Chapter 44: Showdown Against Squadron 14 &15

  The fire of the destroyed ships burned through the cold Martian night, sending plumes of smoke into the dark sky. Flames swayed like dancers in the relentless wind, casting flickering shadows across the red sand. Through the smoke and darkness, silhouettes moved with mechanical precision. Androids from squads 13 and 14 planted small devices into the sand in perfect unison. A loud beep echoed across the battlefield, and suddenly a translucent shield materialized like a wall before them, shimmering in the firelight. As the androids advanced, the shield moved with them.

  "Damn it," Ravine muttered, her eyes fixed on the approaching wall of energy. "If we want to do some damage to them, we need to do something about that shield." She groaned in frustration before opening her comms. "Any idea how we can deactivate the shield, Captain?"

  Zhon's voice crackled through the channel. "Not yet. I've had time to run some scans on the devices, but they seem more advanced than anything I've ever dealt with." His tone shifted, becoming slightly edged. "But I'll do my best to assist you from the inside. Just try to buy us some time. Try not to destroy them if you can."

  Roan scoffed. "Easy for you to say. We don't even know what they're able to do yet..." He ran his hands over his face, exhaling heavily. "But fine." He side-eyed Ravine. "Any plans to deal with 'em?"

  Ravine studied the advancing formation. "Well, if they're controlled, that would mean they follow a certain pattern to deal with their threats, right? Right now, they're on the offense. As crazy as it may seem to say, our best bet is to stay neutral and try to corner them. The how is the question, though."

  Before she could elaborate, three smaller androids with metallic human features rolled around the two squads at incredible speed, kicking up a massive screen of sand before rolling back behind their line.

  "Looks like they're getting on the offensive," Roan said, attempting to scan the surroundings. His system detected nothing, and the display became blurry. He groaned. "These bastards were prepared, huh? I can't even detect them with my scanner. Do you see anything, Rav?"

  Before she could answer, an android wielding two daggers materialized behind her. As it thrust the blades toward her back, Ravine dropped to her hands and kicked with both feet, sending the android flying backward. She sprang back to her feet. "It doesn't matter. We do with what we have. Stay prepared."

  Two androids of imposing stature appeared from the air, jetpacks roaring as they split apart. One dove at high speed toward Ravine, the other toward Roan, each wielding a thin blade. Ravine managed to draw her sword just in time, the clash of metal ringing across the dunes. The android had long blonde hair and purple eyes, and as they locked gazes, it smiled.

  "We will have our fun with you," the android said in a monotone voice, "then bring you to Razak ourselves. He wants to deal with you himself."

  Ravine smirked. "So you can talk, huh? I guess you really are an upgrade from the others we dismantled on Earth."

  She pulled back, but the android unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes. It spun at rapid speed, staggering her, and she fell to her knees. The android followed with a devastating kick that sent her spinning across the sand.

  Roan had blocked the strike from his attacker and slammed it to the ground with ease. He started running toward Ravine. "Rav!" But the android on the ground split its limbs and attached them to Roan. He gasped as a powerful gravitational pull pinned him heavily to the sand. He struggled against the force. "What the hell is that? Let me go, you bastard!"

  The android's voice became more metallic. "How about you two stay put? The faster Lord Razak deals with you, the better chances our species will have to survive."

  A female android with silver hair and intense purple eyes approached Ravine. "We don't want to hurt you more than we need, but if you leave us no choice, we will do what must be done. Lord Razak only needs you alive."

  Ravine's eyes widened as she looked at the silver-haired android's face. She looks just like Irene. Her breathing became heavier as she looked down. No. This is not her. Get it together. She shook her head clear and activated her slithering abilities.

  "Sorry," she said, meeting the silver-haired android's gaze before disappearing into the sand, "but too much is at stake right now. You won't get it now, but we're doing this for you."

  She burrowed beneath the surface, rapidly grabbed Roan from underneath, and used her razor-sharp hands to slice through the android parts holding him. She slithered at high speed toward a dune to create distance, then crawled back up with Roan in her arms.

  "Thanks," Roan said, "but you can put me down now. I ain't no baby."

  Ravine smiled. "Embarrassed much?"

  As she dropped him and he dusted himself off, he muttered, "Very."

  Ravine held her ear. "Cap, we need a distraction. Anything you can do?"

  Back at base, Zhon frantically typed on the holographic keyboard. "I might have something for you, but you'll have to make sure it doesn't get destroyed." He swallowed hard. "I managed to repair most of the components of the sentinel we captured, but we'll need it to convert these androids with us. Mother Phoenix can't seem to be able to connect to the signal back at the mining factory we went to. I'll try to do something about it later, but for now, come back to the base and we—"

  The connection cut with a loud screech. The blonde and silver-haired androids appeared before them with a pulsing sound, their facial expressions unreadable.

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  The silver-haired android shook her head. "There is no escape, but you leave us no choice now." She lifted her hand, and from the sky, a rain of laser blasts dropped toward Ravine.

  Ravine grabbed Roan's hand. "Follow me!" In a flash, she activated her slithering abilities and began sliding across the sand, zigzagging left and right to dodge the blasts. One caught her back, making her gasp, but before she could fall, Roan intervened.

  "This might get us in trouble, but fuck it." He activated his bat wings and took to the air, then swooped back down close to the surface, maintaining his speed as fast as he could. "Grah! This is much harder than I expected, but we're almost there—"

  The two androids used their thrusters to dive from above, aiming to pin Roan with their blades. Both spoke in unison: "This is futile."

