Author Note: This is Part 1 of the Shaddiq duel, and I was thinking of releasing both chapters, but looking on the second portion. If I released both chapters together this would be the longest chapter of the novel and I think spacing it out. Especially that I feel that the second portion could utlize an improvement or two. I won't be responding to reviews and comments right now, I bet you can imagine why from the word count of this fic. However, thanks everyone for your reviews, follows, favorites, and comments. Still plesently surprised to be hearing about my Fanfic getting mentioned favorably on youtube and Gundam Forums. Heck, I've even heard a couple of good things on the Gundam Subreddit about this fic. Thanks everyone for the constant support and I hope you guys enjoy!


Chapter 49 - Shaddiq's Duel (Part I)


Miorine

Miorine was in bed when she got the call from Suletta. It didn't take long for Suletta to arrive, tear-streaked and eyes red. She wore a thick grey coat as Miorine, still in her pajamas, let her in.

"S-Suletta, what's wrong?" Miorine asked, her voice filled with shock and concern.

Suletta stepped inside, wiping away tears. She was sobbing hard, and Miorine acted on instinct, helping her out of the coat. Though they hadn't been talking much lately, Miorine still cared deeply for her friend.

Suletta's sobs gradually turned to dry heaving as she made her way to the stairs leading from the greenhouse section of Miorine's room to her own, planting herself on the steps. "P-people are so mean sometimes," she stuttered between sniffles.

"Suletta, what happened?" Miorine asked, standing over her. But then, with a sigh, she opted to sit next to her.

Suletta was silent for a moment, then looked at Miorine with her tear-streaked face. "Y-you can't tell Aiden, or Deacon, or Oscar or anyone else about this."

Miorine's eyes widened in horror and embarrassment. "Are you pregnant?" she blurted out.

"W-what!" Suletta exclaimed loudly. "No, I am not…why would you ask that?"

Miorine paused awkwardly and then shrugged. "I-I know how long you and Aiden have been together. Like, of course it's your business, but you…"

"No, no, no," Suletta kept repeating, shaking her head. "Am I fat or something? Is what Renee said true and…"

"What Renee said was true?" Miorine questioned, her eyes narrowing. "I didn't hear Renee say anything about your weight during the meeting. Has she…" Miorine's eyes widened as Suletta's gaze dropped to her arms. "Has Renee reached out to you after we left?"

Suletta was silent for a beat, then slowly, meekly nodded.

Miorine's eyes flared with anger as she extended her right hand. "Let me see your phone," she demanded firmly.

Suletta hesitated for a moment, remaining silent. "Let me hear what she said. I promise I won't tell any of the guys. You know how I am," Miorine offered with a reassuring smile.

Suletta clutched her phone tightly with both hands, then sighed, looking into Miorine's eyes. Reluctantly, she handed her friend the phone. Miorine began to flip through it and couldn't resist a teasing comment. "Really, Winters as your home screen?"

Suletta huffed in annoyance. "He's my boyfriend."

"I know, just trying to lighten the mood," Miorine said as she navigated to Suletta's call log. Her eyes widened at the sight of over twenty calls from an unknown number. She moved to the voicemail section and clicked on the first one, which was only five seconds long. The next one was around forty seconds, and some were over two minutes.

She clicked on one of the longer messages, and Renee's voice boomed through. "Pick up, country girl slut!" Miorine winced at the harshness, even though she knew Suletta had already heard it.

"Oh, that fucking bitch," Miorine muttered, the expletive slipping from her lips. She shot Suletta a look. "Is this why you're so messed up?"

Suletta didn't say anything, hiding her face in her hands. Miorine sighed and clicked on another message. "I don't know what your problem is, but lay the hell off!" Renee's distorted voice rang out. "I only allowed Aiden to break up with me because I knew he'd be back. I gave him time to cool off. But you think you can come here with your creepy mech, being called a Witch, and steal him from me!"

Miorine's eyes widened in shock. She knew of Renee from rumors and her constant entourage of admirers, but she hadn't heard the full story of their breakup.

Renee's voice continued, her tone growing more manic. "You were just another hole for him to get lost in. You think the things he's told you are any different from what he told me?" Her voice escalated into a crazed chuckle. "HE'S MINE, HE'S MINE, HE'S MINE, MINE, MINE, MINE…" Miorine quickly clicked off the message, unable to listen any longer.

She looked at Suletta, who was trembling and hiding her face.

Miorine wanted to facepalm, and Suletta already looked on the verge of another crying episode. Miorine turned towards Suletta. "Suletta, how many of these have you listened to?"

Suletta sighed, sniffled, and wiped away a tear. "A-all of them," she muttered.

"Oh my god, Suletta," Miorine said as she finally facepalmed. "You should've just blocked her and…"

"I-I didn't know how to do that," Suletta stammered, and Miorine remembered the social gap between Suletta and others. She had never grown up around anyone her age, and this type of bullying and intimidation over the phone and in person was completely new to her.

Miorine sighed and remembered what Deacon, Oscar, and even Jack had told her before. She was Suletta's friend, and Suletta didn't need the Miorine that looked at situations analytically. Suletta needed a friend first, not the Miorine that would solve the problem for her.

Miorine sighed as she clicked on another one of the longer messages. Renee's voice came out distorted and even sounded a bit more crazed, with heavy maniacal laughter echoing from her. "YOU THINK YOU'RE SPECIAL! He's had others before you. I was the last. I know him, he's told me his secrets, he's told me that he lo-… cared about me! The only reason why you're still around is because we got into that argument, but deep down, he'll make his way back to me! Don't get comfortable, bitch!"

Miorine wasn't even sure if she wanted to keep hearing more, but if Suletta had heard all this before, she needed to understand what was happening to better help her friend. She took a deep breath and clicked one of the more recent messages from the call log.

Renee was already screaming. "YOU THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME! Just because you're the one fucking him now, and I can't…" There was silence as Renee's heavy breathing was the only sound following. Miorine was aghast, shooting odd looks towards Suletta.

"She's freaking crazy," Miorine muttered to Suletta, but Suletta didn't respond, nor did she nod in agreement. She still looked dejected from the whole encounter.

"YOU'RE JUST SOME GIRL FROM MERCURY WHO HE MANIPULATED INTO BEING HIS CUM DUMP BECAUSE HE FEELS BAD THAT A SOCIAL RETARD LIKE YOU COULDN'T MAKE FRIENDS. HE DOESN'T LOVE YOU, NOT IN THE WAY HE LOVES ME. I AM THE ONE HE THINKS ABOUT, THE ONE THAT FILLS HIS DREAMS, THE ONE HE…"

Miorine clicked off that message. That was enough. She looked at Suletta, who was trembling, tears welling up in her eyes.

Miorine took a deep, heavy breath and gazed at Suletta. "Are these bothering you?"

Suletta's eyes widened, staring back at Miorine. "Of course they are," she said, her voice tinged with frustration and hurt.

