Disclaimer: I do not own Titanfall, Respawn Entertainment, nor play the game, nor have the actual game. Inspired by South Korean cartoon Pucca, the Rooster Teeth CGI/Halo machinama Red vs. Blue, and popular anime Sword Art Online, in terms of characters, personality, profession, and relations.
Angel City
Harbor District
Planet Harmony
Day 72 - War of Frontier
Another usual day here in Angel City. Just gardening the Sakura, and the plants in the harbor district. I always garden the plants here, as I was the one who planted them. The people here thought that was crazy to put plants in a harbor area, bit eventually agreed that it was nice to have a small park, and I mean a very small park, as it is considered a residential area.
"Hey Reina!" A voice came out. I turn my head to see a fellow neighbor, "How it's going?"
I answered, "Fine Jim. I'm fine."
"So how are you? I heard you're living alone."
"I'm doing fine..."
Jim is single... like most people here in Harbor, including me.
"Okay... So... do you want to have dinner with me?"
"Uh..." I thought about my choices...
Should I? Is this... a... a... date? Maybe I should... I could finally have a lover. But... it could go wrong... I barely know him... I could be dumped! Oh... I don't know what to do...
I want to say yes... but I couldn't say it... "Uh... I... no..wh...wait..."
"It's fine, you can take your time. That aside, what do you think on the war?" Jim asked.
"The war? You mean between the IMC and the Frontier Militia?"
"Yeah. I think that the IMC is pretty much a tyranny. They just move around and take what they want. We should send them to hell..." I can see his anger... "So what about you? What do you think?"
I just said, "Honestly... I don't think that this war is worth taking a side."
"So you're neutral?"
"Yes..."
He just chuckled, "That's cool. That's fine. Both sides are considered good and bad in their own way, right?"
I nodded, he's right. IMC is protecting the Frontier, but takes advantage on us. The Militia is defending against it, but takes it to an extreme.
I whispered, "Right... I... got to go home... I need to check on family in the city."
"Hm... sorry my hearing's not that good... what was that?"
"I need to call my family." I said a little louder.
"Oh okay. Later" And he walked away...
Home...
My small home... I bet my family is working in the city... I look out my window, and see the skyscrapers in the distance... where they are...
Ring! Ring!
I walked to a table, and activated a hologram...
"Moshi! Moshi! Onee-chan!" I can see the girl on the screen.
"Hey sis. How are you?" I responded.
She smiled, "Great! You? Are you doing fine living away?"
"I'm doing fine."
"So... you do have any special people?"
"E...Eh?"
"So you don't."
"Of course not! Do you think I would get a boyfriend any time soon?"
"True... you aren't that skilled with social conversations."
I agreed, "Yeah..."
"It's okay sis... you are still 21. Maybe.. you can meet..."
"I'm not, going to a bar!"
She whined, "Aww... come on! It's not like you gonna sleep with anyone!"
"Ah wha.. e... I'm not gonna have...! Damn you Mei..."
"You know I'm kidding."
"...You are like a bitch..."
"I know. Hey, I'm in puberty now. I'm 14 now."
"Technically, you've past puberty." I reminded, "So how's mom?"
"Mom? Oh, she's fine, still sad that you left. She wanted another adult..."
"I can't. I need to learn to be independent. I can't rely on people... unlike mom... before..." I felt my heart hurting with grieve.
"Yeah... dad was..." She tried to speak but stopped, "He was a good man..."
"But was killed by a... a... Titan..."
It was too much... it made me remember the war...
Some time ago...
I see my small body... holding my little baby sister...
My father... fighting robots... Titans... in the distance... He was no match by himself... without one... I then saw... it... He... crushed apart... ruthlessly...
I was so shocked... by his body... his blood... his remains... I suffered nightmares... every night ever since...
And developed a fear of those robots... and war...
"Sis... big sister... Onee...chan? Oh naaayyy chaaannn..." My sister tried to call me
I look up to the hologram... my eyes blurry...
"Sorry... it was too much...and you were just a baby..."
"It's okay." She comforted me, "I gotta go, jaa matta." And she disconnected.
I fell on my bed, looking at the pictures... dad... Mei... mom... Can I really be independent?
Time: 1304 (Local)
I was walking around in the streets of the District. No need to worry about working... It was a free day...
Suddenly... something was going off in the distance... I look around... and then... I saw it...
Gunfire...
