"Hey look! It's the leader from JTF!"
"Is she the signal?"
"Which one? The one that likes to screech a lot?"
"No! The fat one!"
"Everyone, look! Is that… Is she from the vigilante Crew? They're heading towards the smoke wall as well!"
Chapter 5 — The drunkman's bottle.
"Argh!"
I let out an exasperated scream, my frustration boiling over as I surveyed the antiquated interior of the tank. My eyes darted frantically around the cramped space, taking in the archaic controls and primitive systems that surrounded me. The glaring problem I took most attention to was the absence of an auto-loader for the main gun was apparent to me.
"Oh god!" I screamed, my voice echoing off the metal walls. The realization of what I was dealing with hit me like a ton of bricks.
Disbelief and irritation colored my next words as I continued my assessment. "Why is the main weapon manually loaded?" I demanded of no one in particular, my hands gesturing wildly at the crude mechanisms before me. The implications of this outdated design were staggering. "What factory did this moving dumpster with threads come out from, the stone-age?!"
As I stared at the spot where a modern auto-loader should have been. Instead, a strange cylindrical case took its place. The small print I read.
A kettle heater? For tea!
It even has instructions stuck on the side where and when to add the tea packets. Just what kind of insane mongoloid tosses out an auto-loader for a kettle to heat water? What group of people would value tea more than anything like their lives?!
I took a deep breath, trying to center myself and focus on the task at hand. Despite the setback, we had a job to do. I would need to adapt quickly. I was already inside of this thing. Might as well make the most out of it.
Well… Pulled out a bottle of liquor left inside the backpack. I might as well drown out that part with alcohol. Oh yes. Driving under the influence — but with a tank. What a wonderful development this was going to make.
The tank lurched to the side, abandoning its previous destination. I steered this metal casket towards our new path - the bar. Guiding the armored beast across another side of the street, I veered away from its original course, opting for its service to work for my side in this conflict.
We reversed through a dense cloud of smoke, the tank's powerful engine muffled by the thick haze enveloping us. As we emerged from the smokescreen, I gunned the engine, propelling us forward straight.
Our sudden appearance caught the besieging raiders completely off guard. The thunderous rumble of our treads sent them into a panicked frenzy, their tough facades crumbling as they scattered. To drive home our point, I fired a warning shot at a nearby building, deliberately avoiding the fleeing raiders but close enough to make my intentions clear that I got my sights on them.
Inside the bar and on the rooftop, a wave of elation swept through the beleaguered defenders. Cheers erupted as their spirits soar at the sight of unexpected reinforcement. However, their jubilation was short-lived as they realized the tank was not delaying their speed.
Meanwhile, inside the tank, I found myself hollering as I loaded another shell, my voice joining the cacophony. In my haste to return to the driver's seat, I nearly lost my footing, leaving the tank on a collision course with the bar. Fortunately, when I peered through the gunner's periscope, I saw that the impact had been relatively minor.
Well, not all relatively minor.
Speaking of minors…
A sudden "Oomf!" from behind caught my attention. I swiveled around, a grin spreading across my face as I recognized my unexpected guest. "Oh, Kirino, nice of you to join me." The parking police herself had quite literally dropped in, tumbling through the hole where the hatch used to be. "Welcome to my humble vessel."
"Mr. Thirteen?" she mumbled, slowly looking up while rubbing her head.
"Yes, yes. Good morning, kid." I nodded, taking a swig before firing another shell - this time aimed at a nearby truck, causing more raiders to flee in terror. "You took a fall and landed inside. Funnily enough, if I say so myself."
As I scanned the area to confirm the raiders' retreat, another tank rolled into view. This one bore a logo on its side - Kaiser or something similar. More pressingly, it appeared to be training its sights on us.
"Say, Kirino, think you could help me out?" I asked, swiveling my seat with a grin on my face towards the new arrival as I helped her to her feet. After another quick swig, I gestured towards the stack of shells nearby.
"Since you're here," I continued, "Got on the back and start loading the main cannon." The situation was escalating rapidly, and I needed all hands on deck to face this new threat.
The cramped interior of the tank echoed with Kirino's panicked voice as she struggled to process the sudden turn of events. I can't blame her, after she fell through the hole in the tank and all.
