"Ma'am," the young assistant pushed open the heavy ancient door, hurriedly approaching his master's desk.
The woman, who had been playing with a loose strand of brown hair that possessed a slight greenish tint, focused her hard purple gaze upon him. "What is it, my sweet little man?"
He froze in his step, coming to complete attention. His eyes focused directly ahead as he spoke in an official tone, "Ma'am, we have received word from our spies that a core unit has crash-landed on the planet's surface. Its pilots are currently being held by one of the desert tribes."
The woman sighed, brushing her hair aside. It was a shame that someone had wasted a perfectly good core unit on a futile mission, but once the scavengers got a hold of a machine, it was rarely ever recovered intact. As for the pilots, if they were Elev, they were already dead. "Was it one of our units?"
"No Ma'am. It wasn't an Adome suit either! It's from space!"
The point of origin caught her off-guard. She turned to face the inferior, her eyebrow raised in intrigue. "Oh? And this has been confirmed?"
He nodded, replying, "Yes Ma'am! It is unlike any suit presently on Edenora!"
"Intriguing... Tell me, have they already scrapped it or can we still recover the unit?"
"Actually Ma'am, there's more information on the pilots," the subordinate trailed off, enjoying his momentary usefulness to his master.
Decidedly not amused by his antics, her eyes narrowed. She stated coolly, "Tell me all that you know now or I assure you that you will not enjoy the results, my sweet."
Swallowing hard, he continued promptly, "One of the pilots, a male, is of unknown origin. He's unlike any other Adome in appearance. However, the more important subject is the main pilot. It's... A Daughter of Kumu."
The woman's eyes widened in disbelief. Had they finally come to retrieve their abandoned sisters from this forsaken world after all these centuries? No, that couldn't be it. The remaining Elev on the planet had not completed Her Majesty Kumu's order for every last Adome's removal. Something had obviously caught Kumu or one of her descendants' interests, however. Why else would they send royalty to this planet?
Noticing an opportunity when she saw one, the woman quickly cleared the desk, grabbing her sweet little man by the shoulders. "Tell me she's still alive!"
He smiled slightly. "She is. My sources say she will be for at least another conord."
She giggled with delight, pulling the servant close to her. "Oh you dear, sweet little man! Oh how I enjoy your servitude! You shall be greatly rewarded if you can provide me with her present location!"
His smile widened as he held up the data crystal, stating, "Done, my eternal leader."
She squealed, snatching the crystal from his hand and zooming out the door to her office. If they rescued her in an efficient manner and were able to return her to space, perhaps the Elev sisterhood would smile kindly upon them and lift them off this cursed soil. For the first time in centuries, the Elev of Edenora might again walk amongst the stars.
Her servant, still in tow, inquired, "What should I do to serve you, my lady?"
"Tell the troops to prepare a rescue squad. Inform them of the captive's nature and the obvious good fortune that the maker has shined upon us. Also, see if you can get the old radio equipment working. I want a message sent to the Elev at once informing them of the two down pilots. I'm sure they will be most appreciative," a devious little giggle pervaded her final comments as she entered her quarters and began stripping off her service garb and searched for her pilot uniform.
The sweet man bowed. "As you wish, Ma'am!" He exited her suite and began executing her orders flawlessly. She had trained her pet well.
Finally finding the proper uniform, she threw her legs into the jumpsuit, pulling it swiftly up over her body and zipping the front. If she played her cards right, she might even end up in the royal court. Oh what a glorious world she lived in! Grabbing her helmet, she hurried out of the office building and towards the hanger. The large hanger glowed softly in the late afternoon sun as she approached. She took note of the other Elev who were stuffing long greenish-brown locks into their helmets as they ran.
She slid the doors open, dodging the engineers who were prepping the remaining core units for battle. She casually walked towards the briefing area's stage, attempting to present a calm and collected image to her troops. She greeted her fellow pilots, smiling at a few as she passed.
Stepping up onto the stage before her, she plugged the data crystal into the computer terminal. A holographic map of the surrounding area was displayed before the assembled pilots, its image flickering due to the age of the projector.
Sighing heavily at the poor equipment, the leader turned to the crowd and addressed them, "My fellow Elev, I have no doubt that you already know why I have called you here. One of our sisters... Nay, one of our Great Leaders has been captured by the despicable Adome!" She paused, allowing the murmurs that had spread throughout her gathering to subside before continuing, "It is our duty to liberate this Daughter of Kumu from their dirt and blood-stained hands and exact our vengeance upon them for this crime!"
The cheers of agreement filled her heart with even more joy. Pointing to the map, she highlighted their current location and then moved the cursor towards the enemy's camp. "We will depart immediately and proceed about ten maheds in this direction. After that," she punched a button and a crude map of the nomadic village appeared before them, "We will proceed quickly to this structure in the middle of the camp." The large tent blinked and came into focus, its image burned into the minds of every pilot present. "Nothing is to happen to our precious leader, do I make myself clear?"
