《We Are Humans》Chapter 24 More Than Flesh & Blood
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Chaotic flames run rampant on the battlefield, littered with destroyed scraps of metal and snow stained black and blue from machine fluids. The two final droids at the base of the mountain fight tirelessly as they try their best to withhold the swarm of machines, slowly being pushed back by the overwhelming force. Few of the machines make it past them heading straight for the remaining humans at the base of the mountain. Harper stretches his arms out as he steps in front of everyone, nervously sweating as the machines violently charge towards him.
Harper: "Stay behind me, everyone!"
Scrap leaps over Harper, ruthlessly attacking the machines. The machines however easily defend themselves from Scrappy's savage bites, eventually retraining her. However, one of the old droids, with a dismembered arm and half of its face missing blasts a hole in the skull of one of the Anderthals and pulls the other off of Scrappy, forcing its one rusted arm in the machine's mouth, releasing a blast in its throat, blowing its head off of its shoulders. Scrappy gets back up and drags the last one to the ground, ripping it apart with her titanium jaws.
The old droid quickly turns its attention back towards the overwhelming swarm. Harper panting heavily as he exhales from relief, glances upwards to the top of the mountain, watching as the lift gets closer to the top.
Harper: "Great, Jaz and the others are almost to the top... Now we just have to wait for the lift to make its way back down... Just hold out for a little more droids..."
At the top of the mountain, Caesar and Robin fight against the Assassin machines, who are effortlessly overpowering them. Caesar brutishly slashes his flaming blade, attacking the assassins relentlessly, unable to land any successful blows due to the machines easily dodging his swift strikes.
Robin: "It is as if they are predicting your every move, Caesar..."
Caesar: "They're assassin bots... They must have been watching us for a while, calculating and analysing our capabilities..."
Assassin 03: "We have been watching you for some time on this island, of that you are correct. But an analysis of a useless, lowly machine with some great steel parts, wielding its weapons like a naturally made amateur? There's simply no need, now let me show you, what a true assault machine is capable of"
The assassin machine signals the others to step back, as it prepares its attack against Caesar. Caesar stands firm, with his guard up, holding the blade with one arm across his face and chest while his other arm, rests behind his back "Pzzzzzzzzzztt". He then quickly draws the rifle he took from the Anderthal guard fully charged and rapidly fires it at the machine. "PEW! PEW! PEW! PEW!"
The assassin machine leaps in the air, dodging all of Caesar's fire and lands on top of Ceasar, holding his outstretched arm in a joint lock. Assassin 03 flips its body over, throwing Caesar off balance. Robin swiftly rushes in to help, hesitantly swinging the sword in her hand at the machine. But Assassin 03 twists its lower torso around, kicking the blade out of Robin's hands while it jabs its arm into Caesar's shoulder. "THUNK!" The sound of heavy metal hitting the wet floor echos out as Caesar right arm drops.
Assassin 03: "Shiny steel parts are useless if you can't defend them. Impenetrable armour means nothing if it can be easily taken away"
Caesar quickly shoves the assassin off of him and grabs his arm off of the floor as he jumps back.
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Caesar: "We have to be careful Robin. These machines are different from any other bounty hunters we've encountered before"
Robin: "Yes, they're better. But so are we"
Meanwhile, Zaine and Judy fly over the battlefield, hanging out of the windows of Old Pearl, shooting down the flying Anderthals trying to get to the top of the mountain. "BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!" Zaine reels himself back inside as he notices the chaos unfolding on top of the mountain through the scope of his gun.
Zaine: "I have to go back to Axel and the others on the mountain..."
Judy: "Well I'll drop myself off here Big C, I see Scrap down below. Imma make sure my puppy's all right"
Judy opens the door and drops out of the vehicle, falling down below to the base of the mountain.
Big C: "What should I do in the meantime Z4r0?"
Zaine: "Don't call me that! And I don't know... Fly the car around or something"
Big C: "But I can be of use in this battle"
Zaine: "Yeah... But who will fly Old Pearl? I don't know if you've noticed but there isn't any parking space available in a warzone Big C. We'll be right back, sit this one out"
As Old Pearl flies over the top of the mountain, Jazabelle and her group of humans reach the top. The entire lift shakenly opens its doors to the mass confusion before them. Witnessing the aftermath of the assassin machines' attack. With the Old droids destroyed and laid out on the cold melted snowy landscape, torn in pieces with smoke trails coming from their destroyed bodies. One Old Droid torn in half, sparking and leaking warm black fluids crawls towards the humans in the lift.
Jazabelle: "What happened up here... Where is every one..."
Tahphrah: "The Old Droids... They've been defeated..."
Kelsing: "Do we still even have a chance of getting out of here alive?"
Draton: "AND WHERE IS EVERYONE?!"
Jazabelle: "Alright everyone, calm down. We need to get this lift back to my brother. Quickly, safely make your way down off of the lift"
The Old Droid crawling towards them suddenly lifts its head up to Jazabelle and points in the distance, showing her just ahead of them, Robin, Caesar and the last two remaining old droids fighting against the assassin machines.
