Fall of the last bastion.

Emmett just stands still, completely baffled, before snapping back into his normal state.

"I hope you'll understand when I say that I dont believe you. He was left behind during the fall of Dam City." Says Emmett sounding almost sorrowful.

"Oh, so thats what happened. My question is, what EXACTLY happened back then?" Asks Jack in a calm, almost frighteningly calm, manner.

"We had no choice. The Dam City was our last fortres, we setted up our defences against the attack..." Says Emmett, before getting interrupted.

"Waitwaitwait! ... storytime, let me sit down." Says Jack and proceeds to sit down with his AMCWU cross-legged.

Emmett stares at him for a few seconds, as he remembers that Jack used to sit like this whenever they exchanged stories in the barracks. In his mind, there were two possibilities. One, it was really his old friend miraculously coming back from the ashes of the Dam City. Or two, the machines using his past, to infiltrate his people... and haunt him.

"Alright... if you say so... Storytime then..." Says Emmett slowly.

25 years ago...

Battle of Dam City

EK014P...

"Command to all units, take your assigned positions, enemy forces have entered the valley ETA 25 minutes. We are arming the mine fields. All of you who have any religion to turn to, pray to your gods, we will need help from all of them."

("We've become truly desperate.") Thinks 014. (The commander... an atheist... calling for help to gods. This is not going to end well.")

"Captain 014, captain 014!" Yells a pilot rushing over to 014.

"What is it private?" Asks 014.

"The 7th defence platoon has assembled and is awaiting your orders, sir!"

"Quit that 'sir' thing, call me 014, well... since you're here let me ask you a question."

"Anything, sir!" Says the private.

"Alright one... How do you thing were gonna fare in the upcomming battle? Speak honestly, because what you've heard on the briefing, about what we're up against was nothing but pure bullsh!t." Says 014.

The private thinks for a second before answering.

"To be honest, sir. We are well prepared against a frontal attack and we have the skies covered with AA sites all over the Dam."

"The mountain terrain is too steep for even the lightest AMCWU's to cross, so the enemies will have no choice but to attack us head on, and as long as they dont get behind the front moats we should be able to handle anything they throw at us."

Says the private.

"Interesting..." Says 014 as he considers his opinion. "Alright second question... What did I tell you to call me?" Says 014.

The private is stunned for a second.

"Sorry, sir... I mean 014."

"Thats more like it... Okay lets go, we have a Dam to protect."

.....

014 arives to the rally point, where over 3 dozen AMCWUs are waiting on stand by.

After a brief intriduction. He began explaining the strategy.

"We will be positioned on the north-east mid defensive lines, directly in front of the main entrance to the Dam. Our primary objective remains the same, do not let the enemy cross the front line defence, lay down suppressive fire when possible."

"However, our secondary objective is direct protection of the main entrance. In the event of the enemy crossing the front, and breaking through the mid lines in any location, our platoon has received explicit orders to fall back, intercept and destroy any and all hostiles, that so much as try to get close to the entrance."

"After that we are supposed to remain by the entrance, and act as the last line of defence."

"To summarise it: Move when I say move, and shoot everything you see that isnt human!"

"Now listen you fools! Some of you might be rookies who just got their implants, and some of you might think themselves highhorse professionals who saw it all. But to me, you're all the same, you are pilots, you are the brave warriors, the last defenders of free human race."

"And you see that?"

Says 014 and points towards the Dam City.

"You see that. That is the last beacon, the last flame humanity has to keep away the darkness. And these cold machine think they can just come and smother it?"

"What do we say to that?"

Asks 014.

"Nay!" Answers the platoon.

"Their leader, Eden, is said to like trying to settle things diplomaticaly to talk things over. Well I say: Let grenades be our diplomacy, and our guns to do the talking!"

What follows is a cacophony of agrees and cheers.

"Now get out there, to your positions men, the enemy is upon us!" Says 014 and he and his men set out towards their designated position.

*After several days of perpetual fighting.

"3rd platoon to 7th platoon... *pant* our unit... *static* destroyed, I'm... *static* in the cockip. The... *static* *static* the midlines! Coun... *static* sprinters! Oh god! NO! Nooooooo... AHHH... *static* *static* *static*.... "

"7th to 3rd, repeat, how many sprinters?

