Location: Terra Colony Andromeda
North Sector - Training Field Septa
Time: 1423
January 31, 2050
Punch after punch after punch.. Mana pummeled the ever living shit out of the transparent barrier that kept her from Haruka. Knuckles raw, breath catching into heaves, she reeled back and weaved to the side as an energy bolt suddenly skimmed her cheek. Haruka’s counter was good, even at this short range she could fight back.
Mana pressed off with her back foot and sent another straight punch that rang like a gong. But had no effect on the barrier’s seemingly impenetrable defense. That didn’t deter her though, she transitioned into a mix of dodges to evade a countering volley of bolts, then whipped out a successive quick combination of jabs.
“Give it a rest.” Said Haruka from beyond the barrier.
Her eyes shined a bright green as she had an unamused look on her face, bored even. Mana didn’t know how to process that. As a beast human from the European Bloc, she idolized Haruka, a fan of sorts. She wanted to be like her, be as strong as her, and to be.. To be.. Well.. to be an example.. A shining one to show the world that folks like them aren’t just beast humans. Because that isn’t true, and we aren’t different from regular humans.
Mana huffed, a stewing of long held emotions and deep regrets had risen up in her heart as her resolve grew. “Never!” She shouted back, grinning. “I’ve always wanted to meet you, and I’m not passing up a chance to see if I can match you.”
Launching a rapid set of punches, she finally got a ripple out of the barrier. Haruka responded with a wave of her staff that conjured and let fall a handful of bolts around them like raining hail. Forced away, Mana flapped the wings on the back of her waist to jump clear. A golem rose on her right and swung its beefy bricked arm at her, she pulled up a block and grabbed the limb into a grapple. Haruka whistled, impressed, as Mana threw the five meter golem end over end.
“Woah, talk about strong. I’m honored you think so highly of me.” She smiled, though it was a bit forced. “But I would prefer it if we could hurry this up.” She yawned somewhat irritably, then muttered, “I swear Joel, this was not what we agreed on.”
Flourishing her staff once again, the earth at Haruka’s feet crackled as new towering golems rose around her like a praetorian guard. Mana noticed that these were the bigger ones she had tangoed with before. A whopping ten meters tall with arms thicker, and tougher to break. They marched in titanic steps, she could feel her gut tighten.
[Mana!] Shouted a voice in her earpiece. [Get out of there!]
It was Epsilon 1, and Mana knew what was coming. The almost indiscernible smell of smoke and fire hadn’t escaped her. She flapped her wings in another long backwards jump and was just in time as explosions crashed into the new horde of menacing golems. It was followed by a number of dull distant booms behind her as hypersonic streaks cut the air. Mana recognized it as high caliber sniper fire, given that the shots impacted and disintegrated the golem’s arms and legs in seconds. Group Epsilon kept on the suppressive fire, cycling between heavy anti material fire and volleying a wave of rifle grenades to tear a chunk out of the enemy.
[Cover her!] Ordered Epsilon 1. [Aim for eyes and joints! Am I understood!]
[Yes, Sir!]
From their dugout position in the rearguard, they had the advantage as long as Mana had Haruka occupied. Osamu cut in to intercept the remaining golems that gave chase and had only been superficially damaged. But there were just so damn many. He was a flash of purple lighting that slipped between each of the numerous hulking frames.
“This just doesn’t end,” He complained as he slashed. Smoke billowed from three of the golems as they fell apart into charred hunks of diced boulders. “Hey! Gen!” He called. “Get the rest will you!”
With a nod, Gen wordlessly reached to his waist, but not to his katana this time. Materializing in a glow of shaping white light, a holstered deck of cards appeared at his side. He hastily drew a hand and smirked.
“Perfect,” He said, crushing the cards into particles of energy that pooled in his palm. [You may want to move, Osamu.]
[I already am.]
Gen dashed to face the pack of trampling golems as Osamu moved to his side. Lowering himself forward to bring his sheathed blade parallel to the ground, a gust kicked up around him as he tensed. Then he muttered, his tone low and concise, “Straight.”
