F.O.B Jefferson. 08:40 PST.
Logan? Logan...are you alright? Logan?! Logan!
Amira stands up to keep herself calm while still trying to record what she just heard. The cries of anguish of Logan, ones combined with rage, aren't something for her to ignore. Even if she's in custody, she's well aware of how much Logan needs help, and the ones from Seiner and Tany may not be enough to quell it.
Yet she's locked inside a room, guarded by two soldiers. How on Earth will she manage to get out of it?
If I'm kept in custody for too long...I may lose my friends. No, it doesn't matter what the other Humans may do next, I have to save them.
She then places her left hand near her forehead and closes her eyes. It will help her out in seek how to escape. Seeing beyond the soldiers from the outside, she sees some plant pots, chairs, and metal tables stationed around the room and the corridor outside. She changes her focus on the lock of the door, one which while it's a simple one, it's tightly shut, almost to the point that it can only function with an I.D card of a member of the base.
Changing her focus on the right guard's pocket is his I.D card. The perfect chance for it.
But how is she going to get it?
She focuses on one of the tables near the door, one with wheels and packs of paper sheets in it. The joint confusion of hurling a table to smash the door and the moment the guards leave, she'll use with her Mirai technique to detach the I.D card from the collar and use it to her advantage. But if it fails...she may have to resort something risky for her ideals, even though Logan taught her otherwise. Maybe the latter option could be more suited.
She reaches out with her hands aiming at the guards located outside the room. Steadily motioning her fingers while trying to get a hold of them. By fully grasping the extent of the Norai's powers, they make contact through the guards' heads. They slightly notice it when they feel something entrailing them, almost if something caught them.
Then, she claps her hands steadily, the force of the movement being enough to drag the guards to each other, knocking themselves out from the force of the mutual collision.
She leans near the window to see the result. Even though it was a necessary action, she can only sigh while using her left hand on her forehead again while closing her eyes.
My deepest apologies, dear Humans...I have a friend to save...
She then tracks the I.D card from the knocked guard of the right, steadily detaching it from the collar. Steadily levitating it near the card reader near the door. With one swipe, the door is unlocked. She opens the door and leaves the room where she was locked in. But before leaving to the other room, she gazes to the knocked soldiers once more, her eyes almost narrow while looking at the palm of her hand.
To love is her nature, that's for sure. But sometimes, a measure should be taken as a step in fulfilling a goal, no matter the cost.
Tapping her forehead with her hand once more, she starts seeing visions of what it seems to be the location of both her saber and armor, something important for her to use. It's located in John's office on the second floor.
Now knowing her destination, she heads to the exit where it leads to one of the corridors with many different ones as well inside the main building. She heads to the left, where the route to the stairs of the second floor is located. She starts running as fast as she can, filled with determination and a sense of friendship that she has for others, never to be ignored. Even though the corridors and hallways are quite open, she still feels a sense of unease of feeling something that could catch her and send her back, hence the rapid sprint.
But just as she's about to reach the stairs, the alarms blare inside the building, as loud to be heard across the whole building. It appears that she's in such a rush that she can't even consider trying a stealthier approach or even bother in checking her surroundings. She didn't mind though, all she cared for is continue to run as she climbs up the stairs and turns left on the corridor where her equipment is located.
She uses her power once more to check the lock on the door, but to her surprise, it's open. Was John in such a rush that he didn't even bother to check if the door was locked or not? Or extreme overconfidence? Perhaps even the best military geniuses need a lesson in checking their own things in time before something awry happens.
She shifts her gaze to a black, medium-sized locked box where her items are stored.
At first, she staggers for a bit while looking down. Using much of her brute force it's up to no good. Yet at the same time, she knows what needs to be done.
She reaches out with her hands, using the fullest extent of her powers to pull the gate away. Continuously joggling her hands strenuously. Even when she winces for a bit from the strength she's using, she still feels the need for the deed. No matter the metal, the power of the Norai is one like no other.
She then pulls the lock away at full force, enough to send it flying back to a wall. Heading towards the box, she grabs both her armor and the saber which was kept away. But before she could do anything with them, she hears some footsteps outside the room.
Soldiers.
"She's in John's room!"