Old Droid: "T...He... The... Others... Th... Tha...That way"
"ZZzzzSwiiip" A thin laser pierces the old droid's head in a flash. The flickering light in the droids one remaining eye slowly fades away as its rusted body hits the snow.
Jazabelle: " Droid!..."
Jazabelle looks up to the origin of the blast, watching the heat trail flow off of Assassin 23's arm.
Assassin 23: "Assassins... Capture the other humans while we dispose of these useless bots in our way. Assassin 03, enough playing with the scrap, end them now"
Assassin 11, 15, 13 and 17 all rush towards the humans standing in the lift, defenceless and terrified. Caesar tries to stop them but Assassin 03 blocks his path, while the four machines make their way towards the lift.
Jazabelle: "What do we do..."
Drayton: "Close the lift! LET'S GO BACK BELOW!"
Suddenly, Assassin 03 notices a shadow from above. "DADADADADADADADADADADADA!" Zaine comes gliding down from above, ruthlessly bombarding Assassin 03 with devastating gunfire. Assassin 03 quickly jumps away from Caesar and shields itself from the incoming fire.
Assassin 03: "More pesky interference?! Did you notify the entire region of this job 23?"
Assassin 23: "Of course not 03. Wait, Isn't that"
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Zaine lands down beside Caesar, holding a large machine gun in his arms.
Zaine: "Looks like you could use some help Cu... I mean Caesar"
Caesar: "Zaine!"
Assassin 03: " Bounty Hunter Z4r0?!"
Assassin 23: "What are you doing here Hunter Z4r0!?"
Caesar: "Z4r0? Have you adopted a machine's name Zaine?"
Zaine: "No... That's not... Ughh, forget it. No time to explain"
"DADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADA!" Zaine showers Assassin 03 and 23 in the heavy destructive fire.
Meanwhile, the four machines approach the petrified humans, frozen in place from their fear. "BAM! THUNK! BAM! BONK!" Old Pearl comes crashing into the four machines, landing on Assassin 11 scraping across the icescape, burying the machine deep into the ground. Big C steps out of Old pearl, the assassin machine's exposed body twitches under the vehicle, attempting to crawl from underneath it.
Big C: "See Zaine. Parking available right here"
"BOOTOOF!" Big C unloads a very sophisticated looking shotgun. Blasting a hole in the back of the machines skull. The other machines rise to their feet turning their attention to Big C standing between them and the humans.
Assassin 17: "That scrapshit just destroyed Assassin 11"
Big C: "Get behind me, humans. This won't take long"
Assassin 13: "Who does this scrap bucket think it is?! Destroy it!"
The three machines rush Big C, with their steel fist tightly clasped. Big C takes out an electrified revolver and rotates his body in a 360 motion firing the shotgun and revolver simultaneously at the machines approaching him.
Jazabelle: "Quickly everyone! Get out, I have to send this lift back to Harper...!"
Gerthon: "But those machines are fighting right there... What if we get caught in the crossfire?"
Jazabelle: "GET OUT!"
Kelsing: "She's right everyone, her brother is still down there... Our leader... and other families we need to do as the droid said..."
Gerton: "But I'm saying we go back to them! We don't know if the others up here are even still alive anyway!"
Jazabelle pulls a sharp piece of metal from her waist and points it towards Gerton.
Jazabelle: "I said move... Or I'll make you, move. I'm done talking..."
Gerton and the others quickly begin to jump out of the lift, huddling at the edge of the mountain away from the ongoing conflict between Big C and the three machines. Jazabelle quickly slams the button to send the lift back down below and jumps out.
Big C continues his heavy rain of fire at the three machines holding them at bay, until Assassin 15 leaps over to Big C, "SHIIIINNNGGG" releasing a large concealed blade from its arm as it descends from the air. Big C swiftly rolls out of the way, grabbing the machine by its head and rotates his body rapidly, spinning Assasin 15 around in a fast circular motion. The other assassins armed themselves with their weaponised arms and begin firing lasers towards Big C. The constant rotation of his torso blocks each incoming blast with the body of Assassin 15, as his rotation slows down. He places his shotgun on the face of the disoriented assassin "BOOTOOF!"
Big C: "One more down. Two targets remaining"
Assassin 15's headless body dangles lifelessly in Big C's hand.
Assassin 13: "Don't speak lightly of the underworld assassins bot!"