A sharp ring hummed the air as a new silence overwhelmed all sound. The golems seemingly froze for a second, then shuddered as they stumbled in their next steps. The first one tripped, finding an unlucky patch of uneven rocks catching its leg. The second golem fell over the first, and then the third, fourth, and so on and so forth like a row of dominoes. They were nothing but a heap a few seconds later. Suddenly an invisible force smashed straight through them all, blowing them to bits. Haruka, as far as she was from what was happening, even felt the force of whatever Gen had launched.
“Jesus! Where did that come from?” She stabbed her staff into the dirt for support as a riptide of wind and debris flew like a hurricane. “What is up with these kids?” Then it hit her, a look of remembrance finally dawning. “Shit.. How the fuck did I forget! God Damnit Joel!”
Mana and Osamu rushed in to use her exasperation against her. Unfortunately, Haruka got a grip and stomped the ground with her heel, sending up a wave of boulders to impede them. The shifting earth reached like hands; the jagged points threatened to skewer them. Osamu jumped and picked up speed as Mana headed up into the sky to evade. A following set of Haruka’s conjured energy bolts preemptively targeted them.
Gen drew another hand of cards from his holstered deck and whipped his blade in a flash of light. A scattering of energy whipped off the glowing slash, forming into small fist size projectiles that covered Mana and Osamu as they retreated. Haruka surged a second wave of earth that gave chase. As fast as Osamu could move, it was gaining on him. Mana descended to pick him up. A spray of bolts caught her. One hit her in the side, but she gritted through the searing pain.
[Grab on!] She shouted, focusing as she reached her hand out to Osamu. [Take my hand!]
Osamu swung his arms into a leap. The wave of earth was closing fast and getting bigger. It was like a tsunami ready to drown both him and Mana in one fell swoop. He paled at the scale of it and how close it was and he thought he wasn’t going to make it. Mana’s hand was getting closer, just a couple inches and then he could grab it. But then the distance between them grew. Shit! Gravity. Realizing he came up short, Osamu braced, hoping Mana would get out of this. He felt his momentum shift violently and then sound filled his ears.
[Gotcha!]
Not expecting those words, especially since they were from Mana, Osamu noticed her grip and gazed behind him to see what had happened. The tide of earth had shockingly halted. Looking down, he found a barricade of roots tangling like a resisting wave.
“What the? Who was that?”
[Them, over there.] Mana jerked Osamu forward as they descended. Chisuke was standing with Gen. Landing next to them, Mana turned her head left then right. [Where’s Dahlia?] she asked.
“Over here!” Said a voice behind Chisuke. “Chisuke, can you turn?”
Chisuke did so with a sigh and Mana’s eyes went wide.
“What the hell are you doing!” She yelled. “Just what the heck is this! Put her down!”
For some weird reason Dahlia was riding on Chisuke’s back, though more like roped on since a tangle of vines secured her like a backpack to him. For whatever purpose this was for, Mana didn’t care for it. She wanted Dahlia away from Chisuke because the guy was going to get her hurt if he was thinking of dragging her into his battle.
Chisuke only raised a brow. “Don’t look at me,” He pointed behind him. “She agreed to it.”
“And just what in the hell did she agree to?” Mana demanded.
Chisuke sighed again. “No time to explain,” Pointing, he drew everyone's attention to the general direction where Haruka was, “We have incoming.”
Already a horde of new golems were stalking toward them, the HUD had them a few hundred meters away. And worst of all, Haruka had also disappeared from view, probably moving to try and regain her advantage in ranged combat. Chisuke readied his blade with Gen and Osamu alongside him. On his right, Osamu was grinning from ear to ear as he side eyed him.
“So? You’re less of a chick magnet and more of a chick napper,” He chuckled. “Remind me not to let you near kids, especially the..”
“Will you shut up!” Mana snapped. “Now isn’t the time!”
She was one for witty humor, but now of all times was not in her level of comfort. Giving Chisuke a look, which he returned with one of his own, Mana shifted to study Dahlia. Her friend’s eyes had a gleam of fear in them, as it always had. The years since they had lost their parents weighed on them. That wasn’t all though. There was more. More buried feelings and things Mana was somewhat unsure if Dahlia could remember.
She peered closer at Dahlia. Now she saw something, something that hadn’t been there before in her. There was a hint of resolve, as though the crying child Mana had always known was finally wiping her tears away. She didn’t know if she should be proud, scared, or worried. In fact, all of those emotions fit the situation.
