“Come on, we must keep moving!” Yohan said “Shoot any darker you see, we are not going to be held up by them!”
“Sir, a swarm is beginning to immobilize – satellite feed displays Darker infestation by eighty-thousand and growing; ninety-kilometers ahead southeast.” Purachina calculated
“Great… they are sending a whole damn army. That is near the destination we have to go to; we may have to get our hands dirty after all… can you notify the rest of the brigade of our ‘company’”
“Yes Major…” Purachina started her broadcast, “All personnel of Battalion WOLF – a Darker swarm of eighty-five thousand is approaching eighty-eight kilometers southeast from our destination. Proceed with caution – battle initiatives and data will be set for each battalion via HUD. I repeat…”
As Purachina made the battle report, Kira along with Harken were taking care of their six along with Yohan; Purachina cleared the way by sniping darkers ahead of them; though their materialization made them look on all sides. Fox maintained the unit within keeping their stride going watching for Darkers as they move and Riiko was checking everyone’s vitals in real time to assess quick medical treatment.
Continuing their stride, more and more Darkers appeared around them – Purachina notified with a warning.
“Warning: high levels of Darker photon energy detected – exercise extreme caution. Initiating Code Yellow >> Emergency Code: Attack.”
“Waa, this energy, feels so scary as if death is looking at us…” Riiko said
“Don’t let it get to you; we will make it – I know we will!” Fox reinforced
“Shit, so many of them – why won’t they just stay down!” Harken said
“We cannot lose sight of this; we cannot! Keep your guard up…” Kira responded
“Of course, I will be damned if one of these bugs ever touc--…”
Suddenly Harken tripped over a rock – as quickly as that happened a darker materialized; an El Arda ready to strike its prey. That was until it was showered with bullets by Kira and Yohan. Fox ran in and picked Harken up continuing the momentum – the El Arda fell; dissolving into nothingness.
“Thanks guys…” Harken said
“No thanks needed, we stick together as long as we can – no man left behind…” Yohan declared, “… Everyone, you will get to see your loved ones, keep them in mind; in your hearts!”
The company was motivated as they harkened upon their Major’s words. Purachina made the message live to every other platoon, noting the impact it would have - giving them hope.
Several moments later the battalions have all met up at their checkpoints – a few miles from their destination. Yohan looked around seeing, counting everyone coming up; Purachina helped the process as well as giving the current battle report.
“Battalion: LICHT /WOLF /BLUME. All majors and companies present and accounted for. Minor injury suffered from Company: PHOTON/ PARUM/ MOTAV /RICO /PIONEER /VIPER … Darker swarm of one-hundred fifty thousand is approaching sixty-one kilometers southeast from our destination.”
“Good, nobody perished…” Yohan then turned back; toward the direction they came. “Keghan, what the hell were you thinking using us as bait; you FUCKER!” Yohan cussed, “IS THIS HOW YOU TREAT ALL OF YOUR COMRADES!!”
As Yohan’s scream echoed in the distance – those around him paused; mainly trying to figure why such have happened. Kira then had taken a step toward Yohan, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Major…” Kira looked
Yohan turned to Kira, returning with a smile.
“It’s nothing, I am just glad that you all are safe… that fool doesn’t know how to…”
Before Yohan can complete his statement, Purachina made her approach, asking the question.
“Major, what is our next course of action?”
Yohan turned to Purchina, “Pura, I want you to notify the the other battalion majors to send the medics and officers who had less than six months into the service to wait at the drop zone…”
“Roger.”
After Purachina responded, suddenly, an extreme concentration of Darker photons thickened. The scenery around them literally change into a crimson red laced with violet streams of lighting.
“WARNING WARNING WARNING – ALL BATALIONS INCITATE BATTLE ACTION. CHANGE OVER ++ CODE RED >> EMERGENCY CODE: DUEL”
“Sir now is the time…” Kira yelped
“Yes.” Yohan confirmed, now directing his attention to the company, “EVERYONE EXECUTE FORMATION GEIST -OMEGA!” Yohan expressed
The code beckoned their attention; as the battalions were going to deal with grander Darkers. Kuklundas and Gu Wonda’s manifested – making their path difficult. However, the platoon has dealt with such under a calm that most would not have in such a confrontation.
