The machine was floating like the others, but instead of some sort of propulsion system, this one seemed to float using odd green particles that seem to be produced from its own body. This one’s body was mostly green in color with white centered on the legs and arms; the most interesting feature was its face. The crest was shaped in a V-like configuration and the mouth was white with two horizontal stripes across and topped with a red chin-protrusion. In its arms was a rifle most likely used for sniping; which would explain how the other machines did not see what had hit them by a long shot. The final oddity between this machine and the rest was that this one seemed almost twice the size of her attackers.
The green and white mech landed on its feet, a loud hissing sound followed as a hatch on its upper chest opens up and a crane-like device pops out with a tow-winch equipped with a foothold. The pilot wearing a flight suit of similar colors to his machine climbs out and gets on the tow-winch and begins to lower himself to the ground level. Between the dark of the night and the fact his helmet faceplate was polarized she could not see his face as he reached ground level.
“Are you alright Miss?” He asks in a polite concerned tone, professional yet he was not devoid of compassion. He did not advance toward her, nor did he draw the side arm that could be seen on his hip.
After taking a few moments to gather her wits the girl responds. “I-I think so, uh w-who are you?”
The pilot now approaches her in a none-threatening manner. “I’m the guy who sniped those guys that torched this town and were about to kill you, do you have a name? For that manner, just what the hell happened here?” Upon seeing she was hesitant he reaches for a hidden switch on the side of his helmet which undoes the polarization the face cover allowing her to see him. “See I’m just a normal guy, albeit one with a Gundam.”
She blinks. “Gun-dam?”
He raises an eyebrow. “You’ve never heard the term before?”
“The only humanoid mecha I’ve heard of are Knightmare Frames.”
“Knightmare Frames?” The man asks now very puzzled himself. “Never heard of em’.”
“I at least assume those were Knightmares but never of the kind I see on TV… I never expected they’d attack here. This district has complied with Britannian occupation laws and rules, why attack us so cruelly?”
“Britannia? You mean Great Britain?”
“Great Britain hasn’t existed since Britannia absorbed it nearly back when the nation formed.” The girl replies as if this was general information.
The pilot rubs the side of his helmet hitting a button which moves the faceplate up fully exposing his face entirely, which he proceed to scratch his cheek softly in thought. “Well that gives credit to Tiera’s wracked theory I guess we aren’t home… then again the Orbital Elevators and space colonies being gone and our link to our bases not functioning was a big hint something screwy was going on.”
The girl can’t help but tilt her head with a puzzled expression, “Orbital Elevators, space colonies, bases? I’m afraid I just don’t follow.”
The pilot adopts a bashful look. “Right, my fault, say let’s start over with names again? I am Lockon Stratos, the man who can snipe beyond the stratosphere.” Then as an afterthought he adds, “Although technically I’m the second man to hold that title.”
After a giggle at his name the girl replies. “My name is Alice, I don’t have a last name anymore given we’re exiled Britannians who are more or less counted as Elevens because of our dishonor.”
Lockon raises an eyebrow. “Wait, you lost your last name over some dishonor?”
“My Father used to be in the royal guards but a failure out casted us.” Alice explains in a more sullen tone as she looks down.
After a moment of silence Lockon then says, “I think my saving you wasn’t coincidence, my friends and I are lost and maybe you can fill us in on this… well this world.”
Alice stares at him oddly yet again. “This… world?”
Activating his helmet faceplate Lockon offers his hand. “I know this is sudden but if you come with me I can take you to my ship. You’ll be safe and we can talk more without worrying about more of those jokers showing up.”
“I-I can’t I still need to find my brother and sister! They were at a friend’s house-“
With a sigh Lockon cuts her off. “Alice, you were the only life sign Gundam picked up within the city.”
“No…”
“Look, maybe they got away a saw a huge convoy of people and some vehicles going that way.” He points to the southern end of the town. “I shot most of the guys trying to wipe them out so they may have a chance, and I really hate to prioritize getting back to my base but the last thing I want to do is risk those assholes coming back and taking us out before I can restart Cherudim. Please Alice.” He asks holding his hand out yet again. “I swear I’ll help you find them, I swear!”
Alice just stares at his hand uncertain.
“I lost my family too, I know the pain, so believe me when I say I’ll help you find them if they’re out there.” Lockon urges sincerely.
While young at only fourteen years old, Alice could see the sincerity in the man’s eyes and accepts his hand. “Okay, Lockon.”
Smiling in an assuring manner; Lockon leads Alice to the tow-cable leading up to the cockpit of the Gundam. With one arm tight around the girl he activates the winch which pulls them up from the ground to the top of the Gundam’s chest, and after climbing in first Lockon helps Alice into the slightly cramped cockpit.
“Who’s your friend Lockon?! Who’s your friend Lockon?!” A mechanical pitched voice chirps.
Alice yelps, startled by the voice which was coming from the round orange ball-like robot sitting in a round holding cup before the controls. “W-what is that?”
“Oh that’s Haro, he’s my partner.”
“Pleased to meet’cha! Pleased to meet’cha!” Haro chirps energetically.
“He is very cheerful… and cute.” She admits the last part, a smile adorning her face as her shock leaves her.
“Aw shucks! Aw shucks!”
“Blush later Haro, and fire up Cherudim! We’re heading back to the Ptolamy.”
“Right-O! Right-O!”
Looking at Lockon Alice asks. “Is Cherudim the name of your Gundam?”
“Yep, and don’t ask me about the name I didn’t come up with it.” The man chuckles as the systems activate lighting up the cockpit as he gripes the control sticks. “Alright let’s move on out!”
As the Cherudim Gundam lifts off, Alice looks down at her hometown for the last nearly eight years. Now a smoldering ruin, it was never a very beautiful district given its semi-ghetto status since the occupation but it was home.
And now she was flying off inside a giant robot, off to who knows where.
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(Posted Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:40)
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