenade launcher at a trio of the lambent as they fired their murderous weapons. Hearing the chips of stone being whittled away, the male pulled the trigger as bullets smashed into his armor plate. Falling backwards, the explosive flew in a high arc before detonating among the group. The speeding shrapnel flayed the monsters, spilling lambent flesh and gore.
"PARKS! You alright!?" Sam shouted over the cacophony of gunfire. Coughing painfully, the man looked down at this armor. Seeing the still smoking bullet wedged into the plate, Glenn breathed a sigh of relief. "Yeah…I'm good" he replied to his Sergeant before being helped up by Natsu.
"If your good, then you can still fight!" the man with salmon locks said loudly as he gunned down another of the infected locust. The battle raged for ten minutes as the Gears in the cavern slowly whittled down the enemies numbers. Despite the monsters attempts to fill the room with death and tracing lead, they were falling at a faster rate. Resuming his firing as he rose out from behind his stone cover, the dragon slayer continued to kill. His accurate gunfire had split the skull of one, spraying gray matter and bone across one of the other beasts as the battle raged on. Smirking as her people were getting the upperhand on both groups, Sam hurled a grenade at another knot of lambent as they ran forward, trying to make it to a rusting digging machine.
"FUCK YEAH!" she cheered as two of the monsters died in a horrible fashion of fire and deadly metal shards. Hefting her lancer, she poured fire at the three survivors as they tried to find cover. Killing one with a burst to its stomach as its organs were torn and rendered, she shifted her aim.
The raining gunfire from behind her was a surprise as the last of the lambent were finally killed, the massed gunfire from several soliders behind them finishing off the monsters. Slowly standing up as silence rained through the air, she found it to be almost deafening.
"Well. We knew you were part of this op, but still surprising to see you four here" Alex Brand said casually as she walked down the slope with Sigma-3 in tow. There was Carmine, the man's armor splattered with blood as Jace and Lucy stood nearby, cradling their weapons with smirks.
"We were in the neighborhood, figured you could use some help" Sam replied before the commanding officer in charge barked out orders.
"I want explosives planted on that gate! We can't let the locust try what they did a few days ago in Fiore happen again! I want that thing down in the next ten minutes! Any wounded will be guarded until we can get out of here…somebody make sure to collect the tags of the fallen" he finished grimly as the two squads walked into the main cavern.
"Hey Natsu…sorry to hear about your friend Alzack…and for what happened at Woodworth" Jace told his friend as the mentioned man ate a ration bar. Swallowing his food, he looked at Stratton in the eyes.
'Thanks…I know a quarter million people dying isn't much compared to the losses here…" the man trailed off as Clay placed a hand on the males shoulders.
"A lot of the guys know it wasn't easy…but they respect you for making that call….you probably saved Jacincto again with that cities sacrifice" the helmeted man replied. Seeing the native Lucy walk past them, she approached Erza Scarlet.
"So…I know he isn't mine…but I hope Grey is doing alright with…you know" the blonde asked with tints of crimson in her hair from a shallow cut across her forehead.
"They're doing alright. They've been helping refugees get organized before we left. They figured it was better than sitting around and sulking about dead friends"
"That's…good. I mean…helping people" the blonde finished before going silent, her thoughts her own. "Should I visit? I know the Fiorians have opened their arms to us. They even let us station a few companies of Gears in the city to protect the gate after the destruction of that one city. But would it be right? They have a romantic relationship while I just saw him as my brother…my family. Maybe…when things calm down a little bit…" she concluded as Alex and Sam chatted a little bit.
"So. How's Lucy fitting into your squad?" the brunette asked in curiosity.
"Fine. She's got good survival instincts and is a pretty good shot. Plus, she knows how to deal with stranded. Can be all diplomatic n' shit" the Sergeant of Sigma replied before a question came to her.
"What's it like being in a harem with the 'Grubslayer?"
"Well its never boring I'll give you that. But honestly…aside from the Gears…they treat me like family. It's…pretty nice" Sam replied with a slight smile.
"Sounds like your getting soft, Bryne"
"As if! You should see the crap those other girls wear! And they're like 'Let's go shopping Sam! These dresses would look good on you Sam' …it's fucking sickening the attention they pay to dressing up and all that other crap" the brunette grumbled as the soldiers around them went about their tasks. The rumbling of the ground minutes later pushed the humans into a frenzy of activity as they took cover where they could.
