Chapter 12

“Where the FUCK is Mason going!” Clive yelled through the communicator soon yelling for Mason to return but was ignored.

Mason could barely slow down before plowing into the front of the building. The mechanic then stopped, and blew away some of the structure leaving a shape that would forever be evidence that he was there. He backed up just enough to lift the windshield, and get out. Sylvia sped off in pursuit with everyone else following behind her as Mason ran into the building, and grabbing, and arming his MP5 to bring with him.

Sylvia then pulled up next to Mason’s mechanic to spot from hers that Mason has already disappeared into the dark of the building. Dawn was starting to form into night over head as the sun was close to having fully disappeared. Mason was darting through the dark hallways as his boots clacked against the ground with every step putting out a shockwave that each insect right beneath underground could feel. He ran through the twisting dark hallways as ceiling tiles hung drooped, and wet in the air as it was still suspended from the ceiling with dark, and murky drops of water falling from it.

Mason noticed it was getting too dark to see as he flipped on the switch of the light from his MP5. At that moment creeping through the darkness was a foot of a boy’s shoe that had turned the corner, and disappeared. Sylvia trying hard to keep up with Mason had actually lost him until having heard him scream out “Jack!” incredibly loudly for her to be able to pick back up on him. She then ran off into the darkness in his general direction.

“Well, do we go after them?” asked Sam as Clive sat, and thought.

“No! It is getting far too dark to chase those idiots into some sort of dark, death trap.” Clive stated.

“But we can’t leave them to die!” argued July as Wayne sat frustratingly on standby.

“Enough! July you know there is more at stake than those two’s lives!” Clive reminded her as Joseph jumped in.

“Oh is there sir? I wouldn’t have known considering how you haven’t told us anything!” Joseph argued.

“Calm down Joseph!” Wayne told him. Dexter sat off to the side not even bothering to intervene due to his lack of care.

“Have you maybe considered the possibility that I don’t even know exactly what we are looking for soldier?!” Clive angrily asked which only seemed to make Joseph angrier.

“Then why are we here!” he argued as July, and Sam pointed out they were getting off topic.

“Screw this! I’m a commander too, and I decide I am going in after them!” Wayne declared.

“Who is coming with me?!” Wayne asked.

Immediately Joseph, and July’s hands went up as Sam declared it a good way to possibly kill irons.

“You don’t get to give orders like that Wayne!” Clive yelled at him.

“Excuse me!?” Wayne says before he then grabs Clive by the shirt as Clive then lets him know his hands are probably tied either way.

“Now let me remind you that I am one of the heads to this chimera of a team, and I am making the decision to go after them.” Wayne told Clive.

“Okay guys, let’s go!” Wayne orders as they shoot off into the darkness after Mason, and Sylvia.

“Get back in your squads Armored DB.” Clive calmly ordered Dexter.

“If they aren’t out in a little more than an hour then we are taking off, and presuming them dead.” Clive told him as Dexter went walking toward the DB saying “Sounds fine to me.”

Before he jumped into the vehicle. Dexter sat in the front seat, and then looked into the back of the DB. “Huh. It might be nice not to share sleeping quarters with two other dudes for a while.” Dexter said to himself more jokingly.

Mason kept running through the halls as he finally broke down, and came to a stop in the center of the building as a big round hole in the ceiling sat above him with the moonlight shining down on him as if he were some sort of prophesized chosen one. The ceiling glass was shattered, and while on his knees Mason could feel more broken glass shatter under his knee caps. He then threw his arms up into the air with pain in his gut as his arms then fell to the ground as Mason soon started growing feeble.

“Jack, Emily.” He whispered toward the ground crying softly.

Sylvia armed with her M16 had the light on as she turned every corner she had the light covered by her hand at each turn in order to be able to surprise flash the light toward an iron until she finally happened upon Mason with the light flashing in his eyes forcing him to cover his face, she then turns the light off. She throws the rifle over her shoulder as she runs to him. She then hugs him while falling to her knees to match his height, as she strokes his head to ease the pain. As she thinks of moments she had spent with her niece, and nephew she begins telling him

“I know, I know! It will be okay!” She says while now crying too. She then puts her hand around Mason’s throat in an almost choking position while putting on light pressure.

“Remember what I told you idiot!? If you go off alone like that then you could get hurt!?” She said to him while crying.

He accepts her embrace with his own hug. The both of them were drying up almost unable to cry. The MP5 with its light still on is then accidently bumped as it reveals a giant monstrosity as they freak out, and quickly scrape back across the ground to get away as they drag broken glass along with them. It is an iron. The beast has pale white eyes, and almost appears to be frozen in time. It stands there ignoring them.

