Chương 31: Ch. 29 - Escalating Conflict

A number of thoughts circled my head. All of them major what-ifs. If they were stronger than us, we had to rely on more numbers. They had at least three in their squad so one extra person may or may not make a difference. However, to that argument, Luna wasn't a good enough pilot yet for these kinds of fights. She was last in her class for her pilot ability after all. If we were roughly the same level in equipment, I could probably take them one on one.

When you're constantly doing mock battles and sims against the best, then the confidence naturally comes with it. The instructors said that pilots like me were rare. But pilots like Ania didn't exist. I hated that. I had to stop. I wasn't sim dueling Ania or my classmates. This was for real. This was life or death. A panic rose through me as the cold calculations of self preservation clicked in my head. These people were opting for cold blooded murder. A thought crept through my mind.

We could just leave, buy an exit and head back home. Report Hernando and his squad. I quickly dismissed that idea. We couldn't leave Jeromy. We couldn't leave Ilonar and her daughter and grandchildren. There was more to this place than even the instructors knew. More to the dungeon. What struck me as strange was that it was only one person doing the shouting. Second, I couldn't help but notice that the repair drones were not turned on with the scuffed up Frames of SunEater squad.

Alarm bells were ringing in my head that, just maybe, I was wrong about who the real threat was.

"Luna, earlier you said, SunEater was a three man squad. But they stopped taking rookies. Was the rookie the third?" I asked across the room.

"I don't see how that-" stammered Luna.

"Its important," I said.

"Um, yeah. I think the rookie was always the third, so I guess they are a two man squad now."

"And earlier, they said they picked up Hernando from a different squad… Did you get any details about it?"

"Hernando said his squad was wiped out…" The hairs on the back of my neck were up from the chill that raked across my back. How would they have known about this place? Did they port here? No… They were on tracks, they didn't port straight to a hangar. But why would they be inside here? Another cold thought ran through my head. To get us to trust them. There was a hum from above. It was distant but it was there. Like an old school plane flying by. Lixana burst through the door.

Her bleach white hair and delicate features were stern and serious. She grabbed one of the vases and tossed it over her shoulder.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"It's the goblinoids. They are doing a fly-by," she said.

"I need to take this over to the manor." She was gone before I could offer help. A new sound filled the air. A stillness that I couldn't explain. The hum went away and the air stopped blowing from outside. I peeked my head outside to see a bubble surrounding the settlement. It reminded me of Phil's shield, just on a larger scale.

"What's that?" I asked.

"A mana shield," said Yula.

"It needs an operator. Mom is probably outfitting all the settlement citizens with rifles."

"What?!" I asked.

"Their bombs won't hit the town. It stops kinetic energy to a point. But if the descent is slow enough, it can pass through. There is about to be a war here." My face went pale. My heart was beating a mile a minute. Caddie reformed into an earring as I looked through a window at the dozens of Elvians gathering around the manor. Including Strentor who was still wearing his Inn keeper clothes. This wasn't supposed to happen so soon. This was supposed to happen in the deeper floors.

Battles spilling outside Frame combat. A chill ran down my spine at the thought of it all.

"Why is this happening? I thought conflict wasn't supposed to happen in settlements on the third floor."

"It would appear the reset changed that," said Caddie.

"We are currently on 19 resets since humanity was first registered as a new species for the Cradle."

"And each reset brought the conflict up one floor…" I trailed off.

"I see. And right on time for what's outside." The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"My apologies. I have been given a strike. I am not at liberty to say more." Squeals from above ceased with a thud. Whistling sounds ended soon after they started. Each thud an explosive hitting the shield. But there were no explosions, yet. My gaze went back to the window as the Elvians armed themselves with what looked like ornate sticks. They slung it around their back and marched towards alleyways for a defensible position. In that moment, Palina burst through. Followed close behind by Quinton and Felicia.

My body went immediately stiff.

"How much longer, Mom?" She asked.

"Soon," said Yula.

"Great, cause we need you."

"I know." Palina went to grab another vase when she pointed at the SunEater squad.

"They said they know you," said Palina.

"Said they can help get you guys out to safety to help with the quest you guys have."

"I just assumed they had one!" corrected Quinton.

"Why would they stay here otherwise!" Felicia had her arms crossed, guarding the door. Palina was about to head outside, when I pulled on her shoulder. She lowered the vase.

"Jeromy. He got stabbed but he's healing," I said. My eyes were clocked on Quinton. He stepped closer but I cut him off.

"So he's alive?"

"Yeah. He's alive. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that?"

