A/N

Alright, one week became four...

But I'm back! Work is still busy, my social life is a tangled mess, and I've just been diagnosed with a FUCKING INFECTION... but other than all that things are going pretty well.

Now I'm going to be honest with all of you... I had a hard time writing this chapter. Fusion chapters like this can be difficult, I need to strike a level of balance between talking and fighting and that's a difficult thing to do. However, considering that I've re-written this chapter a few times... I think that it's okay enough for me to post.

Chapter 52…

"Although I am sure that you already know… I must say that this plan is terrible…"

Ashley sighed and loosened her grip on her SMART pistol. Her pilot helmet gently tapped against the top of her skull as she walked - a rhythm that she found incredibly annoying.

"I never knew that you were such a defeatist, doctor…" Ashley sighed.

"In most cases I am an optimist…" Doctor Fedorov mumbled, his hands held behind his head as he walked. "But I must voice my concerns-"

"If I had a better plan, I would be using it," Ashley cut the aged doctor off. "Now walk, prisoner!"

"Deepen your voice… you are a man now, yes?"

"Uh… right," Ashley cleared her throat, her voice sounding tinny underneath her helmet. "Walk, prisoner!"

Her "man" voice was rather awful - sounding more like a woman desperately trying to imitate a man than anything else.

Ashley desperately, desperately hoped that her physical disguise was more convincing than her voice. She also desperately hoped that there would be no point in the distant future where she had to speak with anyone.

As the woman walked, the uncomfortable, heavy sensation of fabric was pressing into her limbs and abdomen. Ashley and the doctor had dug up plenty of rags in the infirmary room and the former wasted no time in shoving them into the folds of her jumpsuit. Jameson's pilot armor would ensure that Ashley wasn't recognized from afar; but anyone who came too close would instantly notice Ashley's smaller, slimmer physique - hence the stuffed clothes.

The mud still clinging to her clothes and armor would give the appearance that "Jameson" had just returned from the raid. A minor advantage that could work in Ashley's favour.

Ifs and buts, ifs and buts… that was what Ashley's escape plan hinged on.

If the bandits did not see anything wrong with their leader escorting the imprisoned doctor, Ashley could walk herself and Fedorov straight out of the camp. But if they did seek to approach her, Ashley would need to rely on her shoddy disguise to bullshit her way out.

If Ashley did manage to convince these theoretical bandits that she was indeed their leader - they might leave them be. But, if she failed…

… things would get bloody… and fast…

Ifs and buts, ifs and buts… Ashley wasn't feeling particularly confident…

"Perhaps you could stop pushing the pistol into my back?" Doctor Fedorov lightly grumbled.

"Sorry," Ashley pulled back the pistol a little bit. "I need to make this look convincing…"

"Yes, yes…"

"Are you ready?"

"What other choice is there?" Fedorov sucked in a breath of air. "Let us go…"

With a light push, the aged doctor opened the first floor door of the encampment's command building. He marched through the open doorway, Ashley following right behind him.

Underneath Doctor Fedorov's flowing nightshirt, the compact form of his newly acquired R-97 submachine gun was easily hidden. It was the only real place Ashley could think of to conceal the gun.

"Move it!" Ashley barked, deepening her voice as best she could. Her voice definitely sounded more convincing when she was yelling - she would have to keep that in mind.

The former pilot and her doctor "hostage" marched brazenly into the open. From her position, Ashley could see the options laid out before them.

To her left was the bustling throng of bandits who were still busy unloading their plunder. Dozens of armor clad figures rushed around their assembled fleet of trucks, carrying crates and other assorted goods.

'Avoid the left…' Ashley thought to herself, her grip on her SMART pistol tightening. One possibility was that the bandits would be so busy they wouldn't notice her and the doctor; but that was a gamble the dark haired woman did not want to take.

To her right and off in the distance were the huddled collection of small buildings which appeared to be barracks. Unlike the area to Ashley's left, they seemed scarcely populated with no signs of movement. Between the buildings and Ashley was a parking lot of trucks - each parked in neat rows with a few meters of space in between.

"Walk right," Ashley whispered to the doctor. "We'll go between the trucks, past the building, and hug the outer walls…"

"That seems like the safest way to go…" Fedorov voiced his quiet agreement. "Walk me there…"

Silently, the pilot and her "hostage" walked in the direction of the buildings. They passed by the parked trucks as they walked; the vehicles granting them a level of cover and privacy.

