▽　▽　▽

●　● Manila-Valenzuela Region, The Philippines

Sam took her time getting herself seated inside the Axiom’s cockpit. She took a few breaths as she looked out toward the streetlight-lit scenery that disappeared to the tune of the closing hatch. She reached under her legs to make sure the cubby for her bag was well secured before reaching up to her helmet, pulling it down and buckling in the chinstraps.

Hell always ensues every damn time I power this thing up.

She flipped down her visor and adjusted the fitment of her headset’s earpiece. “Knight here. Online.” Even though she was flight-ready, her appearance remained a disheveled mess.

“Sam,” Andre had quickly replied that next instant. “Did you get an ID on the attackers?”

“Andre!” Kerry shouted offendedly. “The fuck is wrong with you!? She’s still recovering!”

“No,” Sam responded wearily, anyway. “Was too dark. But neither matched that guy from the Casino.” She now let her focus relax once more before training her eyes on the detection systems.

“Vests?” Andre continued.

Sam paused for a moment, struggling to keep recollections in her head straight. “No.”

“Noted. They must’ve sent amateurs your way both times, I assume.”

Kerry was still strongly displeased with his direction. “Andre!”

Shit. Sam didn’t expect to already be held to the hiding of many secrets this early in the game. She paused, making sure she had her response straight in her head before speaking up. How do I tell them… without telling them… that I’m the target because my fucking murderous brother and his psycho compadre are after me for revenge? Let’s just stick the only facts they need to know. “It’s all thanks to Kerry I’m alive after the Casino, but to think about what happened just now? It’s just me they're after, but not sure why. And maybe they sent amateurs because… it’s me. I’m a pilot, not a black-ops Marine or some shit.”

“Sam,” Kerry interrupted with a calmed voice. “We need to get you back to base and get you fixed back up. Tell us everything after you rest.”

What rest? I’m going to be questioned like last time no matter what.

“We can’t rest!” Andre fussed back. “That’s why I am trying to get sit-rep done now because we got shit headed our way and we need as much leeway as possible! You want us to turn tail and-”

“-Yes, damn it!” Kerry snapped back. “Singapore Command,” she now barked over the general channel. “Update mission status!”

“Squad, hold positions,” the operator stiffly replied.

Kerry paused, jaw agape. “What? Sam is in no shape to pilot! She just freed herself from ARMED abductors! We need clearance to get her landed back at Quezon!”

There was some pause before the operator responded: “LTAC activity approaching from the west. Knight is clear to return. We are sending three units as backup your way. Repeat, Knight to base, Melancon and Nguyen to remain in positon.”

“Negative,” Sam refused, much to both Kerry and Andre’s surprise. “Andre, what did you face?”

“For just being a few Kappas, they were a hell of a lot better pilot base than we faced in Dhaka!”

“We need firepower until the coast is clear,” Sam continued. “Singapore, let me remain until backup arrives.”

“Affirmative, Knight,” the operator responded. “Squadron, hold position until further orders.”

“Well,” Andre huffed as everyone’s radio resumed team-only transmission. “If you don’t mind, Sam, can I ask how the hell you managed to get out of that one? Glad you’re back, but shit, they had us thinking you’d be locked away pretty damn tight.”

Yep, she thought in anticipation of his continuation. Oh boy, here goes Plan A. “They held me with zip ties. My folks taught me how to snap those. I found a good opportunity and ran like hell. They had finally caught up to me just minutes ago.” She let the two of them air their reactions before continuing: “But I blanked out on a lot of it. I don’t even know whose blood this is on me. Sorry, I’m not built to be a good fighter. I just lucked out with having equally poor fighters chasing me.”

“So, you sent that launch request before they found you? Because that’s when we headed straight here,” Kerry added.

“Right, that’s when I-”

“-Hey!” Andre interrupted. “Radar! L-Trackers! They’ve uh, gone blank!”

Sam had gotten too far off track with her talking to notice it until Andre mentioned it. She wasn’t the least bit surprised, but she had to continue acting. “Yeah, uh, guys? Remember how I said they were after me? I might have been wrong, maybe they were after any one of us, and now we are all gathered in one spot for them.” A few seconds passed without response, leaving her to wonder if she said something wrong. But the silence in hear ears spoke differently after realizing it.