The women responded in unison, "Yes Ma'am!"
Nodding, she replied, "Right. Let's move out!"
The pilots obediently mounted their core units. The pilots lucky enough to have working safety harnesses strapped themselves in securely. As the engineers gave them the ok-sign, their engines roared to life, the units lining up in formation and following their leader out of the hanger.
As they progressed towards the city limits, she looked out over the shoreline to their left. If things worked out properly, she might not ever see these shores again, she thought. It was one of the few sights she would miss of this world.
The cityscape now behind them, she authorized the use of their thrusters, reminding the crew, "Keep your eyes peeled, ladies. We should be there within the hour. Resistance will most likely be light, but we don't know whether or not the Corp has any representatives there."
"Aye Ma'am!"
As the troops glided through the desert twilight, a smile crossed the leader's face. It grew broader with each approaching mahed.
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Kazuki stared at the crescent-shaped blade that the man had placed in his hand. If he killed Dee, he would then have to kill himself over guilt. If he chose to kill the man, Kazuki doubted they'd get very far before they were captured and eliminated. If he dropped the blade, he'd be branded a collaborator and killed alongside Dee. It was a no win situation and Kazuki saw no way out.
Gunfire interrupted the uneasy silence. Everyone's head immediately snapped in the direction of the noise and Auth, temporarily forgetting about the prior crisis, ran towards the tent flap. Throwing it open, he beheld the devastation before him.
Women were running from the blazing weapons crying as they held their injured and dead young. Some of the tribesmen had already manned the anti- core unit turrets, but the technology was ancient and few actually provided any substantial resistance. One by one, the turrets and the men inside them were being picked off.
Auth watched in horror as his people died around him. Shaking off his own fear and confusion, he darted into the confused mass and began shouting orders, telling the women to take what they could carry and flee into the desert in groups. He also had to give the unfortunate order to leave the dead children behind.
Kazuki helped Dee to the flap and struggled to balance himself and the knife he was still holding on to. Juggling the knife into his other hand, he opened the flap and gasped at the image before him.
Dee's eyes began to water. These scenes were so familiar to her, but she still did not know why. She did not want to know why. All she wanted was for them to go away forever. Closing her eyes, she buried her face in Kazuki's shoulder. "Kazuki, I'm scared. Can we get out of here?"
Kazuki, still in shock, simply nodded. He had seen many battles during the Rara Army days and even since he had left Earth, but nothing compared to the slaughter of innocent women and children he was now seeing. All he knew was that someone had to do something to stop this and soon or there wouldn't be a soul left.
An idea suddenly struck him. He looked around him at the crowd rushing past, catching a glimpse of a familiar young man amongst them. Reaching out, Kazuki caught his arm and dragged him closer. "You! Gan, right? Where's the core robot we landed in?"
Obviously dazed and confused by the battle around him, he blinked at Kazuki and stammered, unable to respond. Kazuki released him long enough to give the young man a good smack to the side of his head, which jarred his memory. "It's too far away! Besides, I'd never allow you to escape!"
Kazuki snarled, "Genius, you're people are being killed! We're your only hope! Tell us where the hell it is!"
Gan, noting the knife that was edging dangerously close towards his body, nodded and replied, pointing, "It's that way, but the 'Core was already going to haul it here for salvage. Besides, on foot it would still take at least--"
Kazuki growled, spinning Gan around and pushing him towards what appeared to be a semi-intact vehicle, aside from the missing windshield and dead driver, "That's why you're going to take us there in this."
Gan dug his heels into the sand, causing Kazuki to slam into him and almost drop Dee. "I refuse."
Kazuki, regretting that the situation had come to this, gently pressed the knife tip against his back and whispered, "Then you will die."
Apparently finding a new appreciation for the agreement Kazuki had posed, Gan nodded and pulled the deceased from the vehicle. Kazuki laid Dee down in the backseat, covering her up carefully so that no one would see her face. Climbing into the passenger seat alongside Gan, Kazuki kept the knife in plain sight and easy grasp to reiterate the terms of their deal. Swallowing heavily, Gan engaged the anti-gravity generator and took off, leaving his dying people behind him.
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The two men brushed the dust off of their uniforms, shining their lights inside the alien cockpit. The sun's rays had finally sunken behind the sand dunes, but the warmth still radiated from the metallic shell like fire.
"So, what do you make of it?"
The other man shook his head, leaning in to take a closer look. "I've never heard of a unit like this. Neither the Adome nor the Elev have anything similar. It looks fairly new, but the technology is so... Out- dated."
