~ Chapter 2 ~

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Caught off guard, Aurora's heart raced as she frantically tried to move her mech off to the side.

 

Comm Sys - Warning - Damage sustained
Comm Sys - Alert - Energy Rifle Disconnected

 

Her cockpit illuminated with a flurry of warning lights and sparks as her hull absorbed the initial impact of the surprise attack.

 

“Damn it!” Aurora cursed, as her weapon flew out of her grasp.

 

The entity's massive limbs clashed with her mech's outer hull, causing visible damage to the mech’s armor. Determined to defend herself, with nimble movements, Aurora quickly shoved the alien creature, and stepped backwards.

In quick succession she retaliated with a fierce counterattack. Her mech's shoulder mounted cannon blazed to life, firing a barrage of rounds at the encroaching entity. Yet it made no signs of slowing down.

 

“Shit, it’s a T3!” Aurora glanced at her earlier flung weapon.

 

Neither her shoulder cannons or missiles are equipped to deal with a higher ranked Enlightened. If she could get to her rifle she could take it down. As the struggle intensified, Aurora's adrenaline surged. She nimbly maneuvered her mech, dodging the being's relentless onslaught, while striving to find an opening.

 

Comm Sys - Warning - Damage sustained

 

However, despite her best efforts, Aurora's mech sustained more damage with each passing moment. The attacks chipped away at her defenses, and the cockpit's displays showed alarming signs of stress and strain.

Inside her mech, Aurora's hands trembled slightly, and her heart pounded in her chest. The struggle was taking a toll on both her and her machine. Each hit from the T3 sent jolts of energy rippling through the cockpit, causing sparks to fly and control systems to flicker. But she couldn't back down now; her team's safety depended on her.

In a desperate maneuver, Aurora mustered all her strength and launched a barrage of guided missiles at the T3. The missiles streaked through the air, leaving trails of energy as they homed in on the malevolent entity. Upon impact, the missiles exploded with intense force, engulfing the T3 in a fiery blast.

 

“Hah, bingo!” Aurora saw it, the opportunity.

 

Aurora quickly activated her thrusters, pushing the heavy frame towards her destination.

Immediately, she grabbed her dropped weapon, aimed and fired. The energy rifle landed with a resounding thud, sending a shockwave of force rippling through the air, causing the T3 to be pierced straight through its eerie form.

In that moment, the T3 entity underwent a grotesque transformation. Its form twisted and convulsed, contorting in ways that defied the laws of nature. The air crackled with an unsettling energy, and the T3's body began to alter, revealing an abhorrent hybrid of eldritch and corporeal elements.

 

“Haah, way too close.” Breathed Aurora.

"Aurora, report! Are you okay?” Lyra said urgently.

 

Aurora ’s eyes darted towards Lyra's mech on her heads-up display. She could see tiny signs of damage and strain.

 

The comms channel crackled, "I'm still in one piece. It was a T3 that snuck up on me, but I managed to take it down. Just a few dings and dents in the mech, nothing serious." Aurora responded, a mix of exhaustion and determination could be heard in her response.

"Good job, Aurora But, stay alert, we'll handle these guys, but let us know if you need backup," Caelum reassured her, his relief palpable.

Lyra chimed in, "We've got your back, Aurora. Keep fighting, and we'll make it through this together."

 

Despite the positive encouragement, Aurora's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She had underestimated the eldritch entity's ability to remain hidden, and the consequences had been nearly disastrous.

As she assessed the damage to her mech and processed the encounter, she couldn't help but acknowledge that the fluctuating AEP levels in the area had played a significant role in the T3's successful ambush.

Perhaps the erratic readings had masked its approach, making it challenging for her sensors to detect the looming threat. With a determined resolve, Aurora knew she had to be more vigilant in the future.

The encounter had taught her a valuable lesson – to never let her guard down, especially in areas with high AEP fluctuations. Her survival and the safety of her team depended on her attentiveness and quick reactions.

 

"I won't make the same mistake again," she vowed silently, her hands clenching with determination. "Next time, there won't be a next time."

 

As the team continued their intense battle with the Enlightened, the situation began to take a dire turn. Despite their skill and coordination, the sheer number of eldritch entities was overwhelming, and the team was slowly being pushed back. The T3 entities, in particular, seemed to be relentless in their pursuit of the team.

Aurora's senses were on high alert as she scanned the battlefield, her mech's weapons firing relentlessly at any approaching threats.

 

Comm Sys - Alert - Energy Rifle Overheated - Cooling Down

 

“Shit, there’s too many,” Grimaced the pilot.

 

Despite their resilience and determination, the team was gradually being pushed back by the relentless onslaught of the Enlightened. The situation was dire, and they needed to find a way to gain the upper hand.

 

"Team, we need to change our approach," Caelum called out over the comms. "We're falling back to the research facility. It might give us the advantage we need. I’m deploying ND smokes."

 

With a swift motion, Caelum hurled the neutralizing and disorienting smoke grenades directly at the oncoming horde of Enlightened. The team began a strategic retreat toward the enigmatic Site E14 research facility.

Their mechs moved with agility and purpose, protecting each other as they sought shelter and a moment to regroup. They quickly and easily dealt with the few Enlightened that were just out of range of the gas.

 

‘We're almost there,’ she thought, her mech's powerful strides carrying her closer to the facility. As they drew near, a blend of anxiety and anticipation coursed through her. While her team approached the deserted research facility, an unusual sensation crept into her consciousness—a very slight headache.

