The two Chimera paced around, Oki's body laid behind Kanesaki, Akio's behind 344. They both showed clear signs of hatred towards each other; one who hated the other for their freedom, one who hated the other for their lack of it.
Kanesaki rushed in first. Despite missing an arm, he had an undying will and blade which he used to it's full efficiency, attacking precisely towards 344's weak points. They were all blocked by the axe and 344 grunted as he swung it down, aiming for Kanesaki's head but he moved out the way. Kanesaki jumped backwards to catch his breath, 344 didn't stop, however.
He launched his axe forward, it missed Kanesaki in the landing but distracted him enough so that 344 could run in, leap over and slide down the hilt with one arm and twist his body to kick Kanesaki. The attack was dodged quickly but 344 pulled his leg back, the heel pulling Kanesaki into the other leg, which thrusted itself right into his face. He fell back, blood flowing from his head and nose.
'Get up, 287.'
Opening his eyes instinctively, Kanesaki rolled out the way to avoid the axe hitting the ground. He picked himself up and recovered his blade, facing the opposing Chimera with killing intent. They clashed again, still no victor. Cracks began to appear in the corners of Kanesaki's eyes. 344 took note and backed away.
'You're becoming stronger, deadlier... You have to be killed here or you'll threaten the humans!'
Looking down at his blade and body, drowned in blood both dry and fresh, Kanesaki thought of his objective, and why he even kept on living. He looked up, his eyes appeared like cracked glass, one tap away from shattering. 'Maybe I should use it to kill you, 344... Or whatever your name is...'
He dove forward, faster than last time; 344 couldn't keep up. Kanesaki released multiple attacks from all around; he twisted around and flipped over attacks to attack new areas. At some points, he'd even stab 344 and use his arms and legs to beat up the Chimera. It was a fast beat down, 344 stood no chance against Kanesaki's speed. Soon, 344 was left covered in wounds and cuts. A light amount of blood poured from his mouth as he looked around, trying to find Kanesaki.
He was nowhere. Until...
The red blue of the coat beamed in from of 344, he had no time to swing as the blade had been thrusted into his skull. His whole body fell back, the axe was released from his grip. His eyes focused thenion Kanesaki, standing over him. He yanked the blade from 344's skull, blood dripping from the tip down to the Chimera's already bloody shirt. His breathing calmed down, became slow and hoarse. Kanesaki aimed the blade just above the weakened Chimera's heart, he hesitated. 344, noticing this, tried to speak despite his skull trying to heal.
'Go on... Kill me...'
'Why? There's no point.'
'I'm just a broken weapon... No use is left for me... I couldn't even fulfill my master's dying wishes...'
Looking down into the Chimera's dying eyes, Kanesaki calmed down, his eyes losing their broken appearance, returning to how they were originally, before any of this.
'Why do you think that you're just a weapon? You've awoken, yet still serve as a tool.'
'Did you not obey when they told you your name growing up... Did you not obey when they ordered you to fight for them... Of course you did... It's our purpose... It's why we exist... Who cares if we understand ourselves or become free-thinking... It's our whole reason for being alive...'
Kanesaki stayed quiet as the Chimera grew angrier.
'If you turn on humanity then you're nothing but a worthless tool to be thrown away... Destroyed and repurposed for some other tool... That's why we live... That's why I stay loyal to these people... It's my purpose... It's my life...'
Silence.
Kanesaki thought for a moment of what to say next. The wind blew past his hair, the sun was slowly rising on the horizon behind him. He looked to the clouds above and gazed at them whilst he thought.
'If you had a name... What would it be?'
There was silence from 344. Kanesaki was still looking to the clouds but could hear his breathing. 344 knew he'd die shortly, he sighed slightly.
'I would've liked "Ningen"... I heard it's Japanese for "human"...'
Kanesaki smiled at the response, closing his eyes as he inhaled the air of the new day.
'It's a good choice... Ningen...'
The breathing had stopped, the blade had gone through his heart.
Kanesaki recovered his arm and stuck it back to the wound and they healed together before he picked up Akio's body and turned back to Ningen's. He sighed and went back over to it.
After a few minutes, he had dug a hole by the edge of the ridge facing the horizon. He placed the Chimera's body carefully into it before covering it. He thought to himself, They would just use you for an experiment.
He recovered Akio's body and made his way to the point where the ship was to pick them up. As it landed, two second-class officers ran out and helped Kanesaki with the body. Lieutenant Wachisaka stepped down too, staring at Kanesaki, then at the body.
'The Yatzul killed him, lieutenant. Officer Tadashi was killed deep within the facility and Nin-... Chimera 344 also died in the facility but was ripped apart by Yatzul; both bodies couldn't be recovered.'
He faced the ground as he spoke, dry blood and his messed up hair covered his eyes from the lieutenant. He nodded slowly and stepped aside to let the bloody Chimera past. The ship doors closed and it took off.
Kanesaki sat in silence, his mind was filled with emotions. Fear, sadness, anger, hatred, abandonment, anxiety, guilt. Each emotion clouded his brain as he held his head with his hands before letting out a deafening scream from his chair. The two officers shook at the sound of it and the lieutenant closed his eyes and simply sat in silence. It was obvious that Kanesaki had awakened, he chose not to say anything to spare the boy.
Takemoto mining facility mission details:
Officers-
First-class Oki Tadashi
First-class Akio Matsunaga
Chimera-
CL7-344
CL7-287
Deceased-
Both officers and CL7-344 (or, as dubbed by 287, "Ningen")
Chapter 10- end