Episode 3 Trial
One day after the terrible loss at the island airport remnants of Marlene's team landed several miles inland. Inside the truck Joey tried to contact Second Earth. Chris and Cissnei were busy burying their dead comrades. Yuji was outside looking at a motorcycle that looked a lot like Takashi's bike.
Meanwhile back inside the truck, Joey was having trouble with radio.
"This is Far East Recovery Team do you copy? Headquarters do you copy?" The computer flashed showing it was searching. Several seconds passed and still nothing happened. The only response was static.
"Damn it!" cursed Joey
"This is useless the noise from those insect bastards is so high that's it interfering with are relay equipment. I've tried everything and I can't get a signal through," he reported.
"This recent surge in Blue activity as made recovery all over Japan hopeless. Where going to take an alternate route and use this vehicle to get us to Simanoseikl then procure a cargo ship and cross over to Korea. That's where we'll meet the recovery squad," concluded Robert.
Then he turned to Marlene.
"Do you think you can keep them off us until then?" he asked
Marlene nodded, looking out the window and saw Yuji standing out there.
Yuji's face had an angry appearance.
"If those bastards did anything to Takashi, I'll make them pay!" he vowed
Marlene walked up to him.
"Lets go," she ordered.
Yuji looked like he was about to argue until Cissnei showed up.
"Yuji we have to go," she said.
Yuji nodded and with that they got into the truck. Just before leaving, Marlene and Chris had argued about giving off a shot to honor the dead. Marlene was against it because the noise might attract the Blue. Finally, Marlene gave in and Chris fired four shots for Minnie, Keith, Katharine and Malcolm. With that the truck drove off leaving behind two graves. One read KEITH BEAN and MINNIE WHITE. While the other said KATHARINE STEEL.
As they drove on, Yuji and Cissnei were thinking of all the death they had seen. Images flashed in there minds from people in green balls to the bodies of Keith, Minnie and Katharine. Marlene and Chris were making sure their weapons were in prime condition. Yuji and Cissnei watched them clean them. Yuji gazed at the guns while Cissnei gazed at the Shrike. Then once again the images of the dead flashed through their minds. Yuji and Cissnei held their head in an attempt to block them out.
"You two okay?" asked Chris
Marlene looked at them. Suddenly her communicator light flashed red.
"Incoming," called Marlene as she calmly got up and prepared for battle.
Likewise Chris got up to. Making their way over to the gun rack Marlene and Chris loaded their guns.
"Guys it's a Blue," warned Marlene.
"What have we got?" asked Joey
"A man-eater," Chris said grimly as checked his gun.
Meanwhile outside the truck the Blue was gaining on them.
"Step on it!" ordered Robert as the monster got closer.
Putting his foot on the gas pedal, Joey increased speed. Looking out the side view mirror Robert grunted in frustration as the thing closed in. Once it was above the truck the man eater extended one of its claws and sliced a piece of the truck off. Yuji and Cissnei gazed in horror as the thing's head appeared.
"Stay down it's too dangerous," ordered Marlene as she prepared to do battle.
Climbing up to the hole, Marlene bravely faced the Blue. Opening its mouth the man eater hissed. Aiming her gun Marlene prepared to fire. The monster dove at her. Marlene fired. One of the shots hit its eye. Quickly closing its mouth, the thing backed up and zoomed left and right to avoid being hit. As it flew to the right Marlene fired a grenade and scored a direct hit on the beast.
Meanwhile inside the truck Yuji and Cissnei shook in fear. Gazing at the gun rack Yuji though, damn it I can't just sit here I have got to help them!
Grabbing one go the guns, Yuji ran over to an ammo crate to load it. Yuji's arms were jittering from nerves and he was having trouble loading it. Chris saw what he was doing.
"Hey kid put it down!" he ordered.
Outside the truck the man eater took a swipe at Marlene. The truck jolted from the impact and caused Yuji to fall. Gazing upwards Yuji saw Marlene fall. Yuji straight out his hands and caught her.
"Yuji look out!" screamed Cissnei
Looking up the through the hole Yuji gazed in horror. The man eater was now on the truck. Quickly Robert and Joey looked back. Yuji stood still ridged with fear. Poking its head through the hole the thing hissed.
"This insect is really starting to bug me!" yelled Chris as he fired.
Cutting loose, Chris blasted it's other eye out. Hissing with rage the monster stuck one of its claws in and took a swipe at him. Though the blade missed him the thing knocked him into the sleeper capsules. Just as he was about to get up, the capsules fell on top of him knocking him out. Cissnei ran over to and was about to shoot when she got knock out as well.