"Alright, men! Set for stun!"
"It's time for her to behave properly with Humans lessons!"
Amira can't believe what she's hearing, not believing in the words they're uttering. Backing down for a bit while breathing steadily yet heavily, looking back and forth on both sides in what to do.
Then she looks behind her, it's a window to the outside. The perfect chance it seems.
She quickly puts her battle armor on and holsters her saber around her waist while quickly opening the rail. She crouches down for a bit, ready to make a leap with the force of her wings, even though they feel a bit numb from being in captivity for a while.
"Stun grenade!"
Hearing such words, she quickly leaps outside the room, the force of her wings fluttering around with great force that she's able to escape from the stun blast. Once it's all cleared out, the three soldiers storm in with their rifles to check if Amira got affected. To some degree of surprise, it didn't.
They head towards the window where Amira escaped, all while an Asian soldier pulls out a walkie-talkie from his holster.
"Inform John that the Alien subject just escaped custody from F.O.B Jefferson. I repeat, inform John that the Alien escaped, and she seems to be heading to San Jose."
"How can we help?" the soldier on the other end asks.
"Make sure you find her and bring her back unharmed. If anything, don't use excessive force."
"Wilco."
"Good, make it work. Now, let's establish a perimeter around the base with the remaining members so she can be escorted properly when she returns. Sounds good?"
"Sir!"
"Now move it up!"
The soldiers then leave the room to head towards the other parts of the base and form some defenses when Amira arrives. Even if she has escaped, they'll make sure her return will be done properly in Human terms.
While this happens, Amira continues to fly away from the base and heads to the direction of San Jose.
Hang in there Logan and friends...I'm coming.
-------------------
Underground Bank. Same time.
The containment room is thrown into chaos as Logan continues his slaughter. Cut down bodies littered on the floor, accompanied with the gory remains of the test subjects that were being held as prisoners, and some dry blood found in the floor as well. Some of the Zlocan personnel are even starting to run away from Logan's wrath. And at the same time, Seiner and Tany rushing to contain Logan but the other knights are proving too much for them to ignore, as they hold out from a Zlocan attack from the other side of the room, using everything they have to their advantage.
"You mean to kill us all, Human bastards?!" a Zlocan says as he aims his rifle towards a rampaging Logan while the others flee.
"You're a reason why you deserve to be exterminated!"
He then fires at Logan, only for him to deflect all the laser bolts from it, and proceeds to cut down the rifle, his arms and finally his head in many pieces. With his eyes wide open, flaring nostrils like no other and growling with some foaming coming out of his mouth, Logan has his mind clear. He screams once more as he rushes towards the other Zlocans and Inquisitors who are running towards the room that holds some prisoners.
"I'LL KILL YOU ALL!!! I'LL KILL YOU IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS!!!"
"All of this in the name of Human justice and rights? You're pitiful!" a female Zlocan Knight says before she's beheaded by Logan.
"S...stop...Mercy! Please, NO!" another Zlocan says before he gets stabbed in his right eye, then gets part of his head sliced off from the slash.
Logan then slowly approaches a cowering, helmetless Zlocan who's shedding some tears while bowing down and shaking tremendously.
"Mister...please...just please...have mercy..."
Logan ignores such words as he raises his sword up in the air...but before he could land the slash, a laser bolt is fired and hits his right arm, causing him to quickly cover it up for the injury while staggering back for a bit.
The direction came from a Zlocan Knight, accompanied by others to support their comrade in need.
"You lay even a finger on any of us, and we'll break down on every bit of yours!"
Logan slightly tries to raise his sword again while still rapidly breathing. But, he starts to slowly breathe slowly if a bit exhausted, his chin quivers while his eyes get watery. He even starts to back down for a bit.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
"Friendship and protection...you have them too...?"
The Zlocan then rushes towards Logan while pulling his knife from his belt and stabs Logan near the abdomen. Logan kneels down as he winces in pain from the stab, then tries to cover his injury with his left hand while his right one still heals from the laser blast. Logan looks up to the Zlocan who's pointing his knife towards him. Even so, all he can do is staring at him.
"I'm...I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry..."
