Chapter 6 - Withdraw
Squall, Zell, and Selphie blasted out of the tower like bats out of hell. Just as they started scrambling up the dirt trail that lead back into town, they heard a loud whirling clanking behind them.
Squall looked behind him, his eyes widened in horror and he saw a large mechanical spider coming towards them.
"RUN! Squall cried out.
As the team broke into a full run, the mechanical terror jumped in front of them, blocking their path.
"Let's short it out!" Squall shouted as he threw lightening spells at it. Zell and Selphie did the same.
The mechanical spider pounded into the ground and then began to smoke. The team began to run up the hill, then down to the stone bridge.
Squall could hear metal clanking behind them as approached the bridge. Zell and Selphie both looked back.
"KEEP RUNNING!" Squall screamed.
The mechanical spider leapt in the air again, spraying the bridge with 9mm bullets from its twin rotating cannons. Squall and his party ducked for cover as it landed at the bridge exit. Selphie and Zell threw more lightening spells at it. Squall came charging with his gun blade, aiming for the hydraulics that allowed the Droid to move. Hydraulic fluid spewed all over the bridge.
"Let's get outta here!" Zell said.
The team moved past the Droid again and raced down the street leading into town. Squall dared a glance at his chrono. They had less than 8 minutes to get to the ship's to leave.
As they entered the main street, Squall heard something large crashing into the buildings behind him. The Droid continued to pursue them, smashing into buildings and crushing cars in its path.
Not again…how many times did they need to trash this thing?! He kept running despite his lungs now burning, his legs starting to feel heavy.
This whole day just felt like a bad dream and this mechanical nightmare was the finale.
They finally reached the bluffs. Squall turned and hazard a few lightening bursts at it...but none hit where it could do any significant damage. The gamble put him well behind Selphie and Zell.
Squall made one final push, leaping from the top of the bluff onto the beach below. He tucked and rolled in the sand, his body landing with an umph as he hit the sand. The machine leapt too and was practically on top of him. He saw Selphie stop and watch.
"Go!" Squall screamed.
She turned and ran for the vessel and jumped aboard.
"COME ON SQUALL!" Zell shouted and waved.
Squall took a flying leap with what was left of his adrenaline fueled strength and caught the rail of the deck as the vessel pulled away. He heard gunfire hitting the beach and the Droid as someone powered the 50 cal mounted gun above him. Squall watched as the gunfire connected and turned the mechanical menace into a crater on the beach.
He laid on the deck, catching his breath at 1st, and then just enjoying the cold evening air wash over him. He gazed up into the sky as the stars began to wink on. He could see the soft glow of the hideous moon.
He survived the day. He had no idea how after everything that happened, but he did.
The exam…that was going to be a different story. Squall hoped his decisions were sound and his actions were noble. He'll find out soon enough if it was good enough to become SeeD.
With that, he drifted into sleep.