Disclaimer: I don't own any lore, and characters of each respective franchise. Goddess of Victory:Nikke belongs to Shift up. Titanfall belongs to EA, and Respawn. That's all, thank you, and enjoy reading.
Chapter 1: Regeneration
It's all his fault, if only he was strong, then this will never happen. No matter, he can't change what has already happened. Even then…even if he was given a chance to make a difference, he will never change their fate. Because he is a pathetic, and weak commander.
*WRIIIIIIIIIIIII!*
He might be pathetic, he might be weak, but he will never give up, because he has promised to keep.
"I am ready, how about you!?"
*BOOOOM!*
*WRIIIIIII!*
"Alien hostile acquired"
*PSSSHHHHHHHIIIIWWWW*
" Hostile eliminated, area clear…..Pilot, life sign detected."
"How is he?"
"Scanning…suffered third degree burns on torso, left face, left arm….Detecting shrapnel in abdominal area, high possibility of internal bleeding. Survival rate….10%"
"I like those odds, we're taking him."
"Pilot?"
"I know, but despite all that he is still kicking, and living. I think he is the one. Come on, tough guy. Don't die, I still have to make a pilot out of you yet."
[ 1 DAY EARLIER]
"So, when will they deploy you?"
The middle aged man in a wheelchair, sits before the sunshine that peeks through the window while the beep of life support echoes in this bright room. Though the patient was not alone, there was a young man in a khaki military uniform leaning on the window with sunlight loom over his back.
"Tomorrow, at 0500." the young man answered as he let out an anxious moan.
"Nervous?" the Veteran asks as he notices the shakes on his hand.
"Well…y-yeah. I guess."
"why?"
"Pa, I be honest…." the young man folds his hands together as he tries to control his quivering palm. "After graduation, when they announced my deployment notice….I-I just realized that I haven't learned anything about being a commander. Heck, I never have actual training on how to lead a Nikke in combat….So, I felt like a damn fool for not realizing sooner, that they teach me nothing but…"
"Bullshit." the Veteran intervened with a smirk on his lips.
"Yeah…" the young man said while rubbing his nape.
"Well, lucky for you. At least, your old man taught you something useful compared to that place you called 'Military Academy'." The veteran strolled his wheelchair beside his bed. Then, he takes a duffel bag underneath it, and tosses it over the bed sheet. "It's yours now."
"Papa!" The youngman looked over the duffel bag with wide pupils plaster on his brown eyes. "Are you really giving this to me?"
"Of course, why not? After all, you are the one who is going to surface. So, it's better you have it than let it get dusty under my bed."
"Pa.. you don't have to go this far. Remember, I am going up there with Nikke protecting m-"
The young man stops his naive lips when the veteran holds on his wrist with his sharp gaze staring back.
"Anak…*sigh*...I don't know what they taught you back in the Academy, but let me tell you that the surface is not like what they said nor what you think…." the veteran takes a deep breath as he remembers the brutal past that lingers in his memories. "Listen, Ian. Up there is a battlefield. On the battlefield, no one is safe. It doesn't matter whether you have Nikke to protect you, as long as you are up there, you will die, guarantee.….that's how dangerous the Raptures are. So, it's better to be armed, than nothing."
"But, a normal firearm isn't capable of killing a Rapture, only the Nikke weapon can."
"I didn't give this to you to slay a Rapture, that's the Nikke job" the veteran sighs as he grabs both of his wrists. "I want you to have this because I want you to get back home alive…do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand." Ian nods as he swallows the grim reality of his situation.
The veteran let go of his son, and flashed his sweet yet bitter smile. "Good. Now get outta here, and make Lastimosa proud."
"I will." said the young commander as he took the duffel bag, and left the room as he waved his hand goodbye.
Once he left the scene, the veteran pulled out an old locket from his pocket as he gently rubbed off the picture of his woman with his trembling thumb. "Mahal,…please watch over him."
"Reporting for duty Ma'am!"
The young commander, saluted the blue-haired lady in her white uniform, decorated with a smiley pin on her collar vest, and on her headset that reflected her bubbly aura on her cute appearance.
"Ah, you must be Ian Lastimosa, the junior commander that graduated yesterday." the blue hair lady confirms as she checks the data pad on her hands.
"Yes, Ma'am. That's me."
"Um-uh, you don't have to be that formal commander. Just call me Shifty." Shifty smile as she stretched her hand with an open palm to greet the rookie commander. "Anyway, it's good to meet you, Commander Lastimosa."
"Likewise." Ian returned the gestures while he readjust the duffle bag on his shoulder which made the bubbly girl notice the pack he was carrying with him.
"If you don't mind for me to ask…"Shifty waits for the rookie commander's confirmation till he nods in response. "Would you mind telling me what you are bringing with…?"
"Oh…it's my personal battlegear. It mostly contains my own self defense equipment such as a chest rig, and a rifle." Ian answered nervously. " Surely, there is no problem bringing such things…after all, it's my equipment so I owe no one. Right?"
"Technically yes, a commander has a right to bring his personal loadout up to the surface as long as they can afford it themselves…Although, a rifle?" Shifty raises her brow in question. "You know that normal firearms are obsolete against Rapture. I am sure that the academy taught you that?"
"Right so, buuuut, I heard from certain rumors that the commander's survival rate is less than 30% on the surface, isn't that right?"
Shifty choke briefly with her eyes grew wide. "How did you!?"
Ian hums deeply with a concerned tone when her reaction confirms his suspicion. "If that was true, then I would be more comfortable to be armed properly than carrying only this standard issue pistol. Surely being armed with a rifle boosts up my survival chance, compared to being left with only this silly pistol right?"
"Y-yes there is no argument with that….But, remember that your weapons are futile against the Raptures, only a Nikke weapon can. I am sure with this advice, it will refrain you from being reckless on the surface."
"I know…" Ian answered with a bitter tone.
"Good, mmmm…where was I? Yes, I forgot to tell you that I am also your Intelligence Operator. It is my job to provide support and communication among the commanders and Nikkes in every mission on the surface. Talking about the squad…." Shifty glance on her tablet as she lets her finger browse across the screen. "You have been assigned to take command of the Echo squad."
"Where will I meet these squad?" Ian asked.
"They are waiting on Hangar bay-02." Shiftly notice his uneasiness written all over his face. So, she asked. "Anxious, commander?"
"Honestly, yeah…." Ian answers with a nervous tone as he scratches his sweating cheeks.
"Well don't be. I assure you that they'll treat you nice as long as you treat 'em nice too. I hope…" Shifty reply although the rookie commander noticed something odd in her reaction as if she looks worried about the fact of how he will treat them. "Okay….I've been keeping you for too long now. Go, and meet with your squad."
"Will do."
Ian answers with confidence, but also a lil bit of nervousness hints in his voice due to the fact that this is the real thing now. Truth to be told, despite being a worrywart. He is excited to meet them. After all, ever since he was little, he has always admired them as his heroes. So working with them is something he always dreamed of. So, becoming an official commander, he finally has a chance to pay back his heroes by leading them well to the battle. Hopefully, everything will work well…hopefully.
Realizing he's been standing alone in this hall for a while, Ian picks up his pace towards the place where he will meet his squad. Not for long, he found himself in a hangar bay that was filled with a fleet of VTOL aircrafts. Along with other groups of Commanders, and Nikkes gathered as they waited for a mission briefing.
"Now where are they?"
"You must be Commander Ian, I presumed?"
Ian quickly turns around, and faces three beautiful women . Despite wearing a helmet, and combat gear that conceal their identity. He can tell from their body figure, and their voice is proof that they're gorgeous enough to choke him from replying properly.
"Y-yes t-that is me..?"
"Ah!" With that confirmation, the lady with the ponytail quickly holsters her rocket launcher, and salutes at him. "Greetings, Commander. I am an Idoll Model Series Flower. Name, Helia. At your service."
"Hmph!" The lady behind Helia, flick her twintails as she puts her hand on her hips, and rests her Bullpup rifle on shoulder. "I am Idoll Sun, and I refused to answer any of your questions. Commander."
"Um-ah…" A meek Nikke with long ashen hair, steps out behind Sun. While she clumsily salutes her superior while her medical bag is slipping out from her shoulder. "Idoll model Series: Ocean. You can call me Cordelia. I am the m-medic of this squad…."
