Chapter 7: Resolution

The instant the female pilot manages to dodge the bullet, her gaze instinctively darts downwards, towards the woman in her arms. Only to find the woman staring back at her with wide eyes.

The female pilot stiffens as her eyes find the woman's before her brain brings her back to reality, bringing the immense pain in her left shoulder to her attention, it has just been completely pierced by what looks like a beam, rendering her arm useless. Overcome with shock and pain, she drops the woman from her arms.

The moment the woman is out of her arms, time slows down as the female pilot watches a swarm of laser-like bullets heading her way.

Plasma guns! Where did they get such weapons?

She doesn't have time to ponder over it, once her subconscious realizes that none of the laser bullets will touch the woman, it springs her into action.

Her body is electrified once again as she flashes in a bolt of lightning, avoiding all the bullets coming her way.

The female pilot's eyes remain on the woman to ensure that none of the bullets hit her. She watches as the woman hits the ground, noticing a glint of light. Running her eyes over the woman, she detects a bracelet on her wrist.

I see . . . it makes sense.

She redirects her body, heading now for the small army.

"Fire at the pilot! Prioritize avoiding the woman!" she hears as she bolts towards them.

"Took long enough for the sound to reach me," she says. Her speech causing her to create a sonic boom while moving at lightning speed.

Issuing the order, the man in the suit sees the female pilot disappear and intense lightning explode all around the area.

"Everyone, brace yourselves!" he shouts, expecting confirmation from his comrades. When all he hears is silence, he turns his head swiftly, looking behind.

His eyes widen at the sight, all of his comrades' bodies are on the ground, and the female pilot is standing in the middle of them all. He watches her lips move and swears he sees her smile.

"Careful. My sonic boom is catching up."

Immediately, the man's body experiences an extreme shock from the boom. By the time he makes a quick recovery and opens his eyes, the female pilot is standing in front of him.

"Why?" she asks.

"Marvelous performance, indeed," he remarks, only to receive silence from her as she continues to stare at him.

He chuckles, "It's a matter of Castle security. I can't have you abducting my lover, can I?" his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"She made up her mind, and choice about going to the Rope. None of you have business with that."

The man laughs, "Oh, really? Then why is she heading towards the gates as we speak?" he questions, mirth lacing his tone.

The female pilot turns to check up on the woman, swiftly raising her leg to kick the man across the face as she does.

The man in the suit goes dizzy, his head guiding his body as he falls to the ground.

Ah, it is a shame I will miss the peak of the show. Maybe next time, he thinks as he falls unconscious.

The female pilot bolts right past the woman to stand between her and the gates.

The woman stops running as she sees the female pilot intercepting her, her eyes darting between the female pilot and the gates.

"Come on, let's get you out of here," the female pilot offers her right arm to the woman expecting her to take it.

However, the woman's gaze remains on the gates, she stands there without giving the female pilot a response.

She finally blinks as the gates behind the female pilot open.

The female pilot twists her head to the side to see a single person emerging from those gates, it is the pilot, he has returned!

"Let me back in!" shouts the woman as she starts running towards the pilot and the open gates.

"Damn it, this is terrible timing," mutters the female pilot as she intercepts the woman again, pushing her back, as the woman struggles to get to the gates.

"Let me go! What do you want from me?! I want to go back in there!" shouts the woman in frustration.

"You won the battle a while ago, don't lose now! Don't lose the war!" says the female pilot.

From the open gates, the pilot walks towards them as the woman begs the female pilot to let her go back in.

"Excuse m-me," he stutters and watches as both women pause on hearing the pilot speak for the first time.

"Please, help me! She refuses to let me go back in. I have the freedom to choose what I want, and she wants to drag me to the Rope," pleads the woman.

"W-why not let h-her go?" he asks the female pilot.

"It's because we had an agreement between us," states the female pilot.

"I-Is that t-true?" he asks the woman.

"She is lying! I have no idea what she is talking about!" exclaims the woman.

"W-well, it is y-your word a-against hers. D-do you have a-anything else?" questions the pilot to the female pilot.

His words cause her to look down as she pulls away from the woman.

"I am s-sorry in that case. What y-you are doing is v-violating our c-code. We cannot f-force people to go t-to the R-rope. I will h-have to ask you to l-let her go," he declares.

"I apologize, but I cannot," replies the female pilot.

The pilot sighs, sorrow lining his face as he raises his arm.