Reforged Bonds

"Since the machines were placed across the world the devastation that they caused was immense. However, many of the countries that already had a modern military did not heavily rely on the machines. When the machines went out of control their path of destruction was limited and quickly put to a halt. The primary tactic in those countries was suicide bombings to take out as much as possible before stopped. The countries that machines made up all of their force were ravaged and nearly wiped out.”

Herbert Stein, Machine Historian -

Red lights flashed around them through the halls coming out of the smoothed metal surface. There were no sirens or sounds from the warning system as the red was enough to get your attention. In the rooms behind the doors there were faint sounds of alarms to wake up anyone, but it was otherwise quiet. Low thuds muted out by the meters of metal signaled the closing pressure of the soldiers destroying another wall in their way. They would be to the lower levels soon.

Natsuko rushed to keep up with Satoru who acted like he knew where he was going, but merely was keeping himself from being dragged behind by the weights of his heart. An intersection arrived and Satoru was about to make a random decision in the direction to head when Natsuko stepped in front, pointing him to the left. "You don't have to do this, Satoru."

"I do." His face narrowed by determination pushing past everything that was holding him back. He finally felt clear again like he hadn’t felt before for so long. Even when he knew where he stood before this all began there were hints of him leaning away. Everything was gone now and he wouldn’t stop on uncertainty anymore. "I've been standing around doing nothing for too long. I'm not going to be useless anymore."

'Satoru…' Natsuko felt distracted being reminded of Satoru from before and what she had seen now. He was acting like the person that she remembered. This was the man that she wanted to see return. All of the turmoil that boiled in his mind had shrunken him from the person that she had known. Even knowing what could happen she was pleased to see him back again. "I guess there is no talking you out of it now. Well, meet alpha team." She came to the door that was for alpha team, opening it for Satoru to see who he would be working with.

Satoru stepped in still looking back at Natsuko trying to figure out who they might be. He figured that he knew them since everyone that was here worked at the company. Though there were a lot of people that he had only seen before and never talked to. They were all on the same side so Satoru was confident there wouldn’t be a problem in the end. "Who are they…what?!" Satoru had turned his head around to finally see who they were and nearly fell back into Natsuko. He blinked several times trying to make sure that his eyes were not playing tricks on him. "Kazuhiko, Tadashi, Chiyoko? What are you all doing here?"

Kazuhiko stood up from the bench that sat in the middle of the lockers and weapon shelf. He walked over to Satoru patting him roughly on the back. "Hey that's not a very nice how-do-you-do, Satoru."

The man was still as cheerful and free spirited as he remembered. It made Satoru a little melancholic to see the brave front that was being put up. This had to be difficult for even him to deal with maintaining the air. "Kazuhiko…" Satoru didn’t know what more to say to him. If this went poorly this could be the last time that he saw them. This reunion was a cruel gift.

Chiyoko stepped up looking to cheer Satoru up a little from the darkened expression that had glazed over him. She pushed Kazuhiko free from him, giving Satoru a warm smile. "Satoru, I'm so glad that you're still alive."

"Yeah, Chiyoko." The hopeful bright smile from Chiyoko made him feel a little better. His thoughts drifted away as he tightened his hands in a fist as a sort of reassurance. "I wonder sometimes if I actually am still."

"So you've finally found a side," Tadashi said from the wall that he was leaning against. He looked at Satoru with a piercing, staring checking him to see if he would crumble away.

"Same as always huh, Tadashi," Satoru said with a small laugh. He could feel the veil of sadness he felt wash away. This was familiar ground for him. He could be comfortable with these people more than anyone else that he knew, save one. "Of all of you I'm surprised you're here given how much we fought over these same ideals."

Tadashi stepped forward pleased to see that the old Satoru he knew was back. It would have meant nothing if he was just going to run away. He missed the heated debates that they had in the past. "Just because I fought with you didn’t mean that I didn’t want to agree with you. However, I'm more pragmatic than you. Your naïve idealisms will always clash with me."

"Tadashi, don't start fighting with him already." Chiyoko put her arms out between the two men fearing that this could quickly disintegrate into an argument that they didn’t have the time for now. Her usual weak position was offset by the protection and weapons that she was hauling on her.

Satoru put his foot forward going around Chiyoko, but looking towards her. "It's alright, Chiyoko. I'm here now because it was my choice." He pushed past Chiyoko, staring down Tadashi closely. There was no anger in his eyes and none returned. It was two men, colleagues, acknowledging the other's position and view. "I don't care if you don't agree with my methods. It's not about that anymore. It's about living for tomorrow now."

Tadashi gave Satoru a knowing smirk. "Something we can agree on."

"Get Satoru a weapon and we'll head out," Natsuko shouted out in the room taking command of the situation. The others that were part of the team stood up moving out of the room. The demeanor of Natsuko had changed completely from the moment before showing her being confident and assertive. She stepped out of the room looking at everyone while Chiyoko and Kazuhiko grabbed weapons and gear for Satoru to put on.

All of the things that were thrown at him set him off balance for a moment not sure what to do with them. Chiyoko helped put the armor over his street clothes, adjusting them to fit him. Satoru was left a little stunned to see how they were all acting. It had only been a few seconds, but they all changed immediately. 'Natsuko…I'd never imagine her doing this. She's so completely different. They all are…' He watched them work, handing him what he needed and showed how to use it. There was so much information that he glossed over his eyes for a moment.

"Satoru?" Natsuko could see how confused Satoru was becoming. She remembered the first time for her and everyone else. None of them knew what they were doing. It was going to take a little time, but they didn’t have that luxury anymore. "You know how to use this?"

He looked around at everything that was tossed on him feeling a little heavy, but glad that all they had to wear was bulletproof vests. It was just a strap on armor that would protect him from a lot of indirect damage, but given the weapons that the military was carrying there was nothing that was going to stop their bullets. "Uh, not really, but you can explain it to me on the way."

Natsuko nodded to everyone and clutched her weapon tightly. "Everyone move out!" The entire team of ten men and women ran down the hallway to the rally point. Satoru followed behind them feeling a little out of place with the rest. They all looked like a team that had been through a lot together and he was simply tossed in as an afterthought.