Chapter 29: The Battle to return the Status Quo Part 2

The battle had begun.

Ellysia was leading Seth off in one direction and Jonas was to fight White Glint where he stood. They had already gotten a few shots off on each other, nothing that would do any lasting damage but enough that both combatants were focusing solely on one another.

Jonas was sweating profusely under his helmet, not that he was hot, his Next's cooling systems saw to that. But it felt like White Glint was emitting some sort of terrifying aura, and it got to him. His heart pounded in his chest as the two Nexts squared off against each other. The way to Ellysia's fight was clear and if it wanted to, White Glint could make a break for it and help his comrade, but to do that would invite Jonas to attack him freely to a point where White Glint could take a heavy amount of damage. So the pair of Nexts watched each other, waiting for the other to make the first move.

The waiting was making Jonas feel worse. He shook in his piloting seat as he began to doubt himself more and more, he did after all, face the object of his nightmares. To him, it wasn't much different to staring down the Grim Reaper himself.

"Jonas, it's okay. You're ready for this. Every mission, every battle you've been in has trained you for this fight. I believe in you, so should you." Jessie's voice was like a soothing balm to him, he could feel the dark thoughts in his mind slowly being eroded away by the light in her words. It eased him a great deal, and Jessie could see this from her monitors back at Havita. "And to help you along in believing yourself, I have tactical information. After cross referencing images from your first encounter with him, it's apparent that he hasn't changed equipment at all. Oddly enough, you'll be better at fighting at long ranges because of your Grenade Launcher, plus you can dodge the missiles easier. Save your close range skills for the finishing blow."

"Got ya." Jonas said with an uncertain gulp. "I've got this."

"Yeah you do, now sic him boy." Jonas' anxiety lightened considerably as a fire in him ignited, Jessie's encouragement was helping as was the tactical data. White Glint had two rifles, one in each hand. One was a short range rifle that did light damage but had a high rate of fire. The other rifle was meant for more middle ranges and whilst fired slowly, packed a punch. It was the missile launchers that worried Jonas the most, the fact that each missile split into eight smaller ones would be difficult to dodge but he reckoned he had evaded worse.

Back at Havita, Jessie worried. She put on a brave face but she was just as scared as Jonas was. His heart rate was high and his brain waves were all over the place, only her words seemed to calm him down. And when he calmed down, so did she.

Jonas, all fired up, made the first move. He quick-boosted Silent Howl to the right, into the path leading White Glint to Ellysia, making sure to cut it off from helping Seth. He fired his rifle to which White Glint responded by firing both of his.

"Jonas, in a gun fight, you're not going to win, he has twice the fire-power you do, you need to be out of range of his smaller gun and use the radar dishes to avoid the bigger rifle and his launchers." Jessie informed, Jonas nodded in response.

Jonas quick-boosted backwards to gain some distance from White Glint and to get close to a nearby radar tower, his Primal Armor flashing all the way as it reflected White Glint's bullets. Jonas activated his Grenade Launcher as it unfolded over his back.

"I didn't think I'd be using this so quickly." He muttered to himself as he locked onto White Glint and fired. The grenade soared through the air and hit the ground where his opponent was standing caused a shattering explosion. He had missed White Glint as he had retreated away from the blast. But this gave Jonas the space he wanted, and he was now behind the radar dish.

But Jonas didn't have much time to breathe, eight missiles were racing for him from the other side of the tower he hid behind. The missiles hit, causing the tower to topple over as it supports buckled under the force of the explosions. Jonas boosted Silent Howl onto the toppling tower and boosted along the dish taking off before he lost his balance. He was in the air as the tower crashed behind him, he could see White Glint in the distance. He zoomed in his monitor on White Glint and saw it fire another missile.

A couple of seconds later, it split into eight smaller missiles. He watched them intently for the few seconds he had before he would have to dodge them. He saw that they split into a spread formation, attempting to hit him from all sides, he surmised that by boosting through the hole in the centre at the right time, they would overshoot him and lose track of him.