"Wait, wait, wait I don't-" she stammered, her eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and fear. As she held her hands open like she's trying to push the idea. Of course, she's a cop, not part of a tank crew.
Recognizing her distress, I made an effort to steady her nerves. Nevertheless, she's here and I need her to be useful. "Kid, I don't want to scare you," I said, my voice carrying a hint of urgency tempered with reassurance. I swiveled the periscope in her direction, silently urging her to take a look.
Hesitantly, Kirino leaned forward, peering through the periscope. The gravity of our situation became immediately apparent as she took in the approaching threat.
"But we are in for a fight," I continued, my tone grave but determined, "and you being here makes that job easier."
Kirino's words continued to tumble out incoherently, her mind clearly racing to catch up with the rapidly unfolding scenario. Taking charge, I thrust a heavy shell into her hands, the cold metal likely shocking her into a new level of awareness. "Besides the kids in the bar will be grateful if you do this."
Without waiting for her response, I returned to the driver's seat, my hands finding their places on the controls with practiced ease. The engine roared to life as I propelled us forward, the tank's treads grinding against the debris-strewn street.
Kirini meanwhile, was left panicking while she held the shell. Jerking her head around as if she's looking for something. "W-wait, what am I going to do? I don't know what to-"
Twisting in my seat, I fixed Kirino with a serious gaze. "Start loading after I fire. There will be an ejected and you place that shell inside and lock it back in." I instructed, my voice leaving no room for argument. Then, with a sharp nod, I turned my attention back to the path ahead, my mind already mapping out our next moves.
A large street for just the two of us.
The air inside the tank grew thick with tension as we barreled towards our adversary. Not only did I have to outmaneuver our opponent, but I also had to ensure the safety of my unexpected assistant.
So immediately, jumping out was not a good option.
The enemy tank loomed ever closer, and our next actions would determine which tank was going to be standing left once the smoke clears out.
The confined space inside our metal behemoth reverberated with the thunderous booms of our cannon and the clanging of shells being loaded and ejected as the engine rumbled filled my ears.
It was about to double.
"Now, Kirino!" I bellowed, my voice hoarse from the constant shouting. The cannon roared to life, sending a shell hurtling towards our adversary. The acrid smell of gunpowder filled the air as Kirino, with trembling hands but growing confidence, she swiftly ejected the spent casing.
"Loading!" she called back, her voice barely audible over the din of combat. I felt a surge of pride as she deftly slid a fresh shell into place, her movements becoming more fluid with each repetition.
Meanwhile, I wrestled with the controls, guiding our tank through a series of unpredictable maneuvers. We zigzagged across the street, using abandoned vehicles and debris as makeshift cover. The jarring motion threatened to throw us off balance, but we held firm, our bodies holding steady despite against the tank's erratic shifts and turns and the rumble of the nearby close calls from nearby shells that hit close.
"Hold on tight!" I warned as I jerked the tank into a sharp turn, narrowly avoiding a retaliatory shot from our opponent. The shell whistled past, exploding against a nearby building and showering us with debris.
Kirino yelped in surprise but stayed focused on her task. "Ready!" she shouted, signaling that we were primed for another shot.
I stole a glance at her as she peered through the periscope, noting the determined and fierce concentration in her eyes. Gone was the timid parking enforcer I had first encountered. In her place stood a warrior, baptized by fire and rising to the challenge.
"You're doing great, kid." I managed between maneuvers, hoping my words would bolster her resolve.
As we continued our deadly game of cat and mouse, I've been steering this tank, as we move in a zig-zag line, with sharp brakes and reverse to bluff each other to wasting a shell. I've been targeting their threads to disable their mobility.
The streets became our battlefield, a maze of concrete and steel that we navigated with increasing skill. Our opponent, caught off guard by our erratic movements, struggled to get a bead on us. Their shots went wide, destroying storefronts and parked cars but failing to find their mark.
"Kirino, we've got them on the ropes!" I shouted, a grin spreading across my face despite the gravity of our situation. "Keep those shells coming!"
As we pressed our advantage, I finally got them to miss another shot, but this time, I charged the tank. Time to play the bluffing game. I was about to ram the hell out of them, a single chance to get out of the tank.
"Mr. Thirteen, what you doing?!"
Come on, get out. Get out! I glare at the tank, hoping for its crew to cut its losses and abandoned it.