His companion nodded in agreement. "That's what I was thinking. I wonder where it came from?"
"Space, you moron."
"No! I mean what world... Don't call me a moron!"
"Hey morons," a third man called up to the two who were arguing. "We need to get moving. Suit up and let's go!"
"Yes sir," the men replied in unison, hoping off the robot and into their respective machines.
The man in charge nodded approvingly, shutting the cockpit door and engaging the thrusters on his core unit. He monitored the tethers attached to the downed unit carefully for any sign of strain or imminent failure. Satisfied with the conditions, he took off slowly, the blue robot in tow.
The radio crackled as one of the support pilots called him, "Sir, do you see that?"
"See what?"
"On the horizon. It looks like smoke and," a bright flash interrupted the other pilot's transmission.
"Oh no," the pilot began entering the release code, dropping the alien unit back onto the desert surface. "Let's go, you two! I don't like the look of this!"
"What about the core unit?"
"Dammit, let's go!"
"Yes sir!"
The crew engaged their thrusters at their maximum output, ignoring the fuel consumption regulations they normally observed. As their speed gradually increased, they noticed a small vehicle passing below them. A quick scan showed two Adome, both battered and bruised. Assuming they were escapees, the unit carried on towards the nomadic village, praying they would not be too late.
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Kazuki's eyes widened as the three core robots approached them at a high rate of speed. He prepared himself for weapons impact, but was surprised when they passed overhead. He looked up quickly and noticed the emblem painted on the cockpits of all three units. A heart with a sword through it clearly stood out. A light banner with some faint writing could also be seen, but the poor lighting conditions made it unreadable. The robots paused momentarily to scan them and continued onward towards the village they were fleeing.
Kazuki turned to his captive, "Who the hell were they?"
Gan, his eyes remaining on the desert before them, replied distantly, "The Corp. They're probably trying to save the village. They're too late."
Kazuki shook his head, his eyes returning to the path before them. "Not if we can help it."
Gan glanced over at the man. Was the traitor serious or was he trying to fool Gan into thinking they were on the same side? There was no way to be certain. Unfortunately, if his intentions were malicious, Gan had no way to stop him.
The stranger's eyes widened again and he clutched the sides of the transport. Gan returned his gaze to the path before him just in time to avoid collision with the giant core unit that lay before them. Coming to a halt a few feet away, Kazuki tapped him with the knife blade to nudge him out first. He then helped Dee, who had fallen asleep and required some coaxing to move, out of the back of the vehicle.
The three approached the blue robot cautiously. Kazuki set Dee down against Persephone's warm metallic surface and turned again to face Gan.
The young man was staring at his right hand, which still carried the knife.
Glancing at the knife blade and back at his captive, he shook his head. "I have no intention of killing you, despite what you've done to Dee. I'm going to try and stop that unnecessary bloodbath with this robot. If you plan to interfere, please let me know now so I can restrain you."
Gan simply shook his head. It was suicide to return in this damaged unit no matter which side they were on. If they were Adome, the Elev would wipe them out instantly. If they were Elev, the Corp would kill them almost as quickly. He doubted seriously that they would return to the camp. Every fiber of his being told him that they were probably going to put as much distance between themselves and the battle as possible.
However, a small voice inside him said otherwise. It told him to trust these people and their actions. Recklessly heeding this advice, he simply returned to the transport vehicle and powered its engine up. Taking one last look at the two pilots, he nodded towards them, stating, "Good luck."
As the vehicle sped off into the night, Kazuki looked up at Persephone. Its limbs were intact, but its thrusters were probably damaged during the initial impact. They might have been able to achieve half its normal speed, but anything beyond that would be impossible.
"Dee, I'm going to go take a look at the cockpit. Will you be ok?"
She simply nodded trying to hold herself up by bracing against Persephone's right arm. "I'll be here."
Nodding, Kazuki climbed up onto Persephone. He entered the cockpit, noticing that some of the circuits had been pulled out of their panels for inspection. Replacing as many of the parts as he could in the twilight, Kazuki was finally able to restore main power to the behemoth. Sitting in the pilot's seat, he activated the life sympathy orbs. Slowly, Persephone's left arm moved around to its right side. It gently picked up its pilot and placed her in the cockpit. As the hatch sealed, Kazuki inspected Dee briefly. She was breathing, but had passed out again. Although he was no doctor, Kazuki suspected she would be fine after a few days of rest and meals.
The life sympathy orbs lit as Kazuki commanded the robot to rise from the sands. As the monitors crackled to life, Kazuki scanned the horizon until he saw the reddish-orange glow of the battle in the distance. Cautiously at first, Persephone began walking towards the light. As if its confidence was building with each passing step, her pace quickened, finally approaching a sprint. Her thrusters misfired at first, and then came on strong, propelling the two pilots towards the battlefield before them.
