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"He what?!"
Dominic winced slightly as Sarah yelled into his face out of anger. Sighing he repeated, "Hyun's leaving the Frontier… He's headed back to Earth… or somewhere. And he asked me to tell yo"
Dominic visibly saw that it took Sarah about one second to process the information in her head. When she did, she exclaimed, "THAT FREAKING PUSSY!" With rage, she threw the wrench she held in her hand at tree that was in front of her father's workshop. She threw the wrench so hard, the picketed ends embedded themselves in the bark of the tree. Dominic felt the blood drain from his face, an all-too-familiar feeling he had around Sarah.
"URGH!" She said, shaking her bangs out of her face. "I can't believe that idiot! Was he that afraid to come to me in person and say his good byes?!"
"Sarah, everyone is afraid to speak to you in person." Dominic said. "Mind the wrench in the tree…"
She sighed. "Am I really that unapproachable?"
"With that kind of attitude, yeah." Dominic said without hesitation.
Sighing again, Sarah brushed her hair with a gloved hand as her face grew saddened. "Even to my own boyfriend… Good job Sarah…" She said sarcastically.
She looked up at Dominic and asked. "What should I do?"
Why the hell is everyone asking me for relationship advice? I'm already having a hard time with that…
"Hey Dom…" Sarah said, voice growing more demanding. "What should I do?"
"What the heck should you do?" Dominic said, barked. "Hell if I know."
"Look, you know Hyun better than anyone in this entire Colony. Tell me, what should I do for his good bye?"
"If anything, you should say good bye to him at the shuttle site leaving this evening." A voice said, around the corner of the workshop.
Both Dominic and Sarah looked over and saw Adrian popping his head out from the Titan from beside the cracking brick walls.
"Adri!" Sarah said happily. She loved Adrian. At first, she treated him like how she treated most boys who trodden on forbidden ground A.K.A her workshop. But she noticed something different about Adrian. He wasn't interested in her, he was more interested in the mechs and machines that lined neatly inside the workspace. Adrian gazed at the design posters and concept work that were plastered on the walls with awe. Their meeting was simply one skilled mechanic to another. The dynamics worked well.
"Hello Sarah." Adrian said, leaning back into the seat of the Titan. "I see that Dominic has gotten you stumbled into the predicament."
"Hey. It was on Hyun's insistence." Dominic grumbled. "Besides, we're all on the same boat here anyway…"
"And why do you say that?" Sarah asked, arms folded.
"We're all losing Hyun." Dominic said solemnly.
That shut all three of them up quite fast. Sarah's arms dropped as she looked down. Adrian brought his hands together and leaned on the Titan's controls. Dominic simply sighed.
"But I agree with Adri." Dominic said.
Adrian lifted his face with pride. "Of course you agree with me…" his face then fell for a moment. "Wait, on what?"
"Saying good bye to Hyun at the shuttle site this evening. There is bound to be a bunch of people there. We should go too. For Hyun."
Sarah nodded silently.
Dominic clapped his hands together. "Okay, it's settled then. We meet by the Munitions Depot near the marketplace in about…" Dominic checked his wrist for his silver watch. "Three hours or so."
Adrian nodded. "On the way here, I checked some of the flight schedules for the Frontier Shuttle and it should leave about that time…"
"Good." Dominic said. "In the meantime, Adri, go put the Titan away and lock up the shed. And Sarah…"
Sarah glanced at Dominic, arms folded, lifting her head in reply.
"Go wash up. You've got oil and grime on your face." Dominic said.
Sarah's face reddened, her tough act slowly on the decline. She nodded quietly as she discreetly rubbed her face.
Adrian began to make his way out of the Mechanical Workshop area. He looked back at Dominic. "What are you going to be doing Dom?"
"Huh?" Dominic asked, his mind elsewhere.
"I mean, it's three hours worth of time Dom." Adrian said, slightly annoyed. "What are you going to do?"
"I-I…" Dominic began to say. But he caught himself. He actually hadn't thought of anything. "I just need some time alone… I think."
Adrian nodded. "Whatever works… Just make sure to check in with dad later."
Did dad want my help?! I didn't even know! Dominic nodded. "I-I will."
