Chapter 38 - The Time Has Come
The sirens tore Sachiko from sleep in a brutal fashion, leaving her disoriented and trying frantically to turn the offending alarm off. It wasn't her alarm though that had driven her so rudely from a sound slumber. It was the perimeter alarm.
Her stomach clenched in dread, Sachiko reached for the phone just as it began to ring. "What's happening?" She barked the instant she had the phone to her ear.
"The Contin are attacking from the West." Shimako responded with a slight tremor in her voice only barely noticeable.
"Deploy the squads on standby. Alert those squads patrolling to the East and South that they are to maintain their positions for now. Tell the northern squad to support the West, but to keep their spotters in place. The Contin are smarter than we've given them credit for; they will try to sneak past our defenses. Also, alert all squads to be on the lookout for Ryoshi. Movements should be reported immediately." Sachiko swiftly issued her orders as she dressed in a whirlwind of motion.
"Yes, sir." The command center was a flurry of noise and alarms behind Shimako as she listened to Sachiko's orders. "Saber Squad wasn't assigned to any contingent, Major. Where would you like them to report?"
Stepping into her combat boots and pulling her body armor over her head, she lifted the phone to her ear once more and replied, "They report to me. Inform them to meet me at the barricades."
"Yuki!" Yumi was yelling for her brother even before the door of the lab closed behind her. "Yuki!"
"Over here!" The alarms could still be heard within the lab, though they were significantly muffled.
Racing across the lab, Yumi flung the plastic divider aside as she entered what had become her treatment room. Yuki, hair mussed and clothes wrinkled from sleep, didn't even look up from his work, leaning over an armor-plated vest.
"They are here!" Rushing to his side, Yumi looked around cautiously, as if a Ryoshi was already lying in wait for her.
"Yeah, the alarms kinda clued me into that," Yuki responded sarcastically, yet still he didn't turn his eyes away from his work.
"Yuki, seriously! Stop your tinkering and give me the rest of the serum! They are coming!"
"Don't you think I know that?" He snapped. "Just back off for a minute!"
"Whatever you're working on doesn't matter anymore! This is it. We are out of time!" Grabbing his arm, she pulled him away from his workbench, forcing his eyes to meet hers. "You need to give me the serum and let me go." She softened her voice as she spoke, knowing what this was doing to her brother, yet needing him to hear what she was saying. This wasn't his fault. It was just the result of the fucked up world they lived in.
His eyes were hard, though sad as he responded through clenched teeth. "What do you think I'm working on here? This-" He pointed at the armor he was working on. "Is your new suit."
"Another one?" Confused, Yumi looked from her brother to the suit and back. "But my suit is-"
"Is not good enough." Yuki barked, jerking his arm from Yumi's hold and returning hurriedly to his work. "I told the General that if I was doing this, fucking with my sister's biological chemistry and then sending her into the clutches of those homicidal aliens, then I was going to deck you out in the most protective gear I could possibly build. Now, shut up for a minute while I put the last touches on the only thing that's going to keep you alive out there!"
Taken aback by his vehement tone, Yumi took an instinctive step back from her brother. "Whoa, okay… I'm sorry."
Visibly taking a breath to steady himself, Yuki shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. This is really starting to- to get to me, you know?"
Yumi nodded her understanding but chose not to say anything else. At this point, they both knew the stakes and what the ultimate price of all this would be. She wouldn't turn what would possibly be the last moments she had with her brother into a shouting match. She owed him so much. Should she succeed, she wanted him to be proud of his contribution to ending the war, despite her inevitable death. "Yuki-chan, I want you to know that I think you're amazing."
Snorting, he shook his head. "I hide in a lab and let my sister and all the other women fight battles for me. I'm not so amazing. You," He looked up then, his eyes once more soft and his grin, though sad, was back. "You're the amazing one. You're so brave. I don't understand how anyone, let alone my sister, could possibly be willing to serve themselves up to the enemy like this." His voice grew softer then and his eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Sis, I don't want you to die."
