(fsigh)
I will be the first to admit this is definitely not the best chapter of this series. Sure in my humble opinion, it starts off alright, but the more you read...I guess it's mostly because I have all these ideas for the grand finale and the later seasons, but the first season...well...I want to get it done ASAP.
I guess I only finished this chapter because there's a key element in it for a scene I've envisioned for the finale that can only be obtained here, that, and I was halfway through it when the ideas began to run dry.
Oh well. I hope you enjoy it anyway. I'm going to keep the poll open until I finish the next chapter, and after that, I'll make my defcision.
In the meantime, if you want some other mecha related fiction written by yours truly, you may want to read my adaption of the first episode of Mobile Suit Gundam MS Igloo into a Cosmic Era Format: Gundam Seed: The Path to Bloody Valentine. I think it's a lot better quality then this, and if you could review it I'd appreciate
that too (Not that I'm advertising or anything (shifty eyes))
Anyway, for what it's worth, I hope you enjoy this latest chapter (Guest starring Alfonso Vadeck from my currently in the process of rewriting Skies of Arcadia story, Legends of Arcadian Skies). and with any luck, the next chapter will be a whole lot better.
006
THE PRISON OF SHANGRI-LA
His quarters aboard the Sovereignty were dark, the only light coming from the last rays of light through the array or portholes adorning one side, and the lamp that illuminated his desk.
Artirius Meridiano sat quietly in his high backed leather chair, his scarf folded neatly on the solid oak furnishing before him, his cap placed under the lamplight to be picked up if the Bridge needed him in a hurry.
But he sincerely doubted such a situation would occur.
He twisted the object between his fingers lazily, eyes masked by the darkness surrounding the pool of illumination studying the harsh carved lines and crude leather strap. He finally flicked the object into the air, catching it by the strap with the ornament bare inches away from his desk's surface, allowing the simple jewellery to be lowered to the wooden surface carefully, as though it were made of glass.
"So tell me, my plain little friend," The Major smiled as he leaned forward into the lamp light, his head leaning on one outstretched fist as he gazed down at Katara's necklace fondly, "How did you end up so far away from home?"
TIME: FORTY-EIGHT HOURS EARLIER
LOCATION: NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA, NORTHERN BRAZIL
"About time you got back," Katara sighed happily as her brother pushed through the leafy foliage of the Amazon, a full little bag clutched proudly between his fingers, "What's for dinner?"
"Well, we've got a few options," Sokka smiled goofily as his friends gathered round, "First, round nuts and some kind of oval shaped nuts, and some rock shaped nuts that might just be rocks. Dig in!"
"He's kidding right?" Alistair stuck his head out of the Avat's open launch hatch, "You couldn't find anything else?"
"Well excuse me Mr. I-don't-have-a-internal-thermometer," the elder sibling scowled darkly as he peeled his sweat ridden Hawaiian shirt from his body, "Seriously, I'm this close to just stripping down completely…"
"Please don't," Katara shuddered.
"Katara's down to her vest and hot pants…"
"HEY!!"
"And there you stand, in the middle of the rain forest in full uniform without even breaking a sweat! What's wrong with you!?"
Alistair shrugged helplessly, "Well, there was a reason why Cryostasis Chambers were only designed to keep you frozen for a few years or so. Anyone on ice for longer then that usually suffered some kind of problem, like blindness or loss of limb movement," he smiled wryly, "I guess I got off easy with the loss of my internal thermometer. I actually feel fine. The only time I ever seem to sweat is when I'm nervous or in a tough situation, so it's really…"
The pilot was swiftly cut off as a low rumble echoed through the tress, a flock of birds taking flight as the ground shook slightly under their feet.
Katara looked around uneasily, "Did anyone else feel that?"
"Nope," Sokka's voice became unnaturally high, "Didn't feel a thing. Didn't hear anything either. In fact, I think I suddenly feel my body going numb so I know I definitely…"
Another larger earthquake rocked through the rainforest as the three travellers were knocked from their feet, the dull rumbling becoming a clear shriek of laser fire somewhere in the distance.
"Forge," Alistair groaned slightly as he helped Katara back to her feet, "Where's the racket coming from? Are we under attack?"
"I don't think so," The monitor flew up to above Avat's cockpit as she scanned the area, "I'm detecting a large heat source due north. Size is twelve metres tall…signature is similar to that of Miss Katara's Lumber only…"
"A Ranger?" Katara looked up with surprise at the monitor, before running in the direction Forge had indicated, "A Soviet Ranger?"
