Xenoblade Chronicles

Chapter 34 - Mechonis Cental Factory

Shulk felt like he was floating. He was floating for miles, where there was no Mechon, no worries, no problems to speak of. All around him a silence pressed in on his ears, like an empty void with nothing in it. His body wouldn't move. He couldn't open his eyes. He couldn't do anything. "Shulk...Shulk..." He heard someone calling his name. Their voice sounded far off and distant, like someone was shouting at him from across a bridge. Who's calling my name? He found himself thinking. "Shulk," The voice said, as if it could hear his thoughts. "You have acquired the ability to glimpse the future. The ability to understand the law of causality, as decided by a higher power." A higher power? Shulk would have frowned if he could. Like the Bionis? "Why do you desire to change the future?" The voice asked. "Why do you wish to act against their will?" I do just as anyone would do, Shulk responded mentally. It is natural to want to change an unhappy future. If that is their will, then I choose to fight. "If that is what you wish, Shulk," The voice said. "Then you must find your Monado." My Monado? Shulk was suddenly washed in snow and ice. He was standing in front of Ose Tower at the same age he was when he was found there. "Precisely," Agreed the voice. "The one true Monado." The whole image zoomed in, and he was suddenly within the tower. Then, he heard himself speak. "You can't do that!" His own self walked out from behind the pedestal that held the Monado. "Because...You're not here. Not anymore." He gasped and sat bolt upright. Around him, everyone else was just getting up from being knocked unconscious by Gadolt's attack. He struggled to his feet, and shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Is...Is everyone okay?" He asked. "Yeah," Fiora looked even more exhausted then before they had fought Gadolt. "That was a close one," Reyn commented as he helped Sharla up. "I mean, how on Bionis did we survive that? We seem alright." "I dunno," Dunban said thoughtfully. "It could be that we were just lucky. But I'm sure there must be more to it then that." "You were protected by the power of Lady Meyneth." The group spun around, instantly on edge. Dunban brandished his katana through the smoke defensively. "Who's there?' He demanded. A Machina woman walked from the shadows, her expression relieved. Her eyes flickered to each one of them, lingering on Fiora longer then anyone else. "A Machina?" Melia breathed. "Are you...Vanea?" Fiora asked, and the Machina smiled. "Vanea?" Reyn gasped. "Does that mean you're Miqol's daughter?!" "I am glad you are safe," Vanea replied, looking directly at Fiora. "Lady Meyneth." "Lady Meyneth?" Shulk glanced at Fiora and then back at Vanea. The corners of the Machina's mouth curved upwards into another smile. She approached them cautiously and only relaxed when Dunban sheathed his katana. "That Face was sent to destroy you," Vanea told them, confirming Shulk's theory. "I am truly happy you are alright." "You're lying!" Sharla's voice cracked. "Gadolt would never try and hurt us!" "Sadly, his Homs memories no longer remain," Vanea said sympathetically. "The current Faces are nothing more than weapons designed to annihilate all life on Bionis." "It can't be!" Sharla tried to protest, but tears were swimming in her eyes again. "Faces are created by directly integrating the brainstem and metabolic organs of Homs into Mechon," Vanea explained. "Memories and emotion are nothing but a hindrance to an effective weapon. However, the early faces were experimental. Many retained memories from their former lives. This prevented them from executing their missions effectively. More recent Faces have had all memory of their previous lives completely erased." "Is that because of me?" Fiora suddenly looked guilty. "No," Vanea shook her head. "It's not your fault." "Mumkhar seems to be the more likely candidate," Dunban said. "His attachment to us was too strong. You could say it caused his own destruction." "That Xord 'n' and all," Reyn agreed. "You are correct," Vanea nodded. "No, it's not true!" Sharla wiped away the tears that had begun to fall. "My Gadolt..." She trailed off and clapped a hand over her mouth. "Sharla?" Reyn gave her a concerned look. Shulk took a step forward to fill the awkward silence. "Explain it to me," He told Vanea. "I mean, why does Egil want to make us into Mechon? What's the reason for all this?" Vanea stared at him for a second, her lips pursed. At last, she spoke and it wasn't the answer Shulk was expecting. "In order to counter the Monado." "I knew it," Reyn muttered, even though he obviously didn't. \ "The Monado is ineffective against the High Entia, the Homs -against all races of Bionis," Vanea explained. "Egil suffered a bitter defeat in the battle one year ago. After that, he theorized that he could counter the Monado by integrating organic life from Bionis." "Of course," Dunban's expression cleared. "Initially, the Monado couldn't take a Homs life." "It can now, though," Reyn remembered Zanza lifting the Monado's 'shackles' as he put it. "It could not harm those who share the blood of Zanza," Vanea continued. "That was its sole weakness. But Zanza lifted that constraint." "'Those who share the blood of Zanza?'" Dunban repeated. "Who is that giant?" "The progenitor of the Homs," Vanea replied. "Him?!" "And once the friend of my brother Egil, before they became sworn enemies," Vanea said grimly. "It was Zanza who devastated Mechonis." "What?!" Came the simultaneous response. Vanea nodded. * * * The crunching of gravel underneath feet announced the arrival of the Allied Force. Defense Force soldiers from both Colony 6 and Colony 9 trooped down Sword Valley, each man equipped with ether poison protection armour, and wielding drivers or ether rifles. Some maneuvered mobile artilleries into what was going to be their battlefield for a assumed very long time. Behind the Homs trooped the Nopon, each one equipped with biters and anti-ether vests. Above them soared giant bird-like monsters with Nopon riding in small baskets below. The monsters had been specially trained not to eat Nopon, Homs, or High Entia, and made very effective weapons. High Entia walked behind the Nopon. The Imperial Guard walked with an important stride, wearing their traditional armour and carrying shields and swords. Otharon glanced overhead as a contraption that looked like flying vehicles. "Look at that!" A soldier exclaimed. "Are they the Havres?" Asked Otharon. An earpiece sounded in his ear and he heard Kallian speak. "They're the latest anti-Mechon weapons, designed by Lorithia and the Ministry of Research," Kallian said proudly. Above them, he was standing in the lead Havres, watching the troops stomp down Sword Valley in perfect formation. "What a glorious sight. The coming together of all the peoples of Bionis." "Yes, sir!" An Imperial guard said, standing on his left. On Kallian's left, Alvis stood surveying the sword. "This is how it should always have been," Kallian murmured. "Then perhaps father would not-" He quickly cut himself off, unable to think about Sorean. He closed his eyes and let the darkness envelop him for a few moments. "Your Highness!" Kallian's eyes flicked open and he glanced over to his right. Dickson was controlling a Havres. The Homs representative smirked at Kalian and fell back into formation. "We are fortunate that Dickson informed us of the enemy's new weapon," The prince said, smiling. "Our defenses are ready." He pressed a button that was lying on a control panel in front of him. This allowed him to convey orders to the leaders of each group of Homs, Nopon, and High Entia. "Today, we start our campaign against Galahad Fortress!" Kallian said. "Just beyond the fortress lies the imperial capital of Mechonis! This is a battle to determine not only our own fates, but to determine the future of all life on Bionis! We fight for future prosperity and the glory and honor of all!" Kallian paused before giving the order to begin the battle. "Troops! Advance!" * * * Back in Mechonis Field, Vanea had stood in silence for a few minutes, letting the realization of Zanza's true nature to set in. "You mean Zanza is to blame for Mechonis' devastation?!" Shulk demanded suddenly. "It's Zanza's sword that I'm using! Does this mean we're enemies?! And if so, why are you-" "Shulk!" Reyn said. "Calm down!" "S-Sorry," Shulk looked sheepish and he looked down. "I..." "I will take you to the Mechonis Capital, Agniratha," Vanea told them. "Is that your plan?" Dunban looked suspicious. "Lead us straight into the gates of our enemy? Deliver us into Egil's hands?" "It will be quicker to show you then explain," Vanea said. "Then you will understand the history of Mechonis and the battle between the two titans." She raised one long finger, and pointed to the opposite side of the very long hallway. "Over there is a lift that leads to the Central Factory, within the chest of the Mechonis. The capital, Agniratha, lies just beyond there." Shulk nodded and they began their way to the lift, with Vanea trailing behind them. Shulk released a heavy sigh as they walked. He thought about the dream he had, where he felt like he was floating and saw his younger self appear before him. "You can't do that. Because...You're not here. Not