Sylia listened to Jacob's recount of the events which had transpired the day before. He hadn't been very talkative yesterday when returning. He looked disturbed and it wasn't the boomer to her surprise. Linna knew and Jacob found safety in her arms. Both connected in a comforting way.
"So in your world it was the Americans who reached the moon, interesting..." Sylia trailed off recalling a documentary she watched.
Final hours of Apollo 11. She thought remembering the title clearly in her minds eye. It was a tale of the crushed lander modular and the hours before it impacted with the moon itself. It was nearly a decade later when the bodies were finally recovered. When The lunar crew of the ill fated mission came home.
"It's strange, I didn't think that was different. Wrong yet again" Jacob said, before pivoting the topic. "Irene is with her grandfather I presume?"
Sylia nodded. A small smirk creased her lips. Jacob felt some relief wash over him in a tidal wave.
"She left after you left, you're convincing surely helped" Sylia explained. "First flight outta here, and she has more than enough incentive to keep quiet about us"
"You threatened her?" Jacob inquired with concern.
Sylia shook her head and stood while holding a cup of tea. Jacob looked up at her feeling small.
"No, she understood your situation and promised to keep it to herself" Sylia explained once again.
Jacob smiled and nodded. He was gonna miss her. At least she was in a far safer place and Vision wouldn't seek revenge for her sisters death. Jacob hoped it'd stay that way. Staring down into the coffee cup he bit his lower lip.
"I would've loved to see her off" He muttered.
Sylia held regret in that, rushing Irene was best but it did have a affect on others. She moved to his side and rested a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her eyes almost glinting in the daylight. She noticed his face was starting to grow a beard as he looked scraggly with it. She could only imagine how he would look with a full beard on.
"Come on let's test your skills" Sylia said finishing her tea.
"Gladly" Jacob replied also downing the rest of his coffee.
Walking out from the test bay Jacob wiped the sweat from his brow to see Sylia looking at the results. Moving besides her he was surprised by what he saw.
"Strength is a 7.2, in the legs and a 6.7 for the arms" Jacob said reading the Green text.
Sylia nodded.
"4.8 reflex and even a 8.7 on speed, guessing track and field was a major of yours" Sylia figured.
Jacob chucked and nodded with pride. It was one of his few escapes when he was younger, hoping one day just to run away from all the pain and into the wild blue yonder. How much of a fool he really was back in the day.
"I could do better though, that hologram is was a bit too close for comfort" Jacob remarked, rubbing the side of his head where a holographic prod had nearly struck.
There was a nod from Sylia who turned off the computer. Turing in her chair she faced him before standing.
"It's better then I honestly expected. Some more training wouldn't hurt but putting you out there now doesn't feel as risky" Sylia admitted.
Jacob patted her on the shoulder for a second. It was either him possibly being a liability or just thinking about his safety either way he enjoyed the thought.
"That's good, reinventing myself paid off after all" He replied deciding to see the brighter side of things.
Sylia agreed wondering what he was like before his reinvention. She obviously concluded it wasn't good and Gene had a hand in his bounce back. She would've loved to meet the man, he sounded to be too good to be true but there was one like him to come around once in awhile. Unfortunately the man that saved his life was dead, taken away far too soon.
"Howe was only 23, it only happened a month ago for me...he was like an actual father to me and then he died right in front of my eyes. It fucked up to actually experience it...it's like your slowly going insane trying to think of multiple scenarios at the same time ultimately just driving off a cliff before crashing and burning" Jacob muttered darkly.
Sylia seeing his obvious distress hugged him in a good attempt to comfort him.
"No I'm fine, just a bit rattled. I don't need to be hugged all the time" He said and Sylia let go. "Thanks though"
"Welcome" Sylia replied softly.
Mason sat in a comfy chair with two others doing the same. The message hadn't sat well knowing the boy still most likely lived. On the computer display in front he saw the dot, The latest combat model being finally tested. Built for war with multiple machine gun emplacements and rocket launches. He gripped a glass of bourbon as he watched the computer display.
"This better prove too be with it" Quincy grumbled on his left side.
Mason remained silent watching the dot move at rapid pace down the main stretch. No doubt the AD police were already in pursuit of the monster. Hopefully it will. Mason thought in reply. Still bitter over his program being shut down which he planned to get restarted once Quincy finally bit it. Then the Boomer stopped.
"Combat model engaging AD Police" A computerised voice said.
Mason sat back and took a sip. His mind drifting off to the Knight Sabers. Would they intervene?. He mused, as he toyed with the idea of them getting defeated by the large bloomer.
A burst of machine gun fire echoed thought the skyscrapers building's cutting though the silence like a knife. A armoured officer lowered his rifle upon the combat boomer only did he rip to shreds by the boomers auto cannon. The officer doubled over falling backwards and hitting the ground in a puddle of blood. The larger boomer stepped over the officer as he succumbed to his wounds. Firing away at armoured cars the Boomer was like a tank with legs. Officers continued to fire not causing a single dent in the creature. High-powered round pinged off harmlessly as the boomers auto cannon tore through more officers with each second. High above a large grey drop ship opened its rear hatch and two mecha jumped deploying large parachutes gently floated to the ground. The two landed without incident. Cutting their chutes they turned their attention to the combat boomer which fired a burst at fleeing officers. The first one rushed to the Boomer, firing his auto cannon as he ran. The boomer pivoted to face him quickly to pulling an arm blade. The boomer leapt at the charging officer sending the blade directly through the face plate completely destroying the man's skull. His Companion however was more cautious firing a few bursts and throwing a few grenades. The boomer and quick retaliation through the body of his dead comrade at the officer. Dodging to the the cop gritted his teeth in rage.
"Come on you bastard, let's dance!" He barked before charging at the Boomer.