Her heart breaking, Yumi stepped to her brother's side and pulled him into a crushing hug. Resting her head on his shoulder, she whispered, "I don't plan on dying."
With another snort, Yuki pulled back, shaking his head. "Yeah, you don't plan on a lot of things that end up occurring, but okay… Promise me that-" Before Yumi could swear to promise whatever he wanted, he stopped and shook his head. He wasn't going to force her to promise something she would ultimately have very little control over. "Just remember that you have a brother here that will be all alone should you not return, okay?"
She wanted to argue that point, telling him there would be others, but she didn't. Yumi knew it wasn't the same. "I'll remember." She promised.
Nodding, Yuki shook off the sadness, not wanting despair to be the last image she had of him, and stepped back. Waving toward the opposite counter he turned back to his task. "Now hurry up and get into that jumpsuit over there, while I finish this."
The faint sound of the alarms quickly reminded Yumi of the urgency they were facing. "Jumpsuit?" Moving to the other side of the room she picked up a suit that lay folded there. It was dark, nearly void black and felt thicker than it appeared, flexible yet oddly firm at the same time. "What is it?"
"It's what you'll be wearing under this armor. That will hopefully provide the protection that the armor alone cannot provide."
With Yuki's back turned to her, Yumi swiftly donned the suit. As she had suspected, it didn't give her the full range of motion she would prefer, but she did feel more protected in it. "How long have you been working on this?"
Moving hurriedly from one workbench to another and back, Yuki waved her question off. "That's not important right now. What is, is explaining the new features of your armor and a few-" He turned to face her, "Special features I have added."
Yumi listened intently as Yuki finished explaining the new features of her new suit. By the end of his explanation, she was astounded. "Yuki, you've created a defensive suit and removed most of the offensive capabilities I've been used to."
Yuki nodded in agreement. "Yes, because the concern is you surviving, not you going one woman Samurai army on them. Not this time. But believe me," They met at the bed in the middle of the room, which was draped with a sheet concealing a form beneath. With a twinkle in his eye, he finished his statement, "The defenses I've given you pack a serious punch."
With that, he pulled back the sheet to reveal the nearly completed suit beneath. It was nothing like her previous suits. It looked to be plated, almost medieval, yet futuristic as well. As he talked, he went about securing the final piece of plating near the neck of the suit. "These hinges are the tightest they can possibly be without removing your full range of motion. The areas around your joints, such as your elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles, and waist, are the weakest areas of the exoskeleton, however, you may have noticed that those areas of your jumpsuit are reinforced with a duel layer of kevlar with a thin, flexible, yet durable metal sheeting between the layers."
Having finished with the suit, he turned to Yumi and reached behind her head to a hood she had noticed but hadn't pulled up. He did so then, pulling the material up and over her head. Yumi was startled when he proceeded to pull the material down over her eyes, nose, and chin until it ended at the base of her neck.
"Yuki, you can't be serious?"
"Stop complaining and open your eyes."
"How do you know they are closed?"
"Because you wouldn't be complaining if they were open." Yumi opened her eyes to see a smirking Yuki standing before her. "You'd be startled by my brilliance."
Disbelieving, Yumi reached up to touch the material over her eyes. Yes, it was there, yet she could still see. It wasn't a perfect, crisp vision, but definitely serviceable enough that she would be able to fight. "What the- Yuki, what is this?!"
"Impressed?"
"Confused! How can I-"
"No time for questions like that because the answer is not simple. Just know that the General paid a hefty price to get me all the materials I needed to make you this suit. While the outer armor should protect you from piercing or slicing damage, that jumpsuit will hopefully protect you from concussive damage and give your joints the extra protection they need. Now, climb up onto the table and lay in the suit." He grabbed her arm and supported her as she maneuvered onto the table and then lowered herself into the suit.
She almost expected the front half of the suit to be suspended over her, ready and waiting for Yuki to lower it, but nothing was there. "Uh, Yuki, I'm sure you realized this, but I'm missing something… important." She motioned to the front of her body, pointing out that the front of the suit was missing.