“Mana? Uh? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Dahlia spoke up, probably noticing her troubled thoughts. Dahlia was always good at that. Mana wanted to say something, to get her to back down. She had been her guardian since they were kids, and it had set hard habits she had yet to break, but.. She wants this. Dahlia told me that.. She wants to help people.. To be an explorer.. And I promised to protect her and be at her side. Always.. No matter what. Mana’s lips quivered to speak, she wished to take her away and live a normal life, but could they? At this point? After all they had been through?
[Ma’am, Come in! Ma’am!] A stomping of steps behind Mana interrupted as Epsilon 1’s voice buzzed over their earpieces. [The target is shifting to retreat and she’s picking up speed. If we don’t push past these golems and pursue, she’ll get away. We’re on approach, do you want us to go on ahead?]
Mana and the rest turned to find half of Group Epsilon moving to join them. Ten of them spread out to salvo a rain of grenades on the approaching golems. The rest fell in behind the one with the helmet, who came to a stop in front of them. Mana had to shelve her mounting number of thoughts. What was it that Itsuki said to do in this situation? It took a moment, but those callous words came to her.
You leave thoughts out when you’re in battle, focus on winning, and only when you win will you get your answers. And that’s because you survived, because you had what it takes to reach for what it is you want. So stop worrying and fight. Yeah, she’d do that. This training exercise was stretching her to her limits, it was stretching everyone’s, so she couldn’t carry another’s burden, even if it was a friend’s.
[What’s the status of your ammo and equipment?] Mana asked and met Epsilon 1’s helmeted gaze. [And where’s the rest of the group? I don’t see any of the other academy students.]
[Ma’am, my men have redistributed our ammo,] Epsilon 1 said. [Half of my team was given the bare minimum and was left to guard our rear. As to why we don’t have any students?] He let off a small scoff, probably on purpose since it was broadcasted over the comm. [The only good ones we can rely on are too exhausted or unconscious. And don’t get me started on some of the first years.]
[What’s wrong with them?]
Another scoff, Epsilon 1 seemed really fed up, even if Mana couldn’t see his expression behind that helmet of his. [Ma’am, a few aren’t listening and have turned tail and run. You should’ve seen how gutlessly scared they were, some were even shitting themselves.]
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Mana almost broke into a laugh to try stem her rising headache. [Well, that’s just great.]
The others behind Epsilon 1 laugh along.
Mana rolled her neck and nodded. [In any case, we’ll pursue,] She said and turned to Chisuke, unforgiving in her look. [So what are you planning? And why exactly do you have my friend strapped to your back?]
[You’ll see,] Chisuke said. His dangerous grin wasn’t a good sign, though it couldn’t be helped. [Just watch,] He continued, turning to meet Gen and Osamu. These three always seemed able to catch each other’s drift.
Gen pushed his glasses up as he passed his gaze over Dahlia like she was some kind of odd specimen. Osamu did the same, but with his ever-cheerful glee plastered on his face. He then netted his hands behind his head, all relaxed.
The two of them nodded at Chisuke, who then said, [Just cover me and keep the golems away.] Immediately, he stepped into a run. [Hold tight, Dahlia! And don’t go biting your tongue!]
[Ah.. oh.. Alright.. I’ll try.]
Mana cringed at how terrified Dahlia sounded. Osamu nudged her in the side and then there was a click from her earpiece as he whispered on that damn private comm again, [You’re kind of giving off an overbearing mother vibe, you sure you’re..]
He didn’t get to finish when Gen offhandedly smacked him in the back of the head with the sheath of his sword. He then wordlessly grabbed the back of Osamu’s collar and stepped into a trot after Chisuke. Mana was left shaking her head for a second. They had such a weird group of oddballs, and she was officially their leader, or that’s what the plan had entailed and was what this 00 AI had said her role would be. Really, she didn’t feel ready to be reigning them all in.
[Ma’am? Your orders?] Asked Epsilon 1.
Mana tapped her earpiece and threw a few gestures to have Epsilon 1’s men spread out. They stood too and doubled timed it.