Ashley wondered if any of the trucks had their keys in the ignition… or at least a push start that was active. She doubted it, the bandits were former military after all, and even rogue soldiers knew not to leave car keys just lying around. Stealing a truck was out of the question as well. Ashley knew how to sabotage vehicles; and she was trained in basic titan maintenance. But tricking a vehicles' electrical system into starting up was something she had never done before…

Not to mention that trying to drive out of the camp would draw immediate suspicion...

"Perhaps we can steal one of these trucks?" Fedorov hesitantly voiced what Ashley was already thinking.

"I don't have the keys…" Ashley sighed. "And I have no idea how to hotwire a truck…"

"Very well…"

"Keep walking," Ashley tried to relax her grip on her pistol again. "Slow and careful… we'll be out of her in no time. There's always the backup plan…"

"An even worse plan…"

"Don't tell me what I already know…"

Doctor Fedorov chuckled, his hands still clasped behind his head as he walked. He and Ashley finally left the fleet of trucks behind, now only a few meters from the barracks.

"Left…" Ashley whispered. "Move past the buildings and keep walking…"

"And then?"

"Working on it…"

Ashley could feel her hands quivering as she and the doctor walked past the closed doors of the barracks. She hoped desperately that there were no bandits inside the building.

There was a squeaking noise as a door behind the pair opened…

As usual, luck was not on Ashley's side…

"Boss?" A voice called out to Ashley. The dark haired woman ignored the call and quickened her pace.

"Boss!?" The voice called again.

"Stay…" Ashley whispered to the doctor as they both slowed down. The helmeted woman turned her head to look over her shoulder and address the newcomer.

"What is it?" Ashley gruffed, internally cringing at her terrible attempt to mask her voice. "Can't you see that I'm busy here?"

Wait, that wasn't right… Jameson had been rather glib. Ashley would have to pay careful attention to her mannerisms…

"Isn't that the doctor?" The bandit who had called out to Ashley muttered. He was leaning out the door of one of the barrack buildings - one gloved hand clenched on the doorframe.

"Correct."

"Where are you taking him?"

"The barracks?" Ashley scoffed. "Guy needs to sleep somewhere…"

"Our barracks?" The bandit stepped out from the doorframe, his hands curled into fists. "Why? So he can cut our throats in the night?"

It seemed that Jameson had been a more relaxed leader…

"Shove off…" Ashley spat, her voice still deep. "I'll deal with him…"

The bandit narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Something's off with you, boss…"

"Oh? Should I care?" Ashley scoffed. "I just spent the better part of my morning playing around in mud. Frankly, I don't want to deal with your bullshit right now…"

"You're not normally this much of an asshole…"

"Like I said, I've had a long night…"

"Why does your voice sound so weird-"

'FWIP!'

The bandit crumpled to the ground, a smoking hole carved into the flesh and bone of his forehead.

"Was that necessary?" Doctor Fedorov hissed, looking over his shoulder to glare at Ashley.

"He was catching on…" The dark haired woman huffed, her helmet hiding the sour look currently twisting her features.. Ashley took a moment to drag the man's body underneath one of the nearby trucks. She dusted off her messy gloves and wiped her pams against her pant legs. "Now come on! Keep going!"

"It seems as if your disguise is imperfect…"

Ashley grumbled as she gently grabbed the doctor by his back. "Come on, keep going…"

The two continued, breaking right so that they could keep some distance from the barrack buildings. They kept close to the parked trucks, their arms passing only inches from the bumpers of the vehicles.

"The way I see it, we don't have long until somebody finds all of the bodies I left lying around…" Ashley whispered. "There were quite a few upstairs, but I hid them in rooms."

"We are making a good pace…" Fedorov mumbled back. "Tell me… the town?"

"Under control, but plenty of injured and dead," Ashley informed the doctor. "They're in desperate need of a good doctor."

"Everyone seems to be," Fedorov audibly swallowed. "I would prefer to put this all behind me as soon as possible…"

"Likewise-"

A droning klaxon sliced through the stillness of the morning air. The alarm was scratchy sounding from disuse, but was loud enough to make Ashley jump a little bit. Over the alarm rose dozens of voices, all crying out in shock and alert.

"Fuck!" Ashley spat, her hand quivering against the grip of her SMART pistol.

"I think that they have found a body…" Fedorov looked back and lifted an eyebrow. "What was 'Plan B' again?"

The aged doctor reached back and clumsily removed the R-97 tucked under the back of his shirt. Ashley watched the doctor ready the weapon, feeling herself deflate as he clumsily tried to pull out the firing pin.

"Let me handle the specifics of that…" Ashley spat in frustration. "Come on!"

The helmeted woman dragged the aged doctor in the direction of one of the parked trucks. With a heave, Ashley wrenched the door open and quite literally threw the doctor inside.