Miorine stared at her, a mixture of concern and determination in her eyes. "…and you aren't going to your mom?"

Suletta averted her gaze, drawing them back to the floor. "Obviously not," she said. "She'd flip out and make this a far bigger deal than it is."

Miorine sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. "…and you aren't going to Winters or the rest of his crew?"

Suletta took a deep breath, her expression weary. "Tomorrow is the duel… and I know how they are. Shaddiq was right. These duels to the death, and even before with Aiden and Guel, they were coming out of their mechs and heading to the hospital from how far they were hitting each other. They don't need a reason to lose it even more."

Miorine nodded, understanding the delicate balance Suletta was trying to maintain. "I can understand why you don't want to tell Aiden, but Renee is really out of line in these regards, and she is not only disrespecting you but Aiden as well. After the duel, you should tell him about this."

Suletta remained silent, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and fear. That was when Miorine went to Suletta's call log, determination hardening her resolve. Suletta eyed her strangely, sensing the shift.

"W-what are you doing?" Suletta questioned, her voice shaky.

Miorine spoke blankly, her focus unyielding. "Calling her."

Suletta's eyes widened, nearly bulging from her head. "What!" she shouted, lunging for her phone, but it was too late. Renee was on the line.

"Hello…," Renee spoke, her voice clearer now, almost as if she had just woken up. It made sense; the last call was over an hour ago, and it was already pretty late to begin with.

"Yeah, it's me, Miorine Rembran… I wanted to ask what the hell your problem is," Miorine declared curtly, her tone icy and unwavering.

There was silence on the other end, followed by a dark snicker. "You've got some nerve, Miorine, to…"

"No, you've got some nerve," Miorine interjected, her voice firm. "You had your pre-dueling penis measuring contest, and now you're taking it too far by harassing Suletta like this."

Renee chuckled, her laughter dripping with malice. "So what? Winters isn't around for her to run to, so she's going to come to you… she's a damn coward!" Renee exploded into laughter, the sound echoing through the line. "We're going to mop the floor with you all, and we're going to take Gund-Arm and the Aerial away from her, leaving you all broke and in tears!"

Miorine's grip tightened on the phone, her knuckles turning white. "You're a pathetic bully, Renee. This isn't just about the duel; it's about you trying to tear someone down because you're insecure. Well, guess what? We're not going to let you win. Not like this."

Renee's laughter cut off abruptly, replaced by a low, dangerous growl. "You think you can stand up to me, Miorine? You've got another thing coming."

Miorine ground her teeth together as she glared at the phone. "You talk a lot, Renee," she stated firmly. "Let's see the outcome of the duel tomorrow. Suletta and the Sons of Harmony are not to be trifled with."

Renee exploded into laughter, a harsh, grating sound that filled the room.

"Shut up," Miorine demanded, her voice cutting through the laughter like a knife. Renee's chuckling ceased abruptly. "Suletta held her own in that team battle against Guel. She joined the fray and dominated. She could've killed all of Parker's little friends, but she was skilled enough to disarm them instead. Do you hear me? She could've, but she didn't. And don't underestimate the Sons of Harmony. Aiden Winters was piloting scraps before, and he took down Peil's Gundam. What sort of hope do you and Shaddiq think you have?"

Renee was stunned into silence by the declaration.

Miorine continued, a smile playing on her lips. "Oh, and I listened to your little voicemails to Suletta. Aiden belongs to you? Please, I heard through the grapevine that Aiden was the only guy out of your little entourage who ever dumped you."

Renee seethed. "Listen here, Rembran, you're bringing up things you don't know," she sighed. "It's dumb to break up over dueling, and Aiden won that duel anyway and—"

Miorine scoffed. "Aiden Winters dumped you because instead of simply rejecting a guy, you made Aiden duel him, and he got hurt in the process!" Miorine shouted, her face inching closer to the screen. "He's not getting back together with you. Deacon told me he never loved you. And LEAVE SULETTA ALONE!" Before Renee could respond, Miorine's own yell overrode everything Renee could've said. "Save it for the duel," she snapped, and hung up the phone.

Renee started to call again instantly, but Miorine muted her and navigated to the settings. "…and blocked." Miorine smirked as she handed the phone back to Suletta.

Suletta was awestruck by both the declaration and Miorine's actions. "T-thank you, Miorine."

"It was really no problem," Miorine answered, rubbing the back of her head and yawning into her fist. "What a thing to deal with at two in the morning. Suletta, don't mind Renee. She's obviously jealous that Aiden is in love with you and is just trying to rattle you for tomorrow."

Suletta took a deep breath, feeling a bit of the tension ease from her shoulders. "You really think so?"

Miorine nodded. "Absolutely. You're strong, Suletta. Don't let her get to you. Focus on the duel tomorrow, show them what you're made of."

Suletta managed a small smile, wiping away the last of her tears.

Suletta paused, then wrapped Miorine in a tight hug. Miorine nearly gasped, but then she relaxed into it, resting her hands gently on Suletta's back.

"T-thank you," Suletta whispered, her tears now flowing not out of sadness and anxiety, but out of genuine appreciation.

"You're wonderful, Suletta," Miorine said softly.

Suletta stayed silent, crying into her shoulder, feeling the weight of her worries slowly lift.

"Renee's just a rotten old witch who needs hordes of men around her to feel good about herself," Miorine continued, pausing to separate briefly from Suletta and look into her eyes. "Now, remember all that you're feeling right now. Harness it like a sword. You and The Aerial tomorrow… demolish them and the opposition."

Suletta's eyes widened, then narrowed with determination. She nodded, a fierce resolve beginning to replace the fear in her heart. "I will. I won't let her get to me anymore."

Miorine smiled, a proud glint in her eyes. "That's the spirit. Now, let's get some rest. We've got a big day ahead of us, and you need to be at your best."

Suletta nodded again, a small, confident smile forming on her lips. She felt stronger, ready to face the challenges ahead. With friends like Miorine by her side, she knew she could overcome anything. She took a deep breath, letting the last of her tears dry up, and followed Miorine's lead, preparing herself for the battle that awaited them.

Tomorrow, she would show them all what she was made of.

Conner

Conner was slumped in his room, the blue glow of his laptop screen casting eerie shadows across his face. The late-night quiet was broken only by the faint hum of his computer. His eyes were half-closed, drifting in and out of sleep as his right hand dangled over the edge of his desk.

A rubber band was wrapped tightly around his elbow, and the syringe of a heroin needle poked out of it, an uninvited guest in this late-night scene. The light buzz of an incoming call echoed from the laptop, pulling Conner from his drug-induced haze.

He glanced at the syringe sticking out of his arm. "Fucker," he mumbled, removing it with a wince. His eyes scanned the room, landing on the orange packet of heroin, which he hastily stuffed into a drawer. His fingers brushed against something cold and metallic—the data knife of Jack Cooper.