"Helia, Sun, Cordelia…I am Commander Ian Lastimosa. I am looking forward to working with you all." Ian replied kindly with a warm smile. A smile that made the three Nikke stun as they never saw a human so sincere, and kind to meet Nikke's like them. Yet, compared to the other two, Sun was the least convinced of it. More likely, she is suspicious of him which made Ian notice it. No matter, he knows trust has to be earned not by words alone, but with action. So, he establishes to earn their trust by shaking their hands. "From now on, I watch your back, I hope you watch mine too, yes?"
Helia hesitated at first, but she returned the gesture for she knew that it would be rude if she didn't accept his kindness. "Of course, WE will keep you safe. After all, it's Nikke duty to protect the commander with our lives."
"With your lives?..." Ian raises his brow in question. "Girls, I don't think you all have to go that f-"
"Well, Well, If it isn't that son of Quotidian bastard. I am surprised a lowborn like you managed to pass the Academy."
Ian grinds his teeth, and clenches his hand into fist when he recognizes that voice. Noticing the commander's reaction, Helia, and Cordelia stand firmly behind him while Sun smirks in disgust from hearing that egotistical voice.
"Aron…" Ian faces the blond man in a commander uniform that is decorated with a top-class medal. "What do you want?"
"Nothing, I am just here checking on peasants….hold on" Aron clenches his lips at the sight of a Rookie commander, and mass-produced Nikkes. Then, he burst out of laughter as he flashed his wicked grin. "Bwahahahahahaha! Look, Look, a plebeian commander has been assigned with trash models. How fitting!"
"Trash!? Who are you calling us Trash!" Sun smirk disappears from his lips, then grinding her teeth in anger, and stomping onward. Yet, she stopped when her commander stepped in front of her with a disapproving shake. "D-damn it."
"Oh boy, this is rich. Here, allow me to introduce my Nikke's, you plebs. Ladies introduce yourselves."
Two Nikke step out behind the blond commander, and each stands beside first one was a firm Nikke with long hazelnut hair, she wears a black & red beret, coat, and military uniform with an extremely short skirt. Short enough that her black panty can be seen. As for her partner, she is a blond Nikke with short and fluffy hair. She wears a yellow & gray Jacket, a black beret, black hot pants, and a gray tank top that could barely hold her huge breast from popping out from her cleavage. Yet, despite being unique, and a high model Nikke. There is no pride nor even rouse in their entrance. Only dismay…
"I am Rapi, leader of the Counter squad." Rapi gave a quick, and firm salute yet a daunted spirit lies within her professionalism.
"I can't believe I am doing this….." the blond Nikke mumbled in disbelief, and gave a lousy salute. "Anis…member of the Counter squad."
"O my poor Ian, these are my SR Nikkes. The best of the best that the Ark can offer. Only us the Sovereign's Commander are allowed to be assigned with the Elite Nikke. Thanks to this privilege, we have the power to defeat the Rapture. Bwahahahahaha! Truly, it is fitting that a High class like me will reclaim the surface, it is the Sovereign destiny to do so! Not the plebian Quotidian trash like yo-"
"Is that all.." Ian cut him off which made the counter squad raise their brows while their commander bit his tongue. "If that is all, then you can go now."
Without saying anymore, Ian turned his back on him as he displayed no sign of interest in him which made the Sovereign commander clench his fist, and made his forehead pop a vein.
"You dare to disrespect a noble like me, eat this!" Without hesitation, Aron springs to action, and gives Ian a left hook to his chin which sends him into the floor.
"Commander!"
"Commander!"
"Damn you!"
Cordelia quickly grabs Ian from the floor, and applies first-aid for the bruise on his chin. At the same time, Helia steps in front of him as she holds on to her sidearm. Then, Sun is about to pull out her weapon. However, she stops halfway when she suddenly is staring at the muzzle of a rifle.
"Ngh!" Sun grunt in surprise when she barely notices how quick the Counter leader moves in front of her. Which clearly shone dark, and day the difference between the SR-grade Nikke's and mass-produced models.
"I am sorry.." Rapi whispers in her doleful lips as she forces herself to aim her gun at Sun.
"You should be well known by now. Nikke's are not allowed to harm humans or let alone to be touched by your filthy Nikkes hands. You know the punishment for that consequence, you insolent fodder." Aron warns her as he moves his finger close to his holster. Noticing it, made Sun lower her rifle, and bite her pride which gave the Sovereign commander chuckle with satisfaction. "Tsk, what a way to spoil the mood. Ladies, let's go!"
"Damn…she's fast." Sun said as she watched them walk away. Then, she turns his attention to her commander who is now standing on his feet.
"Thank you, girls. Appreciate it." Ian said with an unconcern smile as he rubbed his aching chin.
"N-no need to thank us….I am just doing what we are meant to do." Cordelia meekly tucks herself as she tries to hide her blush behind her helmet. However, she melts away when Ian rubs her head which makes his whole squad gasp in surprise by his action. "uwauwauwauwauwa! Commander! What are you doing!?"
"Giving what you deserve!" Ian lets go as he flashes his teasing smile, and watches the Idoll: Ocean clumsily pulling up her collar to hide her blushing cheeks..
"Hmph! Don't let his tricks get into your head kid!" Sun warned her while she turned her head away from him.
"Sun…"
"What!?" Sun asks with an annoyed tone.
"I want to let you know that you are the first person who stood up for me….so, you have my thanks." Ian said with a sincere smile. From his response, it made Sun gasp in surprise that left her caught off guard.
"Ah-ah, Um, I- you're welcome." realizing what she said, her cheeks blush like a morning sun when she carelessly let her word slip from her rosy lips. To hide it, she looks away, and tries to cover it by acting tough again. "I-I mean try to t-to block n-next time, Idiot!? Hmph!"
"Heh" Ian chuckles amusingly, and he found her cute when she was panicking.
"Ara Ara….you are quite a peculiar commander aren't you?" Helia whispered in his ears which made Ian jump his nerves.
"What do you mean, Helia?" Ian back away when he realize Helia face is too close for his comfort
"Let's just say that you are the first commander that made them act like this."
"Huh…..well, I am just treating you girls what you all deserve so I don't see anything special with that."
"Oh…" Helia blushed from his response, and made her heart skip a beat. At the same time, she finally figures out what type of person he is. "Commander?"
"Yes?"
"Promise me. Please extend your kindness not only to us, but to all our sisters in the field." Helia said with a sweet smile. "We need you…."
Ian blink his eyes in wonder from her odd request. Then again, in his household, his father always taught him to treat Nikke, and the humans alike with dignity, and respect. For they are people, and people are humanity. Thus, he never saw any special of it because he thought that is what they deserve…what everyone deserves. So, he answers with truthful intentions in his stern eyes and sincere lips.
"I will…"
From that response, it made Helia deeply hum in wonder.
""Echo Squad, Counter Squad, gather at Landing Zone 06, VTOL-0808.""
"That's our cue, Echo squad. Move out!"
"""Yes, Commander!"""
"I can't fucking believe this….."
The blond commander spat at the Echo squad, and their commander with his disgusts in his eyes. Disbelief, that he and his Counter are assigned along with them whom he considered lowlives. The worst part of it all, he was forced to stare at their faces for the rest of the ride.
"Well ...looks like someone is not having a good time." Sun commented with her mischievous grin when she noticed the sour face of the blond commander. Though, that remark made Anis chuckle, only for a brief moment because her commander quickly gave her a sharp glance. A glance that made Anis click her tongue, and she gave him a disdainful stare.
"Hey! Don't you dare look at me like th-"
Aron's words were cut off by the loud sound of a duffel bag which made his eyes quickly glance at Ian.
"What are you doing?" Aron asks as he watches Ian open his duffel bag. While the rest of Nikkes lean their eyes too at the Rookie commander.
"I am gearing up…"
The Counter, and Echo raise their brow in question.
"Gear up? Gear up for what?" Cordelia asks with concern.
Ian ignores their concern as he throws out his officer coat, and his officer cap which made the Nikkes glance up in surprise.
"Oy y-you a-are kidding right?" Sun asked in disbelief when her suspicion was confirmed.
In mere seconds, Ian quickly wears his Chest Rig, high-cut operator helmet with headset, knee pads, and ammo pouches over his body. Then, he pulled out a SIG MCX assault rifle from his bag which brought more concern among the Nikkes.
"Commander, you're not thinking of fighting Rapture with 'that'…I mean." Anis said with her wry smile. " 'NEWS FLASH' Normal Firearms are not effective against Rapture, you know what I mean."
"Commander, I think it unnecessary to bring those…after all, these gear will not completely protect you from Rapture" Helia said as she nodded in agreement with Anis. "That is why we are assigned to you, because only we can fight the Rapture…most of all, only we can protect you."