"The armored plating should keep you protected!" Ashley rushed out. "But keep your head down and stay low to the floor!"

"And you!?" Fedoroc stuttered, his eyes frantic. The R-97 was still clenched tightly in his hands, the barrel pointed in Ashley's direction. Frowning, the woman reached her free hand out to push the barrel away.

"The town needs a doctor, Fedorov," Ashley sighed, her grip on her pistol tightening. "Do me a favour and just stay put!"

Flinging her arm out, Ashley mashed the door to the truck closed. She backed away from the vehicles, keen to put as much distance between herself and the doctor as possible.

To her left she heard footsteps, they were emerging from behind another truck.

'FWIP!' 'FWIP!'

Two bodies clattered to the floor, their weapons falling from their hands…

How many SMART rounds did Ashley have left? The woman had no clue… and she didn't want to use up her trump card before she really needed it.

Activating her jumpkit thrusters, Ashley crouched low to enter a controlled slide. The boosters on her jumpkit flared as she was blasted forwards - sparks flying as she slid along the ground.

Stretching out one hand, Ashley snatched one of the weapons dropped by the bandits she had just killed. It was a machine pistol, although Ashley didn't recognize the make and model; it had a strange curved design to it and was organized in a bullpup configuration.

A SMART pistol, a shotgun, and a machine pistol… it was a good start…

Not bothering to deactivate her jumpkit, Ashley allowed the boosters to carry her up into the air. She lifted herself above the small fleet of parked trucks, giving her a brief bird's eye view of the area.

All around the compound, dozens of figures in patchwork armor were scurrying like ants. The majority appeared to be armed and conducting some form of search…

And considering that Ashley had just blasted herself into the air in full view of everyone, she had made herself a target…

'Good… better me than the doctor…'

A bullet whizzed past her head…

She was indeed a target…

Letting gravity take hold of her, Ashley fell back to the ground and landed in a crouch. She could hear feet hammering all around her, no doubt hordes of enemies coming to put her down.

A precious few seconds was all she had now…

Stuffing her SMART pistol away to free up her right hand, Ashley tore one of the two way radio's off of her armored vest. She tilted her helmet upwards to reveal her mouth and clicked the transmit button on the device's receiver.

"Titan!" Ashley yelled into the receiver.

For a moment… the device failed to give Ashley a response…

"Awaiting input…" The receiver crackled. Ashley sighed in relief that her backup plan was working thus far; there was always the chance that the radio wouldn't be loud enough for Big Ivan to "hear".

"Titan, I am ordering you to rendezvous with my position!" Ashley hurriedly muttered into the receiver. "Proceed forwards, maximum speed!"

"Affirmative…"

Ashley dropped the receiver to the floor and lifted the machine pistol clenched in her left hand. She pointed the weapon to her immediate left, pulling in one finger to squeeze down on the metal trigger. The gun barked as it's magazine was empty, the weapon recoiling in an odd side-to-side pattern that Ashley didn't really expect.

The recoil pattern did not make it any less effective, however. A hectic spray of bullets hosed down a group of bandits who were emerging from the fleet of trucks - killing all but one.

Tossing the machine pistol away, Ashley flung her hand out and wrenched open the door of the truck she was standing against. Her timing was perfect, as only a second later did a shotgun blast obliterate the armored plate of the door now shielding Ashley. The woman darted into the open cabin of the vehicle, swearing under her breath when a hail of gunfire began chewing up the truck.

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'

A bullet whizzed through the windshield, past Ashley's head, and obliterated a headrest…

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'

Scrambling through the cabin, Ashley reached an arm back to rip the large, unwieldy shotgun off of her back. She kept the weapon close as she smashed through the door on the other side of the cabin - rolling forwards as she did.

The woman landed on her back, her looted shotgun still clenched in her hands and the barrel sticking outwards.

Standing on the other side of the truck was another group of bandits, four in total. They certainly hadn't expected Ashley to have exited the vehicle in the manner that she did; and they certainly didn't expect the coming blast…

Squeezing the heavy trigger, Ashley felt a painful jolt as the shotgun recoiled into her already-sore shoulder. A powerful blast of what appeared to be plasma spat from the weapon's barrel, two cooling ports briefly opening to vent the gun's heat. The plasma blast shot forwards in a wide arc, instantly obliterating all four of the bandits…

Ashley realized that the weapon she was holding was just a scaled up version of the Mozambique pistol.

'Not bad…'

Still on the ground, Ashley activated her jumpkit again. The sudden force blasted her underneath the truck and she emerged from the other side. The one bandit who she had not yet killed was busy looking in the cabin; he did not expect his opponent to come surging out from underneath the vehicle.

