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Renegades Redemption
Redemption is never easy and often lethal
by Nutcrackr9 |
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Nathan sat in his cockpit, tapping his fingers in tune with the latest Red Hot Delta’s song. He checked his weaponry again. Large laser ready to go, as were the 4 mediums. The LRM was working pretty good, but he avoided using it much, those missiles were expensive. He looked at the radar screen. Still blank. They were going to come, they had to.
And they did. Nathan jumpstarted his engine, bringing to life faster than they were expecting. His compatriots, Jaeger in the Clint, Darth in his Phoenix Hawk and Maggie in her Wolverine, also started up, pinning the poor lance in between the four mechs. Nathan glanced at his secondary screen, which told him he faced a Hermes, a Locust and a pair of Wasps.
They really didn’t stand a chance. He pushed the throttle to the max and close to within 60 meters of the startled Hermes, triggering all his lasers, two of the mediums hit, carving armor off of the torso of the Hermes. It returned fire with a flurry of laser darts which sloughed armor off the front of Nathan’s mech. This guy had an advanced model. He glanced out of the corner of his eye. Maggie had a Wasp in full retreat while Jaeg and Darth had blown the leg off the Locust. The Hermes fired a burst from his autocannon, but Nathan had activated his jump jets and was landing behind the bewildered medium ‘mech before it figured out where he had gone. This time Nathan hit with he large laser and one of the two mediums he fired, cutting deep into the back of the Hermes. The mech stumbled and fell, it’s gyro gone. Nathan brought his foot down on it’s head to make sure it wouldn’t cause any more trouble. He glanced up and saw that his lancemates were closing on the last Wasp, Maggie having blown the other to kingdom come. That Wasp didn’t last long.
The four arrived at the town a half hour later. Captain O’Leary had replied that the other lances had taken care of the rest of the combatants. Nathan sent a message over the loud speaker, "Everyone assemble in the market square. Anyone not present in ten minutes will be shot." With that, he popped the canopy and climbed down his ‘mech as did Jaeg and Maggie. Nathan checked to make sure his SMG was loaded and the safety was off. He then strode toward the square, where everyone had assembled, under the foreboding shadow of Darth’s Phoenix Hawk Maggie and Jaeg swept the town quickly, finding no one hiding.
Nathan smiled, that didn’t happen too often.
Maggie walked over to a lady wearing a golden necklace. She reached up and pulled it off of her neck, causing the lady’s husband to instinctively move to protect his wife. That was a mistake. Maggie snapped her pistol in line with his right knee and blew the poor fool’s kneecap off. He howled in pain. Maggie was going to have fun with him tonight.
He strode around the hundred or so assembled people, most in their bed clothes.
One man spoke up, "Who are you?"
Nathan smiled. "I’m Lieutenant Nathan Fletcher, of the Fighting Shamrocks. We're here to collect a few things that the unit is in need of, plus pull in some extra cash for the employees and our employer. Now I suggest that you let us take what we want, that’s the best way to stay alive. Your militia did not take that advice and has gone from a company to a one armed Stinger with a machine gun as weaponry." He continued to pace back and forth, like a Drill Sergeant instructing his troops. "Now then, Darth up there," he jerked his thumb toward the Phoenix Hawk, "will make sure you all stay here until we’re ready to leave." He looked over and notice a striking young lady. He smiled. Tonight was going great.
He looked over at Jaeger. "I found one, the rest is yours." He pushed a few people aside and grabbed her arm. She resisted at first, but a barrel pointed in her direction changed her mind. He shoved her toward a nice house, one that seemed comfy. He opened the door and pusher her in. He set the gun down and closed the door. "Touch that weapon and 50 people die." She sat down on a couch. He took a better look at her. She was most likely the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, especially since she wasn’t wearing any make-up. The silk pajama’s helped even the out. He took off the jacket he’d warn after shedding his coolant vest. He walked over and sat down in a chair facing her.
"You can make this fun or painful," he stated. She looked up at him. It was funny, she wasn’t scared like most were. Sure, she was frightened, but she didn’t have the ‘doe in the headlights’ look in her eyes.