Shaking his head, he gently pushed her head and arm back into position and replied with a sigh. "You still doubt me after all this time?" He reached around and seemed to be clicking something into place.
"What are you doing?"
Pointing to a small rectangular patch on the interior of her forearm, he explained. "This is how you'll administer the last dose with the striping agent that will remove the masking agent that's been hiding you from the Ryoshi. There are four injection points, two on your forearms and two on your calves."
"You're not giving me the final dose here then?"
Yuki shook his head. "This unmasking agent will remove the chemical dampeners from the previous shots. Basically, you'll light up like a beacon designed specifically to attract the Contin. By the time you recover from the shot, Ryoshi would most likely be tearing through the base in force." With a solemn look he clenched his teeth. "You need to be able to lead these beasts away from the base, not straight to us."
"Thank you for thinking about that." Yumi whispered, seeing the pain and unease he was experiencing and hating it.
He merely nodded in response, visibility fighting back his unease and emotion. "Anyway, I am aligning these injector points with the suit." A few moments later he was finished and stepped back. "All set."
"How do I initiate the dose?"
"Lift the small panel on her left wrist and hit the small button. Once the dose has been injected the button won't do anything."
"Good to know. Um, still missing that vital piece here, Yuki."
Yuki sighed. "Still doubting me. I'm hurt. This functions a lot like your helmet."
"Where is the trigger point?"
"That's what's different about this one. It's activated by applying pressure to the heels, elbows, and head points at the same time. There is no exterior trigger point, for obvious reasons."
Following his instruction, Yumi applied pressure to the trigger points. With a clicking sound, the suit quickly engulfed her body. Without hesitation, Yumi swung her legs over the edge of the bed and jumped down. With a thud, she landed, straightened, and stretched, getting a true feel for the suit. It was far more comfortable than she imagined it would be. While she couldn't see herself, she felt intimidating and confident, housed beneath the layers of protective gear. "Yuki, this is great."
Yuki, who stood behind her, smiled as he saw the image painted onto the back of her armor. Valkyrie wings appeared to extend from between her shoulders, an ethereal glow enhancing the image and making her appear all the more otherworldly. "Yes, it really is great. Now, dear sister," He spun her around and gazed where he knew her eyes would be. "There are a lot of features about this suit I could go on and on about, but basically it will save your life. Do not, for any reason, exit the armor."
Yumi nodded her understanding. "I have to go." Alarms still sounded in the distance and Yumi knew she had already taken too long. The thought that this might be the last time she would ever see her brother put a hard lump in her throat and tears in her eyes, which she was grateful he could not see.
With a hard swallow, Yuki nodded and stepped back. "Kiotsukete, Yumi-chan."
Knowing that if she opened her mouth to give the customary response she would cry, Yumi merely nodded. Turning from him, she moved past the workbenches and almost made it to the door before the tug to turn back was too much to fight.
Despite not being able to see her face, Yuki could see the struggle in her just by the set of her shoulders. Not wanting to make her exit more difficult for her, he smiled broadly at his sister. "Go give them hell, sis."
Her relief was apparent as she straightened and squared her shoulders. With a two-finger salute, she turned and walked silently from the room.
To himself, Yuki whispered into the alarm-filled night, "And may Maria-sama watch over you."
Despite the heft of the suit, Yumi found it was surprisingly easy to run and maintain her speed, due to how Yuki must have constructed the legs and boots. Not a millimeter of her body, not even her feet, was exposed. The boots boosted her height and seemed to propel her forward at a faster rate. Smiling to herself she muttered, "Yuki does think of everything."
Coming to the hallway where a right turn would take her to the battle and a left would take her to the command center, to Sachiko, Yumi only paused a moment before turning right. Sachiko would understand that there was no time to spare. She would understand why Yumi didn't seek her out before initiating the plan. Hopefully, she would understand it all.