"Mr. Thirteen!"
The battle had reached a fever pitch, our tank weaving through the urban landscape like a predator stalking its prey. As our opponent's latest shot went wide, missing us by a hair's breadth, I saw our opening. With a surge of adrenaline, I made a split-second decision that would either save us or doom us both.
I jerked the controls, pointing our metal casket directly towards the opposing tank. The engine roared as I pushed it to its limits; the treads grinding against the asphalt with renewed speed.
"Mr. Thirteen, what are you doing?!" Kirino's voice panicked in her tone. Her eyes, wide with fear, darted between me and the rapidly approaching enemy tank.
Come on, get out. Get out! I silently willed our opponents, my gaze fixed on their tank through the periscope. Every fiber of my being hoped they would choose self-preservation and get out of their tank over continuing this fight.
"Mr. Thirteen!" Kirino's voice had risen to a near-scream now. I could hear the terror in her words, feel the trembling of her body even through the vibrations of our charging vehicle. Her breathing had become rapid and shallow, bordering on hyperventilation.
I spared a glance in her direction, noting the way her knuckles had turned white as she gripped the nearest handhold. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her face had drained of all color. The determined warrior I had glimpsed earlier was now returned by a frightened lowly traffic police, clearly questioning the sanity of whether I really lost it by driving us towards what looked like an on-head collision.
But there was no time for reassurances or explanations. I pushed our tank to full throttle, coaxing every ounce of speed from its engine. The distance between us and our target shrunk rapidly, the world outside becoming a blur of motion.
Kirino's panic seemed to reach a crescendo. "Mr. Thirteen!" she shrieked, her voice cracking with emotion. "Please, stop! Pull over!"
I just need her trust in this one. But I held firm to my course, silently praying that my gambit would pay off.
As we hurtled towards our opponent, time seemed to slow. Every clank of metal, every labored breath from Kirino, every beat of my own hammering heart felt magnified. We were committed now, for better or worse, to this insane plan.
All I could do was hold this thing steady - hope that our the bastards comandeering the other tank's nerve would break before our tank made an impact.
The world spun into chaos as our tank lurched violently. My carefully aimed shot was cut off in an instant. I don't know where, but a tremendous force landed on our tank that I could only imagine an anti-material rifle. Whatever it was, it did the effect of sending Kirino and I careening off course. Through the periscope, I caught a fleeting glimpse of our opponent's tank, also reeling from what must have been a devastating hit.
Everything after that was a blur of motion and noise. Metal screamed against metal as our tanks collided, the impact reverberating through my bones. The controls were torn from my grasp, leaving us at the mercy of momentum and fate.
We plowed forward, an unstoppable juggernaut of twisted steel. The street we're fighting on was replaced by the looming face of a building. Glass shattered, bricks crumbled.
Then, darkness.
"Wait, why did you shot both? By the looks of it, those tanks are fighting one another…"
"…"
"Let's hope everyone you're correct in your judgement, I'll have to call in to Nemugaki to report of this."
When consciousness returned, it brought with it a symphony of pain. Every inch of my body ached, and a warm trickle down my forehead told me I was bleeding. The air was thick with dust, making each breath a struggle.
My Wetware projected a hud onto my sight of several bruises and gash from the impact. All of it shallow, as always.
But wait, the traffic police. My mind flashed back to that anxiety-driven officer alongside me. Where was she? I tried to be look around, despite the near-daze I was in, I still tried to look for her white locks of hair somewhere in this casket we're in.
"Kirino?" I croaked, my voice barely audible over the settling debris. No response came.
As my vision cleared, I took in the surrounding devastation. Our tank was now, for a better term, a literal casket. Through gaps in the twisted metal, I could see we were buried under a mountain of rubble. Bricks, wooden beams, and shattered glass surrounded us, transforming what was once been a busy street into a scene of utter destruction.
Frustration welled up inside me, mixing with the pain and disorientation. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. My gambit had backfired spectacularly, leaving us trapped and vulnerable.
"Damn it all," I muttered, wincing as I tried to shift my position. The realization of our predicament hit me fully, and a bitter chuckle escaped my lips.
Some poor bastard was going to return to their shop, only to find it reduced to rubble with two tanks buried in the midst of it all.
"Kirino, thank god." Finally, I found her injured, but alive. I carried her to one of the seats.
