Thomas limped his way through the remains of a corridor. The battle continued to rage around him but his target was the solar generator. Based on the TACMAP, there were only six personnel facing off with the unknown Nova. Six lives that would determine the whether Alaska lived or not. Whether humanity would be forced to retreat once more...

*smash!

The already weakened wall crumbled open and out stepped a humanoid clone. Calmly, Thomas took aim and downed it with his plasma pistol, squeezing the trigger once. He had to conserve his already dwindling ammunition -twenty seven bolts remained in the covenant-based pistol. He had his personal pistol on him as well, but it would do him no good since kinetic type bullets didn't do any damage to the Nova. If anything, it would be to draw its attention.

As he rounded the corner, he saw the path collapsed; the site of one of the Nova battles. He was about to leave when his sensors detected someone trapped.

"..ugh.. Alright then..." he said to himself. Already weakened from his consecutive injuries, he stumbled his way to the site and began heaving the debris away, relying on his armor's mini-hydraulics to compensate for his taxed body.

"...Just hold on... I'll...hah...get you out...of there..." he said as he strained to lift a particularly large piece of debris. As soon as it was cleared, the person's face was revealed.

"Ah... Shit." Thomas had come across the unconscious body of Katelyn. "You have...got... to be kidding...me" he said in between breaths.

"nghh..." the pandora stirred, evidently beginning to regain her senses.

"Crap." Thomas doubled his efforts. His past experience with the woman was not pleasant, and he certainly didn't want to be wasting his precious resources fighting a half-crazed girl hell bent on killing him when there were more important matters at hand. If he played his card right, she would regain conciousness after he had dug her out and was gone.

"...ughh where?..." The girl was almost awake.

'Come on... Just a little bit longer...' Thomas had a few more large rock to clear before he could speed away. Before she fully comprehended the situation

But god-whoever it was in this world, didn't favor him. Then again, he didn't trust gods. Not after that inccident...

"Who?..YOU!" Katelyn, now aware of her surroundings, recognized Thomas peeling the a piece of debris. "Get your hands off me son of a bitch!"

Thomas, obeying, left the pandora with a few pieces of rock still piled on her. Katelyn, struggled to push them off

"You sure you don't need help?" asked Thomas, against his better judgement.

Katelyn refused before he finished the sentence.

"I'd go to hell before asking help from you" she said as she tried to stand before... "Ouch!" she yelped in pain. Falling back into the ground, she clutched her leg, although not very obvious, Thomas had enough experience to tell she had broken it. Perhaps the shock had kept her from noticing.

Giving reason a backseat, Thomas approached her and offered his hand. Although she seemed well enough, he wasn't going to abandon a human being. Not when there was a battle raging around them.

"Get away from me." protested Katelyn as he did so

"look, I don't like this anymore than you do." he retorted. "but right now the base is in ruins and at the moment, neither of us have the strength to fight alone. We can sort out our differences after this is all over." he added, knowing full well that fighting her was not the best option for either of them.

Katelyn relented and allowed Thomas to bandage her injury. The latter,utilizing the Mark X again, fashioned a splint using a piece of broken rebar; and after sealing the pandora's leg with biofoam, splinted her and bandaged it with the remains of his medkit. Slightly proud of his work, it was a shame that no item in his medkit could be of any use to his own injuries- save for a vial of adrenaline drugs. Choosing not to use it for the time being, Thomas stood up and offered his hand once more to Katelyn.

"D-dont think that when this is over, things will be different" she retorted, swatting away his hand before struggling to stand.

"Didn't count on it." replied Thomas with a smirk. "We should get you to a medical wing."

"No." replied the pandora, now using the shattered debris for balance. "we have to get to the generator."

Thomas retorted. "You're in no condition to be moving, let alone fight. Going there is suicide." he added.

"To hell with that, If the pandoras there lose, then a lot of people will die." she replied. " Besides, you don't look so well either."