"Stop talking big, Human scum. You think that a simple heartfelt apology is going to absolve you from your crimes, isn't it? Ever since you killed more than enough for the thirst of your Human "justice". Now, say your last prayers!"
But before he could stab him again, a pair of metal balls fly by near the two Zlocans and land near the Zlocan guarding the prisoners, and before they can do anything, they explode with shock electricity, causing to the Knights to be electrocuted before eventually passing out.
"Who threw that?" the Zlocan says before he gets knocked out by a flying rock hurled at him on his head, dropping out cold. The cowering Zlocan stays in his position while the ones who did such actions, Seiner and Tany arrive at the scene. Tany holds Logan for a bit, seeing some of his injuries in his arm and abdomen, she proceeds to use Curatio on him, healing them almost instantly, yet Logan still has his low state as he keeps breathing slowly while looking down.
"Loggie? What happened my dear Loggie?"
Logan doesn't respond. His eyes still feeling empty and watery as a lonely being. Something so hard from the Zlocan who defended the other may put something that he didn't want to see for so long.
Meanwhile, Seiner releases the prisoners that were locked down in the room. He then puts his index finger near his ear plug.
"John, this is Seiner Butch, we've managed to eliminate the Zlocan control near the bank in Japantown and secured the hostages. Requesting immediate containment of the area."
"Copy that. Pretty sure you boys have a damn fine job for it. Also, forces near the downtown are closing in near the city hall, we recommend immediate reinforcements to the area unless reported otherwise," John replies.
"We'll be on our way, just hang in there. Over."
Seiner lowers his hand away from the earplug while the hostages are coming out of the room. Most look a bit raw-boned from the time spent underground, some with lots of bruises and cuts in some parts of their bodies, some hard enough to make them limp while trying to walk away. Another refresher to start anew, but a slow one it seems.
Seiner turns his gaze to Logan while walking in a tense manner, his chin is high and his eyes are tightened, almost as looking down on a criminal. But how much Logan can be compared to a criminal?
"Logan...care to explain what the hell was that for?"
"I...I couldn't..."
"Just spit out!"
"My memories...all those bodies...all that bloodshed...if an olive branch can't take care of it..."
"I get it now, this is a war we're in, but what those memories that you have you should just toss it instead of clinging to it madly."
"Seiny!"
"Don't get started you too, idiot. Why don't just accept that a grown man needs to-"
"Who gives a damned damn of what a man should feel!? Loggie right here didn't feel right for a moment...and now he needs his company, a company of friends."
"It's alright, Tany, I think...I should just talk about it later-no-maybe the right time," Logan says as he gets up and slowly swipes the water in his eyes away but still feeling pouty.
"You'd better explain that excuse of yours..."
"And what judgment you may give me?"
"Judgment is best reserved for someone who may be as well deserving in such state of mind to the point you don't know what does it mean being Human. I think you don't need one just yet."
"But yet you-"
"Amira's on her own terms and you know that."
Logan stands silently for a moment, shaking for a bit from Seiner's response while Tany still holds to him. Even if he tries to keep the composure, it would be clear that it may not be for long.
"There are some things that are better known once you know beyond the distinction of belonging to something. Something far more beyond a moral standard, Seiner."
"Maybe."
"Let's move on. Walter needs us."
"Sounds good then."
"Loggie..."
They leave the underground floor of the bank, ready to meet up with Walter and GoD once more. Nonetheless, Logan still has some distress in his movements. What can happen on something so personal can't be removed that easy it seems.
-------------------
50 minutes later. City Hall
The battle in the district is one beyond measure. Tanks rolling in and providing some defensive shield for the ground troops for the UEF, some succeeded, some weren't so lucky. Personal carriers and turrets are also scattered across the zone, prying for the control of the place. Even with Zlocan technology, a mixture of Human tactics and expertise enabled them to heavily push the Zlocan occupiers from the zone. However, the toll can't be ignored. Some are hiding out in terror from the fight while others are dragged down to safe zones to be properly healed, either with minor or grave injuries.
In the Zlocan post around the hall, a handful of Knights and Inquisitors are holding their position from UEF fire. Most are taking cover from the fire while trying their best to counterattack at them. Among them, Thomas is the one leading the defense from the hall, having taken a defensive position near the entrance while commanding the troops and being assisted by some Zlocans around him.
