Disclaimer: See previous chapters

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Chap. 46

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The entire place was a literal inferno as the four ACs sought escape from the bunker. Taking the route Bloodhand and Professional used, the remaining members of Nightwatch soared out of grate way and into the gunnery room. 'Please don't fire' Diana thought as they flew in, remembering what happened the last time they were in there. Gladly, the gun turrets didn't fire on them and they were able to continue in their escape. What used to be glowing hallways and shimmering paths had turned to crimson light and frequent explosions. They soon reached the elevator and Professional moved toward the button.

'This had better work.'

Another miracle; the elevator door soon slid open and the clan wasted no time in entering in. The door soon closed and the elevator began its ascent. They could hear the explosions rumbling below them and by the time they reached the surface, they were just distant sounds. Still, not taking any chance, the four moved away from the bunker, while smoke floated up into the sky. They turned around and finally relaxed. They had made it.

But not all of them…

The image of Ellie was still in Elijah's mind, remembering how she jumped out of his core, against his wishes, in order not to slow him down. Though she was right, still…there had to have been another way. Now she was gone as well.

"Ellie…"

"Yes?"

Elijah blinked in surprise and looked over at the group. There, on the core exit of Professional, stood Ellie. Her hair, slightly disheveled from the battle, fluttered in the light wind and her jumpsuit showed signs of wear and tear.

"You… But how…?"

Ellie shrugged. "Well someone had to get this thing running again." She tapped on the hull of Professional, earning a light grunt from Charles. Continuing her explanation… "After I ejected, I saw Professional get hit. I figured I might as well do something and helped repair it." She then looked back over at Havoc and smiled. "I appreciate your concern, though. Really."

Elijah felt a great swell of relief at this, knowing that at least they weren't as far lost as he initially thought. But Cain was still down there and he didn't know how of if he managed to survive. As Professional turned around to send a message back to their client, Havoc took a step toward the bunker, watching the now-thick smoke continue to billow out into the air.

"Don't worry, kid." Koemai said as he saw the direction Havoc was looking in. "He's survived worse. I honestly…don't know…guhhh…"

Elijah turned his head at the sound and Cloak quickly moved up to Bloodhand. The hatch opening, Diana sprang out of her damaged AC and quickly onto Bloodhand. Hitting the emergency hatch, Bloodhand opened up and Diana was greeting with a pained Koemai, his hand tightly clutching his wound in a weak effort to keep the blood in.

"Koemai!" She rushed in and held onto his head. "Stay with me."

"Don't worry, babe." Koemai moaned lightly. "I said it before. I'm not dying yet. Not after I…got through all of that."

Diana let out a soft smile as she leaned forward and kissed him with fervor. Despite his condition, Koemai wasted no time in returning the affection, pushing his head forward to intensify the kiss.

"Now I know I'm not dying after that." He smiled as they parted. But then he jerked forward, still in pain. "Guah! But I think you'll have to patch me up."

"Naturally."

As she went about to work on his wound, Charles was contacting the client, informing them that the mission was a success. Months of work and planning had all come to fruition. But with it, a cost was paid, that being of a Raven's life. Even though being a Raven itself was dangerous, that didn't take away the fact that it was on this mission that Baron died. His mission… Charles narrowed his brow in afterthought. No. It was not a success. But the objective was achieved.

'Guess I'll have to settle for that.'

Meanwhile, Elijah was left to himself on the hill edge. Thoughts of the entire episode began to fill his mind. His battle with the Death Dealers, the journey into the Line, battling the white MTs, forging his way into the bunker, confronting IBIS, Cain's return, the Final Judgment tactic, all of this swarmed his thoughts and it all ended the same way. With IBIS's final statement…

"Raven…The rest is up to you…"

'What did it mean by that?' He wasn't sure if IBIS was speaking directly to him or if it was simply a pre-programmed response. 'But to what? For what? What did it mean?' Elijah sighed to himself, wincing from the injuries he suffered. It seemed like in the end, he hadn't grown up at all. That he was still young and far beyond understanding what it really means to be a Raven.

"You are a true Raven now, Elijah."

Cain's words… Elijah lifted his eyes up to the sky and for the first time, he saw the sun gleaming through the black clouds. He was young yes, and there was still a lot to learn. But he would find out the answers for himself, and in doing so, learn what it means to be a real Raven. He would be able to now.

After all, he had good friends…and a good teacher…

It had taken the planes a good fifteen minutes to arrive there. Apparently, they had been in wait on the edge of the Line since Nightwatch was first flown in. A good number of people thought it was a waste of time; that the clan would simply disappear into the Line again and never be heard from again. So when they received confirmation that they were able to enter, needless to say, they were stunned. Upon landing, the crews on board approached the team and got to work once again, repairing the damaged cores and offering medical assistance to those injured (meaning just about everyone).

"Feeling better?"

Koemai let out a low moan as he revived (he blacked out a few minutes before they arrived). Lifting his arm, he found new bandage wrappings around his entire abdomen. The pain was still there, but it was reduced to a mild throbbing and soreness.

"I need a drink."

Diana let out a light smile and kissed him gently on the lips. "It'll have to wait a bit longer. We have a new mission."

"Huh?"

"Don't worry." she replied, sending her finger through his hair. "We've been asked to be the first to survey the city ruins. Since they plan to occupy it soon, they'll need a good scouting report."

"Scouts?" Koemai lifted his head up and sighed. "I never thought I'd say this, but that sounds wonderful right now." Lowering his head… "What about the others?"

"Everybody's in, of course. Ellie will be joining us in a MT that was brought along, but she doesn't mind."

"Great. Now all we need is the picnic basket and blankets." He became quiet for a moment nad Diana could just sense what he was about to ask next.

"How about Cain?"

The woman lowered her head and quietly replied. "…No sign of him."

"Hm. Figures."

"Do you really believe he's still alive?" She didn't want to ask that, but she saw what they left him in. The place was falling apart at the seams. Not only that, but it was several feet below ground. It would be a miracle if he had survived it, much less manages to come out of it.

"Yeah." He looked past her and continued thoughtfully. "He went through hell and back to find his love. He wouldn't give out now that he's close to having her back."

Diana smiled, knowing that it was a rare experience to see Koemai talk in such a manner. Well, maybe not that rare, at least to her. "Well, aren't you the sweetie."

"Just don't tell everybody else." he grunted. "I have an image to keep after all."

With a laugh, Diana quietly kissed her boyfriend once again and again he returned it in kind. She pulled back, but not too far as she just wanted to answer him before returning to his lips again.

"Your secret is safe with me, my love."

A couple of minutes later, everyone was back in their prospective machines and moving out to their next mission, which will be far easier than what they've just gone through. The ACs and MT all moved on to their respective transports, ready to complete their trip across the Line and into the city that lay beyond. Once they were all set, the engines flared and the planes took off into the skies once again, no longer having to fear the mysterious energy cannon that would blast them all down. Silent Line was broken, all due to the strength and perseverance of a single Raven clan, now the sole clan of the elite; the only one that survived.

Nightwatch…

As the planes soared toward the city, Elijah looked out from his cockpit and the plane's window to get a glimpse. But a glare of the sun forced him to turn away for a bit. It was in that moment that he saw it. A white image flying across the skies... Because of the distance and the sun's light, he couldn't see it clearly at first. It was like…a bird. Was it a dove? Elijah narrowed his eyes, forcing his vision to look through the light, where he let out a small smile. He knew exactly what it was now. No, it wasn't a dove. On the contrary…

It was a Raven…

AN: This is not the last chapter…