It wasn't a combat model but it didn't mean it wasn't dangerous. It was a classic model older than the newer models Genom were pushing out. These D-45's were being fazed out in To avoid competition with their younger models which had a reputation to put it lightly. The D-45s were more bulky, slower too. They didn't even have a rocket engine or much armour so taking one down only requires a few rpg rockets. This rampaging robot however was different. For starters it had a plasma weapon and rocket launcher, then there was the added armour which made it harder to kill. Unleash it in a mall and you get a massacre like the Columbine shootings of the late 90s. It was at the forefront of Jacob's mind, images of the chaos flashing before his eyes whilst he waited with Priss on a nearby rooftop. Doing another diagnostic check Jacob saw he was still in top condition. Part of him wished for a servo to lock up and take him out of action but the mechanics worked flawlessly.
"Can you stop checking yourself it's driving me crazy!" Priss chided.
Jacob put his hands up defensively.
"Alright" He compiled. "Just nervous that's all"
Priss didn't saw a word as she just looked at him though her helmet. The LCD screen highlighting him as friendly. She couldn't even see his face but she assumed he was racked with doubt. First times were always the hardest.
"Just take a few breaths, it's only a D-45...practically piñata's compared to their younger brothers" Priss said to put him at ease.
"I'm more worried about the weapons it's carrying" Jacob admitted before taking a few deep breaths to calm himself.
Priss was agreeable as she heard another round of explosions ring out with in the mall. Both looked too see smoke billowing out of the destroyed skylights on-top of the mall.
"Damn it" Priss cursed aloud. "Sylia do we move in?" She said over comm.
A brief burst of static as a voice found them though the communication channel.
"Negative, we're pushing it out it'll just take another minute" Sylia responded with a grunt shortly after.
Jacob bit his lower lip as he could see they were trying to push the thing back and avoid its attacks. Then there were the civilians who were another can of worms to contend with. The AD police had all but fallen back and were licking their wounds. Now it was the Knight sabres jobs to fix this mess.
"Come on just get it out here, and we'll kick it into next week" Jacob mouthed not even making a sound.
Linna leap high avoiding the brilliant flash of plasma energy. Fire crackled as the blast blew into a clothing store starting another fire. Given how most of the place was clothing stores it was a disaster in the making. She landed 6 feet away with the aid of her boosters. Dirt and light paper debris blew away from the landing site as Sylia raced to the boomer in a zigzag. Unable to get a lock on it back back-pedalled before snarling. Lowering its plasma weapon on Nene it fired only to have her dodge.
"Jesus this thing won't let up!" Nene said.
"You can say that twice" Linna added.
Linna closed the distance with the boomer leaping into the air and slamming down onto its head with her legs causing it to staggered backwards at the front door sending bits of glass shattering to the ground. The large boomer stumbled to the ground before they could follow it. 5 thin rods struck its crest and legs puncturing through the added armour. Priss smirked as she and Jacob leapt down from the rooftop. The boomer tore itself free from the ground ripping parts of its armour clean off its back. Bits of circuitry and wires were exposed as fluid began escaping. It picked up on the two newer targets and fired a barrage of missiles at the two. Jacob boosted hard right and curved towards the boomer gliding across the ground like a water skier. Priss jetted up several missiles crashed into one another before exploding below her. Jacob had rammed into the boomer at full speed. Pitching it gun upwards and deploying a knife like blade charged with electricity.
"Jesus just die already!" Jacob yelled out.
Stabbing the blade into the creatures back the immense electrical charge caused it to shake and howl in agony. Luckily Jacobs suit was insulated so he barely felt a thing. Sylia closed the distance seeing her opportunity. Extending her blades she swung at the head and the cannon arm. Both blades cut through it effortlessly as the arm went flying through the air crashing into a nearby car. The head rolled off the body crashing to the ground. The body found length and the two broke away. Jacob gasped as he felt his heart pounding his chest.
"That was fantastic!" Nene cheered. "Where did you learn that gliding trick?"
Jacob realized he had pulled it off and smiled at the accomplishment.
"Macross do you remember love" He said proudly. "I didn't even know I pulled it off"
"We it sure didn't see it coming" Linna chimed in. "At least it's dead now"
Jacob and the rest gave a nod. It had been a tough son of a bitch. The destruction it caused was more than enough for Jacob to take.
"Let's get outta here, let the cops deal with the body" He muttered before jetting up to the rooftop above.
After arriving on the scene Leon saw the headless and armless boomer. He smiled wryly as his partner Daley whistled in amusement. He was a red haired man just a head shorter than Leon. He was wearing a suit with a white undershirt.
"Not bad" Daley said nudging the body with his foot. "Worth the price of admission alone"
"You could say that again" Leon replied with a half smile.
Daley smirked as he walked away going to speak with the officers first on the scene. Leon stood by the boomer however with one thought on his mind. Sylia Stingray...thank you. He thought as he pulled out a cigarette. Whoever she was along with her comrades was doing a good job at keeping people safe, that's all that really mattered to him. Most of the AD police had no problems with the Knight sabers, only Genom.
