Division-A

Episode Thirty. (June 30th, 2123. Division-A, North East District.)

Akino jumped back, biting his tongue as he collapsed to the unstable, treacherous stone ground. He screamed, crawling away as a Stage One Compactor ran towards him with its tentacles spread. It's black and gooey outgrowth shot at Akino, penetrating through his shoulder and shredding it to pieces. He grabbed the wound, pulling himself up as his arm clung on for survival.

He stumbled towards the hole he came in through, panting and screaming from pain and fear. Suddenly, a tentacle wrapped around his waist. The boy looked down, feeling the rubber-like restraint wrapping around him. He leapt forward, trying to push himself away before the Compactor pulled him back.

The creature slammed him into the ground with all its might. Akino's head bounced against the stone, another flash of white blinding his eyes as he felt the warmth of his blood soak the back of his skull and dye his hair red. He stared up at the stalactites hanging over him, watching the droplet of water bead off it's tip and land on his cheek.

The grasp around his waist became tighter. He pushed his teeth together, preparing himself for the wave of pain about to follow. The Compactor hovered over him, its massive teeth pushing through its jaw as it smiled. Akino heard his spine snap and shirt tear when he closed his eyes, struggling to collect his thoughts. Then, he felt his blood trickle over his stomach before he was severed in half. His torso was split with a gross, wet crunch. Akino's upper half went numb, thick strings of blood getting choked out of his mouth as his consciousness faded.

With a final ditch effort, Akino let his arm fall off. He used his other one to grab it and toss it up at the roof. His hand slapped against the stalactite hanging above him and the Compactor. Snapping from its base, the stalactite broke off and fell onto them, stabbing through the Compactor's neck.

Akino groaned, pushing the monster off of him. His breath pushed through his lips as Akino struggled to keep awake. Lifting his trembling arm up to his ear, Akino pushed against his earpiece. Through shaky breath, Akino groaned, "...Compactors... they're here..."

Hideyo and the others heard his voice through the static. She looked up, her stomach sinking as she stared at the mountain. "Just what I didn't want to happen! He sounds hurt, why didn't he contact the Grand Hall?!'

"The signal must not have been as strong in the cave!"

"Damn it... what about the others?" Hideyo asked, not expecting an answer.

Suddenly, Rena came rushing out of the entrance, covered in dust. All of the Omegas raised their weapons, preparing for a Compactor to follow. The Omega stumbled down the trail, her feet skidding against the gravel as she reached the bridge. "Makina is gone! She ran off somewhere in the cave!"

"What?!" Hideyo gasped in disbelief, her blood boiling. "Where's Matoi and Akino?!"

"M-Matoi is chasing after her," Rena said in between gasps of air. "Akino told me to come get you guys!"

"Akino is badly injured. He discovered the Compactor's base," Hideyo informed, her voice unstable with stress.

"I heard..." She repeated, still struggling to catch her breath. "The worst has happened... what now?"

The Omegas surrounding Hideyo turned their heads, all eyes and ears on her. Hideyo stared out at the ocean, her head aching with rushing thoughts. She clenched her fist, the fabric of her gloves folding around her tense fingers. "The worst hasn't happen... we still have hope! They're still alive, and so are we, but we need to act before it gets any worse. We need a plan..."

Makina was rushing down the cave tunnels. Her eyes were bright with anticipation and the streaks on her uniform pulsed rapidly with her breathing pattern. She twisted her body around, avoiding the boulders and cave structures standing in her way. Suddenly, Akino's voice rang through her ears. She stopped, her jetpack coming to a halt as she let herself back onto the ground. Her eyes widened as his message came through.