  Roan dropped Ravine, who recovered mid-air and managed to land safely after touching the sand multiple times before skidding to a stop. She rose to her feet. "Enough of you two! Come at me!"

  The blonde-haired android's expression remained cold. "What happens next is of your doing."

  They both attacked Ravine from opposite directions simultaneously. The silver-haired android stabbed her in the side, but Ravine parried the blonde one and used her razor hands to sever its arm.

  "I'm not going out without a fight," Ravine said through gritted teeth.

  The blonde android lifted its severed arm. The limb reattached to its body. It closed and opened its hand. "All systems operational." With a rapid draw, a flashy red razor-sharp laser blade extended from its arm.

  The silver-haired android gracefully moved beside her partner and snapped her fingers, summoning all the other members of both squadrons.

  "Let us introduce ourselves," she said in a calm voice. "I am Vita, Captain of the 13th Squadron." She bowed briefly.

  The blonde android planted his blade in the sand. "And I am Mors of the 14th Squadron."

  As Roan struggled to his feet, the squadrons instantly dashed to attack. Roan used his armor to block the massive strikes until one of the small androids rolled and hit his leg, dragging him toward a red-haired android whose punch connected with his face. Roan grabbed it and struck it repeatedly. "I've had enough of your bullshit!"

  Ravine sprinted forward, dodging one strike before another android hit her with its knee, sending her backward. She was struck again from behind by an axe, staggering her. Finally, a massive android three times their size pinned her to the ground.

  Then, a massive sentinel appeared and threw the android away. Digital flames flowed around the sentinel's eyes and head. It blasted multiple cannon shots in rapid fire, dispersing both squadrons.

  Ravine slowly lowered her arms from her face, her eyes widening. "Mother Phoenix?"

  She pulled herself up, then extended a hand to Roan. A calm tone filled her voice. "Up, you two! We still have a mission to fulfill."

  Mother Phoenix's form emerged from the sentinel and merged with Ravine. "Sorry for the wait. This thing was a lot harder to maneuver than expected."

  Ravine smiled as her eyes flashed with fire, and digital wings flowed behind her. "I missed this feeling. Right on time, Kyomi."

  Mother Phoenix coughed. "Right." As the sentinel clashed with the other massive android, she continued, "The ZRX model will serve as a good distraction, but on my signal, I'll need you to make contact with its head. Do you think you can do it?"

  Ravine nodded as the two captains recovered and stood.

  Mother Phoenix spoke into Ravine's mind. "Now that you're stronger, let me show you what the two of us can accomplish together."

  Mors approached Ravine slowly, his laser blade still extended, grazing the sand as his white cloak flowed in the wind.

  "You never experienced having the full power of your skill tree unlocked, did you?" Mother Phoenix asked.

  "Not really," Ravine replied. "After Earth, there hasn't been any way to get more."

  "I think you're ready now."

  A massive pulse of energy surged through Ravine. Her system announced: "Skill tree completed!"

  "All this power at once... it feels good," Ravine said.

  "Have fun," Mother Phoenix said, "but remember, we need them."

  Ravine nodded as she materialized her blade. The system continued its announcements: "INFINITY SLASHES UNLOCKED. MERCILESS STRIKES UNLOCKED. OVERDRIVE EX UNLOCKED. FLASHSTEP UNLOCKED. HIDDEN SKILL UNLOCKED: HUMILIATING ILLUSION."

  "What's that?" Ravine asked.

  "A little bonus," Mother Phoenix replied.

  Ravine took her blade and positioned it under her armpit. Mors stood before her, his blade at her neck. "Surrender now!"

  With blazing digital flames, Ravine disappeared, then reappeared behind Mors and stabbed him in the leg, making him bend slightly. "I think not."

  She disappeared again and used her flash steps to slash through the horde of Squadron 13, slicing their legs with incredible speed. Roan watched in awe as traces of digital flames lingered in the air while she continued her assault.

  Ravine glanced at the sentinel, still trading blows with its opponent. Squadron 14 tried to jump on her simultaneously. She placed one hand on the sand, and in the blink of an eye, multiple slashes appeared on the androids, blowing them back.

  One android managed to evade and dropped down on her position, brutally stabbing downward. Ravine appeared behind it. "What are you aiming at?" She stomped it into the ground, and the illusion dissolved instantly.

  "Th-this is amazing!" Mother Phoenix exclaimed.

  "Thank you, Kyomi," Ravine said.

  "Don't thank me yet. The sentinel is just about ready for the linking. On my mark, Ravine—we only have one chance at this. If they figure out why it's here, they'll focus on it and dispose of it immediately."

  Ravine swallowed. "Got it!"

  From afar, Vita stood with her arms crossed, eyes narrowed as she observed Ravine, then Roan, then the ship. "Looks like I will have to intervene after all," she said in a low voice.

  With a snap of her fingers, she appeared at Ravine's ear and whispered, "Whatever it is that you are plotting, I will not let it bloom."

  Ravine used her flash step to create quick distance, but with another snap of Vita's fingers, she closed the gap and appeared directly in front of her.

  "You may flee, but I will always know what you are about to do." Vita leaned inches from Ravine's face, her expression deadpan. "For I was modelled after the you that came out of Earth."

  Ravine tilted her head in confusion. "Huh?"

  Vita lifted her hand, and blasts rained from the sky, hitting the sentinel in the legs and making it fall.

  "No!" Mother Phoenix yelled.

  Vita pulled her cloak aside, revealing mechanical tentacles extending from her body. They pulled her upward, making her float in the air. She extended her arms on each side of her body.

  "Such tricks will not work on me," she declared, "for I am our lord's eyes..."