"I'm sorry but this one is gone Mateo." The woman's voice seemed to trickle in Mateos mind. He closed his eyes and clenched his fists with anger. Another soldier lost to this damn war. "There is another one over there" The woman's crass voice came again. His mind seemed to pull his attention to a woman laying face down in some grass and weeds on the other side of the street he was on. Mateo stood and made his way over. Whilst walking he thought "they are people. Not things." The woman's voice came like a cold stream of water running through his brain. "Yes of course. There is another person over there." Mateo considered switching his artificial assistant off. There was too much to do. Too many people to save. And on top of that, he was lost. He wasn't sure if he could handle Ada right now.
His artificial diologue array, or A.D.A, was the first of its kind. It had the ability to speak and think for itself, whilst also conveying the operators thoughts to words. Adas 'brain' was housed in a small metal orb that rested on an extendable docking port on the back of Mateo's communications backpack. It could float freely in proximity to its operator, and was packed with small electrical charges for self defence. She was also able to take control and intergrete with small electrical objects. She was so damn sassy too.
Mateo had made it over to the woman, Ada floating next to him. She was face down, but it was apparent she was already dead. There were two bullet holes in her upper back and another in the back of her head. "This is what happens when you give untrained boys and girls machineguns" Ada said in a condescending tone, slowly orbiting Mateo. The woman was more than likely struck down by friendly fire. Mateo shook his head, sighed, and stood. Ada was really starting to get on his nerves. Now was not the time to be making jokes. "That's the great thing about no emotions boss. I can't get-" the faint blue light in her orb winked out and she shot back to her docking port. Mateo had flipped her off switch. He didn't have anyone he needed to speak with and he needed to concentrate.
He had been separated from his team, Storm One, fairly early in the fighting. He had come to this battle equipped with Mainly support equipment, life vendors, ZE-guns, guard posts, that sort of thing. Which meant that Mateo was everywhere on the battlefield. He kept everyone alive, while they kept him safe. He generally took on a more aggressive approach when he was in the field. Coordinating air strikes, artillery barrages and... he felt his lips start to curl upwards. "Space lasers" He thought almost excitedly. Ada's blue light flicked on and she shot around to meet Mateo's eyes. "Ooooo somebody's thinking about 'space lasers' again!" Her little orb bounced when she said "space lasers" indicating quotations. Mateo fully smiled now. Ada had told him that her off switch was more of a suggestion than anything. Mateo welcomed the warm feeling of happiness for a moment. Grin fading, he turned, and continued down the street with Ada close next to him.
It was about fifteen minutes since the rocket that took down the flagship left its launcher. It had been hell trying to find cover from the falling debris. The smoke, dust, and being disoriented from scrambling for cover was making it hard to get a sense of direction. Ada's tracking software was useless in the grimy air. They were walking blind. All of the fallen soldiers and people he had found out here were dead or dying. Judging by the amount he saw, there couldn't be many survivors. He winced at the thought, thinking of what he could have done better to protect these people. "Hard to protect someone from getting crushed by a spaceship boss" Ada said wryly. This time Mateo didn't smile. They continued through the torn and shredded landscape, looking for a way to leave the carnage. They had come across what remained after what looked to be an epic showdown. Mountains of dead tadpoles lined the street. Hundreds of them. Some were just shredded mounds of purple meat. Most of them had what looked like hundreds of cigarette burns covering their bodies.
The duo moved on, coming across a fire hydrant lightly spewing water on the ground. Mateo caught his reflection in the corner of his eye. He took a moment, staring. After a long pause, he removed his helmet and examined himself. Dirt and grime had made its way to every bit of his tan face. Flecks of blood had dried on his thin, graying mustache. "I've heard of salt and pepper hair but never salt, pepper, AND ketchup hair!" Ada exclaimed, clearly proud of herself. Mateo shook his head and ran a hand through his shoulder length hair, staring at himself intently. "Not this again please?" Ada said, annoyed. Mateo ignored her and performed a ritual he always did when he saw his reflection. He stared into his own hazel eyes, and slowly opened his mouth. Where his tongue should be, there was nothing. An old, painful memory started to creep its way into his mind. "I'm sorry." Ada's voice snapped him back. "Truly. No one should have to endure what you did." Ada said sincerely. Mateo, caught off guard by the sentiment, nodded and stood. "Now shake it off Jimenez and let's-" An animalistic roar pierced the air from behind them. Mateo was nearly knocked to the ground in surprise. He turned as a figure shot into the sky screaming, it was a Wing Diver. Judging from her colors it was Storm Four. Two more Divers following almost immediately after. He looked in the direction they were flying, but there was too much smoke. He could try to send- "already on it boss." Ada Interrupted his thoughts, ascending through the smoke. Mateo waited impatiently, every second more agonizing than the last. Ada finally lowered back, and with a frightened tone she said "You're going to want to call our girl in the sky."