So Jonas waited for the right moment before activating his Over-booster, the back compartment opened up and the hidden set of Boosters fired, hurtling him forwards and like he planned, straight through the centre of the missile formation. As soon as he was through, he disengaged it and glided towards White Glint on momentum alone. Jonas fired his Grenade Launcher again to keep White Glint occupied with dodging and as Jonas hoped, it did.

He change trajectory slightly with his shoulder mounted Boosters, he wanted to land right in front of his foe and attack with his laser blade. White Glint answered by firing it's twin rifles to try and deter him, but Jonas didn't stop, his camera focused on White Glint all the way. He was only a few seconds away from it now, disengaging his Grenade Launcher so he could use his Laser Blade.

His foe had an answer though, Jonas saw it's blocky wings extend outwards and then slide into place, from the long wings protruded a row of Boosters which aggressively flared before firing, sending White Glint straight underneath Silent Howl, causing Jonas to miss his mark completely.

"Woah, what was that?" Jonas asked.

"Those Over-boosters are cool." Jessie remarked.

"Just whose side are you on anyway?" Jonas chided.

"I was just saying they were cool is all." she replied meekly, but this just made Jonas smile warmly. If he won this battle it would be because of her. "By the way, the jets escorting our drop ships have broken off and the Answerer is leaving the area."

"Everything's going to plan." he muttered.

Jonas turned around to face White Glint again who was on the offensive with it's long range rifle, then Jonas received a voice message over the comms.

"This is the Operator of White Glint. I ask that you cease this pointless battle." This threw Jonas for a loop, why would White Glint's Operator be speaking to him.

"I'm uhh, afraid we can't do that." He responded as he launched Silent Howl into the sky to attack from the air.

"You fight for the Corporations, correct?" The Operator responded as White Glint took off to meet him.

"Out of necessity, yes."

"Then you are the same as we once were. Think, what are you fighting for?" But Jonas had the perfect answer and he delivered it passionately.

"I fight to protect the ones I love." Jessie heard this over the comms and blushed even though no-one on the other consoles in the Nerve Centre could see.

"Then you are the same as us." Silent Howl and White Glint flew through the air exchanging gunfire.

"Oh really? So you're telling me that the League is holding your home and friends hostage and if you don't fight, they'll destroy everything hmm?"

"It's not quite like that of course." Silent Howl fired a round from it's Grenade Launcher but it was evaded easily, however, the explosion was no less spectacular.

"Then like I said, out of necessity." White Glint's Operator did not reply.

Jonas decided not to mention that White Glint was the image of his nightmare, he didn't want to reveal his fears to his opponent. But Jonas felt his fear melt slowly. Jonas feared White Glint mostly for two reasons, the fact that it was like a ghost, attacking from nowhere and then disappearing. But on an open battlefield, he never let it leave his sight. The other was that he never had anything to pin to the silent Next. But now he had a voice, it wasn't the Lynx's voice, but the Operator was good enough. He was still anxious, but it was because of the battle, not his opponent, never again would White Glint appear in his nightmares, he was free.

"Well said Jonas." Jessie added "You showed her."

"Who does she think she is, thinking we are the same."

"The readings are telling me that you're much more calm."

"I think I've conquered my fear. Everything's going to be all right."

"That's fantastic news, I'm so happy for you."

Jonas felt a sense of reinvigoration shoot through him, every second that passed, he felt more sure of himself.

Silent Howl landed on the ground to let it's energy supply recharge, however White Glint was still airborne and let loose two missiles. Jonas quickly looked around and saw another radar tower close by. He boosted towards it, quick-boosting on occasion to cover more ground. The missile once again split into eight smaller ones each, hurtling toward Silent Howl. Jonas got to the tower and took cover behind it.

