by Hao Yang
“My grandpa?”
“Yes and others. Your mom, brothers and sisters. You don’t need to worry about this. I will save them. You need to take care of yourself. They will attack training center. You get out of there.”
Klaycon paused for a second and asked, “How are you going to save them?”
“You get out of training center first. I will call you later to tell you what to do next. Do not call me. They are looking for me right now!”
“Dad, you be careful. Be careful.”
“I will be fine. You be careful, too.” Kalan said emotionally and hung up. Then he called Neiteo, the deputy chief of the Seventh fleet, who didn’t attend the ceremony because of a medical condition. But Klaycon couldn’t get the line through. He also tried the command center of the Seventh fleet, but couldn’t get connected either. Now he really didn’t know what to do next.
Chapter 98
Before talking with his father, Klaycon was on the way to the main square in Glycan living zone in response to an emergency assembly drill. Now he was still in shock and looked around at Zier, Didian and Nissen in panic. He knew they were the only family he had right now. Zier, Didian and Nissen gazed at Klaycon in confusion. Other Glycan trainees passed by them and headed to the main square.
“What is going on, man? You look like you forget your dick somewhere.” Didian joked.
“Come on! We gotta go. It’s emergency assembly. You don’t want to be late on this one.” Zier said seriously.
“Klaycon, Zier is right, we have to move.” Nissen said nicely.
“All right.” Klaycon nodded. But he suddenly stopped after several steps. His friends came at him. Zier lost patience and said, “What is it now?”
“We just had an emergency drill several days ago.” Klaycon murmured.
“So what. You never know what those officers think. Come on, move!” Zier said hastily.
“Come with me! You guys need to know something.” Klaycon said seriously.
Confused and scared, Didian, Nissen and Zier looked at each other.
“What is going on?” Zier asked.
“Come with me. Now!” Klaycon shouted.
They went into an empty classroom. Klaycon told them what his father Kalan said, and then he asked them to call their families. None of them could reach their parents. Now they were all frightened.
“This is wrong. This is very wrong.” Zier said desperately.
“My family! My family!” Didian cried.
“What are we going to do, Klaycon?” Nissen asked in a worried tone.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!” Gunshots came from the distance.
“That was the gunfire. The main square?” Zier asked.
“Yes. That was a trap. They just want to gather us together.” Klaycon said calmly.
“This is real. This is real.” Didian said in panic.
“First, we need to get our robots. There is no way we can leave the training center like this.” Klaycon said.
“And then?” Zier asked.
“Then we will see from there.” Klaycon said quickly.
They got out of the classroom and headed to the weapon depot. Once they got there, they quickly got into combat robots and geared up. The gunfire was getting closer and closer.
“They are coming.” Zier said uneasily.
“Alright, spread out.” Klaycon said quickly.
Just at this moment, the door opened. Gloria, Carila and two other girls rushed in.
“Hold your fire!’ Klaycon shouted.
Those girls stood there in panic, their eyes filled with fear, their bodies trembling.
“Get in your robots.” Klaycon shouted.
“Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!” Heavy footsteps were closing in.
“Take cover!” Klaycon shouted.
When the girls ran for cover, several old combat robots emerged at the doorway.
“Fire.” Klaycon yelled.
Rains of bullets and lasers were pouring into the doorway. Those old robots quickly took cover and one of them threw a smoke grenade into the weapon depot.
“Where they got those old robots?” Nissen asked.
“Watch the door!” Klaycon said as he ran to a nearby door. He pried it open, hurried in and carried out a missile. He set the missile on the floor and said, “This is our way out.”
The four girls got into their robots and joined Klaycon, blasting at the door.
“How many are there?” Klaycon asked.
“A lot.” Carila wheezed.
“Around 20.” Gloria said confidently.
Those old robots quickly organized counterattack and focused all their firepower at the doorway.
“There is no way we can get away.” Zier sighed.
“Shut up!” Klaycon snarled.