Explosions erupted around me... throwing dust and dirt into the air... impairing my hearing... disrupting my sight...
I ran through the dust in fear and shock... and took cover in the building where the shipments of cargo come in... the storage...
I look through the open window... and see horror... a war... here in Angel City.
"Move it! Clear this area!" I heard voices...
I look toward the open doors... and see three soldiers move in... they have orange highlights...
"I heard that a skilled IMC sniper will be on this mission." One said
Another just joked, "Snipers, nah! Our Pilots will take care of snipers..."
They must be Frontier Militia... Pilots... like fighter plane pilots?
All of a sudden, shots were fired... it hurt my ears... so I covered them...
From behind a crate, I see the three firing at another man... and gunning him down...
He began to leak blood...
I began to hyperventilate... but I calmed my self... and my breathing was normal again.
They began to look at it and started to take stuff from the body... when another soldier walked in.
"AH! PILOT...GAHH!" That new guy gunned them down... He looked different... his helmet for one... with a blue X like shape visor and with more blue and white highlights...IMC was on his chest plate...
He's a pilot? What's a pilot? Then another one came in, similar to him, but with no face guard... just showing his masculine face.
"Nice one... but they're not pilots. They're just grunts." He commented
He replied, "Just some cannon fodder. Be careful about those spectres though... they had the armor of a pilot." And they ran off into the outside battle.
Spectre... Grunts... Pilots... what's the difference? I should get moving. I walk towards the Red Star Restaurant. All of a sudden, someone came in front of me...
Wait... it's not human... it has a ro...robot... like face...the legs...
"HALT!" IT CAN SPEAK!
I froze... unable to move... frightened...
"Hey! Spectre! It's a civilian! Leave her." Someone called out
SPECTRES ARE ROBOTS!?
Then that voice came over... it was a... Militia...
"Sorry miss, but you can't stay here. You need to go..." He didn't even finished his sentence...
BANG BANG BANG! Bullets hit his head... spraying blood...
The robot began to speak "Enemy fire detected... R-101C..."
BANG BANG BANG BANG!
"E... EN... EM..." It fell... sparking...
I look at the dead soldier... my eyes staying open... my breath... not even working... Turning my head... I see a female... behind me...
"Are you okay Reina?" It was Angela, a worker at the Restaurant. She was holding a rifle...
My eyes widened..."Did you..."
"I thought they were gonna hurt you. Sorry. Let's go to the Red Star, take cover..." But I shook my head...
"We should split up... in case something happens to one of us..."
"I couldn't hear... you... want to split up? I understand. In case one of us dies..." And she ran off.
I ran towards the Market... near the gardens... when... I see a battle going on...
That's when I see something fly in... a ship... a big one... It had the IMC logo on it... Then... things began to fall out of the sky... It crashed into the ground... revealing... Titans... I began to feel faint and shocked...
I hid from sight... it can't be a Titan... It can't be!... I peeked over... and see them fighting each other.
Then... I see more and more Militia attacking... killing IMC after IMC... the Militia is winning the battle... I can see horror of being slaughtered by your enemy... with no chance of hope...I see a clearing into the Market... now's my chance.
I ran into the building... and ran into a soldier... I fell on my back... and my chest ached... It was another Militia... this time a 'pilot'...
He and two others were in front of me.
"Move it! Watch where you're going!" They shouted at me.
I did nothing wrong... it was an accident...
One of them told them something, "We got Barker out of the sewers. He's safe. We got the entire IMC out there as corpses! Might as well have a little reward..."
I realized what he meant...
"No... no..." Two of them hold down my arms... and pin me to the ground... the other now approached me...
"No! No! Help! Someone! Help me!"
"Shut up!" One of them punched me. It hurt like hitting that man in the chest...
They began to tear at my clothes... I began to whimper... and cry...
Then... I heard footsteps... I look towards the sound... and see someone... Jim...
"What do you think you're doing!?" He demanded, "You can't do that!"
"So what? We are saving you from the IMC! We get a something for compensation now do we?" A pilot snapped back.
"You.. you are no different from the IMC! You motherfuckers!" He ran towards them...
"NO!" I tried to stop him... but I can't.
He tried to tackle one of them... but he was no match for military training.
The pilot... kicked him... and punched him... Jim collapsed... groaning in pain...
Then... the attacker pulled out a gun...