"Touche." replied the soldier. "although... I see that you want to protect your comrades - even at the expense of working with me huh?" he smirked teasingly. Was it just him or was their converstion becoming a bit lighthearted?

Shaking his head to clear it, he decided that it was probably the dark times that lead them to this sort of converation. Yes, it was just the current situation...

"Shut up! This is just a one time thing you hear me?!" she said to him as she tested her leg. It pained her to admit but it was a good thing that the leg was broken at the 'tibia'; he was able to splint it in a way that she could still walk...

She tumbled and wobbled shakily, cursing in varying volumes with every step.

... Sort of. He'd pay later, but there were more important matters at hand.


The pair slowly made their way to generator. Thomas would offer help, but time and time again did the pandora refuse despite the curses and occasional whimpering growing noticably louder.

"Ow..." another whimper, soft at first, then growing louder than those before. Thomas, his humanity beckoning to him, faced a Katelyn he though would be white with pain

Yet as he turned, the woman shook her head - she didnt cry out.

"...n...noo..." another cry, and the pair scanned the area, trying to locate the source.

Katelyn found it. Trapped under another pile pf debris was a pandora. Thomas recognozed her as a member of Chakra : India Gentics.

"Hold on. I'll..." Began Katelyn before glancing at Thomas. "...we'll, get you out"

"N-no... Get away... T-tra..." the dark-skinned woman failed to complete her sentence as piles of rubble around them exploded outward, revealing tens of humanoid clones.

"SHIT!" cried out Katelyn as one appeared in front of her, revealing the Chakra pandora to be separated from the waist up. Katelyn, imbalanced from her injuries, fell on her behind, disoriented but summoned her volt weapon in time to block her certain death.

*pew!

A moment later, the clone dropped, smoke coming from it's head. Thomas appeared beside her, pulling her up to her feet.

"It looks like we're in a pickle huh?" he snicked, dropping a pair of clones with well timed shots.

"No shit! Trap my ass!" Katelyn retorted decapitating a clone with her weapon. As her injury prevented her from using 'accel' or 'tempest', the pandora set her back against a solid wall, letting the enemy come to her before counter attacking.


"Dammit..." Thomas grunted. He was running out of ammunition.

*pewpewpewpewpewpew!

The charge count read thirteen bolts left. Thomas lobbed a grenade at a group, searing their stigmata flesh and blowing away a couple more. Yet, more still were up and kicking, leaving the two fighters heavily outnumbered

*pewpewpew...click!click!

He was out of ammo "SHIT!" Thomas ducked as a humanoid sliced the air above him.

Grabbing his last grenade, he stuck the creature and kicked it at a group, incinerating them all. Backing up, he found himself beside Katelyn, now bleeding from several cuts. Apparently some hits had registered as a wound deeper than the rest was spilling blood from her arm.

"...Heh... Looks like the end of the line for us huh?" He wheezed.

"... It looks like... it..." replied Katelyn weakly. " Since I don't think were gonna get out of this alive, I just want to say..."

Thomas took a moment to face her, "Dammit, please don't say that cliche line. Just, don't."

"Whaaaa?" She replied, before realizing her own words. "S-SHUT UP! WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS I HATE YOUR GUTS ASSHOLE!" she shouted, though she was already brought to the limit from her own wounds. She swung her blade at another enemy, yet the blow didn't register well enough. She lost too much strength, and her consciousness was fading. The humanoid capitalized and aimed for her heart...


Thomas was busy holding off a pair of clones as he glanced at how the other was faring. Seeing the clone about to strike...

'OH SHIT!' he thought, kicking one of his assailants and slicing the other, he lunged for the pandora's assailant

'Crap! I won't make it!' yet he still had to try only the wall behind Katelyn crumbled, knocking her swaying body aside just in time to avoid a fatal strike. Another pandora stepped in. Thomas recognized her as Roxanne- the American Genetics pandora. along with her was a platoon of fully equipped pandoras as well.

"We'll here to help. Anyone else alive?" she asked as she crushed the head of a clone.