Dealing extreme blows with pure precision; many more manifested even building an offense of their own despite their ‘brainlessness’. Then a Wolgadah appeared busting through the rocks; a few more appearing after.
“Alright people; get the young safely to that zone – we are not going to let ANY DARKER through!”
Yohan, along with his company kept their focus sharp – a team like none other; WOLF were well known in their tactics and synergy when it came down to taking on a Darker. It was their duty; it is their way as the GUARD to extinguish Darkers in pure prejudice.
Within the situation – it became harder and harder but, none let up, the dropships finally arrived at its destination; picking those whom Yohan told to go. Purachina was given notification of the first group’s safety.
“Sir, eighty percent of our regiment has been retrieved – the second wave is en route.” Purachina said
“Good, tell them to get the hell out of here and don’t look back!” Yohan expressed
“Yes, Major.”
Purachina gave the signal to the ships to launch back into orbit – now the while occupying the rest of the battalion. They have held the perimeter as the darkers were closing in toward the drop site; while their army was fast approaching in Purachina’s calculation.
Coming into the bottle-neck, the second aerial pick-up have arrived – instantly Yohan asked the assessment.
“Purachina, where are the darkers most concentrated…” he said while killing a Wolgahda darker square in the head with his gunslash.
“The concentration is focused around our location – the legion is thirty kilometers away…”
“Okay…” Yohan turned, “… let everyone know now that we are going to break for it…”
“Roger.”
Within the instant Purachina notified them all – and the last were heading toward the ships; that was until.
“DANGER! EXTEREME CONCENTRATION OF DARKER PHOTONS!”
Instantly a large, behemoth-like darker has appeared; cutting Yohan, Kira, and Purachina from the rest of the group.
“A Rigshrayda!” Kira yelled
“Shit!” Yohan expressed
The rest: Harken and Fox have seen the action – the Rigshrayda raised its foot and stomped hard; creating a shock wave displacing the group. Soon after its counterpart, Zeshrayda materialized behind Kira.
“AOOORRROOOOUUUU~” it cried
As soon as Kira looked back, the Zeshrayda was ready to strike her, Yohan seen this while he was on the ground; eyes dilated as he now can only see Kira – and made it his mission to reach her.
“KIRRRAAAAAAAAAH!”
Yohan instantly got up, rushing with in-human speed, utilizing his momentum to enhance his Photon Art: Impact Slider. His determination was much like a bolt of lightning as he slid; his belief was to save her – his belief was in her for change and he couldn’t let that end by the damned Darker. Before Kira can even react, Yohan already closed in, pushing her out of the way with the light kick of his foot.
*BOOOM*
“MAJOR!” the group yelled
Kira now on the ground, and was the last one to see what has happened. Yohan, after his effort, was now crushed under the sole of Zeshrayda. Within that instant, Kira stared in helplessness, stared in an unbridled rage.
“Y-YOHAAAAAN!” she yelped
After Kira’s cry, Darker elites have appeared, Goldrahda’s appeared running toward the ships. However the two – Harken and Fox already started to engage.
“You sons of bitches YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE US. HUUUHHAAAA!!”
Harken expressed as he started to unleash the fury of his Red Scorpio – Fox along with him was acrobatic with her Guld & Milla in accuracy squaring with many as she downed them; using it’s explosion to kill the others.
As for Kira, darkness loomed, the display before her was not going to leave – the image kept repeating and repeating for it was one that she have cared for deeply. In her rage, justice was the only answer, in that – only one sound made the field silent.
“HHUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!”
Eyes tempered by her fire – Kira rushed the very Zesh that stood on Yohan’s body; scoping its shin as she unleashed her fury. Her photon’s, much like how Yohan used to save her, enhanced her volley output as it ladled Zeshrayda’s shin with holes. Within proximity, Kira switched to her blade – the katana, ultimately breaking its shell.
