Sigma/Star

Chapter 53: Fighting Gremlins

The Gremlin teetered in the middle of the gymnasium. Its front was studded with the ends of slippers, looking like it had been struck by a series of cannonballs. Mingling in between were gaping slash marks that wove patterns and danced in curving lines. Sparks shot out from its chassis and the head whirled around in all directions before the machine fell to the ground.

The trapped students rejoiced around the two warriors, Shotuku and Rick, before being whipped back into line by Miss Sakura. "Well that was pretty simple, don't you think?" Rick asked, used to his days of combat training as a Circuit Breaker.

"Yes, very easy. Let us hope that the students feel the same way," Shotuku answered.

"Well that fight was pretty quick. I mean we hardly did anything and then it was over."

"Quite."

"It was very anti-climactic. Really I can't imagine anyone wanting to listen to how we defeated the Gremlin after all is said and done."

"Indeed. I'm glad our story wasn't mentioned at all then, to help save people some time and keep them focused." And Shotuku and Rick looked up towards the heavens through the skylights in the gymnasium, the feeling of being watched ever present.

* * * * *

Porter took in a deep breath, sucking recycled air into his nostrils and feeling it spread out throughout his entire frame. The Gremlin was rushing forward, coming closer to destroy him and put an end to the battle. Porter wanted nothing less than to do the very same thing...but to his enemy instead.

As the battlesuit approached, Porter lunged forward then dropped down to his knees, leaning back and sliding under his foe. He thrust the katana upwards and let the sharpened steel slice through the groin unit of the Gremlin, tearing apart its casing and exposing wires underneath.

The hallway shuddered as the Gremlin stumbled a bit from the attack. It soon righted itself and spun around while Porter got to his feet slowly. He was still feeling the blows from earlier and couldn't just ignore physical pain with bravado. But he was going to try, regardless of this mechanical warrior. Porter rolled under the next strike from the Gremlin, a sweeping fist, but felt something close around his foot as he did. He looked down and found his leg had come under the grasp of the Gremlin.

Porter tried to kick at his enemy's grip but to no avail. This wasn't like a human who would respond to the sting of a blow. It couldn't feel anything and so its hold was solid. The battlesuit tossed Porter down the hallway as though he were a doll stuffed with cotton. The youth managed to twist his body while in the air and landed on his feet, sliding on the metal surface of the floor beneath him.

There was a clatter of steel as the katana landed on the ground behind Porter and the student looked down at his hands to find he had indeed let go of his weapon while in the air. This would be a problem. The Gremlin caught sight of this, its ocular crimson lens spinning in place to focus on every point of interest in the room. It took off, aiming to crush Porter before he could get a hold of his sword once more.

"You can do it Porter!" came Riya's voice from the side and Porter let his eyes slide over to look at the shy girl standing against the lockers, watching him. She gave him a little smile, unaffected by the weight of the current situation. Right, Porter thought. I can do it.

In a flash of lightning, the Gremlin's fist came down on the empty air where Porter had once stood. Now the young pilot was beside the katana, grasping its hilt and standing up to face his enemy, his eyes having turned into an icy shade of blue, hair starting to turn white. "I can do it."

The miniature-Goliath lashed out again, closing the gap instantaneously and bringing down its arm in a karate chop, which looked rather silly from a robotic humanoid. Porter's arm and blade wavered in the air, moving in a blur as he slashed upwards and sheared straight through the battlesuit's arm. The machine stumbled backwards, electricity and sparks shooting out of exposed cables while hydraulic fluids and synthetic oils spewed out of their tubes and leaked out onto the floor.