For a moment, he held the weapon, watching the blue screen's light trickle along the chrome steel of the blade. He flicked the knife, revealing the yellow bits of electronics embedded in it. Prospera had told him to bury everything that belonged to Jack, but he couldn't let such a treasure wither in a shallow grave.

Sighing, Conner threw the knife back into the drawer and accepted the call. Marko's face appeared on the screen, his regal attire absent, though the dim lighting couldn't mask the roaring cosmos outside his window.

"What is the meaning of our meeting, sire?" Conner questioned, his voice tinged with curiosity and an edge of impatience.

There was a pause, a beat.

Marko sighed, then a smile emerged on his face, visible even through the dim light. "I wanted to draw something to your attention... and give you a mission of my own," he began, his tone measured.

Conner's eyes widened, his curiosity piqued, but he hesitantly nodded. He heard the clack of keys being hit from Marko's side as he continued to speak. "Due to you letting me know of Prospera's treachery, I had some of my guys hack into her mainframe... subtly, and we found these within her backdoor."

There was a blip as the message was sent and received. Conner raised an eyebrow at the fresh images. "Mobile suits?" he queried.

"Gund Volvas," Marko stated quickly and curtly.

Marko continued, his interaction subtly irking Conner. "They seem to be based off the two that the mercs have or some relic of the old Och's Earth. Even after all these years, the shadows always do follow. But what really matters is that they've got a bunch of them. Now I ask, did you see any other pilots at her base of operations?"

Conner shrugged. "I don't get what you mean. Like I stated before in my reports, its secrecy was its key defense," he replied, his voice steady.

"But there was a lot of personnel," Marko said, his tone insistent.

Conner nodded. "Scientists, engineers, and security, but the place was primarily for mech research and testing."

Marko darkly snickered. "For both sides," he declared. "Prospera has been making us and the Earthians a bunch of killing machines. I don't know how she's profiting from this, but that world is ours." He paused for a beat, leaning into the camera. "Those Gund Volvas are no joke. We've got to know what sort of illegal hit death squad Prospera's got to deal with us..."

Conner shrugged again. "You know as much as I know," he said.

Marko sneered, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Well, I want you to mess with the AI core that's installed in the machines," he said, leaning back into his chair with a smug look, his arms crossed over his chest. "You've got your experience as a slicer... a medic and a slicer, you're a real man of many talents."

Conner snorted, a dry laugh escaping his lips. "Yeah, where are they being held?"

Marko looked over the report in front of him and placed the paper back down. "At that academy you and the Sons of Harmony are at," he began.

Conner bluntly and loudly laughed. "Probably one of the most well-defended places right now. What is she planning on doing with them?"

Marko paused, glanced around the room, then turned back to the camera. "Fine then, I'll tell you. You're a worthy and loyal follower of the Legion," he said, taking a moment before continuing. "We're moving on the Vanadis Institute."

"The Vanadis Institute?" Conner repeated, his interest piqued.

Conner smirked. "We've been getting reports on Prospera for a long time. This operation has been in the works for quite a while. There are over one hundred thousand people up there. It's a place where people live, work, socialize, go to school, and vacation—all while being a state-of-the-art science institution. Imagine what would happen if we took that massive pile of steel and slammed it into a major city."

Conner's eyes widened. "Huh?"

Marko now wore a smug grin. "I was thinking Hong Kong, or maybe New York. The United States hasn't been the same since the Benrett Group whipped them into shape. Russia? No, they took the mech fights the hardest. Or maybe..."

"You're planning to crash an entire station into a city on Earth?" Conner asked grimly.

Marko chuckled darkly. "A declaration of war, Conner. Every single member of the Legion will be there. And that's when this ruse of 'The Sons of Harmony' comes to a close."

"What do you mean?" Conner questioned.

"Over a year or two ago," Marko explained, "Prospera Mercury came to me. We were worn out, running low on supplies, but she agreed to help and aid the war effort. She promised us revenge and more—a planet, no, a system to call our own. Jack had given up his crown for me to inherit, and now, by rite of law, it is mine to wield. She came with her associate, a big tall fat fella… Goday. They arrived grimly, stating that they had taken one of our druids… she loaded him with drugs, and he died of an overdose. Horrified, I was nearly going to have her shot on the spot…"

Conner's eyes flared wide, and a smile crept across his face. "I knew that Deacon wanted out of the Long War, but there was no reason. We made oaths; we cut our hands and became brothers, vowing never to forget what this cruel universe did and took from us. All this torture," he extended his arms outwards, "this is what those countless training sessions, harsh mental turmoil, and what of the friends and lovers that died along the way?"

Marko leaned closer to the camera, his gaze intense.

Conner was silent, his thoughts a whirl of ghosts and memories. "Friends…," he mumbled, feeling the spectral hand of Jack draped over his shoulder, a silent reminder of past camaraderies and lost kin.

"Conner," Marko began, his voice cutting through the haze. "They have a name for people like Aiden… Newtypes, they call them. We still don't know how he formed, what he came from, what the nails awakened within him. But that is what Prospera called him, what the dead druid called him… She knew our dates, our struggles, and she said that by aiding us, she would reach her end. She warned me that Daniel was going to die, and that it would lead them into a depression. When Daniel came to me questioning Aiden's vision of his death, I merely called Aiden a fool."

Conner was nearly aghast that Marko could have done such a thing. This was kinslaying… he knew, but Daniel had also been warned. Who was the true fool?

"Mechs, money, supplies… Ever since Prospera Mercury came, she's been aiding this war effort. We wouldn't have known of her traitorous ways if it wasn't for you," Marko pointed at him, his gaze intense. "Ever since the first time you set foot onto the academy grounds, everything has been thanks to you. All thanks to you, Conner."

Conner tried to smile, but the drugs had not fully left his system. A memory unfolded as he spoke, words laden with purpose. "Yes, sire. We'll move onto the institute, assassinate Delling, and crash that damn station into the surface of the Earth."

Marko smirked, a dark glint in his eyes. "It's just one phase in the plan. The real battle, the true battle, is going to be in defending that strange piece of military hardware, Quiet Zero. When the institute crashes onto Earth, we are going to be sending some of the Warbands too."

Conner's eyes widened in realization. "We're sending some of the Warbands to Earth?"

Marko sneered. "We're going to be sending three," he paused, raising three fingers. "Knights of Harmony, The Soldiers of Malevolence, and the Nexus 65th are going to be leading the charge. It's going to be a drop onto one of these cities and like a plague… they'll spread out and start attacking."

Conner's eyes widened further, the genius of the plan dawning on him. "The attack is just going to be a big mask for a…"

Marko finished the thought. "An invasion. They're going to be fully equipped with supplies, and the Earthians, with the abuse of the Group and their own fractured government, are going to be easy pickings," Marko sighed. "The Nexus 65th and the Knights I have no problem with, but the Soldiers of Malevolence were always the ones that took things a bit too far… but maybe we need terror to bring order onto our new world."