"Katara wait!" Sokka held out a hand in protest as his sister took off, only for it to fall limply to his side as Alistair followed her quickly through the undergrowth, "Why do we always run towards Rangers?" He sighed as he trudged off after them, Forge zooming on ahead, "Why couldn't I have found normal friends? My sister just had to get chummy with a pilot didn't she? She couldn't of been satisfied with that guy from Sutherland could she? Oh no…"
The Dovator.
A twelve metre tall chicken walker, and the first to wield the Union's then-experimental solar laser technology ten years ago, the Ranger lumbered through the Amazon on powerful backward legs that allowed it to move at great speeds along flat ground as well as giving it the ability to jump far higher then conventional bipedal Rangers.
A flat cuboid sat on it's rotating platform atop the legs to serve as the giant's cockpit, the pilot surveying his work through a large curved tinted window as two large cylinders on either side sliced through several trees via the five solar powered laser on each pipe's forward end.
"A Dovator," Katara's voice was hushed in awe as she watched the bone white mech proceed to carve the recently felled tree into more manageable pieces, "The backbone of the New Soviet Union. I've never seen one up close,"
"I don't recognise the energy weapon," Aang frowned at the crimson light as it continued it's work, "It's similar to Avatar's energy technology but…"
"It's a lot less advanced," Katara found his warm hand uncomfortable against her bare shoulder, "Solar lasers use mirrors and a focusing crystal to transform sunlight into a viable weapon. It's definitely a Union mech. G.U.N. only ever uses machine guns and heavy artillery," She stood up suddenly, "Let's go meet him!"
"Katara wait!"
"Hey!" Alistair's hand grabbed air as his friend slipped from underneath it, the young girl waving her arms around madly to get the mech's attention, "Down here! Hey you hear me!?"
The Dovator's cockpit spun around at the sound of her voice, the suns glinting across it's tinted windshield through the leafy foliage.
"Hiya pilot!" Katara grinned as she waved cheerfully, "How you doing?"
The Ranger stood stock still, before backing up, almost tripping over the neat pile of logs stacked behind him.
Without so much as a hello, the giant robot's cockpit rotated back into it's original position as it began to run in the opposite direction, the cylinders lifting themselves up and over their holdings as the laser emitters lengthen to form five fingers and a thumb, the machine's new arms and hands gathering as much of the freshly cut wood it could before taking off through the shadowed forest beyond their clearing.
"Hi there," Alistair couldn't help but smirk at the vanishing mech's back as he came up beside Katara, "I'm Alistair and this is Katara. Nice to meet you, what's your name?"
"Oh give it a rest," Katara punched him lightly in the shoulder as she cast a depressed gaze through the trees, "I just wanted to say hi,"
"Well, he's gotta be running somewhere," the officer sighed as he scratched his hair under his hat, "I mean I'm no expert on Solar powered Rangers, but with all the shadows around here, I doubt he's strayed very far from a place with a lot of sunlight…"
"Like maybe…" Katara tapped her chin as a small smirk made it's way onto her pert features, "A village?"
Aang mirrored her smirk, "A place with food that Sokka didn't just pick off the nearest tree?"
"I heard that!" the two young adults turned as Sokka pulled himself out of the undergrowth, "Do you know how long it took me to find those nuts?"
"About five minutes?"
The elder brother opened his mouth to retort, only for him to close it again as his shoulders slumped.
"Yeah fine you got me,"
"The sign says…Welcome to the town of Afuá," Alistair squinted at the foreign language that adorned the dirty sign as the trio pushed through the last of the foliage surrounding the small town, deciding it would be safer to leave Char and Avat within the confines of the Amazon, "According to Forge this was the largest cluster of humans along the Dovatorf's path,"
"Must be the place," Sokka smirked at the small collection of stone buildings clustered near the opening of the Amazon River, "But call me a pessimist when I say none of these guys and girls look like they'd know the first thing about Ranger mechanics,"
"Well, Ranger's were definitely here sometime," Katara frowned as her eyes scanned the dwellings, "There's Soviet Ranger Berths over there, so the question is, where did they all go?"
"G.U.N. took them,"
The trio jumped as a new voice entered the conversation, Alistair's hand automatically going for his pistol as they turned round to see the newcomer.
Tall and dark-skinned, he gave them a grim pearly white smile that didn't quite reach his bright green eyes beneath his shoulder length brown hair.