BANG! I closed my eyes... and when I opened them... Jim was no more... now a stain of blood...
"No... No!" I screamed... but the two pinning me covered my mouth...
"Now where were we?" The killer thought... He began to fiddle with his armor... He began with his pants... and only his pants...
My eyes widen again...my pants are now tears of clothing...
I began to cry...
Then... more footsteps... who can it be?... Angela? No... please be someone else... The three stopped and stood up... I look towards their direction, and see someone... a IMC pilot... He has a hood over his five circle viewport... of his mask.
"Well, it's that sniper we all heard about." One of the Militia realized.
Another said, "You here to surrender? You're the only one left."
He shook his head... his weapons were not in his hands...
Why... why aren't they in his hands?... why... didn't he talk?
"Then leave us! We got a girl to attend to." The one with the pants about to be removed, started to touch my naked body... I began to shake... I began to whimpered... I tried to struggle... but he was too strong. "Why... we got a newbie here!"
I look at the sniper... trying to beg for him to help... He looked at me... I could sensed his remorse towards me... and look at the two guards...
Then... it all happen fast...
He rushed the two guards... and side kicked one.
Blood sprayed... and the victim fell out of a window... The other tried to shoot him... but the sniper grabbed his head with both his hands... and quickly turned it...
The head was turned so much... I thought the bones are not even there... the soldier dropped... dead...
I couldn't believe it... he took down two armed soldiers... without a weapon.
The one about to rape me turn and drawn the pistol again. But... the sniper tackled him... and the gun was thrown out of the building... the militia punched him... but the sniper held him at gunpoint against a wall with his own pistol... He look towards me and motioned with his head to run...
I shook my head... I can't...
The sniper took a punch... and was pushed into a wall...hard. And it looked like it knocked him out...
Oh no...
The rapist decided to lost the pants... and then his undergarments... I tried to run... but my bare feet was tripped.
I looked back at him... and his legs... I gasped... and see his genitals...
He grabbed my legs... preventing me from trying to run away...
He position himself in front of me...
When I see the sniper... he got up, and rushed up behind him. He lunged and grabbed his neck... pulling him back...
My legs were freed... and the Militia pilot was kicked tired to attack him again... but was stabbed in the neck... by a knife...he began to spray blood... and he fell down to the ground, now oozing blood...
The sniper dropped in exhaustion... and looked at me...but suddenly looked away... I then covered my chest and legs...embarrassed.
"Th..Thank you..." I whispered... I didn't think he would hear it...
But, he nodded his head. He could hear me!
He picked up his pistol... and his rifle... it has a magazine... a scope... a grip and bipod... and walked over to me. He offered his hand to pull me up... and it's an attempt to see my private parts... hesitating, I took it. As he pull me up... his hand let go, and reached toward my face... I leaned back... but allowed him to touch my face... his gloves brushed my cheek... and moved in a wiping motion... I looked at the fingers... and saw blood... I was stained with a little blood... the blood of that Militia pilot.
I never heard that man talk. He was silent... kinda like me... He's taller than me. I'm 5 foot 8. He's about 6 feet tall.
"zzz... all units, IMC is defeated. Hunt down any remaining forces...Be advised, we had damaged the IMS Sentinel... This is Pilot 12, we have one IMC left. It's a sniper, a damn good one. He just took out three of our guys without a weapon! All units, find and kill that pilot!" A radio crackled
The sniper look out of a window... and looked around.
He then ran out into the courtyard... and jumped... he was launched about 10 feet high... and he grabbed a wall, and ran on it! He ran, grasping the wall, and then he jumped to the other wall! He's like... superhuman...
This is the power of a pilot...
...
What do I do now? Should I go home? No... I'll just be haunted by this battle. Should I head back to Mei and mom? I can't... they expected me to be able to live independently...
...
Should I...
follow the pilot?
Then... it would mean I became dependent on him! But... he saved my life... and that he showed me that not everyone is ruthless in war... But that means that I'm going with the IMC. I'm taking a side with this war...
"All units be advised, a woman is seen with the pilot. She is suspected to be in affiliation with the IMC. Track and detain her..." the radio spoke
"But sir, she's just a civilian. She's a gardener... her family only has affiliation with the Titan Wars. Her father was..." Someone else responded
"If her father was a IMC soldier, then she is affiliated with IMC. Detain her."
"Yes sir. And what will we do with her?"
