Chapter 31: Flight to Catch

  The bright light faded, revealing Ravine with digital phoenix wings and glowing orange eyes. She floated in the air.

  "Flashy much?" Roan said. "I hope that thing's temporary. This is not it!"

  Ravine chuckled. "Remind me not to help you if you get beat up."

  Zhon approached with his mech. "Get ready, they're coming. I'm stressed, though—this is my first real fight."

  "Follow our lead. You will be fine," Irene said. She turned to Ravine. "Are you ready for battle?"

  Ravine smiled. "We are about to find out."

  The loud rumbling grew as the androids climbed the building at high speed.

  "We will split into two teams," Irene commanded. She pointed at Zhon. "You will be with me." She turned to Roan and Ravine. "You two will be together."

  Roan crossed his arms as he opened his wings and floated next to Ravine.

  Irene's eyes narrowed. "Here they come."

  About thirty androids that looked nearly identical to them approached in coordinated formation. The floor beneath them began to crack under the weight and movement.

  Irene looked at Zhon with a knowing expression. He nodded and took flight at full speed as Irene ran toward him beneath the crumbling floor. Just as it gave way under her feet, he grabbed her.

  "I got you. Come on, let's bring these bastards elsewhere."

  Irene nodded and immediately started swinging at the incoming enemies, stabbing one through the chest before throwing the body toward a group of three androids.

  "If we want a good chance at beating them, we have to do it now and fast. The longer we take, the stronger these bastards will get."

  An android from a distance began shooting energy blasts from its arms in quick succession. Irene activated her electricity powers.

  She looked down at Zhon. "Thank you for the upgrade. I don't feel the drawbacks anymore."

  Zhon nodded. "Just don't take too long. I wouldn't want to have to do all that rewiring again. Remember, I gave you more resistance but cut down on your reflexes."

  Irene began dodging the blasts mid-air with intense speed, then used a wall to boost herself toward the shooting android. It managed to graze her side, throwing her off course and causing her to crash into a pillar. She quickly recovered, sprinted up, and pierced it through the chest before throwing it out through the shattered floor. She used the shards of glass, infusing them with electricity, as projectiles.

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  Four others attacked her, but Zhon tackled them with his mech and threw a plasma net, trapping them against the wall.

  "They're all yours, Captain."

  Irene charged up, growing electric claws and canine-like feet and tail, her eyes glowing yellow. She ran on all fours and, with one strike, chomped them in half.

  "Who's next?" She looked at the remaining androids on her floor.

  Meanwhile, Roan and Ravine continued their own battle. Roan used his sniper to provide covering fire while Ravine used her Razor Arms and slithering abilities to create a hole beneath the androids. They all escaped in time—none fell through.

  "Damn it, they're not as dumb as the other ones I faced earlier," Ravine muttered.

  "I'm kind of glad they are," Roan said. "If they're supposed to be our upgraded models, I would expect no less. Because if not, that means that Razak dude thinks we are worthless."

  Ravine smirked. "You will regret those words in a few seconds."

  Roan looked at her, puzzled. "What do you mean by tha—"

  An android with a giant metallic hammer slammed him down, sending him crashing. Before impact, he spread his wings and stopped the fall.

  "You are so not funny," he said, holding his head.

  "I thought it was," Ravine replied, soaring upward and clashing with an android wielding two katanas. "I see why you like flying so much. It's fun." She kicked and broke the android's guard, took its katana, and shoved it through its throat. As it fell, she took the other blade and severed its head.

  "I just wish they at least had a personality, you know? This would have saved us so much time."

  Roan unleashed a barrage of missiles, spreading the crowd. "I think that's the point, Rav."

  He sniped an android through the smoke, then turned and blocked an invisible android using his dagger. He pushed it back and fired his shotgun through its torso, reloaded, then shot again, making the android fall.

  He flew up outside and saw another batch of androids approaching at high speed. "Shit," he muttered. He flew to Ravine. "There's no end to them! There's more coming!"

  "Let's go back to the others quick!"

  As they reached the others, Roan said, "What should we do, Captain? There's more coming, and the way this is going, I don't know if we can take them all."

  Irene looked at the incoming androids emerging from their pods, then at the departing ship. "I see what his plan is. He's trying to have us die here. At least four of those ships came so far and left, and they keep on coming."

  "What do you suggest?" Ravine asked, crossing her arms.

  "Same plan—we stay split. However, you and Roan will leave this planet using one of those ships." She pointed at the massive vessels.

  Ravine stepped back. "Absolutely not! Are you out of your mind? You can't take all of them on your own!"

  "Relax, they're not as strong as they look. You see that pile over there?" She gestured at the bodies. "I could do this all day, so please—use us as distractions and make it to those ships. Zhon and I will clear a path for you and keep them from coming after you." She tapped Ravine's shoulder. "This is my promise as your captain."

  "Even if we make it there, we still don't know how to start those things, remember? That's Zhon's thing," Roan pointed out.

  Zhon chuckled. "If it comforts you, I have no idea how those would work either, but I will admit it will definitely take you longer to figure it out without me. You'll be fine. Plus, we have your extra mech, Roan. If stuff gets tough, I can hack it and remote control it. We'll be fine. Besides, I've taken a liking to this whole fighting thing. These mechs are amazing!"

  Ravine sighed. "I guess we don't have a choice then, but I swear, you better make it out alive, or I will give you the ugliest models possible to rebuild you with."

  Irene laughed. "Deal. Now let's go get these bastards. You have a flight to catch."