And with that, the three went their separate ways.
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Dominic kicked an aluminum can off the dusty path as he wandered aimlessly in the Colony. He still couldn't believe that he was going to lose a close friend. Hyun was like a brother to him. Being raised together in the same Colony and all. Regulations for the Frontier Colonies didn't like the intermingling of Colonies, thinking that it may cause conflict. With that rule in place, friends were limited in this world, or particularly, this colony. Sure, there were plenty of other children but most of them were quite younger than Dominic. The reason was…
Well, because of the Night Raid several months ago… We lost almost everyone… Breckon was the first to go… he tried to fight back but he was just an old man… Aston's older brother, Mikahil, Iv's sister… not to mention most of the Black Sparrow unit… they were massacred… The Nightsiblings, of Colony E-5, they were relentless with their attack, showing no mercy… I was lucky… WE were lucky…
Dominic, Adrian, and Hyun weren't in the Colony during the initial raid. They were out in the Highlands, adventuring. They came back to a wrecked and smoldering Colony. Those were hard times, for everyone.
This was a hard time too.
However, Dominic knew. Somewhere in his mind, he knew he could bounce back from this. The attack of the Colony never really faded from memory but it strengthened him. It made him promise himself that he would never let an attack like that harm anyone he cared about. It was cheesy enough to think about but having almost all of your friends mowed down… it was a way to honor them. To not let it happen ever again.
Losing Hyun. He was losing a friend. Someone he cared about. Not that he could really do anything about it.
But he would see him again one day. He knew it.
Looking up, Dominic saw that he was close to his father's workplace. It wasn't much. Just another concrete and mortar shack that was decorated with posters and miniature billboards. Nothing too flashy or worth stealing. As Dominic got closer, he heard voices. It was his father, and he was talking to a person in a stern voice. Probably another poor client that was hapless enough to get on the bad side of his father.
Dominic 's father was a self-made man that made a name for himself across the Frontier… or more for his past occupation.
Aiden Cole Pierce was a Pilot.
If he remembered his history correctly, Dominic recalled that many years ago, maybe two decades, there was a war that involved the use of mechanical, robotic extensions. The Titans. It was recorded to be the first time for the use of Titans in combat and warfare. And with Titans, there needed to be people who could maneuver them.
Enter the Pilots.
Pretty much a Jack-of-All-Trades mercenary, the Pilots were skilled specialized soldiers whose role revolved around the piloting of the massive Titans. During those days, a story of legendary Pilot was spread around like a ghost tale. A pilot who showed no fear in the face of the steel behemoths. A pilot who practically invented Titan-Rodeo-ing. And that man, was Dominic's father.
The war had ended long since then and Pilots became something of a legend. Titans who were modeled for war were either destroyed or repurposed for civilian work. Those who actually were Pilots faded into the fabric of history, their names forgotten but their legacy remained. Dominic's father was the few that were still alive but forgotten. After the war, Aiden Cole Pierce settled down in the Frontier, his title as "The Pilot" fading away. But he didn't care. He had enough of that life.
And how did Dominic know this? Dominic saw the medals his father received and an old rifle inside a display case in his room. He asked his father and his father initially denied any ties to the belongings, saying that "He just got them."
But after Dominic became of age, his father told him. That shed new light onto the man that Dominic saw as his father.
But enough of that, Dominic looked through the window of his father's workplace and, as expected, saw his father chewing out an apparent client. Not wanting to interrupt the conversation, Dominic quietly turned to go around the shop and through the back door.
"The IMC are making their way here Aiden." A voice, probably the client, said. "We are running out time."
Dominic ignored this.
"I've made note of that." Dominic heard his father say in his heavy-set voice. "Adrian knows where it is."
Dominic then stopped. As soon as he heard Adrian's name, he stopped in his tracks. He had to listen now.
"Aiden, Adri is just but a kid. A genius, a prodigy, yes, but that still doesn't change the fact that he's-"
"Enough." Dominic's father snapped. "I trust Adrian with my life. So does everyone in M-COR. If you don't agree, that's just too bad on your part."