They stop freaking out, and Sylvia forgets to even aim her gun as she gets lost in the sight of the creature standing blankly with pale eyes staring back without having the faintest interest in attacking. Mason just looks at it in curiosity. His fear disappeared as he sat up to look at it. Sylvia grabbed his sleeve to stop him but he shook away.

“Are you him?” Mason whispered as Sylvia looked up at him.

“Who?” she asked Mason though Mason didn’t reply.

Mason stared at it like the one before, and once again like the one from before this new one up and walked away, and left them astonished, especially Sylvia. Though that was not the one from before. The iron from Columbus was surely dead. Everybody else caught up to the pair with Wayne leading the charge. Wayne then grabbed Mason first thing, and threw him on the ground. He then swung once at Mason’s face, bloodying his nose.

“What the hell Mason?” Mason then pointed where the iron was while he was somewhat confused, and the rest of the group kept Sylvia from helping Mason.

“What were you thinking Mason? You could have gotten yourself killed, and even some of your team!” Wayne screamed.

“But the kids!” Mason said as Wayne then closed his eyes shut solid while feeling massive disappointment in Mason.

“There wasn’t any kids Mason! You were acting weird earlier man! I think you need to clear your head. At least I would tell you that if we had time which we don’t. You need to shape up now!” Wayne demanded.

“But sir! The shoeless girl, and the small boy!” Mason insisted.

“Just stop it Mason. Just stop!” Wayne insisted.

“We have to get going.” Wayne said as he threw the shocked Mason over his shoulder, grabbing his MP5 as the light fled the area of which the iron had been standing.

The group was able to get out no problem. And they left the building in time before Clive decided on leaving them stranded. While being the last out Sam looks down at the dusty floored lobby of the school building that has moonlight shedding upon it. He stops to observe the ground to see a line of small shoe indents, and what had appeared to be small barefoot marks on the dusty ground. Sam looks at Mason as though he weren’t going crazy but decides to keep it to himself.

Sam can see the depressed look in Mason’s eyes. Even if Mason had seen children there, there is absolutely no way he could have seen Emily or Jack. Although it is possible he saw children who live around this particular area. It was dark, and Clive decided they should keep going for a few hours. After a few highway areas were cleared they would continue onward west. Mason after a bit of water, and rest was now fine. Wayne then contacted Clive via the communicator in order to figure out where this little city (of great importance) might be.

“Do you have a particular city in mind?” Wayne asked Clive.

“El Dorado, California is where we are going to start looking.”

Wayne then scratched his head because he was uncertain of how Clive would know that El Dorado is where they should look first. El Dorado of all places. Really it would be a miracle if it was Clive’s guess. And all Wayne knew is it would be pretty ironic if it was El Dorado.

“Why El Dorado?” Wayne again asked as Clive told him it was because of location. It is in the middle, and to the right of California making it a good place to start looking.

“Now that I think about it Clive, making an entirely structural city in a place full of twister’s, and earthquakes may not be the best idea. But that’s just me. Of course El Dorado is the city of “gold”.” Wayne said.

“You bring up a good point, and it may be that El Dorado might not even exist anymore. We don’t know”

“Though there has to be some ruins or something of it left, don’t you think?”

Despite not much excitement this day apart from the little rescue mission to get Mason in which he didn’t even take part, it seemed even Clive was a bit tired. This was his everything, and according to Clive what he was about to accomplish would shape everything for the future to come. But now he was tired. He ignored Wayne’s question. Wayne would usually chase down an answer but it seemed there’d be no time.

“We have a single!” Wayne yelled through the communicator.

Clive looked ahead then asked who would take care of it. Mason looked at it but soon debunked the idea of him taking it on. It seems in his current state Mason believed that even one iron may be too much for him to handle. Clive then disregarded the idea of somebody taking it on like other singles.

“Shoot it.” Clive calmly said.

“But Clive what about others!?” Wayne screamed.

“I am too tired to worry about them, and we will be shutting down for sleep soon anyway so July shoot the damn thing!”

Upon having been ordered, July lines the creature up in her sights as she then unleashes the machine guns velocity as it quickly tore the creature into nothing but, an abstract art like structure on the ground. Art made of intestine, and internal organs. More irons did not come, and it seems they were fast enough to beat out any that might have been in the distance.

“Nice shooting.” Clive said as he scouted parking locations for them. Off out into a dessert like pasture he now saw a large rocky area, and shrubs.

He pointed showing July as he said “Out there is perfect. In the morning we may even be able to have a fire, and relax a bit.”

