Author's note: It seems that this part was a bit longer than I thought. So
unfortunately, the novel still hasn't reached the part where the game
starts but it's close. So please bear with me here.
Chapter 1: Legend Reborn "Part 4"
"Footsteps.people in pain. Fear.panic.and fighting. It's gone on for long enough. Please, let me rest a little while more."
"Ciel.what's that?" Milan looked at the rectangular boxed shaped object in Ciel's hands. It was ugly looking device with two short stubs protruding the sides, and what appeared to be a dial on the top.
"This? It's a bomb." She spoke lightly, slightly quivering as if pretending to be strong in a moment of fear.
"A bomb!" Milan whipped off his military cap, as if the explosive was in his hat and not in Ciel's hands.
"Yes, it's a bomb." Fearful of being betrayed by her frightened eyes, Ciel shielded them with one hand. "In case we can't fight off the Neo Arcadia unit, the last person alive will set off the bomb. I've examined its capabilities; it'll be enough to destroy the enemies."
"You're sure about this?" Milan ruffled his mattered hair. Ciel was never one for rash actions, that was his job. But now, Ciel - the scientist, the head behind the resistance, is the one with the bomb in her hand that'll obliterate everyone in the blast radius including them.
"No, I'm not sure. That's why I wanted to know what you thought about this." Placing the explosive on the ground, she drew her legs to her chin, and clamped her arms around them, quivering like a little girl who's alone in the dark.
Not designed to analyze human issues, the best Milan could do was to look sympathetically at Ciel. So even Ciel becomes frightened sometime, he thought. Their half dozen soldiers could hold off the X drones until their barricade fell but they only had seven machine rifles, three handguns, and five explosive canisters. They most certainly won't last very long. Out of nowhere, an idea struck him in the face. Looking at the bomb on the ground, Milan said. "I'll take it."
Ciel lifted her head, her eyes wide and fearful. "What?"
"I'll take the bomb." Seeing Ciel's confused face, Milan explained. "Those are trained soldiers out there. They're after the reploids such as me, not humans like you. If you give me the bomb, and surrender yourself, they'll take you alive as a prisoner of war but you'll be safe."
Ciel shook her head. "No, I can't leave everyone to die just to save myself."
"Ciel! Be reasonable! You have to live or the resistance will fall!"
Without warning, an explosion shock the catacomb, and the hauntingly even marching of the X drones echoed through the tunnels.
"Men! To your stations!" damn, Milan thought to himself, we're not ready. "Ciel, Hide!" She did not move, her face was blank. "Ciel!" Milan barked again. "You have to live!" After a moment, the colour returned to her face, and she nodded uncertainly. Turning to the Cyber Elf (who's been observing the whole scene), Milan pleaded. "Please.protect Miss Ciel." With a turn of his heel, Milan scooped up the bomb and ran to the front defense line. Looking into the grim face of death, Milan whispered into the darkness. "Ciel, this is for your own good."
*
"Is the barricade secure?" Milan watched as one of the resistance soldiers fused the few last chunks of metal onto the shoulder height blockade, leaving small holes to poke their guns through and retaliate.
"They're here!" Somebody yelled, and three soldiers scrambled to each of the blockade. Milan threw himself over to the inner side of the wall, and went into a crouch position. After directing two men to flank on either side, they dug their weapons against their ribs, and released the safety lock.
The first line of drones that rounded the bend in the tunnel met suppressive firepower, and was easily ripped apart by the soldier's assault rifles. Milan's calculations were correct, and the drones that came three at a time through the narrow tunnels were easy targets for the trained reploids. Keeping his finger on the trigger, a heap of drones began to pile up the entrance. Six down, a dozen more to go, Milan whispered to himself.
*
Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, it was night, and the chilly winds of Neo Arcadia swooshed through the mechanized city. Inside perhaps one of the most secure military facilities, in a room shrouded in darkness, a reploid laid back on his chair, his dark bangs falling beneath his ivory coloured helmet. The sweep of the resistance forces has begun, and the location of one of their leaders had been confirmed. It was only a matter of time before.
"Emergency call for Lt. Commander Phantom. Emergency call for." The reploid known as Phantom pressed a button on the command console. A number of beeps in sequence confirmed that the call has been secured. "Yes." The voice was rusty, as if it was being amplified through a microphone. The owner of the voice listened for a few moments then rounded his hand into a fist. Even with the room dark, it was evident that its occupant had just pounded a fist against the arms of his chair. Narrowing his eyes to a slit, Phantom responded. "No, there's no need. Master (who's the general he works for?) does not wish to be disturbed. Send in two battalions of drones, and one unit of Golems. Flush those rats out, show them that no one disgraces Master X." The room went silent.
*
Two more drones fell as the soldiers on the southern blockade concentrated their fire on them. On the east side, Captain Milan and two other soldiers were finishing the last of the drones that has taken cover behind the corner. The battle was going well.