Pushing all thoughts of her own desires to the side, Yumi forced herself to focus on the task at hand. Contin were attacking the base and she needed to stop them. Moments later she threw open her squad room's door, startling the group of Privates shakily getting their gear on. Without pausing, she yelled an order as she strode the few steps to her locker and gear. "Get a move on it, Privates! Contin are at our doors. Secure your armor, helmets, and boots! Load your service rifle and make sure you have your expanded ammo packs! Move it! Now!"
Grabbing her pistol, she checked that the clip was full and the chamber was clear before sliding it smoothly into her thigh holster. With a practiced twist of her wrist, she slung her sheathed Wakizashi over her shoulders, instinctively tying the end in place to keep the straps from shifting too much. Looking down she grinned, seeing that Yuki had anticipated her desire to carry additional blades. Just above each of her ankles, on the outside of her legs, were small sheaths built into her armor. An additional sheath lined the inside of her left leg. With swift precision, she selected easily concealed knives and a longer dagger and secured each in their sheaths. Lastly, she grabbed her rifle and spun to face the room.
Her squadmates all stood staring at her, many of the younger girls with fear evident in their young, innocent faces. Yumi wished she had time for a rousing speech, to provide them the comfort they were seeking, but they had no more time to spare while their fellow soldiers were fighting for their lives in the yard.
As if called to action by their silence, Sei stepped from her office, fully garbed for battle. Seeing the inaction in the room, Sei swung her rifle around from her hip and cocked it with a flick of her wrist. "It's time to teach those hive-minded aliens what it means to mess with Saber Squad's people. Get your asses moving!"
With a yell of agreement, the girls followed Sei in a charge out into the hangar. Yumi easily took stride at Sei's side as the older girl winked confidently at Yumi. "You ready for this?"
Yumi didn't have to tell Sei that she was scared. Sei knew and was trying to make this seem like any other mission. But this wasn't any other mission and they both knew it. Regardless, Yumi took a measure of comfort from the normalcy of Sei's question. "Ready for anything," Yumi responded with as much confidence as she could muster.
Pushing through the massive metal doors out into the open hangar, Yumi paused only a moment to grab Sei's arm. Though her face was hidden from view, Sei could envision the look of pleading on her young friend's face. "Whatever happens, take care of them. Take care of her."
Nodding, Sei placed her hand firmly over Yumi's armored one. "We'll take care of them together, now get your metal gear butt into a jeep and get out there. We'll be right behind you, kid."
Bounding toward the closest jeep, she grabbed the cross beams and swung straight up into the back. Without her having to issue the order, Ichika and Emi jumped into the front of the jeep, with Junko and Moriko taking the last two seats.
Slamming her metal-clad fist against the side of the jeep, she yelled, "Get us outta here, Ichika!"
Setting her face with determination, Ichika jerked the jeep into gear and tore out of the hanger. What unfolded in front of them was utter chaos. Troops already held position along barricades, laying down suppressive fire toward enemy Contin as they charged through the darkness. Beyond a far ridge, Yumi could see faint lights. "Ichika, western ridge!"
"You got it!"
As they moved, Yumi took aim at any Contin in their path. Junko and Moriko did the same, tossing out grenades with surprising accuracy and wielding their assault rifles like seasoned pros. While she had not been their weapons instructor, Yumi was still proud of how they each handled themselves. It was obvious they were getting cover fire from the barricades, as many enemies seemed to drop before Yumi or the Privates could take aim at them.
They were approaching the western ridge when it happened. Two Ryoshi jumped from the darkness when such swiftness that no one could react in time. The first landed on the cross beams over Ichika and Emi while the second clung to the right side of the jeep. Even as Yumi fired on the first one, she saw the second reaching for its prey. She tried to pivot her rifle, but it was over in the blink of an eye. Moriko was gone. Her screams filled Yumi's ears for just a moment before she and the Ryoshi disappeared into the darkness. An instant later, her screams were swallowed by Junko's, who had instinctively reached for Moriko.