"No-one left... I think..." Thomas himself could barely fight, but the reinforcements was a good sign. "I'll leave this to you! I have to get to the generator!" he said at the group.

"Don't be joking! You're half-dead! replied Roxanne "Besides what about her?"

"She ain't mine. I'll leave her to you! she needs help." he butted before grabbing the vial of adrenaline and injecting it into his bloodstream. Immediately he felt a sense of relief as the drug worked it's way through his veins.

He sped off to the generator- knowing full well he had lost too much time, the drug keeping him on his toes. For how long, he did not know. He just hoped it would hold till the clash ended...

He saw the exit several meters ahead. Rushing out of it, he came across an unbelievable sight...


Chiffon breathed in and out. Although her physical body was by no means exhausted, her mental strength was drained. For the past 30 minutes, she had traded blows with the novalized Amelia.

"I hate you all! You stole everything from me!" screamed the latter into the former's mind. All the while swatting the rank 1 from the sky.

"It seems, I too have to pay a price..." muttered Chiffon. Suddenly the doors behind her flew open and out jumped a lone figure -whom she recognized as Thomas, clad in full armor.

"President! Why are you?" he asked, his voice slightly registering a tinge of disbelief

" Late to the party perhaps Mr Shubaltz?" she said before facing her opponent once more.

"I know you've endured so much but can't you find it in your heart to forgive humanity once more?" she asked the broken e-pandora.
Chiffon knew that she was reaching her limit. This had to end soon...

"I cant." replied Amelia. The pair had been speaking to each other telepathically but the pandora gathered around them felt the sadness as well. "Even if I stop, nothing is left for me... so I'LL MAKE EVERYTHING DISAPPEAR!" she cried out as she rose to the sky.


Thomas stared stupefied as the Nova changed shape again.

"W-what's happening?!" asked a similarly scared Rana. As if to answer her question, the speakers blared to life.

"All units head to shelter immediately! The Nova is about to self destruct! I repeat! Head to shelter immediately!"

"President! We're retreating! Come with us!" shouted a worried Satelizer, picking up the unconscious Jiina laying down beside her. Chiffon merely faced her and replied

"You're true friends...I'm glad to have you all... So now it's time for me to protect every one of you..." She faced her limiter. " Eugene, make sure they're all safe. You included." to which her partner nodded to.

"No president... I can't let you do this!" shouted Thomas. The nova began to start glowing. They didn't have much time left... Thomas prepared himself to use devour, but his legs suddenly felt heavy. He crashed to the ground.

'You've got to be kidding me!?' and he silently cursed his powerlessness.


Amelia cursed everything around her. She had lost everything to the unfair world. When she thought she was given a second chance, the world decided she couldn't have happiness. Therefore she was going to make it end. She was going to end this unfair world...

"Amelia!" a woman's voice rang out audibly against the alarms ringing all around. Amelia's consciousness cleared slightly and she turned towards the familiar sound; upon seeing so, recognized

"E-eli...za...beth..." she thought,

"Amelia! You're stronger than this! It doesn't have to end this way!" cried Elizabeth.

"...nghh... End it..."

"Fight it Amelia!" urged the latter, awakening Amelia's hazy mind even more

The former finally returned to her senses and, realizing what she was doing.

"Elizabeth... I remember..."

"It seems that you've recovered your wits." said Chiffon. "Now would you be kind enough to stop your self-detonation miss Evans?" to which Elizabeth echoed out as well. Albeit in a more personal tone.

Amelia, understanding what was happening attempted to but...

" I-I cant!" She cried out. " I cant stop it Elizabeth!" almost panicking, Amelia struggled, inciting her nova body to glow even brighter.

"Calm down Amelia! You can do it!" encouraged the rank two, but the e-pandora already knew... She realized what she had to do.

"It's no use Elizabeth..." said Amelia as she steeled herself. " there's no more time..."

"Don't say that Amelia!" cried out the pandora to her friend. " You can make it if you start now!"