The smaller missiles hit the tower but instead of toppling over, it exploded. Large pieces of shrapnel pelted Silent Howl, causing it's Primal Armour to flash as it repelled the debris. The cumulative damage from the explosion and the shrapnel collapsed his shield, causing Silent Howl to take hull damage from the shrapnel. Large jagged shards lodged itself in Silent Howl's thigh and arm.

"Argh, dammit." Jonas yelled as he was rocked in his seat.

"Damage to your blade arm and left leg, it's nothing serious and won't impact your combat ability." Jessie informed.

"Thank God, that was too close." The Primal Armour had already began to recharge and began to reform itself, but White Glint was closing in quickly, attempting to defeat his possibly wounded foe.

Instinctively, Jonas raised his Grenade Launcher as he prepared to repel his attacker. White Glint had over-boosted to Jonas' flank to attack his right side. Jonas turned to face his attacker and jumped backwards, firing his Grenade Launcher at almost point blank range. The round missed White Glint due to a timely quick-boost. But it couldn't dodge the resulting explosion right behind it, heavily damaging it's Primal Armour.

As Jonas was in the thick of fighting, once again exchanging gunfire, he got a voice message over the comms.

"Jonas, Jonas? It's me, Seth." This abrupt message from Seth shocked Jonas.

"He's beaten her. I thought for sure Ellysia had this." he thought. "Seth. How's Ellysia, what did you do to her?" He commanded.

Jonas, I'm all right. The battle was a draw. We knocked each other out." Ellysia answered.

"Oh I see. Did you sort out your differences?" As Jonas said this White Glint fired a missile at Silent Howl. Jonas swore as he began to expect them to separate again, but to his surprise, it didn't and Jonas had to quick-boost to avoid it.

"Are you okay?" Ellysia asked with a tone of concern.

"It's White Glint. But don't worry. Did you sort out everything?" He asked.

"More or less" Seth responded.

"Glad to hear it. I'll admit Seth, I admired your courage for what you've done." Jonas admitted.

"Glad someone did." Seth replied sarcastically. Ellysia just grunted in response.

"Yeah, uhh hey. I've just wanted to let you know that you've been a great friend and team mate. And I hope you and Jessie stay together through thick and thin." Ellysia said with feeling.

Wait, Jonas hooked up with Jessie?" Seth blurted out.

"Yeah he did. It's great." Ellysia responded happily.

"I knew it would happen someday. Congrats Jonas." Silent Howl was accumulating damage to it's hull as it's Primal Armour struggled to stay formed. Jonas began to lose focus as he struggled to both fight and talk to Ellysia and Seth.

"Uhh thanks, what's this all about?" He said, utterly confused.

"I guess you could say, this is goodbye." Ellysia responded.

"Goodbye Jonas. You've been a good friend. Thanks for looking after everyone while I was gone." Seth followed up. Jonas' eyes shot wide open as he heard this.

"Goodbye?" But Ellysia had already cut off communications with him, and he couldn't restablish contact with her. "Jessie. I need to know what's happening over there." Jessie was worried by this also and was happy to oblige Jonas' order.

"I'm on it." Jonas was severely concerned about her, while he was sure of her skill, this was an all or nothing fight, there would be no second chances. While he was dedicated to the plan on having two separate fights, he was not against rushing to Ellysia's aid if she was in life threatening danger. He focused on dodging White Glint's attacks while he waited for Jessie to get back to him, which she did in short order.

"Jonas, I talked to Sam. It's bad news, her Next is crippled and there's energy spikes coming from the Linebreaker. It might explode but if you get there quickly you could save her."

"I'm coming Ellysia!" He yelled. But that was when he heard it, the explosion in the distance, it was huge. "Jessie, was that..."