Dominic heard the other person sigh. This was no client and manager conversation. Dominic realized he had stumbled into something that was beyond him. But he wanted to know what it was all about.
"I still think it's far too risky…" The other person said. "People might die Aiden."
"Do you think I don't know that?!" His father exclaimed. "People WILL die. It is a proven fact if you live out in the Frontier. It's all a sacrifice we are willing to make."
"Even if it means patriotic martyrdom?" The other person said in a low voice. "To die?"
"If it means a better future for them," Dominic heard his father say, "I'll gladly give up my life."
"It was meant to be rhetoric…" The other man said.
"I've put my life on the line more times than I can count." Aiden Pierce said. "I will do it again if need be."
"We need to keep it safe."
"I already told you. Adrian knows where it is. He'll know when." Dominic's father said. "Until then, it's up to us to prevent anything from happening."
Dominic's mind raced. What the heck are they talking about? What's with all this? And how is it related with Adrian?
"I think our discussion here is over." The man said. "I'll be on my way."
"You should be." Aiden said. "We've talked long enough."
Dominic heard a door open and he quickly hid behind a metal mechanical unit that was in front of the office window. Hearing the footsteps approach, Dominic ducked behind the metal plating, out sight. He slightly peered off the side to see who the man was. He had light blonde hair and fair white skin. He was tall and wore a brown trench coat. The man then speed-walked out of the building area and away from the shop as fast as he could without looking suspicious.
Swiftly, Dominic went into his father's shop. He heard his father sigh aloud as he sat down in front of his desk. In order to prevent from his father from finding out that he had eavesdropped, he knew he would have to keep up and act. He knocked the door to his father's office softly.
"Come in." His father said.
Slowly making his way in, he saw that his father had a look rather filled with distraught.
"Another tough day with a client I presume?" Dominic asked, playing a bluff.
"Oh you would not believe Dom…" His father said.
Strike one: He lied… How many times has he done this before?
"Adrian told me that you wanted to see me?" Dominic asked.
His father looked up at him with a strange look. "Did he? I don't remember requesting your help…"
"Huh?" Dominic said, surprised. "You didn't?"
His father shook his head. "I think you may have been misinformed."
"But that-uh, then what am I supposed to…"
His father leaned back into his chair, trying to get comfortable in the fine, leather swivel chair. He shrugged. "I'm sure you have your own things to attend to…"
"I-I…" Dominic tried to say, rubbing the back of his head. "I guess…"
Dominic turned to leave.
"Dom. Hold on a second."
He turned around to face his father who had his hands folded.
"What's up?" Dominic asked.
"I need to tell you something before you go." He said.
This piqued Dominic's interest. Could it possibly be related to what dad and the other man were talking about earlier? "S-sure…?"
"Listen carefully. What I'm about to say is-"
A sudden ring jolted throughout the room. Dominic was initially surprised at the ringing but he heard this sound many times before.
It was his father's Communications Link.
His father paused and looked over at the silver and black-lined rectangular box that flashed green. Flipping a black switch, his father spoke aloud, "Pierce and Co. You're talking to Pierce."
The speakers that were lined next to the machine crackled to life. After an incessant buzzing, the words "Wish to speak with you." were barely audible.
"Hold on please." Dominic's father said.
He then briefly turned the mute switch on for the machine and turned to face Dominic. "I'll tell you later Dom. I don't think right now is a good time."
Dominic sighed and reluctantly nodded his head. He turned to the doorway and turned the knob. Pushing the door he exited his father's office. Closing the door behind him, Dominic sighed. He didn't know what the heck was going on and he was nowhere closer to finding out about it.
Then, he felt a vibration on his wrist. It was his portable Communications Link on his wrist which he had received (smuggled) several months back. Looking at the monitor, Dominic saw Sarah's face. Judging by her face, she looked sort of… pissed off. Looking down back at her, Dominic said, "What is it?"
"It's almost time and both you and Adrian are nowhere to be found. Do you guys even think?"
Well sheesh. Not my fault. "My bad Sarah. I'll head over there soon."
"You better."
"Oh, and Sarah?"
"What?!" She said, irritated.
"You still got some dirt on your face… Wash your forehead for once."
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