Chapter 27: Parallel Self

Deros

Vyran turned around after looking at his mecha with sadness. 

"Deros, hold out Aegisa's hand."

I did as he asked. He jumped out of Valkyrie to my mecha's right.

Opening up my cockpit, I reach my hand out for his and pulled him in.

"Varia..." Vyran murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as he glanced at his unconscious sister.

"She's fine" I said.." Now, let's get you two some rest."

He closed his eyes and fell next to his sister. Poor guy must've been exhausted. He had pushed himself and his mecha to their limits.

I eyed Valkyrie which was releasing smoke. Could it be fixed?

Grabbing it, I dunked it into the sea to prevent it from overheating. Although, the salt could ruin some of its components.

As Vyran and Varia slumbered, I piloted Aegisa towards our fallback location. It was a small, remote island, further from the mainland than our original base. It was a secluded spot, perfect for us to regroup and lick our wounds without being disturbed.

The journey was quiet, only the hum of Aegisa's engines and the occasional squawk of a seabird breaking the silence. The sea stretched out around us, its surface glistening under the setting sun. It was a peaceful scene, a stark contrast to the chaos and destruction we had just left behind.

As we neared the island, I could see the dense foliage that covered its surface, the trees swaying gently in the breeze. There was a small beach, its white sands untouched and pristine. The war hadn't reached this corner of the world, yet. Hopefully, it would remain that way.

I steered Aegisa towards the beach, the mech's footsteps leaving deep impressions in the sand once I landed. I set Valkyrie down gently, ensuring it wouldn't sink into the water. The once mighty mech looked pitiful, its chrome surface charred and dented. I wondered if it could be fixed. If not, it would be a significant loss. It would mean I was the only one who could fight.

The two siblings were still deep in slumber, their faces peaceful. Seeing them like this, I almost forgot and my own loss. My city had fallen... Ironically to a me from a parallel universe.

I sighed, running a hand through my short blond hair. We had a long road ahead. We had suffered a significant blow today, but we weren't beaten yet. As soon as we could, we had to come up with our next destination.

As the night fell, I took one last look at the slumbering siblings. They had fought bravely today, and they deserved their rest. But tomorrow, we would have to start planning our next move.

With no immediate threats to worry about, I allowed myself to settle into Aegisa's pilot seat. The soft hum of the mech's systems was oddly comforting, a reminder that we still had a fighting chance.

I stared out at the sea, the moonlight casting a silver glow over the waves. A sense of calm washed over me, a stark contrast to the chaos of the day. But beneath the calm, a storm was brewing.

We had escaped the enemy's clutches today, but they would be back. And they wouldn't stop until they had conquered Orginal. It was up to us to stop them.

Orginal couldn't fall. I wouldn't let it! Not while I had breath in my lungs. Even if it meant fighting myself, I would take back my home!

---

The next day, I left Aegisa to look for some food. As I got out, I glanced at the charred Valkyrie.

I walked over to it and began running diagnostics on it to see if it could be fixed. If not, maybe we could salvage the good parts that remained.

Valkyrie's diagnostics system was mostly intact - a small piece of good news amidst the wreckage. As I began the scan, I couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia. I remembered when Vyran and I fought one another. That was only a few days ago, yet felt like a lifetime.

The scan took a while, the system sputtering and wheezing as it struggled to function. Finally, the results came through. The damage was extensive, but not irreparable. With some hard work and a bit of luck, Valkyrie could be brought back to life. Although, we would have to find repair parts. That could be harder now that Titanos was taking over Orginal's cities.

Satisfied, I left Valkyrie to rest, turning my attention to more immediate concerns - food. The island was lush and green, a sure sign of life. I ventured into the forest, my eyes scanning the foliage for any edible plants or fruits.

Walking through the forest, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves rustling softly. The chirping of birds and the occasional rustle of small creatures in the underbrush were the only sounds that broke the silence.

After a while, I came across a grove of fruit trees, their branches heavy with ripe, juicy fruits. I picked as many as I could carry, my mouth watering. We hadn't eaten anything since last morning, not counting the Coffa mom gave us.

On my way back, I spotted a pool, the water clear and inviting. I filled up my water bottle, the cool liquid a welcome relief from the heat. I also caught some fish, their scales glistening in the sunlight. It wasn't a feast, but it was better than nothing.

When I returned, I saw Vyran staring at his charred mecha.

"I ran diagnostics on it," I said. "It can be fixed but we will need to find parts. It won't be easy."