Unexpectedly the blue head of a drone jutted out from the corner, and unleashed a concentrated bolt of crimson energy. The laser tagged the soldier beside Milan, consuming the reploid's hand, and tearing off his arm in the process. Startled, Milan lurched to the side just in time to dodge a shot that scorched the goggles on his forehead. He responded by raking the end of the tunnel with numerous bullet holes.
To his surprise, the drone collapsed to be replaced by two more drones. Milan counted three then another three rounded the corner. damn, how many of those drones are there, Milan thought. We've taken down at least twice the number we had expected. All of a sudden, the tunnel seemed to fill with drones, and their eye pieces flashed a bloody red.
"They got reinforcements!" Milan shouted just as a beam of raging bolts consumed the head of a soldier at the other barricade. "Target and fire at will." Their bullets were vaporized before they even reached their targets. Milan recognized the scream of one of his men, and an explosion that propelled molten metal to the other side of the room, meaning that the drones have broken through the southern barricade.
Cursing under his breath, Milan back handed a drone in the face, and shot it at point blank range in the abdomen. "Spray the area!" A soldier thrust his rifle forward, only to be catapulted backwards by a drone that leapt at him. Squashed under the heavy weight of the drone, the soldier jabbed the drone with his (__) caliber sidearm. Pushing the smoking body of the drone off of him, he brought his weapon to bear and sent two drones crumbling to the floor with their legs blown off.
Meanwhile, Milan bravely stood his ground, discharging repeated shots with a gun in each hand. Taking the risk of looking over his shoulder, Milan scanned the room for Ciel. Finding her at the furthest corner from the battle, where Passy had dragged her, Milan sprinted towards her. Ducking from laser shots that came out of nowhere, Milan hoisted Ciel to her feet, and dragged her to the nearest exit, followed quickly by Passy, and the three remaining soldiers.
The drones, who had been assigned to retire only the mavericks, avoided firing at Milan with Ciel in toll. But the soldier behind them was not as fortunate, and had received a laser shot square in the chest. His partner, Rob, grabbed his fallen comrade by the collar and dragged him unceremoniously through the muck, with the drones in hot pursuit.
Panting, Ciel tried to keep up with Milan. The drones were coming out of the walls now, sending the debris rocketing through the air. With a shriek, Ciel fell face first onto the ground, her fall softened by the polluted water. In his haste, Milan jammed the barrel of his rifle into the larger firing muzzle of a drone's laser cannon. Pure energy met metal as the pair set off an explosion which took out a large section of the wall. Even as Milan was catapulted backwards, he felt his chest armor (beneath the green overall) break under the impact. Landing roughly on his back, Milan desperately rolled to Ciel's side. On his feet in a second, Milan had Ciel in his arms and ran through the opening laid open by the explosion.
Chapter 1: Legend Reborn "Part 4"
"Footsteps.people in pain. Fear.panic.and fighting. It's gone on for long enough. Please, let me rest a little while more."
"Ciel.what's that?" Milan looked at the rectangular boxed shaped object in Ciel's hands. It was ugly looking device with two short stubs protruding the sides, and what appeared to be a dial on the top.
"This? It's a bomb." She spoke lightly, slightly quivering as if pretending to be strong in a moment of fear.
"A bomb!" Milan whipped off his military cap, as if the explosive was in his hat and not in Ciel's hands.
"Yes, it's a bomb." Fearful of being betrayed by her frightened eyes, Ciel shielded them with one hand. "In case we can't fight off the Neo Arcadia unit, the last person alive will set off the bomb. I've examined its capabilities; it'll be enough to destroy the enemies."
"You're sure about this?" Milan ruffled his mattered hair. Ciel was never one for rash actions, that was his job. But now, Ciel - the scientist, the head behind the resistance, is the one with the bomb in her hand that'll obliterate everyone in the blast radius including them.
"No, I'm not sure. That's why I wanted to know what you thought about this." Placing the explosive on the ground, she drew her legs to her chin, and clamped her arms around them, quivering like a little girl who's alone in the dark.
Not designed to analyze human issues, the best Milan could do was to look sympathetically at Ciel. So even Ciel becomes frightened sometime, he thought. Their half dozen soldiers could hold off the X drones until their barricade fell but they only had seven machine rifles, three handguns, and five explosive canisters. They most certainly won't last very long. Out of nowhere, an idea struck him in the face. Looking at the bomb on the ground, Milan said. "I'll take it."
Ciel lifted her head, her eyes wide and fearful. "What?"
"I'll take the bomb." Seeing Ciel's confused face, Milan explained. "Those are trained soldiers out there. They're after the reploids such as me, not humans like you. If you give me the bomb, and surrender yourself, they'll take you alive as a prisoner of war but you'll be safe."
Ciel shook her head. "No, I can't leave everyone to die just to save myself."
"Ciel! Be reasonable! You have to live or the resistance will fall!"
Without warning, an explosion shock the catacomb, and the hauntingly even marching of the X drones echoed through the tunnels.