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"Sir! Reinforcements are coming from New Gomorack!"
The commander growled back as he struck down one of the enemy Elev units, "I can see this. Do you have any useful information to provide?"
His companion, who now carried his and their former teammate's rifle, formed up along his left flank, firing a shot into the head camera of a passing Elev. "I believe most of the villagers that are still alive escaped. They will tell stories of our bravery for centuries to come, sir!"
"Oh, that's wonderful... I hope they cast me as the handsome rogue and smooth ladies man we know I am... If it's all the same to you, however," the commander paused, burying his blade into the cockpit of another Elev; one of many that was now swarming around their prey.
"Yes sir?"
"I'd like for one of us to hear those stories. Get out of here. I'll cover you."
"But sir!"
The older man sighed, taking the spare rifle from his friend's hand. "You're young, you have a child to look after. In addition, you're one of the few pilots we have and you're currently sitting in an even more rare commodity: A limit-less core unit. Get it and yourself out of the machine out of here without a scratch, son. I'll do the rest."
The man stuttered, "I-I-I can't do that, sir... You're too important to us! What will I tell my son when he discovers that his grandfather won't be returning from battle?"
"Tell him that's life. It's a shame that he must know it's cruel hand so early, but if he is to carry on our family's piloting tradition, he must learn quickly. Goodbye, son," the father cut the communications line with the other robot and engaged his thrusters. As his core unit dived into the mass of Elev core units, he ignored his proximity alarms and slashed or shot at anything that moved.
He destroyed five units in the first few seconds. As his son flew over the sand dune, the commander paused briefly, nodding as his final farewell.
A sharp pain pervaded his body as the Elev counterattacked. The lead unit, a full head taller than the regular units, approached him swiftly. It grabbed his left arm and pulled it out of the socket, a mesh of wire and electricity falling towards the desert below. Like vultures, the other robots swooped in for the meal, ripping off pieces of the armor and weaponry for future salvage.
After retrieving anything of value off of the Adome core unit, the others let it fall to the sand and stepped back, allowing their leader to approach. It knelt down and picked up the fallen soldier's sword, examining it carefully. It spun the blade around, the point mere inches from the cockpit and the pilot within. Raising the blade high above her head, the commander braced himself for the final blow.
A hole instantly opened inside the core unit's chest; a blue hand retracted from it as quickly as it had entered. As the Elev leader fell, the blue behemoth's eyes glowed green. In a move so fast that the commander's eyes could not track it, the blue robot retrieved the sword and began slashing down Elev units at a blinding rate.
Five units attacked in unison and were all gutted with a slight move of the robot's wrist. Another attempted to attack from behind. As the blue robot's thrusters fired, the damage to the left side was obvious. It stumbled and barely escaped the attack, slowly turning to face it's new foe. The Elev, seizing the opportunity the damage provided, focused on the new arrival's left flank, pounding the robot mercilessly. It attempted to block the attacks to no avail, eventually falling into the soft desert sands. The green glow that had haunted the Elev mere moments ago faded from the robot's eyes.
"It appears we have both failed, my friend. I thank you for your assistance," the commander sighed, resting his head upon the back of his seat as he closed his eyes. The Elev took no prisoners and rarely left any survivors. Both pilots' fates had been sealed once the blue machine fell to the ground. It was only a matter of time.
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"Get up, dammit," Kazuki's fists slammed into the unresponsive life sympathy orbs, kicking the seat for good measure as well. "They're going to kill us, Persephone! Don't you get it! You aren't going to survive this either! Get up!"
Dee moaned softly, rising from the cockpit's floor. "Zinv, is that you?"
Kazuki turned his head towards Dee's curled form. "Dee, are you alright?"
Dee's expression became one of concern. "This isn't our core unit. What are we doing here?"
"Dee! This isn't the time for such nonsense! We're about to be killed!"
Dee rose, stumbling slightly as she approached the pilot's seat. She gently rested her hand on Kazuki's arm, calmly replying, "You were always one to exaggerate, my dear. Let an old woman take a spin."
Kazuki stared at Dee, "What the hell has gotten into you, Dee? You're in no shape to fight! We've got to think of something!" Panic was beginning to overtake Kazuki's mind. He wasn't ready to die here without even seeing Mitsuki ever again. Now his few remaining moments were going to be spent trying to snap Dee back to reality.
"I do not know who this Dee is that you speak of. However, I suggest that you move immediately," the small fire burning behind her eyes came as a total surprise to Kazuki. He quickly cleared the seat, allowing her to flop into the seat and place her hands on the life sympathy orbs.
"Now, let's see," Dee, her eyes continuing to flutter but remain open, instantly activated the dormant robot. "Well, let's get down to business, shall we," the strange smile spread across Dee's face. Something about it frightened Kazuki immensely.
