THE AWAKENING: BIO-GENETICS-Chapter 142: Why We Strive

"I shall dispatch 30 personnel that will run the new base in Fukuoka. This means as soon as your escort mission is over, you get to return to base".

"Yes sir!" Anzai and Tori said in unison.

’30?’ Kazuya thought with shaky eyes. Her lips were pressed in a thin line. ’We’re still going on with this’ her eyes were saddened. ’An escort mission now?’ After everything that had happened? She couldn’t believe it. Haven’t they been through enough? But who is she to say anything? This was the world they lived in now.

"Engr. Kazuya!"

"Kiyoshi-sama," she said, standing up abruptly and bowing her head slightly.

"The tech you created to jam the Kaiju’s signal is under construction. Thanks to your design, we might have a way of shielding ourselves from these Kaijus. It’s a big step" Kiyoshi said.

"The team shall come to the surface in 2 days time, be ready" he added finally.

"Yes sir!"

The video went offline.

Kazuya sighed, and she turned to the two soldiers behind her.

"You both knew we would still go on, didn’t you?" Kazuya said for certain. They all knew and accepted it before the order was made.

Tori’s eyes were saddened knowing she wasn’t happy about the fact.

"Bio-genetics are no longer viewed as kids" Anzai began, shoving a cigar in between his lips. He hasn’t smoked well ever since. This was the shit he needed or he might have lost it.

"They are seen as soldiers" he states once again, lighting the tip of his cigar with a small silver lighter. This was the reality of things now whether they liked it or not.

"You know what that means, Engr. Kazuya?" His red eyes land on her.

Kazuya’s eyes saddened in response, understanding his point. It was heartbreaking to even think of. From the very moment all hope rests on them. But it hurts too much to see this.

"I know, but-"

"The best I can do is keep them alive, no matter how, I have to try" he said sternly. Even though their fate has been decided, that doesn’t mean they won’t fight through it. That was the reason he nurtured them, to prepare them for what was to come.

Kazuya’s eyes shake at his words.

"General Anzai," Tori said sadly.

Anzai blew smoke from his lips. Their deaths still replayed in his head. It wasn’t the first time he had seen his comrades die before him. Even then... When he was part of a special force in the military they still engaged in some battles that led to bloodshed. Losses happened and it took years to recover from something like that.

"All we have to do is survive this, whatever we may face on our journey to Fukuoka, we have to stay strong," his eyes shook in response. They all had to survive no matter what. He couldn’t afford any more losses.

"Otherwise the death of the 70 bio-genetics from the very beginning will all be in vain" he states not breaking his gaze with her.

Kazuya’s eyes trembled at his words. She gulped, hardly swallowing back any other words she wished she had said.

"We strive to reclaim the surface, for humanity... that motto isn’t simply just words. I can hear it in their hearts as they died for us. I still hear it, I still hear their voices, which is why we have to keep moving no matter what."

A tear slides down one of Kazuya’s eyes.

***

Close to the place, Shino a few minutes ago was almost entering, consulting General Anzai about something, but overhearing their conversation he stopped, his eyes trembling at his words.

***

"This is bigger than all of us Kazuya, there are so many loopholes in this so-called end of the world, our will to reclaim the surface will cover all that, we have to keep moving" he states.

***

Shino’s fist tightens as he turns walking away, Anzai’s words ringing in his head, he walks all the way back to where the rest of the bio-genetics were, he was sure it was past midnight but none of them seemed to find the will to sleep.

They were all still awake, mostly staring at the automatic flame in the center keeping them warm. How could they? How could they have an eye shut after what they have all been through? The loss, the pain and the trauma. No one could think of sleeping without experiencing that because their dreams would be nightmares keeping them awake in the dead of the night.

Or it could be because of the thought of any incoming Kaiju, the helplessness they would feel if they weren’t ready. What happened today has scarred them in many ways.

And they still needed to keep going, quitting was not an option for them.

With his lips pressed in a thin line Shino walks all the way to another corner, walking further away from all of them, to another side of the building.

"183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190..."

He heard counting, he halts his step instantly, turning to a corner he could see some light from that area, curious he walks towards it.

He came into view of Hiro doing a one hand push up. Seeing his state you could tell he had been going for hours.

His jacket was off, revealing the black sleeveless net shirt he wore beneath, covering his body with beads of sweat.

Yuki was seated on a boulder adjusting a couple of guns. Her eyes then averted to Shino.

"Commander Shino," she said.

Shino froze knowing she had caught notice of him.

Hiro stopped his actions instantly.

"Sorry didn’t mean to interrupt," he said, stepping in fully.

Hiro rose to his feet.

"Don’t worry about it" he said.

Shino smiled.

"Why are you doing push ups? Your body is still in pain isn’t it?" He asked, puzzled.

"Yes... but I’m used to the pain, in order to be more tolerant to it I exercise. It seeks to imply the term isometrics".

"Isometrics?"

"Yes, I have a weak body, due to isometric I was able to eliminate that fact, but it wasn’t easy" Hiro said as the one year replayed in his head. It wasn’t easy at all.

"Commander Shino could use some isometric skills," Yuki said, gaining their attention. She pointed the fixed gun at an area, closing one of her eyes.

Hiro’s gaze drifted to his amputated right arm, understanding what she meant.

"How good are you with your left hand, if you don’t mind me asking?"

"Not that good apparently. I was kind of a lefty when growing up but I stopped so-"

Instantly a strong punch came at Shino fast. In panic he quickly dodged it using his left hand to hold it firm.

"What are you?"

"Your grip is strong, it still shows you’re a lefty," Hiro said, smirking.

Shino gulps. ’What is he?’ Before he could think, Hiro waved his hand off as he sent another punch but Shino quickly deflected them as they kept coming fast at him, but Shino was firm and steady with his left hand.

With on spin, Hiro sent a high kick, Shino froze closing his eyes but the kick only stopped mid air, just a few inches to his face, a small breeze blew right past him signifying the energy displayed.

"Your form is good," Hiro acknowledged.

At the sound of his voice, Shino slowly opened his eyes, meeting his combat boots. His eyes shook.

Hiro pulled down his leg.

"So are you?" he argued.

Hiro smiled.

"General Anzai taught you, didn’t he?" He asked.

Hiro gave a nod.

"That means for the past year you weren’t exactly bedridden were you?"

"No," he answered firmly.

"I see" Shino said, staring at the palm, it clenched tightly.

"Show me how" he began.

Hieo turned to him.

"Show me how to build my body more, I don’t want to be a liability" he states his eyes laced with seriousness. He didn’t want to be useless just because he lost an arm. He needed to be more, so that Hiro couldn’t carry the weight of everything like he did with the Alpha. He wanted to be there for him as much as he was there for him too in times of need.

Hiro froze at his words, remembering that they were the same words he used a year ago. They were so similar and yet so different.

Shino was a friend Hiro never knew he had. He sacrificed an arm for him that would be forever inbuilt in his head, a debt he didn’t know how to pay, a kindness he didn’t know how to repay.

"You got it!" Hiro said, pulling up his hand for him to grab.

Shino nodded and took it. Their palms clenched tightly against each other.

They smirked in unison, marching towards each other in perfect sync.