Chapter II - 3: Clean Up

Half an hour later, the sun was setting and the two Requiem soldiers walked out of the storehouse. Yuri had a big box in his hands while Mack held onto a briefcase. The latter exclaimed, "Thank Helion the Viridastekans had an index."

"That's expected of them. What's sheer dumb luck is that what we were looking for wasn't on the destroyed side of the building. Also, how did they get decimated, their jammer wouldn't just stop-"

The two's vision was blocked by a giant hand looming over them, quickly reaching for them. After a brief panic, they realised they were in a Gigan's cupped hands, Alice's. The air was metallic and they were blind as a bat. Both drop what they were holding, taking in the situation.

Yuri was furious, "That bitch played us like a fiddle!"

CLINK. CLINK.

"Shut it, Yuri! Look for a way out," Mack was more annoyed than anything else.

CLINK. CLINK.

"Oooh, no Mack, there's no way out of this. We're pretty much do-"

CLANG.

Yuri was interrupted by a loud noise, "Hm? What's it doing now?"

"Sounds like she's on the emergency exit stairs."

"Agh, doesn't matter. We - Wait, your sniper! It's HCP, right? Just shoot that gun alrea-" Yuri felt Mack put his hand on his mouth.

"Hush"

"Mm-mmm"

"Ssssh. Listen"

Hmmmmm…

It was the humming of a Gigan ship. It was drawing ever closer. Now, close as ever, it was clear it accosted the roof they were just on.

Swish! Thak!

THUNK!

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"Still can't get used to the automated transport. It's like we're just sitting in the cargo of a truck with visibly no drivers."

THUNK!

"Stop whining, rookie. Wasting a pilot just for our travel is a waste of resources; and our suits are too bulky for normal seats anyways. Just check if the body suit's properly pressurised, you don't want to feel the heat."

THUNK. THUNK. THUNK. THUNK.

Both voices were of low pitch, sounding heavily muffled.

"I know, I know... You check the report?"

THUNK. THUNK. THUNK.

The tone showed disappointment, "Yup. Real sad. Can't believe Professor Veridas was a damn sympathiser. Even a traitor on top of that. I mean, I took his lessons in uni."

CLAK. CLAK.

"Tough shit. Good thing his assistant found out about this and reported it."

CLICK. CLICK.

"True that. Let's just cleanse this nest already."

Oooo

WOOOOOSH!

Mack and Yuri felt like they were experiencing the worst heatwave of their life.

"Kid, how're you holding up?"

"Managing. And you?"

He sighed, "Feels like we're in an oven..."

"No shit... Never knew the heat was this hot up close though..."

Ooooosh.

After a solid dreadful minute, the temperature cooled down as fast as it had risen. The two tinies were both exhausted and catching their breath.

CLICK. CLICK.

"Done. Now let's go back to base."

"Wait, the report mentioned a small extension of this nest down this alley."

THUNK. THUNK. THUNK. THUNK. THUNK.

Their stride stopped. Both tinies held their breath. Even the hands that were holding them were shaking a little.

The two Gigan were just above them.

"Down there. See?"

"Yeah, I do. Hmmm... No way the ship will get inside that alley."

"We'll have to get to it by foot... "

"In this garb? Yeah... No way."

"Well! Clean up complete. Let's head back to base."

"Indeed! Good work. Let's go."

THUNK. THUNK. THUNK. THUNK. THUNK. THUNK.

Swish! Thack!

Hmmmmm...

Swoooosh.

The vehicle's humming gradually faded away until all that was left was a deathly silence.

Following a minute of nothingness, Alice finally palmed her hands. With all the tension leaving her body, Alice was heavily breathing through the helmet.

To the duo, the setting sun's light was blinding for a short while. Composing himself, Yuri smirked, "Rough touch, huh?"

He then weakly spoke, "Still...Thanks for the save."

Mack solemnly nodded, "Yes, thank you."

Alice gently placed them on the edge of the roof. Then, she removed her helmet. Sweat from the tension and the temperature rise was dripping down her face.

She took a deep breath, "Yeah... N-no problem. At least we weren't at the end of the flamethrowers."

Mack nodded, "Indeed, Cleansers, specialists in the use of such device. If the burning plasma doesn't get you, it's the insufferable that heat will."

Alice took a look at what was left of Viridastek. Nothing was left. What remained was merely dark purple burnt marks on the roof. It was a rather bone-chilling sight, more so than the remains.

Taking her eyes off the unpleasant scene, she looked at the pair who were checking the package.

"It’s still intact?"

Mack spoke, "Yeah, all's good."

"I think it's time we go home though," Yuri added.

Alice glanced at the sky, "Yeah... It's getting dark. Let's go."

The tinies used the elevator the Cleansers missed while Alice went down the fire escape. She had her helmet on again as the two tinies once again, hopped on her palm.

On her way back to Wynd Ville, avoiding the occasional Legion patrols, Alice voiced a thought that just crossed her mind, "By the way, what exactly did you retrieve? "