The woman, who had been playing with a loose strand of brown hair that possessed a slight greenish tint, focused her hard purple gaze upon him. "What is it, my sweet little man?"
He froze in his step, coming to complete attention. His eyes focused directly ahead as he spoke in an official tone, "Ma'am, we have received word from our spies that a core unit has crash-landed on the planet's surface. Its pilots are currently being held by one of the desert tribes."
The woman sighed, brushing her hair aside. It was a shame that someone had wasted a perfectly good core unit on a futile mission, but once the scavengers got a hold of a machine, it was rarely ever recovered intact. As for the pilots, if they were Elev, they were already dead. "Was it one of our units?"
"No Ma'am. It wasn't an Adome suit either! It's from space!"
The point of origin caught her off-guard. She turned to face the inferior, her eyebrow raised in intrigue. "Oh? And this has been confirmed?"
He nodded, replying, "Yes Ma'am! It is unlike any suit presently on Edenora!"
"Intriguing... Tell me, have they already scrapped it or can we still recover the unit?"
"Actually Ma'am, there's more information on the pilots," the subordinate trailed off, enjoying his momentary usefulness to his master.
Decidedly not amused by his antics, her eyes narrowed. She stated coolly, "Tell me all that you know now or I assure you that you will not enjoy the results, my sweet."
Swallowing hard, he continued promptly, "One of the pilots, a male, is of unknown origin. He's unlike any other Adome in appearance. However, the more important subject is the main pilot. It's... A Daughter of Kumu."
The woman's eyes widened in disbelief. Had they finally come to retrieve their abandoned sisters from this forsaken world after all these centuries? No, that couldn't be it. The remaining Elev on the planet had not completed Her Majesty Kumu's order for every last Adome's removal. Something had obviously caught Kumu or one of her descendants' interests, however. Why else would they send royalty to this planet?
Noticing an opportunity when she saw one, the woman quickly cleared the desk, grabbing her sweet little man by the shoulders. "Tell me she's still alive!"
He smiled slightly. "She is. My sources say she will be for at least another conord."
She giggled with delight, pulling the servant close to her. "Oh you dear, sweet little man! Oh how I enjoy your servitude! You shall be greatly rewarded if you can provide me with her present location!"
His smile widened as he held up the data crystal, stating, "Done, my eternal leader."
She squealed, snatching the crystal from his hand and zooming out the door to her office. If they rescued her in an efficient manner and were able to return her to space, perhaps the Elev sisterhood would smile kindly upon them and lift them off this cursed soil. For the first time in centuries, the Elev of Edenora might again walk amongst the stars.
Her servant, still in tow, inquired, "What should I do to serve you, my lady?"
"Tell the troops to prepare a rescue squad. Inform them of the captive's nature and the obvious good fortune that the maker has shined upon us. Also, see if you can get the old radio equipment working. I want a message sent to the Elev at once informing them of the two down pilots. I'm sure they will be most appreciative," a devious little giggle pervaded her final comments as she entered her quarters and began stripping off her service garb and searched for her pilot uniform.
The sweet man bowed. "As you wish, Ma'am!" He exited her suite and began executing her orders flawlessly. She had trained her pet well.
Finally finding the proper uniform, she threw her legs into the jumpsuit, pulling it swiftly up over her body and zipping the front. If she played her cards right, she might even end up in the royal court. Oh what a glorious world she lived in! Grabbing her helmet, she hurried out of the office building and towards the hanger. The large hanger glowed softly in the late afternoon sun as she approached. She took note of the other Elev who were stuffing long greenish-brown locks into their helmets as they ran.
She slid the doors open, dodging the engineers who were prepping the remaining core units for battle. She casually walked towards the briefing area's stage, attempting to present a calm and collected image to her troops. She greeted her fellow pilots, smiling at a few as she passed.
Stepping up onto the stage before her, she plugged the data crystal into the computer terminal. A holographic map of the surrounding area was displayed before the assembled pilots, its image flickering due to the age of the projector.
Sighing heavily at the poor equipment, the leader turned to the crowd and addressed them, "My fellow Elev, I have no doubt that you already know why I have called you here. One of our sisters... Nay, one of our Great Leaders has been captured by the despicable Adome!" She paused, allowing the murmurs that had spread throughout her gathering to subside before continuing, "It is our duty to liberate this Daughter of Kumu from their dirt and blood-stained hands and exact our vengeance upon them for this crime!"
The cheers of agreement filled her heart with even more joy. Pointing to the map, she highlighted their current location and then moved the cursor towards the enemy's camp. "We will depart immediately and proceed about ten maheds in this direction. After that," she punched a button and a crude map of the nomadic village appeared before them, "We will proceed quickly to this structure in the middle of the camp." The large tent blinked and came into focus, its image burned into the minds of every pilot present. "Nothing is to happen to our precious leader, do I make myself clear?"