There is no response.

" 7th to 3rd, do you copy?" Says 014.

No response.

"3rd respond!"

....

"Damn it, is there no end to this?!... 7th, we're moving to the gate, lay down covery fire on my mark! .... Now! Go, go, go!" Yells Emmett as he and his men make a break for the gate, occasionally stoping to take cover and firing back at the enemy behind them.

....

"Over there, sprinters! Fire, fire!" The 7th stops and opens fire at the sprinters who breached the defences and just came into their view, bullets fly and grenades shake the ground as the machines exchange fire. Until...

"Eat this toasters!... What? What the hell?!" 014 exclaims as his weapon stops shooting.

"Warning, ammunition depleted." Says Emmett's PAI.

"Aw, f*ck this, cover me!" Says 014, holding his handheld weapon by the barrel and charging forward, taking heavy fire but also providing a welcome distraction and an opportunity for his men to double down on firing at the enemy.

Meanwhile 014 closes gap between him and the closest enemy AAMCWU and bats it with his weapon to the head, with such vigor that both the enemy's head and his weapon shatter into pieces from the concussive force.

The struck AAMCWU falls to the ground. But its not over. Without missing a beat 014 hurls himself and his AMCWU onto another enemy with tigerish ferocity toppling it to the ground, pummelling and ripping it to scrap.

The other hostiles turn their attention to him, but the moment they do, the rest of the 7th platoon is in the complete clear to rain down punishment for this mistake in their programing.

Once the dust in that particular area of the conflict settles, they move in to investigate and if possible recover their captain. Who's AMCWU is laying flat on its back, several large holes punched into its armor with smoke coming out of them, without any indication of movement or life.

"712 to 014, do you read us captain?" Says one of the pilots when approaching the 014 AMCWU's wreckage.

"... *static*... "

"716 check his beacon." Says 712.

"The beacon is still trasmiting his vitals, he might just be uncoscious." Says 716.

"Captain, do you read?" Asks 712 again.

"... *static* *static*... Yeah I read, but only comic books." Says 014, unamused.

"Thank, goodness you're alive." 712 breathes a sigh of relieve.

"Thanks for stating the obvious, I'll have to ask you guys to do me a favour." Says 014.

"Anything, sir!" Says 712.

"I'll need you guys to drag my AMCWU to the maintenance bay on the first level, I've lost all mobility, weapons, most of my sensors and the armor might as well be called cheese with how many holes it has." Says 014.

"Yes, sir! 715 grab him by the other shoulder help me get him inside!" 712 calls out to 715 who was guarding the area in case more hostiles showed up.

.....

Dam City...

First level...

Maintenance bay...

"Locking secure, shutting down all system..." Says 014 once his AMCWU is securely seated atop the maintenance bay 'chair'.

The system shutdown begins, and the feeling of shrinking overwhelms him as his link with the AMCWU is severed.

"Exiting cockpit..." He says and opens the hatch leading outside of the AMCWU.

And as much as the battlefield was noisy with all the rumbling, gunshots and explosions 014 cant but frown in relief at the cacophony of grinders, drills and welders in the maintenance bay as he walks down the support structute.

Because unlike the battlefield where he is in constant danger, here in the maintenance bay, the only real danger would be running into...

"EMMETT KLAIGHTON!!! YOU'RE DEAD!!!" A furious shriek pierces the already noisy interior of the maintenance bay, making several bay workers turn their heads in shock, and then thinking better of it after realizing who the voice belongs to.

A woman in her late twenties, climbing the stairs of the support structure at an alarming rate, taking them 3 at a time. Heading straight to Emmett who just recovered from the massive shiver down his spine.

"O-oh, good to see you, Maxine." Says Emmett, immediately beginning to sweat.

"Dont you, 'good to see you', me! Says Maxine.

"Well? Care to explain what is this?!" She asks pointing towards Emmett's AMCWU.

"Y-you know that that is my AMCWU, right?" Asks Emmett.

"Dont play dumb with me!" She exclaims grabbing him by his suit's collar and dragging him to, eye to eye height. "Care to explain the state it is in?"

"W-well, I was hoping you'd tell me. After the encounter we had, with the enemy, the damage assesment monitor stopped working properly, so I have no idea!" Says Emmett, putting up a stupid lie to try and worm his way out of the upcoming argument.

