A Cleaner VS A Machine
In the perspective of Exia…
Sooner or later their backup should arrive. Beatrix is in her clubroom by now after reporting in. I have to gear up myself so no one would identify me.
"Time to suit up, lock in, and go out!"
I grabbed my combat coat, mask, boots, and cap. The dark leather coat that I've been using all these years still holds up today and fits me well surprisingly. A metallic dark face mask to cover up my mouth for any funny business that might happen with poisonous gasses.
Black steel-toed ankle height combat boots to finish off my lower portion's armor. And finally my trusty black with a blue rimmed baseball cap to complete the look. Never thought I would see myself in this outfit again in a long time.
Then again life as a Cleaner never stops even if you're a parent now. I better keep up now or I'll be late to the party.
After a few minutes I arrived at the rendezvous point…
I gave myself distance from the school for now to assess the situation. Give it 30 seconds, as soon as I thought that, the machine arrived. I'll stick to my plan, let the kids panic for now.
If I hear gunshots then it's showtime.
"My body is my vessel…" I chanted these words and my sword appeared on my right hand.
I let out a sigh…
"Engaging the enemy!"
I leaped out of the building across the school towards the courtyard to begin my part in this operation.
Sooner later backup of that machine arrived and started to try and shoot the kids. I landed on one of the shooter's hands, slicing it off cleanly without any bloodshed.
"Holy shit?! The Cleaner?!" Shouted one of the ground troops as he pointed to my position.
"You boys are targeting innocent school children? For shame really, is this what you're best at doing your work? I pity the fool who let you work today." As I stabbed the man whom I sliced off his hands.
I raised my sword.
"Who's next?"
As rain of bullets goes in my direction and I begin my assault on the ground troops in the courtyard. Thankfully this school is big, so I can go all out on them fools.
My blade seems sharp today. Cutting them cleaner than I expected. Let not bloodshed stain this world, but your actions reflect how horrible the human condition has become. Just to clean up a rivalry between clubs.
This is just ridiculous.
"Is there any point of you fighting back on a clear one-sided fight?" I asked them.
And yet they kept shooting and shooting until their bullets ran out. All of their hope as well has somehow ran out.
They fell onto their knees. Seems like the aura hasn't gone away ever since I last wore this outfit. Some say it's something cursed.
I'm just doing my job, what's to be scared about anyways? I got close to one of the soldiers and raised his head using the tip of my sword and told them these words.
"This is the price you pay for disturbing the peace of this school." Soon quickly slitting his neck to end his life without pain.
I let them reflect on their actions for a while so I binded them up on the ground until I needed them. First I have to tackle this machine.
It's attacking public property, as I say that its head turned to my direction seemingly spotted me and began shooting down bullets down range. This is not effective against shields of course not to my surprise considering I already fought those guys just a few minutes ago.
"Initiate Anti-Magic ammunition…" The machine spoke!?
And started shooting some kind of special ammunition. They were harder to block this time, they're getting advanced now in terms of taking care against magic users. Though I fear for those young kids learning magic this time.
Those scientists might finally have found an edge against us. But then again they need to get back into the drawing board. I summoned back my sword, it's time to get serious.
"Alright scrapheap, you made something really interesting today. But I have to clean you off this courtyard."
Despite the brave speech I made. It wasn't easy. I was basically multitasking out there. Students are still around and I have to protect them from becoming collateral.
But it made one helluva impressive outcome to make me hyped up for a battle since the last time I had a great one. Though clearly there was a huge difference in skill level. And the machine wasn't taking it lightly.
After a while of playing around, I was about done taking chances with that machine. And finished it off as quickly as I finished all of my targets. A single clean slash.
The restrained soldiers on the ground saw everything I did. And felt even more of their will pouring out of their bodies… A bit too literal.
Finishing off those who weren't in my interest, by which, their leader of their squad specifically. I finally found their leader and sent him to a special realm for interrogation later. While I was cleaning up the mess of the robot.
A certain familiar face arrived…
"Took you a while to arrive here." I turned around to find out that familiar face was Claire.
"Hey, you took a while to finish that one robot. Are you becoming rusty now?" Asked Claire.
"Claire, it's been a while." Exia turned around.
"Yeah, it has been a long time since we last saw each other." Claire replied as she started a cigarette.
"How's life being a school nurse?" I asked.
"Well it's easier than my previous job. Secondly, it only got more interesting as soon as your daughter enrolled in this school for a mission I presume? It's been a while since I've done anything for the Intelligence division. So better fill me with the details later." Claire replied as smoked her cigarette.
"Can I have a request for you Claire?" Exia asked.
"Yeah? What is it?" Claire replied as she puffs out a smoke.
"It's just a small request." Said Exia.
Claire despite the basic appearance as a school nurse. Was a colleague I've worked with and was one of my classmates even. She's a specialist in Healing magic. But she resides a secret not a lot is known.
She uses her healing magic on the very opposite side of what is considered… "Healing", she is a force to be reckoned with if dealt with by opposition. She left being an agent but that doesn't stop her from doing any missions.
Now she just goes by doing contracts from the Intelligence Division.
"So what is the request anyways?" Asked Claire.
"I want you to support our cause here." I replied.
"What, you're doing charity work now, Exia?" Claire giggled.
"This is serious business Claire." I looked back at her with a sharp look.
"Alright, alright, you still couldn't get a joke once in a while. Tell me how bad the situation is?" Claire fell back slowly.
"First I need to do this." I snapped my fingers and closed up our location to isolate ourselves in this conversation.
"Isolation magic huh, I guess it's really serious then." Claire finally caught wind of the situation.
"It wouldn't be if the world wasn't in danger." I sighed.
After saying that Claire accidentally drops her cigarette.
"You okay Claire?" I asked.
"The world is in danger?!" Claire was shocked.
"I'm not joking Claire. I was tasked to protect someone who has the potential to end the world as we know it." I replied.
"But are you okay with me knowing this kind of information?" Claire responded.
"Well since you're out of work how about I hire you to join us. You keep doing your calm work and your only mission is to be insurance for my daughter who's out in the frontlines protecting said person."
"I guess so, who's the kid we're protecting?" Claire replied.
"Her name is Elizabeth Davis. You probably met her already."
"No way… That girl? They were taking down intruders inside the school." Claire was surprised.
"Then again she has friends now in the same club we graduated from…"
"I couldn't believe that girl was with your daughter and they saved a lot of lives. Despite them not killing anyone." Claire felt relieved.
"They probably found out about one of your designs. That gun concept of yours that doesn't kill its targets was pretty good. Those girls found a way to finally make it."
"I guess that's the reason why I didn't notice it. Those new kids are as impressive as I thought and sure I'll take care of business behind them. It's for the sake of the world anyways. And I still owe this world a lot." Claire replied.
"Anyways I'll be going now I still have a guy to interrogate. Don't worry about cleaning up. I already did the dirty work just to make sure the kids will be fine after this mess. I'll send you details later to know what really happened here."
I waved at her as I went through the portal to finish off my part here. Well done Bea, well done. I'm impressed you've found yourself some wonderful friends.