And he certainly didn't expect for her to grab his ankles…

The bandit yelped as he was forcefully tugged off of his feet. His helmeted head smashed against the door of the parked truck - a resounding 'crack' following the impact.

Turning off her jumpkit, Ashley let go of the shotgun and tugged her SMART pistol out of it's holster. The bandit she had just grabbed was lying on the ground, groaning in pain and clutching his head…

'FWIP!'

Not anymore…

Ashley stuffed the SMART pistol away and spun back to her feet, one hand darting downwards to pick the shotgun up off the ground. The woman hissed in pain when a small caliber bullet struck her shoulder pad.

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'

The shotgun rattled in her hands as the bandit responsible was burned up in a hail of plasma.

Off in the distance… Ashley could hear the sounds of heavy feet pounding against the ground. These sounds were accompanied by panicked yelling and rapid gunfire.

"Fuck…" Ashley breathed. The helmeted woman used her very brief moment of respite to rush back in the direction of the truck she had left Fedorov inside. She skidded to a stop next to the window, wrenching the door open with her hand.

She was greeted by a gun barrel and a pair of frightened eyes…

"Oh, thank God!" Doctor Fedorov cried and quickly lowered his gun. "I thought you were dead!"

"Not yet…" Ashley gruffed, roughly grabbing the doctor by his arm. "Come on!"

"Where are we going!?" Fedorov cried as Ashley yanked him out of the vehicle.

"We're gaining some distance!" Ashley called back as she pulled the doctor behind her. "Come on!"

Feeling her legs straining, Ashley focused on her breathing as she led the doctor away to what she hoped would be safety.

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'

Off in the distance, the sounds of crunching metal and smashing feet grew in intensity; Ashley could hear the sharp sounds of bullets ringing against metal plating.

"Behind us!" Fedorov cried. The man raised his R-97 in one arm and pointed the weapon behind himself. There was a rattling bark as the R-97 was emptied in the direction of the unseen threat.

"Did you get them?" Ashley gasped for air as she ran.

"I do not know…" Fedorov answered with a gasp. "But I perhaps bought us some time…"

"Works for me!" Ashley slid to a quick stop. The woman whirled around and grabbed the aged doctor by the front of his nightshirt. "Look over there! Do you see it!?"

The woman stretched out her arm, pointing in the direction of the massive fissure in the outer wall.

"Yes-"

"Then run for it!" Ashley shook the doctor. "Now's your chance! Go!"

"But-"

"No buts!" Ashley shook her helmeted head. "I'll keep them busy!"

"How-"

Ashley whirled the doctor around to make her point…

Slowly advancing on the pair was Big Ivan. The titan, devoid of any safety protocols, cared little for the trucks he was crushing underneath his heavy feet. Bandits screamed and fled as the metal monster destroyed everything in its path - bullets pinging uselessly off of his metal plating.

"I'll be fine! Don't argue with me! The town needs a fucking doctor!" Ashley hissed. "Now go!"

Doctor Fedorov bit his lower lip and looked unsure for a moment, but finally relented with a nod. Despite his age the man took off in an impressive looking run, sparing a glance at Ashley as he fled.

The doctor would be fine… the bandits were focused on the titan…

And speaking of the titan…

Ashley kicked off the ground with her heel and sprinted in the opposite direction of Doctor Fedorov. Her objective was also rapidly approaching her, his heavy footfalls reducing vehicles to scrap. Big Ivan's large optic seemed to glitter in the harsh morning light.

"Titan!" Ashley screamed. "Open your hatch!"

Still moving, Big Ivan did as Ashley requested. Flaring her jumpkit, Ashley boosted herself upwards and cannonballed into the open cockpit. She corrected her body position as she flew, landing with her back first against the seat.

"Titan, close the hatch!" Ashley gasped through the pain. "Quickly!"

The plexiglass hatch closed with a metallic hiss. Ashley would need to find something to protect it - the hatch certainly wasn't bulletproof.

Slamming her arms and legs into the limb clamps, Ashley assumed manual control of the titan. Her limbs burned with agony as she moved, thrusting Big Ivan's arms down to wrench his metal hands into the husk of a pickup truck.

Lifting the truck into the air, Ashley used the metal remains to shield her cockpit. Bullets pinged harmlessly off her armor as the bandits tried to retaliate. The scores of troops outside Ashley's cockpit reacted with fear - some fleeing while others stayed to fight.

Perhaps the odds still weren't in Ashley's favour… but her only goal was to serve as a distraction… and perhaps get a little bit of payback...

Titans - even archaic ones - could instantly change the course of a battle…

And what a battle this was going to be...