Chapter 3: The reports of my death was greatly exaggerated

The one thing Karl Licten Shubaltz had in mind when he entered the living area of the camp was relaxation and a nice read of the novel in hand. Of course, that could only happen if everyone else were being good little boys and girls and still out on patrol around the ruins.

So imagine his surprise, and growing dismay when he found most of the Guardian Force and a few extras lounging around on the couches, watching a few DVDs, and being…well…alive. Noisy.

Oh hell. He turned to leave, but cringed when he heard his brother's cry of his name and mentally died.

"Karl! Karl, come over here!"

"Hello Thomas." He said, hoping it sounded a little enthusiastic. "Why is everyone back so early?"

"Aw, come on Karl, you sound unhappy to see us." Irvine, the mercenary friend of Van's said. Irvine was a nice guy in his own right, but had never heard of discipline nor when to keep one's mouth shut.

Karl sat down heavily and sighed. "I was hoping for some piece and quiet."

"Fat chance of that around here." Irvine responded and drank his coffee, then spat it out, glaring at Fiona afterwards. "What is it with you and salt in coffee?"

"I'm sorry Irvine!"

"Huh."

Karl let himself slide into a relaxed position and quietly observed the others around him. He often wished he were in Thomas' shoes, the boy had no idea how lucky he was having such rabble as friends, and being able to still play and have fun. Okay, maybe the Guardian Force couldn't be called that, but for the most part, being a part of the military was starting to take a terrible toll on the colonel. He couldn't remember the last time he had a good night's sleep, and was as guilty as hell over the deaths of his men in the last battle. But there was a quiet and cold part of soul that patiently informed him over and over that he knew this was going to happen. He'd had his chance to escape it, and had eagerly leapt right into the trap.

Distantly he heard someone screaming.

Maybe it was his imagination.

Once again, Moonbay began to brag about 'her' UltraSaurus and it's prowess in battle – the woman had no idea how much of the taxpayer's money had gone into that, did she? – and Irvine sniping back about how much of a 'crap pilot' she'd been in it. Van and Fiona kept butting in, and Thomas was being obnoxious…all they needed now was-

He never finished that thought.

Someone was screaming, and the alarms were going off.

As one person they got up and started to run, and Karl silently wished he'd taken his old minder's advice and choose a quieter line of work…

The noises and alarms were coming from Doctor D's lab, where the remains of the DeathSaurer's mammoth core had been cut apart and examined. It was, supposedly, the find of the century, but Karl knew that Guylos already had that little factor covered. Too bad no one had ever bothered to look closer, but hey, that's human nature.

The portable laboratory was in ruins. Technicians were everywhere – no one was dead, minor injuries, but it had been close. Very close. The bright light that had emerged from the depleted core had taken out most of the sensory equipment and was now trying to find a way out, as hard as it seemed.

"Organoid." Doctor D growled, leaning on Fiona. "I should have realised something was going on when we registered life signs."

"But what organoid was part of the DeathSaurer's core?" Irvine snapped.

"Not part of the DeathSaurer…the DeathStinger." Van whispered. "Ambient. Ambient and Hiltz were absorbed by the DeathStinger's core…and then it swallowed up Prozen and the remains of the DeathSaurer's core. Ambient…is still alive?"

"That's impossible." Fiona moaned, her face drained of colour. "An organoid was never created to take that kind of power nor stress."

Like a demented firefly, the red orb continued to find a way out before slamming into the plexiglass that protected the viewing area from whatever happened within. The glass creaked and held…but only just.

Karl's mind was already jumping ahead of everyone. Ambient wanted out, and he was going to do whatever it took to reach his goal.

"Everyone out."

"But if he escapes-"

"What is he going to do Van? Hiltz is dead, as is Prozen. He won't be that much of a threat. We're only antagonising the situation by being here. We are the enemy, and the longer we stand here arguing, the more pissed off he gets. Move." He pulled out his gun, and silently pondered what part of an organoid was vulnerable. Would Van know? Probably hit him or something. Irvine would make noises about damaging the goods, and Fiona would give him The Look, something she'd developed recently if you annoyed her.

No matter.

After shoving the last technician through the doorway, he aimed at the glass and waited.

Ambient had stopped buzzing about aimlessly, as if he were waiting for something. Karl took this as a sign and carefully backed out of the door and into the corridor behind him and continued to back up until he was outside…Ambient hadn't followed, everything-

There was the sound of glass breaking, and he realised that the damned creature could have broken the glass at any time. He was just waiting…

They're smarter than we realise. Ambient must be afraid of the gun. Perhaps in his energy form, bullets can hurt him…

But the question remained, why hadn't he just burst through the ceiling like Zeke would have done? Zeke had managed to pierce some of the most powerful armour in his illustrious career as an organoid, as had the others in all reports, so why had he waited?

Shit-

The light came out of nowhere and Ambient was upon them. Buzzing mindlessly he circled the others, and Karl tried to track him with the gun-

Can't hit him, what if I hit one of the others?

Wait-

Ambient came back to him again. Separating them? Why? What did he have that Ambient wanted?

The organoid reformed and stood over him, radiating…well, not exactly menace. Ambient was a scary creature, that was for sure, but damn it, he wasn't acting threatening. Swaying slightly the organoid took a step closer, his green eyes glowing faintly.

Karl couldn't move.

For the first time in his military career, he was shocked, and couldn't fight back. With a clunk, the gun fell from his still fingers and his knees began to shake. Those eyes were fathomless. Optical sensors, sure, but he was looking at him. You couldn't shake that sense. Not at all…

"…Kaaaarl." He creaked.

What the fuck?

Another hesitant step closer, and Ambient reared up, opening his chest unit. Engulfed in pure white light, Karl saw something move in front of his eyes and fell backwards, sprawling on his much sought-after arse, his hat rolling uselessly to the side…

Inside, tightly bound by wires was the body of Minister Gunther Prozen.

When Van had described merging with Zeke, Karl was pretty sure he never mentioned the wires actually piercing the skin. Prozen was alive; he groaned softly and he opened his eyes briefly to register what was going on. Ambient let him go, and the white haired warlord tumbled forward into Karl's lap, completely, and here was where Karl blushed red to the roots of his hair, naked.

"Oh my God." Karl whispered, as he fell backwards.

There was a clunk as Ambient collapsed, and he felt Prozen sleepily slide his arms around his neck.

"Karl." He whispered again, his voice very small, and dare he say it, childish?

With great care, the colonel looked down at where the minister now slept, his brows knotted in some distant dream…

"…Gunther…?"

~ to be continued.

Please forgive me if Karl was OC. I'm trying my best…