"Cissnei no!" Yuji screamed
Suddenly the truck shook more as the man eater pulled its head through the hole. Joey and Robert looked back and saw what was going on. Yuji gazed in terror as the monster opened its mouth and hissed. Suddenly the truck drove into a tunnel. Joey maneuvered the truck close the wall scraping it against the wall. Joey gazed outside the window and saw that the monster was still holding on and not letting go.
"It's still hanging on? Get off my back!" he yelled swerving the truck against the wall
This caused part of the man eater's abdomen to brake off. The monster hissed in pain but still clung on. Yuji screamed as the thing got closer and closer. Just as the monster prepared to attack, gunfire suddenly split the air. Several shots hit the monster until one hit its core. Gazing around, Yuji saw Marlene awake still holding the pistol she had used to kill the thing. When the truck came to a grinding stop, the carcass of the monster fell to the ground with a thud. Chris and Cissnei regained consciousness. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank God," said a relieved Joey.
Robert let out a deep sigh.
Meanwhile back inside the truck Marlene was checking the weapons.
"Hey are you okay?" asked a worried Yuji .
Marlene still cleaned her weapons taking no concern of Yuji worry.
"I thought I told you two to stay down," she said
"We just wanted to help," said Cissnei
"Are you sure that you're prepared to do that?"
Turning on the two sleepers, she began to berate them.
"This isn't a game we're playing. There's no room for amateurs here!" she said frostily.
Placing her gun on the rack, Marlene left to check on the others. Chris followed suit. He gave Yuji and Cissnei a sorry look and left. Yuji and Cissnei remained seated, still stung by the rebuke. Yuji's face tightened in anger and Cissnei's thoughts were in a whirl.
"Amateurs, I'll show her!" she thought darkly.
Night had fallen and the team was near an abandon school. Yuji and Cissnei were outside talking with Marlene.
"Training?" she asked in disbelieve.
"Right now we're just excess baggage to you. Why don't you teach us what we need to know so we can fight too," Yuji pleaded.
"Do you two understand what it is your asking for?" said Joey.
"I know you think we're amateurs but we are ready to learn," answered Cissnei.
"I hate that I can't do anything and I don't want to get killed by one of those things!" stated Yuji.
"You have to let us fight. We're not babies and we can pull our own weight," said Cissnei.
"No way!" Marlene cut in sharply.
"But," began Yuji.
"My duty is to deliver you and the other sleepers to the space station and I intend to see you get there alive. I will not let the two of you jeopardize this mission," she stated firmly.
Yuji and Cissnei turned their backs on Marlene. While this was going on Joey took a quick look at Robert in his bandages and Chris who's arm was still crushed.
"Come on, it couldn't hurt to give them both a chance would it?" he said.
Yuji, Cissnei and Marlene turned to him.
"After all Robert's in bad shape and Chris is an infantry man. Without an arm pilot our fighter isn't going to do us a whole lot of good if we get into trouble," he stated.
Chris agreed with Joey.
"I'm with him on this one. I'm an infantry not an Armor shrike pilot. It would be better if the kids knew how to fight," he agreed.
"If I take the time to teach them how to drive the Mecha Suit and you and Chris teach them how to shoot, it could only help us," he concluded.
Marlene got up and looked at them.
"Say yes," pleaded Yuji.
Marlene stared at Yuji, Cissnei, Joey, Chris and back to Yuji. Marlene let out a sigh.
"Alright but you only have three days to get it done," She warned.
"Ha, ha, you won't be sorry," said satisfied Yuji.
Smiling, Joey walked over to Yuji and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Good," he said.
The next day began the training of Yuji and Cissnei. Yuji and Cissnei walked over to two empty oil drums and lifted their hands like a gun and aimed at them.
"Hey," called Marlene as she walked over with Chris.
Marlene wandered over to Yuji while Chris walked over to Cissnei. Both of them handed the students the pistols. Pistols in hand, they aimed at their targets.
"Now get ready," Marlene ordered him.
Yuji got into a firing stance and aimed his pistol.
"That's wrong, you're too far forward," she told him.
Yuji changed his position.
"No, don't aim with your finger," she told him.
Yuji tried again.
"Not like that!" she shouted
Angrily Yuji whirled around.
"Hey I'm trying aren't I!" he yelled back with frustration.
