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Chapter 18

Over Kill

“I don’t know how much more I can take of this,” one officer lamented to another, his voice tinged with exhaustion. “I thought I’d be helping people when I joined the police department. Nowadays, it seems like all we do is investigate strange incidents. It’s like this whole city has become the set of some bizarre horror movie.”

“Yeah, first there was the insect swarm, and now there are explosions in the ruined part of town. Not to mention the ever-growing population of witches.” The other officer leaned against the wall, scanning his surroundings with weary eyes. Sipping his coffee, he continued, “Just be glad you’re a rookie on dispatch duty. We’re the ones who have to go out and face this crap. Damn, this city is a madhouse. Last week, I had to deal with people eating each other. People are becoming cannibals. Cannibals! It’s insane.”

The younger officer shook his head, disbelief etched on his face. “Just knowing about all these things is enough to make someone go mad. I never thought the SDP was like this. I imagined we’d be going after hardened criminals, not spooks and monsters.”

“You didn’t get the memo, kid?” the older officer grunted, a sardonic smile playing on his lips. “They changed the ‘S’ to ‘Spectral.’” The group of officers shared a nervous chuckle. “Sure as hell seems that way, at least.”

Over the radio, a tense voice called out, “Hey, uh, is anyone inside the Valkner room?”

At the desk, the young officer glanced at his display, which showed no heat signatures. He replied, “That’s a negative.”

“Well, there’s a lot of noise coming from there. Was one of the Valkners left on?”

“That’s a negative as well. The indicators are displaying them all as inactive.”

“I need backup down here, now. Something is moving around inside that room. It’s big and made of metal.”

“I’ll send someone down.” The rookie cast a concerned glance toward the older officer. “Could you?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m on it,” he retorted, setting his coffee down.

Just as the officer was about to leave the room, an alarm blared from the console. Looking down at the board, the young officer saw a red light flashing. “Hangar Three has just been breached from the inside.”

“Shit, help!” the officer’s voice cried out over the radio, panic seeping into every syllable.

“What the hell is wrong with him?” The words echoed in Apricot’s ears, her heart pounding as she stared at Cortez. He stood transfixed, gazing into the pillar of radiance above them. Amidst the thunder, she could hear faint screams. Cortez merely moaned when she tugged at his arm, but slowly, he turned his head towards her, his eyes brightening with life.

Finally, they began running, following Shiori. Shadows stretched out like long spikes, casting themselves upon every wall. As they raced down the alleyway, they spotted the white car approaching. Helicopter lights streaked across the roads, illuminating the night sky.

“What the hell was that, Shiori? What was that?” Cortez screamed, cowering in the back of the car. Apricot felt the same anxiety, but she was too shell-shocked for tears to escape her eyes. The car roared as it raced along the ruined road.

“Things just got more complicated,” Shiori whispered.

Cortez shook his head. “What the hell was that?!” Apricot tried to voice the same question, but her throat tightened, and her mouth went dry. “Are you going to say something?” Cortez shouted.

“Yes, I’m just thinking,” Shiori calmly replied. “That was one of several seals around the city. They’re old sites in this region.” Shiori’s driving slowed as they merged onto more commonly traveled roads.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?!”

Shiori cleared his throat. “I think one of them was just broken.”

Apricot’s phone ringing jolted her from her thoughts. Back in her bedroom, the events of a few weeks ago weighed heavily on her mind. She glanced down at her table, noticing her phone skidding across the surface as it vibrated. Grasping the pink plastic plush case, she lifted it to see a text from Bonni.

“Wanna do some window shopping?!”

The sound of gunfire reverberated throughout the SDP’s hangar, a haunting reminder of the lives lost. Bloodied remains of officers lay strewn across the pavement, evoking images of insects crushed underfoot. “We must stop it!” an officer bellowed, his voice thick with desperation as he hid behind a support beam. Two more officers cowered behind an adjacent pillar, their pistols pressed tightly against their chests. The war machine’s relentless march echoed in the hallway, a menacing rhythm that sent chills down their spines.

“These weapons are useless. That’s reinforced alloy. We’ll never be able to penetrate that armor,” the first officer lamented, his eyes locked onto the machine.

“So what are we supposed to do?” the female officer cried, her voice quivering with fear.