...

“Guys?”

...

"-c-th" A short-lived noise came as the only response amongst the silence. Her heart started up once more.

...

“-rk better? Y’all hear me?” Kerry spoke over an opened LOS channel.

Aw, shit. The trademark move hit her in the gut as hard as it had always done each of the past few times. “Ugh, jammers up again! Are you for REAL?!” Sam sighed aloud in bitter disgust. She changed her output to merge with the same LOS channel, continuing: “No good. We need to bail. You know what this means.”

“Right, scratch whatever I said,” Andre was quick to reply as his Ap50 turned back southward. “Let’s regroup at base. Singapore can’t even get a hold of us like this.”

.

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●　● Wooded Region Near San Roques Peak, Manila, The Philippines

Revenant took his hand from one of the keys lined up in series on a large instrument that stood next to several others. Each of these machines were under the cover of brush and tree foliage, each with sensors aimed toward the city center. He turned to the truck that had parked not too far away, watching for a sign from Isaiah who sat inside.

“We should have been here from the start,” Marian spoke up from behind one of the instruments. “But I don’t think we would’ve had the cover necessary to get this all into the country without the help from the hapless Tyrus club.” She walked over towards him, oculars in hand. “I’m sure those doubts are gone now, I assume?”

Revenant let out a defeated chuckle. “I don’t know if I trust Rex any more than Tyrus, but damn it if Rex doesn’t see this coming every damn time I swear.” He picked up the oculars from her and took a look toward the Valenzuela area, noting there was no communications activity. “We haven’t set up a jamming net this extensive since Bogota.”

“It’s all up and going,” Isaiah spoke from the truck as he opened the door, getting out to join them. “And the false LTAC activity cloud along with the empty brute force attack sequences on the National Coast Guard’s security servers should have our plan in full swing very soon.” He then put a hand out toward Revenant as if to ask for the oculars. “Let’s see which direction she flies, Tamaz.” He then put them to his eyes as he started searching the same area, finally finding the Axiom starting up its boosters alongside two Ap50s. “And there you go. This approach is more of your preference, I assume.”

“Never thought I’d get the chance,” he spoke with a confident smirk, headed towards a tarp covered LTAC.

Marian watched Revenant pass by, slowly turning back to Isaiah with a complicated expression. “Are you sure you can watch this? I mean, is it even necessary anymore?”

“Marian,” he replied, still watching the horizon. “I was right to call her a nonfactor in the grand scheme of things, but I was wrong to assume that my father wouldn’t go about helping everyone else equally across the globe. I didn’t foresee him approving her extended contracts, constantly pushing the envelope on expansions, and I even less foresaw him expediting Project Excalibur.” He finally put them away as he looked her in the eyes solemnly. “Sam had her chances to leave. I even left her a parting gift I didn’t intend on leaving last time. I don’t know what else to do but have her stopped for good. Father can’t continue with blood on his hands- he should’ve stayed out of Hexa.”

Marian knew he had no tears to cry after hearing his experiences from the last war, but even she had enough heart to know this was tearing him up. Putting a hand on his shoulder, she attempted to soften the situation. “I need to apologize for ever insinuating she didn’t deserve to be spared those two times. I forget sometimes what it’s like to have-”

“-Marian, thanks,” he rejected politely, looking away. “But you realize the world including Space wouldn’t care to hear my pitiful story. Things are so much bigger in the grand scheme, and those three over there including Sam play a part in the biggest threat to our plans as things stand. If I let them walk, then what do I tell everyone?”

She couldn’t find a response, biting her lip along with a difficult sigh.

“Even if it’s not me, Marian. Even if it’s not Tamaz. Sam can’t last much longer no matter how we cut it. But with this way, at least, there will be a chance Tamaz has mercy on her soul despite her taking his only true friend’s life. He’s changed, and I pray Sam makes a change real soon when she sees him.”

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●　● Manila-Valenzuela Region

The Axiom suddenly cut its booster preparations, powering down all mobility systems and taking Andre and Kerry by surprise.