"Oh, if that true then let me abreviate its state. Its... SCREWED! Totaled! Completely and uttery FUBARED!"

"Cant make an omelet without brealing a few eggs, eheheh." Emmett chuckles awkwardly.

"Now, listen... The state of your machine, I can forgive. You awful jokes... perhaps. But the reason it is like this is what I cannot! What were you thinking!?" Says Maxine, letting go of his collar, instead throwing her arms around him, shaking all over with, up to now hidden, worry.

The few workers who were close enough to overhear or see this little scene, either rolled their eyes or sighed in relief. It was no secret that those two were in a relarionship,

a longterm one at that. Not even to the commander, who agreed to permit its existence, as long as it doesnt get in the way of their duties.

But lately, for others, their relationship became something more than just two people spending time together. It became a source of inspiration. To everyone, as long as there was a man alive who could find love and compassion, even in this time of war, desperation and gloom, then there was still hope.

"Now... tell me... how does it look outside?" Asks Maxine finally breaking the silence between them.

"The weather isnt any good, its a total hurricane of bullets and... Oh, who am I kidding, no humor can lighten the way things are going out there." Says Emmett, sounding serious.

"Is it really that bad?" Asks Maxine.

"Bad, doesnt even begin to give it justice. We're well and truly eating sh!t out there. We've lost contact with over 80% of our fronline units and the others have reported, to be overrun, extreme casualties. Our midline has already been breached. And dont even get me started on whats going on with the artillery platoons" Says Emmett, clenching his fists.

"Whats with the artillery?" Asks Maxine.

"The artillery stopped receiving strike coordinates and were told to fire randomly, and as fast as they could, anywhere around the frontlines, its one huge mess." He says and looks down on Maxine's worried face.

"I'll have to head out soon again, this time we'll stay close to the entrance and provide cover for the ones in need of repairs and rearming. What can you get me?" Emmett asks pulling himself back together.

Maxine sighs and takes out a PDA. "Your AMCWU is nothing short of barely running wreck, we'll have to strip it for the parts that still work and the rest is pretty much ready for scrapping, to that length you are without one. Says Maxine flipping through the digital pages. Until finaly finding what she was looking for.

"However you are in luck. The 12th platoon managed to tow back one of their neutralised AMCWUs. The pilot is still on the operating table so its just been sitting around. Its not in that bad of a shape, we'll get it fixed and fitted ASAP and you can be out of the hangar in few hours. I recommend using the time you have to get some shut-eyes. You've been fighting for several days now, proper sleep albeit short cant do you any worse than not sleeping at all. Once the AMCWU is ready, I'll send someone to go get you." Says Maxine leaving off to her duties.

Meanwhile Emmett knowing that he wouldnt be able to sleep, decided to visit an old friend, one who he wasnt able to talk to much because of the 'recently' events.

So he left the hangar and took the nearest elevator to level 4.

He didnt get many chances to come here, because of the war, his constant assignments, and his workload in general. But by strange twist of fate, wherever he did come here, Doctor Zavlovski was there too. And today was no exception.

"How's he doing doc?" Emmett asks without even properly greeting the doctor.

"Ah, Emmett fancy seing you here." Says Zavlovski without looking away from the console. "He's doing fine, I was just checking his vitals and brainwaves. He's showing an interesting activity as of late." Says Zavlovski.

"What's with him?" Asks Emmett.

"Its nothing dangerous, I assure you. Its just interesting." Says Zavlovski.

"Doc... you're killing me. What's with him?" Emmett asks again.

*Sigh...* "Its his brain waves, look here." Says Zavlovski and turns his PDA over to him so that he can see.

"These waves represent normal brainwaves a human should have in his state." He says and points on several curved lines. "Now keep in mind... these are normal and these..." Says Zavlovski and swipes left. "These are his."

After a short delay of loading the PDA displays waves are higher that normal but that doesnt concern the two. What concerns them is a reading that instead of waves looks more like a carpent of sharp spikes.

"When did you record these?" Asks Emmett who, even without being an expert, knows that this is not good.

"This isnt a recording, they're more or less in real time." Says Zavlovski.

"What does this mean?" Asks Emmett.