The officer monitoring the machine gritted his teeth. “We need to run and close the gate,” he said, determination flaring in his eyes. “It’ll give us a few minutes to prepare the special units.”

The others nodded in agreement, their hearts pounding in their chests. They bolted from their cover, sprinting down the corridor towards the lumbering machine. The female officer reached the other side of the corridor and quickly punched a memorized sequence of numbers into the keypad. With a creak, the massive twin doors began to open. The machine halted, seemingly assessing the situation.

The officers dashed through the doors, their breaths ragged and their bodies slick with sweat. As the metal gates slid shut behind them, they stared back at the machine, a mix of relief and dread washing over them. “Well, that won’t buy us much time. Especially if it rips through this one like the other two,” the older officer remarked grimly.

“Let’s get out of here,” the female officer suggested, her voice strained.

As the distant groaning of the twin doors reached their ears, the group turned and hurried down the corridor. Glancing back, they saw the door opening once more, revealing the Volkner suit, still and ominous. As the red lights on the suit began to glow, the female officer gasped, “What is this?”

The suit’s foot hit the ground with a thunderous stomp, jolting the officers into action. “Run!” the older officer screamed, as the machine fired its thrusters, leaving a trail of blue-white flame in its wake. Propelled forward, it pursued the group, its relentless advance striking terror in their hearts.

The world had changed irrevocably for Apricot. As she walked down the familiar stretch of shops, her gaze darted to every shadow, every corner. The darkness had returned, haunting her thoughts. Bonni’s fingers came to rest on her shoulder, providing a fleeting moment of comfort. But the recent events rang in her ears, the armored city guards patrolling the once quiet mall corridors. Instead of regular police, they now stood in pairs at each intersection, their long rifles at the ready.

Riding the escalator to the next floor, Bonni spoke up, concern lacing her voice. “I was worried about you.”

“Worried? You?” Apricot asked, her gaze lingering on the murals of party officials lining the walls. “Normally, you’re only concerned about yourself, Bonni.”

Bonni’s lips pursed coyly, like a cat’s mouth. “Well, I’ll remember to do it less often,” Apricot smirked. The two shared a giggle before Bonni probed further. “So, what’s the deal with that cutie Shiori? You two an item?”

Apricot’s face flushed as Bonni’s eyes widened in anticipation. “What!” she exclaimed, shaking her head and lightly tapping Bonni on the shoulder. “It’s not like that. He’s just my boss. Nothing more.”

“Really?” Bonni pouted. “What a shame, and here I thought you had landed yourself a fairytale catch. Figures though, I couldn’t see the two of you together, anyway. Common girls like us don’t interest nobles.”

Apricot’s heart ached at the words. She had never considered her common status around Shiori. His opinions on Cortez were influenced by his heritage; perhaps he felt the same way about her. “I think you might be right.”

Bonni gestured towards the skylight in the mall’s center, her voice tinged with curiosity. “What’s that?”

Apricot’s eyes shot up to the looming shadow above the glass roof. Shards of glass tumbled down in a brilliant cascade of colors as the shadow grew larger. With no time to react, Apricot raised a hand to her mouth. As the rain of fractures fell, the two girls huddled together, desperate to escape the avalanche. Apricot’s eyes widened in shock as a metallic figure emerged from the rubble. Two long rifles became visible as the figure lifted its arms, shedding glass and framing from its limbs. “Get down!” Apricot cried, the thunder of bullets drowning out her voice.

Leaping over the escalator bars, Apricot grabbed Bonni’s arm. The machine warrior engaged the armored police in combat, bullets flying. Apricot locked eyes with Bonni, who was still curled up on the ground. She wrapped an arm around her friend, shouting, “Bonni!” as she tugged on her dandy coat. “Get over here!” she commanded, and Bonni complied, scrambling down the escalator.

Amidst the chaos, Apricot could hear armored soldiers yelling orders and gunfire exchanged. Debris rained down on the panicked crowd below. The gunshots ceased, but the terror remained. Bonni raised her head, only to have a bullet narrowly miss her. She fell to her knees, overcome with fear. “Bonni! We’ve got to move,” Apricot urged, knowing death was closing in. She grasped Bonni’s hand and tried to help her stand. With one more powerful tug, Bonni was dragged along like a child.

