Episode Three: Meant to Live
TheEND pushed off the prototypeT303 then used its wings to blow trapars towards Holland, causing a wave-effect that overwhelmed him and send the L.F.O. tumbling backwards. The typeB303 then rushed in and grabbed TheEND by its wings. Matthieu's Vanguard arrived and all three opened fire on Marcus, who could not break free, allowing TheEND to sustain some damage. Suddenly, Anemone cried out in pain as the attack intensified until she could no longer keep her hold. Breaking free, TheEND twisted around, grabbed the typeB303 by its chest, and hurled it at the Vanguard, whom scattered.
"Anemone! What's wrong?" asked Dominic in the typeR909 while Marcus bolted towards clouds.
"The pain…" she cried, unable to stabilize herself, "It's-it's- Dominic! Please…!"
Already racing to her aid, Dominic did his best to stabilize the typeB303.
"Dominic! Cover Anemone and fall back!" commanded Holland as he intercepted TheEND.
Marcus preformed an inverted cutback drop-turn and tried for a different approach but was caught off guard by the assault. Grabbing the pilot housing of TheEND and used the prototypeT303's momentum, Holland forced them into a spin. After several rotations, he flung TheEND head-over-heels towards the starboard side of the Gekko. It impacted the aircraft back-first, creating a massive breach as the pilot housing ripping through several rooms and hallways, causing the Gekko to shake violently and forced Moondoggie to loop the ship once to keep from losing lift buoyancy and tumbling out of the sky.
"Massive hull breach, starboard side!" announced Woz before his console exploded, catching fire.
"What the hell happened!?" demanded Talho as Hap helped extinguish the fire.
"Damned if I know, nothing's responding to my inputs," growled Ken-Goh, "Doggie?"
"I still have inputs through backup cables-links only," he informed, struggling with the controls, "Fly-By-Wire's fried. We're listing heavily starboard and I'm not sure why."
"Vanguard leader!" called Talho, "Matthieu, what's our status?"
"You—aking up, Talh—of static," replied Matthieu over the malfunctioning intercom, his transmission broken and filled with static, "Umm, you're no—elieve this but Holla—Marcus into the Gek—."
"…got the pic—es to prov—t, too!" added Stoner.
"Damn it, Holland!" growled Talho, "What can you guys see out there?"
"Visuals indic--eEND's pilot hou—netrated the starboard s—ont of the win—ar the commo-" informed Hilda, "No movem—Marcus; and I th—lland's pride is damage…"
"…ess I'll have to—ve the Tresor boys do some maj—ith this new limi…" remarked Holland, "Sorry 'bou—That is—t I had in—hat's the damage insi—?"
"Your signals are breaking up on our end, too," Talho sighed, "Massive damage throughout the ship; extent unknown. All primary systems are down. You damn near took us out of the sky, Holland!"
"Weapon systems coming back online," informed Ken-Goh, "Barely…"
"Hull is down forty-five percent," announced Hap, "Looks like Jobs is getting us back up."
"Confirm, systems being—through secondary systems!" smiled Jobs from a static-filled screen, "But it's not good. We're a—half of Gekko is offline. Looks like damage—did more than I first realized. The impa—erwhelmed the systems. Guess Holland was just prover—o our camel."
"…s Vernon alrig-?" inquired Holland.
Tahlo gasped, "Woz! Where were Renton and the others before the impact?"
"Last I checked, still in the commons," he answered.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Don't wo—mpact was forward of the com…" assured Holland as he and the other rallied around Anemone, "Dominic, how's Anemone?"
"She's doing okay," replied Dominic over his com, "She thinks Marcus used an empathetic link to mess with her mind and the C.F.S. made it more potent. The system's offline now and she's recovering."
"Copy that," he sighed, "The rest of you, come on; let's pull 'em out slow so the Gekko can stabilize."
"Be careful," warned Jobs, "The haul ha—ere damage. Any unnecessary—ment could cause the Ge—o break up. It might b—o land first. The breach has als—he em—ncy airl—acti—pheric pressure within th—rantine—ne is abou—ea leve—mergen—ygen mas—en deplo—but I st—firm Renton's location."
"Hollan—ave Doggie take us dow—the trapar floor as po…" instructed Talho, "Just in case we hav…"
Meanwhile, Renton, Eureka, Axel, and the children struggled to get up in the darkened hallway. Their flashlights revealed a black mass that spit the passage in half. Debris and sparking electrical lines were everywhere. Axel was with the children but forward of and separated from Renton and Eureka.
"Where's mama and papa?" asked Maeter fearfully.
"They're probably on the other side," answered Axel worried, "Vernon okay?"
Maurice, who held the small child, nodded.
"I don't feel very good," complained Linck, "And it's getting really cold."