"What… Happened?" Don't worry, kid. I'm with you on that.
I looked around to witness the interior of our tank a chaotic mess. After the large crashed we just went ahead. Debris from the collision had found its way inside, but mercifully, a large chunk of rubble had sealed the hatch, preventing us from being completely inundated.
As I surveyed our surroundings, my eyes fell upon a sight that brought an unexpected smile to my face. Amidst the wreckage, a bag of whiskey bottles had somehow survived the ordeal relatively unscathed. It was a small comfort, but in our current predicament, I'd take what I could get.
"To be frank, I'm not entirely sure myself," I responded to Kirino's unspoken question, my voice gravelly from the dust we'd inhaled.
A soft groan drew my attention. Kirino was stirring, her eyes clenched shut as she fought against the pain and disorientation.
"You good? Got any injuries under there?" I asked, settling into another chair, the salvaged bag of whiskey at my feet. Despite the gravity of our situation, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of relief at seeing her conscious.
"I'm good," she mumbled, though her pained expression belied her words.
"Sure doesn't look like it," I muttered under my breath. But sure, suit yourself, I thought, knowing better than to push the issue.
I checked Kirino's condition carefully, noting the tension in her posture and the subtle signs of pain visible across her face. Thank god for my captain's insistence on me to go to field training for my medicine skills and MedTech had given me to notice at a glance when people tried to hide their injuries.
It was clear she didn't require heavy treatment like a stimpack, but some relief was certainly in needed.
I held out my hand, palm up, revealing a small blue pill nestled in its center. "Here, drink this," I said, my voice steady and assured.
Kirino's eyes darted between my face and the outstretched palm, confusion and wariness evident in her gaze. "What?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I could see the internal struggle to play out behind her eyes as she focused on the pill. Her hand twitched, as if to reach for it, before she caught herself and pushed my hand away instead. The gesture wasn't aggressive, a more reflexive act of self-preservation.
I don't blame her for ending up thinking it that way.
"Relax, it's Tramadol," I said, keeping my tone casual despite my growing insistence upon her. "I could tell somewhere around your abdomen is in pain." Well, she could at least make it less obvious for me to care earlier.
Kirino's eyes narrowed slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line as she processed my words. "No…" she replied, her voice trailing off uncertainly. The refusal lacked conviction, as if she were trying to convince herself more than me.
I knew I had to break through her defenses to make her understand that my intentions were not malicious. The words that came next were blunt, perhaps even unsettling, but they carried the weight of truth. "If I wanted to kill you, there are far better options with less the effort."
The statement hung heavily in the air, its implications clear and impossible to ignore. I watched as Kirino's eyes widened slightly, a myriad of emotions flitting across her face in rapid succession — fear, doubt, consideration, and finally, a grudging acceptance.
I could almost see the gears turning in Kirino's mind as she weighed her options.
After what felt like an eternity, but was likely only a matter of seconds, Kirino's posture shifted subtly. The tension in her shoulders eased ever so slightly, and I knew she had made her choice. Slowly, with movements that bespoke both caution and resignation, she opened her mouth.
Taking this as her answer, I gently tipped my hand, allowing the small blue pill to drop onto her tongue. The moment was brief, yet loaded with significance. As Kirino closed her mouth and swallowed, her eyes never leaving mine.
Kirino's voice was barely above a whisper as she asked. "Did we win?"
I paused, considering our pyrrhic victory. Sure, the tank we were up against is just as disabled as we are. So there's that. That has to mean something, at least. "I think so… I mean, their tank outside is just as much of a wreck as ours. So that counts for something."
Deciding that if ever there was a time for a drink, this was it. I popped open a bottle. The familiar burn of the whiskey was a welcome distraction from the shit we're literally buried ourself into.
"Care to wet your whistle?" I offered, extending the bottle towards Kirino. Even as I did so, a part of me couldn't help but think.
Weakly pushing the bottle away, Kirino groaned softly and managed to say, "I don't drink," her voice low and strained.
Giving drinks to minors… What a great example of a Ranger I show to the world.
"Alright, suit yourself. Probably for the best." I shrugged, taking another swig. "It's going to be a while until we can get out."
"Hrmm… Why?" Kirino asked, confusion evident in her voice.