Multiple guns emerge from the back of Assassin 13 as it murderously unleashes its massive firepower on Big C. "PEW!PEW!PEW!TUU!TUU!TUU!BAP!BAP!BAP!VUTOO!VUTOO!VUTOO!BZZzzt!BZZzzt!" Big C slaps an explosive onto the destroyed body of Assassin 15 and throws it towards the incoming barrage. "BOOOOOOM!" A small explosion sends the machines flying backwards, and light smoke clouds the area. Assassin 17 begins to wildly spray fire from his arm through the smoke "PWOOOOOOFFFFF! SSSSSSSSSsssss" The stream of flames finally cease and the smoke begins to clears, "BOOTOOF!" Big C blast Assassin 17's head right off of its shoulders with a point-blank shot. Assassin 17's steel body hits the ground "THUNK!" leaking and sparking as it twitches in the snow. Big C rotates his torso, to face Assassin 13.
Big C: "Next."
Assassin 13: "You're trash. How could you defeat us? I will destroy you even if it cost us a few humans. Doesn't matter we have hundreds more to make up for it"
A row of missiles emerges from Assassin 13's arm aimed directly at the base of Big C's feet. while another explosive rocket emerges from its shoulder and locks onto Big C.
Assassin 13: "First I'll blow that entire part of the mountain away, and then this guided missile will explode your pathetic scraps as you fall. Goodbye trash"
Robin appears behind the assassin and grabs it by the neck, slamming it into the hard frozen ground repeatedly. "BAM! BAM! THUNK! BAM! THUD! BAM! BAM!" Cracking the ice with the machine's face. The metal of Assassin 13's face begins to shatter from the relentless onslaught. As Robin finally stops the brutal attack, holding the machine's head up as its flickering eye drops out of its smashed skull, it glares at Robin.
Assassin 13: "Tr...Aas....hhh...DDeess....#%^DDEE!!*88RORRORYOORRY"
Robin drops the broken machine to the ground, as Big C walks over to her. They both stand over Assassin 13 as it stares up at them with its one remaining shattered eye.
Assassin 13: "SSHHH.... BBOoottt... TTrrAAss..."
"BOOTOOF!"
Big C: "Last target eliminated. Alright humans, follow us. We will take you to the others"
Jazabelle: "You guys go, I have to wait on my brother..."
Kelsing: "It's best we go now Jaz... We can't leave you here alone by yourself amongst this chaos"
Jazabelle: "Just go, I'll be fine"
The humans all follow behind Big C as he gets into Old Pearl and slowly hovers along leading them around the conflict between Caesar and Zaine vs Assassin 23 and 03.
Robin: "Big C, are you sure we should leave that human behind ?"
Big C: "Judy is down below, and should be on the lift on her way up the mountain. So if the human chooses to wait, that is fine. Judy will protect her"
V flies down to Axel among the large group of people, as they travel down the mountain towards the cargo craft at the hover bay of the island.
V: "Get on Axel, let's fly ahead of the group to the aircraft and get the engine running. I could probably bring it to the others so they don't have to descend this entire mountain"
Axel: "You can do that?"
V: "Sure, should be easy. Hop on"
Axel climbs up onto V's bike and they both fly down towards the aircraft.
Assassin 23: "03, finish this and round up the remaining humans. The Ace just notified me that the human cargo transport is almost here. I will go and eliminate the boy called V now before he escapes"
Assassin 03: "Understood"
Assassin 23 sprints away from Caesar and Zaine, following the trail of the humans heading for the aircraft below.
Assassin 03: "I guess playtime really is over now. Prepare to be destroyed"
Assassin 03 then draws two short staffs from its waist, as the tips of the staffs' burst of static and electricity. Radiating immense heat as sparks of flame begin to erupt from it, forming a solid beam of plasma.
Zaine: "Nice light show, bot. I think I'll take those when I'm finished with you"
Assassin 03: "It is a shame Hunter Z4r0. You could have been an assassin, you would have made a great assassin 04. You're not good enough to be my replacement once I've become 01 sadly. Clearly, the stories were exaggerations"
Zaine: "And you would make a great lamp, but you talk too damn much... Too bad right?"
"DADADADADADADADADADADADADAA!" Zaine begins his rain of bullets from his machine gun once again, but this time Assassin 03 easily deals with it by rotating the two staffs, deflecting all of the incoming fire. The machine then leaps into the air with its gyrating plasma beams propelling towards Caesar and Zaine.
Caesar: "Look out Zaine!"
Caesar yanks Zaine back by the collar of his armour, as the Assassin 03 drops down slashing the barrel of the machine gun, like butter carved by a hot knife. The machine then proceeds to spin the two staffs of plasma towards Caesar, carving burn marks into Caesar's body with each brush of its attacks. Zaine unsheathes his sword from his back and slashes at Assassin 03 legs but the machine anticipates his attack and leaps into the air avoiding his strike.
Zaine then throws small pellet looking explosives, exploding in the face of Assassin 03, and then swiftly prepares a strike with his sword as the machine lands. However, Assassin 03 cuts his blade in half with the plasma staff. Caesar then rushes in, striking the metal part of the staff, "SNAP!" snapping it in two. The two ends of the plasma staff fall to the ground, quickly melting into the ice it rests on. Zaine swiftly grabs the two pieces and blocks the attack from Assassin 03 as it tried to attack him with the other plasma staff. Caesar kicks Assassin 03 with brute force in the back away from Zaine.