Vyran turned to look at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and worry. "We'll find a way," he said, determination lacing his voice. "Valkyrie saved me more times than I can count. It's my turn to save her."

I nodded, appreciating his resolve. "We'll start first thing tomorrow," I promised. "But for now, let's eat. We need to keep our strength up."

Together, we prepared the fish and fruits I had gathered, the simple meal tasting like a feast after not eating.

My eyes looked up at Aegisa. I opened it up and walked in, bringing some food for Varia.

She was still deep asleep.

I frowned and ran my hand through her hair. To think it was another me who did this... I knew he wasn't me, but... it made me wonder if I could've been that ruthless. No, it wasn't a conjecture. I knew the answer, deep down. It was a yes.

I had seen my own potential for ruthlessness in our battles. I had pushed myself and Aegisa to our limits, and didn't think twice about killing my enemies. But what set me apart from my parallel self was my refusal to harm the innocent, to let my city fall into the hands of the enemy in order to spare more casualties.

As I watched Varia sleep, I made a silent vow. I would protect her, Vyran, and Orginal, no matter what it took. Even if it meant facing my parallel self again, I would not back down.

After ensuring Varia was comfortable, I returned to Vyran. He had finished eating and was staring at the sea, his expression thoughtful. I joined him, our shoulders brushing as we sat in silence.

"We'll fix Valkyrie," I said after a while, breaking the silence. "And together, we'll take back Orginal."

Vyran turned to look at me, a small smile on his face. "You're pretty strong, you know? Your hometown fell, yet you aren't crying."

His words took me aback. I was silent for a moment, my gaze fixed on the gentle waves lapping at the shore. "Crying won't bring back our city," I replied quietly. "And it won't stop the enemy. Our tears won't save us. Only our actions can."

Vyran nodded, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "You're right," he admitted. "I've been focusing too much on what we've lost. But we need to focus on what we still have, and what we can do."

"We have each other," I said, meeting his gaze. "And we still have a chance to change things. As long as we have that, we can keep going."

Vyran gave me a small smile, his eyes filled with a new sense of determination. "You're right," he said, his voice steady. "Let's focus on what we can do."

I nodded, returning his smile. "Yeah. We can only move forward." 

Commander Zolstein

I glanced at the ruins of the city we had taken. Being in this place felt like deja vu. It must've been because this was my other self's hometown.

"Son!" a woman called out. Her face was ashen with soot. "You're alive."

Several of my soldiers quickly pointed their guns at her.

"Don't shoot," I said as I took my hands out of my pockets. I approached the lady. She looked different from my mom, but she had the same vibe. An overprotective and caring lady. It made me miss home a little, as harsh as it might've been.

"Deros. Why are you wearing that get up? Come, your father and the others are worried about you. Where are your friends?"

"Listen, lady. I am not Deros. My name is Zepheria Zolstein, Commander of the fifth Imperial Division of the Great Titanos Empire."

She frowned. "T-then Deros... Where is he?"

I sighed. "I know not the answer. But he likely is safe, for now. He and his friends escaped my grasp."

The woman's face filled with relief, her hand flying to her chest as if to steady her racing heart. "Thank the heavens," she murmured, her eyes welling up with tears. "He's safe... My boy is safe..."

I watched her, a strange feeling stirring within me. This woman was not my mother, but her concern for her son was genuine. It reminded me of my own mother, of the relieved looks she would give me whenever I returned from a mission. 

"Tell him... tell him we're okay," the woman said, her eyes pleading. "Tell him not to worry about us. We'll manage."

I nodded, a small smile gracing my lips. "I'll make sure to pass on the message if I see him," I promised. 

And with that, I turned away, leaving the woman to her relief. As I walked away, I couldn't help but look back at the ruins of the city. This was once a thriving place, full of life and laughter. But now, it was nothing more than a desolate wasteland.

But it wasn't my problem, was it? I was only doing my job. I was a soldier, after all. My duty was to my empire, not to the people of the cities we conquered. Although I didn't plan to leave the people in ruin. We were conquers, not monsters.

But as I looked at the destruction we had wrought, I couldn't help but feel a pang of... what? Guilt? Regret? I wasn't sure. But whatever it was, it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

As I climbed back into my mech, a thought crossed my mind. Was this what Deros was trying to protect? His home, his people... his family. Was this why he fought so hard against us? 

I shook my head, dispelling the thoughts. It didn't matter. Deros was my enemy, just like those who resisted us. And I would do whatever it took to bring them down. All for the glory of Titanos, all for my little brother...