"Keep the rocking going guys, you know how valuable this place can be for our operations. And be quick to summon any resource left at our disposal," Thomas said.
"Our resources have been wrecked beyond recognition, commander," a Zlocan officer replies.
"Then keep shooting god-damn it! Just keep on shooting if you want to live!"
"That's it? That's all you need to say? No diversions or anything?"
"It's...it's everything we need to do after all."
"Then let's hope it can be done."
-------------------
Walter and his comrades are covering behind, trying to cover some fire at the Zlocan troops while keeping casualties to a minimum. Walter, with his heavily modified M16A4 rifle, is blasting most of the Zlocan troops from far away, while Valentina is sniping with her M93 sniper rifle at a relative mid-range. Even with such range, she's capable of taking down a handful of Zlocans from afar. From every shot, her composure remains stable, like a quiet vulture getting ready for its prey. The others like Ae Gang and Berat are also covering fire from their positions, using between sub-machine guns and heavy machine guns.
"Well shit, never thought they'll be tough as nails!" Ji-Ae exclaims.
"Nails are pussies when it comes to pounding," Walter replies.
"To be honest Walter, it's better to keep dirtiness shut when it comes to them, don't you think?" Valentina replies
"Screw that shit!"
"Better try out something better next time, Valy," Celina says.
"If I could, then a proper dictionary would tell me."
"Alright...how many bullets left? Mine's almost done."
"I'm almost out of bullets, Walty..." Berat replies.
"I'm running out of enjoyment, damn it!"
"Don't have enough magazines left to get 'em this far," Valentina says.
"Unless by a miracle I make something to refill ammo with my cool stuff, then I'm out as well," Celina replies.
"Hey, just got two rockets left but I'm not sure if it will take the bastards down in time!" Mehdi replies
"Well, either was have something or we're totally boned."
Everything seemed to veer into a difficult stage for them. Even with the tank at their disposal, it's a bit too damaged to continue to operate into the battle, and even if the Zlocans are getting low on numbers, they still seem to hold on strongly in their outpost.
It all seems hopeless. But as in any battle, there always comes a bright mind to solve something in their favor.
"Now hold on a sec, Mehdi. Two rockets you said, ain't that right?"
"Well, yes."
"And you know what we do in case if the bullets are all "dried" up?"
"Ohhh, don't you mean?" Berat asks as he leans closer to him.
"Oh hell yes! Melee Mode!" Ae Gang yells.
"But, how can try that if their firepower is outpowering us?" Celina asks.
"Easy dear fistik, I think I'm getting a hang of what the man, Walter wants us to do. And that is to kick ass and take the ultimate glory."
"Pretty much indeed, my dear Berat."
"But captain, don't you think you'll get yourself-" a soldier tries to ask Walter.
"Slow down kiddo, I'm far suited for this kind of job than you think. Now, on the count of three, we'll start cutting up their asses in no time. Ready?"
Berat and Valentina unsheathe their swords while preparing their stance for combat.
"One."
Ae Gang pulls her Chakrams from her holster while Mehdi takes a hold of his halberd located on his back.
"Two."
Walter then pulls his black nano stick as well, making the materialization into a long, black axe that used once and will use again.
"THREE!"
Within the blink of an eye, Mehdi leaps sideways, firing the two rockets from the launchers he has from both hands. The missiles explode near the defense lines established between the entrance of the city hall and its outskirts. The force of the explosions is so strong that it knocks backs the ones nearby and injuring most of them, while also causing smoke which clouds anything beyond the entrance. The ones not affected by the blast try to check what happened while mobilizing to recover their fallen comrades.
"Are the Humans that foolish enough to throw such flimsy toys to scare us?" the Knight besides Thomas asks.
But just as they're about to continue fighting as they recovered the rest, a figure leaps from the smoke, one holding two particular Chakrams in an X-shaped form with her arms. Ae Gang's time comes now, as she throws the two Chakrams into the Zlocan Knights, beheading four of them while cutting the limbs of others.