"Where's it coming from!?" asked Jace as he crouched down behind a rusting bulldozer, the two men near their squads as the shaking grew louder.
"There!" pointed Natsu as the small lake of Emulsion started to vibrate. Watching as several Gears helped their wounded comrades toward the gate, the men and women of Zulu and Baker companies enacted a semi-circle of defense. Their precaution was warranted as the far wall exploded outward, crushing some more equipment under numerous piles of rubble. Stomping into the cavern was the same Corpser from earlier, the massive abomination missing part of its face and several eyes as it locked onto the humans.
"RRROOOOAAAAAARRRRRR!" it bellowed out in fury, the massive teeth on full display as several strands of saliva flew from its gaping maw. Marching forward, the large spider stepped into the lake of raw fuel. The effect was almost instant as the liquid infected the monster. Climbing up its limbs, several glowing lines could be seen as they raced toward its head. Letting out another pain-filled howl, the gathered soldiers gained a front row seat to how the lambent were made. Growing in size, the lambent Corsper started to grow as several of its limbs elongated. De-solidifying, two of them became waving tentacles as the tips glowed a steady yellow.
"Oh shit…." Alex Brand commented before she did the only thing she could do. She opened fire along with her comrades. Like a wall of destruction, rifle rounds and several grenades from launchers flew toward the new horror in a steady stream. Letting out another monstrous roar, the mutated monstrosity rose one of its tentacle limbs. Stretching further, it collided with the far left of the firing line, killing several soldiers as they were instantly crushed to death.
Gritting his teeth at more dead comrades, Natsu took aim once more. Observing that the massed wall of gunfire cracking and speeding toward the creature seemed to have no effect, the man tried a different approach. "Let's see…Emulsion explodes when in contact with fire. While I can't risk a cave in with my magic, those glowing tips look vulnerable…" he concluded as another heavy strike from the limb killed and wounded more soldiers. Taking careful aim, he let off a series of bursts at the glowing tip. Watching them impact, the monster reeled back in pain.
"AIM FOR THE TIPS!" Screamed Clayton Carmine as he did the same a second later. Hearing the directive over the thundering guns, the surviving Gears turned their attention to the new targets. A few moments later, one burst in a disgusting display as yellow fluid burst outward. Standing up next to Lucy, Erza and her compatriot continued to fire as the remaining limb thrashed about. Splitting open like a raw infection a minute later, the Gears cheered as the monster stopped flailing about. Curing in on itself, several men were confused.
"The hell is it doing?" asked Glenn as he stood near a random soldier. He was soon answered however as the lambent unfurled itself with two fresh appendages waving about, the glowing tips for all to see.
"It's using the Emulsion to heal itself! We can't beat it like this!" the Captain roared out before looking at Dragneel nearby. "You can breathe fire right! Well kill that fucking thing!" the man roared before firing with his lancer as his soldiers resumed the battle.
"I can't! The amount of fire needed to kill that prick could bring down the whole cavern! I prefer not being crushed to death today!" the fire mage shot back.
"What about the gate? Could we use that to escape?" asked Jace as he ducked down to reload, a massive limb cutting the air above several men's heads as they started to get a pattern for its attacks.
"Yeah! That could work!" he hollered to his friend as several lambent drones made their appearance from the hole in the wall. Running past the fighting Gears as bullets started to criss-cross the space above his head, the son of Igneel came to the controls for the locust gate. The two pillars that actually enabled the establishment of the gate were still sound, the locust barely having a chance to start disassembling them. Looking at the read-out of the machinery, it took him a minute to work on the proper workings.
"God…this shit is haphazard…" he muttered to himself as the sounds of war raged around him. Feeling a rumbling nearby, he looked to his immediate right as an E-hole appeared barely five feet away. Pulling his boltok free, he shot the first emerging grub in the face. Spraying blood and shards of bone into the one behind it, the man scowled as he killed a second grub in a similar manner.
"I don't have time for this shit!" he yelled in fury before throwing a grenade down the locust hole. Sealing a few seconds later as the explosive collapsed the tunnel, Natsu went back to the controls.
'Can you get it to work?" the Captain asked loudly as the man ran up, the Gears behind him still fighting as more of the lambent appeared to support their very large cousin. The screams of monster and human alike filled the air as many died on both sides, the thundering gunfire filling the cavern as tracers and grenades shattered and tore flesh.