Zeshrayda lost its balance; Kira used the lean to her advantage as she ran up its body – now atop its neck. The others tried looking in her direction but, still had darkers to deal with themselves – though the instant was short for Kira preformed her technique as she raised her blade.
“Asagiri…”
Then, like a blur, her arms moved at a rapid rate – “… RENDAN!!”
During this performance, the Zeshrayda’s nape was being sliced, the final blow ultimately decapitating it. Zeshrayda began to fall slowly; Kira stood on the tip of its shell – eyeing the other with bitterness.
Rigshrayda’s attention was affixed on Kira – she have used the moment to elevate herself toward it; utilizing her photons in the technique – vanishing like a ghost. Only to reappear before the Rigshrayda’s very face – about to preform her technique yet again; then she called out to her servant.
“Purachina!!” Kira yelped
And just like that – Purachina followed suit as she exposed the weak-point of the behemoth. Kira closing in to lay the final blow – with lateral, diagonal, and horizontal cuts; the Rigshrayda’s head was minced – pieces falling toward the ground. As it was falling back, Kira landed on its shell, following the momentum as it brought her back to ground level.
Dissolving back into the darkness it came; the other’s made their approach to Kira.
“Kira! Are you okay?!” Fox exclaimed
“We have taken care of the wave that just arose – everyone else is on the dropship; the only one left is you and Pura to go.” Harken said
Kira have said nothing, her eyes spoke volumes; and her voice even more so.
“I am staying – here…” she said
“Kira, you can’t…” Fox concerned
“Yeah, I know you are a bad ass but, you know you cannot remain here any…”
Before Harken can finish, Kira let her expression be known.
“I SAID I AM STAYING HERE – HAVE YOU TWO FORGOTTEN ALREADY! NO MAN LEFT BEHIND. YOU TWO GO – YOUR WORK HERE IS DONE!!”
“But, captain…” Fox
“THAT IS AN ORDER! THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY MORE DEATHS!” Kira then looked down, “Please… just go – your words cannot convince me at this point. Let me be…”
The two looked at Kira, knowing good and well that the death of Yohan weighed heavy on her – their silence made Kira speak more.
“Go now… I will kill every last darker – I will not let any of them through…”
After that Kira turned toward Yohan’s direction – his body lifeless on the ground; with another word in mind.
“Pura…”
Before Kira can even finish, Purachina had her own words.
“Master, my obligation is with you, no matter how irrational it is. My duty is to stay with you…” she said
Kira lent a smile after the comment.
“Of course…”
Kira started walking toward Yohan, Purachina followed suit but, before they were out of proximity – she turned giving her thanks to Harken and Fox.
“I want to thank you soldiers for helping Kira – she appreciates your service as much as our late Major had. Please inform the president – the data you possess is enough to explain the actions here.”
Purachina then bowed.
“Thank you again.”
After that, Harken made sure the rest were secured – after making the rounds; the two, Harken and Fox looked back at Kira. Kira kept her focus on Yohan – with the dropship now going into orbit; Kira and Purachina were the last ones left. That was until:
“Couggh-ahhaaahg…”
Kira surprised by the sudden resurrection.
“Y-YOHAN!!”
Kira ran over to his side, now kneeling on the ground as she raised his head. Yohan opened his eyes slowly, only to see the deep blue ones looking back at him.
“K-Kira…” Yohan spoke, “…is that you?”
“Yes Yohan, it’s me…” Kira said, pulling out a few mates to inject into him, “… everything is going to be alright.”
As Kira was doing so, Yohan gained some of his consciousness back, coughing a few more times.
“I see… but, what you did – it’s stupid; you shouldn’t have stayed behind…” Yohan said
“Shut up, you know who I am, this is my choice…” Kira responded as she was bandaging him up
“Women… always so persistent…” Yohan then became silent.
Both Kira and Purachina noted his silence – Kira felt a bit embarrassed but, returned the same statement to him.