"We didn't have many mach's to begin with," the youth sighed as he folded his arms across the white t-shirt that adorned his chest, "Just a dozen exo-suits and five Dovatorf Class Rangers from the New Soviet Union. But now…" he kicked the dust around his sandaled feet, shoving his hands in turn into his sky blue baggy shorts' pockets, "I'm lucky to have one,"
"It's you," Katara's eyes widened in realisation as the young man looked up in horror at his own words, "You were that Ranger pilot back in the Amazon? Why did you run away?"
"I…" he bit his lip, "I don't…" his eyes suddenly locked on to something over her shoulder, "Oh no…"
Sending the local scattering into their houses, two Endurances and a Dovator lumbered between the houses from up the river, the former, Katara noticed, having been crudely and quickly painted a sickly green, small trickles of black and red dribbling across the insignia of the German Unified Nation plastered on it's solar lasers.
"That's not good," Sokka swallowed thickly as he knocked Alistair's hat off in an attempt to disguise him as Katara blocked the sight of the emblem on his chest, the stranger beside them looking on with bemusement.
A dead silence passed over the small town as three cockpits hissed open, three pilots clad in dark green uniforms jumping to the ground, rifles in hand.
"What's G.U.N. doing here?" Alistair's eyes narrowed, "If they've stripped the town of it's mechs then…"
"Taxes," the villager sighed warily as the three officers disappeared into various stores along the dusty street, "Don't really know why a society without currency of it's own needs to take ours, but I guess it's to make sure we remember who's in charge around here. Come on, we better warn my mother before they get too far up the street,"
"Where have you been Haru?" the three comrades shared amused looks as a their new friend flinched slightly under a middle aged woman's hard gaze as they entered the shop, "You were supposed to home an hour ago!"
"Sorry mom," Haru winced as Sokka did his best not to laugh, clutching his sides in silent mirth, "But G.U.N.'s on the doorstep. They're demanding taxes,"
"But I just paid them yesterday!" the old women cast a desperate glance towards the dusty cash register, "What could they possibly want with us?"
"What indeed?" all eyes turned to the doorway as the Dovator pilot sauntered in, the African man leaning against the wooden desk as he showed his array of dazzling white teeth in a slightly sinister smile, "I'm afraid Shangri-La is in the middle of…financial troubles. The taxes just doubled, and payment is imminent,"
"Shangri-La?"
The pilot frowned in Alistair's direction as the Lieutenant spoke up.
"You new around here?"
"Something like that,"
"Well, then allow me to…explain a few things to you. Shangri-La is a magicalplace where all Ranger Mechanics and pilots go and never want to leave! But running such a place is costly, especially for a empire that has no basic concept of currency, that's why we ask the locals for small…" he held out a hand towards Haru's mother, "donations to insure all the pilots and mechanics that go there are kept happy and content…and alive," the elder's shoulders sagged as she pulled out the pitiful contents from the register's draw and dumped it into the pilot's open hand, "What can I say? It's a drawback being a proud member of a penniless union in the fine world of the democracy. What about you boyo?" he stood up slowly, pushing Katara out of his way to come face to face with Aang, "You're not a Ranger Mechanic are you?"
Alistair stared the taller man down quietly, his fingers fiddling ideally with the brim of his hat behind his back.
"Not really,"
"Oh? Well that's good," the Nationalist patted the Lieutenant's cheek a bit harder then was necessary, "Doubt a stick like you'd be…ready for a place like that any way. The Commander is concerned you're not contributing enough to his cause lady," The pilot smiled lazily in Haru's mother's direction, "I hope you up your prices soon, Because at this rate, your husband's gonna find his way out of Shangri-La…in a body bag!"
"What a charming fellow," Sokka frowned as the African cackled madly on his way out of the door, "So how long has it been since G.U.N. moved in?"
"Around five years," Haru's mother side as she slumped onto the stool behind her, cradling her head in her hands, "This place has no strategic value though, no resources that can't be found anywhere. The only reason they harass us so much is because their base of operations is just down river where the Amazon connects to the sea,"
"You mean Shangri-La?" Alistair's eyes narrowed as he watched Union Rangers move off back the way they had come, "What exactly is it? Sure isn't a vacation hotspot, that's for sure,"
"It's not," Haru's fists clenched hard at his sides, "Shangri-La is a prison rig just of the coast. The Commander named it, something of an ironic joke apparently. Five years ago they stormed into town and demanded our surrender. They took our Rangers, and their mechanics and pilots…including my father,"
"Be quiet Haru," his mother scolded him with a slap to the back of the head, "Unless you want to end up like your father!"
