Mech Online: Echoes of Steel 1 (Litrpg)

Chapter 6: Allies

Jack Cooper crouched behind the charred remains of a concrete wall, his heart thundering like a drum solo in an action movie soundtrack. Dust danced in the air, illuminated by sporadic laser fire that zipped overhead, a deadly light show he hadn't bought tickets for. As another explosion rattled his teeth, Jack couldn't help but think, with a hint of dark humor, how being an office worker had never prepared him for alien warfare or the dire need for dependable comrades.
"Sure could use a little help here!" he muttered to himself, with a wry smile that didn't reach his eyes. The former cubicle jockey had quickly learned that resourcefulness and determination were great for surviving, but even the slickest mech pilot, which he was becoming against all odds, needed backup. It wasn't just about firepower; it was about trust. Allies. People who fought not just beside you, but for you.
And that's when he saw Kai Yamamoto for the first time.
Through the haze of smoke and the staccato rhythm of gunfire, Kai stood like an unmovable force amidst chaos. He was a tapestry of scars and duty, his face telling stories of battles past with each rugged line. Kai had short black hair was dusted with debris, adding a touch of grey to the warrior's stern visage. He moved with the kind of purpose only found in those who'd faced death and spat in its eye.
"Disciplined" would be putting it mildly; the man was a textbook example of stoicism, his every movement efficient and calculated. It was clear he didn't waste words, or bullets for that matter. Each pull of his trigger sent an invader scrambling for cover or disintegrating into oblivion. Kai's scarred face remained impassive as if he were doing something as mundane as filing TPS reports rather than dispatching extraterrestrial threats with extreme prejudice.
"Hey, Scarface! Fancy lending a hand?" Jack yelled out, half-joking, leveraging his newfound boldness that came with piloting a hunk of metal capable of squashing alien bugs.
Kai didn't respond with words, just a brief nod, the kind that conveyed a thousand unspoken promises of solidarity. Jack couldn't suppress the grin that spread across his face. Yeah, this guy was going to make one heck of an ally. And given the state of Los Angeles, they were going to need all the allies they could get.
Jack's boots clattered against the cold, steel flooring of the underground base as he navigated through the labyrinthine corridors. The cacophony of shouting and gunfire grew louder with each step until he stumbled upon the source, a makeshift training arena where a group of soldiers were engaged in simulated combat.
At the center stood Kai, his scarred face unflinching as he barked orders like a drill sergeant at an opera, somehow harmonizing over the dissonant orchestra of warfare around him. The soldiers moved with a precision that spoke of fear-driven respect for their instructor.
"Line up! Focus!" Kai's voice cut through the air, sharp enough to shave with.
Jack hesitated at the fringe of the room, mentally armor-plating himself for the first encounter. He cleared his throat. "Sergeant Yamamoto?"
Kai turned, his dark eyes assessing Jack as if he were a puzzle missing half its pieces. There was a silence, thick and unyielding before he grunted. "You're the new pilot."
"Name's Jack," he said, extending a hand out of habit more than expectation.
Kai's gaze lingered on the offered hand, but he didn't take it. Instead, he folded his arms. "I've seen fresh recruits chewed up by less than what's out there. What makes you think you can handle a mech suit?"
"Guess I'm just full of surprises," Jack said, trying to mask his irritation with humor. He retracted his hand, flexing it nonchalantly.
"Prove it," Kai challenged, nodding to a nearby training mech.
"Alright then," Jack muttered under his breath, stepping into the simulator.
The cockpit closed around him, a familiar hum of machinery breathing life into the metal giant. The display flickered to life, presenting a virtual hellscape swarming with alien invaders. Jack's fingers danced across the controls, a surge of adrenaline fueling his reflexes.
"Let's do it," he murmured, as he made the mech lunge forward into the fray.
Lasers zipped past, close enough to cut hair if it weren't just pixels and code. Jack pivoted, the mech responding to his every command as if it were an extension of his body. A simulated rocket launcher materialized on the mech's arm, and Jack grinned wickedly.
"Who wants barbecue?" he shouted, launching a volley of explosives that painted the virtual horizon with fiery destruction.
"Time!" Kai called out abruptly.
The simulation faded, leaving Jack standing in a silent mech, the echo of imaginary explosions still ringing in his ears. He popped the hatch and climbed out, cheeks flushed with exertion and a foolish sense of triumph.