***
Location: Terra Colony Andromeda
North Sector - Training Field Septa
Time: 1441
January 31, 2050
Dahlia wasn’t much for combat. Her legs would lock up in a fight if things got too crazy, which was probably why Chisuke was hauling her around like a glorified backpack. Mortifying as it was, she could still support him and the others. As Chisuke led the way from the front, Osamu and Gen took up his flanks. Moving ahead, ten trainees from Group Epsilon were spreading out in a searching pattern to find Haruka.
She had dropped off the radar all of sudden and it was only after they had cleared yet another wave of golems that they picked up her trail. A minute later a trainee reported in. [Core energy reading 300 meters east of my position. I’ve got new enemy contacts in sight, they’re massing.]
The trainee was knelt down between an outcropping of rocks. As the rest of the team trickled in, Osamu and Gen made to hold position to Chisuke’s left and right, spacing themselves so that they could initiate an attack with ample room for each to move. Mana arrived with Epsilon 1, who was followed by the rest of his group. Already knowing the drill, they sighted up.
[Sniper Positions set.] Reported Epsilon 1. [And we have 3 heavy machine gun teams in place.]
[Good.] Mana shifted her gaze to the indicator in her HUD. [Do we have visual on the target?]
[Negative. Too many golems to tell, so we can’t sense whether she’s..]
[She’s here,] Chisuke interrupted. [I can smell her.]
Osamu chuckled. [And here I thought you were human Chisuke. Should I buy you a pair of antlers so you can match with Dahlia, or how about some wings like Mana.]
[Give it a rest,] Mana said sternly. [Get serious Osamu, the battle comes down to this.]
[Yeah..] Osamu paused. [I suppose so.] His sudden silence was enough to tell her that he heard her loud and clear. As much of a goof as he was, he knew when to stop.
[So? Care to share your plan now?] Mana asked as she set a hand on Chisuke’s shoulder, her eyes drifting to Dahlia. [Now would be as good a time as any to tell us.]
[It’s simple,] Chisuke knelt to study the movement in the distance. [Keep me covered and I’ll handle the rest.]
[But what about Dahlia?!] Mana hissed. [If you’re going to charge in then leave her behind, she can support you from the back and there's no way you can..]
[Mana, it’s fine.]
Dahlia’s sudden interruption made Mana stop dead, she looked almost taken aback.
[Really, I’ll be fine,] Dahlia continued. [I know I will, trust me.]
Mana seemed helpless and didn’t know how to reply. Dahlia saw that her eyes were still imploring her to stop. Mana wouldn’t say what was on her mind, but Dahlia hears her loud and clear. I’m sorry, but I want to do this.. Even if this is crazy.
Chisuke did a small turn of his head to look at Dahlia and then to Mana, [I’ll take care of her.] He said. [Don’t worry.]
That was hard to believe. Mana’s brow furrowed and she was about to say something until Chisuke’s gaze hardened. There wasn’t any intimidation, he was making an effort to be honest.
[I promise,] He said. [If she gets hurt then you can kill me later.]
Mana shook her head in complete disbelief of how this maniac of a berserker actually sounded like he meant it, and she believed it. Dahlia didn’t know how to react. She felt sheepish and tightened her grip on the back of Chisuke’s shirt. It was comforting and faintly nostalgic.
Chisuke shifted and turned away to eye the approach. Haruka’s golems had arranged themselves into one large gathering. Calling in an artillery strike would’ve been preferred but the last of the available artillery was used up to get here. He glanced at Mana, while he didn’t think he needed her to give him the okay to do what wanted, he still understood that she was the leader. Mana knelt beside him, taking in the sight of the golem’s stomping about.
[I’m holding you to your promise,] She said, then sighed. [I’ll back you up, so don’t fuck this up.]
[I don’t plan to,] Chisuke raised his head as he sent a ping signal to the others. [Mana, we’ll go on your mark, so call it.]
Mana nodded and started highlighting targets in her HUD and allocated roles to Group Epsilon while also delegating a few personnel to follow Osamu and Gen. When the gathered golems ranks shifted to change formation for the new additions moving up from the back, Chisuke saw his opening and he didn’t need to say it. Mana was already bracing her legs for a sprint.
[Now!]