With a scream of fury at seeing her squadmate taken, Emi pulled a small dagger from a sheath on her leg and drove it straight up through the chin of the Ryoshi still clinging to the crossbeams above her head. With a sickening twist of her wrist, the Ryoshi's body grew still. Before its death cry had fully left its throat, Emi used the purchase of her blade to roll the creature off the jeep and into the roiling darkness that surrounded them.
Panic taking hold in her chest, Yumi let her rifle fall to her side as she drew her Wakazashi from the sheath along her back. It was time she embarked on the solo part of her mission. The girls needed to get back behind the barricades. "This is where I get off!"
Ichika, to her credit, didn't look away from the path she was driving, but her fear was evident as she yelled back to Yumi over the din of the battle. "No, Yumi-sama! Let us take you all the way in!"
"No can do, Private! Get yourself and your squadmates back behind the barricades. That's an order! Keep them safe!"
Ichika's shoulders straightened. "Yes, sir!"
Yumi could see the fear in Emi's and Junko's eyes, but there was nothing she could do. She was out of time. So without another word, she jumped from the vehicle just as Ichika whipped the jeep around to head back toward relative safety.
All around she could hear the rustling movements of enemies charging through the darkness and the ever-present clicking screeches of the aliens. Steeling herself, she knew what she needed to do. She had to get to the top of the ridge and initiate the injection. It was time to light the beacon and end this cat-and-mouse hunt.
Drawing her pistol, she wielded it in one hand and her blade in the other. Movement to her left drew her attention just as a Contin barrelled through the foliage five meters from where she stood. Without pausing, Yumi met the Contin with a blade directly through the chest and a bullet in the side of its head. Even as the first alien fell to the ground in a lifeless heap, Yumi was moving. The ridge was steep and then enemies coming over the ridge would have the advantage, but she didn't let that slow her movements.
The next to attack was a Ryoshi, clicking and squealing as it charged down the slope on all fours. Yumi knew the memory of this climb would haunt her nightmares, but she couldn't let her fear stop her now. Jumping to the side, Yumi swung her blade wildly toward her speeding enemy. The impact of its body against her blade nearly forced it from her hand, but she managed to hold fast. Passing cleanly through the Ryoshi's neck, Yumi's blade flashed in the moonlight, revealing the dark blood that stained its edge. How much human blood was going to be spilled this night because the enemy was searching for her? If anything more happened to her squad, she would never forgive herself. Already she knew she would carry the burden of Moriko's death with her for the rest of her life.
She was very near the top when two massive troll-like figures materialized from the shadows. Two Basaka, each wielding long, bladed clubs she had never seen before, zeroed in on her. She could hear the bullets cascading off their natural armor. Those covering her would be able to do nothing against these two, not without firing an RPG into them and she silently prayed the soldiers knew better than to do that with her so near.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" She tried to move aside, but the ridge was nearly vertical where she stood and there was no clear escape route for her to use. While she just barely managed to dodge the first attack, she could do nothing to escape the additional, nearly simultaneous, attack from the second one.
The strike of the club jarred her entire body and sent her flying up onto the ridge. She landed with a metallic thud, the jolt rattling her very bones. Lying motionless for a moment, Yumi tried to orient herself and determine the extent of the damage. Though she did trust Yuki, she was still shocked to discover her body was fully intact. The impact was sure to leave her aching, but beyond that, she couldn't feel any severe injury. This fact was enough to bolster her confidence and give her the boost in energy she need to get to her feet.
As she approached the barricades, Sei was pleased to see Rei and a few of the Privates already taking up positions around Sachiko and laying down fire against the enemy. Sachiko was nearly done assembling her sniper rifle, but Sei skidded to a stop by her side. "Major, funny meeting you at this party. I didn't think this was your scene."
Turning an unamused gaze in Sei's direction, Sachiko clicked her scope into place and set the magazine with the palm of her hand. "I'm here to break up the party, not join it."
"Yes, sir!" Sei grinned ruefully, impressed by the steadiness of Sachiko's hands and her eyes. "What's your orders?"
"We need to clear the way as best we can for Yu- Valkyrie. Where is she?"