July’s face lit up since the only relaxing she has done is the nightly sleeping shift, and meal time. They can’t have a fire at night but in solid cover far off during the day there isn’t even a problem. The next morning the whole group had a bachelor setup in between the crevice of the stone structure, and had the Armored DBs blocking the entrances as they had a fire roasting, and MREs being prepared. Finally Dexter broke out his own signature liquor cooler.

“I know it isn’t exactly mission appropriate but how’s about a drink everyone?” Dexter said as he slammed the cooler down on the ground.

“We need to indulge with a few cups of fun if you ask me.”

Clive who wasn’t saying a word but who was still tired shook his head in approval as Dexter smiled with his tongue sticking out as he poured several cups of liquor for his team. The team cheered that Dexter had been able to sneak a liquor cooler passed inspection, and Clive didn’t seemed to be worried. He was too exhausted to even worry about it. All he wanted to do was relax now that he had the chance and some stiff drinking would help with that.

The whole team with cups of liquor held high were ready to make a toast to their team, and their ability to survive so far. With the longest mission recorded in Requiem history they had officially hit a milestone. Celebration was a stupid, but yet a fun way to spend the morning. With them getting all boozed up Clive suggested that they sit put til the next morning to make sure they were sober. It was only the logical thing to do, and would be better than driving drunk. Safety for the team wasn’t a bad sentiment. With the cups still held high they found it appropriate to go in a circle, and have everyone talk about their experience with the mission, and their thoughts of the team.

“Okay. Um how bout we start with the beauty over there.”

Dexter said that while pointing at July with a drunken slur to his voice. July passed though as she felt like somebody else should go first to see how it would work which in that case Dexter decided to start. He started off snorting, and swallowing to clear his throat as he rose his cup again, and began to talk. The whole team halfheartedly listened to him as they were sure he’d go off in a goofy, drunken rant.

“Listen you guys! This mission is bullshit!” Dexter then went on to point at Clive.

“That shady little dick over there isn’t telling us anything, and that is a great Segway to start out talking about the team. Let me tell you guys this. I don’t like any of you, got it?! But I won’t abandon you in the middle of battle, and you can trust me on that! I hate watching others die.” Dexter grew a bit quieter.

“And that is probably why I act obnoxious. If nobody ever wants me in their team then I won’t see people die.” He now sounded a little less slurred but still had a strong smell of alcohol off his breath.

“Although it doesn’t matter. I still hear about people I knew dying in battle, and sometimes not.” Dexter then grew chipper in a moment’s notice.

“But if there is anything that I love then it is blowing creatures away. It doesn’t always have to be irons, and while on mission I will shoot other animals including stray dogs. I can’t help but find it fun.” Since Dexter started, and was now finished, and nudged Sam who was sitting next to him.

“I’m done.” Dexter said.

Sam sat up, and rubbed his scruff before speaking.

“Well first off I would like to say I agree with Dexter on the killing irons front, and hope that helps how we view each other.” Sam looked around a bit until his eyes centered on Mason.

“I will be one-hundred percent honest. I couldn’t give two shits for this mission, and the only reason that I am still here is for vengeance. As for the team. There are people here I know, and like, and people I know, and dislike. That is all I can really say.” Sam then finished up, and looked down to avoid eye contact with any of the others. July shriveled up, and began sighing.

“I feel like this wasn’t such a good idea after all.” She whispered to the group, and although Clive didn’t care it seemed everyone else was in unanimous agreement.

Mason however was not effected by Sam’s words that he had shared, which were more than likely targeted at him. It wouldn’t make sense for anyone else other than Dexter, and just maybe Clive. But Sam most definitely had better relations with Wayne, Sylvia, July, and Joseph. Though Sylvia was nudging him to get his attention, his eyes didn’t find her. He had been staring intently into the fire before him. Like a captivated child.

Several hours later the fire had begun to run out. After the disastrous fire group session it had only taken a little while for everybody to warm up to each other again. The group concluded it may not have been a good idea to let the two most hateful people in the team start things off. They were then able to drink, and have a good time, and in the end while it was beginning to get dark Wayne ordered they end the drinks, and spend the rest of the night in the Armored DBs, and get some rest. They all splashed whatever was left in their cups into the fire as it flared up to end with a bang, and they moved on. The next day was spent relaxing in the same spot. Wayne, Sam, and even Clive were playing poker.

“Fold.” Wayne said as he was waiting to see Clive’s hand, and just as Clive was to show him “Bang” a gunshot went off, and all of a sudden the team jumped to the ground while taking cover from all sides. The mystery person continued to shoot off what sounded like a muzzleloader. The rifleman was definitely targeting the team as they hugged nearby cover. The group was beginning to get restless.

“We have mecha! Can’t we just blow the guy away?!” Dexter yelled as Clive put his finger up to his own mouth to shush Dexter.