“Listen up. Follow my lead. Now, all of you take cover.” Klaycon said hastily. He lifted the missile and threw it at the doorway. Hundreds of bullets landed it and it exploded.
“Bang!” The explosion busted through two walls and tore the doorway apart. The shockwave knocked everyone down.
“Let’s go! Move!” Klaycon shouted as he got up. They darted into the nearby room through the broken walls, followed closely by dozens of old robots. Klaycon and others gunned down lots of them, but reinforcement kept coming. Their armors also sustained severe damages, riddled with holes and dents. They tried to blast their way to the hangar, but had to give up at half way. Right now they were holding back attackers in a narrow corridor that was only wide enough for two robots. Bullets and lasers were flying all over the place, illuminating the dark corridor.
“We have to dump our robots.” Gloria said hastily as she blasted her guns.
“Where do we go? They control the hangar.” Niseen shouted.
“We go to the second species zone and find a vessel there.” Gloria said calmly.
“I agree. Our robots are pretty much done. Let’s do it.” Klaycon said firmly.
Nissen, Carila, Zier and another girl jumped out of their robots and ran into the corridor.
“Gloria and Didian, your turn!” Klaycon shouted.
“Klaycon, you and Gloria go first!” Didian yelled as he fired cannons at the incoming robots.
“Alright.”
As soon as Klaycon and Gloria backed off, the attackers quickly gained ground, approaching Didian and the other girl.
“Didian, use your emergency pod to escape.” Klaycon said to his badge as he and Gloria jumped out of their robots.
“Run, run!” Didian shouted.
Just at this moment, both Didian and the girl ran out of ammo. The old robots dashed forward while raining bullets on them. Didian and the girl blocked them in the narrow corridor, but their robots were falling apart under the heavy bombardment. As the old robots pushed them back, one stabbed a dagger into the girl’s chest armor, punching through the robot.
“No.” Didian screamed.
Just at this moment, a dagger busted through Didian’s cockpit and cut into Dian’s body. Dian felt the sharp pain on his belly and he was bleeding badly. He hit the emergency launch button just before the next stab. His emergency pod blasted off the robot and bounced between walls several times. Then it flew far into the corridor.
When Klaycon and Gloria joined others, Klaycon asked them to leave first. He couldn’t left Didian behind. When he saw a dagger punch through the girl’s robot, he knew she was gone. Then he saw an old robot stab Didian’s robot and then Didian’s emergency pod fly out. He ran to the emergency pod, opened the gate and dragged Didian out. He carried Didian on his back and rushed into a small door. The old robots caught up with them, but they couldn’t get through the small door and when they finally broke through the wall, Klaycon and Didian were long gone.
Chapter 99
Jason was asleep when Gloria called him. Gloria told him to come to the movie theater right away and bring a first aid kit. When he got there, he saw Gloria and several Glycans crouching near a Glycan boy who was lying on blood-smeared fl
oor. He ran to Gloria and gave her the kit. Gloria quickly took out several tools, trying to stop the bleeding. Jason knew it was too late. The poor Glycan boy was throwing up blood and his right abdomen was cut through, purple blood spewing out like fountains. Jason didn’t stop Gloria. He looked around and noticed Klaycon was among all these Glycans and he was holding the boy’s head.
Didian slowly opened his eyes. He smiled at everyone and asked, “We are safe?”
“Yea, we are. You saved us.” Klaycon said emotionally, holding back his tears.
“Am I alright? I think I am hit.” Didian joked.
“You are fine. You are fine. Just lost some blood. We stop the bleeding. You will be fine.” Klaycon smiled reluctantly.
“Thanks. I…I am cold.” Didian said listlessly.
Klaycon swiftly took off his uniform, but before he could put it on Didian, Didian’s eyes went dark.
“No! Noooooo!” Klaycon screamed and busted into tears.
“Didian. Didian!” Nissen cried desperately.
“This is not happening. This is not happening.” Zier sobbed.
