Chapter 18:
SEIKE
Atria sat in her calm domain of floral elegance as she smirked while sipping on her pretend tea.
‘Heh, fly high Sparrowhawk… fly high.’
***
*Crack*
*Boom*
A blue mech stood perched atop the half-broken remains of a once grand skyscraper when suddenly the very ground below erupted outwards in a spray of dust.
Ana’s mech emerged out from below with jets that fired with orange intensity. The hand grasped tightly on the unsuspecting mech as its head was pulled clean out.
*Stttssss*
A string of wires spooled out as the machine fell to the ground.
*Thud*
“Next!”
*Wrrr*
*Woosh*
Sparing no time to rest Ana fired her engines as she leapt towards another mech that stood on the opposite end. It did not have time to react as like its blue brethren Ana had gotten hold of its head.
*Sttssss*
The machine was rendered useless as Ana pulled out its head along with the wires that were connected to it.
“Two left!”
Ana jumped down holding both feather swords as it smoothly plunged into both arms of an opposing mech.
*Tsstsss*
She yanked the blades out in a quick motion that sliced both arms clean off which coincided with her attacking both legs slicing it in two. A molten cross section revealed the intricate inner joints of the mech as the centre chassis fell on the ground.
“One!”
“YOU BASTARD!”
*Boom*
Ana’s blade fell to the ground as her mech’s left arm was blown clean off by a shot in the distance. The metal around the shoulder deformed with molten wires that stuck sparking like a flutter of fireworks.
“YOU GODDAMN BASTARD!”
*Boom*
The mech in the distance fired off another shot which was Ana blocked by moving her wing to her left side. An energy shield generated a winglike forcefield that stopped the projectile.
Ana dashed forward with both wings raised, each producing their own shield.
“DAMMIT! DAMMIT!”
*Wrrr*
Ana’s mech lunged forward aggressively with both wings that unfurled stretching outwards as the shield sliced the mech in half.
*Thud*
The mech fell to the ground with a voice in Ana’s comms blaring out loud as the pilot continued to cuss her.
“You *&#%^@^ I KILL YOU! *$#*@#@& DIE! DIE--”
*Ssssss*
Ana cut off her communication device to hear only static noise. She took a deep breath in attempting to calm herself but strangely enough her comms turned on again.
*Ssssss*
“Well done Major! You are formidable as always. It was fun playing this game on the same team for a while. We did wonders together but I guess you won’t be willing to join my side again I assume?”
The voice was not of the mech below but a strange soothing voice that she never heard before.
“Mayeda?”
“Rei… you can call me Rei. We are friends after all.”
“What are you planning? All this mindless destruction, what purpose does it serve?”
“There's nothing mindless about this destruction I assure you. All the cards that the fossils had on me have been destroyed. I thank you for your hard work….”
“Tsk… Enough games where you are! I'll hunt you down myself if I have–”
“No need Major… I've been looking forward to your company. All three of us have much to discuss….”
“Three?”
“Coordinates are in. Don’t be late for our date Major!... Tata….”
“Wait–”
*Ssssss*
The communication device grew silent again as a red holographic screen popped up in front of her. It was the map of the world that slowly zoomed in on a location within Japan. A blue crosshair centred on an area in the middle of the country. It showed the island of Japan split into two as a large circular metal platform separated both regions.
“What is this?”
The crosshair showed that Rei was directly at the centre of the strange platform.
‘A trap? I don’t have a choice, do I?’
*Wrrr*
*Woosh*
Ana charged up her engines as her mech flew into the grey skies above disappearing out of sight in an instant.
***
“It's nearly time Mother.”
Rei smiled with a lollipop that rolled around in his mouth as his white military coat flailed in the wind as he stood atop the metal platform. The distant sounds of crashing waves and seagulls could be heard with the smell of salt filling the damp cold air.
*Woosh*
*Kathrack*
*Thud*
Ana’s mech landed roughly near Rei as her very impact sent forth a silent shockwave that resonated throughout the metal below.
“YOU!”
Rei simply smiled as he cheerily raised his arms upwards.
“Yup! That's me!”
“The cause of all my problems! What's to stop me from gutting you where you stand!”
“Nothi–”
*Vrrrrrrr*
Ana swung her laser feather sword in an attempt to strike Rei but was stopped by an invisible force.
“Well, that.”
“WHAT! WHY CAN’T I….”
Ana for some reason could not hit him. There was nothing physically in her way but it was as if her own body prevented her from moving.
“Thank you, Mother.”
*Clank*
Ana had dropped the sword as her mech would not respond to her command.
*Stssss*
The front chest of Ana’s mech opened along with the inner door to the cockpit. Ana raised her left arm to block the incoming blinding light.
Rei raised his arm towards Ana gesturing an invitation to her.
“Come, we have much to discuss.”
“What… Wait!”
*Wrrr*
The mech proceeded to move without her command with the palm of the hand opening as a platform for Ana to step on.
She looked out from the cockpit hesitant to his invitation but knew that she had no other choice.
*Click*
Ana stepped up with the metal tendrils detaching itself from her back as she exited out of her mech. Her mech carried her to the ground as she now stood in front of Rei with a single glowing red eye and a face of sheer disgust.
Rei took no mind to her aggression and only gave his usual smile except it had an air of blankness like a mask that was slowly lifting. A robotic gesture that revealed its true fakeness as a frown was now shown.
“Let us begin.”
*Click*
Rei clicked a button as the very platform below them started to move.
“Time for you to learn the truth.”
*Kathunk*
*WRRRRR*
Metal locks and gears gave way folding out of place as the country spanning platform began to sink into the ground.
Ana did not know what awaited her below the abyss as she clenched her fist together with dripping blood that slowly pooled out.
‘Don’t be cocky if given a chance I will tear your head off!’
*Static*
[HOW CUTE!]
*Static*
*DING*
A church bell rang as Ana awoke to an empty void as she stood beside Rei.
Rei turned to her with his plastic smile.
“Ready for the truth? Mother?”
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