"Good instincts," Kai conceded, the ghost of a smile tugging at his weathered face. "You're reckless but adaptable."
"Reckless has a bad rep," Jack replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "It's just another word for innovative under pressure."
Kai's chuckle was a low rumble in the cavernous training room. "Innovative, huh? Well, you'll need more than that against the real deal. But you've got guts, Cooper. I'll give you that."
Jack extended his hand, and after a moment's hesitation, Kai grasped it firmly, his grip as solid as the mech suits they piloted. The initial skepticism in Kai's eyes had softened, replaced with a spark of acknowledgment.
"Welcome to the fight, Jack," said Kai, clapping him on the shoulder with his other hand.
"Happy to be here," Jack replied, "especially if it means kicking alien tail across the galaxy."
"Keep up with me, and maybe you'll get your chance," Kai said, turning back to the group of soldiers who watched with a mix of awe and newfound respect.
"Alright, you lot!" Kai barked at the soldiers. "You saw what the newbie can do. Time to step up your game!"
Laughter and a few cheers erupted from the soldiers as they dispersed, heading back to their stations. Jack couldn't help but smile. This was the beginning of something bigger than himself, a team that might just have a shot at saving what was left of their world.
"Training's over for today," Kai announced, "but tomorrow, we go again. Harder, faster."
"Can't wait," Jack replied, his grin unwavering as he caught his breath. He knew this was just the start, and he was ready for whatever came next.
As he walked away, Jack felt the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. It was one thing to impress in a simulation; it would be another entirely to face the alien threat head-on. But with Kai by his side and newfound allies in the wings, he was starting to believe they might just stand a chance.
Jack navigated the corridors of the underground base, his boots echoing off the metal walls. The adrenaline from the training still surged through him, mingling with an ever-growing sense of purpose. He had earned Kai's nod of respect, but that was just the first step. Now he needed to familiarize himself with the medbay; the heart of their resistance where lives hung in a delicate balance.
He pushed through the double doors, and the scent of antiseptic hit him like a cold wave. White lights flickered overhead, casting stark shadows over the rows of cots where soldiers lay, some groaning, others deathly silent. Nurses and medics moved between them with quiet urgency, their hands steady despite the chaos.
It was there he saw her, Dr. Evelyn Hayes. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a no-nonsense bun that seemed to echo her efficient movements, and glasses perched on her nose as she administered care. She spoke softly to a soldier with a bandaged arm, offering a smile that seemed to carry the weight of hope.
"Excuse me, Dr. Hayes?" Jack approached, awkwardly shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
"Call me Evelyn," she said without looking up, finishing a neat stitch before meeting his gaze. "You must be Jack Cooper, the mech pilot newbie."
"Guilty as charged," Jack replied with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. The sight of suffering always did knot his stomach.
"Your reputation precedes you." A hint of amusement danced in her voice. "Kai's been singing your praises, which means you've either saved his cat or survived his training. I'm betting on the latter."
"Definitely the latter. No cats were involved yet." Jack chuckled, trying to match her levity. "I just wanted to get acquainted with the place where I'll probably be patched up more often than I'd like."
"Optimism suits you," she said, returning to her work. "But don't worry. We'll keep you in one piece. It's what we do best."
"Comforting," Jack said, watching her move with a grace that belied the gravity of her work. "And here I thought I'd have to rely on duct tape and wishful thinking."
"Only on slow days," Evelyn shot back without missing a beat, her smile never wavering as she turned to her next patient.
"Good to know my life's in such capable hands," Jack said, his humor fading into genuine admiration. "Seriously though, thank you for everything you're doing."
Evelyn paused, her eyes meeting his with an intensity that spoke volumes. "We're all in this together, Jack. Mech pilots and medics alike. We fight with what we have."
"Then I guess it's time I start pulling my weight around here," Jack decided, his resolve hardening. "Just promise you'll be there to put me back together when I do something stupid."
"Deal," Evelyn agreed, offering her hand.
Jack took it, feeling the strength in her grip, a lifeline amidst the uncertainty of war.
"Welcome aboard, Mr. Cooper."
"Thanks, Doc...Evelyn. I feel more onboard already." And with a shared nod, they sealed an unspoken pact: to heal, to protect, to fight together.