Conner nodded, the weight of the mission settling on his shoulders. This was not just an operation; it was a declaration, a move that would shift the balance of power.

There was silence for a beat. "Conner," Marko began again. "Those files also contained strange data on Winters…or rather, people like Aiden Winters. Prospera has been adding things to the mechs, creating new models. Psycho Gundam, Psycommu Zaku—things only someone like him could wield to their full extent. I'm not sure if she plans to share, but keep an eye out on your end. If necessary…do what you need to do."

Conner's eyes widened, a shiver of a distant memory flooding back. The day after he had murdered Jack, a conversation with Prospera replayed in his mind.

"I don't understand why you needed me to collect his blood," Conner had stated to Prospera.

Prospera had taken the vial and gazed into it, holding it in the center of her palm as she clenched it tightly. "Jack was the informal son of Jack Cooper; his blood should not be lost," she paused and smiled beneath her visor, a smile that sent a shiver down Conner's spine. "Someone with such skills…he'll be a worthy template."

The memory faded, and Conner found himself back in the present, Marko's voice grounding him. "Stay vigilant, Conner. The future of our cause depends on it."

Conner nodded, the weight of the mission and the shadows of his past intertwining. He glanced at the closed drawer where Jack's data knife lay hidden, a symbol of everything he'd fought for and lost. "For the Legion," he whispered, his voice resolute.

Marko's image flickered on the screen, the cosmos outside his window a constant reminder of the vastness of their struggle. "For the Legion," Marko echoed, his gaze firm. "This is just the beginning, Conner. We will reshape this universe, one way or another."

Conner closed his laptop, the blue light fading to darkness. He sat in the silence of his room, the echoes of Marko's words and Prospera's smile lingering in his mind. The path ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but Conner knew he was ready. The future of the Legion—depended on it.

Aiden

"How is everything looking?" shouted Aiden.

They had been loading up their mechs, prepping for the day ahead. The early morning sun cast light in reddish hues, and Aiden felt a yawn welling up in his throat.

"Green lit!" Oscar shouted back.

They were at the Sons of Harmony's personal hangars, the long structure vaguely resembling old military hangars. Aiden was in one of the upper rooms surrounded by machinery, but alone, with a headset over his ears.

Aiden chuckled. "How are you guys liking the new machine?"

Oscar laughed, loud and heavy, as he maneuvered his Zaku 1, stretching the machine's limbs. The other engineers, Earth House members, and everyone else backed away, watching with a mix of awe and caution.

"Be careful with that, Oscar!" Deacon shouted as he was about to climb into his Gouf. He grabbed onto the edge of the cockpit to stabilize himself, facepalming, but he heard Nika giggling at the silliness of it all.

Oscar stood in the middle of the hangar, the pink monocular eye of his mech swiveling in all directions. "Amazing," he said. "The controls are so similar to a titan, but I can feel the difference between the two. So, this is a real mobile suit."

Oscar snapped his fingers, a sharp crack echoing through the hangar. His Zaku 1, equipped with a specialized backpack for a beam sniper rifle, stood ready. The heat hawk hung at his waist, a trusty weapon he barely gave a second thought to. Compared to Deacon's more specialized Gouf and Conner's Rick Dom, Oscar's setup was straightforward but effective.

Conner, silent within his Rick Dom, watched the camaraderie unfold on the screen. His arms were crossed, fingers tapping rhythmically on his shoulder. The Rick Dom's monocular eye scanned the hangar, awaiting its master's command. All the mobile suits of the Sons of Harmony had been customized by their engineers, reflecting the color scheme they had adopted during their time with Marko's Warband: thunderbolt blue with bronze accents, flashes of lightning speckled along the hulls.

Aiden, one hand on his headset, turned to Nuno and Ojelo who were manning the machines next to him. "You guys ready to handle this battle?"

Nuno raised a thumbs up. "We're all set."

Ojelo smirked. "We've got this in the bag," he said, clicking on his own radio. "Hey, prez, how are you doing in the Demi Trainer?"

Martin's voice crackled through the radio, tinged with fear. "I-I really hope I don't poop my pants the moment the shooting begins."

Everyone burst into laughter, and Martin winced at the sound. Deacon's voice followed, reassuring but firm. "You'll be alright, Martin. Don't worry, this isn't a trial by combat. Remember, old rules: clip their antenna and we're golden."

Nika climbed up the ladder to Deacon's cockpit, catching his attention as he disconnected the feed. "Good luck," she said, a genuine smile on her face.

Deacon smirked. "I don't need luck," he replied confidently.

Nika's smile widened. She grasped the edges of his collar and pulled him into a deep kiss. Miorine, watching the exchange from below, sighed and muttered to herself. "Everyone better be on the same page for this."

Aiden continued his briefing. "Listen, Martin, it really is that simple," he said, pointing toward the corner of the hangar. "That over there is…" He paused, flipping through the manual in front of him. "Ah, a Big Gun," he announced, waving the page around. Martin winced at the sight. "We've only got one of these bad boys, so you better take good care of it."

Martin's eyes widened. "I am not a sniper! Why don't you get Oscar or someone else to do it!" he shouted, his voice tinged with panic.

"It really isn't that crazy, Martin," Oscar said loudly, a giggle escaping his lips. "Damn, dude, you need like a smoke, a drink, or some weed or something. Your anxiety is making me anxious."

"Heck no!" Martin shot back. "Also, by the way, it is heavily illegal to man a mobile suit under the influence of illicit substances!"

A dry chuckle arose from Conner. "Should've told me that before I climbed in here," he muttered.

The others paid no mind to Conner's comment. Aiden continued, his tone steady and reassuring. "Listen, we're going to set you up in a nice and safe area of the arena. Then, I want you to take potshots. That thing in your hands can hit a target from miles away. Aim, point, shoot." He paused, letting the silence emphasize his point.

Martin let out a groan, on the verge of tears. "Agh," he whined, the sound almost pitiful.

Chu Chu's voice emerged from Oscar's radio, but not as public. "War spacien, can I ask you a question?" she asked, her tone serious.

Oscar eyed the radio, sighed, and flicked it to private. "First off, not my name, and secondly, what do you want?"

"Okay, Oscar," Chu Chu said, and he could hear the effort it took for her to say his name. He rolled his eyes at that. "What's your deal?"

Chu Chu's sigh was audible. She leaned into her seat within her modified Demi Trainer. Her helmet was already clicked on, visor down, and she was staring through her cockpit at Oscar's Zaku 1.

"Why isn't our holder fighting with us?" Chu Chu asked.

Oscar was silent for a moment. "I bet you can imagine," he finally said.

Chu Chu sneered. "Do you think we can win?" she paused. "We've got a whole lot riding on this one."