Eyeing his nameplate, Natsu finally got the last name 'Rossi' to go along with the Captain In charge before hollering back, trying to be heard over the gunfire.
"Yeah! But we only got one shot for this! The giant lacrima they fucking used is almost drained! We will have enough power to open the gate for a minute at the most! More likely thirty seconds!" the male replied before hefting his rifle and opening fire on the large appendage as it swung through the air. Cursing as his missed, he looked back to Rossi.
"This is your call! Whenever your ready I'll hit it, but it needs to be soon before we're over-run!" he relayed to the commanding officer as he input the coordinates for one-thirty seven-C. Making the final preparations to the controls, he gave his assent.
"This is Rossi! All Gears start falling back to the gate! Make sure to move fast people! We only get one shot at this and I don't want any men left behind!" his words echoed over the airwaves as several soldiers started to march backwards as they fired, bullet casings hitting the dirt. Firing down-range as Sigma-3 and Echo got close, he saw one of the lambent drones pitch forward after his gunfire blew two gaping holes in its torso. Shifting his aim toward the massive creature, he fired upward at the weak point once more as the mutated Corpser started to march forward. An accurate burst from Jace and Carmine blew apart the last glowing tip in a splattering display, the liquid flying in a wide arc. Letting out a monstrous howl in pain as its teeth dripped liquid emulsion, the monster tucked itself away as it healed itself.
"NOW DRAGNEEL!" Screamed Captain Rossi as the male turned to the nearby console as lambent weapons continued to blink in an evil staccato of light. Slamming his fist onto the activation button, the swirling red portal activated as sparks of electricity marched across the field of energy.
"GO THROUGH NOW!" Roared out the battle hardened Corporal as the battered men and women of Zulu and Baker companies started to pour through. Marching up to Sam, the man looked at one of the women he loved.
"Let's finish this ugly bitch" he snarled out as he activated his magic before grabbing the Sergeant's left hand with his right. Looking over at Erza, he gave her a knowing smile. 'Head on through…we'll be right behind ya" he finished simply.
Trusting his words, the red-head nodded before racing through the portal with the rest of Echo and Sigma-3. Already twenty seconds had passed, but the Gears were efficient and even managed to extract the nearby fallen from the battle as the two mages of war stood side by side. Pressing their free hands together, they started to build up more magic. Feeling the power of Natsu flow through her body and the vice versa, the duo was in complete sync. The hardships and horrors they shared since the beginning gave the two utter trust in each other as they gathered the magic for their first unison raid. Aiming their palms at the staggering abomination as it unfurled itself while its smaller comrades raced forward to kill the humans, the mages reached the pinnacle of their intentions.
"UNISON RAID! FIRE KING"S LASER HAMMER!" Natsu and Sam screamed out together as the massive beam of magic burst from their palms. The center was a crackling core of phoenix fire brimming with electricity while the outer layer of power was covered in the hottest flames of blue. Covering the distance in mere moments, several of the drones were simply vaporized into nothingness by just being in proximity to the attack. Slamming into the lambent Corpser, the magical beam burned through the monster like a hot knife into butter. Bursting out its backside as its organs were liquified and seared to ash in almost the same instant, the beam slammed into the cavern wall as the two mages cut off the magic. Watching with interest for a spare moment, the two soldiers were almost shocked as the attacked burned through untold tons of rock and soil before bursting out the side of the low mountain's.
Unknown to Sam and Natsu, the Coalition vessels bobbing in the waves offshore were treated to a spectacular sight as the blast continued into the far distance before finally petering out somewhere over the ruins of the shattered civilization of Sera.
"Holy shit…" murmured Sam before the cavern gave a resounding 'CRACK!" Looking up, the pair could see numerous rocks starting to fall as the hollowed mine started to give way.
"Enough standing around! Lets go!" shouted Natsu as he and his Sergeant ran for the flickering portal. Jumping through, the two Gears barely had five seconds to spare as the rock collapsed at a faster rate.
Universe 137-C January 15th 3:37 p.m. Five miles from Magnolia on Royal Highway One.
Natsu and Sam landed in a heap as the portal flickered behind them before finally dying in a flash.
"Damn! Talk about cutting it close!" replied Jace as he lent a hand to Dragneel. Helping the Gear up, the man nodded his head in appreciation.
