Chapter 24: Ghost 1

Gaul has been skeptic about this new hire that came from Haven. He's still young, but he knew what Haven was and the bastards who work in that Haven. He waited for this new hire after the Mistress contacted Haven. They needed someone who could protect the Mistress from her fellow Etherians, who wanted her life. Her enemies were the Mechanical Cult of Deckers who wanted to rid her voice.

What better way to present themselves other than the head of the future start of Aured City, whose voice could calm and kill? Gaul had been with the Mistress ever since she has debuted, and this was a time where she truly was in danger. None knows what the forces of the Mechanical Cult was other than they have amassed a wealth of technology and even the City cannot rid of them when they have technology that surpasses some aspects of the City. They believe that they have a mobile Fortress Crawlers that could traverse the abandoned lands. A technology that would be beneficial for humanity.

"Miss, is it necessary to hire some vagabond we don't know about?"

"I cannot help it," Mistress Ursula leans her back on the backrest. "The threat this time is too dangerous. I cannot refuse someone offering a golden favor."

"But an etherian killer," Gaul folded his arms. "It's hard to think someone like that exists."

"Gaul," she eyed him. "We Etherian-Humans still bleed and anyone could kill us. It's just that we're so hard to kill, and the risk of killing one isn't worth anything that no humans would dare to hunt us down without knowing our abilities. But I share some of your doubts, knowing that we aren't sure if his title could match his mettle. But Haven isn't a second rated organization that would send a lowly thug."

"If they are trying to fool us, then I'll do what it takes, Mistress."

"I expect you to."

Her smile calmed Gaul. The Mistress had been a target of fools who want to take advantage of her potential. If it wasn't because she was an Etherian and she has Miss Angela's backing that she would have fallen to some bastard's hand. Gaul knew a little of Haven, but to him those who hunt their fellow men were all bastards. That's why he could not wait to see what kind of person Haven was going to send.

The moment the bodyguard entered the room. Gaul thought he was young and tall, older than him. Yet there was a sense of dread he felt as he casts an eye on this bodyguard. The way he stood. The way he carried himself. Even the way he looked at them beyond those glasses of his made Gaul feel dread. Brown hair that reaches his broad shoulders, tall stature and well-built physique that left no doubts of his physical abilities. What truly surprised Gaul was his apathy to the Mistress. He had almost no interest to the Mistress and even Gaul's rather petty contest of strength left Gaul feeling embarrassed.

Flatline was a stiff professional, and he blended in so well that it made Gaul reached out for his vibrant blade. His eyesight was also too fast, and beyond that AR glass were surely eyes that saw through Gaul. Flatline had given Gaul too many surprises, and his attitude left no doubts to his abilities to become a shield for the Mistress. Still, he wondered, how could someone resist the siren-like song of the Lady that could attract everyone?

Flatline's voice was like cold water as he woke him up from the trance. Gaul focused on the Mistress, and it was when Flatline started moving that Gaul became alert. Then what he saw horrified him as explosions rang out everywhere. He saw Flatline flew because of an explosion, his nanoweaved suit absorbing the damage. Gaul moved in to defend the Mistress, brandishing his rifle first, and taking a shot at the attackers while they turned the bodyguards into gore sprawled on the stage.

Gaul couldn't keep up with the chaos, but he knew what his role was. That's why when a blow meant for the Mistress was coming. He flashed his vibrant blade; the blade sparking as he drew it from the sheathe, his cybernetically enhanced arms groaning as his body slugged out of the way. Shutting off his pain inhibitors, he sprinted back to defense, narrowly dodging blows, and making sure that none could get near to the frozen Miss. Gaul felt dread. He felt the tinge of despair crawling towards them as the fight becomes desperate.

But in that desperation he saw Flatline coming their way. He was alive and ragged. But yet he moved, like an animal, killing his way, each strike deadlier than the last. His aim was terrifying, shooting down any cultists, missing no one. Gaul fought the full-metal suit, but could not land the blow because of the Miss behind her. As Flatline approached, he changed the tide long enough to allow some bodyguards to move in close.

Finally coming close, he shot down the missiles coming from the Talos Machina, stabbed the vibrant blade on the cockpit of the full-metal unit, and turned into a shield that shielded the Mistress from the rain of bullets. If Gaul had any doubts before, it ended after seeing the quick reaction of Flatline against this terrible event. He thought how badly things would have become if he wasn't here. How could he defend the Mistress from that? They were safe, but the bodyguards became human paste as the rain of bullets stopped. Despair crawled to Gaul's heart as he saw the missiles coming at them. But yet that despair lifted the moment he heard Flatline's shout. His marksmanship being put to good use, he shot the missiles, leaving him standing in front of a metal giant that threatens their lives. Gaul help hope, but when an Etherian appeared before them, he felt his heart cracked.

Flatline however did not stop his duty. He defended against the Etherian and with a single devastating killing blow; he cleaved the Etherian in half, leaving no single doubt that the person standing in front of Gaul was truly an Etherian killer. As he freezes in awe, fear crept in, and within his hazy vision he saw Flatline face the Talos Machina without hesitation.