A soldier gestured towards an emergency exit, shouting, “This way!” Apricot was unnerved by the tower-like helmet he wore, the large red glowing sphere resembling a cyclops eye. Two smaller spheres flanked the larger one in a V-shape. Apricot’s train of thought was interrupted as the man raised his rifle in their direction. Both girls shrieked as he fired a shot past them. Stepping forward, he unleashed another burst of shots, his gray cape flowing behind him. “Get behind me!” he ordered, striding past the girls.

Apricot glanced back at the Volkner at the top of the stairs, noticing the red monocle adjusting its focus and turning its radius. The massive machine pivoted, aiming its right arm at the group before unleashing a barrage of bullets. The armored soldier dove in front of Apricot and Bonni, using his body as a shield. Knowing they had to keep moving, Apricot and Bonni continued down the hallway, the lifeless soldier’s sacrifice fresh in their minds.

“I shall cleave you in half, servant of the betrayer!” the mechanical warrior roared, its bayonet slicing through the fallen soldier. The echo of its voice caused a painful ringing in Apricot’s head. As the machine continued its pursuit, Bonni screamed, the adrenaline pushing her to run faster.

“This isn’t happening!” Bonni cried.

Bursting through the exit doors, Apricot and Bonni were greeted by more Volkners. Apricot froze at the sight of the colossal police mecha suits, their guns pointed menacingly at them. “Get behind us!” an officer commanded. From behind, their pursuer broke through the wall, and Apricot turned just in time to see a large slash aimed at her. In a burst of sparks, the police mecha caught the blade midair, engaging the attacker.

“Run,” the officer yelled. Ducking between the legs of the mecha, Apricot and Bonni sprinted to safety.

“Help!” Bonni screamed to a line of armored officers who had formed a wall with their armored trucks. The sound of mecha gunfire and the rumble of engines filled the air as the girls raced across the parking lot. Apricot watched the two mechas fight, noting the familiar phantom fire aiding the attacker.

Apricot’s hand slipped from Bonni’s as their fingers parted. She watched her friend dive into the arms of an armored soldier behind the barricade. Another crack, and Apricot turned to face the terrifying sight. The Volkners were still fighting, tearing each other apart as insects buzzed around them. One insect broke ranks and flew straight toward Apricot.

“Hold back!” yelled an armored soldier. The police opened fire on the advancing mechanical suit.

“That thing is after me!” Apricot called, stealing one last glance at Bonni, whose eyes were filled with childlike terror. As Apricot nodded to her friend, she knew it might be their final shared moment. Diving past the armored soldiers, she sprinted through the stagnant traffic to the other side of the parking lot, narrowly avoiding speeding cars.

Reaching the other side of the road, Apricot’s heart raced as she saw a drop-off to another platform below. Without hesitation, she slid down the concrete, landing hard on her feet, determined to survive and protect those she cared for.

Getting flung through a car, the mecha suit’s green electronic HUD locked onto Apricot as she darted into an alleyway. Spikes flew from its thrusters as it pursued her through the narrow lanes. Apricot’s heart raced, using the labyrinth of off-roads to her advantage, desperately trying to lose the relentless machine. The mecha’s thrusters emitted booming sounds with every turn. Spotting an open door at the back of a building, Apricot dashed inside.

As Apricot sprinted through the sweltering room, an older man in a white chef’s cloak yelled, “Lady, you can’t be here!” A group of waitresses gasped in unison as Apricot burst through the double doors, entering the dining room. Through the dining-room window, she caught a glimpse of the mecha outside, adjusting its arm.

“Get down!” Apricot screamed as the machine unleashed a barrage of bullets, causing the room to explode into a maelstrom of steel and wood. Ripped fabric swirled around the room as the bullets tore through everything. Panic clawed at Apricot’s chest as she crawled toward a fire door, yelling, “How in the world do I get out of here?” It was unclear how many people were hurt or dead, but she could hear moans of agony. Blood stained a waitress sprawled on the floor, her face a mask of pure terror. Her glassy eyes stared into the void, and Apricot couldn’t help but feel responsible for the carnage. Whatever the mecha was, it showed no mercy. Could it be Okabe’s doing? It seemed to be slaughtering even the police.