"This particular wave, indicates his current emotional state. As you can see his emotions are nothing short of heightened." Says Zavlovski.

"Do we know which emotions?" Asks Emmett

"We do... but, call it my morbid curiosity if you must, I am intersted to see which emotions you think might be causing these spikes." Says Zavlovski.

"I wouldnt be surprised if they we're fear, surprise, shock." Says Emmett, staring at the PDA.

"Why do you think its those?" Asks Zavlovski.

"The attack that put him into this state, was a surprise one, surprise leads to shock and shock triggers fear." Says Emmett.

"Interesting thoughts Emmett. Right assumption..." Zavlovski double taps the spike wave. "... wrong conclusion." The wave is taken appart and divided into several more lines, most of which look calm, almost flat. Exept for one, which is nothing but high spikes.

"You assumed the spikes are caused by fear, but that is not true. This subwave represents fear." Zavlovski points on one of the bottom rows.

"This one however..." He points at the spiked one. "... represents anger." Says Zablovski.

"Anger, what does this mean?" Asks Emmett.

"It means, he's upset, deeply enraged, furious even." Says Zavlovski. "To a point where his own brain can suffer damage from it."

"His brain can damage itself like this?!" Asks Emmett in shock.

"It can, but I will not allow it. Can you help me with something?" Asks Zavlovski.

"What do you need doc?" Answers Emmett.

"Excelent, go to the medical storage on level 3, and bring me 2 containers of HCSC7 and 1 of Hymatiolin, in the meantime I'll prepare things here. Tell the storagemaster I sent you, should help speed things along." Says Zavlovski and starts fiddling with the vitae chamber.

"... Off to the medical storage I go then..." Emmett says to himself as he heads to the elevator.

After speaking to the storagemaster for few minutes he gets the tanks he needs and returns.

"Here are the tanks you wanted." Says Emmett as he sets the tanks down beside the vitae chamber.

"Oh, you're back already?" Zavlovski pokes his head out from under the vitae chamber. "Good, I am also almost done, could you please help me get them in here?" Asks Zavlovski.

"Sure... Hey doc, what's... even... in these?" Asks Emmett as he pushes the tanks on the ground underneath the vitae chamber.

"Those 2 tanks are full of class 7 highly concentrated sedatives. One milliliter of this is enough to lay a humback whale on its back, so it ought to do a good job here. The third one is full of Hymatiolin, which is a potent antidepresant. This new adition I've made monitors the brainwaves, once the readings approach the danger zone, the system will administer a miniscule ammount of these drugs, large enough to calm him down but not enough for him to develop any lasting dependace on the drugs. If he did, it would make things complicated... for everyone that is." Says Zavlovski as he finishes connecting the whole contraption to the chamber.

"Good it looks like its working lets check his condition now." Says Zavlovski and brings out his PDA. "Look at this, its working!" He says as he turns the display towards Emmett.

Yes, the spikes really began steadily declining as the administered chemicals entered the chamber ocupant's body.

"Is this all doc, I wanted to have a few words with him." Says Emmett, suddenly remembering that he might not get another chance.

Zavlovski gives him a currious look, but then shrugs and says. "Do as you please, I dont need to tell you that he cant hear you. Not because he's in a coma, but because the whole thing is made soundproof."

Emmett gives him a look of his own and then turns to the chamber and to his Sleeping Beauty of a friend.

"Its been a long time old pal, longer than I'd like..." Emmett begins recounting all the things that had happened during Jack's absence from consciousness, as he had done a number of times countable on one hand, because of the war and his nigh constant assignments.

"... You need to hurry up in there, I dont think we can hold them off for much longer, I know I'm asking for a lot... actually for the impossible here, but I need all the help I can get." Says Emmett.

"Emmett!" Says Maxine suddenly appearing behind him.

"Maxine? Why are you here?" He asks.

"Why do you think wiseass. The guy I sent to your barracks said you werent there, so I figured you'd probably be here, meeting an 'old friend' I see." Says Maxine.

"You know, sometimes its almost scary of how much you know about my behavior." Says Emmett.

"Its my job to know where everything is. Anyway the AMCWU is ready, I've just had the codes transfered to you. You can deploy whenever you're ready." Says Maxine.

