Calamity

Oflip, Gunhild, Former Location of Sector A

Gunderhind Lake

Derek looks from his new driveway. The view he once looked was no more. Now simply just a view from the top of a valley. Looking over a peaceful lake. It was picturesque for sure, able to rack up good views online if he posted a photo there. But all at what cost? It nearly took a year, a pain for him considering he had been hounded by Sebastian for his long stay at his castle. But he finally received his answer not long after. His house was a lost cause, completely destroyed from that fire. However the rest was salvageable, with the business able to be restarted as a salvage yard business once again.

Despite this, more was needed to rebuild business. He sighs, looking at his new staff pass. The letters 'C E O' written over his image, plastered in low quality like a poorly made fake ID card. But there he was, standing on top of the pyramid in a newly founded construction company. Bought over from it's remnants in the bidding war which began for $25000.

The collateral money he obtained from fighting alongside the group when the aliens showed up turned out great. Literally made known for being the only civilian on the front line and the one recognised by supers during the battle. It was flattering, who knew being a prisoner who did basically nothing had such awesome benefits? He looks back at Gunderhind Lake, glimmering in the sun amidst a quiet scenery. Hardly anyone from miles tormenting him ever again.

But with all of this gifts, he can't help but feel bad for the rest of the group. Getting high sum of money for more work and torture he still cannot understand. He looks back at his new house, filled with new paint and furnishings. A burden to his now bigger debt. A debt he is paying on his own terms to the United Union. A debt he struggled to recover with Baku. A girl willing to take a chance on him. A flawed man.

Was it a dream? He could not understand. Despite this, she had been given a new lease of life. Her new armored body now given more firepower and mobility. Each new weapon hidden from view in her metal frame, now with ceramic pieces and titanium plating. Synthetic skin covered her newly built pieces that made distinguishing human from robot harder to spot. Nevertheless, she was more free and much happier now that she can feel just like a normal person. A happy college student with more to give in her life. Although hearing how she is leading a squad throughout difficult missions concerned him. The cost of repairing said armor and frame was already over the roof. He sighs, looking at his newly bought ring. Perhaps it was finally time to act. To seize his moment. Although he could wonder if she would accept him for his age, 9 years older than the metal woman with a human soul. He looks back at his phone. 3:30. It was getting late. Nothing seemed to disturb him other than his meeting with his workers. Workers eager to rebuild Gunhild, eager to get their paychecks once again.

"If she comes back..."

He hops back to his new car. A red Jaguar on lease, stretching it's glimmering paws, feeling relaxed unlike his century old Lotus parked behind. Frustrated it has yet to get the upgrades it desperately needs to continue on. Far in the garage, Shane's Mazda RX-7 laid in pieces. Still unable to run from the lack of parts. Awaiting it's glorious return to her owner, even if she hated it from that painful reminder. He starts up the car, hastily convincing the car to wiggle it's way down the secluded gravel pathway. It's electric hum quiet yet strange. Hissing back at the man louder and louder for his impatience. Annoying him to death.

"What's with all that ruckus?"

He looks up his windscreen, watching the machine once categorised as an HUV EVA land slowly, not at ease with it's new terrain and it's new category of name, BA. Biblical Adam. It's alien looking face perplexed. Struggling to judge his tight spot along the driveway. Frustrated at it's driver for picking such a tight space.

"Isn't that Sergio's machine?"

He hops out of the car, feeling the harsh winds screech between his ears that attempted to bleed him dry. It's eyes apologetic, whirling down as the door hissed open, glaring it's pilot who flinched from the hot sun. Quickly hopping out of it's seat and into the comfort arms of land.

"Sorry to disturb you..."

Releasing her helmet , Shane let's down her hair, her face drenched from top to bottom. Sweating from the high temperature in the machine despite her now rather carefree look. A look that confused him.

"What are you doing here, weren't you busy at the United Union as their main ambassador?"

She panted, contented in the sunny breeze as she looks back at her new solemn prize. A gift from Sergio that made her lament in frustration. Getting her robot license was difficult, barely passing it despite her tight schedule. All just to fly the machine. Her robot weapons training was a whole other can of worms she doesn't wish to look into. Especially when the new alien diplomats arrive to the plant one month later. An eager prospect that made many nations excited yet nervous.

"Says the one who did absolutely nothing but spectate! I still wonder why Baku wanted to bring you in the first place..." She teased at him as he looked away in defeat, sneering at her remarks as she continued, chuckling behind her back apologetically, "Look I need a place to land. I've been evicted from the tower... Can't really stay there anymore... Can I stay here? I don't have any other place to stay..."

He looks at her, regaining his composure as he raised his eyebrows, crossing his arms in thought about her proposition as she began to sulk and slump slowly without any confidence.

"It depends how much you are willing to pay!"

She looked at him rather distraught, her eyes lamenting at his greed. Looking away in defeat and sorrow, looking up at the grumpy machine. Disappointed and haggard from it's long journey here as the awkward silence turned to laughter. Well for one person that is.

"Hahahaha... Look does this situation warrant a need to pay up? You are my friend! Although I kinda hate you for being held captive for absolutely nothing..."

He glared at her as she rolled her eyes, frustrated at how little information he had benefited her. Let alone the pain she had to go through just to find an answer. She knew it was a waste of time then, but the man seemed to continue to rant on for ages.

"Ok... If that is the case... help me get my stuff down... it's kinda heavy..."

She hastily returned to her 'new' machine. Carefully grabbing her items as Derek watched on. Looking back at his watch once again. 3:41. He is definitely late at this point, far too late to join the road to the rebuilding city. Perhaps another day...

"What are you doing standing here? Help me!"

She looks at Derek perplexed, shaking violently awake to a large number of baggages that laid by its palm. Slowly but surely carrying them inside like eager children at a new home.

"Sorry about that... welcome to our house..."

She wandered into the his wooden palace filled with thick curtains that lit the cozy place. From the door, it look like a library. Each cabinet laid books of self healing and self improvement. Neatly done based of their thick size and height. In the living room laid a VR headset, standard for most new homes nowadays. Although the rest of the furniture seemed antiquated with family photos strewn across the shelf like decorations.

She wanders closer to the picture, spotting the hazy images of a happy family, in a house by the junkyard. Each member probably dead from the fire in a sad, cruel way. Although as she looks closer at the picture, she couldn't help but feel weird looking at that small girl. It looked just like her. She always thought about what Lino said then, how he showed her that picture which shook her mind into a muzzled haze. It always didn't seem clear. She wanted to doubt herself. Probably some lunatic attempting to survive. But each day, the hazy times together seeped back into a mess of messages and distorted laughter of family and children.

"Was that me?"

She thought to herself, looking rather listless in the rumble and tumble of wood. Squeaky in annoyance at the heavyweight it has to deal with, softening ever so slightly in the slippery floor.

"Your stuff is here! You can stay as long as you want!"

She looks up, watching the man clamber down slowly, his hands soaked but still rather eager in the stuffy house. He looks back at her, tilting his head as she head slowly up, haggard in each step. Happy to finally be at peace. Her feelings filled with wallow, grimly smiling in her now peaceful environment and the shadows in the dim corridor. He looks back, smiling at the family picture. He didn't know how long it would take, but even then she was here, they are reunited, as brothers and sisters, as friends.

"Mum... Dad... Caze... She is finally home..."