"Guel, Laude, Shaddiq, Sabina, Ireesha, Maise, and Renee," Oscar began, but was interrupted by Chu Chu.

"Wait, where's their other member?" Chu Chu questioned. "I know Shaddiq. He's got a whole gaggle of girls around him…there should be another one."

Oscar shrugged, then a devilish smirk appeared on his face. "I didn't realize you looked at us Spaciens long enough to notice…"

"Oh please," Chu Chu rolled her eyes and raised her fingertips. "Me, you, Deacon, Suletta, Martin, and Conner. We need another member or…"

Oscar waved it off. "Like Shaddiq is going to let this go just because we don't have another member to fight with. Heck, knowing that prick, he's going to take this as a boon. Who knows what other types of tricks he's got up his sleeve."

"Tricks?" repeated Chu Chu.

"Hell yeah," Oscar stated. "When he set Parker against Aiden, the whole dueling ring was going to shit. He was nowhere to be found, and I doubt we've seen the last of his underhanded tactics."

Meanwhile, Aiden had left the control area, yawning as he opened the door and headed down the rusty brown stairs. Pockets of light escaped into the staircase from the windows as…

"Aiden," spoke Suletta.

Aiden looked down. Suletta was in her orange pilot gear, helmet tucked under her elbow.

Aiden smirked. "You're looking good in that, Suletta."

Suletta blushed but slowly shook her head. "I-I came to talk to you."

"Well…" Aiden dragged the word, extending his hands and closing his eyes. "I was just about to find you and wish you good luck and…"

"Why are you not going to fight with us, Aiden Winters?" Suletta Mercury asked.

Aiden's eyes widened, then he steadied himself, slung his arms into his jacket, and narrowed his eyes at Suletta, who refused to meet his gaze. "Don't you already have an inkling of that?"

Suletta paused, averting her eyes for a moment before dragging them back to him. "Before, I thought I knew, but now I don't."

Aiden sneered and turned away, but Suletta approached and got closer. "Suletta, I nearly died back there. How can I ever climb back into a titan and…"

"That isn't a titan," said Suletta, her voice steady. "That's a mobile suit, a true suit that can fully harness your abilities if you're willing to. Your titans, for better or worse, allowed you to grow in skill and appreciate a mech not fully equipped. It made you stronger, but your reluctance to leave it behind is like a child refusing to let go of their prized toy. We grow up, and we learn."

Aiden sneered. "I thought you despised fighting, that you despised these duels and..."

Suletta raised her chin, staring at him with a fierce determination. "You're right, I don't like fighting, and I wish everyone could find a better way to get along. But you've shown me that fighting for my friends is worthwhile... and I won't let Shaddiq take what we've worked so hard to gain."

Aiden paused, feeling a wave of nausea and self-loathing wash over him. He grasped the railing of the staircase to steady himself. "So, you think I'm a coward now?"

Suletta stepped closer, until they were inches apart. He could see how she had tied her ponytail back, and the oceanic teal of her eyes, the kind of ocean one could only see in rare parts of the world. She smiled softly. "I'm not that airheaded," she said, rolling her eyes. "You've gone through an awfully traumatic experience, and I'm not going to diminish that. You and the Sons of Harmony have come a long way, and I see how you've changed. But that part of you that helps others like a flame is still alive. The boy from Harmony who lost it all is still there... you've been struggling these past years, haven't you? All of you, silently."

Aiden couldn't meet her gaze, but Suletta gently cupped his cheek, turning his face back to hers. "I don't expect you to be ready today or tomorrow, but one day you are going to have to confront your demons. And I know you'll be stronger for it."

Aiden's eyes flickered with doubt. "And what if I'm not?"

Suletta sighed, her breath warm and comforting. "You've been through so much, body and mind. It all must be taken care of, and you will rebuild your confidence. I have faith in you, even if right now you don't have faith in yourself. One day, all these bad things will be just what they are... bad things in our past. And we'll rise above them. You will, Aiden Winters."

She paused, her eyes tender as she smiled. Then she leaned in, pressing her lips to his. Aiden's eyes widened as he felt her strength and forcefulness in the kiss, his neck bending back from the unexpected intensity. Her warmth flooded into him, and for a moment, the weight of his fears and doubts seemed to lift, if only slightly.

Suletta separated from him, a thin trail of saliva bridging their lips. Aiden's eyes widened as he turned away, wiping his mouth. "Suletta, I don't need pity right now, and a kiss isn't going to rouse me."

Suletta laughed loudly, her voice echoing in the dim stairwell. "Stop it, like I'd ever pity you, Aiden," she said, waving it off and taking a step back, her hands extended in a gesture of openness. "Like I said, I'm not that airheaded." She chuckled at her last words, a warm sound that seemed to lighten the air between them.

Aiden's face was a tumult of emotions—confusion, anxiety, but also something softer, more vulnerable. He sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry, Suletta," he murmured, a small smile breaking through. "I know you want what's best for me."

She embraced him again, tighter this time. "I do, and it doesn't have to be today, or tomorrow. Just get back in there when you're ready." She paused, closing her eyes and resting her head against his chest, feeling the steady, reassuring beat of his heart. "You're passionate about your music, but when you get your hands on a suit, you are something else entirely. All that skill—I just don't want to see your potential go to waste."

He hesitated, then gently lifted her chin and kissed her softly. They lingered there for a moment, a quiet bubble of calm amid the storm of their lives. "Thank you, Suletta Mercury," he whispered, his voice a mixture of gratitude and resolve.

The morning light filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow on their faces as they stood together, drawing strength from each other for the battles ahead.

Oscar

They had already set up on opposite ends of the dueling arena. The blank slate consumed everything in all directions, transforming into a high-stakes battleground. From their Zaku's and Demi Trainers to the Dilanza's and Beguir-Pente's of Shaddiq's crew, each pilot readied for the confrontation ahead. The air was thick with tension, the weight of the upcoming battle pressing down on them.

There was no need for formal oaths; a simple command to begin was all it took. The arena started to shift and contort around them, terrain morphing into obstacles and cover as the battle commenced.

Martin's heavy breathing crackled over the comms, his Demi Trainer quaking as he fumbled with the big gun. Panic etched in his voice, he was teetering on the edge.

"Martin, freaking relax, bro!" Oscar shouted curtly, frustration mingling with concern.

"Ay, leave him alone!" Chu Chu shot back, her voice sharp with protective anger.

Conner had already burst into laughter. "God, I love teams," he drawled, the humor in his voice cutting through the tension.

Deacon facepalmed, drawing his gaze towards the side of the dueling arena. There, standing with an air of casual confidence, was Aiden. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, and his blue eyes met Deacon's gaze across the distance. Almost as if he knew he was being watched, Aiden flashed a thumbs up, a gesture of silent encouragement.

Deacon felt a smile spread across his features. Confidence. If Aiden wasn't afraid, why should he be?