Marlene got behind Yuji grabbed him under his arms. Something rubbed against his back causing him to blush and nearly faint.
"Come on get into position," she ordered
Out of the corner of his eye he saw what had rubbed against his back. This caused sweet cover his face. Marlene was growing impatient and her voice snapped him back to reality.
"Feel that? Get yourself accustom to that," she ordered.
Gulping, Yuji regained his senses and took aim, getting into the position Marlene had ordered.
Stepping back, she noticed that he had the right posture.
"There, that's it. Do you think you can remember it?"
Yuji nodded and again took aim.
After their session with Marlene and Chris on how to handle a gun, it was time to learn how to drive an Armor Shrike.
While Joey moved the Shrike into position in front of a jungle gym, Cissnei was having trouble adjusting her suit.
"Don't worry the suit will compensate for you on the finer touches," informed Joey.
"Just concentrate on your aim and your timing. Practice makes perfect," he reminded her.
"Right," she replied.
"The most fundamental thing to remember is no matter what don't close your eyes. Do you understand?"
"Yeah sure," she replied as she griped the controls.
"That jungle gym is 30 meters away. Punch the controls and you'll get a feel for it."
"Ready? Let's go!"
The rear wheels came out of the Shrike's rear quarters and with a roar it headed for its target. Wind zoomed by Cissnei's face as the distance between them and the target shrunk. Just as they were about to make contact, Cissnei shut her eyes. Joey then veered the Shrike away. Cissnei was breathing hard from her ride sweat covered her face.
"Damn, that's fast," said she fighting for her breath.
"Let's do it again," said Joey.
"Right!" she said.
After 3 days of hard training, Yuji and Cissnei were ready for any danger they may face.
The truck zoomed down the road driving toward the port. Arriving at the port, Yuji and Cissnei were not surprised to see that it lay in ruins. The harbor was littered with half sunken ships with only a few still in one piece. While Robert and his team were looking for suitable ship, Yuji and Joey were training in the Armor Shrike at the crate loading area. Standing in front of a loading hook, Yuji got ready for another training exercise.
"Keep your eyes open as you punch through," muttered Yuji as he squinted his eyes at the target.
"Let's go!" said Joey
Shifting into gear, the Shrike took off like a shot. As the target came into view, Yuji was about to close his eyes when he stopped them. Swinging the Shrikes left arm, it made contact with the chain holding the hook. The steel chains holding them together shattered into a million pieces. With nothing to hold the hook, it fell to the ground and sank into the pavement.
"We hit it," gasped a surprised Yuji.
"I think you've got a knack for this," said Joey smiling.
"We hit!" yelled Yuji.
Suddenly the radio came to life.
"This is Marlene. We found a suitable boat. Assemble at Pier 10 and hurry, we don't want the Blue to find us," she ordered.
"We're on our way," informed Joey.
Switching the Shrike into gear, they headed toured Pier 10. Pier 10 was a mess. Most of the warehouses were in pieces while a few others were covered in Blue nests. The boat was an old cargo vessel. Its color was black with a red line running around it. Inside the ships center room Joey was busy looking over the ship's computer.
"Well it's quite the antique; luckily the computer hasn't died just yet. With a little maintenance, I should have it up and running soon," Joey informed Robert.
"So how long will it take?" asked Robert?
"I could have it up by tomorrow morning," Joey replied.
"You have until morning understood?" said Robert
"Yes sir!" saluted Joey before turning back to the computer.
Robert then turned to Marlene, Yuji and Cissnei.
"And Marlene the three of you can get back to your duties," informed them.
"Yes sir!" she replied Yuji and Cissnei followed her.
Lastly Robert turned to Chris.
"Chris you keep watch, understood?"
"Yes sir!" said Chris
Grabbing his gun, Chris walked out of the room leaving Joey and Robert alone.
Meanwhile Marlene, Cissnei and Yuji were near one of the demolished warehouses. Yuji and Cissnei hopped off the Shrike while Marlene gave them orders.
"I'll continue with century duty for the time being, Yuji and Cissnei, I want you together the materials we will need."
Yuji gaped as his eyes grew wide.
"What's wrong?" asked Marlene.
"Nothing," said Yuji as he rubbed his nose.
"It's just the first time you called me and Cissnei by our names," he replied.
"It would be inconvenient not to," said Marlene in her usual cold manner as the Shrike got up and left the two of them.