Zaine: "Use this instead... Fight fire with fire... Plasma with plasma"
Zaine hands Caesar one of the halves of the plasma beam and they both rush Assassin 03 with a flurry of slashes. The assassin machine dodges them fluently, Zaine notices something and immediately halts his assault while Caesar continues. He reaches into his gear belt and whips out a device, shouting to Caesar.
Zaine: "Don't slash! Jab! Jab at em!"
Caesar thrust a powerful jab at the machine, causing it to leap backwards, "TWIIPPP!" Zaine fires a small grappling line to Assassin 03's leg as it leaps back into the air. "TINK! TINK! TINK!" he then throws small explosives at its body attaching them to its side. "BOOM!" The explosion blows away Assassin 03. The sudden blast and the grappling line still attached causes Assassin 03 to lose grasp of the plasma beam, unable to reach it due to the line attached to its leg. Assassin 03 swiftly tries to cut the line but, "TWIIPP! TWIIPP!" Two more hooks retrain the machine's arms to the ground.
Assassin 03: "This can not be happening. You two. A mere bot with shiny armour but no elimination training and an unknown machine rookie bounty hunter, only just rising to fame?! Stop me?! The number 3 of the elite underworld assassins?!"
Zaine: "You're right... we have defeated you. But you are wrong about one thing... And I'm sorry to add insult to injury... In fact no I'm not. But I'm no machine... You not only were stopped by a mere rookie as you put it but by a human"
Assassin 03: "A human?! You. Z4r0 are a human?!"
Zaine and Caesar walk over to the retrained machine yanking on the wires pinning it down to the ground. Zaine holds the plasma beam to the machine's face.
Zaine: "Yes a mere human is about to destroy you, useless number 3. And it's Hunter Z"
Assassin 03: "NOOOO!"
Zaine and Caesar both slash the machine, slicing its head and torso in half simultaneously.
Zaine: "Well, let's go meet up with the others. How do you turn this thing off? I guess I'll leave that to you"
Zaine holds the other half of the staff out to Caesar, realising he is unable to grab it since he only has one arm.
Zaine: "Oh right... You're missing an arm. Oh, there's Big C over there... Big C! Turn these things off"
Caesar fiddles with the one in his hand and eventually disperses the plasma radiating from the tip of the broken staff.
Caesar: "Ah that is how you simply"
Zaine: "Yeah, yeah, you do it, anyway hurry it up we gotta get to Axel"
Back at the island's hover bay, V and Axel land next to the snow-covered hovercraft.
V: "Seems like these bad boys haven’t been used in a while. Hopefully, one of them still flies"
V quickly hops off of his hoverbike and rush into one of the aircraft. Axel then scoots forward on the bike, grabbing hold of the throttles and imagines himself flying it. Suddenly, Assassin 23 lands down just beside him. Exploding the snow and ice beneath it from its impact, knocking Axel off of the hoverbike hitting his head. Axel holds his head as it begins to bleed after his fall from the bike.
Assassin 23: "I've come to eliminate you, the boy called V. Come out of the aircraft and face your destruction valiantly"
V Hear's the machine outside of the aircraft and peeps out of a window to witness it standing just beside the disoriented Axel.
V: "Shit... Kid..."
Assassin 23: "Come out V, I have been instructed to record your death. Specifically, painfully killing you, watching as the life leaves your pathetic human body. For the attack on the underworld rulers base"
V: "What?! I didn't attack any base!"
Assassin 23: "Unfortunately it does not matter if you are innocent or not. The order has already been given. And your death has come for you today. Come out or I will slowly kill this child out here instead. Very slowly, the underworld rulers would enjoy that as well I'm sure"
Assassin 23 grabs Axel from the ground and holds him up to the sky as it releases sharp-bladed claws from its arm "SNNIKKT!"
V: "Alright! Alright! Don't hurt the kid..."
V slowly begins to walk out of the aircraft.
Axel: "No... V! Don't do it... Leave me behind. Go and save the others!"
Axel wriggles out from the machine's grasp and grabs his blade from his back. Pointing it towards Assassin 23.
Axel: "I will hold him off V... Go save the others"
Assassin 23: "You humans always do amaze me with your pitiful, pathetic efforts. Thinking you, who are but a human can stand up to a machine. Even a mere droid barely held together by scraps is far superior to that of a human. You are no more than flesh and blood. A pathetic being, inferior to us machines. Birthed in our image, but are nothing like us, just weak and fragile"
V: "Birthed in your image?! Are you delusional?!"
Axel: "V! Just go!"
V: "No kid... I can't leave you behind... And fuck this piece of shit machine!"
"VUUUuuuu TUU! TUU! TUU!" V fires three blasts from his rifle at the assassin machine. Unfazed by the blast the machine walks towards him.
Assassin 23: "See? Pathetic"
V: "That was only a distraction..."