Sei pointed toward the jeep just turning the bend around the last of the barricades. "She's there, heading for the ridgeline. Four Privates are with her."
Sachiko grimaced at that news. She knew the Saber Squad Privates were a formidable group, yet she still worried that they would not be able to stay safe beyond the barricades with little to no backup. As the jeep moved away from the base, all Sachiko could see in the darkness was the glow of their taillights and the narrow glint of their headlights.
"Raise the Captain on the radio. Once they get to the ridgeline I want it lit up with every spotlight we have in the western field." As Sei moved to follow her orders, Sachiko took up a position at the barricade, flipped her scope to night vision, and took aim. Attracted by the lights of the jeep, Contin swarmed down the ridge, angling for the vehicle. "Cover that vehicle!" Her order was repeated by squad leaders all around her.
Expelling a deep breath, Sachiko held the rifle firmly against her shoulder, took aim at a Contin that was nearly upon the vehicle and shot. Almost immediately the enemy hit the group. The next was a Ryoshi, moving so fast that Sachiko could barely see it in the brush. It wasn't until it jumped to the top of a rock and was about to jump into the passing vehicle that Sachiko fired. The creature's chest exploded with the impact of her bullet and it tumbled out of sight behind the boulder.
After five shots she needed to reload. As she did she heard cries of anger and surprise from those around her and instinctively knew something had happened. Slamming her new magazine into place, she sighted through her scope and watched with horror as one of the Privates was ripped from the vehicle by a vicious Ryoshi. "No!" Sachiko cried, tracking the alien's movements as it lept from the vehicle. As soon as it landed, it's body concealed much of the flailing Private as it proceeded to attack her. With a growl of anger, Sachiko fired and an instant later the Ryoshi's head disappeared as it slumped to the side. Swiftly she turned to gaze back to the Private, who was no longer moving. It was too far and too dark to know for certain whether the blood was human or alien, but Sachiko had little hope for the youngster. "Shit!" With a barely contained sob and bile rising up her throat, Sachiko lowered her head to the cool steel of the barricades and closed her eyes. She would not cry and she would not throw up. Her people needed more from her than that. She had to remain strong.
"Major, what's happened?" Sei knelt by her side, concern darkening her already worried face.
"One of the Privates," Sachiko responded in way of explanation. She didn't need to say more for Sei to understand.
The Sergeant cursed under her breath as she reached for Sachiko's gun. Surrendering it willingly, Sachiko watched the older girl look through the scope and knew when she had spotted the carnage. Her face paled and sweat broke out on her forehead as she handed the weapon back to Sachiko. "Moriko. I hope I'm wrong, but it appears she might be dead."
With a solemn nod, Sachiko accepted her weapon and refocused on the landscape before her. "Are the lights ready?"
"Just awaiting your order, Major." Sei could see Sachiko's struggle with the loss of such a young life and wondered how she had managed to hide such a soft heart all this time. More and more she could see why Yumi had fallen so hard and fast for the Major. She must have seen beneath Sachiko's barriers long before Sachiko started revealing her true self to the lower ranks.
Sachiko nodded her understanding and then stiffened when she saw Yumi leap from the back of the turning vehicle. "She ditched her transport." Sachiko ground her teeth as she watched Yumi climbing the ridgeline on her own, enemies coming at her from all angles. "We have to cover her ascent! Open fire on all enemies along the ridgeline, northwest of my position!" She cried. "Cover Valkyrie! She must reach the top!"
Sei raced in a crouch along the barricade, covering the members of her squad that were reloading. Lifting her own rifle, she called out orders and announced the position of the enemies on the hillside. Like the excellently trained unit they were, Saber squad felled each and every enemy.
When a massive, dark shadow crested the ridge, Sei's blood ran cold. "Basaka! Basaka directly above Valkyrie!"
"Our bullets don't do anything against them!" A Private yelled from nearby. "She's hit!"
"Shit!" Sei dove for cover at Sachiko's side as the enemy fired on them from the base of the ridge. "Yumi's in trouble!"