"Heh, even a trash like her thinks better than you fool." Aron mocks him.
"You see….a wise man told me once." Ian said as he loaded his rifle with a magazine, and cocks the chamber as he checks his gun safety. "On the surface…is a battlefield. On the battlefield. Death is guaranteed…if that is how it is supposed to be…then, I would rather be armed to the teeth when that happens."
"Heh, whatever you say.." Aron rolled his eyes.
"Welp, that is understandable logic." Anis agrees as she shrugs her shoulders. "After all, you can't depend on Nikke's all the time, so to make it out alive you make sure that you also have something to give you an edge. Heh, aren't you smart."
"So, he doesn't trust us…" Cordelia said while she held on her chest with her head down.
"That's not what I meant, Cordelia"
The Nikke's glance at the rookie commander while he look back with determination in his eyes.
"My job is to bring you all home alive.….I only use this, when I fail to do my job. But I am sure that won't happen because you got my back as I got yours. I trust you with that, girls?"
The doubts among the Mass-produced Nikkes were swept away when their commander confessed his trust to them. Thanks to his words, they make sure that they do their best not to fail their commander.
"For you my dear, I give everything for you." Helia slips her hand under his arm as she lets her bountiful bosom squish against his chest.
"O, so you do trust us!" Cordelia leans on his other arm as she snuggles him like a puppy. "I am happy, hehehehe"
"Hmph! Of course, Who else do you depend on? No one, but me!" Sun said with a tint of blush on her cheeks as she playfully twirls one of her twintails. Although behind her shyness, her fingers secretly reach for his hand, and lock on with his.
"Okay girls, take it easy on me…" Ian said with a worried tone when he realized his squad was getting attached to him way too fast than he imagined. Yet despite his protest, the girls continue to stick with him which eventually makes him give up, and decide to let them be.
"Fuck sake, get a room." Aron clicks his tongue in disgust as he looks away.
"Well, this is interesting…" Anis mutters in wonder while her shy eyes try to avert their 'special' bonding.
"Hmm.." Rapi mumbled as she wondered why her chest felt a bit tight today.
Rapi, and Anis don't know why they feel heavy on their chest. Although, they can't help, but feel jealous. Envy that they were not assign to a commander like him, for they too want someone to look at them more than a weapon, but someone who can trust, and who can be kind to them..O, they wished Ian was their comma-
"" One-minute! One-minute! Till we reach the LZ get ready people!"'
Upon arrival in this desolate city, the VTOL began to descend on the open field of the F.O.B. Among the tents, and bunkers, a lone scarred-eye commander stands outside of his command center. Watching the VTOL touch the L.Z, and it deploys a couple of commanders leading a group of Nikkes.
"Godammit…." The Scar commander inhales his cigarette in one go with spite as he blows out all his frustration from his lungs. " Shifty"
"Yes, Commander?" Shifty images pop up from the corner in his eyes.
"When I ask for additional support, what I meant is commanders not body bags!"
"I am afraid that's all the Central Government can provide to you, commander. Since we provide you enough Veteran commanders for your operation, the higher-ups decide to send the juniors to be your support unit. If you have any further complains, I advice you to file it directly to Central Gov-"
"Fuck you, and your bureaucracy, leave me alone, I got a battle to win." the scar commander said as he flicked his last cig to the mud, and returned to his tent.
Meanwhile….
"No fucking way! I can't believe it." Aron said in excitement when he recognized the scarred commander. "He is the hero of the battle of Upram, Commander Cadorna!"
"Who is Commander Cadorna?"
"Really you haven't heard of him?" Aron asks in disbelief yet he remembers Ian was a Plebian. "What am I saying, of course you don't, well let me educate you pleb. He is one of the Sovereigns that became senior commander at such a young age. He earned that rank by decisively winning the battle of Upram dam, thanks to his deeds the ark has ample supplies of water, and electricity for years to come. Of course, there is no surprise a man like him is capable of earning such a notable achievement after all he is a Sovereign!"
"At the cost of a thousand lives of Nikke's…." Rapi chips in with a thousand yard stare as she still clearly remembers that battle as if it was just yesterday. As for Anis, she could already tell what will happen at the end of this mission.
"Yes…Thousand lives lost, however they serve their purpose well as the pawn of humanity. So, fret not my girls. You are easy to replace!" Aron said with a smug smile.
Rapi, and Anis dart a glaring glance at the back of their commander. Unfortunately for the Counter, they have no rights to speak against him because they know the heavy price they pay for that action. Even for a wayward Nikke such as Anis, she knew too well enough to stop herself from opening her mouth. Except for the rookie commander, he didn't take that very well.
"What did you say?!" Ian steps further as he mumble in anger, and clenches his hand into a solid fist. Though, Helia notices it, and reaches for his shoulder which stops him from doing so. He looks back, and notices the disapproval looks on her face.
"Commander, I don't think that's a great idea. Remember, most of the commanders here are Sovereign..." Helia advises him as she gently rubs his trembling shoulder.
"Yep, she is right. The stacks are against us, there is no way they let you slip by just hitting another commander, a noble at that." Sun said as she flick her twintails
"w-we will be in trouble too." Cordelia mumble as she lean behind her commander
"I…uh-ah…It ain't right." Ian cools off as he realizes that he will bring everyone down if he starts this unnecessary fight yet he can't help, but feels disgust for not doing something against it…it's not right, he thought. However, his doubts have been swept away when Helia shows her warm smile to him. Warm as a flower meadows under the summer sun, he thought.
"It's okay, commander. All things go well in time…" Helia whispers in his ears with her sweet lips. So sweet that it calms his heart, and his thoughts for a brief moment.
"Alright, let's not wait any longer. Counter, let's go." Aron said as he enthusiastically marched on while Counter followed him with their glaring eyes still stabbing his back. Then, the Echo squad follows them too, and feel the foreboding atmosphere of this operation.
Once they approached the command center, the guards halted the group, and told the commanders to leave their squad behind. Both commanders nod in agreement, and leave them as they enter the tent.
"You two must be the commanders of Echo and the Counter…" Cadorna glanced up with his scar eye judging their worth.
"Sir yes sir!" Aron salutes with excitement while Ian simply salutes in the most professional manner that he can muster beside that he has uneasy feelings towards him.
"Cut the crap, you two soon we will be in body bags anyway…"
"W-what?" Aron's eyes lost their colors when his own hero, his own fellow noble, saw him as nothing, but a dead man. As for Ian, he already knew this fact so it was less impactful for him.
"Okay listen up!" Cadorna ignores their concern as he focuses his eyes on the battle plan in front of his touch-screen table. "I decided your squads will not partake in the frontal assault because you bunch are nothing, but liability. So, I will be sending you two on our flank, to defend it from Raptures. Remember, defend that objective till I call a retreat or your squad is incapacitated. That's all, dismissed!"
Ian left the tent without any protest while Aron stayed behind for a moment as he felt stunned by the grim reality that was setting in.
"What the hell are you staring at!? You got your mission, now get hell outta my face now!"
"Y-yes sir!" Aron said as he woke back to reality, and shakingly left the tent.
Meanwhile, Ian is looking over the horizon of the frontline where smoke, and chaos are coming from. While his squad is looking up to him with their worried glance.
"Aren't you worried commander?" Sun asks. "You know mass produce like us are inferior compared to other Elite models such as the Counter, so if we face a stronger Rapture such as a Master, Lord or even a Tyrant…there is no guarantee that we will make it out alive."
"Nah…" Ian answered with his confident smile. "We were on it together!"
"Of course. As long as we have you, we will make it." Helia rests her rocket launcher on her shoulder, and wink at her commander from behind her visor.
"Yes! You are right, we have each other's back as you said!" Cordelia nods as she slips her hand unto his palm, and firmly holds him with a glee on her lips.
"Hmph! Just make sure that confidence of yours will not get into your head." Sun smirks in amusement as she rests her rifle on her shoulder. "Or you might lose it in the heat of the battle"
"Well, for a rookie he got some guts…" Anis admires the commander of Echo squad from a distance. Then, she looks at her commander whose spirit has completely been drained from this world. "Unlike ours….he is a lost cause."
"Anis…Let me remind you as a Nikke it is our job to take orders from him, and protect him with all our lives." Rapi reprimanded her partner for letting her unruly attitude display in public again.
"Of course, I know that….even though we are stuck with no good commander, I still do what I can to protect him….it's just….what about us Rapi!? Who will lead us, huh?!"