"You're a Ranger pilot too?" Katara's eyebrows rose with interest as the older young man rubbed the back of his head reverently, "Then that must have been you we saw cutting up logs with the Dovator,"
"You were what?" the old woman glared daggers at her son as Haru flushed scarlet at being caught, "No wonder there's such a fine slice to these blades. How many times have I told you, you idiot!" he yelped as his mother thwacked him round the head, the three guests staring awkwardly on, "You keep piloting that overgrown box on legs and they'll kill you long before you even lay your eyes on Shangri-La!!"
"Well, she's not very happy about it, but my mom says you can stay the night here if you like, As long as you don't mind sleeping with my Ranger," Haru grinned sheepishly as he sat down beside Katara on the river bank, "You may want to move on in the morning through. Afuá isn't the best of places for Ranger pilots to be,"
"Thanks, We appreciate it," she smiled sweetly at him as she gathered up several pebbles from the earthy ground and flicking them into the flowing water beyond, "So…that Dovator," she regarded him quietly out of the corner of her eyes as he stiffened slightly, "It's yours?"
"My dad's really," Haru sighed, "He and a whole bunch of others from around here managed to procure a few from a passing Union vessel on it's way back to Russia. The ship was running low on fuel, so the Captain gave several of the units away to lighten the load. They weren't in very good shape at the time mind you. They were limping home after a accidental run in with G.U.N.. apparently the Nationalists mistook them for a U.S.A.C. ship. We fixed them up alright though…Until Shangri-La was set up two years later,"
"That's where they took your dad right?" he nodded silently as Katara bit her lip guiltily, "Listen…I'm sorry if I got you in trouble with your mom. You know, about revealing you were piloting and stuff,"
"It's alright," Haru chuckled slightly, "To be honest, I knew she'd find out eventually. If anything my dad would have probably seen it had been used when gets back," his face fell, "If he comes back,"
"You don't think he will?"
"I don't think the Nationalists will let him. My dad was an amazing pilot. He took to the Dovator like a duck to water. I still believe the only reason they managed to capture him was because they caught him away from his machine. He was forced to commandeer one of the attacking Endurances. But those things are so old…he never stood a chance. None of them did, even those in the Dovators. G.U.N. is well known to have some of the greatest tacticians in the world on their side. We were just unlucky I guess,"
"If…If it's any consolation…I know what you're going through…loosing a parent," one hand subconsciously went to the piece of shell jewellery that adorned her neck, "My mother died in a G.U.N. attack…and this necklace is all I have left of her,"
"It's beautiful," Haru smiled sadly, "But it isn't enough…is it?"
"No,"
"Well well well, isn't this sweet?"
Both teens spun around as a new voice entered the conversation, the African pilot stepping out of the shadows as silently as he had arrived, A triumphant look glinting in his onyx eyes.
"Two youngsters, out on an evening stroll, taking the risk of the patrols after curfew, and what else?" he tapped his chin in mock thought, "Oh yes, blatantly admitting your both Ranger pilots! A criminal offence around these parts,"
"Wait a moment!" Haru sprung up angrily as Katara rose uneasily, "Katara's never said she's a pilot, where's your proof?"
"Admitting to your own guilt? That's very brave," the Nationalist smirked as Haru bit his tongue, realising his mistake, "But alas, the girl seems to know about your machines. Not enough to get her a sentence as long as yours mind, but still," Katara felt a chill run down her spine as something heavy came down on her shoulder, the blood freezing in her veins as she gazed into the malicious eyes of another G.U.N. soldier, "Enough for the Commander to…take an interest in her,"
The perverted grin that crossed the pilot's face was enough to tell Katara everything.
Shangri-La.
It stood a little ways out to sea, just beyond the reach of the Amazon Delta, a large clear dome little under a mile in diameter covering various buildings, sitting atop a structure similar to that of an oil rig.
The place where they took Katara.
Alistair stood on the banks of the shore, his eyes narrowed as he gazed at the giant complex, one hand curling into a fist as he felt a pang of anger stab at his body.
They had taken her. They had taken Katara. He could feel the anger boiling inside of him. He had taken her when he wasn't looking, when he couldn't do anything. When his was asleep for crying out loud!
That was just low.
