[Snowman24]

Not quite, I spent the whole day celebrating my birthday and working. But here's what I got in the last hour.

I want your full, blunt, honest opinion :P

Spoiler for Marion preview #5:

Soon, a large squad of twelve V2s, led by Dirk, himself, appeared.

Dirk reported to Gilbert and Baldren, “Orders?” Dirk asked.

“The inferior V4, known as the ‘Golem’ has escaped from the base and is heading towards Lanseal academy, along with our other prisoner,” Baldren explained, “We aren’t concerned with getting the V4 back, nor the other prisoner. But we cannot allow such a machine of war to fall into our enemies hands, understood?”

“Yes, sir.” Dirk replied.

“Go. Hunt the V4 down and destroy it, along with anyone who gets in your way!”

“Understood.”

Then, three soldiers appeared, dragging a bloodied up Dr. Zev.

“Ah… So the last missing scientist is returned to us,” Baldren said with an evil smile, “The GRA does not tolerate failure on the scale that you foolish scientists have achieved. You shall have a less honourable death than your female comrade."

Baldren then turned to his V2s and Dirk, “Finish this fool off before you head out, your way.”

Dirk turned to the doctor and said, “Understood.”

His mechanical hand then shot out and grasped the doctor by the throat. He coughed and wheezed as Dirks grip tightened. He was then lifted off his feet and rose higher and higher as Dirk extended his arm towards the sky. With a quick flick of his wrist, he broke the doctors neck, killing him outright. His limp body was then dropped to the ground.

Dirk then retrieved his lance and shield and led the V2s out of the base and down the dirt road at a jog. The V4s massive footprints provided an easy path to track his direction of travel.

Meanwhile, the students of Class A were near finished laying the massive circular shaped anti-tank mines into the ground and covering them back up with dirt and gravel.

Avan, Zeri and Cosette were watching. The rest of the cadets of Class G were back at the supply trucks. Loading up their pouches and packs with as much heavy weapons, ammo and gear as they could manage.

Suddenly, Avan and the others heard it. The same terrifying ‘Roar’ that the V4 made which sounded like a deafening fog horn blast.

They all looked down the road and lumbering towards them was the mighty Golem.

“Looks like we don’t have to lure him in… he’s coming right at us!!” Avan shouted.

Zeri looked over his shoulders and shouted, “Get to your positions! Make ready!!”

Classes C and D were in charge of the many artillery guns and the tanks. All of the barrels began to rise up and aim towards the approaching V4. Even now, the ground began to shake and tremble with each step it took.

A few tanks belonging to Classes A and G moved into a defensive position along the roads. The soldiers taking cover behind them, or in the ditch next to the road and aiming their weapons over it.

All they could do now was wait. But thankfully, the first part of the plan was working. The Golem was heading straight towards the minefield. Hopefully, Class A had time to place enough mines to disable it. Then the bombardment from all the combined classes tanks, artillery, mortars and lancaar rounds would commence.

Zeri, Avan and Cosette were huddled together in the ditch nearest to where the mines were placed. Cosette was taking a few deep, nervous breaths as she watched the mighty V4 get closer and closer.

“I hope this works…” she said softly.

Zeri patted her on the shoulder, “It will.” he said reassuringly.

Zeri then looked over his shoulder and held his arm up in the air, getting ready to bring it down as a signal for the artillery and tanks to open fire once it crossed the minefield.

Avan meanwhile, was watching the Golem through a pair of binoculars. Suddenly, something else caught his eye. Far behind the Golem, multiple blue flames from many V2s could be seen coming over the hill.

“Oh great… He brought some friends this time…” Cosette said nervously.

Avan began to stand up as he continued to look through the binoculars.

“No… Something’s not right here…” he said.

Dirk, the leader, then came to a halt, aimed his beam weapon at… the Golem and fired off a charged beam shot and struck the V4 in the back of the shoulder, causing it to stumble. It quickly caught its balance and continued towards Avan and the others.

“What the!?” Zeri exclaimed, “What’s going on?”

Just as the V4 stumbled after being hit again, a girls arm and head came tumbling out of the Golems cupped hands. But it caught her and covered her back up protectively.

It was only a momentary glimpse, but Avan knew right away who it was.

“It’s Marion! She’s still alive!” Avan cried out in joy.

“What? That thing has Marion?” Cosette asked.

“A hostage?” Zeri asked.

“I don’t think so… The other V2s are shooting at him, and it looks like he’s trying to get away.” Avan explained.

Then, his eyes shifted down to the multiple mounds up ahead, realizing how close the Golem now was to the minefield… with Marion in its hands.

“Oh crap! I’ve got to warn him!!” Avan shouted as he tossed away his binoculars and scurried out of the ditch, but shouted over his shoulder to Zeri and Cosette. “Stay here!”

“Warn him!? What are you talking about!?” Zeri exclaimed.

“I don’t know what’s going on!?” Cosette shouted.

Avan meanwhile was running as fast as he could towards the Golem, it was still being fired upon by the many V2s behind it. Once he was close enough, he skidded to a stop and began to wildly wave his arms.

“Hey! Stop! Don’t come any closer!” Avan warned.

Too late, however and the Golem stepped on one of the many buried mines, causing it to explode. It stumbled and its other foot stepped on another mine and it went off as well. Avan hit the deck and covered his head with his hands to protect himself. That was when he heard it, a massive grinding and screeching sound, like a mighty freight train slamming on its emergency breaks and sliding across the rails.

Avan looked up and saw the V4 already tipping forward and he was reminded of a massive tree falling after being chopped down. It brought its arms up and held them above its head as it continued to fall, then slammed into the ground face first and shook the ground.

At the same time, Marion’s unconscious body came tumbling out of the V4s hands and rolled to a stop on the gravel road.