“We won’t need to, just be patient.”

“I don’t believe this man we are basically a slaughter team with mobile suits, we should just blow this dude away…huh?” Dexter halted as from the cover he saw the people who were spotting, and shooting them stand up, and run.

They were now being chased off by an iron that they shot at as they fled. The man didn’t make it but as the iron was preoccupied the female spotter kept running. The male sniper was already torn in half without a moment’s notice. A testament as to why you shouldn’t let an iron get ahold of you. The snipers knew irons could show up from the sound of gunshots but they kept firing anyways. Why Clive wondered?

“Whoa man!” Dexter said with surprise.

Clive grabbed his binoculars, and searched in all directions he could looking for the lens flare of a scope bouncing off the lens of his binoculars, and it seemed there wasn’t anyone else trying to get them. The iron had also walked off, and the coast was entirely clear with no more lingering possible threats. Searching for the female spotter.

“Okay guys!” Clive yelled. He then pointed at Wayne, and signaled for Wayne to come with him.

“Sylvia! You spot us, and watch our backs!” Clive said as Sylvia grabbed her rifle, and grabbed cover by the legs of her mechanic.

Clive grabbed an M16A1 as Wayne tuned in behind him with the Arkada shotgun. They scoped out the empty space to officially conclude the possibility of an enemy threat. Clive then started counting with his fingers, and had his index, middle, and ring finger up. He then began to count down ending with his middle finger then pointed forward in which they both ran. The sand got stuck in their boots, and was kicked around creating sandy dust clouds. They ran until happening upon the mound the pair of shooters were. Clive looked to see a rugged black blanket laid out to lay on. He picked up the rifle ammo to observe it. He twists the shiny golden colored bullet around in his fingertips.

“Wayne, its surplus ammo.”

“Where do you think the group got it?” he asked Clive.

It was incredibly strange that the pair of the man, and woman had this kind of ammo. Surplus is regular, mass produced ammo. Which would lead to the suspicion that they had easy access to ammunition, and in turn were more organized than most. Clive put his hand on his chin to ponder the possibilities. Numerous possibilities lay before him.

“Well they must be organized.” Clive concluded. Wayne then bent down next to him to pick up, and observe a few of the rounds.

“That still doesn’t explain why they attacked us! People from the outside don’t usually just attack us unless they were provoked.”

“Well look at this place Wayne, it’s a wasteland if ever there was one. You have to think for a second. The North, East, and South all have huge cities, and that means that those three sectors have constant military movement.”

Clive swiped his hand across the blanket to see that it too was low quality fabric, and must be mass produced on a small scale. Too many questions needing answers. None of it explains why they attacked the group. But it was most definitely an organized attack, very military in nature.

“I guess it isn’t totally implausible that these people have their own little military op, and they saw us as a threat. After all if there really isn’t a city in the West then the people don’t regularly see military, and decided to attack.” Clive said as Wayne found it to be somewhat ridiculous.

“You mean to tell me that these people have access, and the means to fully take on irons?”

Clive then pulled out his binoculars to look back at their camp setup, and saw Sylvia peeking out at him as well as a somewhat good view of their spot.

“A few holes in the spot. And about them fighting irons, they probably use guerilla tactics, and may even have some armor. It isn’t that tanks can’t kill irons it’s just that they’re slow, and usually get maneuvered around then they are ripped apart.” Clive said making it seem like there might really be a vaguely skilled guerilla group in the West.

“Well if this group exists like you say it might, for conversations sake they might see us as a possible threat right?” Wayne brought up.

“If we are speaking possibly then they will most definitely see us as a possible threat. I am just not sure if they will see us as a threat.” Clive told him which put Wayne out of ease. Wayne then began wiping the sweat from his brow.

“If this is the case then I say we can’t afford to stay here any longer.” Wayne said with Clive agreeing fully.

“Yes most definitely. Let’s get everyone rolling right away.”

“Affirmative, let’s go.”

Clive, and Wayne were now running back to the group giving the hand signals for packing up. The group started loading all cases back onto the Armored DBs, and got into their respective machines. They got onto a dirt road headed westward, and assembled in their usual formation with the DBs in the front with each mechanic following behind them. Clive then connected communications with the group informing of a possible human militaristic threat.

Joseph’s stomach began to unsettle as he was hearing of the evidence. He didn’t sign up thinking he might have to kill another human being, and he even told Wayne on an earlier mission that he thinks he may have a problem with killing. And he meant humans specifically. But he now realizes he may have to kill other people.

“Oh man!” Joseph said while Wayne was driving as Wayne began trying to comfort him on the subject.

“Don’t worry man. We aren’t even sure if there is a guerilla group, and if there is, we may not encounter them.”