 

Suddenly her comms lit up, interrupting her thoughts, "We’ll go through the large docking area. Once we're inside, we'll see if we can engage the facility's security systems and use it as a temporary stronghold," Caelum responded, his voice focused and determined.

 

As they reached the entrance, the group of mechs swiftly became aware that everything was operational. Beams of strobing emergency lights filtered through the windows of the building, casting an illuminating glow.

 

“Uh, boss, are abandoned buildings supposed to have power?” Draco asked.

“Hm, no it shouldn’t, everyone stay alert. Open it Orion.” Caelum ordered.

 

As Orion's formidable mech, the Ironclad, advanced, Aurora's gaze darted briefly across the surroundings. Her keen eyes noticed marks on the ground—faint tire tracks etched into the soil. Nearby grass showed signs of being flattened, as if someone had been there recently, their presence still lingering in the disturbed earth.

 

“Hey Caelum , people have been here, this door was opened recently,” Orion explained.

“Yeah, there's tire tracks here too,” Added Aurora.

“Hmm, let's head in, it would be easier to deal with actual people than a horde of Enlightened.” Decided Caelum 

“Alright then,” Orion activated the massive door.

 

The massive door gradually began to creak open, starting at its base, revealing the darkened interior of the research facility. Quickly, the team entered the facility, and shut the entrance where they came from.

The facility's interior was dimly illuminated, with only the soft glow of emergency lights lighting the corridors. The air was thick with an unpleasant aura, making Aurora uneasy.

 

"Caelum, do you really think it's a good idea to seek refuge here?" Lyra's voice crackled over the comms, mirroring Aurora's thoughts.

"I know it's risky, but we need to buy some time and regain our strength. The facility's defenses should help keep the Enlightened at bay," Caelum replied, his voice echoing with determination.

"Aurora, you keep watch on the AEP Monitor, Draco watch over her. Lyra and Orion help me locate an access panel. We need to secure this facility before we're overrun," Caelum commanded.

 

Aurora nodded, positioning her mech to cover as much ground as possible. The facility's layout was complex, with corridors branching off in multiple directions. She couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, as if the walls themselves were watching and listening.

Fortunately the docking area was spacious and unoccupied. Looking around there were a few cargo containers, crates, and barrels all of which looked like they haven’t been touched in years.

 

As Aurora's attention shifts to her AEP monitor, another sudden, sharp pang courses through her head.

At first, she brushes it off as the aftermath of the intense battle with the T3 Enlightened, but the sensation persists, growing in intensity. It feels as if an unseen force is trying to break into her thoughts, the walls of her mind, as if attempting to forcibly communicate.

Aurora gripped the joystick tightly, trying to focus despite the gnawing pain but the sensation became more insistent, like an intrusive whisper that cannot be ignored.

It is as if She could hear faint, indistinct murmurs at the edge of her consciousness, as if a distant voice were calling out to her from some enigmatic void.

Aurora takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself. As she is trying to alleviate the pain, her sensors detected a sudden spike in AEP levels from one of the nearby corridors. She immediately relayed the information to the team.

 

"Caelum! I'm detecting a high concentration of AEP in the area around us," Aurora warned.

 

Before Caelum could respond, a deafening roar echoed through the facility. From the shadows emerged a towering and grotesque figure—an entity unlike any they had encountered before. It was a T4 Enlightened, and its malevolent presence filled the entire corridor.

As the T4 entity emerged from the shadows, its malevolent presence seemed to fixate on Aurora's mech with an unnerving intensity.

Aurora's heart raced as she realized the T4's attention was squarely on her. It felt like the creature could tell she was less experienced, detecting her weakness among the experienced fighters. The darkness within its eyes seemed to leer at her, radiating a creepy and unsettling feeling.

Just as the T4 appeared the sharp pain returned, stronger than before, and Aurora can feel it pulsating at the very core of her being. Biting her lip to stifle a gasp of pain, Aurora clings to the controls, determined to withstand the onslaught.

Aurora's vision blurs for a moment, and she feels as though she's floating in a sea of distorted reality. Her own thoughts seem distant and disjointed, as if they are no longer entirely her own.

 

"Aurora, Move! It's a T4! Repeat, it's a T4!" Caelum urgently shouted, urging Aurora to move.

 

But she didn't. T4 had locked onto Aurora's position. Before she or Draco could react, the monstrous entity charged at her mech with unfathomable speed, slamming into it with tremendous force. The impact unleashed a devastating surge of energy, engulfing her mech in a blinding explosion.

The cockpit shook violently, and the emergency lights flickered as alarms blared throughout the console. The force of the impact sent Aurora's mech sprawling backward, crashing into a nearby wall.

Aurora's vision blurred, and her body felt numb from the impact.

 

“Damn it! Aurora!” Draco yelled.

"Aurora, respond! Are you alright? We're coming to get you!" Lyra's voice echoed in her ears, filled with concern.

 

Sparks flew all throughout her cockpit, as red and orange lights blared to life.

 

Comm Sys - Warning - Damage sustained

Emergency Diagnostic Checklist Commencing…

Emergency Diagnostic Has Completed - Critical Damage To Major Systems - Major Damage to Pilot

Comm Sys - Warning - Critical Damage sustained - EMERGENCY - PILOT EVAC… THE CO…IT…

 

Aurora could hear them, her system too, but she couldn't find the strength to respond. Darkness closed in around her, and she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness.

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