The women responded in unison, "Yes Ma'am!"
Nodding, she replied, "Right. Let's move out!"
The pilots obediently mounted their core units. The pilots lucky enough to have working safety harnesses strapped themselves in securely. As the engineers gave them the ok-sign, their engines roared to life, the units lining up in formation and following their leader out of the hanger.
As they progressed towards the city limits, she looked out over the shoreline to their left. If things worked out properly, she might not ever see these shores again, she thought. It was one of the few sights she would miss of this world.
The cityscape now behind them, she authorized the use of their thrusters, reminding the crew, "Keep your eyes peeled, ladies. We should be there within the hour. Resistance will most likely be light, but we don't know whether or not the Corp has any representatives there."
"Aye Ma'am!"
As the troops glided through the desert twilight, a smile crossed the leader's face. It grew broader with each approaching mahed.
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Kazuki stared at the crescent-shaped blade that the man had placed in his hand. If he killed Dee, he would then have to kill himself over guilt. If he chose to kill the man, Kazuki doubted they'd get very far before they were captured and eliminated. If he dropped the blade, he'd be branded a collaborator and killed alongside Dee. It was a no win situation and Kazuki saw no way out.
Gunfire interrupted the uneasy silence. Everyone's head immediately snapped in the direction of the noise and Auth, temporarily forgetting about the prior crisis, ran towards the tent flap. Throwing it open, he beheld the devastation before him.
Women were running from the blazing weapons crying as they held their injured and dead young. Some of the tribesmen had already manned the anti- core unit turrets, but the technology was ancient and few actually provided any substantial resistance. One by one, the turrets and the men inside them were being picked off.
Auth watched in horror as his people died around him. Shaking off his own fear and confusion, he darted into the confused mass and began shouting orders, telling the women to take what they could carry and flee into the desert in groups. He also had to give the unfortunate order to leave the dead children behind.
Kazuki helped Dee to the flap and struggled to balance himself and the knife he was still holding on to. Juggling the knife into his other hand, he opened the flap and gasped at the image before him.
Dee's eyes began to water. These scenes were so familiar to her, but she still did not know why. She did not want to know why. All she wanted was for them to go away forever. Closing her eyes, she buried her face in Kazuki's shoulder. "Kazuki, I'm scared. Can we get out of here?"
Kazuki, still in shock, simply nodded. He had seen many battles during the Rara Army days and even since he had left Earth, but nothing compared to the slaughter of innocent women and children he was now seeing. All he knew was that someone had to do something to stop this and soon or there wouldn't be a soul left.
An idea suddenly struck him. He looked around him at the crowd rushing past, catching a glimpse of a familiar young man amongst them. Reaching out, Kazuki caught his arm and dragged him closer. "You! Gan, right? Where's the core robot we landed in?"
Obviously dazed and confused by the battle around him, he blinked at Kazuki and stammered, unable to respond. Kazuki released him long enough to give the young man a good smack to the side of his head, which jarred his memory. "It's too far away! Besides, I'd never allow you to escape!"
Kazuki snarled, "Genius, you're people are being killed! We're your only hope! Tell us where the hell it is!"
Gan, noting the knife that was edging dangerously close towards his body, nodded and replied, pointing, "It's that way, but the 'Core was already going to haul it here for salvage. Besides, on foot it would still take at least--"
Kazuki growled, spinning Gan around and pushing him towards what appeared to be a semi-intact vehicle, aside from the missing windshield and dead driver, "That's why you're going to take us there in this."
Gan dug his heels into the sand, causing Kazuki to slam into him and almost drop Dee. "I refuse."
Kazuki, regretting that the situation had come to this, gently pressed the knife tip against his back and whispered, "Then you will die."
Apparently finding a new appreciation for the agreement Kazuki had posed, Gan nodded and pulled the deceased from the vehicle. Kazuki laid Dee down in the backseat, covering her up carefully so that no one would see her face. Climbing into the passenger seat alongside Gan, Kazuki kept the knife in plain sight and easy grasp to reiterate the terms of their deal. Swallowing heavily, Gan engaged the anti-gravity generator and took off, leaving his dying people behind him.
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The two men brushed the dust off of their uniforms, shining their lights inside the alien cockpit. The sun's rays had finally sunken behind the sand dunes, but the warmth still radiated from the metallic shell like fire.
"So, what do you make of it?"
The other man shook his head, leaning in to take a closer look. "I've never heard of a unit like this. Neither the Adome nor the Elev have anything similar. It looks fairly new, but the technology is so... Out- dated."
His companion nodded in agreement. "That's what I was thinking. I wonder where it came from?"