Yuji humphed, then he and Cissnei went into the workshop. It was now night time and Cissnei and Yuji had just gotten back from looking for supplies. Yuji and Cissnei walked down the hall each carrying a bag of their findings. Yuji tossed a can up in the air and caught it. Yuji continued to walk down the hall until he heard a song and stopped.
"Yuji what's…" began Cissnei until she heard the song too.
It was a song that had been very popular back in their time. The sound was coming from a room with a light on.
They looked at each other and headed down the hall towards it. Entering the room, they found Joey working on the computer, humming the melody. Cissnei and Yuji entered the room. Looking up, Joey saw them.
"Hey, you two need something?" he asked.
"It's just that song," replied Cissnei.
"How do you know it?" she asked.
"It was pretty popular with the guy in my class," he replied.
Turning back to the circuit board, Joey continued.
"I guess I've always liked it," he said
Joey went back to work, humming. Yuji put the bag down and sat on a bench.
"Your right, I've always liked that song too."
"Really?" asked Joey.
"Yeah, I remember when it first came out," replied Yuji.
"Oh yeah, I guess it's a pretty old one," said Joey.
"It was on all the time. I remember my mom, my dad and everyone in my town loved that song," Yuji reflected as he stared out at the moon. "It reminds me of a friend I once had. We'd promise no matter how many years passed, we'd meet again. So the last thing I want to do is break my promise by dieing. No matter what, I can't go getting killed now with my face full tears." Yuji said his full of determination.
"Ahhuh," said Joey.
"Hey I wouldn't mind hearing that song again, do you mind?" asked Yuji.
Joey began to hum the tune. Suddenly Yuji became alert.
"No, I think that part there is different,"
"Which part?" inquired Joey
"It's like this," said Yuji and he began to hum his version.
"Yuji's right," said Cissnei who joined in.
Picking up the beat, Joey joined in. The singing was beautiful. The song flew up to the night sky.
The next day the team got ready to move out.
"The repairs are complete sir," informed Joey.
"Prepare for departure. Marlene you take watch," ordered Robert.
Yuji raced up the gangway while Chris drove the trunk on the loading pad. Marlene kept her eyes peeled to make sure the Blue wouldn't take them by surprise. Suddenly her scanner beeped.
"Robert I have a contact!" she informed.
"How they sniff us out so damn fast?" said Robert from the ships command deck.
Joey looked at a scanner to figure out how many there were.
"I'm reading three, no four of them. There are four of them!" Joey yelled.
"Intercept! Marlene, I want you on tactical command. Move it! Chris, Cissnei, you stay here with me and guard the ship!" Robert ordered.
"Alright, this is it!" said Yuji as he headed for the truck.
Marlene began to give orders as her Shrike raced to face the enemy.
"Yuji, Joey it looks like three of the four are coming at us from the air. I want you to take the one that's on land that's off our right flank. Just try to keep it contained until I shoot down the others. Yuji I want you to use extreme caution." she ordered.
"Alright," he said in annoyed voice.
"It's not as easy to kill one of these Blue as you think. Don't go and do anything stupid," she warned.
"Right, we got it,"
Taking cover next to one of the crates, Marlene prepared for battle.
"Commencing attack," roared Marlene.
"Were off to," said Joey as the Shrike took off.
Kneeling down, Marlene aimed her Shrike's gun at the sky. She then slammed down her helmet visor and prepared to face the enemy. Soon, three man-eaters flew overhead. Gun fire split the air three times. There was a hiss as one of the man-eaters fell to the ground. The dead monster landed with a thud next to Marlene. She quickly got up and charged the two remaining ones. The other man-eaters charged Marlene, roaring. Meanwhile Yuji and Joey were looking for the other Blue. Yuji's face was covered in sweat as his eyes shifted from left to right, looking for the enemy.
I can do this. I know I can. I've had enough practice now, Yuji reassured himself. If I keep my cool I can beat this thing. Alright where's that son of a bitch hiding? It's got to be hiding around here somewhere. Where is it? Come on out come out!
"Yuji," called Joey. Yuji didn't respond.
Come out! Yuji thought not paying attention to Joey.
"Yuji!" yelled Joey.
Joey's voice snapped Yuji out of his thoughts.
"Don't get so wound up. Try to stay calm," Joey advised.
"I'm staying calm," Yuji snapped.
"Just don't force it" Joey warned.
"Yeah I know," Yuji said angrily.
Suddenly the monitor went wild beeping several times.
"Above us!" yelled Joey.