V's hoverbike flies into Assassin 23 from behind, scooping it off of the ground and immediately bolting to the air. taking the machine away from them.
V: "Now quickly Axel! Get inside here! We don't have much time!"
V quickly rushes back to the pilot's cabin and attempts to get the engines started. Axel makes his way into the aircraft's cargo bay.
V: "Come on... Come on... Start for me old girl... You have to work..."
V slams his hands down on the controls as he grows frustrated, slowly beginning to panic. Axel walks into the pilot's cabin.
Axel: "What's the matter V?"
V: "This damn aircraft won't start, and that machine... Isn't just some regular machine... It's an elite assassin sent from the underworld... I have to get out here. I probably have to get away from you and everyone so I don't attract any trouble to you guys... Because they won't give up looking for me even I never did what they think I did... You heard the bot... I'm their target and the order was given"
Axel: "Calm down V... Remember why you came here... Remember what you came here to do, to accomplish. And think about how close you are right now. Now get this aircraft into the air"
V: "You're right... I got a job to do..."
V tries starting the aircraft's engines one more time, successfully starting the engines. The lights of the aircraft flicker on and the sounds of the wing's blades beginning to spin are heard. The aircraft lifts off of the ground, slowly ascending into the air.
Axel: "Wow... You're doing it... You're flying this massive thing..."
V: "Like I said... Should be easy"
The snow furiously blows away from around the aircraft as it ascends the mountain. "THUD! THUD!"
Axel: "What was that?!"
V: "Seems our friend is back..."
On the top of the aircraft, Assassin 23 latches on with his metallic claws.
Luca: "Hey, Axel? V? We've made it back to the front of the cave"
V: "Ok great, and stay hidden... We will be there soon"
Axel: "What do we do about the machine stuck to us?"
V: "I don't know, but we will need to shake it off. Take my hoverbike and go back to the top of the mountain ahead of me, make sure everyone has made it up from below"
Axel: "Take your bike? How?"
V: "Autopilot remember? It's on its way, just jump from the side exit"
Axel: "Jump?!"
V: "Don't worry it'll catch you..."
V opens the side door of the aircraft as they slowly ascend the mountain, the cold, strong gust of wind blows into the cabin.
v: "Well... Jump!"
Axel: "But..."
V: "Just Jump!
Axel: "I DONT KNOW HOW TO FLY A HOVERBIKE!"
V: "Don't worry, I know you don't. I have the A.I set to assist you... So go!"
Axel jumps from the aircraft, falling down below.
Axel: "AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
V's hoverbike zooms under Axel, catching him in the air.
Axel: "OOOFF! Ouch"
Axel holds his stomach after landing on the seat of the hoverbike with his upper torso. He climbs up onto the hoverbike and sits up straight as he lightly throttles the bike. Axel then zooms up the side of the mountain.
Axel: "Why is it going so fast?! I barely pulled the handle... Just like you did!"
V: "Yeah, it has a lot of torque, don't worry the autopilot will assist you with stability and balance"
Back at the base of the mountain, Harper and the others anxiously stare up to the sky above them, watching as the lift descends towards them from the top of the mountain. Thick trails of smoke can be seen coming from the mountain top and with each loud explosion chunks of snow and scraps of metal limbs shower them from above. Scrappy and Judy help the last remnant of the old droids on the ground in holding back the swarm of machines. "DUUDUUDUUDUU! DUUDUUDUUDUUDUU! DUU!DUU!DUU!DUU!"
Judy: "How close is that lift baldy!?"
Harper: "Are you talking to me?"
Judy: "You’re the leader right? Well any of you softies could answer the question"
Harper: "Oh yes, my name is Harper"
"DUUDUUDUUDUUDUU! DUUDUUDUUDUUDUUDUUDUUDUUDUUDUU!"
Judy: "What?!"
Harper: "Harper! My name is Harper!"
Judy: "Well I didn’t ask your name bud, but okay Harps... The lift! Don’t make me have to look back to see how close it is dude"
Harper: " Ohh! It's halfway here!"
Judy: "Great, cause I don't think I have much ammo left in this old gal. And Scraps looking tired... "
"THUD!... THUD!... THUD!... BOOM!" Loud stomps followed by explosions get louder and louder as the sounds creep closer to them. A large shadow covers them as the towering Goliath stands just in front of them, with its missing jaw, destroyed facial structure and smoke trailing from its eye and mouth. It stomps towards them staggeringly as O'Ton-omi riddles it in explosives.
Judy: "Awww this thing is still standing? You look tired big guy... Let me help ya"
Judy swings a large rocket launcher over her shoulder, aiming directly at the giant. "PWWOOOFF!" The rocket flies directly into the Goliath's mouth, "BOOOOOOM!" exploding in the giant machine's neck. The Goliath’s destroyed head falls to the ground, smashing into the Anderthal forces down below. "EEERRRREEEEEEEKKKKK!" The rest of the Goliath’s body releases a loud screech as it begins to fall, bursting into flames from the inside out.