Feeling a strange quivering sensation in her side, Sam sat there in as much shock as the others, knowing it wasn’t something she consciously chose to do. She shook her head, perhaps reeling still from her recovery from shock and trauma more than she realized. Why did I just pull back from jump prep? She then felt another odd sensation in her side once more. She then realized it was something from underneath her. The bag?!

“Sam, you alright?!” Andre called out in concern.

“You sure you are able to fly?” Kerry added in likewise.

“Hold on! I need to check something real quick! I didn’t set something up right.” She started at the cubby below her seat while thinking: I really shouldn’t be playing the lie counting game in a state like this. She then fished out the bag while continuing: I don’t even know what’s gotten into me, but… She opened her visor to see her way around the bag, then took out the small device the girl handed her earlier. It then started to vibrate stoutly in her hands, causing her to jump and almost take in a loud gasp. This thing?!

Finding the only button on it she could spot, she clicked it once and immediately noticed something from her visor giving off a soft, soothing, dark blue glow. She closed it to get a better look, finding the color taking over the entire inner screen

This can’t be good.

“Hello, Sam,” a digitally distorted male’s voice spoke to her.

“Who- what?! How do you know me?!” she shouted in panic, grabbing the sides of her seat subconsciously as the bag fell to the floorboard. “Who are you?!”

“I see this device made it safely to you, and that you safely made it to your LTAC as well.”

“This device…” She then started to worry about what Kerry and Andre would be listening in on. Why haven’t they said anything yet?!

“Yes. This device is what we here use to make sure our transmissions go in and out only between the users and no one else.”

“You… you mean no one can hear us?”

“Precisely. Now, Sam,” the voice seemed to be speaking in a manner to keep her calm. “I will need you to check this device wherever you are when we send a signal.”

Who the hell does he think he is!? Ordering me around like I work for him!? “Excuse me,” she said with a frown. “But I don’t even know who you are.”

“Tenshi, or rather, Devin told me all about you. I am who this local network calls Tyrus.”

“You!?”

“I only have ten seconds left, Sam. Your first word of advice from me is to carefully walk home and hide behind the high rises. We want you to remain alive, and Revenant wants you dead. He’s on his way to you now.”

“Wait, huh?!” What is with these guys?! “How did-” Her second attempted interrogation was cut short by the sudden blanking out of the visor screen before abruptly returning to normal function.

“-me?! Sam! Hello?!” Kerry’s voice suddenly cut in, hollering to the extent her ears started ringing.

“Sorry! I’m good now!” Sam awkwardly fussed back, exasperated and confused at the same time. “I don’t know what happened to me just now, but I feel better all the sudden!”

“Good!” Kerry responded in a lower tone. “You seriously blanked out on us for a minute there. Let’s get you the hell home!”

The unsolicited omen immediately rang through her head the second the suggestion reached her ears. “Um, hey, about that…” That Tyrus guy really just fucking suggested walking… “I think it’s best to walk to base.”

“Walk?!” the other two spat out in unison.

“Yeah, uh,” Sam replied as her face began to grow hotter. “Every time I start up the boosters I feel dizzy and faint. Systems aren’t jiving with me or something.”

“To hell with that, we’ll just auto-launch you back! We’ll fly alongside-” Andre fussed back.

“-No!” Sam blurted unintentionally, putting a hand over her mouth. Why am I even trying to go with that guy’s advice?! He didn’t even explain why- OH! It dawned on her as she half listened to Andre’s tirade. Why the hell didn’t we think of this sooner! With jamming up, booster output would scream IR signals! How else could they spot us from a distance?! Brilliant!

“I got a better idea!” Sam blurted out, now realizing she cut him off. “Sorry, Andre, but listen!”

.

▽　▽　▽

.

Isaiah kept eyeing his focus between his notepad and a computer monitor he had set up as his makeshift table near the truck. Every once in a while, he would spot something on the monitor light up but then quickly fade out. It was showing IR activity of a specified area but with no labeling as to where.

“I have us marked at…” Marian started to speak up from behind him. She had her own monitoring duties, using her watch’s native display from where she stood leaning against the truck. “…about ten minutes before your move comes up. I’m wondering if you two figured something out?”