"Martin, everything is going to be okay. And Oscar, be a tad bit nicer to him... Look at Conner, he's been silent this whole time practically."

Conner's laughter burst out heavy and loud. "I've just been hardly paying attention to all this!"

Chu Chu sighed deeply, her finger tapping along her jacket as her eyes scanned through the viewport, eyeing Conner's mech. Its pink monocular eye was scanning everything, micromanaging the other side.

"Who've we got first?" Conner asked as he drew his heat blade from his side. The steel beam became a golden, burning light, growing redder and hotter. "I've got dibs on the fucker that I stabbed."

Deacon's eyes widened. "Be careful with that, Conner. Guel's going to be sticking with his brother tight as glue, and that means you'll be fighting another person…"

Conner snickered darkly. "I've got them locked on sight. Stick with me, and we'll cut them down."

"So we're throwing strategy out the window and opting for personal vendettas?" Chu Chu questioned.

"I am still freaking out right now!" Martin shouted, seizing the controls tightly. "If I get hit and hurt badly, what am I going to tell my mom?"

"P-please shut the fuck up... j-just shut the fuck up... shut the fuck..." Oscar kept whispering to himself. "I am really tripping out right now, and the last time I smoked was five days ago!"

Then, it all changed. They were floating...

In the ruins of a shattered city, cars hovered close to the ground, and they found stable footing. However...

"They must've put special machines to stabilize the gravity. Cars can move and people can walk, but mobile suits just...?" Chu Chu said, her voice trailing off in awe.

Oscar scratched the back of his head. "Okay, starter map." He paused, glancing around at everyone. "Guess we've got to..." But Conner had already ignited his thrusters, beelining through the road of the ruined city.

As Conner's mech disappeared into the distance, Deacon tightened his grip on his controls.

"Conner, what the fu—!" Deacon's military discipline, honed through years of rigorous training, took over as he propelled his Gouf forward. The rocket thrust provided him with an aerial vantage, surveying the battlefield with a keen eye.

"So, we follow them or...?" Martin's fractured voice crackled through the comms, trembling with anxiety.

Oscar facepalmed. "They're all gonna be there or moving around to flank us..."

Chu Chu sighed and rolled her eyes. "Boys... but Spacien boys are the worst!" With a determined grunt, she maneuvered her Demi Trainer in the same direction as the others.

"Goddamn it!" Oscar shouted, reluctantly following the group, leaving Martin alone with his trembling hands and mounting dread.

"Oh God," Martin's mind wheezed, overwhelmed by the distant sounds of gunfire echoing through the shattered city. "J-just remember what A-Aiden said," he muttered, tears welling up in his eyes. "Remember what they told me!" His voice broke as he winced and cried. "Hide and... and... take a good kill shot."

He eyed the tallest, least conspicuous structure in the vicinity, his hands shaking as he tightened his grip on the controls.

Aiden

You don't understand just how big Atisttica actually is. This isn't just one of the greatest schools in the country or even the world; it's renowned across all human sectors, planets, and fronts. You had to be rich or have notoriety to attend, but the Sons of Harmony never knew that.

That was why Aiden couldn't believe the crowd that had gathered today. People from other sectors, average joes, everyone wanted to witness this showdown. The entire student body was here, a population of 100,000 cheering, thumping their feet, with the band playing and the constant flash of cameras. Agents and spectators buzzed around. When had all this gotten lost?

Maybe, he didn't realize it until he was watching from the sidelines. Phones out, people betting, the roar of the crowd—everything surged as Conner's Rick Dom's heat saber blazed with fury. The saber came down in an elegant slash, slicing across Laude's piece-of-shit Dilenza's left arm, and Laude's scream pierced the mic.

"Brother, he's not aiming for the command antenna…he's not!" Laude shouted, a mix of fury and fear in his voice.

The other blue arm of the Dilenza rushed to catch the saber, but in a flat-bodied dodge, it scratched and dented the road. Conner sliced downwards in arcs, cleaving chunks of metal from the fleeing Dilenza.

"Laude!" Guel shouted, raising his laser glaive. He slashed in a wide arc, and their blades collided, sending a shower of sparks into the air.

The crowd's roar intensified, a frenzied cacophony of excitement and tension.

"Holy s-shit!" Aiden shouted. "We've got this in the bag…" But his confidence was shattered when Sabina's Beguir's fist slammed into Conner's Rick Dom's mechanical eye. The glass shattered, and the entire visual feed went dark.

"What the hell!" Conner yelled, his systems all showing green, but his screen was pitch black. "I-I can't see a damn thing…" His voice trailed off as another blow sent him crashing into a building. His arms flailed wildly as he started to scream. "I can't see a fucking thing… I'm out of the battle! Out, out, out!" His panic escalated. "Man… fuck Winters and his crew. We wouldn't be here fighting for our residency if he didn't fuck around with these girls and Deacon his little slut."

Another hit rocked Conner. "My command antenna! What are you doing!" He felt something stomp onto his cockpit. "The fuck are you bitches doing!"

Aiden gripped the handles tightly. Everyone was wincing now, shocked by how quickly Conner had been overwhelmed. Conner had a whole bazooka and machine gun at his disposal, but he was too focused on humiliating Laude. They had used him as bait!

Aiden wanted to facepalm. He had thought Conner was winning. He needed to be more mindful in the future.

Conner could hear them outside his mech, his suit slouched against the building. "Come get me!" he shouted to his comrades. "Come get me!" He yelled louder, desperation creeping into his voice.

Oscar's voice crackled over the radio. "Why haven't they taken out your antenna yet… and where are you?"

Conner tried to look around, but his vision was still blacked out. "Fuckers got the camera… got the fucking camera," he muttered, slamming his head against the pillow in frustration. But then, he heard their voices.

"We should kill him right now," Renee said. "What he did… that goes far beyond irredeemable."

Sabina leveled her mech's hand. "Not right now. It's too open… we can hit him a bunch to teach him a lesson, but killing him will have to come later."

Renee leveled her gun in front of herself. "We can make it quick, say we missed."

Sabina rolled her eyes. "No one is going to believe that, Renee. And Suletta… I thought you wanted to finish this with her."

Renee rolled her eyes. "To get justice for Henao, I'm willing to let that grudge slide. Aiden can take his cum dump whore… but this one, he needs to die and needs to die soon."

Conner's heart pounded in his chest as he listened. The reality of his situation was sinking in. He was a sitting duck, and his enemies were debating his execution.

"Guys, what are you talking about?" Guel stared at them, his mech backing up beside his brother's. "There are rules. We… we agreed to no killing."

"This is the one that hurt Henao!" Renee snapped, rage glistening in her eyes. "She's our sister and h-he… he!"

Aiden and the rest couldn't hear any of this, being too far away. They all jumped and leaped as Oscar whirled a sniper shot through the right wrist of Renee's suit.