"I am afraid that we have to depend on him…" Rapi answered as she secretly glanced at the Echo squad, mostly at the back of Commander Lastimosa.
In the midst of this battlefield, Echo, and the Counter manage to slip through the ruins without facing any trouble. Not for long, they reach their objective, and find themselves in an undisturbed street as they listen to the ambience of firefight that echoes from the frontline.
The rookie commander raises his arm with a closed fist, signaling them to stop, then they stack against the corner of the street as they wait for his order. Before he proceeds, he glances at Counter squad, and notices the blond commander is out of place. Dull eyes, head down, it seems like his mind is not at present, and his squad know it too for he can see their lips curl in disdain among Anis, and Rapi.
"Heh, so much being a Sovereign commander….pathetic." Sun left a snarky remark. Although Cordelia gave her a hush which made Sun click her tongue.
"I don't think we can rely on Counter, commander." Helia said as she felt bad for Rapi, and Anis.
"Yeah…." Ian replies with a doleful nod. "Sun, recon up ahead, Cordelia, Helia watch her back."
""Roger ""Copy"" Helia, and Cordelia respond as they take their position on the debris just beside the street. Once they are in position, Helia signals Sun with a nod which is a cue for her to spring into action, and runs across the street till she reaches the crater.
"Sun, report?" Ian asks while observing the Idoll:Sun dive into the hole.
"Wait will ya…" Sun cautiously replies as she peeks out from her cover. "hmm…Negative visual contact on Rapture….I don't detect any movement in my radar either."
"Copy that. Echo squad regroup at her position."
Anis watches the Echo squad moving towards the crater. "Rapi they are moving, should we follow?"
Rapi looks over at the blond commander, and shakes him off. "Commander?...commander? COMMANDER!?"
"Y-yeah!" Aron stuttered as he awakened from his disturbed thoughts.
"Echo squad is moving, I suggest we follow."
"Y-yeah…"
"Commander, Counter is moving in" Helia warns him as she watches the Counter dash towards their position till they join in with them.
"I thought you guys lost your way…" Sun said with a mischievous grin.
"Lucky you, he is not your commander." Anis retorted.
"Rapi'' Ian called her. In return, she gave him her undivided attention. "How is he holding?"
Rapi silently responds with a weary sigh, and shakes her head.
"I see….I handle it from here." Ian carries his weight up, and moves to the side of the blond commander. "hoy….OY!"
"W-what!?" Aron asks with his sharp voice.
"You've been awfully quiet, I hope you've been thinking of some plans. After all, you are an honored, and noble student like you said.."
"Plan….plan…PLAN!?" Aron bursts in anger, and he grabs Ian's collar along with his wild eyes glare directly at him. "HAVE NOT YOU REALIZE!? WE ARE DEAD! DEAD! JUST LIKE HE SAID! WE ARE OUR OWN HERE!NO PLAN IS GOING TO SAVE US FROM OUR DEMISE BECAUSE THEY SEND US TO DIE!"
Echo squad quickly raised their arms, and ready themselves to jump in while the Counter didn't know what to do. However Ian looks back at them with his confident eyes that showed to them that he got everything under control.
"I know that slowpoke….HOWEVER!" Ian pushes him back to where he belongs. " WE WANT TO LIVE! So, if you are willing to die that much then stay here!"
"Then, go! Leave us be!"
"No, not without them. I ain't leaving them to die because of you fool! For their lives deserve to be treated well rather than let them waste under the commander who couldn't barely keep himself together. So, I will be taking them whether you like it or not." Ian firmly said as he pointed at the Counter squad. Therefore, this declaration made Rapi, and Anis shocked so much it made them speechless. At the same time, it makes their chest tight again when Ian confessed that he values their lives.
"No you can't!"
"Yes I can! By the ARK Military Code 2517, The commander has a right to take other Nikkes under their command only if their Commander is 'KIA or Liability' during the field operation." By stating the law, it made Aron realize how screwed he was. Out of desperation, he kneels, and weeps in tears, begging for mercy.
"No no…..don't leave me here! I don't wanna die alone here! Please don't leave me!" Aron pathetically cries for help.
"Then, listen!" Ian grabs the collar of the blond commander, stopping him from acting like a pathetic man. " I will get you out here alive too, only if you cooperate with me, so do we have a deal?"
"Y-yes! YES! You can lead my squad just get me out of here!"
"Good." Ian said with goodwill as he let him go. After solving the issue, the two squads can finally work together as one.
"Glad, we finally got over it. Now, what's our move?" Sun asks as she sighs in relief.
"Hmm…a wise man taught me once, always use the environment to your advantage." Ian said as he observed the ruins with his keen eyes. After that, he pulls his knife, and starts sketching the mud with it while the girls watch their commander draw his idea as he explains it to them. "Listen up, here is what we are going to do. This street will be our killzone, my squad will take position on the left building, and set up an ambush on the second floor. We will be an assault element. As for Counter, you girls will take the rear building, provide security, and cover for our blind spot."
"It's gonna be an 'L' ambush text book." Rapi said as she admiringly observed Commander Lastimosa.
"Damn right" Ian nods as he sheaths his blade. "If we succeed, we will assess our situation, regroup, and fall back at the old hotel we passed before, Got it?"
""Yes, Commander!""
"Good, let's move out!"
Not for long, Echo, and Counter quickly move to their respective positions as they wait for their enemy to come.
"Commander Ian…." Sun curiously asks while her eyes are still focused on a road below them. "That code you mentioned, is that legit or full of bullshit?"
Ian chuckles as he observes the street with his binocular. "heh..Yes and no."
"Let me guess, 'The Liability' is not part of it, isn't it?" Cordelia enthusiastically answers this inquiry.
"Heh, You got that right" Ian replies with a grin and rewards her with a pat on her head once more. Which made Cordelia giggle proudly, and feel her skin shiver in bliss "You girls know your way around"
"Of course." Helia chip in. "We memorize every law in that textbook, so that we have leverage against any commander who tries to take advantage of us."
"Hah, that smart…now you mention it, is every commander always trea-"
"Counter to Echo, Counter to Echo"
Ian shifts his focus on the radio in his helmet. "This is Echo, report?"
"I spotted dozens of Rapture heading to our position." Rapi answers.
"Copy that, wait for my command." Ian said as he signaled his girls to get ready.
"Anis, get ready!" Rapi said as she pointed her barrel at the pack of Raptures just beyond their horizon.
"What should I do!? What should I do!?" Aron asks loudly as he falls to his knees in horror when he realizes that the Rapture outnumbered them.
"Hey, did you know that Rapture kills the loud one first?" Anis said with her brows furrowed together.
"Hii!" Aron covers his mouth in fear as he takes cover just beside Rapi.
"Good. Shut up, and keep your head down." Anis sighs in disbelief while she angles her grenade launcher with her finger close to the trigger.
After minutes of waiting, they have come. The earth began to shake, and the air began to whir. For the first time in his life, Ian finally meets his reapers, the Rapture. According to his eyes, this four legged machine is bigger than he realizes. Some are big as the mobile car while others are big as a tank, even their mounted weapon on their chassis is twice the size of the person. No wonder why humanity lost against them, he thought. If low class Rapture is this big, he can't imagine how big the Master or Lord, not even mention the size of the Tyrant!. However, this is not a time to be afraid because many lives depend on him, and he promises these girls to bring them home. So, he swallows his fear, and hardens his nerves.
"Hold…''Ian said as he observed the lead Rapture entering the kill zone.
Forehead sweating, breath is tense, and weapon is steady. The Nikkes silently watch a single file line of Rapture marching below them. Though, the rookie commander held his lip, and patiently waited for the half of the pack, pass through them. As soon as the lead Rapture turns to the corner of the street, Ian shouts from the top of his lungs.
"Open Fire!"
*SWOOOOSH…BOOM!*
Helia fires off her rocket first, taking out the Rapture in the middle of the pack. Once they saw the Rapture implode like a flame of mushroom, Counter, and Echo began to light up their enemy, and filled the killzone with explosives, and leads.
*WRIIIIIIIIII!*
*rataratarataratarat*
*Bam* *Bam* *Bam*
As the air, and street filled by gunfire, and explosion, the Rapture scrambles in panic as they turn their back from this street. However, they realize the corpse of their fellows blocks their escape, forcing each other to get clump up.
As for others who decide to march on, they witness their leader get its eye blown to kingdom come, and turn its corpse into another blockade for them.