Judy: "And down goes the giant..."
The massive body of the Goliath crashes into the swarm of Anderthals trying to advance towards Judy and the others. Crushing them on impact from the sheer weight of the giant machine, O'Ton-omi dashes up to the top of the mountain after witnessing the fall of the Goliath.
O'Ton-omi: "Alright, I do believe that’s enough fun for today. Master Axel!"
Harper: "The lift is here! Everyone, get in quickly. Uhhh crazy gun lady... I never got your name... The lift to the top of the mountain is here! You and the dog..."
Judy: "Alright Harps! We're on our way"
Judy slumps back as she notices the horde of machines' numbers dwindles down drastically. Stifled by the large mass of the Goliath crushing most of them and blocking the path to the others too damaged to fly. They begin to climb over the large obstruction however but Judy and Scrappy use this time to make their way towards the lift. The last remaining old droid stays behind defending them from the few strangling Anderthals who have climbed over the large obstruction.
The remaining humans at the base of the mountain pour into the lift, Judy and Scrap swiftly squeeze in. Harper steps in and looks back to the last standing droid slowly be overrun by the increasing numbers of Anderthal machines climbing over the destroyed body of the Goliath. He closes the door and pushes the lever of the lift starting their ascension.
Harper: "Thank you... Old friend..."
Axel flies over the large group of humans descending the mountain, as he goes back up to the top.
Axel: "EVERYONE! STAY RIGHT HERE, AN AIRCRAFT WILL COME SOON TO PICK YOU GUYS UP"
He shouts to the humans below him, as he continues flying up to the top of the mountain.
Belthorne: "ALRIGHT KID, WE'll WAIT HERE!"
As Axel continues up the mountain, he overhears a voice shouting his name in the distance.
Zaine: "AXEL!!! OVER HERE!"
Axel looks around as he sees Zaine waving at him, next to Robin and Caesar leading another small group of humans along the side of the mountain. Axel flies down to them, greeting Zaine with a huge smile on his face.
Axel: "Uncle Zainneeeee!"
Zaine: "What were you thinking kid! Coming all out here all by yourself!"
Axel: "Well I wasn't by myself Uncle Zaine... I had Dad and R3 with me the entire time... I don't have time to be scolded right now though. I have to go back to the top and make sure Everyone else makes it up safely and bring them to the others"
Zaine: "Alright, well scoot over. I'll come with you"
Axel: "Well hop on"
Zaine: "I'm driving kid"
Axel: "But I was flying..."
Zaine: "Yeah... Terribly... Wow even with the autopilot assistance on. And you should be wearing a helmet, here"
Zaine hops onto the bike and takes his helmet off, resting it on top of Axel's head.
Axel: "Uncle it's too big..."
Zaine: "Too big is a fit kid... Anyway hold on"
Axel: "Wait, another thing. Take these guys down the mountain to meet up with the others. They're awaiting our getaway vehicle"
Zaine: "Getaway vehicle? You got something big enough to hold all these people?"
Axel: "Yeah, V's flying a cargo craft"
Zaine: "V..."
Just before they take off, O'Ton-omi lands right beside them.
O'Ton-omi: "Master Axel... I am growing bored of this vacation now. I think it is due time we leave. Totally not because I have run out of ammunition to continue my self-defence mode"
Axel: "O'To... Great, you’re back... Head to the cave and pick up the kids and everyone there. Go quickly!"
O'Ton-omi: "Understood, I do hope they've cleaned themselves "
Axel: "Just go O'To"
O'Ton-omi: "Okkkk"
O'Ton-omi takes off heading towards the cave.
Zaine: "Well that's a weird ride you got there Axel"
Axel: "Yeah, anyway let's go. we don't have any time to waste"
Zaine: "Alright Big C, You heard the boy, take these humans down below"
Zaine takes off with the hoverbike speeding to the top of the mountain with Axel on the back. Quickly reaching the top, they see the two old droids stand by the foothold of the lift, holding its support structure in place from breaking off from the side of the mountain as the entire icescape begins to crack. Beside them, Jazabelle stands nervously watching as the lift ascends the mountain.
Jazabelle: "Come on Harp... The droids won't be able to hold this thing in place much longer"
She looks down to the ice below her feet, watching as the cracks begin to expand.
Jazabelle: "And this entire foothold is about to crumble... Hurry..."
Zaine and Axel fly up to them, realising the disastrous situation about to unfold before them.
Zaine: "Those people need to get up and out of that lift... Fast... Before this entire thing goes"
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the mountain, the Anderthals begin destroying the foundation of the lift, ripping away at the bolts and constraints burrowed into the mountain. While others start climbing the mountain with their bare hands. The entire lift shakes tremendously as if an earthquake had just erupted. Harper and the others look up to see they have almost made it to the top.
Harper: "What was the cause of that?"