I decided to lay out our situation plainly. "Well, we're basically buried alive to keep it simple. Well, it is simple."
"Oh, I guess that's understandable… WHAT?!" Kirino's shriek echoed in the confined space, her earlier lethargy evaporating in an instant.
As Kirino's panic began to rise, I took a moment to really look at her. Despite her claims of being "good" I could see she hadn't escaped unscathed. A nasty bruise was forming on her forehead, and she winced every time she moved, suggesting some bruised ribs. Her uniform was torn and dirty, and a small cut on her cheek was slowly oozing blood.
"Calm down." I said, trying to keep my voice steady and reassuring. "We're alive, and that's what matters right now. Help will come eventually."
As I spoke, I couldn't help but marvel at the absurdity of our situation. Here we were, a grizzled veteran and a young parking enforcer, trapped in the belly of a defeated tank, buried under the rubble of what used to be someone's livelihood.
I took another swig of whiskey, feeling the warmth spread through my chest. We had a long wait ahead of us, and I had a feeling it was going to be an interesting one.
Between keeping Kirino devolving into a panicking mess and pacing her head around, I had my work cut out for me. But for now, all we could do was wait for her friends to find us.
"One box combo of two classic sprinkled strawberry glaze, three strawberry Pon-de-rings, and a classic kaffe glaze for Nemugaki Fubuki. That'll be… one thousand and five, including delivery costs."
"Hrkg! Is there a discount for police officers? Can't I be entitled at least for serving the community and all that?"
"Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny, miss. That'll be one thousand and five. Would you also like to use a membership card?"
Valkyrie's Fubuki let out an exasperated groan, her frustration evident as she turned to settle the bill. Just as she was about to complete the transaction, her communication device crackled to life, carrying the urgent voice of her partner, Kirino. "Give me a second."
"Fubuki! Help us!" Kirino's voice pierced through the static.
Fubuki winced, instinctively pulling the device away from her. The sudden outburst had caught her off guard, and she found herself torn between concern and irritation. Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she responded, "Ugh, could you not scream into the walkie-talkie? Calm down, breathe. Tell me what happened?"
Disregarding Fubuki's plea for composure, Kirino barreled on with her explanation, her words tumbling out in a rush. "The Sukebans tried to stop our defense ahead of yours with what I heard could be an anti-material rifle that disabled our tank, but have so far been unsuccessful in taking us out."
Fubuki's mind reeled as she processed the information. Her brow furrowed in confusion, and she interjected, "Wait. Wait. Slow down, you have a tank?"
Kirino continued, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and panic, "Someone helped us to take over a tank and drove it against the sukebans' coming reinforcement, but the collision during the fight against another tank led us to be buried somewhere in one of the buildings. The tank, thankfully, is protected enough for us to move inside in. We still don't know where to escape, but I'll keep looking until then and continue to try to get a message outside if there a way from under here."
As Fubuki attempted to wrap her head around the chaotic situation, a new voice suddenly intruded on the conversation. It was distinctly male, with a slurred, boisterous tone that definitely told her indirectly of being drunk. "SO what did ya' think about this vessel, eye? Preem fucking steering I did, right matey? I could make a great captain. Pirate style. Not even those Yukon raiders would dare sail down South to loot NCR fishing settlements, those canucks won't dare."
Puzzled by this unexpected interjection, Fubuki couldn't help but inquire who was that person. "Hey, Kirino, who was that just now?"
"Nevermind that, he's out of it and we really need help." Kirino hastily replied, clearly trying to steer the conversation back to their situation.
Suddenly, a loud bang reverberated through the communication device, causing Fubuki to flinch. The male voice they had heard earlier let out a startled cry, "Holy shi— Christ's sake!"
Kirino's voice returned, now laced with unbridled panic. "Forget what I said, we're officially going to be burned alive. Mr. Thirteen, we need to get out of here! The water boiler bursts into flames! Wait, why does a tank have a water boiler?! Forget, actually, we're going to die if we stay here!"
As the gravity of the situation intensified, Fubuki listened intently, her mind racing to formulate a plan. She heard Kirino addressing someone called Mr. Thirteen, probably the intoxicated man from earlier.
In a moment of surreal contrast to the urgency of their predicament, Thirteen's voice drawled out in a faux serious tone. "… A great captain never abandons his sinking ship, Kirino."
