Chapter 93 – Has He Betrayed Us…?

What the Yera had unleashed from every surface was a volley of countless sharp needle rounds -- the same vicious needle shot Twoin had used to deliver the finishing blow against the unmanned machines that once threatened Seldia.

A total-coverage sweep from point-blank range. No matter how dramatically the new Arden's responsiveness had improved, there was no physical space left to escape into.

"--!"

Evasion was not possible. Then there was only one path: drive the attack through.

Letaria made the call in an instant, and without flinching, swung the Photon Saber at the Yera with full force.

In the exact same moment that Arden's Photon Saber severed the Yera's head unit and left arm at the root -- the storm of needles fired from the Yera punched deep into Arden's limb armor from every direction, with a crash of colliding force.

Sparks and a mist of drive fluid scattered into the dark of space.

The mutual impact pushed both machines apart, and distance opened between them.

"...My main camera is gone. And yet the frame still holds. ...Impressive."

Twoin's quiet voice came through on static-laced comms.

"...Likewise, I would say."

Letaria steadied her breathing inside the capsule and checked the machine's status. Arden's limb armor values had been cut substantially. But it was not a critical hit.

"My purpose is fulfilled. You were a pilot far beyond what I had anticipated. Lady Letaria -- I thank you."

With those words left behind, Twoin worked the Yera's controls with unhurried precision -- and turned its back on Arden, blinded without its camera. The rear thrusters fired to full, and the heavy frame pulled away from the combat zone at a speed that made no sense for its class.

"What -- what do you mean!? Wait -- stop!"

Thrown into confusion by the abrupt ending, Letaria reached for the thrusters to give chase. In the same instant, a burst of heavy interference tore through the comm line, followed by a voice she knew as well as her own name -- sharp with alarm.

"-- hear me!? Letaria!? Answer me!!"

"Milea!? Why -- the comm was--"

"Arden's signal vanished completely off my radar and I've been calling ever since! What happened out there!?"

While Milea's voice carried its unmistakable edge of panic, Letaria's gaze moved to the metal box she had found earlier. The floating object, which had been putting out a faint signal until moments ago, had gone entirely dark.

The Electra Duro came back to her -- that creature's powerful EM jamming from the battle not long ago. Could this box have been placed here deliberately to cut communications and radar?

"...Well -- where to begin. I'll explain everything in detail when I'm back. For now, I need to link up with Zein and the others."

She let the pursuit go. As a precaution, she collected the now-inactive suspicious box with Arden's manipulator arm, and turned the damaged frame back toward the original mission sector.

◆

The moment she returned to the sector, Zein's voice came through -- he had clearly been waiting.

"Hey -- my lady! Your signal and Twoin's dropped off the scope at the same time. Fal and I have been tearing this whole area apart looking for you. What the hell happened?"

The Rigune and the Marchant approached with visible concern.

"...Twoin-san attacked me. Without warning."

"...What?"

"What?"

Zein and Fal spoke in perfect unison. The stunned silence that followed carried the full weight of the shock -- a sudden act of violence from someone they had trusted.

◆

Afterward, they completed the minimum necessary sweep of the remaining disposal block and the three of them returned to Seldia's autonomous zone.

When Arden entered the dock, its once-beautiful dark-violet limb armor was marked with ugly, deeply-gouged impact craters -- the unmistakable scarring of the Yera's needle rounds fired at close range.

"That's a rough look..."

Zein studied Arden from below as Letaria climbed down from the cockpit.

"Letaria -- actually taking hits... It doesn't feel real."

Fal stared at the gouged armor in disbelief. She knew exactly what Letaria's evasion ability was worth, which made the sight all the more striking.

"Point-blank, inescapable, concealed weapon -- and she still managed to keep the damage this minimal. That's still something to be proud of, if you ask me."

Zein offered his usual straightforward praise, but Letaria's expression didn't lift, and she couldn't bring herself to accept it simply.

"Why would Twoin-san suddenly do such a thing...? Has he... betrayed us?"

She pressed her small fist tight, and the shadow that fell across her face was unmistakably grief.

Fal watched her with quiet worry.

Zein scratched the back of his neck and chose his words with more care than usual.

"...My read -- for what it's worth -- is that he had his own reasons. His own goal. The things he said to you before he pulled out... that didn't sound like plain betrayal or a grudge to me."

He let that sit, then continued.

"Either way -- first thing is getting Arden fixed up at Syn-Fibra. Sooner the better. -- And listen. In this line of work, senseless trouble that makes no sense at the time isn't exactly rare. Don't let it eat at you too much."

"...Yes. I know."

"Letaria-san -- if you find anything out, or if there's anything I can do, just reach out. Right away."

Fal's voice was gentle. Letaria made herself smile -- small, but real -- and nodded.

"Thank you, Fal. Take care of yourselves."

Zein and Fal headed deeper into the dock to see to their own machines. Left alone, Letaria looked up at her partner -- its armor carrying its wounds openly -- and turned Twoin's quiet voice over in her mind. Those eyes, like the floor of deep space. The stillness in them.

She stood with it all, quietly, and did not look away.