"Is that it?" Sokka smirked dryly, "Trust the Nationalists to build something ugly and robust rather then pretty and flimsy,"
"It's a prison colony Sokka," Aang never took his eyes off the clear dome as it glinted in the sunlight, "It's not supposed to look nice, but your right. That's Shangri-La. That's where Katara is,"
"So what do we do?"
"I…don't know,"
"You don't…know?" Sokka stared at the office incredulously.
"I'm not exactly a master tactician," Aang scowled at his friend darkly, "I'm only a Flight Lieutenant remember?" he sighed as he ran hand through his hair under his hat, "But…I think we should scout the place out. Preferably after dark. With the Mirage System active they'll never see us coming…and it'll help us find out what that infernal dome is,"
If he had been born a hundred years ago, Katara was sure the Commander of Shangri-La would have been considered a perfect specimen of everything the Third Reich had prided itself in.
With his rosy lips, pert features and large, pale blue eyes, the man before her had all the appearance of someone who had grown up spoiled and loved every second of it. His hair was a extremely light blond and mostly slicked back, a small portion curling over in front of his face to the left.
Yes, here was a man who though he was superior to all those around him as he strutted along the line of prisoners in front of him, his finely pressed officer's uniform rustling against his skinny form with every step.
Despite the situation, both Katara and Haru tried their hardest not to laugh.
"Honoured guests of the German United Nation," his voice was high and effeminate, yet hide a sinister and almost snide note amidst it's tones, "It is my pleasure to welcome you to my modest base of operations of Shangri-La. I am the Commander-in-chief of operations here, and you will call me Admiral Alfonso Vadeck, cherished cousin to the House of Sozin itself,"
"If he's so cherished, why's he all the way out here?" Haru shot an amused glance Katara's way as the Admiral's back turned,"
"The Führer probably got a migraine form that voice of his,"
The silent laughter stopped immediately as Vadeck turned around.
"I prefer to think of you not as prisoners, but as honoured guests, and I hope you come to think of me as your humble and caring host. You will succeed here if you simply abide…"
A sudden hacking cough echoed across the entry deck of the dock, the Admiral's eyes hardening as he turned to glare angrily at the old fragile man as he tried his hardest to stop coughing.
"Well well, what do we have here?" A sinister smile crossed Alfonso's lips as he approached, "A troublemaker eh? What kind of guest interrupts their host in the middle of his opening speech YOU!" He snapped his fingers towards a nearby guard, "TAKE HIM BELOW!! ONE HUNDRED LASHES!!"
"No, wait!" the old man gasped desperately as he was grabbed roughly by the back of his overalls, "It won't happen again! Please no! No! NO!!"
"All I ask, is a bit of simple courtesy," the sickly tone returned to the Admiral's voice as the last of the prisoner's begging cries disappeared into one of the nearby buildings, "Treat me, as you would yourselves, and we shall get along fine. You are dismissed for now. Except for you," Katara swallowed thickly as he gazed at her intently, "I want a word with you,"
(…)
"So, you're the girl that was brought in with that long haired fellow," Katara resisted the urge to cover herself as Vadeck's eyes travelled up and down her overall covered body, stepping carefully around her like predator ready to pounce, "Let's see. Nice frame, pretty features, a little lacking in the chest department but I can wait for a few years for something to…develop," Katara finally caved and crossed her arms across her chest, her face scrunched up as she squirmed at the thoughts that entered her mind, "Yes, you'll do nicely. My current mistress is getting frightfully boring you know. Too fat and old, but you," she barely managed to repress a shudder as a single hand caressed the back of her neck, "You're young and supple. Yes, you'll do fine,"
"I'd rather die,"
"Die you say?" Katara gasped as her necklace was wrenched from her neck, "that would be a shame. My mistresses always get special privileges you know. Good food, the latest styles, fresh from Berlin…a warm bed. Still, if you want to kill yourself then go ahead, I won't stop you. You won't mind if I take this as a keepsake though do you? You can't take it with you after all,"
"You…you…" anger now boiled in Katara's blood, her fist shaking as she lowered her hands to her sides, "Listen you…pompous bastard. I don't intend to die in this cess pit! I'm going to escape! Me and every prisoner on this rig!"
Alfonso looked vaguely amused as he twisted the shell jewellery lazily between his fingers, "Are you now?"