"Hold on." She said franticly. There was a brief silence as White Glint continued it's attack and Jonas kept dodging as best he could. The damage to his Primal Armour was heavy and it was barely recharging under the attacks of his opponent, but it seemed that White Glint was saving it's missiles and was sticking to it's guns. While Jonas did fire back, it was mainly to try and keep White Glint suppressed. "Jonas, Sam has lost the feed and all contact to Embrace... She's... She's gone." Jessie said through stifled tears.

"What!? No!?"

"Sam said that the Linebreaker's cooling systems failed. It exploded and took Embrace with it."

"I can't believe it. She's actually gone? Like Takaru."

"I... I..." But Jessie had no words left to say at the loss of their comrade.

"Damn them, damn the League, damn Line Ark, damn them all." Jonas muttered with increasing amounts of anger

"Jonas?"

"DAMN THEM ALL!" The loss of Ellysia hit him hard and he began to feel rage take over. At first he fought it, he wanted to keep his senses in this fight but he thought of their situation. How everything that had happened to them had been because of the feud between the League and Line Ark. S.H.E.L.L was just caught in the middle, and now their feud had took all his team mates away from him.

They had accepted him into their group, called him family and one of their own. But now they were gone, as was his new home. Whilst Havita was his place of origin, he called S.H.E.L.L Central his home. And when the thought of all that was taken from him fully manifested itself, he let the rage wash over him.

"DAMN YOU TO HELL WHITE GLINT!" Jonas stopped being defensive and attacked with all the fury he could muster, this time he would fight where he was most comfortable, at point blank range, and he would stay there.

"Jonas, what's happening to you? Are you okay?" Back at Havita, Jessie stared at the monitor, Jonas' brainwaves had suddenly gone all over the place and his heart rate had spiked. "Jonas you need to calm down."

"No! I'm the last one alive, this is a battle I cannot lose. I have to win, I have no choice." It suddenly occurred to Jessie that this is what he was like when Jonas had thought she had died back at S.H.E.L.L Central.

Silent Howl boosted towards White Glint, quick-boosting to the sides to avoid it's gunfire. Jonas reloaded his rifle, unfolded his Grenade Launcher and fired both. White Glint quick-boosted to avoid the explosive round and Jonas saw the opportunity to close the gap almost instantly. He pulsed his Over-booster to cover more distance but not enough to have it drain what was left of his Primal Armor. White Glint quick-boosted away to keep the battle at a medium range but Silent Howl was faster.

With an unhealthy disregard for his own safety, Jonas quick-boosted towards White Glint and fired his Grenade launcher at the ground between himself and his white foe, enveloping them both in the explosion. White Glint quick-boosted out of the smoke plume, but Jonas was hot on his toes. He thrusted with his laser blade square at White Glint torso but it blocked the stab by shielding itself with it's close range rifle, Jonas pulled the blade up and sliced the weapon in half. White Glint discarded what remained by throwing it to the side.

"Good work Jonas, he's lost his close range strength, the longer ranged rifle can still hurt you, so be careful. But if you stay close to him, it won't use his missiles." Jessie informed wearily. She was shocked by this sudden change in Jonas, she had never in all the time she'd known him, seen him this angry before. And it worried her, mostly because of his fluctuating readings on the monitor.

Jonas spun Silent Howl in a circle with it's shoulder mounted Boosters, hoping to gut White Glint with a swing at it's torso, but it quick-boosted back to avoid the attack. It fired it's remaining rifle at Jonas, punching it's Primal Armour with hard hitting shells. Jonas fired back, turning the match once more into a gun battle, but due to White Glint having half the fire power as before, Jonas was now on equal footing.

"Fellow Lynx. I am sorry for the loss of your comrades, but this pointless battle must end." The Operator of White Glint chimed in again to try and defuse the situation.

"Jessie, patch this through to the base, they might want to hear this." And she did as she was told, now all of Havita could hear this, and all it's residents perked up their ears to listen in. "I am the last Lynx of S.H.E.L.L. I am the only one that can carry on their name now. So I will destroy you White Glint, and carry on. I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN DO IT!" Jonas said with conviction. Back at Havita, Jessie heard the cheers outside and inside the Nerve Centre she was stationed in and it made her smile, everyone was behind him, no-one was unsure of their loyalties.

