Editing City Series:Volume1 Chapter 4 (section)

===Part 8===

“Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow.”

The sudden impact had thrown Else from her seat. She held her head after hitting it on the floor and asked a question.

“What was that? Did that Panzer Emblem thing fail?”

She saw Walter had also been thrown from his chair and he now dangled from the armrest by his legs. Paul seemed to be stuck between the pilot’s seat and the window because she could see his feet busily kicking at the air.

Walter reached a hand to the floor.

The photograph she had seen before had fallen there.

Without getting up, he collected it, put it in his pocket, and looked to Else.

“Walter, what was that just now?”

“A new model of military fighter craft, I’d wager.”

“A new model?”

“Yes, most likely. But more importantly, Else.”

“What?”

“You have some lovely legs on you.”

She suddenly looked down and saw her skirt had caught on her chair’s armrest, revealing her legs.

“Kyah!”

She pulled the skirt down so quickly she almost tore it and she glared at Walter.

“Where do you think you’re looking!? And now of all times!”

“I have a…personal fondness for beautiful things and good-looking women.”

“You…idiot.”

She had trouble responding too strongly when he was so open about it. After all, she had confidence in her looks. Then again, she was the type that was also popular with underclassmen girls.

“This isn’t good. One of the engines was damaged.”

Paul had managed to right himself at some point and he was now looking at the control panel.

“What was that impact?”

“A new type of weapon fired by the craft that flew past us. We can’t see it from here, but something is probably stabbing into the ship. Maybe something like a projectile version of a Schwert.”

“What does that mean?”

Walter nodded at her question.

“Even if you have the power to heal wounds, you can’t do anything if the patient still has the blade sticking into them.”

“You mean…?”

“Yes, the Kaiserburg can’t fight. Not the best turn of events.”

“How are you so calm!?”

“Panicking isn’t going to fix the engine. Instead, we need to think about what comes next.”

That was when a young male voice came from the communicator.

“dp-XXX, can you hear me? Um, how are you doing, Walter? And you, professor? This is Second Lieutenant Mayer Schrier piloting the dds-033 Flammen Ritter.”

Else frowned and turned to Walter.

“Who’s that?”

“The underclassmen who spoke to me when we were on the bicycle. The kid who used to spill chemicals in the lab is piloting fighter craft now. That’s kind of scary.”

“Try to take this seriously. Can you beat him? How skilled is he?”

“He could target the Kaiserburg’s engine at that speed, so he’s probably better than me.”

“What kind of person is he?”

“He’s what you call a handsome young man. You saw him before, right?”

“What kind of family is he from?”

“An old noble family. Right, professor?”

“How’s his personality?”

“Patient and fairly good-natured.”

“Then we don’t stand a chance.”

“Relax. I’ve got him beat when it comes to height.”

“And in stupidity, I see.”

“Calm down, Else. Could you stay quiet for a little while?”

She frowned and he only smiled.

“I’ll show you I have him beat in brains too.”

“You’re making this up as you go along, aren’t you?”

“Oh, c’mon. It’s called a strategy.”

As she sighed, he asked Paul a question.

“Professor, what should we do about this traitor of an underclassman?”

There was no ill will in Walter’s voice.

Paul operated some of the controls and a scratchy sound came from somewhere in the cockpit. The communicator had been switched on, so Walter called out.

“Um, Mayer? Can you hear me, you idiot? You stupid, pathetic novice.”

“Yes, I can hear you! Please stop embarrassing me over the radio!”

Those words were joined by a descending fighter craft.

It was black. It somewhat resembled an Eisen Soldat, but the giant spherical propulsion devices at the bases of the wings were firing flames straight down.

It was the Flammen Ritter which meant Flame Knight.

“A vertical take-off and landing craft, huh? It must have been tough pulling that off with rocket technology.”

Mayer laughed bitterly at Paul’s comment.

“Yes, it seemed they had trouble without the technology you have. I’m sure this looks like old technology to you, but do not take it lightly. I believe this craft outdoes the dp-XXX in both acceleration and assault power.”

“That previous attack got us pretty good, I’ll admit. So Mayer, what are you going to do with us?”

“That is up to Commander Oscar. I do not have the authority to decide.”

“Ha! You’re just a rank and file soldier!”

“I see you haven’t changed, Walter.”

At the same time, the deep sound of someone clearing their throat came from the communicator.

A tense atmosphere quickly filled the cockpit.

“The dp-XXX can no longer fly. Isn’t that right, Walter?”

“Oh, it’s Oscar. Long time, no see.”

“Quiet. Surrender is your only option. If you try to escape in that damaged ship, we will not hesitate to target the cockpit. After all, we would like to minimize damage to the ship itself.”

“Hmm. You’re as good at provoking people as always.”

“I was simply suggesting you surrender. How was I provoking you?”

“I’m the kind of person that wants to do things I’m told I can’t.”

“Then feel free to escape. If you can in that damaged ship, that is.”

Walter exaggeratedly crossed his arms.

“Oscar, do you want me that badly?”

“It is the dp-XXX I am interested in, not you.”

“But the Kaiserburg and I are inseparable.”

“Be shot down or surrender. Those are your options. You have ten seconds to decide.”

The older man’s tone suggested he was serious.

Else saw Walter’s expression stiffen and she heard him say something more.

“If you’re interested in the Kaiserburg, does it mean you’ve accepted it can reach space?”

Oscar readily answered.

“Perhaps.”

He took a breath.

“But it is still too soon. It may be able to reach space, but I cannot allow it just yet.”

“I see, I see. Your opinion has changed a good bit, hasn’t it? After all, you’re letting us live when you say that now.”

“Yes, you’re right. The dp-XXX cannot run without you two. I will admit you had guts to burn most of the documents in the laboratory.”

“You think so, too? It burned as spectacularly as you’d expect of my lab.”

“What do you mean ‘your’ lab? That laboratory was built by our nation! You were not free to destroy it as you pleased.”

“See, professor? I told you we should’ve asked for permission before destroying it.”

Walter clapped his hands with that comment, but the voice from the communicator silenced him.

“Quiet. I have no idea what you are thinking, but you cannot waste any more time. The dp-XXX will be brought aboard the Bladlikburg with the Lanze still skewering it. You will be brought from the ship and interrogated.”

“Ooh, I love clichés like that.”

“But I am not foolish enough to think that is enough to quiet you.”

“I’m honored you feel that way.”

Walter laughed, stood up, and made a declaration.

“I’ll make sure you truly regret not killing us here. We’ve decided we’re going to space no matter what might happen.”

“I am aware and I am prepared to stop you.”

“You sound confident.”

Oscar replied to Walter’s smiling comment and the name he gave was powerful enough to shake Else’s heart.

“Of course I am, Walter Talstrasse.”