Renee and Sabina leaped away in shock, Renee leveling her shield while Sabina took pot shots with her laser rifle. "Where is he?" Sabina shouted, firing shot after shot. Oscar's sniper rifle simmered with heat, each laser blast tearing through buildings and occasionally grazing a mech.

Laude stood on unsteady mech legs, and the Jeturk brothers scrambled for cover, each seeking shelter in different locations on a T street.

"Suletta!" Deacon shouted, utilizing his thrusters and the low gravity to leap from building to building as Suletta flew overhead. "That's the…"

He saw the other two mobile suits blasting towards them. "That's Maisie and Ireesha!" Suletta shouted, her eyes narrowing. "Where's Renee?"

"I guess we missed her," Deacon stated.

Suletta rolled her eyes. "Well, it looks like these ones are ours!" she shouted. They charged forth in a brilliant clash of metal. Meanwhile, Martin was climbing, his mech's fingers digging into the cracked rock.

He pulled himself onto a wall of bricks, which nearly collapsed beneath him. He watched as debris tracked through the air and exploded on the ground below. He awkwardly smiled. "Thank goodness he spoke."

Oscar

"Chu Chu!" Oscar shouted, the rippling sound of laser blasts echoing through the factory. He slipped into the back of the ruined structure, guiding his mech into a crouch and aiming it through the shattered windows. They were locked in now.

"Sabina, leap!" Renee's voice cut through the chaos as both women dove in opposite directions, taking cover.

"Where's Shaddiq?" Sabina shouted back, dodging a laser blast while she and Renee returned fire.

"Where the hell is he?" Sabina repeated, desperation edging her tone.

Oscar winced as a stray laser blast nicked the side of his mech's head. "D-damn, that was close!"

"Chu Chu, grab Conner and dip… grab him and dip!" Oscar yelled, urgency in his voice.

Chu Chu drew her beam saber as she moved, the pair of them backing off. Unbeknownst to them, Shaddiq, Guel, and Laude had regrouped and were closing in.

Rounding the corner, Chu Chu and Sabina clashed. Renee's shield crashed down onto Chu Chu's saber as Oscar emerged from his cover, hip-firing his shots.

Conner, deep within his cockpit, muttered aimlessly, "Can't do anything…," feeling the nails biting deep into his skull, dislodged during his seizure. The bad head injury, the crude tech within his mind, scattered and biting. Yet, he could still move his arms, still move his legs. Slouched within the building, his lips twirled into a smile. He released the hold on his heat saber, his Rick Dom's hands feeling around until they tightened on the bazooka that had slipped from his grasp.

Oscar's rifle barrel started to overheat. Tossing it aside, he drew his heat hawk. Renee could only block and grimace as each blow rained down on her. "You were all talk!" Oscar shouted, kicking Renee's shield into her stomach.

Deacon screamed into the fray, his heat saber and shield drawn as he rushed to meet Ireesha's shield. Ireesha growled, slamming her beam saber into his to block, kicking him away as Deacon made distance. His machine gun fired from the other hand, large bullets rending the already blown-away apartment complexes.

"Suletta, a little help!" Deacon shouted.

"I've got you!" Suletta called back, about to release her Gund bits.

"Got you!" Maise shouted triumphantly, her mech curling its arms and legs around The Aerial, confining Suletta. The Gund bits, usually shooting out, could only wiggle in their confinement. "You're going to have to try harder than that. We're not ready for you yet!" she shouted as both her and Suletta crashed to the ground.

Meanwhile, Martin had climbed the tallest building around. His Demi Trainer took aim with the big gun. "D-don't worry, guys. I'll do my job as prez and make you p-proud!" he stammered, determination and fear mingling in his voice.

Aiden

Aiden watched as Shaddiq's mech moved to aid his housemates, Sabina and Renee, in their fight against Oscar and Chu Chu. Guel and Laude were closing in on Suletta. What once seemed like a sure victory now felt uncertain. The odds were shifting, and Aiden's earlier confidence had all but vanished.

Shaddiq rounded a bend and was immediately confronted by the sight of Renee and Sabina battling Oscar and Chu Chu. Renee slammed her shield into Oscar's face, only for Oscar to retaliate by kicking her mech into a building. The chaos intensified as Conner's voice crackled over the radio.

"I've still got my compass on my suit. Give me an O'clock and I'll make it worth your while. Make sure it's exact!" Conner's eyes widened, a smirk spreading across his face.

"Seven! Seven!" Chu Chu grunted as she pressed her saber against Sabina's, both struggling for dominance.

Conner whirled his bazooka toward Sabina and pulled the trigger. The blast hit her mech's left shoulder, sending her crashing into a building. The explosion obliterated her mech's right arm and scarred the area near her cockpit. Sabina winced, feeling blood pooling from a wound as she noticed a piece of metal lodged in her side.

"S-Sorry, Shaddiq," Sabina muttered, knowing her mech's antenna had been destroyed in the explosion. She was out of the fight. If they hadn't been toying with Conner, they would have realized the severity of their mistake sooner.

Conner's laughter echoed through the comms. "Got you, bitch! I did that to your friend, and I'll do it to you too!" Only Conner could hear his triumphant outburst.

Conner dodged a blow from Renee and was about to swipe at her command antenna when Shaddiq's shield came crashing down. The heat hawk dented and stuck in the shield. Oscar tried to wrench it free but failed, forcing him to leap back and make distance, now weaponless.

Shaddiq raised his shield and leveled his saber. "You alright?" he asked Renee.

Renee grunted, dropping her shield and drawing her saber with her other arm. "Do we still need Sabina for the trap?" she questioned.

Shaddiq sighed. "Not exactly. I expected that at least half of the team wouldn't make it out."

Aiden, observing from the sidelines, clenched his fists. The crowd's roar was deafening, the energy palpable. He had underestimated the determination and cunning of their opponents.

Shaddiq eyed Oscar, who was now just staring at them. He scanned the surroundings, spotting the object he needed and swiftly sprinting toward it. Oscar made his way to Conner, drawing his heat saber into his Zaku 1's hands. A normal Zaku 1 couldn't support a heat weapon, much less a beam saber. However, his had been modified thanks to Prospera's quick advancements. The weapon sizzled and heated up in his grip.

"Conner, do you have your machine gun?"

"Here..." Conner slung it off his side, his hand blindly moving it.

"Five o'clock!" shouted Oscar. Conner threw it in the indicated direction. Now, Oscar wielded a heat saber in one hand and a machine gun in the other.

"Look at that quick thinking, Renee," Shaddiq chuckled. "After all this time, I really should've hired them when I had the chance. They're a damn good mercenary group. Leave it to Miorine to know how to pick the best."

The fight was back on. The pair thrusted away, but Shaddiq's mobile suit blocked to avoid a direct hit. Oscar started blasting shots with his other hand, forcing Renee to flee behind a row of buildings. Then, she smashed through the side, and Oscar and her blades clashed in a beam of searing energy.