She narrowed her eyes, "Why does it have to happen at all?"
He smiled, "Because I want it to." He brushed back his hair. For some reason he’d wished he’d taken a shower before he’d met her.
She frowned and looked sad. "Is that how it’s going to be your whole life?"
"Yeah!" he snapped. Then he looked at her again. "Besides, I think you want it too!"
She looked at her feet, "That doesn’t matter. If you just take, take, take you’ll die lonely and unhappy. Why don’t you give for a change." Nathan shook his head. Why was he talking with her? Why was he listening to her?
He raised his hand and shoved his finger in her face. "Listen to me! You’ll do what I want!"
She stood up and yelled back, "No, you’ll do what I say."
He narrowed his eyes and realized she was right. And so was he. "We have to get out of here." What was wrong with him? Whatever it was it made him feel...relaxed.
She turned toward the door, "Let me grab a few things and we can get out of here."
They left the house and went down the street, passing Maggie using her knife on the foolish husband. The poor fool was past hope. The mysterious lady poked him in the ribs. "Stop that" she whispered. Nathan swallowed and spoke to Maggie, "That’s enough Maggie." She whipped her head around, he face covered in splattered blood. She looked at him then her. "Go, go now, they won’t let you out." She wiped the blood off her face. "They have a Leopard that landed to rotate troops. She pulled off her jacket. "I’ll take care of Jaeg, but you’ll have to deal with Darth on your own."
He pulled the lady along. "Nathan?" she asked.
"Yeah...." he started, searching for her name.
"It’s Danielle," she replied. "What about her? She’s going to do it again."
He frowned. "If Darth gets any warning, it will be worse for more people." He’s as dark as the man who he took the name from.
The next few minutes flew by as he lead her out to his ‘mech and into the cockpit. Where were they going to go?" He wondered. Perhaps to the reinforcements? He started up the engine. He quickly checked the weapons.
"What are you doing Nat?" came over the lance frequency. Nathan took a deep breath.
"We’re leaving Darth." Nathan hated that name.
"We? Fallen for someone? Relationships are the bane of humankind. You know what’s in store for everyone, we can’t have witnesses."
"Get out of my way Darth". Nathan knew that wouldn’t do any good. A laser blast seared the house next to Nathan’s ‘mech. Nathan hit the jump jets, only to find the Phoenix Hawk had jumped in back of him. "Hold on!" He yelled at Danielle. The ‘mech rocked forward, Nathan twisted the torso around and fired a medium laser into the leg of the Hawk. Darth stumbled and Nathan spun around, lighting up the night with 5 laser blasts, knocking the ‘mech over. Nathan brought his leg down on the fallen Hawk, crushing it’s knee. Darth seared armor off the chest of Nathan’s ‘mech, but to no avail as Nathan melted the cockpit into scrap. He would shed no tears over Darth.
Nathan sprinted toward the Marik militia formation. Of course they were under attack by the Shamrocks. Nathan ran up behind a locust and a wasp, annihilating the two before they could even respond. He sprinted toward the remaining Eagles. A message came across the open channel. "Identify yourself or we will open fire."
Nat hit the transmit button on his joystick. "I’m Lt. Nathan Fletcher, formerly of the Fighting Shamrocks. I have a civvie with me and we’re seeking asylum." He sighed, that was the toughest thing he ever did.
"Fletcher we read you. We can’t do that. You’ll have to pay for your crimes like any of this scum." Nathan felt bile rise within his throat.
Danielle leaned forward and yelled, "No!", but it was too late. He unloaded on the Anvil, unleashing the fusion engine’s power to the plain. He jumped away, tears stinging his eyes. No matter what he did, he was dead now. Damned if you do....
Nathan pointed his ‘mech north and set off, he wasn’t going to go down easy, especially with Danielle in his life....
So many times I said
You'd only be mine
I gave my blood and my tears
And loved you cyanide
When you took my lips
I took your breath
Sometimes love's better off dead |
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