"Anis, focus fire on the middle!" Rapi said as she reloaded her rifle with a new magazine, then picked off another Rapture that was trying to pass through the corpse.
Anis launches off a barrage of grenades as she watches the zone implode one after another along the bolts, and limbs flying throughout the air. "Let's get this party started!"
As the chaos rages on, Ian realizes that it's taking longer to annihilate them, for their bullets couldn't effectively penetrate their chassis. However, with careful observation, he notices some of the stray bullets manage to cripple their movement….
"Counter, Echo, focuses fire on the joint of their legs" Ian shouts as he realizes their weakness.
Without any hesitation, the Nikkes light up at all the legs of their target. As soon as they disable one of their legs, the Rapture loses its balance, and flop to the ground as they expose their belly up.
"O-Oh damn can't believe it works!" Sun said with her jaw drop while she easily filled their belly full of lead, quickly taking them out for good.
"Commander, you are a genius!" Cordelia said in amazement when she quickly cripple them, and dispatched them more easily than before.
"Keep up em! Keep up em!"
After a minute passed, silence fell upon the street once more, but this time the road was filled with a mountain of iron corpses along with blast marks, and bullet holes.
"Cease fire! Cease fire!" Ian said when he realized that no one is left to fight back. "Girls, check your weapon."
"I-Is it over?" Cordelia asks as she reloads her Sub machine gun.
Ian didn't reply at first, because he wanted to make sure that the area was clear. So, he keenly observes the street as he waits for any further counter attack. "Area is cle-!?"
The rookie commander bites his tongue when the mountain of corpses bursts out to the air, then a raging Rapture cries in anguish as it bolts toward the Counter.
"RAPI, YOU GOT INCOMING RAPTURE!"
Rapi aimed her rifle, although she hesitated when she saw the Rapture launch a missile that flew toward her direction.
"R-Rapi!" Anis warns her squad mate with her eyes wide.
"Commander get down!" Rapi screams with terror as she reaches for her commander.
*BOOOOM!*
"NOOOO!RAPI! ANIS!" Ian shouts in horror while his squad froze in fear when they saw the explosion blast off from the Counter position. Along the side of the building crumbling apart as the clouds of dust spread across the street.
"C-Commander!?" Helia said when she noticed their commander pick himself up as he brought his rifle.
"Helia, you take command of the squad!" Ian said as he checked the street below him. Judging whether he could land safely on the top of dead Rapture, from this second floor. "Keep watch for any counter attack, and wait for further instruction. I'll handle this!"
"D-don't do it, Commander, it's dang-! COMMANDER!" Helia screams in fear when she watches Ian jump from the window.
Meanwhile, Rapi finds herself in the ground, and witnesses the world before her is filled with dust.
"AAAAAARRRGHHH, I SEE BLOOD, OH GOD, I THINK I AM DYING!"
Rapi quickly wakes up from her daze when she hears her commander's cries. "Commander? COMMANDER!?"
"RAPI, HELP ME, SOMEBODY!"
"Hold on! I am coming!" Rapi shouts back as she tries to crawl out. Strangely though, she can't move her leg so she looks down, and finds both of her legs buried underneath the boulder. "D-Damn it!"
*WRIIIIIIIII!*
Rapi ceased her breath for a moment when she heard that foreboding scream. She looks beyond her, and sees a lone Rapture walking closer to them with its red eyes filled with rage.
"My weapon…." Rapi quickly searches for her assault rifle till she finds it further away from her. Then, she desperately tries to grab it while she feels her heartbeat gradually race for every loud thump that echoes in her ears. "Come on, come on!"
*WRIIIIIIIII*
The Rapture tower before Rapi as it caught her in her vulnerable state.
"Rapi!"
Rapi glanced her eyes at the familiar voice, and saw the rookie commander bravely stand before it with his rifle aim at it.
"Commander! No!"
*RATARATARATARATARAT!*
Without hesitation, Ian pulls the trigger as the muzzle flashes before his eyes, and mag dumps all his might against the Rapture before him. However, despite aiming for its weakness, he notices that he barely dent its leg. So, his futile attack made the Rapture scream in anger, and quickly turn its body 360 degrees with its guns aimed at him.
"O-O shit!"
*BAM! BAM! BAM!*
Ian quickly dives to the nearest cover as dust, and fire blast behind him. Then, he cowers under the debris, and helplessly watches his surroundings getting pounded like an artillery.
"Anis!" Ian shouts through his comm as he feels the rounds whiz above him.
"I am on it!"
Anis takes her position behind it, and aims her grenade launcher at the unsuspecting Rapture. "Encounter!"
*pomf* *pomf* *pomf*
*Boom*
Anis fired all her rounds as she filled the rapture with explosion. Once she hit the weak spot behind its head, a flame burst from its chassis followed up with eruption of flame along its head reaching for the clouds.
"Hostile down!"
After that ordeal, Ian, and Anis gather around Rapi. Once they saw her condition, Ian dropped to his knees with his face plaster with horror.
"Ra-Rapi…" Ian mutters with his jaw drops in fear. Although, he quickly shakes himself off when he realizes that she needs medical attention more than ever. "Helia do you copy?"
"Thank goodness, I am glad to hear from you again…my commander, is everything alright? more so are you okay, my dear?"
"Yes, I am okay. How's your end?"
"All clear, no sign of the enemy in the area."
"Great, gather up on my position. Also, tell Cordelia to ready her first aid gear. Rapi is gonna need medical attention."
"Roger, on our way."
"Help is on their way, hold on" Ian comforts her with his soothing voice while he rubs her shoulder to calm her nerves. Then, Rapi looks at him with her worried eyes.
"Commander…why are you risking your lives for us?" Rapi asks in her weak voice.
"Yeah, why would you do that?" Anis asks the sanity of this strange commander, "You should know by now that we are replaceable, so risking your lives for us is quite a dumb move ya know? Well, unless you are a nut-job!"
"Anis!" Rapi scold her again
"What? I am right, am I?"
Before they could go at it again, the rookie commander let out an amusing chuckle which caught their attention. Anis, and Rapi watch him sit on the mud as he takes his helmet off. Then, he brushes through his short black hair, and flashes his honest grin.
"Remember what I said back then…" Ian replied with a kind smile. The smile that takes their breath away, and makes their cheeks blush for a moment. "I promise that I will bring you all home, that means both of you too."
With his smile, and his honest response combined, it left Rapi, and Anis speechless once again. Never thought that there will be a man who will value the lives of Nikkes so much that they are willing to risk his life. They thought that this kind man will never be real, after all every commander they met so far treated them as tools. Yet here he is, the commander that they always hope for is in front of them, risking his life for them with a smile. Thanks to him, it made Counters realize what they are truly fighting for….
"Heeeyyyyy…..is anyone out there?"
"Oh my god….he lives?" Anis mutters with a disdain lingers in her eyes.
"Anis, go check on him…" Rapi said in her firm voice.
"Alright, Alright, I am going."
Anis reluctantly left the area to search for their no good commander, leaving Ian, and Rapi alone for a while.
"Commander…"
"Hm?"
Ian looked directly at Rapi which made her shy away, and melted her cold demeanor into replying in her meek voice. "I-I want to thank you for caring for us, I promise, I will repay you someday…"
"Thank me later when we get home." Ian teases her with a wink which makes Rapi cheeks fluster evermore.
"A-Affirmative." Rapi stutters as she looks away to hide her blushing cheeks.
"COMMANDER!"
The Echo squad join up with them, and greet their commander with a smile on their lips. Feeling glad to see him safe. At the same time, they are displeased with him for doing such reckless action, and leaving them behind without proper explanation.
"You dummy commander, why did you leave us like that eh!" Sun said as she lightly smacked his head.
"I didn't have time to explain."
"Yeah, what about that stunt you did back there?" Helian shoves Sun away, then she pouts her rosy cheeks as she lightly pinch his cheeks. "Did you know that you almost gave me a heart attack that time!?"
"Yeah, be considerate of our feelings, commander." Sun concerns echo behind the background. "Also, don't shoved me like that again, Helia!" Although, her complaints fell deaf ears on Helia.
"It worked well in the end, so it's fine!"
"I know that it ends well…..but." Helia sighs in defeat. "Please next time take me or someone from our squad when you are going to do something like that. Remember, your safety is our priority, we will be at ease if some of us are watching your back when you go alone."
"I bear that in mind."
"Commander, I will check up on your legs after I take care of her." Cordelia said with concern as she tended to the need of the leader of the Counter.