Kirino's response was immediate and exasperated. "But Mr. Thirteen, you're not a captain, you're a rancher turned bartender. This is a tank, not even a ship. For both our sake, please we gotta get out of here!"
A tense silence followed, broken only by the crackling of the communication device. Fubuki held her breath, waiting for a response, any indication of what was happening on the other end. Then, in a moment of silence, Thirteen's voice returned with a single, drawled word: "Arrr…"
Soon, Fubuki then received word from one of Trinity's representatives about disabling both tanks. An update from Suzumi of Trinity's vigilante crew along with Hasumi of Justice Task Force who went ahead to support Millenium's representative to slow the tank.
If the original tank was commandeered by this person and Kirino while fighting a second tank while the first was being hunted down by those three, then…
Oh boy… Oh no… Now things are beginning to make sense for her.
By the time the facts hit her, Fubuki was already rubbing her temples by then.
What a day…
What a day this was becoming!
The interior of the tank had transformed into a hellish inferno, with flames licking at every surface and thick, acrid black smoke filling the confined space. The situation inside the tank was deteriorating rapidly, and it was clear that time was running out for the unlikely duo trapped inside. The fire's hunger was insatiable, consuming everything in its path with frightening speed.
To make matters worse, spilled alcohol from an unknown source had created a treacherous pool on the floor, acting as an accelerant and causing the flames to spread even more quickly. The heat was becoming unbearable, and the air was growing thinner with each passing second. Kirino and the self-proclaimed captain, Mr. Thirteen, and who by all accounts is enjoying a bottle of liquor in his hand, found themselves in a desperate race against time, their survival hanging by a thread.
Amidst the chaos and the roar of the flames, Mr. Thirteen's demeanor suddenly shifted. His eyes, which had been glazed over with the fog of inebriation, were now sharpened with a sudden clarity. He turned to Kirino, his voice cutting through the crackling of the fire.
"Okay, fine. Jesus. No need to scream at my face."
Kirino, surprised by this abrupt change, stared at him in confusion.
Mr. Thirteen continued, his tone now carrying an air of urgency and authority that hadn't been present ever since he left the bar and she fell into the tank as she heard him say.
"Close your eyes first."
Bewildered by this unexpected request in the midst of their life-threatening situation, Kirino stammered out a response. "Wha — What?!" Her voice was tinged with disbelief and a hint of fear.
Thirteen's patience seemed to wear thin as he repeated his instruction, this time with more force. "Close your eyes. What are you deaf?"
A moment of tense silence followed, broken only by the ominous sounds of the fire consuming their surroundings. Kirino's hesitation answered as a no.
"Do you trust me?"
Those four words stayed with Kirino. A conflict arose within her as she grappled with the decision to either comply or assert herself. Slowly, almost against her better judgment, she closed her eyes, surrendering herself to whatever plan Thirteen had inside his sleeves.
Besides, what could be possibly worse than being burned alive?
In that moment of darkness, something extraordinary happened. Kirino felt a rush of the cold wind, a sensation of displacement so swift and smooth that she could barely comprehend it.
When she opened her eyes again. Wait, what? Where? How?
They were no longer inside the burning tank. Her eyes looked around. Instead, Kirino found herself standing amongst on top of a mountain of rubble, the cool air a stark contrast to the infernal heat they had just escaped.
Her mind struggled to catch up with this sudden change in their circumstances, her eyes darting around to take in their new surroundings.
A few feet away, she saw Mr. Thirteen on his hands and knees, heaving and gasping for air. The exertion of whatever he had done to get them out of the tank had clearly taken its toll on him.
But that wasn't the only surprising sight that greeted Kirino's bewildered gaze.
Scattered on the surrounding ground near him she sees are four unconscious figures, their uniforms identifying them as possible from Gehenna. Could be the sukebans there.
With a jolt of recognition, Kirino realized these must be the crew members from the enemy tank they had been battling earlier.
As the reality of their miraculous escape began to sink in, Kirino found herself grappling with a multitude of questions. How had Mr. Thirteen managed to get them out of the tank so quickly?
What happened to them? And actually, who — or what — was this man who called himself Mr. Thirteen?
In fact, since when did a rancher ever know tactics to use in a tank — let alone actually be able to drive it effortlessly?