The words gave a little bit of comfort to Joseph. He didn’t want to have to shoot anyone. It wasn’t that he wasn’t skilled enough because he proved to be an adequate marksman in the past, and with his shooting range scores. Wayne could tell that Joseph was still unsettled. This worried Wayne because he didn’t know if Joseph would try to fight back if push came to shove. Wayne put his hand out then flicked Joseph’s head leaving a red mark.

“Listen kid! I won’t lie. No more senseless comfort because if push comes to shove then you may have to shoot somebody! Do you understand?” Wayne abruptly asked. Joseph shook his head.

“I mean it isn’t that I want to shoot someone. Nobody usually wants to do it, it is just a necessity for survival at times, and cannot be helped.” Wayne said feeling guilt already for the future possibility of a firefight.

The thought then started to even seem foreign to Wayne since he hadn’t actually been in a firefight before.

“Jesus Joseph!” Wayne said while now driving with one hand on the wheel, and the other covering his face.

“What’s wrong sir?”

“Jesus! I can’t believe I personally have never shot someone.”

Wayne then thought about all the early 20th century war films he saw, and was baffled that he had never been in a fighting situation of that caliber. He then thought about Clive. Clive had shot people before but as it stands it is more likely that Mason had shot, and killed someone than Wayne having shot, and killed someone. Wayne then worried that this may lessen Joseph’s faith in Wayne on the subject.

“Well then you can understand sir!” Joseph said as he gave Wayne a thumbs up.

It seems that since Wayne was in the same predicament as Joseph, and could understand where he came from. It meant Joseph trusted Wayne’s judgment even further. Wayne had always had the answers for his troops but he wasn’t entirely sure this time. But if there was a concept that Wayne did understand it was that they must defend themselves if they had to.

The crew drove on, and were incredibly close to El Dorado, which was Clive’s estimated starting point as to looking for the city out West. The famous city of ruin. Clive was fairly certain there was a city but the rest of the group wasn’t so certain there was. As for Mason, and Sylvia it wasn’t even a thought. Mason was there because he wanted to find meaning through furthering Clive’s vision, and Sylvia was there to purely be with Mason. Those two were starting to strengthen their relationship beyond the regular boundary.

“Mason?” Sylvia softly said through the communicator.

“What is it?” Mason depressingly asked.

“Um I was wondering. Have you already seen something like that iron the other night? I mean I didn’t get a chance to talk to you alone but it seems that you had seen it before, and you said “are you him?” to it so I was wondering.”

Mason on the other line now had the image of the original pale eyed iron in his mind. It was an image that would be permanently burned into Mason’s mind as one of the most terrifying, and yet intriguing thing he has ever seen. Like the image had been branded onto his mind.

“Yeah.” Mason told her as the pupils of her eyes dilated.

“When!? When was that possible!?” she asked.

Mason reflected on the moment, and everything about it. There was light through the window, memorabilia of a family that lived there, and the calm tone of the room. The entire stage was set in his mind. His excellent memory gathered each and every detail. And then he saw it.

“It was terrifying, and peculiar. It didn’t attack me but its cold lifelessness was what made it truly terrifying. I saw it back in Columbus when I left without your permission to find a pair of shoes.”

Sylvia couldn’t understand what she was hearing. It’s not that she couldn’t believe it because she just saw for herself, she just couldn’t understand it. Mason had held onto information like that without having revealed it until she was forced to experience the same scenario. Why not tell her about the incident in the first place? Though it was most probably it wasn’t on his mind after he was practically assaulted that day.

“Why didn’t you tell me Mason!? Or the military at least!” Sylvia screamed at him. Mason tried to stay as calm as he could.

“Because I thought it was a regular occurrence at the time is why.” He told her.

But Sylvia wasn’t satisfied with that. He may have seen it as a possible average occurrence but he still didn’t tell her that he saw an iron. Didn’t tell her danger was nearby. And he didn’t have to hide it to hide the fact that he left alone, and without permission because she found him out. Mason made a mistake not telling anyone, and Sylvia couldn’t believe it.

“Are you seriously that stupid Mason?” Sylvia said with a calming demeanor.

Mason could feel hints of guilt in her voice. He could feel a caring nature in her voice that wasn’t broadly apparent but still there. Her voice became like that of an angel, and Mason had no choice but to acknowledge what she was saying. Because he felt as though the earth itself was drawing him toward her.

“You need to tell me from now on. Scream for help from now, and don’t be brave okay?”

Sylvia said that with a desperation for Mason to abide. Mason looked forward at the lines quickly racing by from the speed of the vehicles movement as he watched the road seem in motion as he was actually the one moving. But yet it looked as though everything else was moving around him while he was perfectly still.