"Question her. Then do what our dead comrades would had done to any IMC female... and then kill her!"
He saved me... That sniper... It's like those knights saving the princess moments... and then... he reveals his face... What am I thinking!?
Wait... they're going after me... I should move! I ran outside... and ran towards the pilot... n...naked!?
Oh...shit! Need some clothes... I ran towards my home, and grabbed some new clothes... oh no... I only have my white dress... damn... There's no time Reina! Got to go now! I look at my self in a mirror... and see my long black hair, all dusty... I quickly wiped all of the dirt off, and grabbed some sneakers.
"This is the IMS Vigilant to any remaining forces in the Harbor District of Angel City, Base Delta Zero1 is in effect I repeat, Base Delta Zero is in effect. If you are hearing this transmission, you are asked to evacuate from the area via dropship or any means necessary. Dropship location at the rooftop across from the apartment buildings."2 The radio spoke, and it repeated the transmission... It's from my dad's radio from the IMC.
If that sniper is to leave, he'll go to that building... I grabbed the radio, in case of any updates.
I ran up stairs to the roof. I see the building across the road, and wait for the drop ship.
"10 minutes till BDZ. Repeat, 10 minutes till BDZ."
Then, a loudspeaker was announcing something, "Attention all citizens in the Harbor district, please evacuate from the area. Access to nearby sky rails are now open for only 5 minutes."
I should go to the sky rails... head back to mom and Mei... but I want to be independent...
"zzz... Reina... come in..." The radio crackled...
I knew who it was, "Mom? Mom? Is that you?"
"zzz... so...sorry... Hold... Sorry, we had interference from the battle. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I managed to stay safe."
"Good. That's good."
"Mom?"
"Yes Reina? What is it?"
"What if I taken interest in this guy, but he's was a soldier. What if he saved me, and I wanted to be with him?"
"Would that be love?"
I got flustered,"Y...Yeah..."
"Then go with him."
"Really? But, he's a..."
"If you love him, then you had become dependent on him. If you married him and lived with him, you are dependent on each other."
... I don't know what to do...
"Go to him. Even if we're planets away, I know you will be safe. That's part of letting go...When you left the city, I was shocked that I don't have someone to help around the house, but I knew you were growing up, and that you didn't have a good childhood. So, I left go, and left you be free, able to make your own life, and I can make mine."
"Mom..."
"Go Reina. It's time to decide. Go back home, or go with the one you love?"
I thought about it... I wanted to have a good life. I never did well in a social environment... but this could be my chance to do so. He is considered a person. But, either way, I became dependent on someone...
But... I... I'm in love with that man...
I spoke, "Mother... thank you so much for watching over me all this time... but now...It's time for me to go my own way..."
"Don't cry Reina... you are 21... we'll always be together Reina...zzz..."
I closed my eyes... and remembered those faces I know so well...
"..zz...zzz... 5 minutes till BDZ. Repeat, 5 minutes till BDZ. Drop ship will arrive in 4 minutes... repeat 4 minutes..." The radio spoke.
Only one minute to evacuate? They are cutting it close. But, considering there are Titans and enemy infantry... it makes sense.
But... I need to get over there...
I ran down the stairs... and ran across the street to the building... only to find...
"Closed!?" I exclaimed, "You are closed!?"
Damn it! I ran around to the slum like areas and see the roof top...
How am I supposed to get up there?
"zzz...zzz Attention all IMC forces..." The radio spoke again... "This is the IMS Sentient. We have suffered heavy damage, and are pulling out... This is the IMS Vigilant to all forces in the Harbor District, BDZ will commence in 3 minutes... Drop ship will arrive in 2 minutes... EVAC point is now changed to the roof of Angel Apartments."
...
"NOW YOU TELL US TO GO TO THE APARTMENTS!? WHAT THE HELL!? YOU TOLD US TO GO TO THE BUILDING ACROSS!" I yelled out...
"What was that? Don't know. Let's check it out!" I gasped... they heard me...
I ran back towards the apartments... to see someone on the street.
"Hey! Stop!" He tried to stop me... but I ran past.
"It's her! After her!"
As I ran inside, I heard a boom...
"SNIPER! GAH!"
It must be him! He's looking after me! I ran up to the roof... and see nothing... like before...
"BDZ will commence in 2 minutes... Drop ship will arrive early... Await for drop ship at roof of Angel Apartments." The radio informed.