"Mr. Thirteen." Kirino looked towards the man, who finally collapsed to the ground. When Kirino looked ahead; there was a helicopter!
"Mr. Thirteen." Kirino called out once more.
"Mr. Thirteen."
"Thirteen…"
"Thirteen! Get up! Get! up!"
It was hard to breathe. In the midst of my struggle to breathe, I saw it through the haze and confusion. The pain finally gave me clarity.
Glimmers akin to glass emerged from the distant sky and it caught my eye.
"Roy, signal for the nearest mineshaft for support. Hell, call the brotherhood! Tell them we're surrounded here! Blackjack, get Thirteen out of there. Something must be wrong with his mask. He's moving but not responding!"
The snow was thick, coating almost my body, and the stiff wind bit at my skin. Above me, the sky was a menacing shade of gray, with ominous clouds looming overhead.
As I lay across the snow, my body sinking deep into the powdery drifts, I could hear the shooting and explosion of each step second in the winter hellscape. If not, the mutants and abominations or the explosions, mother nature would gladly bury me under herself.
I tried to move my body. In the end, I couldn't. Paralyzed or lethargic to move while my head is still awake.
Looking around, I could see nothing but white against the dark ruins of the city, long devastated and left to rot around that stood like sentinels against the snow. The clouds above seemed to close in, threatening to suffocate the entire world beneath their heavy weight.
Then I could hear it.
The sounds of flapping from wings lifted my eyes up to see a swarm of those damn abominations circling above me. Their sharp beaks and talons glinted in the dim light opposing their dark tall figures circling the sky.
Their piercing screeches imposing on top of one another into a cacophony of terror for their sole audience.
As I lay, I could see their shadows looming over me. I was their audience and they're making sure it was going to be my left show.
But it didn't last long. A more horrible metallic groan echoed through the air. It sent chills down my spine well enough. That damn groan. The sound was so powerful that I could feel it echoing through every fiber of my body.
There's not a chance I can't ever forget it.
It wasn't the mutants or the depraved actions humanity can stoop low.
That's what caused me to dread the most.
No, no… It can't be…
My breath hitched as I looked at the source. I saw the enormous robot approaches. Its massive frame towered over the crumbling husks of the buildings, its rusted metal body gleaming menacingly in the dim light.
The metal body gleamed menacingly in the dim light, causing my heart to race with terror.
With each heavy step, the robot caused dust and debris to rain down around me as the ground trembled underneath as if from fear humanity had achieved long ago. I could feel the dread rising in me as it drew closer, making me sweat despite the cold evening air.
Suddenly, its main optical sensors flashed a bright blue spotlight in my direction. A star to its show.
Then, as quickly as it had come, the light turned red, and the robot let out a loud metallic groan.
Even far north from Arizona, parts of Argos still caught up. There was no end to these things following me…
However, in my weakest, an angel in white and purple arrived, almost like landed from the sky to protect me.
As she leaped in front of and the kids, I noticed her tightly gripping onto something in her hand that she pressed with. In an instant, a brilliant blue light illuminated us both, causing me to squint and shield my eyes.
A deafening explosion immediately followed, making my ears ring. As I watched, the shockwave reverberated through my body and the rubbles shake.
After the smoke cleared, I saw someone trying to tug at my arm and take me away. It was her. She spoke to me, something I couldn't hear. The blue light that once covered her was fading away.
The helicopter loomed overhead, its machine guns trained on us once more. A weary sigh escaped me as I regarded our predicament. So much for our brief respite - we'd merely postponed the inevitable.
What a way to go.
As the situation spiraled into further chaos, I felt a familiar surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. But it was a tired, almost resigned kind of excitement. How many times had I been here before? How many narrow escapes?
The novelty had long since worn off.
Then, as if the Lady Luck decided to throw me a bone — or perhaps my [Luck] finally remembered it had a job to do — something unexpected happened.
My APOLLO laser handgun, which I could have sworn was not with me when I arrived here, somehow worked its way free and clattered to the ground.
By some miracle, it skidded to a stop right near my hand.
I reached out to wrap my fingers around the grip. The weapon's familiar weight settled into my palm, a slight comfort.
The last of my a resigned determination, I raised the gun and aimed it at the helicopter.
My thumb found the selector switch, flicking it to charged-semi.