anymore." What did he mean? What couldn't Shulk do? Find his Monado? Why wasn't Shulk there anymore? Another heavy sigh escaped his lips, earning him concerned glances from nearly everyone in the group. They had reached the lift by now and Vanea activated it, taking them up to the Central Factory. When the lift stopped, Shulk was gently shoved forwards by Reyn, who was giving Shulk an odd look. When the blond offered the red-haired man a smile, he shrugged and started up a ramp. The Central Factory was enormous. Conveyer belts ran nearly everywhere, powered lifts ran to and fro collecting Mechon pars and whisking them away. Behind them, huge pulleys and large metal cylinders all moved in unison, working on melting down a huge vat of melted Mechon parts. Above them, a huge golden ring spun in circles across a giant structure that had to be at least several floors high. "This is the Central Factory, within the chest of the Mechonis," Vanea explained. "Can you see the ring up ahead?" When they nodded, the Machina woman continued. "At the base of that ring is a transporter that leads to Agniratha. We must first head there." She turned to the group with a grim expression, and they stared back at her. "This place is autonomous security Mechon. Tread carefully," She advised, and they were on their way. There was silence for what seemed like an eternity as Vanea lead them towards a conveyor belt that headed towards what appeared to be a weapons development lab, almost like the one Shulk knew in Colony 9. "This is probably the coolest thing I've ever seen," Reyn said at last. "Bet'cha Shulk's right at home here with all these machines." Shulk gave him a pointed look that clearly said, "Shut up, Reyn." "Reyn," Fiora chided when Sharla didn't react. She had been unnaturally quiet since they had encountered Gadolt in Mechonis Field. In order to distract himself from the awkward pause, Shulk fished his map from his pocket and watched as it gave him an overview of the area, showing where it was located on the Mechonis, then showing the areas Shulk had discovered so far. "Where did you get that?" Vanea asked, when she noticed Shulk's map. He glanced up at her and uncomfortably slid it into his pocket. "We met the Machina on the Fallen Arm," He explained. "It was given to me by one of the villagers, since she didn't need it anymore." "I see," Vanea seemed slightly surprised that Shulk had acquired such an item from a Machina, but fell silent and didn't say any more on the matter as they entered the lab. "Shulk," Dunban said in a teasing tone. "Do you think you can make a few repairs to my sword?" "You could have asked when we rested back in Mechonis Field," Shulk said, oblivious to Dunban's joking tone. "Oh, Shulk," Fiora poked him. "He was only joking." "Oh," Shulk felt a blush stain his cheeks. "Honestly," Fiora turned around and clasped her hands behind her back, staring after Vanea, who was starting towards a control room for the lab, most likely to deactivate a barrier blocking their path. "Sometimes you're so naive." "Naive?!" Fiora laughed and followed Vanea. Scowling slightly, Shulk followed her, Melia and Dunban behind him with Riki, Sharla, and Reyn bringing up the rear. Vanea deactivated the barrier and they continued through the factory. They found themselves on the huge structure Shulk had first seen when they entered the factory. "Almost there already?" Dunban frowned as Reyn engaged in a quiet conversation with a depressed Sharla. "It doesn't seem to take as long as I expected it to." "The Mechon regularity will vary," Vanea warned them. "Keep on your guard, we've only managed to avoid some of them." True to her word, there were nearly a hundred Mechon on the first floor of the tree floor tower that led up to the Agniratha transporter. Reyn had managed to cheer Sharla up considerably, but in the process didn't notice a Mechon unit sneaking up behind him, and then promptly trying to eat him. With the combined efforts of Dunban, Melia, and Sharla, they managed to force the Mechon off of Reyn and destroy it. Shulk, meanwhile, was having major deja vu. He couldn't help but remember the Mechon attack, where Reyn wasn't paying attention had had barely blocked a Mechon's pincers after they had sent Fiora to repair the mobile artillery. A s the group continued on their way, Shulk noticed one Mechon with a timer stuck to his back. He pointed it out to Vanea, who smiled slightly. "Yes," Vanea said. "Egil planned to use some Mechon as bombs, if he could combine two other Mechon into one. However, the plan proved to be a failure and he abandoned the project. He must have left them in the factory." "Riki saw entrance to