But before the other Knights could counterattack, one of them gets stabbed in the leg, wincing heavily in pain until getting knocked out cold with the elbow. The weapon from the figure is nothing other than a Sai, belonging to Celina herself as she stands up and deflects the blaster fire from the other Zlocans while using her agility to strike the Zlocans in vital points in their bodies.
"They're using personal combat now? Heh, then let's show them a taste of Zlocan melee as well!" a Knight says as he and the other draw their Seroi swords from their holsters and get ready to attack.
Two knights rush towards Celina herself, but just as they're about to swing their swords away to Celina's back, they clash with a blue blade, the one from none other than Valentina herself. Locking themselves with swords, Valentina then swings her double-bladed katana around the Knight's sword, striking it with swift moves that disorient both Knights. Taking advantage, she separates the hilts the double-bladed Katana and uses them to impale them both, dropping dead as she pulls the sword away. Valentina taps on Celina's shoulder as she smiles.
"I could have taken care of them myself."
"I couldn't let you in being alone."
Celina heartily chuckles from her statement before taking their battle stance once more as they rush further into the place. Some heavily armored Zlocans take out their axes from the back, ready to strike as well. But as soon as they approach the other members, another figure jumps in the air with a huge halberd, hammering it towards the heavy knights that it slices one knight in half vertically, leaving the huge chunks of organs and intestines falling on an orange pool of blood. Mehdi then plunges the halberd into the other knight's head, quickly cutting it half which leaves parts of the exposed brain to fall down. He then shakes the halberd to sweep the chunks of Zlocan parts away from it while the blood remains plastered on the blade of it and cracks his neck a few times.
"May I ask for something better?" he asks before rushing to get some more.
"Oh god, it's no use!" Thomas yells as he watches the carnage from afar, shaking up extremely while trying to hold his gun steadily.
"Think about it, Human. Once they get closer, use the easiest way to solve a conflict because it's the best you do."
"But sir-"
"Just do it what I told you or else you'll die, slowly and painfully up your deepest thoughts that won't escape you even in death."
Thomas can only sweat rapidly while trembling fast from the sight. All such training, and now reduced to this.
Some Zlocan knights are fighting off the others as well, using their best maneuvers and agility to gain the upper hand against them.
One, in particular, strikes his sword against Valentina herself, who blocks every move of his while trying to strike back as well.
He's about to swing a bit more, all until his hands all get cut off from a Kilij sword from Berat himself who then elbowed him to the ground. The one behind him tries to rush towards them, only to be sliced in half by Walter himself.
"Aren't you getting tired already, you lazy lumberjack?" Valentine asks.
Walter turns around briefly while holding his axe with one hand while aiming it like it was a gun. It's towards a group of three Zlocans who are rushing with their swords and shields wildly. But before they can reach him, he pushes something in the middle of the grip, which causes the eye of the axe to lift up, releasing a burst of bullets that fires three times, greatly tearing down the trio limb to limb until their last breath.
Walter blows the smoke from the hole away, eventually hatching itself again.
"True warriors never get tired. Tiredness is for pussies anyway," Walter quips as he holds his axe. Berat joins him as well as they overlook the corpse-filled landscape, with Celina, Valentina, Mehdi and Ae Gang joining as well.
With all the blood encrusted in their blades and some of their armor, their narrow-eyed expression and nonchalant behavior showed the true extent of warriors suited for war, ones destined for greatness.
The soldiers from afar look in awe from they saw, some with jealousy to say the least, but for them, it's like the greatest Herculean soldiers just came to life in the modern world. A much-needed desire for them.
"These people...are they even Human?" a soldier asks
"Maybe so...such extraordinary strength, something outside from any part of the world. "
"I didn't matter what the training records show, they seem to be born to battle after all. Complete confidence in fact."
"Maybe they're the children of the god of war? By paying no heed of slaughtering their own people, they'll ensure the payback is as strong as it can get."
Whatever the rank, gender, nationality, or even religious, words are uttered around over the usefulness from G.o.D Squad from the UEF soldiers. Even though it's just their fourth battle, they already gained a large fame across the military.
Whether it's to ensure the memory sticks with them forever, all to reach an even larger legacy of the warrior or just to fight, it's surely a great show deserved for the best.
But from such strength from them, there's the cost of something valuable to Human life, one which deserves to make it worth existing.