“I will always scream for help from now on. I will always be careful from now on.”

Mason said gently with a hint of melancholy. Melancholy only because of the sound of Sylvia’s voice because as she talked she left a glum feeling in Mason’s heart. Though Mason could not see it Sylvia was smiling. Glad to hear that Mason.

“Now Mason. Don’t forget who the knight in shining armor is here.” Sylvia subtly but happily says to Mason.

Mason knew now that he was in fact in love with Sylvia. She had been saving him in big, and little ways since the beginning. She was the shark to his pilot fish if you will. She protects him. She now lives to protect him. She no longer has any family to protect. This duo plans on meddling in each other’s lives for years to come. They will stay the two peas to their metaphorical pod.

The group kept moving forward as they approached a dead iron pinned to the ground in the center of a road as they now notice they are in a dead end town. A modernized version of the stereotypical John Wayne, Cowboys, and hicks type town. They stop to check around the scenery, and look to see any possible threats. Usually in such a situation Clive would appear to be very patient but in this case he was not. A few glances were enough for him because he wasn’t in the mood to exercise absolute caution, since he wanted to see the iron more up close.

Clive got out of his vehicle to observe the thing more closely. The dead iron was literally pinned down with metal stakes. The worst part was that at first it wasn’t pinned down alive. Clive puts his hand on the side of it, and he began to feel a weird sensation inside of him. As he continued to feel the skin of the beast he concluded that the beast had been lashed at with whips repeatedly. Clive didn’t even want to continue to find out what else may have happened to the creature. Clive began to get suspicious.

“Dexter, Mason, Sylvia, and Sam. I want you four to drive your mechanics around, and spot out anyone who may be nearby.” Clive ordered.

“Okay.” Mason replies as the team split up.

“July, you stay in the DB, and use the gun to cover us. Wayne, and Joseph, I want you two to stick to me like a nail in a board.” Clive says as Wayne, and Joseph load up to fight alongside Clive.

“This thing was tortured. I realize that it is just an iron but I still can’t help but feel sick to my stomach to see this.”

“I hear you for once Clive. One would almost say this is a complete waste of time unless you enjoy the prospect of torture. And there’s just nothing right about that sentiment.” Wayne said.

“I personally don’t even think I could torcher even a beast sir.” Joseph states.

“Don’t worry JoJo, I know you couldn’t.” Wayne says.

Sylvia sees a shattered window, and though that in itself wasn’t anything special it was what she noticed that made it a possible problem. She tried to radio the DB but only July was in it. July still picked up though.

“Where is Clive?” Sylvia asked.

“He got out to observe the dead Iron with Joseph, and Wayne.” July told her as Sylvia then explained how the glass on the floor in the building she saw had signs of trampling.

Though it was probably nothing, regardless it isn’t healthy to simply overlook that. Mason was driving through as he drove by an alleyway to see in that second a man walking down it. He quickly hit the brake, and backed up. He looked down the alley again, and saw no such figure. He rubbed his eyes to continue looking but concluded that he saw nothing. Though that didn’t sit well with him, and even though he thought that the kids he saw earlier may also have been an illusion he just didn’t sit well with the feeling that his current decision would either help or hurt them. He looked at the communicator.

“Sylvia would report it. I should too.” Mason reached for the communicator.

A man peaked over cover atop a rooftop. Before Mason realized it, an AK was targeting him directly through the glass. A firearm from a rooftop discharged. Clive, and everyone else heard the gunshot then jumped for cover as bullets from relatively most directions were pounding down on them. Clive, Joseph, and Wayne were hugging the underneath of the iron for cover as bullets riddled the corpse. July began shooting cover fire but couldn’t get a beat on which direction she should focus that resulted in not a single target falling but like a double edged sword kept the enemy from moving in.

Bullets were flying from every rooftop, and even from sewer entrances. The bullets were simply hitting the mechanics with little to no damage but one thing was apparent, and it was that Clive, Wayne, and Joseph were defenseless. Wayne took a look at his shotgun, and although Joseph, and Clive had machine guns, and could defend themselves Wayne couldn’t. Wayne knew he had to get out of there.

“I’m a sitting duck here guys. I have to get out!” Wayne says. Clive looks over at him.

“We are all sitting ducks Wayne so just settle down.” Clive said but Wayne wasn’t feeling it.

“No, not like you guys. Unlike you I can’t shoot back from this distance. I can piss farther than this weapon reaches, and I don’t think these people are up for a pissing contest.” Wayne jokes.

“On top of that I am a big guy whose easy to spot, and this thing is literally pushing the shit out of me.” Wayne argues. “I just need some cover, and I can retreat into a building.”