Gaining a few precious seconds, Apricot stumbled through the fire exit. The world blurred around her as she sprinted in the opposite direction until she reached the main intersection. An oncoming white car nearly struck her, but she reacted just in time. “Get in!” yelled Shiori. Apricot slid over the hood of his car and jumped into the passenger seat. Shiori floored the gas pedal, weaving between cars as Apricot pulled the door shut, latching it securely. “What the hell is this? It’s all over the news! Why is that Volkner after you? Who’s the pilot?”

“It came after me when I was with a friend!” Apricot cried, her voice cracking. “I don’t know what the hell it is!”

As Shiori pushed the car to its limits, speeding past cars that seemed to materialize in front of them, Apricot realized the risk of a collision at any moment. “Well, way to alienate the rest of the world. This is a problem!” She looked back to see the mechanical warrior close behind them, demolishing cars without any regard for the surrounding environment. The mecha’s armor was damaged, metallic plating peeling off to expose the chassis beneath. “Where the hell are the cops!” Shiori barked.

Once again, Apricot saw purple flames blazing on her arm. She held out her hand, open-palmed, watching the fire dance. “So, there’s a phantom controlling it.”

Shiori nearly veered off the road, yelling, “What the hell!” Apricot was jerked out of her seat. “You’re going to kill us. Put that thing out.”

“It doesn’t harm physical objects,” Apricot replied softly. She turned to Shiori, her voice firm. “I think it’s just a phantom. At least the phantom is controlling it. It told me earlier that it had stabbed its throat.” A shadow crossed in front of the car, and in an instant, Shiori slammed on the brakes; the tires screeched to a halt. An ear-piercing hiss emanated from the machine, followed by a loud clang as a projectile penetrated the car’s hood. “Get out!” Shiori commanded, flinging his door open. Apricot followed suit, diving out just before the car was lifted and hurled into a building.

In front of the mecha, the two stood their ground. Shiori rose to his feet, flicking a small switch to extend his rod. “I do hope you’re right, Apricot,” he said. The fires around her arm burned brighter as she nodded her head. “There’s only one choice.” With a metallic snap, the cables reappeared from the car and slid into the machine’s hand. The imposing device towered over the pair, standing about ten feet tall. “You know, Apricot, if you’re wrong, we’re gonna die, right?”

Without warning, the machine lunged forward at Shiori, who barely evaded its massive fist. The powerful machine slammed into the pavement, pelting Shiori with debris. Despite the minor impact, he struck his rod against the mecha’s fist, showering the area with sparks. “Shit, this is useless!” The machine straightened its back as Shiori roared. Apricot ran past the mecha, waving her arms, drawing its attention. It shot its claws at her, but she leaped over the metallic tethers, narrowly avoiding their deadly grasp.

After regaining her sight, Apricot caught a glimpse of Shiori directly beneath the machine. “Have to be creative,” he roared, plunging his rod into the mecha’s chest plate. He pried the pilot’s door off with his rod after removing the chest panel. Inside the cockpit, insects crawled over the decomposing body of a dead soldier, his mouth agape in agony, eyes wide. Maggots oozed from the putrid corpse. A purple orb floated inside the cockpit, extending throughout the entire machine. Shiori let out a loud cry as the mecha’s powerful hand wrapped around his waist, tossing him through the air like a ragdoll. He rolled several times on the ground, his clothes tearing as he did so.

“Shiori!” Apricot shouted. Sensing an opening, the machine raised its fist to crush her. Apricot screamed as the fist descended, lunging directly at the purple orb held by the mechanical soldier. She slashed it with all her might, and in a flash, the machine toppled forward, its fist smashing into the pavement as its aura burst. The entire mecha collapsed, and a cloud of insects swarmed around her. Apricot panted, looking up at the dead soldier still strapped into the suit. His lifeless eyes seemed to gaze at her, but not at her. Blood dripped from his limp, open mouth.

Liquid flowed from Shiori’s mouth onto the ground as he stood up, wheezing and coughing. “Well, it didn’t kill me,” he laughed weakly. He roared and writhed in pain. “Damn it. That hurts. Looks like you survived as well.” He grunted, letting out another cough. Apricot stepped out of the mecha, nodding her head. “I’d appreciate your assistance,” she said, her voice filled with relief and determination.

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