Chapter 18 - Unexpected Reunion

Inside the compound, Iris and Alice had managed to go undiscovered as they stealthily traveled in between buildings. They followed behind vehicles that were typical for carrying important personnel, believing it would lead them to the testing facility. Their hunch was correct and they found the building that was meant for remote testing of their weapons. Following the sight-line of the building, they saw a large open field and an old-looking steel tower that looked like a tall cage. Within it was a clearly what they were looking for; the Trinity 2 prototype. The missile was tall, long and had an elongated conical point for the head. It was propped up by a multitude of angular, square-like ports, clearly the propulsion points. The weapon itself was like something out of the old-world as it stood out compared to the sleek and simple designs of the modern weapons and technology. Iris reached to her side and pulled out the flare gun holstered at her waist and primed it. She held her thumb to the sensor on it and the short-barreled, square gun started to hum and glow. After aiming it up toward the top of the tower she pulled the trigger, exploding out a bluish-yellow orb into the sky that left a trail as it flew. It exploded at its apex and left a large smoke cloud, visible even below the azure sky. The two girls attempted to quickly hide, but as the turned the corner of the building, they were immediately surrounded by familiar, somber faces their former classmates.

***

“They had something that can disable the Yatogami?!” Eric shouted as he saw the warning message.

The entire right arm of the Yatogami was burning in a yellow flame. Strangely, it did not spread to the rest of the machine and stayed localized to the arm. Eric continued flying toward the flare while still dodging the weapon fire from below him. He soon heard sirens blaring inside the compound and noticed a few foot soldiers inside the base taking aim at him. More and more gun fire was launched at him, making it impossible to dodge every incoming bullet. Having seen the tower off in the distance from the altitude he reached, he decided the best course of action would be on the ground. He dove straight down and managed to break line of sight of the ambush squad in the forest, now only being fired at from the soldiers on the ground. Eric was diving down head first to the ground and just as he was about to hit it, slammed his left claw into the ground and flipped the entire machine forward and powered his thrusters to keep his momentum and continue forward. He was gaining ground toward Trinity 2 and was easily dodging everything coming at him, even with a disabled arm.

“Just a little further, come on!”

“Eric Valtor! Stop or your friends here won’t live to see tomorrow.” A voice boomed over the sirens. “They’ll be executed as treason who refused to cooperate and seen as NAK spies. Do you want that?”

Eric slowed and eventually did stop. His eyes were wide and he was sweating profusely. The soldiers had stopped firing at him and he was standing in the open field, roughly 100 meters from the tower. His mind was arguing with itself trying to determine the best course of action. He knew the importance of reaching that missile, but his love for his friends was refusing to let them die for the cause. He stood there, contemplating his next move.

“That’s right kid, good decision. I don’t know what your plan is, but you cannot interfere with that weapon by any means. The NAK cannot get their hands on it.” Halford continued over the speakers. “And we cannot lose the Yatogami to them either. Stay right there and we’ll come take you in.”

“Halford! You’re a fool if you think we’re traitors!” Eric shouted, unsure if anyone could actually hear him. “The NAK, The UF, this has nothing to do with either of them! For once, I’m not listening to my superiors! For once, I’m acting on my own will...”

Eric trailed off as he said those last few words. He knew what he should be doing, what Alice and Iris would tell him to do right now, what Trinity would implore for him. But he decided that he would act for himself this one last time. He spun around and launched himself back toward the compound. As he started to head back, multiple platforms rose out of the ground like in the forest and several unmanned mobile tanks were stationed on them. They immediately opened fire on him from multiple angles. Eric tried his best to dodge each shot; pirouetting and rolling as best he can. He dodged several shots until he was finally hit by one after a barrage of 4 pincered him perfectly. The shot caused him to tumble into the ground and kicking up a cloud of dirt and dust. Without hesitation, he kicked off the ground and charged out of the cloud with the recoilless rifle unsheathed on the left arm. He fired 3 times in quick succession at the tanks, each shot hitting a mobile tank directly, exploding them instantly in a cloud of blue flame. He unsheathed the weapon and continued his way back to the compound. He reached the final mobile tank and slammed his left claw into it, destroying it instantly. As he turned to launch himself again, he hesitated seeing the line of infantry taking aim at him at the entrance to the compound. He saw the familiar faces of his class and at the front were Kelly and Jack on one knee, taking aim at him with standard issue, long range rifles. Eric stood there and watched as they all prepared to fire on him.

“Don’t push your luck any further, Eric. That right arm is still disabled, these soldiers are armed with the same weapons. You’re outnumbered. Stand down.” Halford spoke again over the speakers.

Eric clenched his fists. He knew he only had one option here, but he refused to let their plan end here. The fate of the world was at stake, as well as the lives of his two closest friends and Eric would not let failure be an option. He readied himself to charge in, prepared for any outcome.

“Alice... Iris... I won’t let them keep you...” Eric muttered to himself. “And Laura... I will see you again.”

“I’m glad you didn’t forget about me.” A familiar voice echoed through the Yatogami.

“L-laura?!”

“Yes. I’m in the compound; I arrived with everyone else. I’m using the secure channel that I made for you three. I can help you and get Iris and Alice secured. Stand down for now.” Laura said, monotone and quick. “Just trust me.”

Eric hesitated in silence for a brief moment. He unclenched his fists and stood up straight.

“It's only been a couple days, but I missed that pleasant robo-voice.” Eric joked. "Of course I trust you."

Eric raised his arms up in surrender, which only one of the Yatogami’s arms raised due to the other still being disabled. The line of soldiers slowly started to advance toward him. Eric swallowed hard and clenched his jaw as he waited anxiously for Laura to give him a signal.

“That’s good, Eric. Now, get out of the Yatogami.” Halford ordered.

“Do not get out.” Laura instantly spoke out.

“Wasn’t planning on it. But I will make it seem like I am.”

Eric started to power down the Yatogami, feigning that he was ready to disembark. He purposely took his time and made every movement slow and deliberate. In a surrender, this didn’t seem out of place as showed that he wasn’t trying to attack, giving him the extra time he needed for Laura to enact her plan.

“Laura, how soon are you ready” Eric said, ready to step out of the Yatogami.

Eric started to sweat as he looked over at the line of infantry heading toward him. He was about to ask Laura again, but at the exact moment he opened his mouth, one of the buildings at the entrance of the compound exploded in blue fire. The infantry halted their progress and turned around, only for the ground beneath them to give out and open up as if a platform was about to rise up. Only a couple of the soldiers managed to step off in time, but the majority of them fell into the pit before it quickly closed again.

“Now, go.”

Eric powered up the Yatogami and instantly leapt off the ground and charged to the compound. The few remaining soldiers opened fire on him, but Eric didn’t attempt to dodge and took the brunt of the shots using the left arm to shield. The arm took minimal damage as he continued on a straight line. He watched the few soldiers disperse and create different angles on him. He noticed two of the remaining soldiers were Kelly and Jack, their faces filled with disdain, anger, but also remorse. Both of them stopped firing and Eric could tell that their guns started to glow. Shortly after, their guns shot out straight line lasers from their barrels. He turned the Yatogami so that one laser hit the already disabled arm, but the other managed to hit his left leg, igniting it and engulfing it in the same yellow flame and disabling it. Another warning popped up below the previous one indicating it to Eric. He cursed out, but knew not to fault them. If he were in their position, he’d do the same. In that moment, Eric heard a familiar voice in echo in his head, as if someone was directly speaking in his mind.

I can sustain. Continue on to them.