“Takes one to no one – you didn’t have to save me back there… else. This was my fault.”
As Kira looked to the side, Yohan brought her face back with his left.
“Much like you, that was my choice, either you or me; and I rather not see you get injured by such a bastard. Which by the way you handled well...”
Kira was shocked but, not so surprised in Yohan’s observation and insight – he continued.
“Actually I am glad, that you stayed; for I have one last card to play – and I need you for it…”
Kira’s grew curious to what Yohan meant; he look toward Purachina.
“Bring her down.” Yohan said
As ordered, Purachina held her arm out, just like that the photon particles started to manifest a solid object – oval shaped and a meter in its length; Kira realized this to be a bomb.
“Yohan, when did you plan to?”
“For moments like this, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time.” Yohan said, “However, this is a special weapon – it cannot be activated by anyone; only by those whose DNA can be recognized…”
With the explanation, Kira already realized it; Yohan confirming it.
“Yes, as you already figured, this bomb would only activate with our signatures – all we have to do is…”
“Touch it, simultaneously…” Kira finished.
Before Yohan can say anything else, Purachina gave the report.
“Darker swarm closing in at twenty-one kilometers…”
“We don’t have enough time, activate it now Kira!”
Within the instant, both Yohan and Kira touched the device, suddenly it started glowing. As the two looked, Yohan started to speak.
“Kira, listen carefully…”
Kira gave her attention to him, “What is it Yohan?”
“The ARKS – as we know, I feel is corrupt. We were sent here to die for a reason I came late to grasp, however, YOU must live on.”
Kira was shocked to hear his words, “Yohan, what do you mean? What is so important about me?”
Yohan smiled at her timidness, but answered, “I felt, I’ve always felt; in my heart that you can bring anew to the ARKS…”
Kira’s attention was fully affixed to Yohan and he continued.
“As the GUARD, we are loyal, loyal to the people we protect – under the guidance of law… However, this law is either misinterpreted or completely ignored…”
Yohan paused, and then he continued.
“Thus resulting in casualties like these – we may have been fortunate but; what about those poor souls still riding blindly – realizing the truth at the moment of their death…”
Yohan then raised his hand – within the instant Kira grasped it; the two looked into each other’s eyes deeply.
“That is why, my last order…” Yohan shook his head, “… my last wish to you as a friend, is…”
Yohan continued.
“To bring the LIGHT back to the ARKS! RETURN LAW AND ORDER AND PUNISH THE WICKED UNDER THE LIGHT!!”
Kira’s eyes widened, her hands tightened in reaction to his words.
“You truly believe this? Believe in me? Yohan?” she asked
Yohan chuckled, “Of course, there is no other person I can think of who has the amount of care for her people as much as you Kira.”
Out of that, Kira’s eyes glassed – her first time expressing a deep emotion with anyone; before she could say anything else.
“Darker swarm enclosing – ten kilometers… engagement is imminent…”
As Purachina voiced – Yohan and Kira’s attention was to the approaching noise; then Yohan gave one last order.
“Execute Protocol: YAMANAKA KIRA – 01007!”
To her surprise, Kira was grabbed by Purachina – her cast strength holding tightly.
“Go now, hurry while you still have the time!”
Instantly Purachina started running in the opposite direction – in reaction Kira held her toward the Yohan direction; reaching out for him.
“Yohaaaan! No please, we can go together! Let US bring the ARKS back!”
Yohan replied, “Kira! It is okay, I already did my part – the rest is up to you; IT IS YOUR DESTINY!”
With his final strength, he got up on his own feet, giving the salute in his pride for the ARKS; in Kira.
“YOU ARE THAT BEAM OF LIGHT IN BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS!! YAMANAKA KIRA – LIVE FOR THE PEOPLE!!”
Just before they two vanished into the distance – Kira let out her last in her own weakness.
“YOOOOOHAAAAAAAAAN!!”
-End Chapter 4.1-
Ghost Memories
Originally Posted by AIDA
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