"Your telling me. I think Sam and I put all our magic into killing that fucking thing. Max could probably kick my ass right now" the male replied before looking to Sam. "You alright?"
"Yeah…just fucking drained….and sticky" the brunette commented as she finally dug a piece of Brumak flesh out of her hair. "Gross…can't believe I walked around for over an hour with this shit in my hair…" the female thought as she eyed her boyfriend. Finally gathering his bearings, he looked around at the soldiers on the roadway that was still under construction.
"Where the hell are we?" asked a random Gear, the man cradling his rifle as bullets gouges and scratches adorned his armor.
"The royal highway. It's one of the new construction project's to link the capital with Magnolia. Once its done in spring, it will help streamline getting food and materials to Jacincto" Glenn replied to the solider as he wiped a hand through his wet, sticky hair. While some of the gore from the brumak had been washed away, much of it still remained on the four members of Echo Squad. Watching as Captain Rossi marched up, the man looked at the veteran unit as the soldiers stood around on the deserted roadway.
"We need to get the wounded some help. My remaining medics are doing the best they can, but two were killed in the initial fight for the mine entrance. Some of my men…are hurt pretty bad" the combat officer replied as Erza nodded her head. Requipping a communication lacrima into her hand, several Gears looked on in wonder as they never witnessed magic first hand. Pouring a tidbit of her magic into it, she soon had the image of Mira on the orb.
"Mira. We're outside the city limits of Magnolia. Let the hospital know we have several badly wounded Gears with us. Tell Wendy and Porlyusica to meet us at the...Ninth Street Medical Center" the S-class mage finished as the white haired woman nodded.
"I'll let them know right away. Is the rest of Echo okay?" the female asked in slight worry for her friends…and especially Natsu.
"They're fine. But we must hurry. Some of my fellow Gears need immediate help" she finished before shutting down the magical device. Looking at some of her wounded comrades, the woman clenched her fist. "No more dead people today…no more"
Looking around, she saw several empty dump trucks sitting near the road as a late storm last night had halted construction. They were actually on loan from the COG, the heavy equipment speeding up the building of the asphalt roadway by leaps and bounds.
"We can load up the wounded in those and get them to the hospital. It's the best chance these men and women have" Scarlet relayed to Rossi as he nodded.
"You heard the lady. Priority goes to the badly wounded. Those that can walk are marching with the rest of us" the man ordered as several men climbed into the cabins as several others started loading up the worst off. In total, there were thirty-seven wounded among the two companies as the few remaining medics climbed in last. With the dull roars of four engines coming to life, the transports moved out along the roadway as they drove to the city, trying to keep the ride as easy as possible.
Walking in step with Captain Rossi at the front along with Sigma-3 and Echo, the remaining one hundred and fifty three soldiers marched in step as their boots crunched along the freshly fallen snow.
"How many did we lose today?" Natsu asked as he walked between Lucy and Captain Rossi.
"Thirty-three good men and women…they all fought like Gears of the COG today" he finished with a heavy sigh as several soldiers nodded their heads in understanding.
"We all know it could've been way worse. But once we get back to town and check up on the injured, we'll make sure to treat you to some warm beds and hot food, my treat" the salmon-haired Gear finished as battered and bloodied veterans walked down the lonesome road toward the city in the cold, winter day.
January 16th 8:53 a.m.
True to his word, Natsu had talked with the Knight Commander of the city and got the Gears some fresh cots for the night. The dozens of pizza's and kegs of beer had been a pleasant surprise for the soldiers as they ate and drank to their hearts content, enjoying the heavenly food for the first time in years. The news from the hospital was excellent, as Wendy and Porlyusica worked alongside the doctors to save all the injured men's lives. While most would be bedridden for some time, the fact they were alive and recovering was great news to anybody. The poor dragon slayer had worked far into the night healing, pushing herself to the brink and beyond. When Sam and Knightwalker went to check up on her, the young woman was curled up in a spare room sleeping. She was promptly carried to her room at Fairy Hills to properly rest as the two older women kept an eye on her.
Erza was walking with Cana and Mira through the streets of Magnolia, trying to forget the nightmares of yesterday as their shoes crunched against the snow.
"You doing alright Erza?" Cana asked in concern as they headed toward the refugee center a few streets away.
