Trials Of Sacrifice part 2

When Red finally reaches up to the spider machina, he is hit by a shotgun-like beam from the spider's eyes, and the legs of the machina tear apart his own machina, ultimately killing him. The cockpit is crushed, and blood splatters on the ground.

Ken is shaken and stunned by the sight.

Ken: Is this the reality we have to face?

Angelo urges Ken to move.

Angelo: You need to move, Ken. Now.

Ken, however, is unable to move.

Ken: I can't.

The machina spider then uses all its eyes to create a mega beam, which incinerates Ken. The spider's eyes no longer glow, indicating that it's charging up for its next attack.

One of the pilots suggests that they destroy the spider's legs first, as this will prevent it from accurately targeting them with its beams.

Angelo works with the old pilot to cut off half of the spider's eight legs.

Pilot: "Good job, kid. When the time comes, use your detonation bomb on the right-hand side of your suit. And when the spider comes, be ready to shoot its mega cannon. I want you to detonate on its eyes."

Angelo: "Wait, are you sure? How do you know so much?"

Pilot: "Just do what I say."

Angelo throws a detonation bomb on the spider's eye, agitating it. The spider attempts to chase Angelo but easily falls due to having only half of its legs. In a last-ditch effort, the Machina spider prepares to use its mega beam cannon.

Pilot: "Angelo, now!"

Then Angelo detonates the bomb, causing a chain reaction that makes the Spider Machina explode at a safe distance from both of them.

Pilot: "Good work, kid."

Angelo: "Yeah, thanks."

Angelo wonders how the pilot knew so much about the situation and who he really is.

(One hour left, two pilots remaining.)

Angelo: Soooooo, I know that you didn't just learn about Machina like that within a trial. Who are you?

Pilot: Fine, my name is Garrod. I am not a new recruit like you; I have been in the military for a long time, even before the Machina came down to Earth. I was a lieutenant in the army and served in WW2. Soon after, I decided to settle down and have a family. That was taken from me on the day the machines fell from the sky.

Angelo: You decided to come back?

Garrod: I have nothing left. I joined back in the hopes that I would die as a soldier. But on the battlefield, I only kept on learning more about these machines and seeing countless kids like you risk your lives. Why don't you understand that you could have a future? I'm old and have nothing more to offer but my life.

Angelo: You may be right. I do have more in life, but when the time comes for all the old to pass away, who will lead humanity into a brighter future? I saw my mom and dad crushed in front of my eyes by the Machina. My pain. I can't afford any more of it. We, the young, have to find a way, and we can lead humanity. I can gain back the peace that was lost.

Garrod looks at Angelo's face on the interface and tears up. "This courage, the light in his eyes, maybe just maybe there's hope," he thinks to himself.

As they move their Machina, a horde of Goblin Machina chases after them from behind. "MOVE! PUT YOUR THRUSTERS IN HIGH GEAR!" Garrod shouts to Angelo.

Both of them put in the maximum power of their Machina thrusters, raising their velocity and power. "There has to be at least 20 Machina chasing us," Angelo notes.

Garrod throws a grenade that seems to slow the Goblin Machina down, but his effort appears to be futile. The next 10 minutes go by, and the energy on their suits is running low.

"We're so close, but they're getting closer. I've been conserving energy to the best of my ability, but I'm getting low on power. I don't think I'm gonna make it. I'm sorry, Garrod," Angelo confesses.

"Hehe, really kid? No, you will... Keep me a promise though," Garrod replies.

Angelo: Wait, Garrod, what are you doing?

He sees him preparing his own heated machina blade.

Garrod: Hold onto your will, my faith is in you, ANGELO!

That's when Garrod rushes in and fights off the horde of machina. Meanwhile, Angelo hears on his interface, "Time's up."

I remember that day coming out of my cockpit, being congratulated on passing and witnessing countless body bags.

"GARODDDDDDD!" Angelo cries.

Commander Brown: "Get used to all of this, kid. It's just getting started."

(Present day)

"Now, soldiers, despite the number of lives we have lost, we can carry on with our next operation, which our group has been selected for. We are going to be sent to oversee the Machu project in Peru. Everyone, prepare, because what's going to be seen will be unimaginable."

What can this project hold that can possibly change tides in this war?

End.

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