"No need, just focus on Rapi." Ian said while he signals Helia, and Sun to form a perimeter. Then, he went to Rapi side to check for her condition. "Cordelia, status report?"
"Not good, her legs were completely buried underneath the boulder. Even if we decide to salvage it, her legs will not be in good condition. So in the end, she will never be able to walk for a while. I suggest we cut it off." Cordelia answers as she prepares the necessary tools from her bag.
"Will that hurt?" Ian asks with his brow furrowed. Disturb the fact that they will cut her leg.
"Fear not, Commander. We Nikke's have the ability to turn off our pain receptors. Therefore, I won't feel any pain during the operation." Rapi explains calmly as she nods her head with confidence.
"Yep, we can even turn off all of our five senses. Pretty neat, yah," Cordelia flashes an innocent grin while she revs up her saw tool in her hands.
"*sigh* I believe you, but if there is the slightest sign of danger, we are stopping it." Ian replies with concern, but in the end he gives his nod of approval.
"Your concern for my sake makes me feel at ease, commander." Rapi said with a smile on her lips. A smile that made Ian blush, for he never expected a cool, and collected girl like her is capable of smiling in such a cute manner.
"Ok, let's do this~"
*VRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMM!*
Cordelia hums happily, showing that she is enjoying sawing Rapi's legs off while the rookie commander could only watch the entire operation in horror, and he is disturbed by the fact that this meek medic is enjoying doing this. He suspects that Cordelia might be a little unhinged.
After cutting her legs, the Idoll ocean applies a med-gel to seal off the wounds, then the rookie commander lends some help by wrapping Rapi's legs with bandages which exchange their baffle glances among the Nikkes.
"Ummm..Commander, I don't think that's necessary." Cordelia mutters with concern.
"Commander, Nikke's are immune against any type of biological infection which made bandages a useless kit for us. It is unnecessary to waste such precious resources for a Nikke like me.
"We don't know that…." Ian replies while he still insists on applying bandage on her wounds. "After all, we have never been on the surface for a very long time. We don't know how much things change here. We never know, maybe there is Rapture type bacteria for solely purpose infecting the wounds of any careless Nikke."
"I don't think such Rapture exists, commander. Trust me, I have been fighting, and been wounded on the surface for a long time..so far I never saw nor experienced such a thing." Rapi said with her eyes looking away in disbelief at the same time Cordelia nodded in agreement with her.
"Well, better be safe than sorry." Ian said as he tied the loose end of the bandage.
"Medic! I need a Medic here!"
Ian, Rapi, and Cordelia glance behind them, then they see Anis drag the blond commander whose face is covered with blood.
"Um…."
Cordelia looks at Ian first before he gives his nod of approval. She was reluctant at first, but then she remembered that it's Nikke duty to take care of the needs of the Commander. So, she went, and treated the sovereign commander, although she is not doing it for his sake, but for her respect to her own commander.
"So, what now?" Anis sits down and sighs in gladness when her bum can finally relax.
"I believe that the Counter squad has to pull back…"
"Oh, I see…wait what!?" Anis retorts in disbelief as for the rest they raise their brows in question.
"Look, your commander is out of action which does not really matter…and Rapi is disabled. That means, your squad is not in condition to fight. Let's also add the fact that someone has to stay behind to hold them off because if we abandon this position the FOB will be overrun."
"They will also reprimand us for disobeying orders." Helia adds another disturbing fact.
"But I can still fight!" Anis answers as she wiggles her legs, and arms.
"Then, who will bring Rapi, and your commander back to FOB?"
"Ummm…I…" Anis stutters when she realizes that he has a point.
"Then, that's the final."
Rapi, and Anis frown upon his orders. Feeling so wrong to leave them behind yet can't deny that he speaks with facts.
"Commander, I'll promise that we send support once we get back safely. You can depend on me" Rapi said.
"I know you will."
Ian smiled at her confidence which made Rapi blush again when this commander showed that he is willing to put his faith in her.
"Helia, find something that will aid Anis to drag his dead weight. All of you get ready to move on." Ian ordered them as he put his high-cut helmet back on his head.
Sometime Later….
"Rapi, you owe me a Soda."
Anis complains as she carries Rapi in her back. At the same time, she is pulling the rope that latches on the wheel where her unconscious commander lay on top of it. Meanwhile, The echo squad, and the rookie commander watch their back until they disappear from their sight.
"Looks like we are on our own." Helia said with a worried tone.
"B-But Rapi said she will send some backup." Cordelia nervously said.
"With that Senior Commander in charge..heh, very unlikely." Sun let out a scornful huff although her worries melt away when she looks at her commander. "At least our commander is with us till the end…"
"Nobody is going to die…remember, I will bring you home alive." Ian gave his confident words which made his Nikkes lift up their spirits yet behind their thoughts they knew that's very unlikely, but for his sake, they do anything they can to convince him there is a chance. Maybe a chance for him to survive.
"Echo squad move out!"
"Shifty, tell those damn flyboys to hurry up or else we will be all dead before they arrive" Cadorna shouts through his comms as he watches his base being filled up with wounded, and corpses coming from the frontline.
"Commander, you have to see this" A mass-produced Nikke said which made the Senior glare at her for disturbing him. Then, he let out a weary sigh, and he brushed off against the shoulder of the mass-produced Nikke as he passed her by.
"It can't be….they are alive." Cadorna mutters in disbelief when he finds himself staring at the battered Counter squad. "Medics get the commander to the ER now!"
A couple of medical Nikke pick up the blond commander leaving the counter to their own. Not even bothering to help Rapi who is also wounded.
"Tsk…of course, commander first before the tools." Anis mumbles with disgust.
"That doesn't matter, right now the Echo squad needs help." Rapi whispers behind the ears of blond Nikke.
"I know…" Anis said as she bravely marched on to confront the senior commander. "Commander."
"What?" Cadorna asks with a glaring glance.
"Commander, Echo Squad decided to stay behind to defend our flank. They are requesting for additional back up."
"This damn Nikke *sigh* Do you think we can send support out there? look around you! The assault has failed, everyone that is left is either wounded, and soon to be dead." Cadorna explains the state of their operation which makes the Counter shocked when they realize how bad their situation really was. "I also got a report from Shifty that we lost communication with your squad, and Echo…however, it seems like you made it out alive. So, consider yourselves lucky. Now, I ordered you to stand by, and ready for a full retreat."
"W-what we are leaving them beh-"
"Didn't you hear what I said!? They are dead!" Cadorna steps in closely to Anis. Close enough to intimidate her with his sharp glare, and tall stature. "Now, I give you orders to follow…or unless you need your memory wiped out? Which will it be, tin-can?"
"Y-yes, commander…." Anis backs away as she bites her lips.
"Good…02 escort these tin cans out of my sight."
"Yes-sir" The SoldierOW Nikke steps in between the Counter, and the senior commander. Gesturing her SMG to follow her to the assembly area. Left with no choice, the Counter silently follows her behind.
"Anis call Shifty, we need her confirmation regarding commander Lastimosa, and his squad." Rapi whispers as she feels something fishy going on.
"On it….." Anis replies while she shares his concern with her. Then, Rapi blinks when she notices her partner's eyes turn pale.
"What's wrong?"
"I-I can't contact S-Shifty!?"
*WRIIIIIIIIIIII!*
*BRAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAPA*
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
"Cease fire! Cease fire!"
Ian let out a tired sigh while he observed the field below him is filled with packs of smoking Raptures laying dead in the ground.
"Squad status?" Ian asks while he sits behind cover. Exchanging glances to each other, and seeing themselves covered with dirt, and dust. While their foot is surrounded with bullet casings still smoking from heat.
"Got two mags left…." Sun replied with disdain when she saw her pouches almost empty except for the two mags that were left on her legs.
"Only three remaining…" Helia said as she took out the empty bag from her left leg.
"One more…." Cordelia answers as she pulls out her last mag, and loads it up to her gun.
"Fuck…" Ian mumbled, and frustratingly rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"With our condition, we will not survive with another wave like that…" Helia grimly left a remark.
"B-but Rapi said she is sending back up, so we have to hold on for a little l-"
"Damn it Cordelia, there is no back up. There has never been! The commander sent us here to die to buy them some time, that's all we are, okay!" Sun shouted out her frustration on her which made Codelia squirm in fear. Realizing what she did, she quickly backed down, and felt regret for letting her emotion rile up. "Fuck me…"
"Not unless we retreat."
"W-what?" The rest of the Echo glance at their commander with their eyes wide.
"Commander, if we do that, they will punish us." Sun reminds him.