Gloria wiped tears with the back of her hand and shut Didian’s eyes. Everyone was crying except Jason. He walked away quietly and looked at those Glycans in the distance. He honestly didn’t know how to face them under this condition. Even though he didn’t like those Glycans except Gloria, he could feel the pain. It was the same pain he went through when he lost his grandmother-in-law.
Klaycon stood up angrily and ran towards the exit. Nissen, Carila and Zier caught up with him and stopped him.
“I know where you are going, but kill them won’t bring back Didian!” Carila shouted.
“Klaycon, we want to kill them as bad as you do. We don’t stand a chance.” Zier said angrily.
“Shut up!” Klaycon snarled and pushed Zier away.
“Listen to me, Klaycon. We need you.” Carila said sincerely, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Klaycon, we need you.” Nissen said sadly.
Klaycon lost steam and slumped on the floor, covering his face in arms.
Jason walked to Gloria and held her in his arms. He kissed her forehead and asked, “What happened?”
“We thought it was an emergency assembly drill and we gathered in the square. Then hundreds of robots showed up and asked us to surrender. We didn’t and they attacked us.” Gloria said sadly.
“I see. I can hide you in my dorm. You will be safe.” Jason said caringly.
“What about them?”
“I can’t hide all of them.”
“We need a vessel to leave here as soon as possible.”
“I can find one, but Gloria, you stay with me. Leaving with them will get you nowhere. Whoever carried out an attack like this must have an army.” Jason said seriously.
“I know. But I can’t just leave, even if they are not my friends.” Gloria said slowly.
“If I were you, I won’t leave either.” Jason sighed.
Gloria looked at Jason gratefully and kissed him. Then they held each other’s hand and walked to other Glycans. Klaycon was not in the mood for another fight. He and others simply pretended they didn’t see Jason.
“Jason will get a vessel. Then we can leave here.” Gloria said happily.
Carila rolled her eyes at Gloria and said, “We don’t need some second species to help us! Fuck...”
Jason punched Carila before she could finish the sentence. It happened so fast that nobody was able to stop him. Carila fell back on the floor, purple blood bursting out of her nose.
“Try again, I will kill your.” Jason said in a hard voice and then looked around at other Glycans.
Klaycon, Nissen and Zier stared at Jason and tightened their fists.
Etoe, the other girl, ran to Carila and helped her stand up.
“Listen to me carefully. I help you guys because of Gloria. All of you keep that in minds.” Jason said coldly. He hated Klaycon in the guts and he also remembered Zier, the one who tortured him.
Klaycon didn’t trust Jason, but he knew they didn’t have many options at their disposal. They certainly couldn’t go back to Glycan’s area. Other first class species could only help them if they had something to offer.
“If any of you change your mind, it is not too late!” Jason shouted as he glanced around.
Klaycon let out a short sigh. Nissen and Zier casted his eyes down. Carila stared at Jason in anger. Etoe cried silently.
Jason called Erikon and asked him to go to the hangar and get one vessel ready. Then they carried Didian’s body and headed to the hangar.
Chapter 100
In the training center on Eva-1, Mark, Salmon and some 1000 Human soldiers were piloting those old robots they got from planet Satulous. Salmon and Mark were in charge of those soldiers.
A soldier just briefed Mark that they finished checking the second class species living zone and didn’t find any Glycan. Mark ordered them to check the hangar. He didn’t expect things would work out like this. When they surrounded those Glycan trainees in the main square, those Glycans didn’t surrender. Instead they fought and some of them managed to get away.
Colonel Salmon jumped out of his robot and walked to Mark. On his way, he shot dead several dying Glycans. He stopped right in front of Mark’s robot and motioned him to get out.
Mark jumped out of the robot and walked to Salmon.
“Those kids are tough, huh?” Salmon said ironically as he threw a pocket wine bottle at Mark.
Mark took a sip and said, “They did put on a good fight.”