Clive agrees only because he knows it will take some heat off of him. “I wish I had a portable communicator! July could have driven up to us to get us by now!” Clive yelled.

“Yeah I guess those walkie talkies aren’t so stupid now.” Wayne said.

Clive, and Joseph started shooting to shift some agro to them as Wayne broke for it, and threw his only two flash grenades in different directions to blind the unknown shooters as he jumped into a laundry mat window. He fell on his back feeling brief, mild discomfort but he shook it off and ran.

Mason radioed the rest of the mechanics. “We have to make our way back to the DBs as fast as possible!” Mason clarified.

“We are already on it!” Sylvia replied on behalf of the rest.

Mason jetted through, and around buildings, and through alleys. He stumbled upon a group of them in the streets putting something on the ground. Mason could see them tampering with a little brick-like object on the ground. Mason sped up, and then started shooting killing all of them while the last one fell forward landing on a little brick blowing himself up which prompted Mason to slam the brakes making skid marks on the ground.

“My God! They’ve planted mines.” Mason immediately grabbed the communicator.

“Respond, respond! There are mines littering the ground on one street, exercise caution!”

“Roger!” the others replied.

Sam caught up with Sylvia on the off chance that he found her by avoiding streets with mines. Dexter was aiming for the rooftops killing almost half a dozen people in a minute, and a another half without flinching. Wayne also ran into problems with guerillas running after Wayne though with the Arkada Shotgun, Wayne dispatched of them quickly, and it was an unreal feeling for him to take the life of another human being. But he had no choice and it wasn’t as if he weren’t prepared to take a life.

As for Joseph, and Clive they couldn’t sit there much longer. As they could hear the mechanics making headway to their position they both on Clive’s order jetted off into the same laundry mat. Just like Wayne they threw flash grenades but they had two to work with. When they made the hurdle they both took their MP5s, and replaced the clip. Joseph’s hands shaking as he reloaded, and Clive gave him an assuring look. It was just enough to calm Joseph down a little bit so he could concentrate.

“I can see it in your eyes Joseph. You are scared to shoot someone right?” Clive asked.

Joseph anxiously shook his head yes with fear in his eyes, and sweat going down his face. The two stayed ducked behind the window as enemies made their way around to avoid the DB July was in. Cleverly edging toward the two of them.

“If you can’t do this then watch our backs until they get here.” Clive said as Joseph then violently grabbed Clive’s arm.

“No! I can do this. I am not a coward!” Clive then looked at him with strong intent as he then shook his head yes.

They gritted their teeth at the same time then thrust themselves off the ground shooting at the first enemies they could spot as the enemies ran for cover. The bullets were pumping out of the guns by the second as the shells hit the ground. Joseph was screaming in an attempt to build rage, and justify within himself that what he was doing was okay, and Clive just stayed as calm as possible.

“Man these soldier can’t shoot for shit!” Joseph yelled.

“Think about it. The only targets they probably hit are the irons, and they probably aren’t used to smaller targets. Our military requires we practice on smaller targets.” Clive said.

“Makes sense I guess, right sir?” said Joseph as Clive agreed.

Wayne was running through several different establishments. Any soldier he saw he just held his breath then blasted off his Arkada shotgun. Dexter was pumping out round after round at the guerillas. He switched often between the grenade launcher, and the Gatling gun. He wasn’t prioritized with finding his way back to the group, but rather having fun with the situation where he can kill another man. Dexter switches to his grenade launcher again as guerillas on the rooftop in front of him run away.

“Yeah bitches! Run, run, run!”

He then notices that they are still shooting with the bullets whizzing through the wind above him. “Shit!” Dexter yells as he quickly turns around to see an iron on the rooftop leap toward him pushing his mechanic to the ground as his windshield is now getting scratched at. Dexter had his back pinned to the ground

“Damn it! Get off me you jackass! Lay off my dick!” Dexter yells as he swerves to his side while getting torn at.

The creature spun around him to grab at the windshield with more force. A few of its limbs are resting near where his grenade launcher is aiming. He is stuck with not many other options. He pondered it but then decided against it. But he wasn’t entirely sure. Plus it seemed there were few other options.

“What are my options? Die or kill it with the chance of dying. Settled, Danger close!”

Dexter yelled that as he pops off a few rounds near him with the following of a few micro explosions as gravel, and sand flew into the air, and the beasts few limbs near his bottom half flew off. The beast backed away Dexter’s windshield blown out, and him with a bloody face stuck inside. The beast regains his footing then runs in on Dexter. “Hey!” a voice yells as the beast looks over then starts getting flurried, and blown to pieces in the front as its blood flies all over as it begins to puddle on the ground. Wayne then leans in in front him.