"Of course not." He threw his arms up in the air and took a step back.

"We're all friends here." Luna took a wary step away, closer to Palina. Jeromy stirred. Felicia's eyes darted as she took a step towards the door.

"He's lying," said Palina, the runes on her face lighting up.

"We're not all friends here." Quinton's eyes narrowed at the Elvian girl.

"Felicia. I think we should leave," said Quinton.

"Where are you going?" I asked. Quinton shrugged.

"You're not the first that's too smart for their own good. You won't be the last. In a few moments everyone here will be dead. You and this girl will be dead. Luna, you can come if you want. Or leave. It doesn't matter. I had hoped to do this clean and you would just hand the invitation, but we can fish it out all the same." He turned to the door and held onto the door frame, a smile forming on his lips.

"Oh, and give my best to Jeromy. If it's any consolation to him, you know, before he turns to red mist, Jeromy's squad leader, the one who stabbed him. He's dead. He was a loose end and I took care of him. Murder amongst us, it should be honorable, two knights dueling. Not a blade in an alley." He tapped the wall twice and they darted out. Luna stopped me before I could chase after them.

"Stop!" she held me back, pushing on my chest.

"What are you going to do? They have killed before. They have clearly done this before. You're a kid who can pilot. Stick to your strengths."

"But they can't get away with this, Luna!" I screamed.

"How long?! How many?! Enough of us die in here to be turning on each other!" Rage filled every word that left my lips. They didn't attack us in here because of Palina. If we chase them now, what could we hope to do? We could rally others, but if they are beelining to their mechs, we'd never catch them before they entered. They couldn't go anywhere, but they didn't have to. Worst case scenario, they could just leave. I pulled all my frustration into my fist and slammed it against the wall.

Blood trickled down my knuckles in frustration. They shook with so much anger, I didn't feel them hurt.

"Right now," said Luna, pulling me back.

"Right now, we can help them defend themselves. Then, we can just leave."

"But what about them?!" I pointed at Yula and Palina.

"They don't have that luxury." My voice softened with realization.

"They can't leave. Then there's Jeromy. The water filters. We can't just leave. We have to fight." Jeromy stirred awake. Grunting as he peeled his eyes open. All the tension in my body faded for a moment. Relief that my friend was still breathing made the adrenaline of the moment flush away. The anger that coursed through my bloodstream, was let out with a grateful exhale. His accent reminiscent of his parents, who were descendants and kept the Earthern Australian accent. It was always fun to hear.

"What'd I miss?" He asked, leaning up. Yula's glowing hands returned to her side and she drank another sip from the bowl just beside her.

"Hey, man," I said, forcing a smile.

"You enjoy your nap?"

"Come off it," he joked.

"I'll have you know, I was gravely injured with a blade the size of a horse weiner. Honestly, I'm just glad they didn't hurt my face too bad."

"What are you talking about? If anything you look better than before." He got to his feet, wobbled before putting a hand on the table, pushing it as he steadied himself.

"I look better? I've always been handsome. Maybe now your mom will see me for the man I am," he smirked as he hobbled to me. I threw my arms around him in a hug.

"I'm glad you're alive," I said.

"Me too. That would've sucked. I can't become your step-dad if I'm dead." I punched his arm and he let out a yelp.

"Well if your mouth still works that good. We have a problem."

"I was stabbed, Stefo. Damn right we have a problem." I stepped to the side and extended an arm for an introduction.

"First, this is Luna. She's the vanguard. Though she's in a beast Frame. Don't ask."

"I won't. She's lovely. Pleasure," said Jeromy, taking her hand to shake it.

"Uh, hi," she said.

"So what's the problem?" asked Jeromy.

"There is one more," I said, tapping my earring.

"I have a companion." Jeremy raised his brows in surprise. Caddie formed into it's base form.

"Greetings," said Caddie.

"I am known as Caddie. My father and I-""Nope!" I interrupted.

"Still not your dad."

"Aww," said Jeromy.

"I see the resemblance."

"Shut up you!" I snarled.

"I liked you better when you were dead."

"Ouch. Words hurt you know," said Jeremy, holding back a grin.

"So… the trouble?" asked Luna.

"Oh right. Trouble," I said. More bombs hit the shield. Some exploded with a distant "BANG." Like debris hitting the Bastille. Or rain hitting a ceiling. The sound traveled around us.

"That." I said pointing up.

"Never a dull day with you, Stefo," said Jeromy.

"We fighting my old squad and their new friends."

"Pretty much."

"Then I'm in. They won't know what hit them."