The faint hum of the laser charging up reached my ears as I pull the trigger, holding it back. A bright red glow emanated from the barrel's end, painting the scene in a crimson light.
Fatigue tugged at my arms as I struggled to steady my aim. The gun felt heavier than usual, my muscles protesting the strain. But I couldn't afford to miss - not now, not with so much at stake.
Finally, with a deep exhale, I released the trigger. The massive laser beam erupted from the barrel, a searing line of energy that cut through the air towards the helicopter's exposed tail rotor.
The deafening roar that followed was almost anticlimactic.
The aircraft lurched, its trajectory suddenly and violently altered. We watched as it plummeted towards the streets below.
By some small mercy, the helicopter's altitude hadn't been too extreme. Instead of the fiery explosion I half-expected, we were treated to the sight of a rough crash landing. The impact was still impressive, metal screeching against asphalt.
Somewhere in the distance, a pair of curious eyes observe the scene unfolding before them. The intricate mask conceals the figure's expression. How interesting…Yet they are intently watching the explosion and the crash that followed with interest.
Soon, without a word, they turn away and walk away.
As the dust began to settle, I lowered the gun, my arm trembling slightly from exertion, and the residual adrenaline finally went away.
I just felt tired.
I could feel my entire body burning.
…
"How in the-…"
Yuuka stood transfixed, her eyes wide with disbelief as she watched the plume of black smoke rise from the crashed helicopter. The destruction had been caused by a weapon she could scarcely comprehend - a laser gun. Such power in hand-held form! Even the most advanced projects that come out from the engineering club paled compared to this portable device that had just unleashed a blast far more potent — And Utaha considered her turret, Ikazuchi her baby.
Her moment of awe was interrupted by the sound of violent coughing in a fit behind her. Turning swiftly, she saw the source of the commotion - a man lying face down on the ground. Cautiously, Yuuka approached and carefully rolled him onto his back to assess any potential injuries.
As she leaned in for a closer inspection, the man let out a pained groan. "Urgh…"
Yuuka muttered at the sight. "An adult?"
This man was an anomaly, an enigma that puzzled her. One that raised questions raced through her mind: Who was he? Where did he come from?
How had he evaded detection by the GSC; and for how long did gone for long?
Despite her unease, Yuuka's curiosity got the better of her. Her gaze fell upon the laser handgun - the very weapon that had single-handedly taken down a tank. Driven by an irresistible urge, she tentatively reached out for the firearm.
In a sudden movement that startled Yuuka, the man seized the gun and quickly tucked it away in his holster. "Damn close one." he muttered. His voice, when he managed to speak, was low and gravelly.
Yuuka instinctively backed away as the man slowly rose to his feet, still coughing. He looked at her and sounded to slur on his words. "Glad you came along when you did."
"N-no problem." Yuuka replied, her voice betraying her nervousness.
The man's eyes fell upon the device in Yuuka's hand. "That some fancy shield you got there." he commented, eyeing her latest model of Kasia scientific calculator. Quickly, Yuuka felt compelled to hastily tucked it into her pocket.
"Too bad yours breaks down faster. You gotta fix that." He noted.
Noticing her apprehension, the man let out a weary sigh. "Hm. Alright, one question. We only have so few time."
Yuuka hesitated before asking, "I… Were you the one who took down the-"
"That's me." the man interrupted, his casual tone at odds with the gravity of the situation. "I had a plan, though, not always they go out the way you want them to. Some things are always like an unpredictable variable. You gamble on them being in your favor. Those masked raiders that came your way were taken out by me. Nothing serious, but they'll be waking up in bandages soon. Too bad I didn't anticipate another tank to lead a crew to help me commandeer a tank. Had to ram them to a building to disable their threads… Clearly something else did both of our tanks in." He finished with a nonchalant smile.
I pointed at Kirino, still on the ground. "By the way, that kid over deserved the praise for helping me. Come on let's go to your friends before more come."
Soon I carried the kids on my back. Yuuka looked worried as she voiced. "Can you… Are you sure you could carry all of them?"
"Surely better than leaving them."
My eyes darted from corner to corner, scanning for any sign of threat or pursuit. The purple-haired girl kept pace beside me.
We weaved through the sidewalks on our way back to return to Kirino's friends.
Kivotos, what a welcome this is.