"I barely slept. All I could keep seeing when I closed my eyes was burning bodies and ash...then there was Natsu breathing in the actual remains to save those girls…" she replied with sadness as Mira put a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder.
"He did that to try and save at least someone…I just hope we can help these younger versions of ourselves" the woman responded as they finally approached their destination. Walking in, the lobby was a beehive of activity as several fresh refugees from the Woodworth atrocity and Sera tried to rebuild a semblance of their lives. Ever since the completion of the massive gate in the south of the city, displaced people from Sera had been pouring in. They would not get a free ride however. The stipulation for coming to Fiore was to support the war effort. Be it working or building new factories, mining raw materials and metals, or just farming. Every grown adult that came through often found employment somewhere in the country. Children were sent to school to learn in peace for the first time in their young lives, many eager for the chance to learn about magic and mages along with the history of the country helping to defeat the horrible locust. Orphans were given the same chance at school, the issue of discrimination against them almost non-existent. Walking up to a free counter, Cana gained the attention of the receptionist.
"Can I help you?" asked the Seran native as she recognized the face of Erza Scarlet behind the brunette.
"Yes. Three girls were recued from Corren yesterday. We're here to see them if that's possible"
"Of course. Right this way" the female asked as she struggled to her feet, several months pregnant.
"That's right…if women don't serve in the COG military…they make babies to help repopulate the planet" Mira thought as they followed in soft silence. Coming to a door, the pregnant woman turned to them.
"Those three are very lucky. Most people don't make it out of locust slave camps alive. Just…don't bring it up with them"
"I don't intend to since I was there" replied Erza as she pushed the door open. Walking in with her two friends, they saw the girls eating to their hearts content as they demolished a plate of sandwiches and a gallon of orange juice.
"Hey! It's the soldier lady with the same hair as me!" the younger red-head voiced out before finishing her meal. Hoping to the floor, the young trio stood before the older women as they studied each other in silence.
"T..t…thank you again for saving us…" the younger brunette said softly as she pulled at the hem of her new dress nervously.
"Your welcome" Scarlet said in a soft smile before crouching down to the level of her younger self. Holding out a hand, she found the direct approach easiest.
"I'm Erza Scarlet. I'm you in this universe. These are my two friends Mirajane Strauss and Cana Alberona. We were hoping we could get to know you three" she finished as the young girls looked up in awe.
"Y..Your me?" asked the younger Mira as she looked up at her future self.
"That's right" MJ replied before stooping down and smiling at her short double.
"B..but why would you want to know us? We're just orphans…" the younger brunette voiced in a soft tone.
"Wanna know a secret?" asked Alberona as she rested a delicate hand on the eleven year old's shoulder. Seeing a head nod from all three girls, Cana spoke.
"The three of us…we were orphans too"
"Really?" asked Erza as she studied her older self. "She's so amazing! She fights the scary monsters! I hope I can be like her when I grow up!" she voiced to herself before Mirajane stood up.
"Hey…would you girls want to go shopping for some clothes?"
"N..none of us have been to a store before…" the bashful Cana relayed as the elder stood up and extended a hand.
"Well lets change that. Then after we can get pizza and you girls can meet a friend of Levy's named Abigail" Alberona finished as they guided their younger doubles to the best day of their young lives.
Crocus. The Royal Palace January 16th 11:53 a.m.
"Thank you for meeting me on such short notice, Natsu" Hisui said as she sat across form the man and his little blue cat in the queen's private office. It had been designed and renovated in mere days after her ascension to the throne. In fact, this was the very first visitor she had in the room since becoming queen. A large table with the map of the continent sat at the far end of the room, highlight the borders of several countries. The room was sparsely decorated with only a few end tables and two comfortable chairs across from each other as several wall fixtures with glowing lights adorned the walls.
"Not a problem, Hisui" the man replied as Happy sat on the armrest. Leaning forward, the man knew what the queen wanted as a look of anger washed over his eyes. "We didn't get all the locust at Woodworth…did we?"
Letting out a deep sigh, the beautiful queen knew she couldn't beat around the bush with this man.
"No. At first the reports from the new Knight Rifle Battalions said there were a few scattered locust attacking small villages and towns in the region, but they were grossly inaccurate. Turns out several of the commanders wanted to give me pleasant news and information instead of relaying hard facts. I relieved them of their commands immediately and put men and woman in charge who wouldn't spare details" she momentarily paused as Happy spoke up with his ears pressed flat in worry and sadness.
