Chapter Text
‘Well, this could have gone better’ March thought. It should have been a simple rescue mission, but now they were completely overwhelmed by the anti-matter legion. March quickly was going back through the events in her head trying to work out where they went wrong.
First, the express received an S.O.S message from a space station, not Herta’s, which was under attack by the anti-matter legion. The vote to go over to rescue the researchers was unanimous and the crew headed straight there. Once the arrived Welt and Sunday elected to stay on board the express, Sunday as he was unsure if he would be welcomed, whilst Welt stayed behind to keep Sunday company. Himeko led March, Stelle and Dan Heng through the station and found the researchers held up deep in the station by the core, when disaster struck. The Legion had done significant damage to the core that it was now unstable and was set to explode. Now the crew were rushing back whilst the legion was constantly attacking them.
“You alright up there Dan Heng?” March heard Himeko shout.
Dan Heng responded with, “Yes, but we are running out of time. March is the one you should be asking that question to.”
Normally March would take this as an insult, but considering she was given the hard task of slowing the legion down at the back, due to her Ice affinity, whilst Dan Heng was at the front navigating it made sense.
“Don’t worry about me guys I am doing fine we just have a bit further to go.” She said trying to keep spirits high. “Just look at Stelle she seems fine.”
Stelle gave a cocky smile whilst carrying an injured researcher on her back. “Hey, don’t make it sound like Himeko, and I have the easy jobs carrying people this one has a heavy metal arm!”
“Hey!” The injured researcher shouted, “Are you trying to call me fat?!”
“Maybe.”
“How rude!”.
“Of course, you still find time to make jokes.” March sighed.
“The express is a few doors down everyone!” March heard Dan Heng shout.
‘Few we are nearly there now.’ March felt a wave of relief coming over her. But that didn’t last long as more of the legion suddenly crashed down from above.
“HIMEKO LOOK OUT ABOVE YOU!!!” March screamed as she had noticed the ceiling was collapsing onto Himeko.
March dived to push Himeko forward only for the roof the collapse and hit herself instead. She quickly got to her feet only to notice she was now cut off from everyone else.
“MARCH!” She could hear the screams of Stelle, then Himeko and Dan Heng.
“Don’t worry about me guys I am ok. I will find another way. You keep going.”
“Ok, we will see you at the express.” Himeko tried to sound calm, but March could hear the tremble in her voice.
March knew first; however, she was going to need to fight her way past the legion. She readied her bow and took shot after shot trying to make a path for her to escape. But more and more kept coming. She knew she was in trouble she spotted as small gap and made a break for it trying to go around to where the express was parked. However, she was starting to take hits, and she had nobody around to heal her. She stumbled on through but unfortunately arrived at a dead end.
“No please, no… it cannot end like this.”
March collapsed to her knees exhausted, injured and in despair. She turned around to see the legion jumping at her. This was it.
“I’m sorry everyone I couldn’t make it…” March whispered as a tear fell from her face. She closed her eyes waiting for the hit….
But it never came as she suddenly heard gunfire. Followed by a familiar voice. “Well, well look’y who I found here. A sad face doesn’t suit you.”
---
Kafka smiled as she looked ahead at the decimated legion. “Well, we are just about done here Wolfie.”
“Yeah, we got what we need so let’s zip already I got dallies to still complete.” Silver Wolf whined.
“Alright, alight I am coming, give a woman a chance alright.” Kafka smiled as she shook her head. “You really are a child sometimes.” She muttered under her breath.
“Hmm you say something?”
“No, you are just hearing things. Anyway, how are our favourite express crew getting along?”
“They are having a harder time of it, but it looks like the will make it fine. I got them nearby the Express. Why worried for them?” Silver Wolf teased.
“No, I had confidence in them. I was just curious.” Kafka smirked as she walked up to Silver wolf who was now at the door of their ship.
“Hang on. One of them has just been dropped.” Silver Wolf piped up
“What?!” Kafka blinked. ‘That’s strange’ she thought to herself. ‘They would never leave one of their own behind. Unless...’
“Wolfie, here take this container I am going back, don’t wait up for me.”
“Huh? Helloooo, are you crazy this station is about to blow? You got a death wish or something? That’s Blade’s job.” Silver Wolf responded.
“No, I am just sticking to my script.” Kafka smirked as she walked back into the station thinking about that last line to her script.
‘Make sure all of the express crew make it off alive.’
Once Kafka rounded the corner she started sprinting. She wasn’t sure who but someone in the crew had been separated and they would need her help fast. She cut and tore through the legion in her path without care or mercy and then heard up ahead the sound of fighting.
‘Nearly there’ She thought to herself.
She fought her way to a set of double doors which opened as she approached only to find a scene which surprised her. It was March 7th! She was on her knees badly hurt head down with tears on her face and a member of the legion was gearing up ready to end her.
She was right to turn around after all. She furrowed her brow raised her gun and unloaded a full round into the legion in front of her. Taking care to miss the pink haired girl on the floor.
“Well, well look’y who I found here. A sad face doesn’t suit you.” She said as she strolled up to the girl.
March’s head shot up. Eyes wide in disbelief. “You! What are you doing here?!”
“Saving you sweety. Now need hand?” Kafka responded.
“N-No! I can manag-OW!!.” March squeaked as she tried to get up only to grab her left leg in pain and fall down to the floor. Well, she would have if Kafka didn’t catch her.
“Easy. You are badly hurt I will carry you.” Kafka softly spoke, lifting March into a bridal carry. “You are lucky you know I know a lot of people who would like to be in your position right now.”
March turned a bright shade of red “Y-y-y-you... err. Shut up and get me back to the express. Why were you even here beforehand. Did you lure the legion here?” She fumbled out.
“Ouch that hurts. You have such little faith in us? If you must know we came here to pick something up that the researchers got their hands on, and the Legion were after it to. So, you’re welcome for not letting it fall into their hands.”
“I will feel welcome when I am off this station!!”. March grumbled.
Just then the station shook, and explosions could be heard further in.
“Looks like we need to hurry.” Kafka muttered and started running. Unfortunately, since Silver Wolf had likely set off already, she would be too busy to provide guidance, so she was running blind.
Kafka quickly rounded corner after corner, but the Express was nowhere in sight. She could feel March panicking in her arms.
“We are going to die!!!” March screamed.
Kafka considered using her spirit whisper to calm the girl down but there wasn’t time. Just then she spotted it, an escape pod. Just one left. Looks like not all were used. She quickly rushed in carrying March but could hear the explosions behind her. She wouldn’t have time to set a destination she would need to just launch it and go.
She quickly shut the doors placed March down and launched the pod just in time to see the station erupt behind them.
They made it out alive. Just. But where were they heading. Neither were sure and Kafka was now beyond what the script had given her. Either way one thing was clear their ordeal is far from over.