"Space, you moron."
"No! I mean what world... Don't call me a moron!"
"Hey morons," a third man called up to the two who were arguing. "We need to get moving. Suit up and let's go!"
"Yes sir," the men replied in unison, hoping off the robot and into their respective machines.
The man in charge nodded approvingly, shutting the cockpit door and engaging the thrusters on his core unit. He monitored the tethers attached to the downed unit carefully for any sign of strain or imminent failure. Satisfied with the conditions, he took off slowly, the blue robot in tow.
The radio crackled as one of the support pilots called him, "Sir, do you see that?"
"See what?"
"On the horizon. It looks like smoke and," a bright flash interrupted the other pilot's transmission.
"Oh no," the pilot began entering the release code, dropping the alien unit back onto the desert surface. "Let's go, you two! I don't like the look of this!"
"What about the core unit?"
"Dammit, let's go!"
"Yes sir!"
The crew engaged their thrusters at their maximum output, ignoring the fuel consumption regulations they normally observed. As their speed gradually increased, they noticed a small vehicle passing below them. A quick scan showed two Adome, both battered and bruised. Assuming they were escapees, the unit carried on towards the nomadic village, praying they would not be too late.
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Kazuki's eyes widened as the three core robots approached them at a high rate of speed. He prepared himself for weapons impact, but was surprised when they passed overhead. He looked up quickly and noticed the emblem painted on the cockpits of all three units. A heart with a sword through it clearly stood out. A light banner with some faint writing could also be seen, but the poor lighting conditions made it unreadable. The robots paused momentarily to scan them and continued onward towards the village they were fleeing.
Kazuki turned to his captive, "Who the hell were they?"
Gan, his eyes remaining on the desert before them, replied distantly, "The Corp. They're probably trying to save the village. They're too late."
Kazuki shook his head, his eyes returning to the path before them. "Not if we can help it."
Gan glanced over at the man. Was the traitor serious or was he trying to fool Gan into thinking they were on the same side? There was no way to be certain. Unfortunately, if his intentions were malicious, Gan had no way to stop him.
The stranger's eyes widened again and he clutched the sides of the transport. Gan returned his gaze to the path before him just in time to avoid collision with the giant core unit that lay before them. Coming to a halt a few feet away, Kazuki tapped him with the knife blade to nudge him out first. He then helped Dee, who had fallen asleep and required some coaxing to move, out of the back of the vehicle.
The three approached the blue robot cautiously. Kazuki set Dee down against Persephone's warm metallic surface and turned again to face Gan.
The young man was staring at his right hand, which still carried the knife.
Glancing at the knife blade and back at his captive, he shook his head. "I have no intention of killing you, despite what you've done to Dee. I'm going to try and stop that unnecessary bloodbath with this robot. If you plan to interfere, please let me know now so I can restrain you."
Gan simply shook his head. It was suicide to return in this damaged unit no matter which side they were on. If they were Adome, the Elev would wipe them out instantly. If they were Elev, the Corp would kill them almost as quickly. He doubted seriously that they would return to the camp. Every fiber of his being told him that they were probably going to put as much distance between themselves and the battle as possible.
However, a small voice inside him said otherwise. It told him to trust these people and their actions. Recklessly heeding this advice, he simply returned to the transport vehicle and powered its engine up. Taking one last look at the two pilots, he nodded towards them, stating, "Good luck."
As the vehicle sped off into the night, Kazuki looked up at Persephone. Its limbs were intact, but its thrusters were probably damaged during the initial impact. They might have been able to achieve half its normal speed, but anything beyond that would be impossible.
"Dee, I'm going to go take a look at the cockpit. Will you be ok?"
She simply nodded trying to hold herself up by bracing against Persephone's right arm. "I'll be here."
Nodding, Kazuki climbed up onto Persephone. He entered the cockpit, noticing that some of the circuits had been pulled out of their panels for inspection. Replacing as many of the parts as he could in the twilight, Kazuki was finally able to restore main power to the behemoth. Sitting in the pilot's seat, he activated the life sympathy orbs. Slowly, Persephone's left arm moved around to its right side. It gently picked up its pilot and placed her in the cockpit. As the hatch sealed, Kazuki inspected Dee briefly. She was breathing, but had passed out again. Although he was no doctor, Kazuki suspected she would be fine after a few days of rest and meals.
The life sympathy orbs lit as Kazuki commanded the robot to rise from the sands. As the monitors crackled to life, Kazuki scanned the horizon until he saw the reddish-orange glow of the battle in the distance. Cautiously at first, Persephone began walking towards the light. As if its confidence was building with each passing step, her pace quickened, finally approaching a sprint. Her thrusters misfired at first, and then came on strong, propelling the two pilots towards the battlefield before them.