"More people are getting hurt…aren't they?" the little exceed asked softly.
'I'm afraid so Happy…" the queen replied before looking at Natsu once more. 'Turns out, the locust poured out of the gate in all directions. While I haven't seen any new reports on the big ones, I know that between two to three thousand of the genocidal bastards are rampaging across my country. Some are in bands of maybe a dozen and burn simple farms while others group together by the hundreds to attack the larger towns and cities" she relayed to the best expert of the locust in Fiore. Standing up, the stunning queen walked over to the giant map. Feeling Natsu stand next to her, the woman couldn't help but feel his power and strength. "He would make an excellent king…" she momentarily thought before shaking her head and clearing her thoughts. Pointing to Port Timber, Hisui started to speak about the situation.
'Like Jacincto, Port Timber also rests on a large slab of granite on the northern coast of Fiore. This has been a blessing in disguise since a large force of locust have started to attack the city. While most of the Woodworth survivors have already been evacuated, the native population is still there. The monsters have already encircled it however and have taken a quarter of the city. The Rifle Knights have been fighting like devils to hold them back, but there was only fifteen hundred in the city when the grubs tightened the noose" she explained before pointing to several smaller cities to the south of the Woodworth ruins.
"These other places are so spread out that I can't have my military cover them all. While they protect one town, another gets burned to the ground barely ten miles away. The soldiers have been evacuating everybody they can, but the snow and panicking citizens make it slow. Then, if I try to pull any more troops from our borders with Bosco, those slaving bastards will stroll right in and start enslaving women for their fucking sex camps…I could really use your help Natsu" she asked in a tired tone as the man studied the map.
"You do realize I'm just a Corporal right? Don't you have General's for this?"
'I did have General's...that grew soft during times of peace. They screamed bloody murder if they lost even a dozen men to Wyvern's or dark mages. They've been put out to pasture while I look for capable soldiers to fill the slots. Besides…you've known about the locust since age fourteen. Your more qualified than anyone else I know…except for the Seran's" Hisui finished with an even tone as the grizzled veteran studied the map.
"The first priority will be relieving Port Timber. Once that is done, we push the retreating locust southward to the ruins of Woodworth while more of the military fight north to get them in a pincer. Unfortunately, the smaller towns to the west like Shimmer Lake, Tuly Village and the larger Malba City might be caught in the fighting. While the first two towns aren't that important from a strategic sense, Malba City is about thirty thousand people with some manufacturing and a decent railway hub. You need to evacuate these areas immediately and prepare another Etherion Strike just in case. As for the smaller bands of locust, they'll have to be hunted down and destroyed" Natsu finished as the queen braced her palms against the table.
"God…this is a fucking nightmare…Woodworth was bad enough, but since that day another fifty-three thousand have died because of those genocidal monsters killing everything in the region" she said softly before looking at the man next to her. "I need to make Fiore strong! These kinds of casualties can never happen again! I don't care what it takes…"
"Is it true you and Levy McGarden are developing a tank that mixes Seran and our own technology?"
"Yes. But it's still in the designing phase. We haven't even tried to build a prototype yet"
'Don't forget the re-equip amplifier Levy and you designed! She's already started to build it before we left this morning" Happy butted in, trying to help.
"Thank you Happy. But I need weapons that the standard man or woman can use without magic" the queen relayed to the cat before turning back to Natsu. "As soon as you have those designs complete, send them to me. I've ordered the construction of several factories here in Crocus to start building Seran vehicles. If we can get a battle tank designed, it will help secure our country and strengthen our military"
"You know I could talk to Hoffman about getting old designs for propeller aircraft and bombers from the early days of the Pendulum Wars? We should be able to build them with our level of technology"
"Do it. I know they share their modern technology with us in exchange for resources, but they probably didn't take into account our very different levels of technology. I mean, their concepts for roads and skyscrapers was unheard of until half a year ago" she finished while running a hand through her green hair. "Sorry for taking up your free time. I know you had a rough fight taking down that bitch's portal in Corren"
'It's fine. Killing locust is what I trained to do" the man finished before heading to the door, intent on preparing for the next battle. Feeling a female hand clasp his own, he looked over his shoulder at the young queen.
"Stay safe…and…maybe come to visit with your girlfriends sometime? I'll treat you to a meal meant for royalty"
"That…sounds nice" he replied with a tired expression as Happy rested on his shoulders.