"It is foolish to fight, this battle means nothing in the grand scheme of things. There are bigger evils than us."

"I don't care about your evils of the world. Seth allied with you to fight them and it brought destruction on everything I have come to hold dear. We want nothing to do with your war." Jessie heard the crew of Havita cheer again.

"It is unavoidable, soon you will be brought into what is coming whether you want it or not" The Operator of White Glint warned before cutting contact again. The warning was stern and filled with sincerity. The people at Line Ark truly believed that their struggle with the League would set things in motion that would be unavoidable.

"The people here were cheering for you when you talked to that Operator. Everyone here has your back. They believe in you." Jessie assured him, and it only proved to strengthen Jonas' anger fuelled resolve.

Jonas stayed hot on White Glint as it darted around trying to put distance between the two. When it realised that Jonas would not be shaken away, it threw caution to the wind and readied it's two Missile Launchers, and fired.

Two missiles raced for Jonas and while he was angry and more ruthless, his skill as a pilot remained and much like in the battle for S.H.E.L.L Central, had in some areas, gotten better. He aimed his rifle carefully, shot one of them down. But the other one remained as it split into the eight smaller ones. Jonas employed the same tactic as before. To over-boost through the centre of the formation and avoid them. As he did so he readied his Grenade Launcher. Four rounds remained.

As he thundered toward White Glint again, he fired his launcher after it locked on, White Glint avoided the round with another timely quick-boost. But Jonas fired another, and another. With every shot, White Glint was closer to being hit. And as it was dodging, Jonas re closed the gap. It's last dodge put him in Jonas' path and he landed right next to it. Jonas aimed at near point black range and fired. White Glint attempted another quick-boost and it missed by a hairs breadth, exploding right behind.

Jonas released the coupling keeping the launcher attached to Silent Howl, and it fell, crashing to the floor. His laser blade was once again ready and he lunged into the smoke where he found White Glint, dazed by the explosion. If the last grenade didn't fully demolish it's Primal Armour, it would be on the verge of collapse. Jonas swung his sword at his foe, trying to deliver the final blow but White Glint did something he did not expect. It quick-boosted forwards and crashed into Silent Howl, stopping him from hitting it with it's sword. Neither Next could hurt the other, so Jonas pushed back with all the power his Boosters could muster.

Both Nexts pushed as hard as they could, metal scrapping against metal, Kojima Particles danced and mingled with each other and inside his Next's cockpit, Jonas screamed. As White Glint began to get the upper hand, Jonas turned Silent Howl to the side and made White Glint shoot forwards under it's own momentum. He swing at it's back with his blade but only just skimmed it's Primal Armour. Jonas surmised that White Glint was getting desperate as he pressed his advantage.

White Glint spun to face Silent Howl and jumped back, firing both missile launchers. Neither missiles split and headed straight for Jonas at a downward angle. He waited until the final second before quick-boosting back to let the missiles hit the ground in front of him. A huge explosion enveloped Silent Howl but the Primal Armour, which had ample time to recharge during the pushing struggle with White Glint, protected him. Jonas boosted Silent Howl up into the sky and out of the smoke plume which had developed to see White Glint standing there.

White Glint didn't move and Jonas saw what he thought was a good time to strike. Jonas' rational side thought it odd that White Glint was just standing there but the side fuelled by anger urged him to strike and he listened to the side that wanted victory. He lunged at White Glint, Boosters pushing at full power and prepared to swing when White Glint changed before his eyes.

White Glint's panels and ports began to close up, blocks of metal protruded out from it's arms and legs and finally, the row of lights signalling it's eyes closed up.

"Wait Jonas, I'm reading a high concentration of..." Jessie tried to inform.

But then a bright green light exploded from White Glint.