19 Reunion (2/2)
More and more bullets further debilitated the Savage, which was unable to change the magazine in its rifle with only one arm.
As the attacking AS came near, Sousuke swung the rifle like a club, but the enemy deflected it and pushed its carbine against the Savage's chest. Just one shot into the cockpit ...
The gun fired.
If Sousuke took a fraction of a second longer to turn the mech's hips, he doubtless would have ended up splattered on the wall; the blast ripped through the Savage's armor plating, destroying most of the instruments in the chest cavity and plowing through the generator in the head.
Its control system completely destroyed, the Savage fell like a marionette cut loose. Crashing face first, it splashed into the water, throwing its arms toward the bank.
The night air reached Sousuke, and blood trickled down his forehead into his eyes. A sharp pain twitched in his back. When he tried to move the mech's levers, he confirmed its complete demise.
Swimming toward the wreckage, Kaname grabbed its arm.
”Sagara?” she called.
”No, stay back!” shouted Sousuke, ignoring his pain.
The silver AS stepped in front of Sousuke. It was unlike any other Sousuke had ever seen-its stylish design suggested it was
Western. But where did it come from?
”You handled that thing very well until you got to the river,”
The enemy called through the speaker. ”Did you really think I'd set off a grenade? We want the girl alive.”
”It wouldn't shock me if you did,” answered Sousuke. He could see two Arm Slaves and some kind of armored truck en route from the base. His number really was up this time.
”Hey, you're that student from the plane. I never expected an agent to be in high school. Fooled me! You with Mithril?”
”I don't have to answer that.”
”Fine. Then die.”
”Wait! What are you doing?” shouted Kaname.
Ignoring her, the enemy's AS leveled its carbine rifle at Sousuke's chest.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Then, there was a low rumbling as the shoulders of the silver AS shook, and the left hand slapped its head, which shook as a sign of its operator's disbelief. The huge machine was, in effect, laughing.
”Kashim! What a surprise!”
”You are one of I met at the Siberia, right. I'm Gauron twin brother, Lauren.”
Sousuke winced at his former name.
”I barely recognized you. So, you've stuck with Mithril, eh?
How's that coward, Lieutenant Kalinin?”
”I thought you were dead,” answered Sousuke.
The silver AS pointed to its forehead, right where Lauren's scar would be.
”Ha! Fortunately, I had a titanium plate in my skull from an old wound. The angle was just right, so here I am! Wow. I'm so glad we got to meet again this way. It's great, don't you think?” Lauren laughed.