Her mouth set firmly in a grimace, Sachiko didn't move her head away from the scope of her rifle. Instead, she seemed to settle into her sniper stance. "Sergeant, on my signal, light the ridge."
"But Major, we'd highlight her position!"
"That's the whole point." Sachiko ground the words out between clenched teeth. "She has a mission and I have to believe that whatever the new suit is of hers, it will protect her life."
Sei didn't have the same confidence, but she wouldn't argue. This was hard for Sachiko too, so she wouldn't buck her authority on this one. Lifting the radio to her mouth she relayed Sachiko's order. "Captain Todo, on my mark, light the ridge."
"Roger, Sergeant."
Sachiko watched through her scope as one of the Basaka neared Yumi's prone form. She was still moving, so Sachiko had no doubt she was alive and conscious. Clearing the cartridge from her barrel, Sachiko ejected her magazine of regular sniper rounds and reached for the special ammunition at her hip. With a flick of her wrist and a slap of her palm, she loaded the ammo and chambered a round. Leaning back into her stance she instantly zeroed in on Yumi and the looming Basaka. It was nearly upon her, its club raised to bludgeon the small warrior at its feet when Sachiko sighted in on the small gap under its upstretched arm. "Mark!" Immediately light flooded the ridge, illuminating the danger crowding in on Yumi's position. Releasing her held breath, she squeezed the trigger.
There was only a momentary delay between the recoil and impact, when the bullet lodged itself in the soft flesh under the Basaka's arm and just behind its natural armor plating. Upon impact, the Basaka blew to pieces just above Yumi, who instinctively raised her arms to cover her armored head.
"What the fuck was that?!" Sei cried at her side, but Sachiko didn't respond. She was too busy sighting in on the second Basaka bearing down on Yumi.
This creature held its weapon in the opposite hand, failing to expose its weak point to Sachiko. With a growl, she scanned for another weak point and moments before it reached Yumi, who was on her feet now, she fired. The next bullet bounced off the hard plating at the alien's thigh, exploding on impact but doing nothing aside from unbalancing the creature. Chambering the next round, she tried to calm herself as Yumi had taught her. The memory of Yumi's sure, strong hands on her body, guiding her stance and heightening her awareness, calmed and centered Sachiko. Sighting in again, Sachiko saw Yumi taunting the beast. "Of course, she would urge the giant alien to attack her instead of running away. That would be too simple."
Sighting in on the alien again, Sachiko saw her opening and took it.
There was no warning. One moment Yumi stood facing her enemy, a Basaka looming over her in the dark, and then the world around her caught on fire and the beast that had just reached her side fell, its leg flying from its hip and then the creature seemed to explode from within. "What the fuck?" Yumi mumbled, looking frantically around as she tried to reorient herself after her tumble and the blazing lights.
Squinting her eyes, she tried to see down behind the barricades, but at first couldn't. Her world spun for a moment as her helmet seemed to adjust to her environment and intuitively sensed what she was trying to see. Before she knew what was happening, she could clearly see the faces of the soldiers down below, including Sachiko who seemed to be looking directly into Yumi's eyes. Realizing, by the rifle in her hand, that Sachiko had been the one to shoot the Basaka, Yumi smirked. She didn't have any time to gloat about Sachiko's skill with the sniper rifle though as she saw a flood of enemies, Contin, Ryoshi, and Basaka alike, charging for the base. Zeroing in on the beautiful face of the woman she loved one last time. Yumi flicked the panel on her wrist open and without hesitation pushed the button.
Immediately, her suit seemed to lock up and she felt the prick of the injections. Lighting shot through her body in one tumultuous cascade. Fire and ice flickered behind her eyes and shook her body in a tremulous seizure. Closing her eyes, she was conscious only of one thing as the world disappeared around her, Sachiko's equally proud and terrified eyes watching as she fell motionless to the earth.
A/N - Hey y'all, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! We are coming closer and closer to the end on this one. As always, I love to hear what you thought of the latest chapter, so please feel free to send me a message or post a review. Hope you all are safe and happy and enjoying life!