"Men! To your stations!" damn, Milan thought to himself, we're not ready. "Ciel, Hide!" She did not move, her face was blank. "Ciel!" Milan barked again. "You have to live!" After a moment, the colour returned to her face, and she nodded uncertainly. Turning to the Cyber Elf (who's been observing the whole scene), Milan pleaded. "Please.protect Miss Ciel." With a turn of his heel, Milan scooped up the bomb and ran to the front defense line. Looking into the grim face of death, Milan whispered into the darkness. "Ciel, this is for your own good."
*
"Is the barricade secure?" Milan watched as one of the resistance soldiers fused the few last chunks of metal onto the shoulder height blockade, leaving small holes to poke their guns through and retaliate.
"They're here!" Somebody yelled, and three soldiers scrambled to each of the blockade. Milan threw himself over to the inner side of the wall, and went into a crouch position. After directing two men to flank on either side, they dug their weapons against their ribs, and released the safety lock.
The first line of drones that rounded the bend in the tunnel met suppressive firepower, and was easily ripped apart by the soldier's assault rifles. Milan's calculations were correct, and the drones that came three at a time through the narrow tunnels were easy targets for the trained reploids. Keeping his finger on the trigger, a heap of drones began to pile up the entrance. Six down, a dozen more to go, Milan whispered to himself.
*
Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, it was night, and the chilly winds of Neo Arcadia swooshed through the mechanized city. Inside perhaps one of the most secure military facilities, in a room shrouded in darkness, a reploid laid back on his chair, his dark bangs falling beneath his ivory coloured helmet. The sweep of the resistance forces has begun, and the location of one of their leaders had been confirmed. It was only a matter of time before.
"Emergency call for Lt. Commander Phantom. Emergency call for." The reploid known as Phantom pressed a button on the command console. A number of beeps in sequence confirmed that the call has been secured. "Yes." The voice was rusty, as if it was being amplified through a microphone. The owner of the voice listened for a few moments then rounded his hand into a fist. Even with the room dark, it was evident that its occupant had just pounded a fist against the arms of his chair. Narrowing his eyes to a slit, Phantom responded. "No, there's no need. Master (who's the general he works for?) does not wish to be disturbed. Send in two battalions of drones, and one unit of Golems. Flush those rats out, show them that no one disgraces Master X." The room went silent.
*
Two more drones fell as the soldiers on the southern blockade concentrated their fire on them. On the east side, Captain Milan and two other soldiers were finishing the last of the drones that has taken cover behind the corner. The battle was going well.
Unexpectedly the blue head of a drone jutted out from the corner, and unleashed a concentrated bolt of crimson energy. The laser tagged the soldier beside Milan, consuming the reploid's hand, and tearing off his arm in the process. Startled, Milan lurched to the side just in time to dodge a shot that scorched the goggles on his forehead. He responded by raking the end of the tunnel with numerous bullet holes.
To his surprise, the drone collapsed to be replaced by two more drones. Milan counted three then another three rounded the corner. damn, how many of those drones are there, Milan thought. We've taken down at least twice the number we had expected. All of a sudden, the tunnel seemed to fill with drones, and their eye pieces flashed a bloody red.
"They got reinforcements!" Milan shouted just as a beam of raging bolts consumed the head of a soldier at the other barricade. "Target and fire at will." Their bullets were vaporized before they even reached their targets. Milan recognized the scream of one of his men, and an explosion that propelled molten metal to the other side of the room, meaning that the drones have broken through the southern barricade.
Cursing under his breath, Milan back handed a drone in the face, and shot it at point blank range in the abdomen. "Spray the area!" A soldier thrust his rifle forward, only to be catapulted backwards by a drone that leapt at him. Squashed under the heavy weight of the drone, the soldier jabbed the drone with his (__) caliber sidearm. Pushing the smoking body of the drone off of him, he brought his weapon to bear and sent two drones crumbling to the floor with their legs blown off.
Meanwhile, Milan bravely stood his ground, discharging repeated shots with a gun in each hand. Taking the risk of looking over his shoulder, Milan scanned the room for Ciel. Finding her at the furthest corner from the battle, where Passy had dragged her, Milan sprinted towards her. Ducking from laser shots that came out of nowhere, Milan hoisted Ciel to her feet, and dragged her to the nearest exit, followed quickly by Passy, and the three remaining soldiers.
The drones, who had been assigned to retire only the mavericks, avoided firing at Milan with Ciel in toll. But the soldier behind them was not as fortunate, and had received a laser shot square in the chest. His partner, Rob, grabbed his fallen comrade by the collar and dragged him unceremoniously through the muck, with the drones in hot pursuit.
Panting, Ciel tried to keep up with Milan. The drones were coming out of the walls now, sending the debris rocketing through the air. With a shriek, Ciel fell face first onto the ground, her fall softened by the polluted water. In his haste, Milan jammed the barrel of his rifle into the larger firing muzzle of a drone's laser cannon. Pure energy met metal as the pair set off an explosion which took out a large section of the wall. Even as Milan was catapulted backwards, he felt his chest armor (beneath the green overall) break under the impact. Landing roughly on his back, Milan desperately rolled to Ciel's side. On his feet in a second, Milan had Ciel in his arms and ran through the opening laid open by the explosion.