"Yes! We'll find a way. Ranger pilots and mechanics have to be some of the most resourceful and courageous people on the planet! Just because you place us here in this domed prison, doesn't mean we'll find a way out of your defences. I'm surprised no one's tried already,"
"Oh but they have,"
"What?"
"here let me show you something," A pale hand came to her shoulder as he steered her towards the window, "You see that dome up there?" he indicated the crystal clear structure high above their heads, "That is a substance known and Ginsiel. It's an artificial compound, created from a design given to us by the stars. You see, when no energy passes through it's structure, it's so clear that birds sometime fly right into it! But if even the tiniest current touches it, it will go as black as night! And with all Rangers aboard using laser weaponry, even a stray bolt will shut every machine down in an instant, especially seeing as all units have had their reserve batteries removed,"
"The power just goes straight into the machine," Katara's eyes widened with realisation, not even flinching as the Admiral lay his head on her shoulder, arms coming around her slim waist.
"So you see, escape is useless," he smiled as he pressed her body closer to his, "So I wonder my dear…do you wish to…reconsider my offer?"
(…)
The night was cool against her skin. Even through the Ginsiel dome above, Katara could feel the goosebumps under her overalls.
She hadn't spent long in Alfonso's office, ever resisting, ever learning.
He had willing and gloatingly told her almost everything she needed to know about Shangri-La's miracle anti-escape system. He told her about the many attempts to high-jack the Rangers that kept the prisoners under lock and key, how each and every one had failed miserably.
And then of course, there was the prisoners themselves.
Living on the decks where they worked, no one spoke unless spoken too, the silence across the rig only broken by the occasional clunk of a soldier's boots walking by breaking the silence.
She had only had to lay eyes on Haru's father, an old yet strong man with a long full beard, lying crestfallen and defeated with his son near the officer's quarters, before she had fleet to the relatively solitary area surrounding the edge of the dome to stop her heart from breaking.
She had to help these people. She just had too. Even if she were to escape, just her, no one else, could she really live with herself to leave these people with such hopelessness?
"You know, considering your on a sealed prison rig with nothing but lecherous Nationalists in every shadow, it's not exactly smart to go wondering around on your own,"
Katara barely let out a squeak as a hand came around her mouth, the back of her head hitting something warm and soft as she tasted leather.
"Hey hey!" the voice took on an agitated tone as she struggled violently against her assailant, "Stop squirming! Alistair will kill me if I have to knock you out!"
She stopped moving as she realised she recognised the voice.
"Sokka!" she thwacked him round the back of the head as she pushed off him, her elder brother grinned from under the brim of his cap, "You nearly gave me a heart attack! And what's with the get-up?"
"Oh this," the grin became sheepish as Sokka glanced down at the G.U.N. uniform that adorned his body, "Yeah well, kinda assaulted a soldier just before a transport ship came out here, it was a bit long in the arms for Alistair though. He says hi though,"
"And where is he now?"
"Erm…dunno," the elder sibling frowned as he turned to the clear dome, studying it carefully, "Is he over here?" he knocked rapidly on the smooth surface, only to be met with silence, "Nope. What about over here," he took several steps to the left and knocked again, the quiet still dominating the complex, "Nope. Gotta be here then," another few steps, another knock. A resounding thud made Katara jump as the space nearby fizzled and momentarily dissolved into a smooth grey bulkhead before vanishing into the darkness.
"He's with Avat?"
"Uh-huh," Sokka grinned again from ear to ear, "He's ready and waiting for us to head back to the cargo ship so we can escape. All you have to do is stay inside a crate for an hour and half and…"
"No,"
"No…" disbelief flashed across his face, "What do you mean no? Don't tell me you like it here?"
"Believe me Sokka, I spent the first three hours here trying to keep the Commander's hands off me," Katara scowled as her brother's jaw hit the floor, "But…it's the other prisoners. We have to help them. No, we have to end G.U.N.'s occupation of this land,"
"Are you crazy!?" Sokka grabbed his sister and shook her violently, as though it would help, "Do you have any idea where we are? Brazil! G.U.N. is crawling across the country, it's the hotbed of the war! We only came here because Alistair thought it'd be a good idea to get some fresh air! What will stop them from coming back once we've gone?"
"Haru said Afuá has no strategic value. If G.U.N. looses Shangri-La, there's a good chance they'll just cut their losses and move on," Katara pushed his hands away angrily, "Even G.U.N. doesn't control the entire continent, just the parts that matter, they don't have a big enough army for that,"
"But how are you gonna do it?" her brother sighed as he leaned up against the side of the dome, "If what you say is true, these people are just despondent, depressed, and other sad words beginning with D. How are you gonna convince them to rise up if they've failed so many times before?"