Judy: "Must be those machines down below... They must be attacking the beams holding this whole thing together. Good thing we're almost to the top... Everyone get ready to bail this damn thing as soon as this door opens"
As the lift finally reaches the top, shaking crazily. Jazabelle steps back as the humans quickly jump out of the lift in a panic.
Jazabelle: "Wait! Wait! Everyone... Be careful... The ground is unstable and can give away at any moment!"
Judy: "No time sugar... This whole lift is about to fall to the ground anyway"
"POP! POP!" wires begin to fly as the machines destroy the support beams to the lift from below. The lift suddenly drops a bit causing the remaining people inside to fall.
Jazabelle: "Harp!"
Judy: "Oh shit... We gotta get the others out of there now before it drops again... Any further than that and there's no saving them"
The lift now rests against the side of the mountain with only the top half of the doors free to allow them to get out. Judy quickly lays down and starts helping some of the people inside the lift out. Harp helps lift others up to reach the opening at the top of the doors to climb out of the lift.
The ice around the side of the lift begins to break away, causing the lift to slowly slide down further away making the gap crawl out smaller and smaller.
Axel: "Harper!"
Judy quickly lends her arm out to grab his hand but he turns his head to see a man in the corner of the lift crying, too afraid to move. He rushes over to the man and lifts him up, pushing him towards Judy to help him out.
Harper: "Come on Mr Olton... Don't be afraid, we're getting out of here. Take her hand, I know you're afraid but just keep moving"
The man takes Judy's hand, and she begins to pull him out, Jazabelle rushes in to help. Holding the man for Judy.
Jazabelle: "My brother! Grab my brother!"
Judy quickly sticks her arm out again but the lift suddenly drops again. Squeezing her hand as it slams against the ice and the gap closes off completely.
Judy: "AHHHHHH! FUCCKK!"
Judy yanks her hand away from under the frame of the door, with her hand now broken and bleeding.
Jazabelle: "My brother! Where is my brother! He's still in there!"
Axel: "Zaine! We have to do something! Fly over there to the lift let me help Harper out of there!"
Zaine flys the hoverbike over the top of the lift. hovering just above as it slowly slides down the mountain.
Axel: "Harper! We're gonna get you out, don't worry!"
Zaine: "Get low! And cover your ears!"
Harper drops to the ground, covering his ears. Zaine throws a small explosive onto the roof of the lift. "BOOF!" and the entire roof of the lift caves in. The lift suddenly shakes and drops slightly lower, Zaine flies the bike closer, holding over to grab Harper.
Zaine: "You're gonna have to reach for him, Axel... I can't reach... I'll hold you while you reach for him"
Axel: "Ok... Harper grab my hand!"
Axel leans over, reaching for Harper's hand, Zaine grabs hold of axel by his ankles as he leans off of the bike. Harper stands up gently to avoid the lift falling any further. He looks up to Axel's hands and reaches barely touching his fingers.
Harper: "Shit..."
Zaine: "What's taking so long?"
Harper: "I can't reach..."
Axel: "I think you're gonna..."
Harper: "Have to jump... I know..."
Harper holds his breath as his entire body quivers, and sweat burst from his pore from the anxiety. He leaps into the air, grabbing Axel's hand. "EEEKKKKK! EERRREKKKKKKK!" The entire lift breaks from the ice and goes crashing down to the bottom of the mountain, smashing the Anderthal machines at the bottom.
Harper: "My hand... It's slipping!"
Axel: "Just hold on! Uncle Zaine... Lift us up!"
Zaine: "I can't... Ughh! Just hold on... I'll try to fly us back up..."
Harper: "I don't know if I can hold on much longer kid... And I don't wanna... Look... look... It's ok... Don't cry, kid"
Axel's eyes flood with tears, dripping from through the creases of the helmet. He stares down at Harper's hand while gritting his teeth as he holds on as tight as he can.
Axel: "I'm not gonna let you fall, Mr Harper! I'm going to save you!"
Harper: "Axel... It's alright... My hand is wet from the sweat, this isn't your fault... I can’t hold any tighter and..."
Axel: "Shut uppp! We'll make it! Uncle Zaine!"
Zaine: "I'm trying to get us up there, I'm moving slowly so the torque doesn't jerk us on the way up... Almost there, just hold on"
Harper: "You're a good kid Axel... You would make... No, you're already a great leader... I trust you will guide my people to freedom... A better life... I know with you at their side, you all can make a change"
Axel: "Don't talk like that... Just hold on!"
Harper: "And my family... Tell them... I'll always be watching over them... And to Jaz... I'm sorry.."
Zaine: "Almost there!"
Axel: "Hold..."
Harper: "Thank yo.."
Only holding onto a finger, Axel's grip begins to loosen.
Axel: "NOOOO! HARPER! NOOOOOOOOOO!"
Zaine flies the hoverbike over the top of the mountain with Axel's body dangling to the side. Tears pour from Axel's eyes, Jazabelle looks up to see that her brother is not with them. In disbelief, she runs to the edge of the cliff and looks down to see the entire lift gone.
