Chapter 103: A New Type Part One

Before anyone could even react, a bright red light flashed in the distance firing right at the base. It slammed right into the location Ai was in, sending her flying. Ai flew through the air like a kite, crashing through buildings, and did not stop until she crashed into the ground just outside the base.

"Ai!" Eiji screamed as she rushed over to her, smashing any machina that got in his way. He arrived in seconds to see Ai laying on the ground shaking her head. Dust and dirt covered her entire body.

"That fucking sucked!" Ai yelled out as she wiped her face off. She looked down at herself. Her clothes were a mess and her chest was fully exposed.

Back where Mai was, she was currently being held back by Yoshi. "Yoshi let me go!"

"Are you stupid? If you go out there you will melt in the rain! You need to concentrate on covering them. Kill any fucking machine that gets near them!" Yoshi was also very concerned but he knew better than to try to risk dying in the rain to see if Ai was okay. He had not known the girls that long but they had given the three of them shelter even though they did not know their intentions. He owed Ai a lot and found that she was a fair and just person. Even when they were locked up they never went without good food or water. Their bellies were always full and she even supplied them with fresh clothes every day. 

"But…." Mai began to tear up. Yoshi looked over at Shogo and waved him over. 

"Take care of her. The new lass, the girls, and I will keep the cover fire going. Try to calm her down." Yoshi said as he passed Mai who was in tears to Shogo. As soon as Mai sensed Shogo near her, she balled up her fist and began punching him over and over in his chest to let her frustrations out. Shogo just stood there and took it with a pained expression. Mai was mad that she felt so weak and couldn't even go to Ai, the only family member she had left in this world.

Back where Ai was Eiji's cheeks were blushing when he saw the state Ai was in. She was unharmed but her clothes were now burnt and in tatters leaving her white porcelain skin for all to see, Eiji reached out his hand to help Ai up.

"Ai, You okay?" he asked as he took his shirt off and handed it to her. It had a large hole in the back from where the first type machina was trying to stab him but it was better to have her back exposed than her front. 

"Yeah, I'm fine. It didn't do any damage to me, just tossed me for a loop."Ai said, taking the shirt from Eiji. "Thanks." She took off the tattered clothes and put Eiji's shirt on. It was large so it went down to her knees. 

"Take my pants too." Eiji said as he began taking his pants off only for Ai to stop him. 

"It's fine, I will get a change of clothes from the base. Come on let's not waste time. Most of the ranged machina are destroyed. But we will need to figure out what just shot at us. If that hits the others they will be instantly wiped out." Ai said as she grabbed Eiji's hand and pulled him back towards the base.

As the two arrived Ai saw a funny scene of Shogo being beaten by Mai. As for the others, they were hard at work fighting. "Mai, if you beat him too much you won't be having any kids later on."

"Ai!' Mai yelled and ran towards Ai but stopped when she remembered Ai had been out in the rain. "Are you okay?" 

Ai smiled noticing that Ai brushed off her joke as if it was nothing and said: "Yeah, I am fine. My clothes took a hit so I will need a new set. Can you grab me one?" 

"Mmm!" Mai quickly ran off to get clothes for Ai. 

Ai turned to where she was shot from and could see a faint outline of a huge machina off in the distance. Ai decided it was time to retreat back into the base. Because as the others were now, there was no way they could fight something like that. "I want you all to go into the base and go into lockdown after Mai returns with clothes for me. Eiji and I will need to go try to take that thing down. You are not to come above ground at all until we return and give the okay. Do you all understand!?" 

"Yes!" Yoshi, Shogo, and the girls answered right away. Mio was a second behind them but still answered the same.

"Yoshi, Shogo, keep Mai from doing anything stupid. I promise we will be back." Ai gave a faint smile and looked back off into the distance. 'It seems it needs time between attacks...' Ai thought to herself. This also gave her a sense of relief. Because if that thing could repeatedly attack, they would sure to be done for. 

"Ai, I placed the clothes behind the collapsed wall over there." Mai said she returned. She pointed over to where Mio had changed. 

"Good. As I told the others, you will retreat into the bunker and go on lockdown. So everyone, pack up and retreat!" Ai ordered. 

Mai was a bit hesitant but knew she could do nothing as she was. "Ai, please be careful..."

"Don't worry I got the perfect human shield next to me." Ai said with a smile as she tapped Eiji's chest. 

"Don't worry Mai, I will protect Ai with my life. You have my word." Eiji said with confidence. Now that he was like Ai he would be sure to protect the girl he liked. Even if it meant giving up his own life. 

"I will hold you to that!" Mai said before looking at Ai and smiling: " I will be here waiting, you must return."

"Count on it!" 

***

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