At her shout, Chisuke moved to engage the first row of golems. As he closed the three hundred meters of distance, a wave of earth rolled up at them. It was a towering tide of several meters of earth, and it was rolling in fast. Haruka definitely knew they were coming.
[Dahlia!] Chisuke called out as he jumped. [Do it now!]
Enormous roots sprouted from the ground in a wriggling tangle. With her eyes shut tight, Dahlia controlled the meter thick roots to rise in the air. Chisuke landed on one, then jumped again to scale the tide of incoming earth. Epsilon 1 and a contingent of four trainees followed in close escort. Slow as they were, they kept pace. Dahlia’s roots then met with Haruka’s earth in a rumbling crash. Dahlia won out as her roots plunged through like shunting spears.
Running and gunning as they rode on them, Epsilon 1 had his team volley rifle grenades as they cleared the obstruction. Sniper positions at the rear, having read the situation, repositioned in time to howl anti material round down range. As Chisuke leapt down from a root, six golems of the first line in his way fell, their arms spraying into fragments and heads smashed by explosions. He sailed past, leaping and weaving as golems swung down at him.
Keeping close to Chisuke’s side for Dahlia’s safety, Mana sprung forward, her form changing as she transformed. While rare, beast humans could shapeshift and take their animalistic traits further. A coat of brown fur grew across Mana’s body, her face becoming tiger-like with fierce fangs and the wings on the back of her waist extended as she stretched up on all four paws, howling a roar that sent the golems staggering back.
Pouncing as an unleashed winged beast, golems crumbled as she tackled and sliced them down like miniscule prey. Meters to their left and right, Osamu and Gen smashed the enemy’s flanks. Osamu joined Mana, working to ward off the encroaching golems as Chisuke advanced. A riptide of several meters of earth rumbled towards them. Chisuke turned to face it and ran straight for it. Again, Dahlia’s roots rose and clashed. The surroundings turned into a jungle gym of roots as gunfire and explosions rang out.
[Covering fire at our six] Epsilon 1 called. [Machine Guns, Hit’em!]
Three chugging guns from behind ripped a swath into the enemy. Epsilon 1 did an about face and charged to catch them in a pincer.
[Go!] He shouted as he waved to Chisuke and the others. [We’ll handle this!]
[Affirmative,] Mana acknowledged and lunged ahead as Chisuke continued forward.
Alongside Mana, Osamu moved in concert. Surprisingly he was having difficulties keeping up with her, she was definitely amped up. As he ran, Chisuke glanced over to Gen, who nodded that it was ready. Pulling up a private channel to Dahlia, Chisuke caught sight of Haruka as he jumped down from one of Dahlia’s roots.
[Get ready,] He said. [This is going to get rough, Dahlia.]
[Yeah.. I can tell.] Dahlia’s voice had gone hoarse, she was obviously terrified. That.. or getting really sick.
Chisuke trudged into another group of golems as bolts hailed from above, threatening to hit all of them. In the face of this he grinned. Perfect. Ducking past a golem, he charged between its legs towards Haruka and cleared the next shower of bolts. But he wasn’t going to let them hit Mana and the others. Slamming the butt of his odachi into the palm of his left hand, he yelled.
“Bloody Taunt!”
A haze of red rapidly spread out from him and the bolts of energy behind him swerved in his direction. Still with a wide grin on his face, Chisuke spun on his heels and braced as several hundred shots tore into him. He coughed, pain searing right into his flesh. As if it hadn’t hurt, he had the strength to evade a golem’s charge and continued his dash for Haruka. There was 50 meters of distance left and Haruka filled it with a storm of razor leaves, all of which Chisuke took head on. He staggered, bones breaking with every step.
[Dahlia!] He called, rasping through the blood choking his throat.
Dahlia held tight to his back and channeled her healing powers. Direct contact accelerated the process and Chisuke’s wounds closed. His bones regenerated and energy coarsed through him, but blood continued to spill.
[Just go down already!] Haruka shouted and stomped the ground.
A jagged spear of rock fired itself from the ground and plunged deep into Chisuke sternum. Energy bolts slammed into him from the left and right. He teetered on the balls of his feet, yet didn’t fall in his next steps. He clutched the meter long impalement and ripped it out with a sickening squelch.
