The assault on Towerview Center only lasted a few hours from the time troops first entered the AstroBloc, but the battle left a lasting impression on the region of Gothamir, on Kallerish City and the people of Titan as a whole. The ruthless slaughter of thousands of unarmed citizens by the Zenith Corp forces was broadcast to the entire planet and galvanized many against the corruption of the Zenith Corporate Empire. Where once there were many splinter groups of resistance all acting independently across the world, the movement unified and came together under a single banner.
Zenith reinforcements flooded the city by morning. An estimated five hundred thousand Zenith Corp Delta MV1 battle units were deployed alongside about fifty thousand Titan ground troops, along with the remaining Trade Alliance security forces, which measured around one hundred thousand total. Thousands of arrests were made which further cemented the resistance movement. Protests started and were quickly dispelled; every time the worker’s song was sung in unison like a hymn to resistance. The song spread through the Titannet and soon was being sung defiantly across the planet like a rallying cry.
Before the reinforcements arrived however, the brothers had found themselves trapped within a city that wanted their heads. All ports and gates had been locked down before the initial surge had been sent in to quell the rioters. Rocky had contacted the researcher and his daughter, Reegan, but found that they had fled the city the night before leaving no chance of their speedy escape.
“They’re waiting a few miles off the coast.” Rocky told the others after contacting Reegan through his Net-Comm.
They were stuffed in the back of a delivery van, with a pair of Union sympathizers driving through the blockade. Their hearts pumped faster as they drew near the checkpoint and they could feel the van slow down. Ricky tightened his grip on his Axiom machine pistol, leaving it pointed at the back door, ready to shoot the first Trade Alliance security officer that opened it.
After a tense few minutes, they were ushered through, and to their surprise there would be no more violence that evening. The past few days had been a roller-coaster and now that the adrenaline was wearing off, all three brothers were exhausted. They ended up falling asleep as the van gently rocked down the highway on its way out of Kallerish City.
They drove on through the morning hours, the pair of Titans taking them four hours to the coast. To them, the time slipped past and it seemed like only moments before a gentle rapping came from the rear door to the van. All three brothers were on instant alert, ready for more enemies that wanted to kill them, but quickly realized that the motion of the van had stopped. They relaxed and the back doors were opened, letting a flood of early morning sunlight into the rear compartment.
“We’re here.” One of the young Titans said.
The three brothers got out and stretched. A hundred yards or so on the top of a grassy hill was a space worthy research vessel, the one that Rocky had told them about. Standing outside they saw the silhouettes of Reegan and her father, both waving to them when they spotted their approach.
“Well, we finally did it.” Ricky smiled. “We got our ticket off this planet.”
“I can’t wait to see what kind of adventures we can have in space now.” Rocco grinned a boyish grin back at his brother.
“Well guys, we’re gonna have to put that on hold first.” Rocky rubbed the back of his head.
“Why?” Rocco asked, his face showing that he did not like that notion very much.
“I kinda told them we would help them with something, and in exchange they said they would give us the space craft.”
“Rocky.” Ricky now spoke sternly. “What did you get us into now?”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“Nothing big, I promise. They were researching something on the Rook Coast and needed help getting to an archeological dig site.”
“Why would they need help with that?” Ricky asked, his voice still stern.
“I guess it’s under Zenith Corp control. Look, after what we just did? Sneaking into a Zenith dig site will be a cakewalk, right?”
“So, we barely get out of this city with our lives and you want us to go poke Zenith Corp again?” Ricky asked, exhausted at the very thought of it all.
“Doesn’t sound all that bad. I always wanted to go to the Rook Coast.” Rocco looked across the sunlight falling over the grass thoughtfully. “All the movie stars and attractions. It always sounded like something you have to see once in your life.”
“It’ll be fine bro, take my word for it. When have I ever steered us wrong?” Rocky clapped Ricky on the shoulder as he began to walk toward the waiting vehicle.
“Literally every time you’ve ever steered us anywhere!” Ricky returned.
“Relax, you’re always coming up with the plans. Sit back and let me take lead on this one. Just this one.”
“That’s how this mess all started!” Ricky exclaimed. “I let you be in charge for one mission and look at all the trouble it caused!”
“Well after all this, I for one can’t wait to see what kind of hell we can raise on the Rook Coast.” Rocco stretched one more time and began following Rocky up the hill.
“Lendran’s sons! I get to meet you all at last!” Eligah exclaimed happily as they crested the hill.
“This guy knew dad?” Ricky whispered. “You didn’t mention that.”
Rocky shrugged and smiled wide as Reegan came over and threw her arms around his neck.
“Rocky! We were listening to the reports all night. I was so scared you wouldn’t make it out of there alive! That was such a rousing broadcast your friends made, I’m sure everyone saw it!”
“We’re the three toughest brothers from Gunrock. It would take a lot more than a few security bots to take us out.” Rocky replied cockily.
“Or one of those burritos from that diner in Ocelan. That nearly took you out for good, remember that?” Rocco smacked Rocky on the back so hard he coughed. “Who’s the female?”
“I’m Reegan.” The Rodentia female replied politely.
“I’m Rocco, pleasure to meet you. I’m the tough brother.”
Rocky flashed an angry look at his brother that Rocco did not seem to notice.
“You guys thinkin’ of skippin’ out on me?” Came a raspy growl from inside the opened hatch of the space craft.
They were all surprised to see the small Wolverine step down the extended stairwell track and lean against the side of the vehicle.
“Bingo! How’d you get here?” Rocky was not sure if it was a good thing to see the dangerous Titan again or not. One thing was for sure, he did help them escape and they probably would not have pulled it off without his assistance.
“Long story. You owe me though, remember? I kept up my end of the bargain.”
“You never told me what you needed exactly.”
“Another long story.” Bingo’s eyes darted amongst the others who were all listening to him now. “I have a few cyborg problems that I need your scientists to figure out.”
Bingo would have been content to leave it at that, but they all waited for a further explanation. He uncrossed his arms impatiently and continued speaking.
“One of my implants is malfunctioning. If I can’t find someone to fix it soon, I probably only have a few months to live.”
“Ah! That makes more sense than what I had been imagining this whole time.” Rocky returned.
“What were you imagining?” Bingo raised his eye suspiciously.
“That you were helping from some hidden kindness deep within you. Brotherhood of Titans and all that.”
The Wolverine grunted heavily and turned back to the hatch.
“We better get going. We’re just wasting time out here.”
“He’s right you know.” Reegan looked at the three brothers assembled before her with pleading eyes. “I don’t know how much longer we have.”
“Well, I guess let’s go love.” Ricky pointed to the ship and began heading towards the hatch himself.
Just then something streaked across the sky with the familiar scream of one of their proton flight packs. They shielded their eyes against the sun to see a slender figure descending onto the grass.
“Amiga!” Ricky smiled at the female, who smiled back.
Amiga was releasing her grasp on her brother, who did not look pleased at all by being flown across the countryside. In fact, he fled somewhere and expelled his breakfast behind a tree.
“I’m glad to see you survived.” Amiga spoke to the Procyon, ignoring her brother.
“I told you, us Gunrockians are made from tough stuff.”
“Evidently.” She replied casually.
Ricky strode towards her and hugged the supertitan, who seemed pleasantly surprised and returned the gesture, lifting him off the ground.
“I’ll call Wolton and see what they can come up with.” Rocky said to Bingo who was watching from the open hatch.
“Yeah, or if not, we can always finish our little fight.” The Wolverine bared a row of sharp teeth in a cruel smile.
And at that, they piled into the space craft and lifted off towards other adventures that awaited them.