Black Feather: Episode XVII
"Sun Strand"
Layered District 2
12:53 p.m., 03/10
The arachnid charged directly towards Iris, boring holes in the roofs of houses with its massive stabbing legs and scarring the lawns and gardens. Its astounding mobility caused Iris to step back.
The arachnid stopped abruptly, pushing a foul draft against Iris. Its mouth cannon powered up, chuckling with immense energy. A growing moan from its body caused a trepidation in the air. Iris squinted and blocked her eyes from the ungodly light from its mouth. Everything was quiet again.
Iris slowly opened her eyes, her arms at ease. The spider-like freak was incinerated. Its body lay smoldering on the pavement. An enormous shadow crept over Iris. She turned around.
"Rose!" Her red and black green AC stood with smoke rising from its rocket launcher.
"Iris, get back to base immediately! They're coming from all directions!! Hurry!"
"What about you!?"
"I'll be fine! Take that car behind me!"
Iris dashed for the still-activated convertible behind Rose. It was almost out of fuel, but there was more than enough to get back to the base.
_____________________________
(Global Cortex)
"What in heavens..." The watchman motioned Kyrie to take a look at the long-range monitor. She stared at it for a moment, trying to comprehend what was happening. Blankets of stirring giant insectoids were approaching from the horizon. Kyrie winced.
"Let us evacuate." Kyrie turned and walked away from the monitor.
"We can't! By the time we completely evacuate from the base, the main elevator will be long overran by those freaks!!" The watchman was standing up from his swivel chair. Kyrie had stopped. She nodded and proceeded.
Cursing, the watchman turned on the microphone.
"All personnel. Begin evacuating the premises immediately! I repeat: Begin evacuating the premises immediately!!" With that, he hastily grabbed his coat and followed Kyrie, leaving the screen on. One of the arachnids appeared suddenly. The reception sizzled and silenced...
_____________________________
Iris arrived at the base, finding it in a chaotic bustle. Kyrie caught her eye. She was hurrying through the crowd in an outdoor cloistered hallway. A sturdy man carrying a coat struggled to follow her.
"Kyrie!" She didn't hear. "Kyrie!!" She turned and saw Iris. She waved her hand, motioning Iris to follow. Iris sprinted and caught up with Kyrie in a short while. It wasn't until they reached the western hangar that they spoke.
"They're coming, aren't they?" Iris spoke quietly as they stood facing the remaining ACs salvaged from the surface base. Iris' new AC was one of them.
"We have to hurry. If they overrun the main elevator, then our chances of escaping are slim." At the end of her sentence, Kyrie made haste for her AC. The man did the same.
"What are you goin-"
"We have to protect the transports! Are you g-gonna help out or what?" The man's voice stumbled a little as he ran.
Iris glanced at Silvermoon.
"Sun Strand"
Layered District 2
12:53 p.m., 03/10
The arachnid charged directly towards Iris, boring holes in the roofs of houses with its massive stabbing legs and scarring the lawns and gardens. Its astounding mobility caused Iris to step back.
The arachnid stopped abruptly, pushing a foul draft against Iris. Its mouth cannon powered up, chuckling with immense energy. A growing moan from its body caused a trepidation in the air. Iris squinted and blocked her eyes from the ungodly light from its mouth. Everything was quiet again.
Iris slowly opened her eyes, her arms at ease. The spider-like freak was incinerated. Its body lay smoldering on the pavement. An enormous shadow crept over Iris. She turned around.
"Rose!" Her red and black green AC stood with smoke rising from its rocket launcher.
"Iris, get back to base immediately! They're coming from all directions!! Hurry!"
"What about you!?"
"I'll be fine! Take that car behind me!"
Iris dashed for the still-activated convertible behind Rose. It was almost out of fuel, but there was more than enough to get back to the base.
_____________________________
(Global Cortex)
"What in heavens..." The watchman motioned Kyrie to take a look at the long-range monitor. She stared at it for a moment, trying to comprehend what was happening. Blankets of stirring giant insectoids were approaching from the horizon. Kyrie winced.
"Let us evacuate." Kyrie turned and walked away from the monitor.
"We can't! By the time we completely evacuate from the base, the main elevator will be long overran by those freaks!!" The watchman was standing up from his swivel chair. Kyrie had stopped. She nodded and proceeded.
Cursing, the watchman turned on the microphone.
"All personnel. Begin evacuating the premises immediately! I repeat: Begin evacuating the premises immediately!!" With that, he hastily grabbed his coat and followed Kyrie, leaving the screen on. One of the arachnids appeared suddenly. The reception sizzled and silenced...
_____________________________
Iris arrived at the base, finding it in a chaotic bustle. Kyrie caught her eye. She was hurrying through the crowd in an outdoor cloistered hallway. A sturdy man carrying a coat struggled to follow her.
"Kyrie!" She didn't hear. "Kyrie!!" She turned and saw Iris. She waved her hand, motioning Iris to follow. Iris sprinted and caught up with Kyrie in a short while. It wasn't until they reached the western hangar that they spoke.
"They're coming, aren't they?" Iris spoke quietly as they stood facing the remaining ACs salvaged from the surface base. Iris' new AC was one of them.
"We have to hurry. If they overrun the main elevator, then our chances of escaping are slim." At the end of her sentence, Kyrie made haste for her AC. The man did the same.
"What are you goin-"
"We have to protect the transports! Are you g-gonna help out or what?" The man's voice stumbled a little as he ran.
Iris glanced at Silvermoon.