NOVEL WEB Chapter 24: Pursuit
Kyle and Shawn continue riding their Manticores as Jake and James continue riding theirs through the Hive tunnels, before Condemned on turrets open fire and Goliaths open fire as well.
James: You know I expected my first driving test to be an actual car! Not a beast!
Jake: Well, you better imagine this damn thing is car and drive it!
Kyle: C'mon! Let's get to Midtown Manhattan!
As the two groups are flying their Manticore, they notice a group of A.O.W Soldiers pinned down by Condemned.
Jake: Looks like those soldiers need some help!
James: Do we have time?
Kyle: Doesn't matter! We'll make time! Land this thing, Shawn!
Shawn: Got it!
Shawn lands the Manticore as James lands down his hard.
Jake: Oh! damn it, James! That went a little in the balls!
James: My bad!
Kyle: Nice job, Shawn! Let's make this quick!
Kyle and Jake control the turrets on the Manticore controls to take out the Condemned Soldiers, before a Goliath appears, but is taken out by Kyle. Two A.O.W Soldiers approach the two Manticores.
A.O.W Soldier: Whoa...never thought we'd see a human civilian riding on one of these things....anyways, thanks for the help. We thought we were fucked for a moment.
Kyle: Don't mention it. Look, get your asses out of there. This entire place will be coming down in a few hours...
A.O.W Soldier: Behind you!
Scorcher and his King Wasp Beast appear from behind the group as the two Manticore groups flee.
Kyle: Shit! Shawn! Move!
Shawn: Yee-ha! Gidiyup! Go, girl! Go! Get your ass moving, bitch!
A chase ensues as Kyle and Jake hold off Scorcher and the King Wasp, before it catches up.
James: Fuck! He's gaining on us!
Scorcher gets on the turrets and opens fire, before Kyle returns fire, forcing Scorcher to retreat. After a few tense moments, the King Wasp opens its mouth, attempting to eat one of the two Manticore groups with its large parasitic tongue.
James: Goddamn thing's trying to eat us, man!
Shawn: Kyle, shoot it in the mouth!
Kyle opens fire and manages to hit the King Wasp in its parasitic tongue, causing it to retreat.
Shawn: Dude, this motherfucker doesn't take a goddamn hint!
The chase continues for a good couple of minutes, before the two Manticores manage to lose the pursuing King Wasp through a small fissure that it cannons fit through. In Midtown Manhattan, the A.O.W and the Midtown Manhattan Fighters continue to hold against the Condemned, sustaining few casualties. An A.O.W Tank appears and manages to take down the Goliaths invading the streets, before it is taken down by a Manticore. Outside Midtown Manhattan, the two Manticore groups fly out of the tunnels.
Shawn: Oh, hell yeah!
Jake: shit, that was too close.
Kyle speaks in his earpiece.
Kyle: Bowers! Pierce! do you copy?!
In Midtown Manhattan, the command center, Kyle's broadcast is received.
A.O.W Technician: Sir, transmission from Kyle is being received!
Sarah: Kyle? Kyle?
Ashley: He's alive...thank god.
Sarah grabs the radio and speaks into it.
Sarah: Give me that.
Sarah speaks in radio.
Sarah: Kyle, is that you?!
Kyle: Sarah? I'm here! Are you okay?
Sarah: It's getting bad here! The Condemned are attacking again! Where are you?
Kyle: On our way back to Midtown Manhattan....We had the queen, but we lost her.
Pierce: Damn.
Kyle: Did they get the data?
Sarah: We did.....Kyle.....are you sure about this?
Kyle: I know how hard this is, Sarah....but it's something we have to do.
Bowers: Kyle, listen, son....evacuations are taking procedure, but we're currently under siege.
James: Damn it, Kyle! We have to hurry!
Kyle: Bowers, the queen is going to send us everything she's got to stop us from sinking Midtown Manhattan....if we're going to do, it has to be fast!