"This area is depressurizing," concluded Axel, seeing emergency oxygen masks and feeling the effects himself, "We need to get those masks on quickly."
First donning his own mask, he then helped Maurice and the others with theirs.
"Remember to keep that mask over his face," instructed Axel regarding Vernon.
"Right," acknowledged Maurice.
"What are we gonna to do now?" asked Linck, who was too scared to be scared.
"Well, our only exit is sealed," sighed Axel, as his flashlight illuminated a large closed emergency door, "And we can't go forward so…"
"If only my damn airlock-code worked!" growled Renton through his mask, "Hope the kids are okay."
"They are, I know it," assured a trembling Eureka who also wore a mask, "Axel is with them!"
"The big question is, what is this?" he remarked on the black mass, "Can't be a L.F.O., can it?"
"It's-it's the TheEND!" she shuttered, jumping back after touching it, "So much hate and pain… and sadness; but it's more than just TheEND; like thousands of voices, all crying in pain."
Just then, the black mass began to move, forcing everyone back.
"Ya drongo wombat!" Marcus snorted, "May ya chooks turn into emus and kick ya shithouse down!"
"Can it, Crow Eater!" growled Holland as he, Anemone, and Hilda approached, "You're the cause of all this! If any of the kids are hurt, you'll pay dearly!"
"Hang on a tick; not after innocent blood 'ere!" he rebuffed, "Why'd ya think I gave that warnin' shot or let the ol' bloke take love's ankle-biters inside? What is it, a boomer court? I'm not such a dingo!"
"Maybe, but those manipulating you are," countered Anemone, "You should be fighting them, not us."
"Bite your bum, miss!" growled Marcus as TheEND flapped its wings, causing the Gekko to shake, "And quit yankin' my chain; you don't give a flamin' stuff! You're only makin' me ropeable."
"What the hell was that?" demanded Talho as she was rocked in her seat.
"Marcus is tryin—eak free!" informed Holland, "Doggie—eep her steady!"
"With thrust down by half?" mocked Moondoggie under breath, "Easy for you to say…"
Putting its hands and feet on the Gekko, TheEND slowly began wriggling out of the breach. Its wings began to stir up the trapars, causing the other L.F.O.s to lose buoyancy, forcing a retreat.
"What's going on?" asked Maeter as the ship shook all around them.
"Seems that L.F.O. is tryin' to free itself," replied Axel, "Everyone to the airlock and hold onto me!"
With one large effort, TheEND freed itself from the Gekko; but gravity took hold and pulled the K.L.F. down until it could gain buoyancy. This buckled the hallway and caused part of the hull to break off, which caused Axel to lose his grip. The vacuum sucked them across the cavity towards Renton and Eureka, who had also backed away from the breach. The dislodged hull section shielding them from being ejected, directing Axel and the children to collide with Renton and Eureka; but the debris impact then caused their hallway to buckle. Eureka watched horrified as the vacuum caused by the forward momentum of the Gekko sucked the remaining debris and her children towards the open sky.
Axel and Renton both seized handgrips from the buckled floor after desperately grabbing the children. However, turbulence from the now closer storm and lack of engine power caused the Gekko to shutter violently. They first lost their hold of the children, then the floor. Axel grabbed Renton and managed catch his foot but the children were sucked into the bitterly cold sky. Gaining strength, Eureka leaped forward and pulled Renton back before helping Axel. Shock and dismay filled their numb faces as they crawled towards the airlock. Below, TheEND was arcing up back towards the Gekko when it noted the falling children. Instantly, it displayed an emergency video feed of them to Marcus, alarms sounding.
"What in the- bloody mother-fuckin' Hell, mate!" he exclaimed, "END, let's do this!"
TheEND passed over the children as it completed its roll and raced after them, using the trapars to gain speed. Renton, meanwhile, successfully forced the emergency airlock doors open. Once the three were inside, the doors quickly re-sealed, allowing the nominally undamaged hallway to re-pressurize.
"Talho, emergency airlock override at the breach site!" informed Woz, "Code indicates- it's Renton!"
"Gidget, get them on speaker now!" instructed Hap.
"Already on it!" she smiled.
"Renton, are you there?" asked Talho desperately, "What's your status?"
"Holla—lho! The children—llen out of the brea—!" he yelled over the bridge intercom.
"What!?" she gasped as her heart skipped another beat.
"…kids are falli—," shouted Axel, "…get Holla—atch them. We don't have—!"
"Holland!" barked Hap to Holland on his com, "The child—the breach site an—llen out of the Gek—!"
"What!?" he gasped, momentarily stunned.
After regrouping, he and the other pilots had watched TheEND suddenly race into the clouds. Realizing what Marcus was after he engaged his boost-thrusters and chased after him.