"Easy," she smiled sweetly as she looked up to where she guess Avat's cockpit would be, knowing Alistair would be looking back down with bemusement at her happy disposition in such a terrible situation, "We just need to show them…a little inspiration,"
(…)
Dawn broke. The prisoners rose up like the living dead, making their way to their assignments as Dovators lumbered out of the nearby hanger, their lasers trained on the convicts as they performed their meaningless tasks.
Except for Katara.
She simply cast her eyes to the very top of the dome, standing in the centre of the deck, totally immobile.
"Hey!" one of the soldiers took notice, jabbing her with the end of her rifle, "Hey! Quit daydreaming! Get back to work,"
"Can't,"
"What do you mean you can't?"
"I'm waiting,"
"Waiting?" the soldier followed her gaze to the dome, "For what?"
"The Avatar,"
The rig suddenly became silent. Everyone stopped as her voice echoed through the buildings, all eyes turning on her as the guard looked around uneasily.
"The Avatar?" Katara resisted the urge to squirm as Vadeck's voice floated from atop the balcony of his nearby office, "You mean that wretched scrap of metal that disappeared a hundred years ago?" The blond smirked, "The supposed ultimate Ranger whose pilot turned and fled as he saw the might of the German Unified Nation fall down upon the world? If that's the case my dear, your in for a long wait. Everyone knows G.U.N. dealt with that little mite. The Avatar is gone, and he's never coming back,"
"Your wrong," she smirked up at him determinately, "The Avatar still walks this earth. The courier has returned, Avatar in hand. I've seen it. I know him. I've seen what he can do. G.U.N. has been lying to you for a hundred years. They never defeated the Avatar. They never even found him! But now he's back, and he will smash that dome to pieces, and save us all!"
"Petty words girl," the smirk grew into a grin across the Admiral's face, "A desperate claim to try and stir rebellion. Where is your proof? Just return to your work until I summon you, and I'll forget this little incident ever happened,"
"No need," Katara smiled knowingly as the faint roar of ion engines rumbled outside the dome, "He's already here,"
There was a crash of breaking glass, the world momentarily darkening as energy surged through the dome from above, only to dissipate as a large hole tore through the construction.
With a giant thud that sent everyone to the ground, something large and heavy landed bare metres from Katara, bright white light cutting up the remains of the dome as yellow eyes surveyed the scene.
"Do you see that?" Katara cast a desperate arm towards the arrival, "The technology far beyond anything any Nation has developed? The symbol? I know any Ranger pilot or mechanic worth his machine recognises the Star, Cross and swords! This is the Avatar! Piloted by the courier. He's here to stop G.U.N. to end hostilities, and bring peace back to the world,"
"LIES!!" All eyes turned to the Admiral, his eyes wide and angry, all dignity forgotten, "THAT COULD BE ANY MACHINE!! ANYONE CAN PAINT A LOGO ON A RANGER'S SIDE AND CALL IT THE AVATAR!! IF ANYONE MAKES EVEN ONE MOVE TOWARDS REBELLION, I'LL HAVE YOU ALL SHOT!!"
"No, she's right," A scream came across the courtyard as Haru jumped onto the nearest Dovator, yanking the pilot from his cockpit as he jumped, "We have to rise up against G.U.N., I've only been here a day and I'm sick of them! I don't know if that machine is the true Avatar, but if it flies under the colours of the Black Core and that pilot is willing to take up arms against G.U.N., I'm with him to the end!"
The cockpit hatch slammed shut, the giant walker rising to it's full height as blood red lasers sliced through the officer's quarters.
"DON'T JUST STAND THERE!!" The Admiral screamed as Haru's speech jostled the other prisoners into action, "GET THEM!!"
"Katara!"The young girl looked up as her beloved Lumber crashed into the fray, Forge emerging from the cockpit as Shangri-La dissolved into chaos, "Thought you might need this!"
"Don't what we'd do without you Forge," she grinned as she leapt into the cockpit, "Go find Sokka, he's readying the ship for launch, Alistair can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear," She smiled as she watched the Avatar destroy the last of the dome apart, "Looks like we're winning, Sokka says he's got the ship together and they're loading everyone who couldn't get a Ranger on now. I…Look out!!"