Jazabelle: "My brother... Where is my brother?! Harper?! Harper?! HARPP! Where is my brotherrrr!?"
Zaine pulls Axel back up onto the bike noticing that Harper must have fallen. He removes the helmet from Axel's head and wipes the tears away from his face.
Zaine: "Hey... Hey, you did everything you could alright? Because of you... You got them this far... You can still save all these people here still here, right now. Stay focused kid... You have a mission to finish. Got it?"
Axel nods his head as he looks down below, replaying the image of Harper slipping from his hands and falling down below to his death. Jazabelle drops to the ground and shakes her head side to side rigorously as she screams in pain. Unable to come to terms that her brother Harper is dead, Judy lifts her over her shoulder and begins running off of the ice as the cracks deepen. "CRRAAAACCCKK! CRRRRACCCKKKK!"
Judy: "Everyone! Off the ice now! Run that way!"
They sprint away from the edge of the mountain as the ice and earth beneath them shatter and break off. They all begin to run away from the edge, the two remaining old droids grab hold of a few humans and start running along with Judy and the others. "CRASSHHHHH!" The entire ground begins to crumble, as the side of the mountain collapses falling down below.
Judy slouched over, drops to the ground breathing heavily with Jazabelle still over her shoulder.
Judy: "Is everyone ok? Did we all make it?"
Zaine: "Yeah, no one was left behind... Start heading down the mountain, we got a plane to catch"
Judy: "A plane?"
They all start heading down the side of the mountain to meet up with the others. Judy looks back to the old droids as they stay behind facing the collapsed side of the mountain.
Judy: "Hey, tincans! That's everyone, you can come with us!"
Zaine: "I don't think they plan on leaving this island, Judy..."
Axel: "V said he thinks they’re programmed to stay behind and make sure the humans get away safely. I think they're making sure we aren't followed"
V: "Axel? Are you there? Can you hear me?"
Axel: "Ah... Yeah V I can hear you"
V: "I'm can see everyone in the distance, I'm close... has everyone made it up safely? Are you soon here?"
Axel: "Yeah, everyone... But..."
V: "Great! I need you back here pronto... To help with our friend remember? I don't wanna fly up to everyone with this guy still attached to the side of the aircraft"
Axel: "Oh shit... On our way!"
Zaine: "What is it? Who are you talking to?"
Axel: "No time! Quickly Uncle Zaine... Down the mountain now to the aircraft!"
Zaine: "Alright, Judy, you lead everyone down below!"
They dash off from the top of the mountain, speeding down the side towards V.
Bishop: "I see something! A... What is that?"
Phara: "I guess that’s our ride..."
Belthorne: "Hey it's the kid again, behind us... He's coming back...Damn, he's moving fast..."
Zaine flies over the others in a blink of an eye ripping through the sky at high speed. As they come close to the aircraft ascending the mountain, Axel points to the side of the aircraft showing Zaine Assassin 23 hanging on to the side. Zaine releases the throttles and stands up as he swings his rifle from behind his back, taking aim. "BLAAAM!" the blast rips Assassin 23 hands off of the aircraft, sending him flying back down the mountain.
V: "Wow... Great shot Axel!"
Axel: "Oh that wasn't me. That's my Uncle"
V: "Damn, your whole family here now uh... Well turn around, I'm gonna hover just above the ground while everyone hops into the back. Opening the cargo bay now"
V begins to descend just above the large group of humans waiting on the side of the mountain. Rotating the opened cargo bay towards them, Axel and Zaine land down just beside Bishop.
Bishop: "Alright everyone, carefully make your way inside"
Zaine: " Uhh, wait a minute. Big C, good you're here, come hold this lid in place while everyone hops on up to go inside"
Big C walks over to the lid of the cargo bay and holds it in place while Zaine hops up onto it.
Zaine: "This should be a lot safer, and easier. Axel give me your hand"
Zaine lifts Axel up onto the lid as he grabs his hand, and they walk into the cargo bay. V puts the aircraft into autopilot while he heads into the cargo bay. He bumps into Axel and Zaine as he exits the pilot's cabin.
Axel: "V... I guess we did it uh?"
V: "Axel! Glad you're alright. We still gotta get out of here though buddy"
Zaine drops his helmet at the sight of V, staring at him speechlessly as he slowly walks towards him.
Zaine: "Is it you? Is it really you?..."
V: "Uhhh... Me?"
Axel: "Yeah what are you talking about Uncle Zaine... Are you alright?"
Zaine begins to tear up, fighting the tears as a single drip, slowly runs down his cheek.
Zaine: "It's you isn't it... After all this time... I've finally found you..."
V: "What are you talking about old man? Axel... Do you know this guy?"
Zaine: "I'm sorry... I'm sorry but I would know your face anywhere, because... No matter how much time has passed... I'll always remember that face... Her face..."
V: "What are you saying?"
Zaine: "You’re my son..."
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