Location: New York City limits
Time: 03:37 AM
POV: Abigail Winters
'How could he just leave? I did everything right… I cared for him, was loyal, acted in a cute way most of the time… I mean there were a few times that I let my other half expose itself… like at the party… but… still.'
I had been distraught over Ayden's breakup with me… well let's not call it a breakup… we are just taking a break…
Yeah, that's it!
He doesn't hate me… Just… with everything going on he must've not wanted me to worry about him. Yeah…
The more I think that the more I think I'm crazy. How was I supposed to know one of the bombers would blow up his family? I mean, it was a mistake yes, but those things happen in war.
Yes…
Those things happen…
My face broke in a smile, Nolan and Elon were nearby discussing something with one of the Knight Commanders, they turned to look and gave me confused glances.
I glared at them, when they turned around I could tell I shook them off of me for now…
I shook my head and looked forward, 'Focus Abbi, need to win the war and find him… then we can have our happily ever after.'
My face twisted as a laugh escaped my lips. The sounds of cannons and missiles being fired echoed as the skyscrapers and building of one of the most recognizable cities in the world was engulfed in flames.
"For a New World… one in which… you are mine…"
…
…
…
Undisclosed Location
19:30 Hours
Firing Range
"All operators, cease all training operations and return Juggernauts to storage. Escorts will take you and your Handlers to the Mess Hall. Barnett, you will stay behind as your Handler has just arrived on base and will meet you after everyone has departed. That is all, and good job out there today."
Danzer's voice echoed in our ears, except for a few who got in one last shot, the guns fell silent. Dust and smoke hung in the air over the shooting range as the advanced training, sped up due to our mental capabilities being boosted, ended. The setting sun overlooked us as we got into formation and began the march in our walkers to the hanger. I hung back and went over the instruments, realizing so errors and issues that I would have to fix later.
"Didn't realize I had to be a fucking superweapon mechanic…"
I mumbled under my breath as I began to tinker and mess with the controls, my mind began to fade as I lost myself. My vision faded a bit as the world around me went black.
I looked up and realized, I was home. I wasn't sitting in the cockpit of the Juggernaut, I was sitting at the kitchen table with my family…
I looked at them all and tears began to well up in my eyes. They were talking, laughing, joking around, and enjoying one of my mom's homecooked meals. I looked down and grabbed a fork on the plate, attempting to take a bite and taste something that felt like home.
Nothing happened…
The fork and food disappeared, my family started to fade from my sight as I tried to call out to them, but no sound could escape my mouth. They faded from sight as my mother's eyes met my own, a flash of recognition in her eyes as her face faded from my mind as my silent screams and cries echoed to nowhere.
…
…
…
"Barnett, you better have a damn good reason for not being in the hanger right now, what in the hell are you doing?"
I came back to reality and looked around, the tears from my eyes drying on my cheeks as the transmission from a very pissed off Danzer passed through my implant. I shook my head, wiped my face with my hand.
"Yeah, sorry about that, dealing with an instrument issue. I'm double timing my way back now," I said while moving the sticks, pushing the walker at a much faster speed then I had used before.
But it felt natural to me, the machine molded to become an extension of my body, moving to my commands at seemingly a thought as I swiftly moved through the countryside.
I entered the base, steering down the different streets as base personnel walked along the sidewalks, heading home after the days work had been completed. I got a few stares from passer-byes but the vast majority of them had a pale look on their faces, like they had seen a ghost. I couldn't put my finger on it but decided to let it be.
The hanger came into my view as I slowed the machine, coming to a standard walking pace for the walker as I entered the doors, I parked the machine and looked up to find that all of the Operators and Handlers were standing in a crowd around a platform, Danzer standing on top of it.
I disembarked from my Juggernaut, jogging over to the crowd as his voice came into focus… and I wished at that very moment, I was deaf…
"…New York has fallen. The city was set upon early this morning by artillery and missile fire. The bastards used napalm and incendiary rounds to cook the defenders alive."
I stopped in my tracks and hung my head, my eyes glued to the ground.
"The evacuations had no chance to be completed as they targeted anything that left the city, whether by land, air, or sea. The death toll isn't official but we assume about 70,000 military members lost their lives while the civilian death toll… don't quote me on this but we are looking at the possibility of over a million casualties, possibly two."
If you dropped a pin in here it would sound like a gunshot, that's how quiet it was. But that didn't last for long.
"Hey man, what about my family, do we know if they made it out. You said you guys would FUCKING PROTECT THEM!!!"
A Hispanic dude rushed the stage, tears threatening to stream from his eyes as he was restrained by two soldiers.
"Relax, your family made it. In fact, all of your families are safe. They were among the first to be evacuated before the situation became dire. They have all be relocated to settlements near the base. However, we ask that you not come into contact with them. If you do it no longer looks like a refugee camp and starts to look like a military target. That will bring unwanted attention to this region and force us to speed up our operations before we are ready. Now, I am sorry to announce this now at a time like this, but the Mess Hall is closed tonight. With the bad news it was decided to give everyone the night off. Don't worry, in your designated apartments there are enough supplies and food stored for you all to get by cooking on your own. Use this time wisely to get to know your partners better. The stronger the bond, the better you will fight. Dismissed."