"Holland! Be careful—o too low yo—se buoyancy!" reminded Hap.
He did not reply. Below, TheEND opened its cockpit hatch as it closed in on the children. The rapid decompression caused Marcus to bleed from his ears and nose. Only Maurice remained awake as they fell blindly through the clouds. TheEND locked onto them and directed Marcus first towards Maurice and Vernon, who were closest.
"Grab On!" he yelled, extending his hands after removing his upper body from the pilot interface.
Maurice reached out with his left hand while desperately clinging to Vernon with his right. The two grabbed each other and Marcus pulled him in. TheEND accelerated again and zeroed-in on Maeter and Linck. As they exited the clouds, the K.L.F. emerged right above them. Mind-numbingly cold, Marcus again stretched out and grabbed the siblings before TheEND could finally close its cockpit hatch.
"She'll be apples; now big bloke, let's conjure us a miracle!" wheezed Marcus, "Hold on, lil' ones!"
TheEND tried regaining trapar buoyancy but failed. Spread its wings, it then attempted to glide. While marginally successful, the damaged wings proved inept at prolonged flight. Unable to slow its descent, the K.L.F. collided with the large old-growth forest below and sliced through the tall timbers. It began to spin in an attempt to lessen the impact. Warning messages, lights, and alarms wailed as Marcus was helpless to assist. Above, Holland finally exited the clouds and watched TheEND crash into the forest. Unable to lift himself, he engaged all his thrusters to slow his descent. This proved the better strategy but the prototypeT303 still crashed hard into the dense woodlands.
"Holland! Do you read? Holland, Come In!" called out Hap, as the prototypeT303's signal dropped.
Talho sat in the captain's chair with a hollow and hopeless stare.
"Si-Signal lost," Woz sighed, "Unable to reestablish contact with either L.F.O."
"No-No audio si-signals detected," confirmed Gidget, visibly shaken.
Several silent moments passed.
"Hap: assemble a search and rescue team," informed a somber Talho, "Including Renton and Eureka. Refuel all L.F.O.s and have the pilots await further orders. After we disembark, take the Gekko to the nearest airbase for vital repairs until you can reach Tresor. Doggie: set course to the storm edge nearest Holland's last position. Gidget: inform Jürgens of our situation and have him dispatch a retrieval ship to replace the Gekko. I will lead the ground team; Hap is now in command. That is all."
She then left the bridge. Everyone could hear the hopelessness in her voice. She proceeded directly to the hanger, where Renton and Axel watched the L.F.O.s dock. Eureka wept bitterly and buried her head in Renton's chest. He did his best to be strong but it was a losing battle. Talho looked at him sternly as he got Eureka's attention before standing back. She then backhanded her right cheek, causing Eureka to stop crying immediately. She stared at Talho with shock and confusion.
"They are not dead!" she reminded sternly, "And until proven otherwise, this will be a rescue mission. I expect you to perform. You and Renton will pilot the secondary 606 and bring up the rear; got it?"
Eureka quickly came to understand her intent and nodded in compliance. Renton also nodded when she looked to him. Once all L.F.O.s docked, the Gekko completed its turn and carefully headed towards the storm edge. Dr. Mischa checked on Anemone after treating Renton, Eureka, and Axel for their injuries.
"Hey, how you feeling?" inquired Dominic as the good doctor examined her.
"Better," sighed Anemone, embracing him, "Right now, I have more pressing matters on my mind."
"I know what you mean," he agreed.
"You're doing better than expected," concluded Dr. Mischa after a moment, "Sadly, I can offer nothing to protect you against another attack. Just be ready to react once you get close again."
"Dominic, I'm taking command of the 909," instructed Talho, walking over, "You'll stay here and help with repairs. Anemone, are you able to continue?"
"Yes," she nodded.
"Doctor?" she inquired further.
"I've done all I can," informed Dr. Mischa, "She is up to the task. You, however, I'm not so sure of."
"Your observation is noted and acknowledged," snapped Talho, "Anemone will be my second."
"Doggie says it will take twenty minutes before we're over the drop zone," informed Hilda.
"Everyone be ready to drop soon as we pass the storm," she announced, "Don't let this break give you time to think about what could be. They are alive, all of them; and Holland will need our help."
"Right!" agreed everyone.
The short time was spent reloading weapons and preparing for departure. Dominic helped Anemone get ready as Renton and Eureka prepped their typeR606, with Eureka in the pilot seat. Axel watched over them until it was time. Talho did likewise, observed by Dr. Mischa, much to her chagrin.
"Are you sure you two can handle this?" inquired Axel, "It's been over a year."
"We don't have much choice," answered Renton, "Besides, all L.F.O., especially the Terminus series, are modeled on the Nirvash. We both know the controls fairly well and can compensate for each other."