door blocked by metal," Riki remembered. "Riki think we make bomb ourselves to blow up metal!" "Agreed," Fiora said. "We could use that weapon creation machine a little ways back. Shulk, do you think you can work it?" "Probably," Shulk frowned. "I don't know, I might mess up the entire machine..." "Then I suggest Vanea should go," Melia said. "She looks as though she had expertise in this area, and should be suitable enough to create a bomb using the materials we can gather from the Mechon." "Alright," Vanea nodded. "First you need to get the timer from this Mechon here. There are two others as well. An ether explosive and an electrical fuse. Both should be in Mechon around here. When you have found these items, return to me and I shall go create the bomb." It didn't take long to take the timer from the flying Mechon. They defeated it with apparent ease, and found the ether explosive and electrical fuse Vanea was talking about. They returned to her and she departed for the lab a little ways back. "Sharla?" Shulk noticed a shadow crossing the medic's face. "Are you okay?" "It's Gadolt, isn't it," Reyn said. "I told you that we were gonna save him from Egil." "I know," Sharla sighed and sat down. They had managed to find a spot that was concealed from the Mechon roaming about. "But it doesn't help me wonder where he is now and if he's okay." "We're going to save him, Sharla," Fiora said, smiling. "If I remembered who I was, then Gadolt can as well. I don't know how, but I know that he hasn't forgotten about you." "Fiora is correct," Melia said. "From what I have learned, this Gadolt is very important to you. If he is important to you, then the same must go for him. Even though all of his memories have been erased, it does not mean that he can't be saved." Sharla looked up at the group, which were crowded around her. She smiled. "Thank you," Sharla murmured, wrapping her arms around her legs. A few minutes later, Vanea returned, holding a bomb in her hand. She handed it to Shulk who, with the utmost caution, approached the door that Riki had pointed out, and threw the explosive at it. The bomb exploded as soon as it hit the metal, and it crumbled away until there was an opening that they could travel through. They maneuvered across a huge pole, and climbed a ladder that led into the storing area for Mechon. Shulk didn't expect the sheer amount of Mechon that were stored on shelves, inactive. It looked as though Dunban didn't either. "Unbelieveable," He breathed. "In the course of a year, this is how many Mechon Egil has stored. He could destroy both colonies twice with the amount of power he has at his disposal." "Egil did have help," Vanea murmured. "Am I correct in assuming that you were the cause of Egil's defeat?" "Yes." "I see..." Vanea said nothing more on the matter and seemed anxious to get out of the storage. When everyone had stopped gawking at the scene, Vanea herded them out onto the second floor of the three-floored structure. Luckily, there was a lift that led to the final floor, so they didn't have to fight as much. As they were crossing a platform to get to a lift that would bring them face-to-face with the golden ring, Mechon suddenly burst from either side of them, surrounding the group. "What the...?" Reyn tensed and grabbed onto his new Machina driver. "If we're getting the Mechonis capital, we have to destroy them," Shulk said. "Come on everyone!" Everyone burst into action, drawing their weapons and sprinting forwards. Melia and Sharla tried to attract as little attention as possible, which was pretty easy, since whenever they did, Riki, Reyn, or Dunban would steal the attention right back. Shulk, Reyn, and Fiora worked well together, almost as if they knew exactly what the other was going to do. Then again, they had grown up together, and despite Fiora's new fighting style, it didn't change the way she thought in battles. When the last Mechon fell over, they crowded onto the lift, in case of another Mechon ambush. When they finally got to the ring, Shulk let his tense muscles relax, and they approached the Angiratha transporter. Vanea nodded reassuringly at them and stepped onto the small circle. She disappeared in a flash of golden light. "Well then," Reyn stared after her. "It's is simply like the transporters at Eryth Sea," Melia said. "We should follow her." She followed Vanea, and Shulk followed her. Fiora stepped onto it next, and the last to step on was Reyn, who looked incredibly uncomfortable. The last Shulk saw of the Central Factory, was the turning Mechanical parts and the entirety of it spread out below him. Then, his vision faded into golden as he was transported to