Everyone kind of just began to shuffle out of the hanger, following the escorts to the apartment buildings as the news, still fresh in their minds, weighed down on everyone.
I continued to stand there. My focus wasn't on the loss of New York or the dead. This is a war, people die, it's just a fact.
Danzer sighed and shook his head, turning to face me after watching them leave, "Alright, Mr. Can't Follow Simple Instructions, time for you to meet your Handler."
As soon as he got done saying that, a woman stepped from behind the platform.
Pale skin with big, deep blue eyes. White hair that looked to be natural flowed from her head, with had a dress cap adorning it. A blue female uniform leading into a military skirt made up for her dress. Black stockings ran up her legs from a pair of standard black military boots. Her athletic frame highlighted the fact that not only was her mind sharp but her body was also in peak condition. She stopped in front of me and saluted.
"Lieutenant Vladilena Milize, codename Handler One, at your service."
When her voice hit my ears, it seemed like a spark ignited in my head, but when I tried to focus on it I was met with nothing.
'Hmm, odd.'
I returned the salute, "Private Ayden Barnett, codename…"
Fuck.
I don't have a codename…
I racked my brain to figure out a good name when I looked into her blue eyes. It looked like a clear night sky, illuminated by a full moon. I lost myself a bit and in my mind an image of a black cloaked figure appeared, a scythe held in a bone hand as glowing red eyes peered back at me.
I chuckled to myself a little as the codename I thought of escaped my lips.
"Codename: Reaper."
Danzer did his best to contain his laugh, an odd sounding snort coming from him made me turn my head with eyes narrowed, "What? Not like you guys assigned codenames for the operators."
"Yeah, yeah, you're right… Reaper." He couldn't contain it anymore and he began to giggle like a school girl.
"Jesus Christ man…. Pull it together."
Lena just stared at the two of us, a look of confusion on her face that turned to understanding as her eyes widened, and a small laugh coming from her mouth.
"I like it, at least it's easy to remember."
I looked from Danzer to her and sighed, "Yeah, you're right. Anyways, what are we supposed to do now?"
Danzer finally stopped wheezing and wiped a tear from his eye, "Ahem, you two, being the first pair and all, will be staying in the Operation Command cabin instead of the apartment block. Your Juggernaut will be transported there and placed inside of the attached garage. You will be expected to be the first one to all training exercises on sight while the rest will spend about a week or two getting accustomed to everything. Theirs will remain in the warehouse for that reason, plus, you're the only one with enough hands on mechanical experience that you can work on the Juggernaut for minor repairs and adjustments."
His eyes focused a bit more as his tone became more authoritative, "However, anything major happens and you will have to send it to the Juggernaut Repair Facility. Don't make me regret leaving you with this equipment."
"Don't worry man, I won't be taking the glorified tin can on a late night joy ride."
That earned another giggle from Lena as a small smile formed on my face.
'Maybe it won't be so bad hearing her voice all the time…'
"Easy there, Romeo. Anyways, you two should get on your way. It's fully furnished and ready to go. Have a good night."
Danzer patted my shoulder and began to walk away.
"Oh, and be at the firing range at 0500 sharp… Reaper."
He said and chuckled as he walked out of the door, leaving the two of us alone and in silence.
'My fuck dude, it's just a chick, say something or take control of the situation.'
I shook my head a little, clearing the thoughts that plagued it when Lena spoke up.
"I can meet you over at the cabin, I have the address. I'll see you there."
She turned and began walking away, I sighed and hung my head before looking up at the ceiling. I then looked at her retreating figure, one that the uniform did a poor job concealing, and raised my voice.
"Need a ride?"
She stopped in her tracks and turned towards me, a tint of red flushing her cheeks, she stammered a little, "Oh, um, I-I can walk… It's a nice n-night out today."
I just kinda stared at her, which only made her blush even more and get a bit defensive, "What is it?"
I smiled and walked to her, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the Juggernaut.
"My word, relax a bit ok? We are going to be living and working together for the foreseeable future, the least I can do is take you back to our new home when I have the chance."
As we approached the walker I could practically hear the steam coming off her face as she hung her head staring at the floor.
The cockpit of the walker opened up and I stepped in first.
That's the moment I realized something.
'Where in the hell is she supposed to sit?'
The cab was just big enough for the pilot to have a bit of room to move their legs and stretch a little, not for an entire other person to join in for a ride-along.
I sighed and patted my lap, "Let's go, the quicker we get home the less uncomfortable it will be."
Now you know what a tomato looks like, right? Well, Lena's face looked just like that as see sat on my lap, the angle in which she sat making her rear rest directly on my lower half.
"I-I-I'm sorry for this…"
Her voice was so quiet I'm surprised I heard it. However, I just chuckled a bit and fired up the walker.
"Don't be, not every day I get to have a pretty girl like you on my lap."
"Ehhhh?"
An eeping sound escaped her lips that sounded so sweet I though I was having a heart attack.
Smiling, I began to steer us towards where we would be living together, and, I have to say… definitely one of the nicer rides I've had in my life.