"Not unless I take full blame for this decision…"
"Then, they will send you to Rehabilitation center." Helia said.
"Good, I would rather be locked behind bars knowing you girls went back home alive."
"B-but Command-"
"Girls!" Ian said with his stern voice, and stern eyes. Showing to them that he ain't backing down from his decision. "I never had someone in my life who is kind to me, standing up for me, and believe on me…..So far you girls are giving all your best for me, and I appreciate every second of it…now, I beg you to let me return the favor, by bringing you all home alive."
…
"Now when put it that way…you make me feel bad." Sun said while holding her tears from falling off.
"If that makes you happy…then we do it." Cordelia said with a warm smile on her lips.
"If that is your will, then we do it. After all it is also our duty to follow your command till the very end." Helia replies as she leans on the shoulder of her commander.
Ian sighs in relief, and glad to have such wonderful Nikkes under his command. "Alright, let's move."
As they all stand up, Sun notices a flash on the corner of her eyes.
"Commander!"
*WHIIIIIIIIIIIZZZZZZZZ*
Ian wonders why he ends up in the ground. So, he lifted his chin up, and noticed a red stain on his hands. Then, his eyes trace this red stain from whence it came from until he finds himself staring at the body drench in a red pool.
"No..no….no…i-it can't be"
Before him, Sun lay motionless on the earth with her head blown into red paste, leaving nothing, but a headless corpse drowning in a red pool from her own blood. From this moment, that cute girl he knew, the girl who acts tough yet caring inside is no more, but a memory that is left behind….
"Damn it, Sniper!" Helia shouts in anger as she launches a rocket on the top of the building, blowing off the Rapture sniper into pieces.
*BOOM*
"SUN! NOOOOOOOOO! SUUUUUUUUN!"
Ian cries out loud with tears falling from his eyes while he is trying to drag the corpse with him. He didn't care whether his clothes or face was covered in her blood, he didn't care that she was heavy, he didn't care the shouts that were protesting behind his ears, he didn't care if she wasn't responding to him. All he cares about right now is that he has to bring her home, because that was a promise he kept for her…..
"Commander!? Commander!? She is dead! We have to go! Please!"
*smack!*
Cordelia slaps him so hard that it wakes Ian back to reality. Then, he looks at her, and sees her tears rolling down from her gray visor.
"Commander, she is gone! *sob* *sob* there is nothing left for us to save her! we have to move on!"
"B-But W-We have to bring her h-"
Cordelia takes out the dog-tags from her friend's corpse, and sticks it against her commander's chest.
"Sun will be happy to know if you get out here alive with her tags with you…please, Commander Lastimosa don't let her sacrifice be in vain."
Once Ian realizes the reality of her death, he closes his teary eyes, and silently mourns as he holds her tags close to his heart.
"Cordelia picks him up now!"
"Yes, Helia"
Cordelia did what she was instructed, and put him on her shoulder. Before they leave, Helia gives one last look at her friend's corpse.
"May you find peace…sister"
The Echo squad left the scene, leaving another fallen Nikke behind who died for the sake of humanity. Thus, one of the best feathers of the Goddess wing falls from its grace.
"You can put me down…."
Cordelia gently put him down, and silently watched her commander walk off to the street like a corpse recently risen from grave. Not that she can blame him, even her, the loss of her close friend also made her feel like her spirit wither from her body if she even has one, she thought. Although she resists to fall because her squad needs her, HER commander needs her more than ever. So, she has to be strong for him.
"You heard that?" Helia said while keenly listening to the skies. Not for long, they saw a flock of VTOL dropships flying away from the FOB.
"No, No…..No it can't be!" Ian shouts in horror when he realizes what's going on. So, he pops out a signal flare, and waves his hand as he shouts from the top of his lungs. "YOU FUCKIN BASTARD, HEEEEEEEEYYYYYYY WE ARE STILL HERE! DON'T LEAVE US!PUUUTANG INA MO, CADORNA!"
Meanwhile up in the air, one of the Nikke notices a red flare flew from below.
"Commander, look down there!"
"It can't be….." Anis mutters in disbelief, and horror when she sees that Echo squad is still down there, alive.
"Fuck…." Cadorna curses under his breath for he hopes that squad is dead, but now they know that he lied. Well not like it really matters for him, it will be just another minor inconvenience which is a pain in the ass to deal with, he thought.
"YOU GODDAMN LIAR!" Anis bursts in anger as she bravely marches on toward the senior commander. However, a group of Nikke gather around him which stops Anis from stepping furthermore. "YOU TOLD US THEY ARE DEAD, BUT THEY ARE NOT, BECAUSE OF YOU, MY FRIENDS GOT LEFT BEHIND!"
"I advise you to watch your mouth or else you find yourself in rehabilitation." Cadorna sternly warns her.
"Pilot put this down! We need to get them back to the Ark."
"Delay that order, pilot. They are dead men now!"
"SHIT!" Anis punches the wall which puts a dent on it. Then, she looked to her squad leader for assistance "Rapi, help me out will you…Rapi?…." as soon as she saw her friends' eyes turn pale. From that moment, she realized that there is nothing they can do for them.
*BAM* *BAM* *BAM*
From the air, the Counter helplessly watches a pack of artillery Rapture launch a salvo of high explosive rounds upon the position of Echo squad. Within a few seconds, their position was filled up by a series of eruptions of smoke, and fire till the street and building in the area were reduced into rubble, and clouds of dust.
"See, now he is dead." Cadorna sighs in relief, and brushes off his palms.
"No…no…no…no"
Anis falls down, and hugs her knees as she buries her head underneath it. Sobbing, and mourning for the good commander, and their fellow sisters. As for Rapi, she glances outside the window with a thousand yard stare as tears fall from her red eyes. Accepting the fact that she failed another good commander...
*cough* *cough* *cough*
Body is aching, chest is heavy, and his vision is blurry. Yet, the rookie commander bravely marches onward, and aimlessly wanders at this dusty world to search for his beloved squad.
"Helia! Cordelia!"
Ian continues to call for their names even when he can feel his voice getting raspy. Not that matters for him because his squad is more important than his condition. So, he continues to call for them from the top of his lungs, and push his legs to move till it breaks.
Not for long, he found a large boulder of concrete. Underneath the concrete, it has a blood stain, and an arm that sticks out from it. He recognizes that gray sleeve, it belongs to no other but his Cordelia.
"No….no….not you too."
Ian drops to his knees while he feels his tears rolling down again from his eyes. From here, he saw Cordelia's corpse buried underneath the boulder, yet still managed to pull out her dog-tags for him to find in her last moment. Realizing her commitment for him even in death, brings heavy to his chest, and numb to his heart, knowing he failed another great Nikke who deserves better than him, he thought.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"
Ian repeatedly punches the boulder till his knuckles cover is bruised, and blood. Although, despite how painful it looks, he didn't feel any of it. Mostly right now, all he feels is grieve for the loss of his squad….and the contempt for himself because of the fact that he failed them.
"I am sorry, Cordelia….you deserved better than this." Ian wiped off his tears while he picked her bloody dog-tags from her soft hands.
"C-Commander?"
Ian's breath ceased, and his heartbeat halts for a moment when he hears that familiar voice. Then, when he hears her voice again, he quickly bolts towards whence it came from.
"Helia! Hold on!"
Ian frantically searches for her in this dusty world, with his chest full of hope. Hope that maybe she is safe. Yet, that hope was swiftly taken away from him once he found her.
Before him, Helia lay on the ground with her torso torn asunder. Painting the ground around her with synthetic blood, and guts. Yet, despite all this, Helia is still fighting for her life, and hoping to see her commander even in her grim state.
"C-Commander?" Helia looks over the silhouette. Then, when she recognizes that silhouette, she curls up her weak lips into a warm smile. Feeling glad to see her commander, safe, and sound. "I-It's good to see you alive…"
"O my dear Helia…." Ian drops to his knees while he helplessly watches his beloved Nikke dying before him.
"How am I doing?" Helia weakly asks.
At first, he bites his lips from answering her inquiry, knowing the fact that there is no way he is brave enough to say it. So, he replies with a white lie to comfort her…at least that's all he can do for her as a weak, and pathetic commander.
"Y-you doing good so far H-Helia"
"Liar….O my dear Commander, lying is not your strong suit" Helia chuckles briefly when she recognizes his bullshit. Yet, she quickly stops her amusement when she also recognizes that familiar pain on his face, the pain of guilt. "Commander….are you blaming yourself…for all of this?"
