Chapter 17:

Don't get too close to the sun

Seeking Utopia


The Sun shaped Outsider launches another beam towards Aaron and Astrid who were on the ground. “Aaron! Astrid!” Shouts Cynthia. Aaron carries Astrid and runs away from the beam. However, the Outsider notices and continues attacking; chasing after them with its beam. Aaron was sweating heavily as the beam was catching up to them. He felt like he was close to melting any minute now. Looks like it’ll be a while until sunset. He thought to himself as he looked up at the sky; eyes squinting from the sun’s bright rays. Sami and Rain suddenly show up next to them, trying to help them get on the bikes. Jay and Enzo try to distract the Outsider from the other side, shooting arrows and bullets towards it.

Haneul suddenly gets an idea, she speaks to Enzo using her earpiece. “Enzo, I need your help. You have those smoke bullets right?”

“Yes, what for?”

“Use those around and above that thing. It would help block the sun rays from reaching it temporarily.”

Cinder who was sitting behind her jumped in and said, “Captain! Isn’t this too risky? We don’t know if it will lose its powers during that time. You could melt!” Haneul nods and says, “Which is why I need your assistance on this as well. I’ll go first and if it looks to be too dangerous still, I’ll signal you to drag me back. Do you think you can do that?” Cinder takes a moment to think, “Drag you back…” Then suddenly nods as she seemed to gain some confidence, “Sure, let’s do it!”

While Enzo was firing his smoke bullets around the outsider, Sami and Rain got closer to Aaron and Astrid. Sami reaches out his arm to help carry Astrid from Aaron. “Thanks you two!” Aaron says as he hands over Astrid. “Might be a heat stroke-please take her to the paramedics.” As Rains bike gets closer, Aaron hops on behind her. “Let’s get a bit closer to help out with Haneul’s plan. But careful not to enter its radar until shortly after the smoke covers the area.” Rain nods. Meanwhile Sami takes Astrid to the paramedics vehicle that was stationed nearby; away from the Outsider’s sight.

Shortly after the smoke spread; covering the sunlight, the Outsiders beam became very faint, until it vanished. Cinders eyes widened, “Look! Do you think it worked? Or coincidence?” Haneul was already preparing herself, unsheathing both of her swords and getting up on the bike. “We will find out now.” Haneul switches on the gravity controller on her wrist, puts on a mask against the smoke, then jumps high towards the Outsider. As she gets nearer to its face, she feels a light heat wave, that got stronger the closer she got. Was it too soon to jump… she thought as she bites her lip; starting to feel uncertain. But she decides to push through regardless. Meanwhile, Enzo shoots a couple more smoke bombs to make sure the Outsider does not get sufficient sunlight for a while.

Haneul was able to get close safely and stabs its face with her two swords. As she tries to push her swords down to tear it apart, a thick red liquid gushes out of it. Haneul continues her attack but droplets of the liquid land on her skin. It stings…it’s burning! she thought. Should I stop? But it’s too late now…I must continue. But bigger droplets got on her again. One of them landed on her cheek, close to her eyes. It melted through the mask and found its way to her skin, the heat getting into her eye causing it to tear up. This is too reckless Haneul…what are you doing…

But her attack was suddenly interrupted, she was being pulled back. It was Cinder, right behind, pulling her from her jacket with her Scythe on the other hand. As she held tightly to Haneul, she spins around slashing the Outsider with her Scythe, while simultaneously dropping Haneul back towards the ground. Around the same time, Aaron appears from the other side and swings his great sword at the Outsider. Both attacks made the Outsider explode. “Jay, now!” Commands Aaron using his earpiece. Jay activates and throws a tiny square shaped device towards the Outsider. The square expands and eats up the Outsider’s remains-storing them inside. Back on ground, Haneul was able to land safely with the help of Enzo.

Everyone had a moment of silence- trying to catch their breath after the intense fight. Cinder suddenly remembers Astrid and rushes towards her. Aaron reassures her “No need to worry, she seems to have fainted due to the heat. Can’t blame her to be honest.” After Cinder examines her briefly she says, “Yeah, luckily she doesn’t seem hurt. I guess she is not used to experiencing such level of heat.” Jay suddenly says in a frightened voice, “Captain… your face…” a burn mark was forming on the right side of her face. “ Haneul slowly looks around, scanning the condition of her team then says, “I’m really sorry everyone. I admit that very reckless of me to do. I-“ Cinder interrupts her by giving her an embrace. Then says in a calm voice, “No, you did what you had to do. And no one is dead nor severely injured. So you did great!” She steps back and looks at Haneul’s burn marks “And- you need medical attention asap.” She gives Haneul her mask to cover the burn marks from the sunlight.

The Paramedics quickly catch up and attend to the wounds suffered by the members. “Apologies for being late, we tried to keep a safe distance from the Outsider.”

“No you did well, please go ahead.” Says Aaron.

Jay asks all of a sudden, “By the way. Isn’t the weather going to get much hotter on the way?”

“Yes, especially given the depressing state of the ground above Nox Town. Which is why we would be using the underground path soon,” says Enzo.

Seeking Utopia

Seeking Utopia


N.alsi
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