"One sec, ok?" Says Emmett and turns to the vitae chamber once more. "Get well soon, wouldnt want you to miss all the 'fun' were having here." Says Emmett and turns away, heading back into the fray.

*2 days later...

"7th to command, we have secured the midlines, the enemy has been pushed back. Do you have an overview of the situation up ahead?" Asks 014 after clearing their part of the moat.

"Command to 7th, the enemy is falling back, keep pushing, whatever it is what you're doing its working, keep at it!" Says the commander as he looks over the tactical layout of the battlefield.

"Understood... 7th! Move out!" Says Emmett as he leads his platoon further out to push back the retreating enemies.

Meanwhile the commander's forehead creases with worry.

"Are you alright commander?" Asks on of the officers in the command center.

"I am fine... but it doesnt make sence, the enemy had us in the bag, we we're down to our last defences, and now they're falling back? Why? And what does it mean?" Says the commander, scratching at his hair.

"Permision to suggest as to why the enemy is taking this course of action." Says the officer.

"Granted." Says the commander.

"They are probably trying to regroup and form a unified attack front. Up untill now the way our enemy has gained any ground was thanks to small breached in the defensive lines and their ability to flank us. As our units fell back however the stretched out defences became thicker and their advance slowed down, but if they attack en-masse their sheer numbers will overwhelm us." Says the officer.

"That's a good theory, lets hope its right... Command to artillery platoons, focus fire behind the line of retreating enemies do not allow them to form a large group! Thin the herd!" The commanders orders are then handed to the artillery platoons who spare no time before reaiming and firing the first volley of high explosive shells.

....

The enemy is still on retreat, already far ahead of the front lines, but they keep going. "This is suspicious." Emmett thinks to himself and stops to look back towards the Dam. They're very far away even if they made haste, if something were to happen it'd take them too much time to get back.

And then he saw it. Durring the battle, most of the forests in the area caught fire, but everyone was too preoccupied to put them out, so the forests burned to the ground and the gray smoke filled the whole sky.

It was thanks to this that Emmett finally noticed that which eluded the eyes of everyone until now. When he looked back, the still rising smoke didnt take the shortest way up, instead opting to go take a curving detour as if it had to go around something like water when it hits a rock in a river, and that's exactly when he noticed it, a shape sitting right above the Dam.

The thoughts in his head, werent: "What is that?" "When did it get there, and how long was it there?" It wasnt even: "We're in danger!" It was simply... "Oh, sh!t!"

*in the command center...

"Commander, 7th platoon is leaving the attack line and heading back here." Says one of the officers.

"They're doing, what?!" Asks the commander.

"Commander I have 014 on the line, he is requesting your immidiate attention." Says another officer.

"Put him through... 014 you better have a good excuse for your actions." Says the commander barely containing his anger.

"There's no time for that, the Dam is in danger. Check the air radar!" Says 014 quickly.

The commander looks over to the right awaiting answers.

"... The radar is clear, nothing as far as the eye can see." Says the monitor watching over the radar.

"There's nothing, any other explana..." "The readings are fake! Use optics, there's something up there right over the Dam, you cant miss it!" 014 interupts the commander.

"... Point the optics up into the sky... you better not be lying 014." Says commander.

...

"... Commander... There really is something, its hard to see, but theres no doubt that its there." Says the monitor.

"Show it to me." Says the commander as he walks over.

"Right there sir, were it not for 014 and the smoke we never would have noticed." Says the monitor.

"... Command to all AA sites, grid square E1 to F1, fire at will!"

Says the commander and orders the AAs to fire directly overhead.

But before they can fire a single round, the thing hiding in the sky unleashes a devastating bombardment, completely annihilating Dam's anti-air capabilites. And simultaneously revealing itself.

"That bastardous machine... he finished it..." Says the commander as he sees the hulking shape hanging in the air.

"Artillery platoons turn around and bring it down, I dont care if you hit the Dam in the process, I want that thing out of the sky!" Says the commander quickly. "All other AMCWU platoons drop the pursuit and quickly return, this is an emergency, you will be under heavy fire!"

The other platoons turn around, and see what they missed, for the first time.

The 7th platoon is far in the lead, nearly 1/4 the way there. And the artillery platoon is in position.