“Man Wayne, that shotgun sure does shred them things.” Dexter said with excitement.

“Only problem is how close you have to get, too close.” Wayne said as he searched for a way to get Dexter out.

“I am stuck. The windshield won’t raise, and I don’t have a big enough escape point.” Dexter said as he handed Dexter the Arkada through the glass.

“This will do it. Now let me move.” Dexter then points the rapid fire shotgun forward, and lets loose. The glass goes flying despite how tough it is. Dexter grabs his PKM light machinegun, and crawls out of the mechanic.

“See Dex, you now have a gaping hole!” Wayne says laughing. Dexter hands the Arkada back.

“Ha, ha, ha, and thanks.” Dexter said.

“He has manners after all.” Wayne says aloud.

“I may hate you but I am still polite. At times anyways.” Dexter explains.

“So what is going on? It sure is crazy now.” Dexter asked as they ran through alleyways to avoid as many hostiles as possible, human or iron.

“Well I was stuck in a jam that smelled like dead cat, and Mexican scrambled eggs so I broke away to maybe get some focus off them. I killed a few people but inevitably the beasties were going show up.”

“So you helped me out when you saw me.” Dexter pointed out.

“Exactly. But I have to say you were crazy popping off those grenade rounds. You could have waited for help.”

“I know you are a great commander and all but I wasn’t really expecting help to come from me.”

“Don’t worry man, even a douche won’t be left behind in my squad.”

Dexter half smiled before telling Wayne “Doesn’t mean you would’ve made it in time.”

While running through an alley they hear voices running down the street. “Get down sir. I only hear a few.”

Dexter got down on one knee then aimed his big machine gun forward as guerillas began running past then Dexter began laying waste to them as they split up with bullets passing through them, and their clothes began to tatter.

“D, E, A, D.” Dexter said as he pulled the gun forward prompting the barrel to face the sky.

“A little unnecessary.” Wayne told him.

Then while Wayne was making a hand motion of moving along Wayne said “You could have just let them pass.” Dexter then pats Wayne on the back “That’s no fun.”

Mason, Sam, Sylvia were in a bit of a bind as the irons that had appeared were attacking them as the guerrillas kept up their assault on the group from above.

“What is wrong with these people!?” Sam asked as they continued to shoot at them.

“What does it matter? We literally have bigger problems!” Sylvia says.

Mason then gets grappled by an iron. It begins to push him back. As he gets pushed he sees in the corner of his eye down the street another iron running toward him. “Oh no!” he says right before that one gets blown to pieces by set land mines. Relieved he then focuses right in front of him. He wasn’t going to let Sylvia step in. He elevated into walking stance then hurled the creature to his left as it crashed into the front of an old restaurant, and Mason swung around to have a direct shot then he went on blasting off near a hundred rounds into it.

More irons began to spring from holes, and corners.

“We will be overrun in no time! Mason get out of here!” Sylvia yelled at him as Mason looked down at the blown to pieces iron from the land mine.

“No! You guys follow me out of here now!” Mason ordered.

“What!?” both Sam, and Sylvia asked simultaneously.

“I have a plan just hurry up!” Mason says as he darts off down the road. The other two fall in pursuit after him.

“What the fuck is the plan?!” Sylvia asks.

“Prepare to switch to walking mode up ahead. Those big gray blocks are land mines. We will walk over them, and we will let those scaly centipede spiders or whatever the hell they are walk into them. As the others are climbing over corpses we have ourselves a straight train of slower enemies to shoot.”

The other two think it is a tad crazy but if they had stayed or ran in a safe direction then the irons would just ketch up so they might as well. The group then got close to the bombs with their eyes in complete focus for the mines or anything that may be a mine. They then engage walk mode. They watch each step as they look as closely as possible. They tip toe their way through. They as they hold their breath for the explosion each stomp may give they let all their CO2 out at once as they make it across. Before they even turn around they already have giant limbs flying into their field of vision as explosions happen behind them.

They turn to see a few piled irons as they then check their clips. They then point forward firing off rounds at the many irons making their way over the piled corpses of their fellow fallen creatures. The group stood steady in the face of possible death as they have the whole mission so far. Mason especially was being incredibly courageous despite his lack of experience or time spent in this time period.

“You two leave! Find the others!” Mason then ordered.

“I can handle this on my own!” Mason insists.

“When did you outrank me!?” Sylvia yelled. “Last I checked you were under my jurisdiction!” Sylvia demanded.

“But the others need help! I’m positive!” Mason ushered. But Sylvia wasn’t having any of it. She simply enough refused to leave Mason behind.

“You guys stay! I will go get our guys!” Sam said as he spun around, then jetted off in the other direction.