Looking up, Yuji saw the monster coming down on them. The monster was a Man-Eater Type 2. Its body was like a spider but with four legs and two long arms. At the end of these arms were hooks. Where its mouth should have been was instead its core. Landing with a thud where the Shrike was, it turned and came at Yuji and Joey was tremendous speed. Yuji was scared out of his wits. Suddenly the monster lashed out with its long claw. Closing his eyes. Yuji made the Shrike lean to one side and extend one of its hands and blocked the claw. Using the other one, he slammed the metallic hand into the Blue's face. The Shrike shook as the monster pushed the hand away from its face. Suddenly the top of its head opened up to reveal its mouth lined with sharp teeth.
"Oh no gasped!" gasped Yuji.
"Yuji!" warned Joey.
Extending its other claw the Man-Eater prepared for another strike. Joey tried to get out of it reach but it was too late. The Blue's arm shot out and cut the Shrike's right arm off. Off balance, the Shrike crashed to the ground. The force of the land knocked Joey out. Yuji was still conscience. The Blue walked over to it fallen prey and started to hit the Shrike's back in an attempted to get at Joey and Yuji.
"NO, NO, NO!" cried Yuji as the Shrike shook from the force of the Man-Eater's blows.
Yuji screamed in panic as the creature's attack redoubled. Suddenly he had flashback to Marlene's cold words. Are you sure that you're prepared to do that? This isn't a game we've got no room for amateurs here!
No I'm not going to die here! Yuji yelled inside his mind with cold determination.
"I will live!" Yuji yelled as he used the Shrike's dwindling power to grab the chain and hook. Yelling with the cry to live, Yuji looped the chain around the Blue's head and thrust the hook into the giant abomination's left eye. The monster screeched with pain as it tried to remove the hook from its eye. It blindly struck at the Shrike. Yuji screamed in panic as the hooked claw sank into the Shrike's only remaining arm and short-circuited.
Marlene was having better luck firing at a downed Man-Eater. She shot once into its head, then a second time. Finally, during her third attempt, she blew out its core. Blood splattered onto the ground when the core was destroyed. The other Man-Eater was already dead. Marlene quickly got up and rushed to assist Yuji and Joey. The Man-Eater tried to free its claw as the circuits inside shocked it. Finally it wrenched its claw free. The rip it had made in the Shrike's arm smoked. Yuji grabbed the control stick and tried to move the Shrike, but it was useless. The power was gone and the Shrike couldn't move. Looking up Yuji saw the man-eater looking down at him. It had freed itself from the chain and removed the hook. It seemed to look angrily as it gazed at him. Raising it's right claw it prepared to strike. Yuji shrived in fear as the monster readied to end his life.
As it brought its claw down, gunfire shattered the air. Two shots impacted into the creature's skull causing the claw to hit the Shrike's arm. The Blue hissed as it turned to face the new threat. It was Marlene. The Shrike came rocketing down the walkway shooting shot after shot at the Blue. It shot again and again. The first shot hit it's head. The next one completely destroyed the Blue's core. The monster collapsed face first, dead. Marlene lowered her gun and went over to her comrades. Yuji had blacked out.
Yuji opened his eyes as he heard voices.
"If we keep going at this pace, we should arrive at the Korean coast by sometime tomorrow," said Marlene.
"Let's hope so," replied Robert.
"Well good morning sleeping beauty," said Chris as he watched Yuji rise.
"What's this?" asked Yuji as he stared out the window, seeing the ocean.
"It's alright. We're meeting the Korean Recovery Squad," Robert informed him.
"Is Joey…?" began Yuji.
"Joey's down below with Cissnei making repairs to the damaged fighter," said Robert.
"Yuji, you can go join them," offered Chris.
"Okay thanks Chris," said Yuji as he got up, leaving the three of them in the control room. Before leaving, Yuji looked at Marlene steering the ship with Robert standing next to her. Robert watched him go, then returned to watching the sea. Marlene looked where Yuji had been for a second and then went back to her duties. Down below, Joey and Cissnei were working on the damaged Shrike.
"Cissnei could you pass me that wrench?" he asked.
"Sure," she said.
Looking down at the tool box, she couldn't find the wrench. Suddenly Joey felt something in his hand. Looking up, she saw Yuji smiling at him. Cissnei saw him and smiled too. Joey nodded his head in thanks and then went back to work. Yuji walked over and started to hum their song. Cissnei joined in. Soon, all three of them were humming. The three of them hummed together in harmony as they worked on the repairing the Armored Shrike.