The barrage hits the target but also some parts of the Dam. To return the favour, the hulk in the sky opens fire with its ventral mounted weapons and rains devastation upon the artillery platoon and the rest of the Dam.

Untill it's hit by several Arbiter missiles from the returning mass of AMCWUs who were foolish enough to fire and attract attention to themselves untill they were close enough to engage with normal weaponry.

It stops its bombardment to turn and face the approaching AMCWUs. When the commander sees this, he goes pale. "Command to all units take cover, the enemy skyship is preparing to fire its main weapon!"

The AMCWUs scatter, some taking cover behind boulders, some managing to get into the moats, others deciding to get as close as they can so that it doesnt hit them. In the end only the ones who decided to get close, were right in their approach, but that alone wasnt enough.

The skyship fired a bright beam of energy right into the middle of the battlefield creating a rapidly expanding dome of lightning. The ones who tried to hide were hit the worst, many of them evaporating instantaneously. Some suffered worse, and got fried by the high voltage. Only a few lucky survived, leaving their dissabled AMCWUs behind and opting try and sneak back into the Dam on foot.

The ones who ran, were able to avoid being evaporated, but many of them perished due to the high voltage, several pilots survived but had to continue on foot, very few AMCWUs remained operational, but they were atleast able to keep going.

The 7th platoon wasnt spared the electric treatment either, but thanks to the fact that they started heading back first, only a few died and most of their AMCWUs remained operational even if their combat and mobily systems were severely impaired.

"014 to command, reporting in, honestly... I dont even want to know. But... how many?"

014 didnt need to say anything else, it was obvious what he was asking.

"... Less... less than 10%... we have lost contact with over 90% of all our units."

014 was prepared to hear devastating numbers, but this... was a catastrophe, and when he looked around, it hit even harder. The battle transformed the local landscape and destroyed most of the vegetation, but now... after and attack of that magnitude.

It became a true wasteland, all the vegetation turned into ash, the river ran dry and when the water started to flow again it wasnt clean anymore.

014 looked up at the monstrosity hanging in the sky, and in that moment, he could only ask.

"How we kill it?"

The commander almost didnt want to say it, but in the end decided to share what was obvious.

"We cant, that thing has more defesive potentional than the Dam itself at its peak performance."

"What do we do then?" Asks 014.

"Right now we can only..." "Commander, the enemy skyship is descending, I think its trying to land!" Says the monitor.

"Sh!t, its deploying the ground troops! Emergency broadcast! ... Command to all levels and all surviving units, if you hear us immediatelly evacuate to level 1, the leaders of the level 1 maintenace bay will provide further instructions." Says the commander. "That goes for all of you too. Get out of here, people! We are clearing the house!" Says the commander. The command center personel starts evacuating, and one of the officers asks. "Are you comming too sir?"

"Yes, but I have some things left to do here, go on ahead. I´ll catch up with you later." Says the commander and waits as the rest of the staff leaves for the lower levels.

"... BCAI activate voice control and voice response." Says the commander.

"Awaiting orders, sir." Responds BCAI.

"BCAI listen closely, this is likely the last time I'm issuing orders to you. I need you to monitor the movement of our people on all levels, once a level is fully evacuated put it under lock down and scuttle it, it will not stop the enemy but it will delay their advance. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir, instructions have been received and they will be executed down to the last word... Permission to ask a question?" Says BCAI.

"... Permission granted." Says the commander.

"Is this really the last time we speak?" Asks BCAI

"Most likely... Actually, definitely yes." Says the commander.

"I see, very unfortunate, good luck to you commander, it was an honor to serve under you." Says BCAI.

"It was an honor to serve with you as well." Says the commander taking his leave.

"Level 7 has been evacuated, lockdown in effect, detonating starategic charges..."

.....

"Franklin! You and Samuel are driving truck number 7, your assigned tunnels are 3, 5, 6! Take as many as you can and get it our of here! Jane you're with Jeremy, medical truck 3, tunnels 2, 2, 5!" Yells Maxine quickly evacuation escape vehicle drivers and paths.

014 and the rest of the 7th platoon survivors managed to return and were now preparing defend the maintenance bay, to buy the evacuating personel time when it becomes necessary, because when they returned they had received a message from the other surviving AMCWU pilots which were behind them, that the enemy's main force is advancing again, at that point nobody could even dream of defending the Dam to success.