"Hey Leon, look's we got a fifth one!" Daley said before moving up to him holding a Polaroid picture.
The picture was of an armored individual who looked to be male but it was hard to tell. The paint scheme was red and black and the suit had a mesh design between all 4 of them.
"Interesting, One more to the war against the company" Leon said somewhat dryly.
"At least someone's doing it" Daley commented. "Genom has too many government connections to be touchable by us" He spat.
Leon knew that well and grimaced deeply.
"Yeah that's always nice to hear" He chided his partner sarcastically.
"Ease up a bit. Come on let's hit a club. I hear Priss is playing tonight" Daley teased.
Leon rolled his eyes and followed him.
"I'll buy the booze" Leon replied.
The tension in the back room of the club was powerful to everyone inside. Her bassist Hikaru was not there and he had left a note that he had left for another band. Priss felt absolutely betrayed that he wouldn't say it to her face as she sat on a bar stool in her black leather skirt and red top. Her white blonde wig hung close on a hook. Her drummer Davis sighed deeply brushing his hair aside.
"This really blows, like really sucks!" He said almost depressingly.
"We know that. Wouldn't mind kicking his ass though" Guitarist McKinney said venomously.
Priss agreed but felt helpless in the moment. Her emotions boiled as she sighed with a deep breath. Her eyes landed on the door as a knock sounded. She had forgotten she'd invited Jacob to join her before the show. Looking to the clock she saw they had 10 minutes till showtime. If we even go on. Priss thought depressingly.
"It's open!" Priss told the man on the opposite side.
The door opened in strode Jacob who closed the door behind him. He was wearing a dark red shirt with grey jeans. His eyes swept across the room seeing the various Instruments laying about.
"So you Priss's boy toy~" Davis teased the newcomer.
Jacob looked at him and shook his head no. He took a chair close to where he was. A 1964 hoffner bass resting next to him.
"I'm just a friend" Jacob dismissively said.
Priss didn't see that as doing him any justice at all. Then McKinney spoke.
"So with benefits I see?" He inquired.
Jacob blushed deep red as he shook his head once again. He didn't think Priss would see him in that way. He wasn't fantastic looking guy, just plane and normal.
"No I'm not...anybody on this bass?" Jacob responded before pointing to the guitar.
Everyone shrugged and he quickly picked it up with a boyish grin on his face. Making some adjustments to the strings he played a few notes. The opening bass of Doctor marvello by Klaatu. All their faces lit up like christmas trees and Jacob stopped and looked confused. Just what were they worried about?.
"You can play?!" Priss said with surprise.
She hadn't even known, he never even talked about it let alone show anyone. Jacob still confused found his voice.
"Yeah. It's a better hobby than smoking crack under a bridge" Jacob bluntly replied.
"I'll drink to that!" Davis said in more of a symbolic way.
Jacob agreed and smirked. Priss finally decided to ask a big question. Something her bandmates were tip towing around.
"We just lost out bassist, bailed for another group..." Priss began.
"And you need someone to fill-in and I'm your only option right now...fuck talk about no pressure!" Jacob quickly realized.
Priss nodded as she saw his jaw drop only by a little. They let him think for a moment. He only played live once, The faithful day were Gene died right in the light. That day always haunted him. Shaking himself back to reality he sighed deeply. There was no way he could just leave her hanging like this.
"Alright I'll do it. Pass me the Music sheets" He said and Davis did just that.
In the crowd Sylia, Linna and Nene waited for Priss to enter stage. Jacob was supposed to be back by now but they figured he was getting alone just fine. Probably getting drunk or something along those lines. Linna looked around the room even looking up at the upper level where more people stood waiting.
"Rather packed isn't it" Linna stated.
Sylia nodded seeing what she meant. Her mind couldn't help it conjure up images of Beatlemania many decades ago. The crowd however was more mixed than those early days men and women conjuring together in the same place. Soon it would be an explosion of screaming and cheering. Should have brought earplugs. Sylia thought before noticing Priss taking the stage with the others. The last one shocked her however.
"Is that Jacob?!" Nene said upon seeing him.
Linna squinted seeing him after a minute of looking. She made double sure of it and nodded.
"It is, I don't know why he's up there though but it's not the weirdest thing I've seen" Linna replied.
He was holding a bass guitar, a 64 Hoffner bass in its classic colour scheme. Plugging it into the amp he looked out at crowd and gulped. Me and my big mouth. He thought before slinging the strap behind his neck. Pirss was wearing her wig, something he still didn't understand and probably wouldn't ask. Taking up the lead microphone Priss looked back to Jacob who gave a nervous thumbs up. Drums pounded along with the bass guitars playing both in sync with one another. Priss was going at it on the microphone occasionally looking back at the bass player.
Leon above on the upper level with Daley both drank beer as they watched the show. Leon recognized Jacob who looked nervous but was trucking through it.
"New guys pretty good, looks nervous as hell though" Daley remarked.
"I see that" Leon added. "Must be a first timer"
Daley nodded. The two continued drinking and continued to watch the show as they night went on.
End of chapter