Maybe, the Duke (4)

"Nova?! I thought you were knocked out?!"

"I got better." Another spurt of blood burst from the Duke's head. "Command filled me in. We need to get the Duke here so she can blow it up?"

"That's the gist of it." My knees buckled when I landed.

"Then move to the main building. It sounds like Command's almost finished."

"Moving." I glanced at the clock. A little over two minutes remained. "How the hell are you awake?"

"These steroids pack a punch," He commented as I started moving back. The damaged boosters wouldn't be enough to keep me airborne, but they could still help me zip across the planetoid. It was much more graceful than running the old-fashioned away. "And I took a nap on the way back."

"I'm really glad you're with us again."

"Save the reunion for after we blow this guy up." The Duke roared when his regenerated eye blew up a second time.

"Returning to base."

"Pilot Vega, this is engineer Bootes. Please come in."

"I read you. What's wrong?'

"We're preparing to evacuate toward the escape pods. We request your assistance in picking us up before the reactor explodes."

"Copy that. Let me know when you're launching."

"Will do."

The Duke roared a third time. Nova must have struck another vital point. Turning to the Duke proved my thought. I could see blood dripping from the side of its head as it raised both hands toward its eyes.

"Think you're pissing it off, Nova!"

"That's the goal!"

Minute and a half left, I glanced at the clock. I would arrive at the Raifin dome within five seconds. I could already see Valoel standing next to the Command Center with his sniper pointing into the air. The Duke presented another problem. Nova's shots were distracting him, but there were no pulse cannons. The Duke would arrive at the Command Center with over a minute to spare.

"Nova, this isn't working!" I commented as I stopped beside him.

"I can see that." Valoel fired another shot. "That thing will demolish the Command Center within ten seconds."

"Got any ideas? I'm all out. I only have my sword left. My boosters are damaged."

"Mine are functional and got about three missiles left. I'll buy us some time." He fired a last shot before holding the sniper out to me. "Use this. Irritate him from the ground side while I'm up there."

"Try to get him to swallow a missle. That previously bought us some time." Valoel blasted off after I took the sniper from him.

"Pilot Vega. We are within the escape pod and will launch in ten seconds."

"Thank you." I aimed through the sniper's scope and let off a shot. My inexperience with the sniper was apparent. While the shot struck the Duke, it was far from lethal. Matching Nova's accuracy would still be some years away.

"Launching!" A streak of light burst from the top of the Command Center.

"I see you." I clipped the sniper to my back as I stepped underneath the escape pod. The low gravity helped to make a soft landing. The clock at the top right showed forty-five seconds until the meltdown. "Nova," I pressed the button for the booster to activate. "I'm breaking off. Taking the escape pod to safety."

"Vega?"

"I read you, Command. Wait, how come I can hear you?"

"I'm... I'm still inside the Command Center."

"What?! Why? I'm circling-"

"Don't... just don't. One of us... one of us had to remain behind."

"But... why?"

"Tartys' explosion. It damaged some of the reactor's system. Long story short, somebody must remain behind to break the anti-matter bottle. Manually."

"You're telling me one of the most advanced things humankind has created needs to be struck with a hammer to break it?!"

"Shows you how good we are." Command chuckled sadly. "Listen. The rescue ships are four days out. Make sure that everybody gets out alive. You hear me?"

"You better be one of those as well."

"We both know that isn't-" A crash cut off her last word. Turning around revealed a large crack throughout the Command Center that wasn't part of the original design.

Neither was the broken mech falling from its side.

"Nova!"

"I... shouldn't have done that." He commented weakly.

"Nova, get up!"

"Ain't happening. That blow broke Valoel's legs."

"Then wait, I'll get you."

"No time." The mech looked up as the Duke stepped closer. "Hey, Command? You ready in there?"

"Ready when you are."

"What, you knew?" I asked.

"Told me of her plan when her engineer pumped me full of steroids. Didn't plan on me ending up alongside her."

Thud.

"Sorry, Vega," apologized Command. "I knew you'd be against it."

"Damn right, I am! I'm coming back for both of you! Cerviel, let's go!" Yet her feet didn't move. "Cerviel?"

"Overwriting pilot command."

"What?! No no no, Cerviel, let's go."

"I am sorry, pilot Vega. You cannot extract pilot Nova and Command in time."

"That is not for you to decide!"

"Looks like you're losing this one, sister." Nova chuckled. "Listen, take care of Mira for me. Make sure she can get on the rescue ship."

"Nova, you had better-"

"Hey, Command? You need the Duke as close as possible?"

"The closer, the better."

"Then keep your hammer close by." Two missile streaks burst from Valoel's shoulder. Each struck the Duke against the face. The roar it gave was fiercer than anything before.

Thud...

"Here he comes..."

Thud...

"I'm ready...'

"Please! Please get out of there!"

Thud...

"I'll see you in heaven, sister!"

Thud...

"Give them hell for me, Vega!"

Thud...

"NOOOOOO!"