“I don’t know how to explain this to Lreque. He did tell us to catch them alive.” Salmon said carelessly.
“Accident happens.” Mark said easily.
Just at this moment, a soldier ran to Salmon and said, “Some Glycans escaped to other first species’ areas. Should we pursue?”
“Leave them be. We don’t want to irritate other first species even if they think we are Glycans. What about those in the second species living zone?” Salmon said easily as he glanced over at Mark.
“They didn’t find any, but I will go to take a look just to make sure.” Mark said casually.
“What? You want to see your son, right?” Salmon joked.
“Come on. Give me a break.” Mark chuckled, and then threw the pocket bottle back to Salmon.
“Alright and Mark, if you saw Glycans, try to catch those alive. OK?”
“Look who is talking. By the way, tell Aron to track every vessel leaving Eva-1.” Mark said as he put on a face transformer.
“I tried to catch them alive. You know.” Salmon said innocently.
Both Mark and Salmon laughed loudly.
When Mark walked into the second class species zone as a Glycan, sentries didn’t even question him. He quickly went to Jason’s dorm but only found an empty room. While Mark was wondering what Jason was doing this late in the night, a soldier reported that they saw three Human trainees in one of the hangars. Mark had a feeling that Jason might be there, so he ran to the hangar right away.
When he got into the hangar, he saw Jason and two other Humans sneaking towards a cargo vessel. Mark was so happy to see Jason that he almost ran to Jason. But he realized Jason couldn’t recognize him. He just looked at Jason in the distance until Jason got into the cargo vessel with the other two Humans.
In the bridge of the cargo vessel, Jason, Erikon and Lucis were preparing the takeoff.
“So what’s this about? Where are you going?” Lucis asked as he initiated the engine.
“You don’t want to get into this!” Jason said seriously.
“Come on, man. Remember how we saved Gloria? We can handle it.” Erikon said confidently.
“This time is different!” Jason said firmly.
“What?” Lucis asked.
“They are hunting down Glycans. I will get Gloria and her friends out of here.” Jason said in a low voice.
“Who are they?” Erikon asked.
“I don’t know.�
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“That is what I thought. I figured that was why they searched our area.” Lucis said.
“Man, I am totally in.” Erikon said excitedly.
Jason smiled reluctantly. He winked at Lucis, and then suddenly took a swipe at Erikon’s head, knocking Erikon out. Lucis caught Erikon before he fell from the chair.
“I kind of feel you will do this. Jason, this is not like the last time.” Lucis said seriously.
“I know!’ Jason said in a heavy tone.
“You can’t be always that lucky.” Lucis said.
“I guess we'll find out. Tell Erikon I am sorry. Take him with you.” Jason said hastily, and then called Gloria.
Lucis carried Erikon on the back and walked out of the vessel.
Several minutes later, Gloria, Klaycon and the other four Glycans got to the hangar through the ventilation shafts and boarded the cargo vessel. When they stepped into the bridge, Jason pulled Gloria aside and whispered, “Gloria, let them take the vessel. You stay with me in the training center.”
“I don’t think they know how to fly this. I know I can’t fly this.” Gloria said innocently.
“You know where to go?” Jason asked.
“I have no idea.”
Jason looked around at Klaycon and others. They were standing there quietly. Jason walked to them and asked, “You know how to fly this?”
They all shook their heads like three year old kid.
“You know where to go?” Jason asked Klaycon.
“My father will call me and let me know. Right now, I don’t know. But we need to leave training center first.” Klaycon said weakly.
Jason looked at Gloria and let out a sigh.
Soon, they were all seated. The hangar door slowly opened and the cargo vessel flew out in a blink.
Chapter 101
When General Klizan woke up, he found himself only wearing underwear and strapped on a steel chair. He looked around calmly. The room was more like a metal container, sealed and solid. He tried to move a bit, but the chair was way too heavy. He remembered everything until the blackout and he had a hunch who was behind all this.