[Dahlia,] He muttered.
Chisuke was healed the next second, but yet again Haruka sent a blitz of razor leaves that cut every part of his skin. He felt heavier as every second passed, he buckled and was pressed down onto his knees. Golems moved to surround him as he coughed a mouthful of blood. Osamu and Mana dashed to intercept. Over the channel Dahlia could hear them telling Chisuke to get up. He didn’t reply, and Haruka edged closer. Her staff was poised to deliver a killing blow. Dahlia did everything she could to heal Chisuke’s legs and restore his mobility, she just needed a few more seconds. But Haruka was so close. Dahlia’s heart thrummed, and then she heard a click over the comm.
Gen's voice buzzed. [Perfect.]
[About time.] Chisuke grumbled, then grunted as he forcibly shifted into a backstep on his mangled legs. [Everyone, Move!]
A brilliant flash of light tore past Chisuke as it flew over his shoulder. The size of a ball, the sphere of light hit the ground right in front of Haruka. It cracked, then a wind expelled from it whirled into a hurricane of slashes that scarred the ground in deep cuts. Every golem in a ten meter radius was reduced to ribbons and Haruka was forced to brace as her barriers came up.
Chisuke, having not gotten to a safe distance, held his arms up to cover his face. His muscles tore then knitted itself back together, then tore again. In a continuous cycle the injuries came and went, over and over. Once the dust settled Chisuke breathed a sigh.
[You still with me Dahlia?] He asked.
[Y-Yes, but please.. Hurry..]
[Alright.] Chisuke readied his odachi and gripped it tight with both hands. “Manifest,” he muttered and red particles pooled around him, forming into a tattered and blood colored scarf that wrapped around his neck.
The ends of it coiled around his forearms and up across the length of his odachi. The blood in his veins pulsed as core energy surged within him. This scarf was his manifested armor and while not sufficient for defense it had its uses. By manipulating his ability to grow stronger from every hit he took, the scarf would grow in length if he so chose to store the energy. And he had done so for every strike for the last few minutes. If not for Dahlia, he wouldn’t have been able to do this.
Manifesting the scarf now unleashed the power he had collected. Letting it all out, he concentrated this overwhelming power into one moment, this moment. It was a challenge to even move since every part of him felt like it was on fire. The burden of the energy weighed heavily on him, doing anything caused excruciating pain to flare and he was unsure if he could stay conscious for long. But thanks again to Dahlia’s healing, the pain lessened to a degree and more importantly lucidity returned to him.
With one bound in the span of a split of a second, Chisuke held out against the mind wrenching pain as he closed in. He now peered down at Haruka, who had not noticed his presence yet. His blade shimmered and dripped with a deep red as he brought it down in an overhead swing. Haruka finally saw it coming but it was too late, blade met barrier in a scream of sparks. Haruka staggered, unable to counter as cracks formed in her defense.
Chisuke cried havoc. The barrier broke with a crunch and Haruka flinched as the strike came down. She felt a wavering in the air, but nothing happened. She found Chisuke holding the hilt of his odachi with only a small jagged piece of metal left of his blade. To her shock, his attack had shattered on her barrier.
Haruka was about to move back, but Chisuke slammed his fist into her stomach, doubling her over before she could escape. He then forced his knee into her face, fighting the resistance of his broken ribs, and then finished with a straight punch to her chin. His finger bones broke as he followed through and sent Haruka sprawling out onto the ground unconscious, eyes rolling into the back of her head. Exhaustion took hold of Chisuke and he fell over onto his side panting.
Dahlia untangled herself from his back and breathed a sigh of relief. She had to swallow the rising discomfort in her stomach. “Ugh.. My head.” She let out a groan. “Did we win?”
“Yeah.” Chisuke rasped as he rolled onto his back. “I think so. By.. the way.. Can you heal me again? I think I broke.. Everything.”
Dahlia frowned down at him and gave him a reprimanding smack on the head. “Idiot.” She muttered, then smiled down at him as she broke out in laughter and tears.
This was her first real fight. It was scary as all hell, but.. She did it. She did what had been impossible for her before. And she knew.. She knew her parents would be proud of her.
See Mom. See Dad. I can be an explorer. Just like you.