"Of course, Helia. I am…." Ian retorts in disdain as he holds on his trembling tears, and shoulders. "I promise to bring you all home..I did…..now, everyone is dead, and it's all because of me."
"Not everyone, commander."
Ian's eyes grew wide to his surprise, and stared at Helia's dying lips.
"The Counter made it out alive….they are alive because of you."
"B-but I still failed you all to bring back hom-" Ian shut his lips tight when the Idoll flower reached for his cheeks, and stroked him gently while showing off her warm eyes behind her broken visor. In response, he held on to her cold palm.
"C-commander, I am cold….so cold….could you warm me…" Helia said as she stretched her arms wide open.
"Yes….."
Without hesitation, Ian slides his trembling arms under her slender yet broken body. Follow up by bringing her up closer to his chest, and let her hug him with glee.
For the first time in her life, she never felt warm, and happy until now. Thanks to him, he granted something that Helia always wanted in her life. To be embraced by a man with warm love.
"O commander, you are so so warm." Helia whispers with bliss on his ears, and uses all her strength left on her just to tight up her love embrace. "Listen ….Commander, just listen. It's time to accept it…. we are dead, and there is nothing you can do about it…..However, it is also a fact that all of this is not your fault…it's the Ark…it's the Ark fault, they are the who led us to death, both commanders, and the Nikkes….it's them who abandon us, but I-I believe you can change all of that…So, please Commander Lastimosa….don't give up….fight on….because the Counter, and the rest of my sisters need you more than ever…only you can give them a hope…a hope for a change in their l-lives. Please….save them"
"H-how? Helia how?" Ian asks with doubts lingering in his mind. "If I can't even save my own squad, then what chance do I have to do this? Helia?"
"Commander, remember?...remember our promise…"
On her last words, Helia breath ceased to exist, and gradually slipped away from his embrace. Before he knew it, Helia passed away with her words still haunting him till now. Yet, all that fear, and doubts cease for a moment when he sees that she died peacefully with a smile on her lips. Thanks to her, it made him realize. Realize how much she believes in his capabilities even in death. So, if that's how everyone looks up to him, can he really spend all his life blaming himself until he lets the condemned consume him or is it better to fight on, and live for his beliefs so that their sacrifice will not be in vain? What will it be, Commander? He asked himself.
"I don't know….Helia, I don't know how…"
Ian asks while he closes her pale eyes, and takes her dog-tag with him. Then, he glances up when he notices the red eyes glowing within the dusty world. He clearly recognizes that eyes, it's the eyes of the reapers of the surface, Rapture. Now it's here to claim his life.
*WRRIIIIIIIIIIIIII!*
"But there is one thing I know, Helia….I will not go down without a fight….that I assure you Helia, Cordelia, Sun."
Ian hardens his gaze, and glares back at the death itself. Then, he reaches for the explosive bag, and slowly raises his SIG MCX rifle. Then he stops when he feels something wet in his legs. So, he looks down, and finds his leg wrapped up with a tentacle.
"Puta-!"
Ian curses under his breath when he suddenly feels all his weight drag down through the stone, and mud. Then, he glances up, and finds himself being dragged by it towards its open maw. Waiting patiently for his prey to come to swallow him, however, Ian thought otherwise.
As soon as the tentacles got him closer to its maw, Ian tossed the bag, and let its jaw bite it.
"I am ready!" Ian screams in anger as he aims at its maw, and pulls the trigger "How about you!?"
*BOOOOM!*
Ian flies away as he watches its jaw shattered to pieces along its whole body being consumed by the clouds of flame. At the same time, that very same explosion managed to burn half of his torso, and his face yet he didn't feel any of it, all thanks to his adrenaline. However, the fight is not over yet because the Rapture is still standing strong even with a missing jaw, and burnt chassis.
"Come at me, Come at me!" Ian bravely taunts the Rapture while he shoots it with a handgun. Then, when his pistol clicks, he can tell that this is where it ends. So, he closes his eyes, and waits for the inevitable end to come.
"ALIEN TARGET ACQUIRED!"
Out of nowhere, a laser shot melted one of its legs, crippling the Rapture for good. Then, he watches a large humanoid silhouette jump in front of him as it kicks the rapture under the belly. Once the Rapture flips to its back, the giant steps on its belly, and shoves its giant energy rifle on it then melts it full of plasma.
"Hostile eliminated, area clear" Said the giant silhouette as it holsters its energy rifle, and walks towards him. Once it towers before him, his blurry vision can finally tell what it is.
Before him, is a 25 feet tall humanoid with its body made of steel. This exoskeleton mech has a body lookin like a golem, yet it doesn't have a head, instead it has a single eyeball in the middle of its circular chassis. Despite its odd design, he can tell this mech is not a Rapture because the design is lacking Alien features, and more like leaning on human design. Such as its chassis painted in stoic blue, and the pair of wings that painted between the eyeball of the mech.
"Pilot, life sign detected…."
Suddenly, its main body split open revealing the pilot of this strange mech. However, this pilot is not a man, instead its entire being is made of a robotic frame, and wearing tactical gear at same time.
"How is he?"
The robot pilot asks as he gracefully jumps from his seat, and stands by his side with its monitor head staring at his blurry vision. As for his giant partner, it closes its cockpit, and stands before him while it scans him with its light coming from its eyeball.
"Scanning…suffered third degree burns on torso, left face, left arm….Detecting shrapnel in abdominal area, high possibility of internal bleeding. Survival rate….10%" The giant mech said in its feminine yet robotic voice.
"W-wh…" Ian tries to force his tired lips to open, but due to his burns, and his exhaustion it stops him from doing so. Then before he knows it, his consciousness finally fades away.
"I like those odds, we're taking him."
"Pilot?"
"I know, but despite all that he is still kicking, and living. I think he is the one. Come on, tough guy. Don't die, I still have to make a pilot out of you yet."
*beep* *beep* *beep*
"Pilot, his heart rate is going down, we are losing him…."
"I know. I know I am working on it!"
The panic, and the beeping of his life support wake his consciousness up from his deathbed. So, he opened his blurry eyes, and found himself surrounded with all kinds of medical machine, and arms. While beside him, is the familiar robot pilot who is trying to operate on his wound.
"Pilot, I see no sign of improvement on his well being. Conclusion: the surgery is not enough to save him."
"Yes, but with this I think it will work" the pilot said as he pulled out a strange syringe from the table.
"Warning! There is only a 20% chance for any human to survive the augmentation. Caution! Possibility of extreme pain during the augmentation procedure. Pilot, I am against this unethical solution."
"But it will give him a chance…." Pilot protests while it looks directly at him. "Look he is awake, let him decide." the pilot said as he showed himself holding a syringe in front of him, while the other hand was on the plug of his life support. "Look kid, things ain't going well. The surgery is not enough to save you, but this augmentation will. So, I am giving you a choice. You pass away peacefully, and no longer have to endure anymore pain, or…..fight on through hell to live or die trying. So, which one will it be, kid?"
Of course, the answer is obvious, he has a promise to fulfill, and he makes sure that he carries out that vow before he goes down for good. So, he uses all his strength to move one of his arms, and point his finger at the syringe in front of him.
"HAH! I know I picked the right person, I can tell there is 6-4 spirit on you kid….now get ready."
Without hesitation, the pilot stabs the syringe on his chest which makes the rookie commander coil up, and scream in agony. He feels like he was thrown into the pits of hell, scorching his entire body both inside, and outside. Due to intense pain, his body quickly gave up, and his consciousness fades away.
;;;;;;;;
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RSPN Modular X-BIOS v2.681
***ARES CLASS VI PROHIBITED DEVICE DETECTED***
WP97-NT7-X
RSPN Adaptive Bootloader v1.55
Verifying Consistency…
Done.
Exec regen_respawn_ -loopback 255 -verbose
Execing config: regen_respawn_
Hunk_onRegenStart: 155271902
Validating Operator Credentials….
OVERRIDE! Rescind code ARES-01889934 accepted.
Backing up to /ext/xsdcard/2.00
Backing up /core/mem/weapons
Backing up /core/mem/Titans
Backing up /core/mem/factions
Wrote 56 chunks in 12 blocks.
Generating md9sum….
Flashing BIOS version 3.0….
Done.
C1_reboot -soft -restore -remote
mnt /ext/xsdcard/2.00
Restore: writing blocks….
Verify md9sum…..
Verified! Regen complete in 0m 16s
Reinitializing software, please wait…
[REGENERATION COMPLETE]
To be Continued-
Up next Chapter 2: Become one.