Katara barely had time to dodge as a hail of bullets rained down on the deck, the Endurance responsible falling down to the artificial ground as the last of it's ammo ran dry.
"You," The admiral's voice ran clear and crystal through her speakers, "You've ruined everything! And you!" the giant mech turned it's boxed head in Alistair's direction as it pulled a shortsword from the sheath across the back of it's waist, "You think your all that, with you mech and Black Core symbols, but I'm going to prove your nothing but a fake. Let me show what a true Ranger pilot can do!" he began to twirl the sword around his head, around his arm, a figure of eight in front of him, "You don't stand a chance! I am only second to the right honourable Lady Azura herself! I'm…what are you doing with that?"
The Endurance's head suddenly exploded in a array of burning shrapnel as Avatar's rifle fired yet again, another shot taking our one leg, leaving the machine to collapse into a crumpled heap of machinery and body parts.
"Is anyone else getting tired of this place?"Katara giggled as the Avatar turned towards the dock, "Come on, the sooner we get out of here, the better,"
(…)
The journey back to Afuá was a quiet one. Many of the escaped prisoners chatted quietly to each other, most were content to gaze out towards the ocean, some even gazing at the Avat as it skimmed across the water beside the cargo ship, something Katara was all to happy to do herself.
"Hey,"
She smiled over her shoulder as Haru came up beside her, "Hey. How is everyone,"
"Alright I guess," he smiled as he joined her at the railing, "Dad's pretty eager to get back home," he chuckled slightly, "But he's already geared to free the coast from G.U.N.'s grasp though. That little stunt with the Avatar really rejuvenated his spirit. Everyone's spirits,"
She nodded with a smile, turning her gaze back to the Avat, her eyes focusing on the lone man clad in black standing atop the launch bay doors, watching the sun arch overhead.
"He's the courier right?" Haru followed her gaze to Alistair, "And his machine…that really is the Avatar isn't it,"
"Oh yes," Katara sighed happily, "That's him alright,"
"You gonna keep following him?" she glanced at her companion with surprise as he flushed scarlet, "Because I was hoping that you would…you know…stay with us…with me,"
"Haru…" her lips curved into a sad smile as she grabbed his shoulder comfortingly, "That's really sweet of you, but right now, Alistair needs me. He's still…confused about a lot of things, and doesn't know where to go from here. Besides…"
"It's alright, I understand," he gave her a small shy smile, "I'm just glad I have my dad back. I only wish there was some way…"
"I know," Katara uncurious reached up from her neck, "That's very kind of you to say but…" her eyes widened as her hand grabbed air, "Oh no! My necklace!"
(…)
"And you way it was the Avatar," Artirius frowned as he twisted the shell jewellery between his fingers, his covered eyes staring ahead into the face of a severely dishevelled Alfonso Vadeck.
"Yes yes, that's what the girl said," The Admiral visibly shook as he nervously glanced at the two hulking soldiers that stood at his sides, "She said the Avatar had returned, and then she brought in some giant Endurance with a Dominance head or something…"
"No, she was correct," Meridiano pulled himself out of the Admiral's chair to turn to look out eh window onto the desecrated courtyard below, "The Avatar has indeed returned to the world of the living, and it appears as though the supposed fool's errand the Führer sent his son on wasn't as foolish as he thought,"
"The Avatar still exits?" Vadeck's jaw hit the floor in astonishment, "Then we must follow him! Rally your forces, prepare the Rangers for attack, we must capture him! We must…"
"Oh I will," The Major smiled good naturedly, cutting off the pompous man mid-sentence, "But you won't. Shangri-La has been a total farce, Admiral. This endeavour has been for little more then your own amusement. The Führer is most displeased. You are to report back to Berlin, to explain your actions…effective immediately. The Hephaestus will be along shortly to pick you up. Good luck,"
Artirius didn't have to see to know Alfonso's face suddenly went paler then usual, a look of fear crossing itself to his face as the soldiers dragged him out of his own office to face his fate.
Interesting facts: Afuá is a place not far from the mouth of the Amazon in Brazil. I'm not sure if it's a town or village anything remotly like what I've written down( I just found it through Google Earth), but this is alternate universe, so it doesn't have to be exact right?
The Dovator is named after Lev Mikhailovich Dovator, a Hero of the Soviet Union during the Second World War. I'm going with he was a man who died during the Day of Blood and had a Ranger named after him in his honour.
That's all for now then ladies and gents. Hope you enjoyed.
Dearing