“Someone mysteriously got smart on us again, but I’m not surprised anymore,” Isaiah mumbled through the hand he held just over his mouth. “They didn’t launch. They’re on foot, mingling between too many buildings to figure exactly what they’re up to. Possibly headed for Highway 26 south if they’re still wanting to get back to base.” He then looked at his own watch, noting the time elapsed. “Maybe I should back off and go help him. He’s losing his advantage this way.”

“Maybe we should just back off the number of jammers in use?”

“I’m worried about our window of opportunity with the Coast Guard attack plans and if and when Hexa finds a way through our communication blockade. They’ve been working furiously to get a way through.”

“Well, they have a lot at stake. Especially with their new, odd relationship with that one sect from the P4C,” Marian replied as she walked over to a separate machine from the one Isaiah was near to. “Never mind, I’ll take care of Tamaz. You get ready for the Port insurrection now that the Hexa plants have been discovered by the news.” She then let out a sigh before finishing. “I am getting rather tired of seeing lives lost to further our progress. Maybe this all ends tonight.”

“That’s probably as good as things will get.” Isaiah stood up, looking more resolute in his initial decision. “Reset the turn-off timer to the jammers to pattern 2 so the news can restart their broadcasting. I’ll trust you with Tamaz. See you back here in the morning.” He tucked his notepad along with a few other papers under his arm as he headed deeper into the woods.

.

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▽　▽　▽

.

Andre led the way as their three LTACs marched steadily down the narrow but empty street, carefully avoiding cars and utility poles and lines. Passersby often stopped to look, but didn’t seem too alarmed. Some even seemed relieved as they felt perhaps it was all in an attempt to rectify the situation with the jamming problem sweeping the area.

He kept his rifle off safety but kept his trigger finger off of the grip, eyes awake but unable to fully focus on the visuals as much as he may have intended. He was not only lulled into deep thought by the quiet and calm similar to what he had experienced at Memorial Circle, but also by his lack of sleep and energy.

Sam really isn’t acting herself. She’d be the last person I thought I’d never hear suggest we do something crazy like this, even though I do technically agree it’s the best course of action. But still! How did she come up with it before me!? Even Kerry saying it would’ve made more sense.

He then rethought his suggestion to send Sam home on automated launch, feeling somewhat embarrassed. To think, had I forced my hand with that idea… there was no telling if they jumped in and went for the kill while she floated around incapable of defending herself. Damn.

… WAIT! He nearly stopped his advance at the realization of something. Standard booster drives don’t put off anything that can cause vertigo without hard launching! What was she aiming at with that line?

---

Kerry had gone through similar spells of her own lack of focus, though her thoughts lingered on her night more than the current situation. She hadn’t been that physical of a series of altercations since her time with the NAU National Guard after post-hurricane crime waves. To think Sam survived that. Shit, I wasn’t sure how the hell I got through my end of things. I guess it was the same for her.

Her thoughts then drifted to Devin’s. I had heard about abductions and how they try to ransom out big bucks. Hexa does pay up big time for their pilots, that’s for sure. She almost found it comforting, having no other idea where he would be or how his conditions were. I bet Hexa already looked into the ransom payment. Maybe he’s already back by the time we do.

But damn. How did Sam get out and not Devin? … WAIT! Kerry nearly stopped hers as well in the same fashion. Did Sam have cuts on her wrist? She said she broke zip-tie cuffs. I have a real hard time believing that now. She definitely did damage with all that blood on her, but whose was it really?

---

Sam had her shield up, holding the back of the pack just in case. She had the Axiom’s gait set to backpedaling at their steady pace, keeping the front side facing rear. It was an odd sensation looking through her visor as if it was a rear-view mirror, but the automated controls sync’d well with Kerry and Andre’s pace, making it easier to rest her body in the meantime.

A soft blue glow slowly creeped in, almost triggering her to fall asleep.

“Samantha, you must hide your group.” It was that voice again.

Tyrus? Did I press that button again or did this happen on its own? Or did I press something?!

“Another scanner is trying to predict your next crossing into open space. Hide your group, now.”

“Who is? How do we even hide?” And how the fuck am I so nonchalant about this old dude advising me like this?