Editing City Series:Volume1 Chapter 7 (section)

===Part 12===

At 3:45 PM, the clock tower of Berlin’s city hall was visible outside the Kaiserburg’s window.

For better or for worse, the red brick building stood out for a number of reasons. From their current viewpoint, the difference from the surrounding buildings was immediately obvious.

Else looked out at the red tower.

“That clock tower sure is tall.”

“Let’s use it.”

“Use it how?”

“To finish this.”

After Walter’s response, the communicator in front of Paul emitted the tone of an incoming transmission. At the same time, Mayer’s voice filled the cockpit.

“Walter, can you hear me?”

“Yes, I can.”

“I want to settle this soon. How does that sound?”

“Do you think you could wait until our ship heals its wounds?”

“I already waited once.”

Else nodded at that. This young man had indeed been waiting for this moment.

“I will now shoot down your ship,” said Mayer. “Okay?”

“Hmm. No, that doesn’t sound very okay.”

“Try to take this seriously,” cut in Else.

“I don’t mind,” replied Mayer. “I will not hold back and I think you know what will happen if you do.”

“Oh, we won’t hold back.”

Walter’s voice rang throughout the cockpit and Else saw his right hand grab the sphere on the armrest again. The only functioning field emitters were the two on the bottom of the ship, but with only two, he could control them without moving his hands between controls.

“Let me be honest,” he said to his opponent. “Mayer. Right now, I see you as an incredibly familiar enemy.”

And…

“I defeat my enemies.”

Else gulped and faced forward.

Walter did not turn around in the copilot seat, but she saw his right hand tense up on the armrest.

…''He’s serious.

She could not see his face, but she felt like she knew the look on it.

It somehow scared her. At the very least, she would have been completely speechless were she in Mayer’s position. That was how much intensity filled the young man.

What was his opponent thinking?

“I’m glad to hear you say that, Walter.”

“Glad?”

“So glad it terrifies me.”

“You’re scared?”

“So much I can’t stop trembling.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m serious about this, after all.”

“So am I.”

Mayer and Walter’s exchange sent Else’s pulse racing.

…''This is it.

The tension somehow resembled joy. Her heart pounded in her chest as she sensed some sign of what was to come.

They would compete and it would lead to some definite result.

What would that result be?

She did not know and she could not tell, but that unseen answer would settle everything.

In short, it came down to whether they could reach space, but it was not that simple an issue. Many other problems had been drawn into this battle.

She suddenly realized she had crossed her arms as if embracing her chest. Something threatened to escape from there.

The young man named Mayer was trying to fight. Paul and Walter were as well.

…''What about me?

Her seat gave her no device for directly controlling a weapon. Even the communicator was under Walter’s control. She had no way to fight.

…''Am I just going to watch?

She did not like the sound of that. After all, she was the same sort of person as them.

Before she realized it, a word had left her mouth.

“Walter.”

The young man did not turn around. He did not seem to care that she had called his name.

She spoke as if begging him.

“I don’t want to be left out.”

“I know that,” he snapped back.

Her slight surprise left her speechless, so he ignored her and continued.

“Mayer, to make up for our damage, we’re going to have Else here fight alongside us. Is that okay?”

“Absolutely. I had already made a promise to that end.”

“Then our victory is pretty much guaranteed.”

With that announcement, Walter ended the transmission.

The battle was about to resume.

It would likely be settled in an instant.