65 Manullium Mine - Part 3 (1/2)

Ed picked up one of the manullium ingots and was surprised by the weight. It was like holding a balloon. He half-expected it to float away if he gave it a slight toss into the air.

There was a total of 100 ingots. They managed to load half into the mech. Ed went back the way they came and grabbed control of one of the earlier defeated mechs. Then he returned and filled it up with the remaining ingots. Terra took control of one mech and Gunther the other.

The mechs travelled down the railroad. Ed hid within their shadows. They returned to the cavern with the floating manullium ores. The miners paid no attention to them as they left. They easily travelled through the winding paths and returned to the elevator.

Ed spoke into a copper tube that was next to the elevator. ”Bring us up.” His voice travelled through a pipe up to a horn at the control area above ground. He stepped onto the elevator with the others. A brief moment later, the elevator began to rise.

The view above ground slowly came into view as they were lifted higher. Dozens of soldiers were firing on Bolin's location. He would normally negate such attacks easily with a gravitational field, but he could not rely on such tricks currently. He was crouched within the small control box, keeping his head down. The box had 3 short walls and a door. Beams in each corner held a roof above the control box. The space between the beams was completely open, not even having a glass window. Bullets constantly bounced off the iron walls as soldiers continued firing towards it.

”Great...” Ed rubbed his forehead while sighing at the unexpected development.

Suddenly, the front gates of the base opened. The army of soldiers returned. The four 10-meter-tall mechs were behind them. None seemed to have experienced any significant damage.

”What do we do?” Gunther questioned with a slight quiver in his voice.

”How good are your acting skills?” He replied.

”Uhh...” Gunther hesitated a moment in confusion before answering. ”Okay... I guess?”

”Well, we'll be relying on you then.” He smiled. ”As of this moment, I am your guys prisoner. You captured me in the mine. They don't know how many of us there are, so they'll believe I was the only accomplice.”

The soldiers had already noticed the group rising from the elevator. A soldier was heading their way to check the situation out. Meanwhile, the returning army encircled the control box further. It'd be blown to shreds before long. Especially with the mechs returning.

”What's going on here?!” A tall blond soldier questioned.

”Sir!” A voice echoed from the horns atop Gunther's mech. ”We captured this man infiltrating the mines.”

”Oh?” The soldier glanced at Ed and frowned. ”He should be the accomplice of the man in the control box. Did you spot anyone else down there?”

”No sir.” Gunther replied. ”He was alone.”

Ed slowly rose his arms in the air while feigning a panicked expression. ”Don't hurt me! It's just me and my subordinate in the control box! He'll surrender if I order him to!”

”Hah, do you think we need your help getting somebody to surrender, kid?” The soldier glanced back at the control box. Three soldiers had closed the distance. Each one hefted a gun over the short walls of the box, preparing to fire.

Suddenly, a strong gravitational force pressed down on the soldiers and they fell to the ground. The force quickly disappeared. Bolin popped up and stabbed down with his cane-sword. In a brief moment, he had killed all 3 soldiers and ducked back down behind cover.

”As you were saying?” Ed questioned with a smug grin.

”Shut up!” The soldier slammed the butt of his rifle into Ed's stomach.

Ed was completely unharmed from the attack. His body was far too strong for such a thing to hurt. However, he released a fake moan while hunching over, pretending to be in pain.

The soldier glanced at the two miner mechs. ”Let's go. You two lead the way and order the surrender.”

”Yes sir!” Gunther replied and led the way. Terra's mech, Ed, and the soldier followed behind him.

”Why aren't you guys using the big mechs over there?” Ed questioned curiously. ”I bet it'd be over instantly if you did.”

”Tsk.” The soldier scoffed while looking at him with disdain. ”Do you use a steam tank to kill a chicken? Same concept. We won't be so shameful as to use such a strong weapon against the single chicken hiding within that little box.”

”Oh?” He smiled while nodding. ”I see. You'd rather waste soldier lives than use the overkill method. I'm a bit different. I'd go so far as to blow up a city to kill a chicken if I really wanted it dead. Haha!”

The soldier grimaced at the mention of his dead comrades, but quickly recovered. ”Hurry up and order your subordinate's surrender.”

”Sure.” He nodded. He yelled towards the control box. ”Bolin! I surrendered. Come on out!”

World Walker popped his head over the short wall and his eyes widened in surprise. ”You actually surrendered?! You, of all people?!”

”Yup. We lost.” He replied. ”No point in throwing away our lives here. Just surrender.”

”Fine.” Bolin agreed while putting away his sword-cane. He walked out from the control box. By now, over 100 soldiers, 20 mechs, and the 4 large mechs had encircled the control box. Rifles were aimed at him from every direction. ”I surrender.” He sighed while lifting his hands into the air. He walked slowly towards the soldier that had captured Ed and stood behind him.

The army stood silently for a moment in confusion. Then, a tall man with short gray hair stepped forward. Wrinkles decorated his aged body, but he stood firmly straight like a pillar. He walked towards Ed's group. ”Good job soldier. You'll be getting a promotion for this.”

”Captain!” The soldier saluted proudly, holding his chest up high.

”Now let's see. I recognize you two.” The captain rubbed his chin. ”The famous Forge and World Walker. Hell, to think World Walker would be mad enough to come into a manullium mine. You're practically uncatchable under ordinary circumstances.”

”I'm afraid I had no choice in the matter.” Bolin smiled wryly. ”I was captured by the brat first and have to follow his orders.”

”Oh?” The captain rose an eyebrow. ”Seems he's quite the esper.” He rose his hands into the air and metal began to drip from his fingertips, forming two pairs of handcuffs. He walked towards Ed while smiling, ”Don't think of resisting. I've taken down stronger espers than the likes of you, and you're completely surrounded.”

”Heh.” Ed held a hand up to his mouth, attempting to stifle his laughter. ”Haha.” His laughter grew stronger, and soon he could no longer control it. ”HAHAHA!!!”

”What's so funny, brat?” The captain frowned while a nervous feeling sprouted within his heart.

”Sorry, sorry.” He replied while calming down and waving his hand. ”I just thought it was funny how I'm being arrested atop a powder-keg that's about to blow up.”