Bowers: We're working as hard as we can. Are you close?
Kyle: We're coming from the north mountains. We're on our way. We'll be there, soon.....Sarah...I love you.
A brief moment, before Sarah speaks.
Sarah: No.
Kyle: No, what?
Sarah: I'm not going to say it....because this is not the last time you are going to see me....you get your ass back here, do you understand?
Kyle: I will.
Down below them, Condemned on their own Manticores pursue the two Manticore groups as Kyle and Jake return fire, beginning a chase above the forest.
Shawn: We got company, Kyle!
Kyle: I got it! Just keep goin, Shawn!
Jake: James! Watch the trees!
James: Dude, I got the driving part! You handle them!
A long chase ensues through the forest as many Condemned riding their Manticores are killed by gunfire or crashing into the trees or mountain rocks. Eventually, the few remaining Condemned on their Manticores fall back as the two Manticore groups fly over the mountains to spot Midtown Manhattan under siege by the Condemned.
James: No...
Kyle: Don't worry, James.....She's strong....she's going to be okay, you hear me? Cassandra's going to be okay....
Jake: Yeah, she is.....Sarah too...
As the two Manticore groups fly their way towards Midtown Manhattan across the wasteland, Scorcher and his King Wasp burst out from under the ground.
Shawn: Goddamn, man! He does not quit!
Jake: Let's end this fucker once and for all!
Kyle and Jake use the missiles to open fire onto the King Wasp as Scorcher returns fire. In the chase, Scorcher begins to succumb to his injuries as he struggles to stay focused. The King Wasp is shot in the eye, causing it to roar out of control and grab Kyle's Manticore with a tentacle.
Shawn: Kyle! It's got us!
Kyle: Get the fuck off us!
Kyle manages to shoot the Manticores tentacle off, before it flies in front of the two Manticore groups.
James: Is he trying to-
Shawn: This motherfucker's trying to pull some kind of kamikaze shit!
Kyle: He's going to try to ram us! Kill him!
Kyle and Jake use the missiles to fire on the King Wasp as it attempts to fly into the two Manticore groups, but fails, causing the King Wasp to crash. In slow motion, Scorcher is thrown out and impaled on a sharp rock below.
Jake: Oohhh!
Shawn: Goddamn! That's gotta hurt!
Kyle: That was for Walter, you son of a bitch!
James laughs.
James: Payback's a motherfucker, ain't it?!
Kyle: All right! Let's get to Midtown Manhattan!
Across from Midtown Manhattan, Mina is watching the two Manticore groups approaching Midtown Manhattan while on her Queen Wasp Beast.
Mina: In time, son....in time.
In Midtown Manhattan, the two Manticore groups fly over Midtown Manhattan, witnessing the giant sinkhole below Midtown Manhattan.
James: Jesus Christ....this is our home? It's a fucking warzone.
Jake: The soldiers are definitely evacuating.
Kyle: Yeah, but the damn Condemned are tearing up the city. We've got to get down there now!
The A.O.W Automatic Turrets get a lock on the two Manticores groups and open fire.
Jake: Uh....Kyle, do you happen to inform Bowers we're coming in on these things?!
Kyle: Yes!
Jake: No, you didn't!
Kyle: I did!
James: Dude, you really didn't!
Kyle: I did!
Shawn: Uh...dude...
Kyle: You know what; fuck it!
Kyle talks in his radio.
Kyle: Command, this is Kyle! We're coming in on two Manticores coming from the north! We're on our way to the Chysler Tower! Don't shoot! This is Desipich coming in!
In the command center, Sarah and Cassandra listening to the broadcast, run outside as they search for their lovers, before Cassandra spots them.
Cassandra: There!
Suddenly, the Manticore creature that Kyle and Shawn are on is shot by A.O.W turrets.
Shawn: Fuck!
Kyle: Pierce! Bowers! We just got hit! Call off the fucking guns, man!
Sarah and Cassandra run into the command center.