There were simply too many enemies and not enough AMCWUs to put up much of a fight. The only thing they could do now was evacuate evertyone and load up any remaining trucks with supplies and ammunition.

*Meantwhile in the control center...

"Detecting a confict between directive 1 and directive 2. Level 4 has one remaining friendly signature, enemies are approaching. Lock down in effect... Analysing... Upholding directive 1, protect base personel... deactivation charges 174 - 181. Upholding directive 2... abide base's commander's orders... Detonating active strategic charges on level 4...

...

"Level 3 has been evacuated, lockdown in effect, detonating starategic charges..."

....

"Emmett were loading up the last truck with spplies and ammo, want anything special for me pack?" Asks Maxine over the radio.

"Something special? ... Ah f*ck, I forgot something!!" Emmett suddenly realizes, turns around and rushes up the ramp leading to the upper levels, only for an explosion, as level 2 gets scuttled, to send him back down to level 1.

"Are you alright? What were you doing?!" Asks Maxine worried out of her damn mind after witnessing Emmett rush up the ramp, then fly and grind back down enveloped by smoke.

"No! I'm not alright, not in the f*cking slightest! I forgot Jack was on level 4... did he get evacuated like the others by one of the medical trucks?" Emmett asks clinging to hope that his friend is still alive.

"I'm sorry, I dont remember anyone loading up the vitae chamber. Its most likely that he stayed up there." Says Maxine.

"... The chamber could have survived, I need to get up there!" Says Emmett standing up and preparing to head into the smoke filled level 2.

"Listen, every level had about 300 EXTERMINEX tactical charges, nothing could have survived that! The only things youll find up there is rubble and dissapointment!" Maxine says as she sees him preparing to go up there again.

"He needs me, if I dont head up there who will?" Shouts Emmett.

"I need you too! Everyone who survives today will need you as well, I didnt see the commander among the evacuees, if he didnt make it, chaos will ensue as those idiotic officers start bickering about the succession of command, we'll need you to keep everyone from breaking up! ... Come now, I need you to cover our last truck from behind..." Says Maxine turning around and heading for the last truck as the few remaining personel finish loading it up with supplies and ammunition.

"... Yeah... I'm commin..." Says Emmett giving ramp to the smoke filled level 2 a wistful gaze.

"I'm sorry I wasnt there, I hope you forgive me..." He thinks to himself as he follows after the last truck as it dissapears into tunnel number 6.

...

"Level 1 successfuly evacuated... lockdown in effect, scuttling level 1... Wiping drives... completed... Scuttling command center... Goodbye and have a nice day...

.....

*Present time, after Emmett tells the story of the Dam's fall...

"What Maxine said was true, the officers couldnt decide who to put in charge after the we lost the commander, to this day we dont know what became of him. We splintered into several smaller groups, and headed our separate ways. Most of our attempts at making new bases were met with swift destruction, but in the end we managed to make it here. In here was the only place the enemy couldnt see us as easily and we managed to turn that fact into our greatest advantage..." Says Emmett, but stops as he realises he probably said a bit more than he originally intended to share.

"Anyways, as much as I'd like to believe that you are him, ... hell, I'd want that more than anything. If you dont show me your face, I cannot trust you." Says Emmett.

"So if I show my face, you'll finally believe its me?" Asks Jack.

"Yeah... that should be a proof enough." Says Emmett.

"Okay, under the condition that you wont shoot me the second you see me, you big fatted jerk..." Jack mutters the last part under his breath to avoid upsetting Emmett as it could make this even more difficult than it already is. He severs the connection with the AMCWU leaving it in auto-hold position mode. And looks at Electra, his vision still a bit blurry.

"Listen under no circumstances are you to come out or allow yourself to be seen by anyone exept for me, from this point on unless I say otherwise, from what I understood from that story, these people had everything taken away from them by Eden and his machines. If they saw you now, I dont think it would end well for either of us. Are we clear on that?" Jack asks for confirmation.

"Yes, I understand your point. I will remain here." Says Electra.

"Good." Jack says as he opens the hatch leading to the outside and climbs out.

And in that exact moment a certain man's dream had come true...