"Bye miss Hisui!" the little blue cat cheered out as the two left the room. Watching the door close, the female walked back to her desk to start going over several new bills and laws to help modernize and militarize Fiore into a country to be reckoned with.
"Those girls in Fairy Tail sure are lucky to have a man like that…maybe if I play my cards right…" she told herself as she signed off on the development for handheld lacrima grenades.
Several hours later…
Natsu and Happy climbed off the train in Magnolia as a light snow drifted down from the sky. Boots crunching in the snow, the man looked up at the fading daylight as he walked through the business and shopping district to the north of the canal.
"Natsu…are you going to fight the monsters again?" Happy asked with worry as several citizens and Seran's waved or nodded greetings toward the dragon-slayer as he walked in his normal fatigues.
"Looks like it little buddy. I'll be heading out tonight with Echo as soon as I stop by the guild" he said with a heavy tone before stopping in his tracks. Eyeing something in the display window of a store, he immediately walked in. Grabbing the silver looking flask from the display, he walked up to the counter.
"I'd like this to say 'Bisca' on the front" he told the shopkeeper as he set the item down on the counter.
"Of course Mr. Dragneel. That will be eighty thousand jewel" the man replied as Natsu slapped down the money.
"Are you buying that for Bisca?" Happy asked as the worker started to engrave the letters on the container.
"Yeah…thought she would like something nice. She's been hurting pretty bad since Alzack died"
"I know…everybody is so sad…" the little cat said softly as the two waited. Twenty minutes later the duo was headed out as the exceed rode on his fathers shoulder while Natsu carried the item in his blue, glove covered hands. "Gotta hand it to Juvia…these gloves are great" the male thought as he looked at the material with flames on them. Finally approaching the guild hall, Natsu slowly pushed the doors open. Half the guild was still gone, many still in mourning over the latest loss they had suffered. Walking past Glenn and Sue with a wave, he walked up to Bisca's table. She was sitting by Evergreen, Levy, Lisanna, and Juvia, each girl trying to support the gun mage in her mourning. Cana and Knightwalker were at the bar drinking, the last week taking a toll on everybody as they shared a bottle. Erza was sitting with Mira and Sam, the trio sharing a table with Grey and Lucy as they talked lowly. The atmosphere was subdued, even affecting Makarov who was drinking alone in his office upstairs. Coming to the table, Natsu looked down at the tear-streaked cheeks of Bisca as Levy wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"N..Natsu?" Bisca stuttered out, her voice cracking from the recent tears.
"Here. I picked this up in town. I know its not much…" he replied while setting the flask down in front of her. Picking it up, Bisca studied the object. "He just picked this up? He had my name engraved…."
"Thank you…" the green haired woman whispered as she clutched it to her bosom.
"Your welcome. And remember we're all here for you…whatever you need" he finished before walking to the center of the hall. Feeling the members of Echo squad gather around him, the man looked at some of the people he trusted with his life.
"How did the meeting with Hisui go?" asked Glenn as Sue clutched her boyfriends arm, the woman still covered in healing cuts from the Woodworth battle. Seeing as the guild was giving him unbroken attention, the soldier looked past the silent faces of Laxus and his team as he gathered his thoughts. Letting out a deep sigh, Natsu ran a tired hand though his salmon locks.
"He looks exhausted…" Grey noticed as his friend finally started to speak.
"It's not good. A few thousand of the locust escaped the bombardment and are now rampaging across the Woodworth region. Whole towns and villages are being butchered by those abominations. Then a sizable force is already pushing into Port Timber as we speak. Since the tenth of January, another fifty three thousand of our people have died. The rifle knights are doing their best…but their really stretched thin" he paused as new looks of pain and anguish crossed many of his friends faces.
"What are you planning to do?" asked Gajeel as he sat with Millianna wrapping her arms around his torso in worry.
"It should be pretty fucking obvious" relayed Sam as a hardened look came over her eyes. "Were gonna go kill more fucking locust" she finished as Cana and Mira stood up.
"We're helping too. I can't just sit back and let those monsters keep killing innocent people" the card mage told the soldiers as Mira nodded in agreement.
"She's right. I'm not letting the man I love face these horrors alone…or some of my best friends" the beauty replied as her 'Property Of Natsu' shirt hugged her large breasts.