"…I- I wanted to apologize," he sighed, after a moment, "I should have held on tighter."
"What's done is done," he replied, giving him a smile, "Besides, you saved my life. I trust Marcus has the interest of the kids at heart; otherwise he would not have gone after them. I don't know what it is, but everything I know about Marcus, which isn't much, tells me he fighting for a good cause; just not in the right way. Just because we're enemies doesn't mean we don't have the same values."
"For their sake, I pray you're right," conceded Axel.
The Gekko finally passed the storm and gently descended. Over a clearing, several kilometers out, the rescue team launched and the Gekko headed out. The party landed quickly and rallied around Talho.
"Everyone, listen up," she announced, "Because Marcus reacted first, we must assume he successfully recovered the children. However, we cannot be sure of his intent. Due to the storm and forest, he will be limited like us in utilizing trapars. Our goal is to rescue the children at all costs. Renton and Eureka, you will take rear; Matthieu and Hilda are wingmen; I will be point and Anemone will be second. Our communication range is limited so do not get lost. Our secondary mission is to locate Holland, whom we will assume landed safely is also searching for Marcus. Move out!"
"Right!" acknowledged everyone.
With Talho taking the lead in the typeR909, the group set out into the forest. Meanwhile, vertigo and pain swirled about as Marcus tried to makes of the chaos before his eyes.
"What's the matter, lil' Joey?" asked an ethereal fatherly voice.
"Wha-?" he moaned, rubbing his eyes.
Sitting beside him was a tall brawny man wearing overalls and sunglasses, his skin tan and auburn hair short. Marcus soon gawked as he surveyed his surroundings: a large backyard with a metal fence. They rested upon a modest back patio connected to a plain one-story home, with more on either side of the yard. Stout trees and shrubs followed the fence. Everything seemed familiar, especially the man.
"…f-fa-father?" he stuttered, "Is-is that…"
"True blue," replied the man with a smile, "Seem you've dropped your bundle, son. Give us the drum?"
"Heh, yeah," smirked Marcus with some effort, "But whadda ya doin' 'ere?"
"This is my weatherboard shack, mate," replied his father, "Ya gone walkabout?"
"Maybe," he shrugged.
"No worries, I know you've come a gutser," he grinned, "Why don't ya yabber us a yarn?"
"I'm all sixes and sevens, pops," Marcus sighed, "Things are crock in Musselbrook; I tried to do what's all the go but only got the rough end of the pineapple. Guess I'm just a dill twit…"
"That'd be right," agreed his father, "Still, you can nut out. We trust ya, son. Any ol' Joe Blow will tell ya you aughta be proud as a rat with a gold tooth. Add a fair crack of the whip and she'll be apples."
"Crack away," he acknowledged, "But I'm on for young and old. The voices have the wheel."
"Remember this, son," he explained, "You're the bloke what come up with this scheme. Even those lil' beasties own ya big mobs. They're tryin' to bail ya up and nick your authority over 'em. They take ya for a drongo with all this brothel and are tryin' to have a lend of ya. Pick a blue and give 'em Hell!"
"How?" questioned Marcus, "I'm just a surfie beyond the black stump; got Buckley's chance!"
"Don't come the raw prawn, son," laughed the man, "You're as fit as a Mallee bull and full as a fairy's phone book with smarts. Ya don't gotta end up like the swagman in the billabong. Just give her a burl!"
"Things aren't that simple," he sighed.
"Cods wallop!" he retorted, standing up, "You're the bloke what got us through the curry! Squizz, we can't Barney alone, mate. You started this, now ya gotta finish her. Savvy?"
"But how?" asked Marcus, doing likewise, "Ain't nothin' but a wonky ratbag…"
"Says who?" challenged his father, "You rescued those ankle biters, yeah? Now that's true blue! So ya mighta stuffed up an' opened the bloody box; chin up, your blood's still worth bottlin'."
"Easier said than done," he sighed, "I've chucked all me mates and made some boomer blues."
"You made 'em, you can break 'em, too," he encouraged, "You're the only one, son."
"And if I win, then what?" questioned Marcus abruptly, "We're back to square one!"
"More than one way to skin a cat, yeah?" reminded his father, "You'll figure her out; have faith."
"Never wanted to be a gun legend," he lamented, "Just a good bloke on a good wicket."
"It ain't over yet, but ya gotta polish off soon," he informed, "Remember, we're behind ya, all of us."
The man began to fade as the tranquil scene began to quake.
"What the bloody-?" questioned Marcus, "Father! Hold up a tick!"
"Onya, son," he smiled before fading away, "Hooroo!"
Marcus stumbling backwards and fell into a dark pit as the world around him collapsed into a void.
"FATHER!" he screamed.