Avan leapt to his feet and crouched down next to her. He shook her softly by the shoulders, “Marion! Marion, wake up!”

The V4 was pushing its self up from the ground with its large hands and Avan pulled Marion close, holding her as he watched it attempt to get up.

“My… Marion… has been poisoned.” The Golem said to Avan.

“What!? Your… Marion?” Avan asked.

Another beam shot slammed into the ground next to the Golem and exploded. Avan grunted and held Marion even closer and wrapped his hand around her head, shielding her with his body now.

Zeri and Cosette were watching, along with the other classes.

“What’s going on? I don’t know what to make of this…” Cosette said as she grabbed a hold of Zeri and shook him.

“I’m not sure either… But one things for certain! That metal monster isn’t attacking… But the V2s are,” Zeri replied, he then got on the radio, turned towards the artillery and tanks and shouted while waving his other arm in a windmill motion, “All guns! Crank it up! Target only the V2s and open fire!!”

Up on the hills, the cadets in charge of the artillery guns began to rapidly crank the elevation hand wheels, raising the large barrels even higher. The tanks also raised their barrels and also targeted the V2s now.

The guns thundered in the distance. Avan gritted his teeth together, remembering what the next phase of the plan was... But the shells continued on over his head and exploded all around the V2s up ahead. They raised their shields up and continued on, though at a much slower pace now.

Taking grasp of this momentary lapse in fire, Zeri and Cosette joined Avan as he sat with Marion clutched in his arms. All of them were looking up at the Golem as it looked down at ‘his’ Marion.

They all jolted for a moment as it moved one of its massive hands towards them, then, ever so softly, ran its finger against the side of Marion’s head. The Golem looked up at Avan, Zeri and Cosette.

“Get her out of here…” the Golem ordered.

“What are you--” Avan started

“Go!” The Golem shouted, “I can’t help her anymore…”

Everyone paused out of confusion, that was when a blue swirling beam flew overhead and took out a tank behind them. The explosion snapped them back to their senses.

“Alright, Let’s get out of--”

“Wait…” Marion’s voice said softly.

Avan and the others looked down and Marion’s eyes were partially opened. Her eyes were bloodshot now. Her face drenched with sweat, bits of her hair clung to her face.

“Don’t… take me… away…” Marion pleaded weakly.

“Marion! Are you alright? Can you walk?” Zeri asked.

“No, she can’t. She’s been poisoned. Take her! Save her!” The Golem begged.

“No! I’m not going anywhere!” Marion cried and with freakishly new energy, she pushed Avan away and climbed back to her feet. She then reached down, grabbed the Golems fingers and began to pull.

“Come on, Uncle! Come with us!”

The Golem shook its mighty head, “I Can’t… Leg and battle damage are too severe. I’ll only slow you down.”

Zeri and Avan looked up at the approaching V2s and Commander Dirk getting closer. Then nodded to each other and were now trying to pry Marion away.

“Let me go!” She screamed, smacking their hands away and returning to her Uncles side. “You have to get up! Please, Uncle!!”

Cosette ran up to Marion’s side, “Marion! If there is poison in your system then we have to keep your heart rate down! I’m serious!”

Tears were streaming down Marion’s cheeks, “Please, Uncle! Get up!!”

The Golem had already been trying for the past minute, but it’s badly damaged mechanical legs were shooting out sparks and grinding and screeching loudly.

“The V2s are getting closer, Marion. You have to leave now!” The golem replied as it pulled its hand away.

Cosette meanwhile, was on her knees, digging through her medical pouch. She then pulled out a small needle filled with a clear liquid.

Zeri looked back and saw what she was doing, right away he knew what she had in her hand. A sedative. They locked eyes and Zeri nodded his head and mouth the words, “Do it.”

Avan and Zeri each grabbed one of Marion's arms. While Cosette crawled on her hands and knees, grabbed Marion by the waist when she was close enough and jabbed the needle into her buttocks and injected her with the sedative.

Marion yelped, turned and rubbed the area of injection, now beginning to feel very woozy and sleepy.

She swayed side to side, held a hand to her spinning head and collapsed to her knees. She looked up at Cosette with teary, red eyes and said in a sad voice, “You had no right… you had no right…”

“I’m sorry, but I had to,” Cosette replied.

The Golem reached forward with its large fingers, placed them under Marion’s chin and softly raised her head.

“Go with your friends, Marion. I’ll be right behind you…. I promise.”

“I won’t go,” Marion said weakly.

“Then we’ll both die here!” The Golem said with a raised voice.

“I won‘t leave you like I did last time!” Marion managed to shout back.

The Golem slammed its fist into the ground, shaking the earth around it, “MARION!!” The Golem screamed.

Marion fell back by this time and was being cradled on either side by Zeri and Cosette. The Golem then reached forward and Marion raised her shaky hands and grabbed a hold of its finger.

“Look at me,” The golem said as it brought its mighty head towards her, “Trust me…”

Marion nodded, let go of its finger and pulled her fancy gold cross out from under her shirt. She quickly took it off and held it out to the Golem, “Remember this? You gave it to me… when I was only a child. I’ve carried it ever since…”

She then put it into the Golems hand, “Give it back to me when… we meet… again,” Marion pleaded very weakly now. She was fighting to stay awake for only a moment longer, “You have to come back, Uncle. Please… come… back… to--”

Marion fell to the affects of the sedative and went to sleep.

-The ending is taking longer and is much harder than I ever thought. That's how it works, it sounds short, simple and good in my head. Then, once I get to typing, it becomes SO much more complicated.

btw... I wrote this after I got back from the bar after celebrating my birthday:P Since you asked, I wanted to get something new up :P. So it's probably not my best written stuff. But it's close to what I wanted... VERY rough draft that I'll change later as well.