Knowing that once his girlfriends set their mind on something, there was no dissuading them, the man nodded before looking at Juvia and Knightwalker.
"You two stay here with Levy and look after the guild. We may need back-up later so be ready just in case with the others"
"Your trusting me with such responsibility?" Erza K. asked in disbelief as the man looked at her in the eye.
"I do. You've faced the same horrors we all have now…your Fairy Tail whether you like it or not" he told the huntress before looking at Mira and Cana. "Grab your weapons and some hot food. We need to hurry" he relayed to his girlfriends before encasing himself in his armor. Pulling Glenn's from the dimensional space, the other man started getting dressed as Sam and Erza did the same. looking at Levy, the Corporal locked eyes with one of his best friends.
"Gonna need to start making armor for all you girls soon…Think you can start on that in the next few days?"
"Sure. I almost have the Jupiter Tank plans done and the 'Amplifier' should be up within the week" she relayed as Bisca slowly got up from the table. Walking toward Natsu, fresh tears of worry were sliding down her face as Juvia looked at the crying woman.
"Juvia knows she might be a love rival…but Bisca is so sad right now...Juvia can understand why she seeks comfort in Natsu…" the rainwoman thought as the sniper stood before Natsu. Lunging forward, tears spilled down her cheeks faster as they soaked into the man's fabric.
"BE SAFE! I don't want anymore dead friends!" she wailed as the man wrapped his arms around her female frame.
"I'll make sure to come back…we all will" he promised, knowing that death could be waiting for any of them.
"When are you leaving?" asked Elfman, the muscular male leaning against a pillar near his girlfriend.
"As soon as MJ and Cana get back. We'll need to jump to 200-AB then portal to Port Timber…it's the only way to get there in time" he replied as he gently released the gun-slinger from the embrace. Seeing Happy on a nearby table, he promptly picked up the little cat before setting him on Bisca's shoulders.
"Now Happy. I need you to look after Bisca and the other's while I'm gone. Can you do that?"
Snapping off a small salute, the exceed puffed out his chest with a look of seriousness across his feline features. "AYE SIR!" he said loudly, intent of carrying out his very important mission. Nodding his head with a small smirk, he turned his attention to Juvia as she looked at Natsu with worry across her features. Not saying anything, she pulled him down for a deep, loving kiss in the hall. Breaking it off after a good minute, the rainwoman looked into his eyes with love.
"I love you Natsu…make sure to be careful" the blunette relayed, as she didn't speak in third-person for once.
"Love you too, Juv" he relayed to his water mage as Knightwalker scoffed. "Your displays of affection are gross. Thank god I'm not like that" the woman said in an annoyed tone as Mira and Cana came back into the hall. The demon was carrying her machete while Cana was brandishing her shotgun and ammo belt, ready to fight.
"You all ready?" asked Sam as she double checked her lancer rifle.
"Yeah….lets go kill some fucking monsters" Natsu replied as he pulled the portal gun from his dimensional pocket. Moment's later, the spinning vortex was crackling in the hall as the six walked through to keep the fight going in the bloodiest month of the new year….
Alright! That should do it! What did you loyal readers think? I hope you all loved the unison raid and the big lambent monster/boss fight! But the only way I'll know is if you leave reviews! Now if your wondering what happens with the Seran kid versions of Mira, Erza, and Cana, they'll be living with Abigail from the fallout universe. They might make appearances now and then, but they are still young girls without any magic. But next chapter will tie up this bloody arc…and introduce Natsumi! YES! She is finally joining the story officially! So you know she will immediately attack Grey for her versions 'love crimes' against her! Also! I've decided to put the anime convention one-shot into the main story. It will be a great down-time vacation chapter after all this shit is finally done. And now we can finally see some development with Bisca and Natsu…I'm sure Levy will be jealous at some points! But I really hope everybody enjoyed this!
Erza: God…I got sprayed with brumak blood….
Sam: Yeah…sorry about that…
Mira: We should make her wear the "property of natsu' shirt for a day!
Sam: NO! Anything but that!
Erza K: Whats the big deal? It's only a shirt?
Sam: Then you fucking wear it!
Erza K: Ew. No. I will not be subjected to such weak clothing
Natsumi: I'll Wear it!
All the girls: GET OUTTA HERE! YOU"LL RUIN THE STORY!
This is thehappy signing off!