Priss was extremely annoyed. Genom couldn't have picked a worse time!. She thought as Linna stood at the door beckoning her to hurry up.
"Come on we gotta go!" She emphasize the word go.
"I know I know!" Priss replied.
She threw on her red Jacket and tossed her blonde wig aside. The manager of the club was understandably pissed but Priss wasn't in the mood.
"You wake out you're never gonna play here again!" He bellowed.
Priss rolled her eyes sticking up the middle finger.
"Get off my ass!" She retorted. "This place sucks anyway!"
"Well good riddance you skank!" The owner shouted just as Priss exited with Linna.
Priss nearly did a 180 to go give the man a piece of her mind but ignored it. As much as she wanted to she was already pressed for time.
"Bastard" Priss cursed underneath her breath.
Moving out into the alleyway Linna hoped in her car as Priss took her bike. In the mirror Priss saw Jacob in the driver seat of Linna's small van, he was surprisingly calm despite the tension of the situation. He knew exactly what was gonna happen, something she didn't wish too have. Priss rode off with the two right behind as Jacob kept a safe distance from her, he was either paranoid or cautious. Priss did not know which.
Nene waited by her post as traffic was sealed off at the checkpoint. Mainly contending with agitated drivers she resented being in this position. Mostly cursing to herself that her luck have been this bad. Glancing down at her watch she saw it was getting close to 10pm. One more hour and her shift would be over.
"Just my luck, stuck here as a boomer tears up the damn city" She grumbled folding her arms.
A police siren began sounding in the distance and seems to be closing rapidly. Nene looked to see Priss being chased by a motorcycle officer. Nene sighed and swung the blocking rail upwards letting her friend and her officer through. Closing it she sighed again.
"Boy I'm never gonna hear the end of that" She commented hearing what the chief had to say in her mind.
Nearly 10 minutes later Priss saw the large boomer flung off the highway and into a shopping district without a single care. Leon slammed on the brakes as did Priss who had unintentionally began being chased by the monster. Leon stepped from his car and watched more Mecha tear after the boomer. He grimaced and watched them duke it out in the shopping complex.
"Jesus that is one tough son of a bitch" Leon remarked sing it fight even heavily damaged.
Priss agreed as a motorcycle officer rolled up and slammed a ticket onto her fuselage. Priss looked down and nearly gawked at it. A license suspension, could it possibly get any worse?. Then suddenly another ticket a 300 fine.
"Good night Leon, i'm leaving this one to you" The motorcycle officer said before blasting off.
Priss pocketed her tickets and sighed. Pulling out her license she passed it too Leon who reluctantly took it.
"It's only a week, come on I'll walk you back" He said knowing full well she wasn't gonna leave the bike.
Priss somewhat flattered nodded dismounting her bike and began walking with the officer. Leon was usually a step above the others and I brought him a bit of respect from her, not much but more than what she normally gave.
Standing in the store Jacob stared at A bullet hole filled wall as he placed both hands on his shoulder. He knew how it went more than anybody, The man who brought him here was going to die very soon. He couldn't wait to see the bastard get what he finally deserved. Irene would be much safer with him dead. That's what he honestly hoped. Mackie let out a whistle in surprise as he walked about the broken shop. Women's underwear laid riddled with bullet holes or completely destroyed, parts of walls were falling and so were bits the ceiling. Jacob knew it was completely unintentional of Genom But I like the sense of paranoia befell the other Knight Sabers aside from Sylia. She had this uncanny ability to read others extremely well, she picked up on most of Jacob's feeling more easily than he had anticipated.
"I'd pay too be a fly on the way at Genom" Mackie said bitterly.
Jacob chucked in amusement as he patted the boy on the shoulder. If only he were less horny.
"I am and it's not exactly thrilling" Jacob replied.
"Must be nice to know your enemies move before they even make it" Mackie countered.
"I've only seen the series twice cut me some slack man" Jacob said with a grin.
Mackie shrugged and smiled warmly. Sliding a small tape in his hand he whispered softly.
"For later" Mackie said with a sly grin.
Once Mackie was outta sight he tossed the thing away knowing it was pics and footage of the girls in the nude. Having it only made him feel icky. Besides he had other things to concentrate on, much more important things to get through the day tomorrow. I'm not gonna sleep good. Jacob thought in dismay.
Priss had to take the grav-tram to get to the apartment complex close to home, a little detour but a worthwhile one at that. With a box and a small bag under her left arm she approached a park where a lone boy sat. A young Japanese boy with black hair and brown eyes.
"Sho, mothers late again?" Priss asked the younger man.
The young boy looked at her and nodded.
"I don't mind, I hear one of those Boomers tore though 5 blocks. Is it true?" He asked her.
Priss nodded. Sho looked at his shoes as he bit his lip. Shaking himself back he looked up too the stars. With the bright lights of the city it made it hard too see them, only the brightest of stars were visible.
"Hopefully we can leave the city one day, hopefully" He muttered softly. "Away from those monsters"
Sho wasn't blind to the damage, he want it as much as anyone to escape. Leave it behind and be safe. He was optimistic however, optimistic that they would escape Megatoyko someday soon.
"I feel ya, here" She passed him the small bag containing a burger.
"Thank you" He thanked.
He began eating as Pirss waited with him. Of all things she had a soft spot for it was kids. He was now older than nine years old but he was intelligent...especially knowing the dangers of the city. She didn't blame him for wanting to leave. At least he had a caring mother who was saving up the cash to fulfil that dream.
Mason looked at the body in front of him, clothed synthetic skin it's white hair and long face was far from his own. It rested in a orange liquid tank waiting to be activated. A small device connected to Mason's wrist was the key. It was his little back up plan, in case of the worst ever to happen to him. He smirked in satisfaction. He wasn't gonna go out so easily.
End chapter