Agniratha. * * * "Advance Nopon Heroes!" Through the dying sunlight, the allied force's battle had begun. Colonel Vangarre (Who had survived the Colony 9 Mechon assault with major injuries and on the brink of death) watched his men charge with a satisfied smirk, his gun slung over his back. A little ways off, Otharon glanced over as Dickson rode down in his Havres, smirking at the elder man. "I see you've finally decided to show up," Otharon said. "Let's see if we can bust up these rust buckets like last time!" "Think we can do it?" Dickson asked. "We'll get them," Otharon said confidently. "With this many troops on our side, we don't even need Shulk's help!" "You're tellin' me you're more worried about the kid's schedule?" Dickson raised an eyebrow. "Kind of soft for you, Otharon." "Shut up!" Otharon glared at him. "Get moving!" Dickson grinned at the Colony 6 colonel and sped off, while high above, Kallian relayed orders to the troops. "Division 4, defend the barriers," He was saying. "Division 6, assist any wounded Homs." The allied force charged against the wave of Mechon, brandishing Dickson's anti-Mechon weapons high. "Bring it on!" Vangarre shouted at the top of his voice. "These High Entia might be a bunch of sissies, but they've got some pretty nifty gear!" "That idiot!" Otharon said hotly. "He'll get his head knocked off at this rate." He shook his head and threw his arm forwards, signalling the Mobile Artilleries to fire off at the Mechon. "Keep it up!" Dunga roared over all the noise. Nopon swooped down on their birds, hitting the larger, more-difficult to beat Mechon over their heads with their biters and baskets. "Show everyone the power of the Nopon!" "Go, Nopon, go!" One Nopon yelled. "Fight like our Heropon Riki!" Another shouted, earning him loud cheers from the furry creatures. "It appears we have gained the upper hand," Kallian remarked from his place in the lead Havres. "Sire," One the Imperial Guards said. "If we hold a our current position, a great victory is within our grasp." "It is still too early to come to that conclusion," Alvis said sharply. "The enemy still has hidden forces." No sooner had he said it,another imperial guard looked up. "Your Highness," He said nervously. "Enemy reinforcements from above. It's a Face squadron." True to his word, a dozen Faces were soaring towards them, with spears filled with green ether in their hands. They unfolded themselves and threw their weapons at the Homs charging Towards the fortress. "They're here," Kallian's grip tightened on the railing of his Havres. Below him, everyone began to panic as the spears tore through the shields that were kept active by specially trained Andos. They began to flee, back the way they had come, but they were turned right back around by Otharon and Vangarre. The Mechon landed next to their spears and attacked the allied force, but their movements were sluggish, as if they really didn't want to defend the sword. "Divisions 1 to 3, continue supporting the Homs and encircle the Faces," Kallian found himself saying. "Your Highness, think of yourself!" An Imperial Guard protested. "Once the vanguard has been eliminated, we must join the fight!" Kallian told him, narrowing his eyes at the soldier. "Better that then die as cowards. Move!" Below him, Dickson soared through the Face squadron, destroying them with their own spears, and without any regard for the people inside. "Stick this your exhaust pipe and smoke it!" He shouted at them, firing off several rounds of ether bullets that were specially made to destroy Faced Mechon. He soared upwards into the air, where a dozen other Faces had appeared, readying to throw their spears. As they did, Dickson caught one with an arm that extended from his Havres. "Who hasn't had a taste yet?!" He demanded. "Take this!" Throwing the spear back at the Mechon it had come from, the machine exploded on-impact. He smirked and fired another round of ether bullets, destroying the rest of the most recent Face squadron. "Should have stayed at home," Dickson grumbled. "Lousy junk-bots." "Hmm..." Lorithia watched from her own Havres as the group advanced. She was near the back of the group, and the Imperial Guard couldn't hear her murmuring from the roar of air in his ears, not the mention the constant explosions and report of anti-Mechon ether rifles. "They're doing rather well. I do so enjoy a good show. But they have yet to unleash their full power and fulfill their true potential." She glanced down as Vangarre's roar startled her out of her thoughts. "Deadbeat drones! Come out and face us like real machines!" He shouted. "I'll sort out the lot of you, scum!" And they charged into battle.