1 On That Day, Our Promise.

I remember it like just happened yesterday. I was but a child then. Johan and me were friend, bestest of friend. Often because of our different in societal status, we cannot play together.

You see, our ship, The Behemoth contains 4 compartment. The lower, that where most people lives. Me and my mother lives here and most here just happened to be poor. The middle, this is where people with a little bit more wealth lives. Johan and his family lives here. Me and my mother used to lives here too until father abandoned us. There are also The High and The official. There where people who are important lives.

Johan, from time to times would come to my place to play. And on that day, he came.

"O miss Marsel! Miss Marsel!"

"Ah, master Johan. Are you here to see Henry again?"

"Yes miss Marsel, is Henry home?"

"Henry!! Get yourselve here! master Johan is waiting."

It was a usual day for when Johan came. We played like there is no tomorrow. We would go to the field, the dump, even the place we called The Crusher where old vehicle are being crushed. And when we got tired, we would go to the grassy field near Mr. Anderson's house. He was a sickly old man and lives alone. I guess that is why he loved us. He always brought some tasty sweets with him. Once, i ate so much sweets until my teeth hurts and mother yelled at me. Everything was great.

"Ne Johan, what lies behind that giant wall?"

"you mean the ship hull?"

"no, that giant wall!"

"yeah that is part of the hull you silly."

"okay, so what lies behind?"

"i dont know myself. I asked my father once, He said that everything yet nothing lies behind the ship hull."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"I know! That is why i once said to my father that i wanted to go beyond the hull."

"You did? Did your father get you there?"

"No, My mother yelled at me afterwards."

"Man, i always dreamed to see what lies beyond."

"Well, maybe you can become like my father. He is a Mech pilot and he always go beyond the hull."

"Mech pilot?"

Ah yes, asking Johan about a mech. Wrong move, even today. I remember what happened after that. Apparently, Johan kinda just knew what a mech is and he was eager to show me one.

"A mech is awesome you know! Its a giant metal that is shaped like us."

"What?"

"Well, its better to show you one instead of me describing it. Come on."

Johan and his eagerness and smile, oh how things have changed. He would grab my hand and we both ran to The Elevator together. Apparently, patrolling mech only patrols on middle section and above, even today. Oh how i missed little Johan. When we were there at the elevator, Johan as usual, would make excuses on why me, a slum boy would need to go to middle section. Johan, very clever was he, always came up with some lame excuses and the guy running the elevator somehow always allowed us through.

When we got up to middle section, i was amazed by all that glitter and polish. Everything felt so different. Even the streets were different. They were filled with people, vehicles, flying vehicles, and walking vehicles.. uh i mean mech! Uh lots of mech! I dont know how Johan can endure living in our home after living there.

Johan was pointing at a gigantic metallic man. You know the drill what i was describing. But that day was unusual even for Johan. There were just too many Mech.

*Johan, what happened. I am scared."

"I don't know Henry, i have never seen so many Mech at the same place."

"Johan, I wan to go home."

Yeah, i was scared shitless. I mean, imagine a little boy seeing that many Mechs marching in unison. Apparently on that day there was a parade. They have just finished manufacturing the newest Valkyrie model VKR-M2. I assume you already familiar with VKR-M2. You haven't heard? Perhaps another time. Yeah, on that parade The Director himself was there and he gave us a speech, i believe it went something like this.

"People of The Behemoth, the day has come for our salvation. Too long have we been at the mercy of The Scourge. Too long have our people suffered. Too long have we been handed our asses. But not for long, for today you see in front of you The Scourge Killer! Designed and made by the brightest people from amongs you. This amazing Mech will brings us closer to victory and brings us closer to Freedom! Long live humanity! Long live humanity! All hail humanity!"

"Hail humanity!"

Everyone shouted with their arm lifted to just above their shoulder. Even the mechs were doing it. Then, its all closed with a loud bang from an empty shell firing. It was a powerful moment, for me and Johan. I could see sparkle in his eyes. And on that day we made promise to each other.

"We are gonna be a mech pilot."

"Yes Johan, I wanna pilot that giant metal".

"Its called a mech you silly."

"Ah yes a mech, sorry."

After that, we went home in our separate ways. I told my mom about what i just saw and my promise to Johan. But she didnt like it. She would proceed to beat me like there was no tomorrow. Then i cried like alot like there is no tomorrow. But then, she grabbed me and for some reason we cried together that night. Oh mom, how i miss you.

That was a great day, but with everything great, it didn't last long for The Director was wrong.

T2ggSm9oYW4sIG15IGJyb3RoZXIuCgpUaGUgZGF5cyB3ZSBzcGVudCB0b2dldGhlci4KCk1heSB0aGV5IGxhc3QgZm9yZXZlci4=