Chapter 8
As White's Gundam shuddered to a halt, a surge of adrenaline rushed through him. He knew he had to act fast. With a determined grit, he initiated the ejection sequence, forcing his way out from within the mechanical confines of the Gundam's cockpit.
The cockpit ejected forcefully, hurtling through the air like a projectile. As it soared, it began to somersault, spinning wildly against the backdrop of the sky. Each flip sent White tumbling within, the sheer force of the ejection causing him to collide with the interior walls, leaving him with small injuries.
With a deafening crash, the cockpit collided with the ground below, the impact reverberating through the earth. The sheer force of the landing caused the ground to crack and fracture.
Inside, White was thrown about like a ragdoll, the violent motion sending waves of pain through his body. Despite the chaos, he remained focused, steeling himself for what came next.
The cockpit continued to roll with momentum, hurtling towards a looming rock formation. With a final, bone-jarring impact, it came to an abrupt stop, sending plumes of smoke billowing from the battered doors.
Slowly, White pushed open the door, the hinges groaning in protest. He emerged, his body aching from the ordeal. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he collapsed onto the ground, the adrenaline wearing off to reveal the full extent of his injuries. Yet, even as he lay there, battered and bruised, his resolve remained unbroken. Rising to his feet, He started walking back towards his house to get his phone to call his son.
As he staggered back and forth, wincing from the injuries he'd sustained, he neared his house. Suddenly, the doorknob jiggled as the door swung open from within, jolting him with surprise and causing him to question himself.
"Junior already home? Seems too soon," muttered White to himself.
"Junior, you back?" he called out, his voice tinged with hope.
But there was no response from within. After a tense moment, the door swung wider, revealing a figure that wasn't who White had anticipated. Surprise flickered across his face as he took in the unexpected sight.
"Charles, what are you doing here?" White's surprise was evident on his face as he spoke.
"Hey, buddy! Just popped in for some maintenance," Charles chuckled, his hand casually resting on the back of his head.
"When did you arrive?" White inquired, curiosity tinging his words.
"Why all the questions?" Charles's tone shifted, becoming more serious.
"Just wondering. You know, protocol and all," White replied, a hint of tension in his voice.
"Relax, I told you, it's just routine maintenance for my robot parts," Charles reassured him, his expression softening.
"Is that so," said White, squinting as he struggled to trust Charles's words.
"Let's forget it," White suggested, his tone tinged with frustration.
Attempting to walk into his house, White found himself halted by Charles, who stood firmly in the doorway.
"What's going on, Charles?" White inquired, his brow furrowing with confusion.
Avoiding eye contact, Charles remained silent, refusing to offer any explanation.
"Charles, I'm running out of patience here. Tell me why you're blocking me from entering my own house!" White's voice raised in frustration, echoing through the tense air.
Softly, Charles responded, "I'm sorry, White."
Confused, White asked, "What are you sorry about?"
Charles, tears tracing down his cheeks, explained, "My family was threatened, White. You understand family, right? You have a son, so you get it."
Puzzled, White inquired further, "What do you mean?"
Then, like a light bulb switching on, White pieced it all together. The three people he just faced were mere sacrificial pawns, meant to manipulate him into using the prototype Gundam.
Realization sinking in, White muttered to himself, "But I haven't told anyone I took it with me. The only person who knew was..."
A sinking feeling hit him. "Oh no," White exclaimed, turning to Charles. Heartbroken, he asked, "Was it Kelvin who sent you?"
Charles turned his face away, a faint grimace crossing his features as he spoke, "I was under Kelvin's orders, sent here to watch over you. Then, today, he called, instructing me to sneak into your house and snatch the 20 Gundams. He even provided me with a transport drone, claiming you'd be occupied fighting the three people he sent."
White's eyes widened in disbelief at what he heard. He couldn't fathom Kelvin's betrayal.
"So, Kelvin double-crossed me just for those 20 Gundams," White muttered, a mixture of shock and bitterness evident in his voice. He then burst into laughter, a manic sound echoing in the room.
"So, Kelvin set this whole thing up," White murmured, a sense of betrayal evident in his voice
Observing White's distressed state, Charles couldn't help but feel sorry for him. His phone rang, displaying Kelvin's name on the screen. With a heavy sigh, Charles answered the call.
"Hello, sir. I've completed the transport. They'll be on their way to you soon," Charles relayed dutifully.
"Oh okay, should I give the phone to White?" Charles said, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Moving purposefully, Charles strode towards White, the phone gripped firmly in his hand. With a determined air, he placed the device against White's ear, his movements steady despite the turmoil brewing within him. "Kelvin said I should give you the phone," he stated tersely.
"Hello, White," Kelvin's voice echoed through the receiver.
As White heard Kelvin's voice on the other end, a rush of conflicting emotions surged through him. His fists clenched instinctively, the knuckles turning pale with a mix of anger and hurt. The betrayal cut deep, like a fresh wound reopening, igniting a fierce flame of resentment within him.
His expression darkened, his features twisting with a blend of fury and disbelief. It was as though a floodgate had been opened, unleashing a wave of pent-up rage that had been brewing beneath the surface. A bitter taste filled his mouth, his heartbeat thundering in his ears. In that moment, all he could think of was the burning desire to confront the one who had betrayed him.
"Why did you betray me, Kelvin?" White's voice reverberated with a potent mix of anger and bloodlust, each word dripping with raw emotion.