U-DO

Chapter 4

Ziggy, being taller than MOMO, checked if the coast was clear by taking a quick peak on the upper level and then ducking once again. Just as he had suspected, the coast was not clear. He turned back to the frightened MOMO and shook his head. Ziggy crouched and beckoned for her to do the same. MOMO looked up at him expectantly and he proceeded to relaying to her the plan he had decided on; she nodded quickly. The rest happened in a rush.

Ziggy climbed onto higher grounds at the opportune moment when the soldiers had their back to them, but he was quite noisy. Of course, Ziggy had taken this into account and was ready for them to be alerted of his presence. When the bullets came, he evaded them easily enough with minimal damage. He closed in on the nearest one hard and quickly in the chest with his outstretched blade. The next two came, but they were struck down by MOMO's ether attacks. Three more came but the duo was prepared or so MOMO had thought. As usual, Ziggy was supposed to take down the nearest soldier and MOMO was supposed to take down the remaining two. When he didn't rush forward immediately, MOMO knew something was wrong.

The soldiers were too close now. When she turned to Ziggy, she found that he was doubled over in pain. MOMO heard a sharp groan and thought the cyborg had somehow been shot. Devastated, she ran over to the injured cyborg. Meanwhile, the U-TIC soldiers now surrounded them with their rifles pointing at them.

"Step away from the cyborg," one of the soldiers commanded.

"B-but I can't! He's hurt!"

"MOMO…go," Ziggy said sharply.

Though she was startled by the tone of his voice, she obeyed without question. As she stepped slowly away from him, a sparkle of red caught her eye. She turned to him quickly and thought that maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her. Then she saw it again like the ephemeral flash of a firefly, the red glint disappeared as soon as it appeared. The flickering lights overhead conflicted with her sight as her eyes had to keep adjusting and readjusting to the dark and then light. And Ziggy remained in the same bent position as if his entire body was in pain-she wasn't sure. The sparks persisted becoming more and more noticeable until even the soldiers who had at first been in denial began to see it as well. They had no idea what to make of it.

"Ziggy!" MOMO called in earnest.

"I told you MOMO-go. Go now."

His voice sounded strained and MOMO wondered if somehow his energy was gradually disappearing. Whatever was happening, she knew she wasn't going to leave his side.

"No, Ziggy, you know better. I'm not leaving!"

Suddenly, she felt a hard, cold hand grab her mouth and press down before she could protest.

"We have the realian, Tach. That's all we came for. Let's go!"

She struggled violently in his grip trying without success to cry out in distress-she knew that her voice would pull him back from the brink. Whatever was happening to him, she was sure that her voice would cut through everything else and he would return to his duty-bound self. She felt herself being carried, but her neck strained to see him again. At the very least, she wanted to catch his eye. All he had to do was look up and realize what was happening to her. It was like time itself ceased when those serious azure eyes met hers. His skin glistened now in the flickering light. She realized then that she had never seen him sweat before. She wondered how exhausted he was as he forced himself to move all for her sake. There was no trace of pain or frustration in his expression only a look of obligation.

Before she knew it, the soldier's grip loosened. Ziggy had pierced his back quickly and efficiently, but the other three were immediately retaliating.

"MOMO, move it now!" Ziggy shouted to MOMO who was more or less in the way.

This time she was on the move sensing that she was in line of fire. A split second later, the soldiers were firing upon the cyborg. MOMO shouted in terror. Without a second thought, she took out her scepter and shot down the soldiers with her fire ether. By then, Ziggy was on his knees as the damage began to take effect.

"Ziggy!" MOMO exclaimed as she ran to him.

"If you keep going ahead, you'll meet up with the others."

"But what if more soldiers come?"

"That's a chance you'll have to take, I'll only hinder your progress. I won't be of much help."

"No, Ziggy, I want to stay with you."

"Why are you so stubborn? It is your safety that matters the most. If you keep stalling, you won't make it."

"Ziggy, do you honestly think I'm going to leave you here?"

"You should, MOMO. That's exactly what you should do now. I can't protect you if you don't listen to me."

And then she saw it again, a red spark.

"Ziggy, what's wrong. Tell me what's wrong." She waited for him to answer, but he had grown silent. "Ziggy, please."

"I don't know what's wrong, MOMO," Ziggy replied finally. "Maybe it has something to do with before-I'm not sure, but there's nothing we can do for it now."

She was so close to him now that she saw the red glint clearly, in fact one flashed directly in front of her eyes startling her.

"Maybe…maybe Jr. could help-you said he knows more about U-DO than even you."

"Yes," Ziggy said latching onto her plan as an idea came to mind, "In my condition, I won't be able to make it to them, but maybe you could go find them up ahead and lead them back. Could you do that for me, MOMO?"

"Alright, Ziggy, I'll do it, but you have to promise me-don't die and don't move from this spot."

"I won't."

MOMO looked directly at him, but still she could not determine what was going through his mind. She'd have to move quick. There was no telling what Ziggy was going to do in her absence. She stood up slowly, but then was running as fast as her legs could take her exiting the area and running down the long corridor towards where the others apparently were.