Jeti Keto: Base Under Attack - Farewell

 Entering the dormy, he unholstered his stun-gun and adjusted its intensity, hoping silently that he wouldn't be forced to use it. He paused at Lonson's doorway and listened as he conversed with Krak. 

He could stun Krak alright, but fighting with Krak was a different issue as the Mechs were gifted with fighting skills and natural regenerative abilities. He wasn't sure if he could take down a Mech, much less, kill one with only a stun-gun and his Imperium-coated saber.

 "We are under attack, right?" Krak was inquiring. The noise within suggested someone was hurriedly packing up items, someone being Lonson.

 "Yes, it's a heavy one," He answered.

 "So, what are you doing? You should be out there, helping out the others. I was on my way out towards you."

 "We have to get out of here, now!" Jeti's heart jumped to his throat when he heard that. It seemed Keron Prebs knew he would try to abscond. He decided that the best way to salvage the situation was by interrupting. 

 "Why? Where are we going? And why?"

 "Keron Prebs...."

 "....wants you to fly the XC-D1173!" Neti barged in.

 "Jeti!" Lonson yelled in exasperation.

 "Look, Krak, we need your help. It's crazy as it seems but it could buy us some time till the reinforcements from Kosh arrive," He continued, ignoring Lonson and pleading with the automaton with his eyes.

 "I will do it," Krak agreed.

 "You don't understand. There are about fifty vessels out there. You could be...you will be destroyed," Lonson pointed out. 

 "It seems you doubt my flying prowess, boy. Who flew us out of Xinifin when the city was under siege?" Krak asked, grinning. 

 "Krak, don't be a domfus! That was against two cruisers. This is different."

 "Wait, you've flown a military shuttle before?" Jeti chipped in. 

 "It was a barge, actually," Krak smirked at him.

 "We are talking about life and death here!" Lonson remarked. 

 "Don't worry, Lonson. I will do it. The chances of us leaving the base alive is pretty slim. And if we do make it out alive, that will make you a deserter. You can't throw away your career and future just for me," Krak said. Lonson started to say something but the automaton raised his hand to quieten him. "I said I will do it and it's my decision. I was planning on going to Prebs anyways, to get his consent, since I didn't see it in the airfield. Here, take this." He handed over a spherical ball with the Xentan insignia on it to Lonson. The sphere was so small that it could get covered in one's closed fist. 

 "What is this?" Lonson asked.

 "It's called a brainbox." 

 "Brainbox? I've never heard of that before. What technology is it?" Jeti asked him.

 "Promeri technology. It is based on the works of Fink Meldon. Look, there's no time to go into all details but I know that with time, you'll be able to decipher how it works. I want you to have it, in case I get destroyed," Krak said, at length.

 "Don't say that. You'll not die, okay?" Jeti assured him.

 "I'll try my best."

 Keron Prebs linked in to Jeti's gauntlet and his stern holographic face appeared on it. 

"Trason Jeti! What's going on? Why is the Destroyer not yet in the airfield?"

 "We're almost there, Keron." Another blast shook the building and Jeti leaned against the wall for support. He ended the communication link and beckoned to his friends.

"Can we go now? We don't have much time left!" 

 "Let's do it!" Krak said, nodding. Jeti led the way as they ran from the dormy to the equipment wing of the base. A turn to the left brought them into the dark interior of the hangar. Groping along the wall, Jeti searched for and found the knob that controlled the lights and soon the huge room was flooded with bright lights from overhead bulbs. Forty metres from the door, sat the XC-D1173, alone in the huge room.

 "The Destroyer..." Krak's voice echoed around the building and Jeti couldn't mistake the excitement in his voice.

 "Be careful up there, Krak," He told the Mech as they hugged. He then waited patiently as Lonson hugged the automaton for over forty seconds. Afterwards, Lonson joined his side and they watched as Krak ran towards the Destroyer and vanished through the cabin door. He reappeared seconds later inside the cockpit. A blanket of sadness covered Jeti as the Mech wore his flying helmet and auto-clamped his visor. He felt that this would be the last time he would be looking at the Mech's stoic face.

 "Let's get this thing in the air," Jeti heard Krak's voice on the microcom on Lonson's wrist. He walked down to the control booth of the hangar and pulled down a lever with the aircraft's serial number. The platform around the Destroyer shot up and the Destroyer was placed onto the overhead runaway. Jeti pressed another knob and opened the runway's hatch and watched the screen on the control booth. The building was filled with a droning sound as the Destroyer's engine was turned on and it began its course through the tunnel. The XC-D1173 flew out of the tunnel and entered the airfield above the base.

 "Farewell, my good friend," he muttered.