A great blast tore through the cosmos. Martin pulled the trigger on his big gun, but it missed wide, the shot going astray against Ireesha.

"Woah!" Maisie chuckled loudly as Suletta crashed both her and Maisie into an apartment complex, trying to shake her off. "He can't shoot for shit!"

Martin pulled the trigger again, and Shaddiq raised his gun. But before he could fire, an explosion of great intensity rocked Martin's cockpit. Smoke filled the cockpit, and another explosion rocked the side of his mobile suit, sending it descending like a fallen angel.

"M-Martin!" Lilique cried out as Aaliyah held onto her. Silence followed, the hit illegal, way too strong. It had punctured the side of his suit with a force so quick, it was almost as if it hadn't even come from a mobile suit.

The only one holding a gun in that location was Renee, who had dropped her melee weapon and picked up a discarded laser rifle. "Huh?" she muttered, staring at Martin's falling suit in her sights, but she did not pull the trigger.

Chaos reigned as the realization dawned on everyone. The fight had escalated beyond the expected bounds, and the stakes had just been raised to a deadly level.

Martin's scream pierced through the comms, not his usual fearful, anxious wail, but a raw cry of agony. Aiden's heart clenched as Martin's mobile suit crashed down with a sickening crunch that echoed in his ears.

"A-Aiden…you told me I would be fine," Martin's voice trembled through the headset. The entire arena fell silent. This was supposed to be a duel of honor, no death, no severe injuries. Yet, Renee's hit...

"I-I can see my bone!" Martin's voice quivered with sheer terror and pain.

Aiden's mind raced. "Martin, you've got to calm down. I know it hurts, but...,"

"Aiden, there's a fire, a fire!" Martin's sobs grew more desperate.

Aiden acted on instinct, pushing past Nuno and Ojelo and the rest of his team. The crowd's noise became a distant murmur as he waded through, each step feeling like a mile. He caught a glimpse of Miorine and Petra among the faces, their expressions mirroring his own horror and disbelief.

Miorine

Miorine was pressed against the cold wall as Petra stood before her, an awkward tension hanging in the air. "It's been a long time since we spoke," Petra said, her voice soft.

Miorine shrugged, her expression indifferent.

Petra's eyes widened slightly before she took a deep breath. "I know you didn't like us."

"Ain't that a fact," Miorine replied, her tone edged with bitterness.

Petra lowered her gaze. "A lot has changed, Miorine. And maybe you didn't like us, but you knew us. Felsi, she... she...," her voice cracked, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I know we bullied you a lot, and I'm just... I'm sorry."

"Where is this change of heart coming from?" Miorine asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It's just... so much has changed," Petra said, wiping away her tears with trembling hands. "Felsi passed away."

Miorine's eyes widened, and she glanced down at her shoes. "I'm sorry to hear that. I heard from Deacon that Oscar was fond of her…"

"Fond of her?" Petra chuckled through her tears. "You have such a fancy way of speaking."

Miorine managed a small smile. "Fancy. Maybe if you did more of that, we could've been friends."

Their conversation was cut short as Miorine winced, catching sight of Suletta being manhandled by Maisie in the arena. The sight made her heart clench, a reminder of the brutal reality they were all embroiled in.

The arena roared with the sounds of battle, the crowd's cheers and gasps blending into a chaotic symphony. Miorine's mind raced, trying to process Petra's words while keeping her focus on the fight. The memory of Felsi, the unexpected apology, it all swirled together in a disorienting mix.

But she watched as Aiden ran past her and down the stairs. "Miorine!" he shouted. "I'm going into the arena…Martin got hurt really bad!"

Miorine's eyes widened in alarm. "What are you going to do?" she yelled after him.

"Get him, obviously!" Aiden shouted back, his voice echoing as he broke into a full sprint. He pushed through the horde of students, making his way to the right side of the arena where the worker trucks were parked. He dove into the one on the far left, the only one there and the closest to the route to the entrance, impossible to miss. On the back, it had a bipedal mech covered in a large fabric.

Entering the arena, Aiden saw the chaos and destruction. "Kind of looks like what happened between me and Elan…" he muttered, a flood of volatile memories surging through him. His last mech duel with Parker, the tension with Elan—each moment weighed heavily on him. He still couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty; had he just been lucky against Elan?

Navigating the fractured ground, Aiden saw the others converging toward the center. The arena floor was a labyrinth of cracks and debris, each step treacherous. He parked the truck next to the fallen mech and hurried to Martin's Demi Trainer, wincing at the sight of its crushed back and the ruined Big Gun.

Carefully maneuvering over the tilted surface, Aiden knelt and popped open the entrance hatch. Inside, Martin's leg was a horrifying sight, a bone jutting through the skin, tears streaming down his face, his helmet askew.

"You… you came," Martin whispered, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Aiden grabbed him, wrenching him from the seat, and helped him walk off the mech and into the debris-strewn arena. The sound of laser rifle fire echoed in the distance.

"S-something wrong?" Martin croaked.

Aiden's eyes narrowed. "I-I just don't got a good feeling about," And his eyes widened as that electrical current streamed along his minds eye.

Suddenly, the ground shook violently, and Aiden and Martin were thrown upwards. The Aerial and Maisie's mech came crashing down nearby, sending a shockwave through the area. Martin shrieked in fear and pain, and Aiden looked up, the wind swirling from the arena as he stared into the dead eyes of the Aerial before him.

"Aiden, don't give up!" the voice rang out, clear and determined. He wasn't sure which girl had spoken, wasn't even sure how he had heard it. But the words resonated.

He summoned the courage to climb up and grab Martin, cradling the young man in his arms as he brought him to the side of the truck. He opened the door and carefully pushed Martin inside, buckling him up.

"Aiden, I-I am sorry…," Martin stammered.

"Don't be," Aiden replied, patting him on the shoulder. "This isn't your element. You're alright. You did well."

Martin produced a dry chuckle, managing a faint smile. "Thanks… AIDEN!" Martin's shout cut through the air as the ground beneath Aiden began to crumble.

Aiden felt himself plummet into the void, the machinery and the endless expanse of the Academy's state-of-the-art dueling arena swallowing him whole. Martin screamed, slamming his injured leg onto the truck's throttle, despite the searing pain. The truck lurched forward, teetering on the edge as a massive pillar of debris fell from the truck bed, joining Aiden in the abyss.

"AIDEN!" Suletta's voice was a mix of horror and desperation. Her eyes narrowed, tears streaming down her face as she produced a guttural growl. "Aerial, get her off! Get her off! Aiden fell, Aiden fell!" She screamed and cried, her mech whirling backward, slamming Maisie's suit at a complete 90-degree angle into the ground.

Maisie's world went black as she was thrown around her cockpit, her command antenna snapping in half. The Aerial clawed desperately toward the abyss, reaching for Aiden, but it was already too late.