"Yes... I can still make it out of here..." said Amelia. " If I explode up there, it should be far enough to prevent any damage to the generator..." projecting her consciousness into Elizabeth's head, "Elizabeth, you are the one person I respect from the bottom of my heart." she said as her orb like body began to rise higher than ever. She left, and the pandora slumped down in tears.

To Thomas, now propped up thanks to the help of Kazuya, she projected herself, the image getting fuzzier as she began to grow in distance physically. "Thomas, thanks for saving Jiina. I wont be there anymore when she wakes so... please tell her I'm sorry..." to which a Thomas, who only she could see was shaking, possibly crying, merely nodded.

She didn't have much time left... Amelia then projected herself into Chiffon. "I'm sorry we all fought you. I now see it was futile, but, I care for my sisters as much as you care for yours. So, please forgive them. Please take care of them for me." Chiffon, taking into heart the woman's last words, agreed and the Novalized e-pandora, rising higher and higher, became a speck of light high in the sky.

Amelia, believing her comrades were in good hands, closed her "eyes" and let herself go...


Jiina awoke just in time to see the white flash. She realized what it was and let out a tear as she whispered,

"Goodbye Amelia. May you find peace..." as if to answer her, white specks began to fall from the sky. It littered the ground and rained upon everything around the battlefield.


/Control room/

A lone pandora remained inside to assist Dr. Aoi. He had ordered those inside to evacuate when the detonation was imminent. As she continued to scan the information provided by the computers, her eyes noticed an anomaly.

"Dr. Aoi! Look at this!" she said in surprise. The doctor gestured to her and she brought up the image on the main screen. Among the battered bodies that littered the battlefield, those still alive had their wounds slowly begin to heal. The screen forwarded itself to the original site, where the main fighters too were losing their injuries.

The doctor relaxed onto his seat, but suddenly the radar began to sound.

"Report!" he told the pandora

The woman, scanning the radar, said in reply "Unidentified aircraft approaching from the east!" "The radar's picking up strange signatures!" She grabbed the microphone and shouted


"All personnel, battle stations! Unidentified target incoming from the east! Contact in 60 seconds!"

"Ah shit... What now?" wondered Thomas. His injuries were healing but were too slow to be of any significance at the moment. As he struggled to get to his feet, a ping crackled on his speaker...

Thomas, noting the signal, increased the radio's output

"... Foxtrot...bzzzz... Do you copy?... This is Delta 2-4 actual. We got your signal over."

Thomas smirked "F triple zero one here. I read you loud and clear Delta 2-4. You're douches are a couple hours late you know?" he added as a pelican began coming into view.

Thomas opened his comm to the contol room. "Control room, they're with me. Tell everyone to stand down."

" What's happening?" asked Kazuya.

"My crew... It seems they found me..." replied Thomas.


A/N: well...here's chapter 15. for one its the longest chapter I've done so far- honestly this was originally worth 2 chapters but I felt I couldn't delay it any longer.

for one, it looks like the rest of Thomas' team is making their grand entrance... so to start off... a poll perhaps?

Q: what would you prefer to see in action? Scarab or Mammoth? to those who want to respond, either post it in a review or PM me (the latter seems more secretive) deadline for entries is the 30th of September EST. Have fun

secondly:

this will be my first and probably last update for September (hopefully won't be). Poll aside, life's been tough and all but it's the CET's for me so I'm off to secure my future. wish me luck perhaps?

regardless, to my readers, hope you enjoyed (just to reiterate, no the fic's not over just yet) feel free to review and post criticisms and suggestions.

edboy4926: As much as I'd have wanted to, I couldn't save her... may she rest in peace

dudewithanm4a1: your question was a chapter too early- the cavalry's just arrived

kyondakogon: well, albeit the really short explanation as to why he hasn't used it, the next chapter should help explain things further

to all of you: thanks for the support, wish you enjoyed and I hope to see you guys again soon! CIAO.