Chapter Text
"Gardner, you're up next!"
"SIR, YES SIR!"
Kane Gardner followed his superior's orders. Every soldier did. The training exercises were the textbook definition of hell, but Kane felt that it would all be worth it on a fateful day; when he joins the ranks of the Sophia Force. Too bad that day wasn't today. In boot camp, a common drill was a combat scenario with varying types of machines that resembled their prime enemy: the Invem Dark Star Army.
It was simple; move slowly, steady your shots, and don't stop until everything that even looked like an enemy was eradicated. Oh, and throw grenades as fast as possible. Sometimes, if one was quick enough, they would stick to an enemy and continue to do damage. Kane moved through the training course with ease, and when he made it to the finish, the SF's commander was waiting for him.
"Gardner, a word, please?", the commander asked, in a much less hot-headed manner than was usual.
"Sure, sir, what is it?"
Fully expecting a berating about his performance, Kane was surprised when the subject matter was simply an order to go meet someone working in the SF's Munitions Department.
"Go and see Jennifer Cornet in her laboratory, she knows you're coming, and there's something that we need you for. It's of the utmost importance, so get moving."
Nervously, Kane replied, "Yes, sir!"
Through a seemingly unending corridor on the other side of the Sophia Force base, Kane eventually came to the end of a hallway that was intended to house the Force's engineers-in-training. A small sign hung above the last doorway, with the name **CORNET** embossed on it. Exactly who he was looking for.
Soldiers and trainees could open almost every door on the base with their biometrics - since the engineering labs and offices were no exception, Kane pressed his hand against the panel next to the door, and it slowly swung open. As he walked in, the unkemptness of the quarters began to set in.
*"Empty food containers, papers, and equipment were strewn about everywhere. This place was a mess. How could she live like this?*
At first, it didn't seem like anyone else was in the room. Eventually, Kane spotted a blonde figure in an oversized lab coat, hunched over a workbench and looking very engaged in some work.
"Er...excuse me, Miss Cornet? The commander sent me here."
After a few seconds of silence, as if she had a delayed reaction, the figure sat straight up and turned towards Kane.
"Oh, you must be Kane! Dad said you were coming, *though he didn't give much warning*..."
**THAT** was a shock. "Your father...is the Commander?"
"Sure is, for better or for worse! Anyway, glad you could make it, there are some things I need you to examine before you start using them."
Surprised, Kane questioned Jennifer. "Why would I be sent to look at new equipment? Isn't that the Munitions Department's job?"
"Piloting METAL ATTACKER is a high-stress job, so you'll need the best we can offer! Hence why I had to get you over here."
*Metal what?* "Forgive me for my ignorance, Miss Cornet, but what exactly is "Metal Attacker"? I've never heard of it before."
Using her "know-it-all" expression what would be the first time of many, Jennifer explained that it was a newly-built combat vehicle engineered to be extremely effective against the Invem Dark Star Army. To Kane, it sounded like the true next evolution in warfare technology. Nothing could have prepared him for what she said next.
"I figured that since you were the one chosen to pilot it, *which may have been a bad decision because you faked your age to join the Force*, I might as well get you familiar with the other weapon you'll need."
However heavy Metal Attacker was, that was probably the force that hit him then. Kane was most certainly NOT the best choice for a pilot. He knew this, and yet he could not oppose the decision. The thought came to him that successfully carrying out a mission like this would find him favor in the SF very very quickly. It was the only option.
"So, this other weapon thing, what's that all about?"
Jennifer stood and walked over to a pedestal adjacent to some firing targets. She picked up a weapon in the shape of both a rifle and a key and handed it to Kane. He adjusted to the grip, and Jennifer explained to him how it functioned.
"What you've got in your hands there is a Key Rifle. It's not too different from the standard-issue energy rifles, but a few things have changed with this one. When you get close to Metal Attacker, you can hold it up to the door in order to unlock it. Be sure that the hexagon is glowing."
*Not too complex*, Kane thought.
"While the standard shot is exactly the same as a standard-issue rifle, there are also more settings so you can fight in many more situations. See the targets over there? Give 'em a shot, and after you've fired one, hold the button near your grip to change the shot type."
*Simple enough.*
First shot: Short burst of energy. Quick, but it didn't deal that much damage.
Second: Identical to the first setting, but it had a far longer reach. To test this, the second target was placed much further back.
Third, the shot pierced straight through the target and made a mark on the metal wall behind. Kane was sure it couldn't have caused that much damage.
Fourth, the shot became wide with the shortest range of all. Perhaps it might be effective against many Invem at once.
Shot five kept the bullets coming, but each one did a very small amount of damage
The sixth shot was instead a "shield", Jennifer told him that it would reflect almost any projectile.
Using shot number seven, electricity shot out of the Key Rifle, apparently allowing multiple enemies to be tagged and struck at once.
The eighth behaved like a flamethrower, spewing fire in the vicinity of the rifle.
Before Kane was able to test the final shot type, an emergency alert blared through the lab room. Jennifer hurriedly answered the radio and was met with the voice of a rushed Commander.
"Jennifer, can you hear me?"
"Yes, Da - Commander, you're in clear!"
"The Invem have invaded the mainland much earlier than expected, and they seem to be taking over the forests. We need you and Kane down into the MA hangar, now is the time."
The channel closed, and the two teenagers rushed out of the lab, Kane still having his Key Rifle in hand, and to the hanger where Metal Attacker was kept.
"Kane, are you sure you're ready for this? It won't be an easy mission, you know."
"Trust me, Jennifer, I was born ready."
And so, the two had arrived at the hangar in which Metal Attacker had been stored. Raising the Blaster Rifle up to the access hatch, it opened with a soft hiss of hydraulic pressure. Kane climbed inside, and suddenly, countless text and data filled the visor of his helmet. Numbers, too. Lots of them.
*They really spared no expense with the weaponry*, Kane thought.
Soon after, the RECEIVER's call sound rung away in the cockpit. Without a second thought, he answered the call.
"Kane? Can you hear me?"
*He could still talk to Jennifer. That was reassuring.*
"Uh, yeah, loud and clear. How are things looking out there?"
"Everything's checking out, I think we're ready to go!"
After a short session that consisted of Jennifer reciting each component of Metal Attacker and declaring them functional, she hung up the call, and for a few seconds, Kane was alone and did one of his favorite things to do. Think.
Was he really the best choice the SF had? Kane was still undergoing training to be a basic soldier, and yet they wanted him. There had to be better-qualified soldiers, even recruits...right?
*Don't think like that, Kane! Jennifer wouldn't want you to, right?*
**Why was he still thinking about her?**
Kane flushed red, *mustn't think about that now*!
Any thought he may have had about Jennifer at that moment was instantly pushed aside when the RECEIVER line opened up again. This time, it was the Commander.
"Gardner, ready to launch?"
*Here goes. It's now or never!*
"YES, SIR!"
The process of releasing Metal Attacker from its steel shackles began, and the vehicle began to slowly roll down the plane door. It started to accelerate, and eventually fell out of the cargo hold, launching Kane onto the battlefield below. The rush of exhilaration was just what he needed...*to fight the Metafight*.
"WOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOO!"