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"Sir! Reinforcements are coming from New Gomorack!"
The commander growled back as he struck down one of the enemy Elev units, "I can see this. Do you have any useful information to provide?"
His companion, who now carried his and their former teammate's rifle, formed up along his left flank, firing a shot into the head camera of a passing Elev. "I believe most of the villagers that are still alive escaped. They will tell stories of our bravery for centuries to come, sir!"
"Oh, that's wonderful... I hope they cast me as the handsome rogue and smooth ladies man we know I am... If it's all the same to you, however," the commander paused, burying his blade into the cockpit of another Elev; one of many that was now swarming around their prey.
"Yes sir?"
"I'd like for one of us to hear those stories. Get out of here. I'll cover you."
"But sir!"
The older man sighed, taking the spare rifle from his friend's hand. "You're young, you have a child to look after. In addition, you're one of the few pilots we have and you're currently sitting in an even more rare commodity: A limit-less core unit. Get it and yourself out of the machine out of here without a scratch, son. I'll do the rest."
The man stuttered, "I-I-I can't do that, sir... You're too important to us! What will I tell my son when he discovers that his grandfather won't be returning from battle?"
"Tell him that's life. It's a shame that he must know it's cruel hand so early, but if he is to carry on our family's piloting tradition, he must learn quickly. Goodbye, son," the father cut the communications line with the other robot and engaged his thrusters. As his core unit dived into the mass of Elev core units, he ignored his proximity alarms and slashed or shot at anything that moved.
He destroyed five units in the first few seconds. As his son flew over the sand dune, the commander paused briefly, nodding as his final farewell.
A sharp pain pervaded his body as the Elev counterattacked. The lead unit, a full head taller than the regular units, approached him swiftly. It grabbed his left arm and pulled it out of the socket, a mesh of wire and electricity falling towards the desert below. Like vultures, the other robots swooped in for the meal, ripping off pieces of the armor and weaponry for future salvage.
After retrieving anything of value off of the Adome core unit, the others let it fall to the sand and stepped back, allowing their leader to approach. It knelt down and picked up the fallen soldier's sword, examining it carefully. It spun the blade around, the point mere inches from the cockpit and the pilot within. Raising the blade high above her head, the commander braced himself for the final blow.
A hole instantly opened inside the core unit's chest; a blue hand retracted from it as quickly as it had entered. As the Elev leader fell, the blue behemoth's eyes glowed green. In a move so fast that the commander's eyes could not track it, the blue robot retrieved the sword and began slashing down Elev units at a blinding rate.
Five units attacked in unison and were all gutted with a slight move of the robot's wrist. Another attempted to attack from behind. As the blue robot's thrusters fired, the damage to the left side was obvious. It stumbled and barely escaped the attack, slowly turning to face it's new foe. The Elev, seizing the opportunity the damage provided, focused on the new arrival's left flank, pounding the robot mercilessly. It attempted to block the attacks to no avail, eventually falling into the soft desert sands. The green glow that had haunted the Elev mere moments ago faded from the robot's eyes.
"It appears we have both failed, my friend. I thank you for your assistance," the commander sighed, resting his head upon the back of his seat as he closed his eyes. The Elev took no prisoners and rarely left any survivors. Both pilots' fates had been sealed once the blue machine fell to the ground. It was only a matter of time.
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"Get up, dammit," Kazuki's fists slammed into the unresponsive life sympathy orbs, kicking the seat for good measure as well. "They're going to kill us, Persephone! Don't you get it! You aren't going to survive this either! Get up!"
Dee moaned softly, rising from the cockpit's floor. "Zinv, is that you?"
Kazuki turned his head towards Dee's curled form. "Dee, are you alright?"
Dee's expression became one of concern. "This isn't our core unit. What are we doing here?"
"Dee! This isn't the time for such nonsense! We're about to be killed!"
Dee rose, stumbling slightly as she approached the pilot's seat. She gently rested her hand on Kazuki's arm, calmly replying, "You were always one to exaggerate, my dear. Let an old woman take a spin."
Kazuki stared at Dee, "What the hell has gotten into you, Dee? You're in no shape to fight! We've got to think of something!" Panic was beginning to overtake Kazuki's mind. He wasn't ready to die here without even seeing Mitsuki ever again. Now his few remaining moments were going to be spent trying to snap Dee back to reality.
"I do not know who this Dee is that you speak of. However, I suggest that you move immediately," the small fire burning behind her eyes came as a total surprise to Kazuki. He quickly cleared the seat, allowing her to flop into the seat and place her hands on the life sympathy orbs.
"Now, let's see," Dee, her eyes continuing to flutter but remain open, instantly activated the dormant robot. "Well, let's get down to business, shall we," the strange smile spread across Dee's face. Something about it frightened Kazuki immensely.