Sarah: Pierce! Call off the guns on the two Manticores! It's Kyle and the others!
Pierce: Stand down!
Bowers talks into his radio.
Bowers: Sorry about that, Kyle. Gun's called off.
Kyles' and Shawn's' Manticore eventually dies, before it crashes in the streets. A.O.W Soldiers surround the two.
Shawn: Relax! It's us!
Kyle: We're human! Don't shoot!
Jakes' and James' Manticore lands in the streets, before Jake and James hop off. The Manticore roars a moment as the A.O.W aim their weapons at the beast.
A.O.W Soldier: Look out!
Kyle: Oh, shit!
The Manticore flies off.
Kyle: Too damn close!
James removes his goggles from his eyes and places them back on top of his forehead.
Jake: The hell was that about?
James: Probably couldn't handle the wood.
Shawn: Really, man?
Kyle talks in his radio.
Kyle: Sarah, I'm here in Midtown Manhattan. Where are you?
Sarah: I'm in the command center with everyone else. Pierce and Bowers are here as well.
Kyle: All right, guys. Let's move.
Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James make their way to the Chrysler Tower. In the command center, Sarah, Ashley, Caleb, Mitchell, Cassandra, Maya, Pierce and Bowers along with Marcus and Margaret are present just as Kyle, Jake, Shawn and James arrive.
Sarah: Kyle!
Sarah runs to Kyle and hugs him.
Kyle: I told you I'd come back for you.
Sarah: I love you.....
Ashley hugs Kyle next as James is kissing Cassandra.
James: Was I missed?
Cassandra: More or less.
Bowers approaches Kyle.
Bowers: Kyle, from a Zeus Corps soldier to a wastelander....I am impressed. You did what none of the soldiers could do....you did good, son.
Bowers shakes Kyles' hand.
Kyle: Thank you, Bowers.
Sarah: Where's Barnes?
Jake: He didn't make it....he gave his life to save us.
Caleb: What?
Kyle: We found more prisoners too.....
Kyle looks at Jake and then Sarah.
Kyle: We found Keera.....
A short pause, before Jake looks down.
Jake: I was too late....
Sarah, saddened, walks over to Jake and hugs him.
Sarah: I'm so sorry, Jake...you're with us now...you're with family.
Kyle: what's going on so far?
Margaret: In progress, we've evacuated most of Midtown Manhattan, but we still need more time to evacuate our men from the Shallows.
Kyle: What about a plan to sink Midtown Manhattan?
Margaret: We're trying to find something now.
Pierce: Mr. Desipich.....I have to admit when you first sent us this information, son....I thought you had lost your damn mind.
Kyle: Wouldn't be the first time, sir.
Pierce: But.....it seems like your father...just gave us a way to save humanity.
Kyle: Yeah...he did....let's just hope it works.
Pierce: You and me both, son....
Sarah: Kyle....
Sarah and Kyle talk in private.
Sarah: This place....this is where you and I.....where we started something.....all of our memories started here...I thought I could, but....there has to be another way.
Kyle: Sarah....we're here...we're together....no matter what....no matter where we go....we need to keep each other strong.
A short pause.
Sarah: I'm going to go back home to collect some things.....I'll have some men go with me....I don't want to leave any memories behind.
Kyle: Okay...be careful...I love you.
Sarah: I love you too.
Kyle and Sarah kiss, before she leaves. Suddenly, a tremor is felt as everyone in the command center is alerted.
Marcus: What the fuck?!
Pierce: Howlett?
Margaret: Condemned drones have reached the courtyard!
Marcus: We got it!
Jake: We're going to help!
Bowers: Not without me, you aren't, son.
Pierce: Bowers, your injury....
Bowers: Sir, with all due respect, I told you....it'll take more than a blade in the liver to put me down.
Shawn: I'll stay here and hold the fort while you guys take care of our guests!
Jake, James, Bowers,Marcus and Margret leave outside to confront the Condemned attacking.