I waited... and then... I see the ship... It hovered above the roof... and the doors open up... revealing a pilot... and some grunts...
The pilot ordered around, "Move! Secure the area!"
"BDZ will commence in 90 seconds..."
I walked towards the pilot... with the sniper still nowhere to be found.
He looked at me and asked, "What are you doing here? The sky rails just closed!"
I pleaded, "Please, I need to get on."
"Okay, don't worry." He then turned to a grunt, "Any word on survivors?"
The grunt responded, "There's no one responding!"
"Damn it!"
But I stopped them, "Wait! There's one more! A pilot!"
"Where?" The pilot asked
"I don't know..."
"Do you know the name?" The grunt asked
"..."
"She doesn't know! That's just fucking great!"
"Shut up!" The pilot shouted
"I..." I whispered...
He leaned forward... his helmet out of his head... his ear closed in on my mouth...
"He doesn't talk... he's a sniper..."
He then nodded... thought about the description... which was nondescript in my opinion... but he laughed...
"Heh... heh... damn it you... it's always you...Okay! I know who he is! I'll get him, you wait here!" And he ran off.
"60 seconds to BDZ." The radio reported
I stood by the ship... waiting for the two of them to come back.
"30 seconds to BDZ."
"WE NEED TO GO!" The pilot of the drop ship reminded
But then I see the two pilots rushed up on to the roof, and ran toward me.
The sniper... stopped in front of me... as if he was shocked seeing me...
He stood there... looking at me...
"HEY! WE NEED TO GO!"
All of a sudden... the ground trembled... when Titans began to attack. I fell to the ground... and the sniper stumbled...
"25 seconds to BDZ."
We both ran towards the drop ship. The sniper jumped and was assisted by a jetpack... but not me.
When I jumped... I only reached the tip of the floor... I was slipping...
He grabbed my hand...and tried to pull me in, as the ship began to rise...
"HANG ON BACK THERE! IT'S GONNA BE CLOSE!"
With one last dose of strength and adrenaline, he pulled me into the ship... as the door closed...
"5 seconds to BDZ." The radio informed... "IMS Vigilant, ready guns! Firing solution in 2 seconds!3" Then the world shook apart... everyone was thrown around... shaken by massive shockwaves...
"Ghh...HANG ON!" The pilot shouted...
The sniper held me close to him...as I was shaking... but not from the turbulence... but the shock of war... But somehow... I felt safe... I felt like nothing will hurt me anymore... I look at the sniper... his hands holding me like I was a fragile baby...
The shaking stopped... and soon... we all look out of the view port... I gasped...
the entire Harbor district... is gone...
Later...
IMS Vigilant
As I step off of the drop ship, I see many soldiers... but not from the battle.
Then I see a officer and he walked up to the two pilots, "What's the status?"
"Sir, the Militia has taken 'Barker'. Another costly defeat." The pilot from the rescue reported.
"How many survived?"
"Two. One of them is a civilian."
"And the other."
"The sniper."
"Define sniper, Captain." The officer questioned.
"Lieutenant Jack Nelson." He said, as the sniper walked up to him.
He removed his helmet, revealing his tanned face... like from an Southern Asian descent. His black hair was short... but his face... had a one scar on his right cheek.
He saluted, "Sir, Lieutenant Jack Nelson reporting from battle..."
"Enough of this. You are dismissed, peasant." The officer scoffed and he walked away...
The captain told me, "That's the third time that Nelson was the only survivor from a battle."
I responded, "Really? I thought you guys are good."
"We are, but sometimes the Militia is better. And who are you again?"
This time, Nelson, turned his head and faced me...
With two people staring at me... I felt uneasy...
But I answered, "Kawakami... my name is Reina Kawakami."
Footnotes
1. Base Delta Zero - In the Star Wars universe, BDZ is a military tactic used by the Imperial Navy. Only when the situation calls for it, a fleet of star cruisers, (only capable of having turbo lasers) conducts a series of Orbital Bombardments (Using the turbo lasers to strike the surface) on the entire planet. Destruction is absolute, with little to no life remaining in the aftermath.
-In this story, it's a codename for destruction of the A.O. (Area of Operations), rather than the entire planet.
2. Radio transmission taken from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. "Hammer-down Protocol"
3. Radio transmission taken from Star Wars: Republic Commando "Republic Fleet - Kashyyk - 19 BBY (Before Battle of Yavin)"