Editor's Note: The following is Chapter 3 of James Chapin's serial short story, Gestalt.

By James Chapin

“This is suicide you know…” Foxtrot broke the silence with his grim news. Montegro didn’t respond. “Why would you throw your life away like this? It’s not like you; not a smart move.”
“Darn it Foxy, why?” Montegro released his grip on Foxtrot.
“Why what?” Foxtrot rubbed his neck where Montegro’s knife had been. “Open fire,” he finished. The laser discharge was silent. Montegro’s vision grew brighter before he lost sight and finally ended in darkness. Not one sound was heard before his body fell limp.

“It’s a dream,

It’s always been the same dream,

A broken voice spoke from a broken-hearted child,

He continued to sob,

The embers circling and raining around him,

Disappearing into the grass…”

Chapter Three

The Silver Devastation…

“Sir.” A large man stood in a salute in front of the glass window that overlooked the dark swirling clouds. His uniform was a dark red with silver lining, much like Commander Foxtrot’s, only these seemed to choke the man’s muscles. His face looked gruff; stubs of unshaven facial hair seemed splashed across his face. His dark brown eyes were fixed on his Captain.

“Yes, Lieutenant?” Cicil spun in his chair to match the man’s gaze.
“I request to face these invaders alone,” the lieutenant offered.

“Request denied.” Cicil spun back around as his fingers rapidly rapped against the screen.
“May I ask why I will not be allowed to partake on this mission?”
“I have other plans…” Cicil answered, looking over his shoulder. “In the mean time, Lieutenant Aziz, get your troops ready to defend the control room. We’re going to give them an invitation.”

***

“Captain…”

“Yes, Kriss?” Lance asked. Since their departure from the hangar, they had been walking slowly and cautiously through the dark corridors of Shadow Gestalt.

Kriss looked down, keeping pace with Lance as her vision blurred. “Do you think Mont is…”

“No, Monty can hold his own, trust me on this.” Lance placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping both of them as he smiled comfortingly at her. “Let’s not let him down, alright? After all this is done, we’ll just…” He paused a moment, chuckling at the thought. “We’ll return to how things were, him and his soda can’s strewn throughout the kitchen, the den covered in wolf fur…” Tears started to well up in his eyes. He quickly turned his head away, drawing his wrist to his face as he swept away the tears. “That’s silly…” he sobbed. “I’m crying…” Kriss quickly wrapped her arms around Lance, holding him tight, burying her head in his chest. Her sobs were muffled as her tears soaked his jacket. Lance hesitated before collecting her in his arms as well, resting his cheek on her head.

***

Cicil grew impatient in his chair, swinging the seat back and forth until he couldn’t stand the boredom any longer. “Lights, on.” He spoke loud and clear; the command room filled with a dazzling white light. The sudden change in brightness caused both Toria and Cicil to wince.

“Sir?” asked Toria, looking over at her captain.
“Toria…” Cicil looked down at her. “I’m sorry, but you must go. Create a diversion for the invaders, Aziz and Lazario need some time.” Cicil waved his hand back and forth, signaling her dismissal from the control room. Toria stood up and stretched herself out. Her slender body felt trapped in the fitted uniform, her hair stretched halfway down her back.
“Aye aye, sir.” Toria bowed before departing, the sliding doors closing behind her.

“Command, come in command. This is Commander Foxtrot reporting in.” Foxtrot’s voice echoed through the console’s speaker system. Cicil reached down, tapping a button on his arm rest.

“Cicil here, what is your report?” said Cicil.

“Foxtrot Company has dispatched one of the invaders. The others have escaped, their current position is unknown.” Foxtrot spoke clearly. The clap of footsteps against metal paneling could be heard in the background, along with the rustle of weapons. “Requesting to send the fallen invader to the medical bay for burial.”
“Request accepted. Command the Foxtrot Company as you please; however you must continue a search for the escaped invaders,” Cicil spoke clearly.

“Aye aye, Command. Foxtrot, out,” he reported. A window appeared on the console screen that read ‘Communications Channel Closed.”

***

Kriss clung to Lance’s sleeve as the two pushed forward through the corridors. Her face was clearly sad. Footfalls could be heard from deep within the ship itself, a haunting melody to their adventure.

“Kriss…” Lance spoke, breaking the hypnotic sound.

“Sir?” she replied, looking up at him. Her eyes swelled with tears, streams marked her face.

“Here, I have a spell for you.” Lance stopped, his arms resting as she released him.

“A spell?” Kriss was confused.

“Yeah…” He straightened up nervously. His heart began to pound. He could tell that he looked like a wreck from the expression on her face. “Please, close your eyes.” Kriss complied with his request, the world disappearing from her, falling to darkness. Her lips were suddenly captured in his. He could feel his heart burst, the pounding in his chest slowing in tempo. She felt the warmth of his lips against hers followed by the warm embrace of his breath as he released the air through his nostrils nervously. After a couple moments, the kiss ended and the two of them opened their eyes.

“Thank you…” She blushed, her heart fluttering in a rhythmic melody.

“It’s a great spell, hey?” He smirked feeling, stupid for doing so as he did.

“Yeah…” she replied.

“Over here!” A male voice echoed through the corridors. The Foxtrot Company had found them while they were casting their ‘spell.’ The Foxtrot Unit’s voice was soon followed by the footsteps of many personnel.

“Time to run!” Lance said, excited and refreshed, still smirking.

“Yeah!” Kriss replied. Lance started running away from the voice, turning in the opposite direction from where they had come. Kriss followed close behind. The Foxtrot Company pursued them, their rifles unable to fire accurately in the chase. Lance reached down and grasped Accuracy, holding it steady as he tapped its side paneling. He aimed it behind himself, away from Kriss. He fired a couple of rounds at the Foxtrot Company, missing by a little. Foxtrot had taught his troops to dodge well when in pursuit of a dangerous enemy. “Sir!” Kriss shouted, pointing to their path. Lance turned his head and was greeted by the sight of four Foxtrot Troops lined up at the end, getting ready to fire.

“This way!” Lance shouted, turning right. He grabbed Kriss’s hand, holding it tight as he led her away from danger.

“You can’t escape!” The troops called after the two.

“Hello there.” Lance and Kriss were suddenly greeted by a smiling female soldier. Kriss stepped forward.

“Please let us by, we do not wish to harm your soldiers,” she pleaded, not wanting any more bloodshed.

“We’re here to kill Cicil and end this here and now.” Lance took a step forward.

“Can’t let you do that.” Toria wagged her finger.

“What?” The two Gestalt personnel took a step back.

“I am…” Toria began, crossing her arms in front of her chest. She threw out her arms to both sides. Sleek silver guns fell out of her sleeves, resting firmly in her hands. Their shafts had streaks of purple. She aimed them at the opposing forces. “The Purple Mist.” She smiled warmly. The click of Foxtrot Company’s weapons followed shortly after. “Stand down.” Toria glared, the troops backing off. “Join Aziz and Lazario in the control room.”

“Yes ma'am!” One of the soldiers replied, running past the group. The others followed quickly.

“Now then…” Toria’s dark purple eyes fixed on Kriss’s.

“Lance…” Kriss began.

“No…” Lance replied before she started, knowing already what she was about to do. “Not you…”

Kriss said nothing. She pulled Speed out of her pocket and tapped the side; her mood grew intense as the gun set itself to kill. Lance stood there, watching Kriss in silence.

“You better stay alive… You understand me?” Lance spoke lowly and softly, unable to look at her anymore. His gaze fixed at the ground next to his feet. Kriss said nothing. Suddenly Lance rushed out, charging past Toria, who looked at him as he passed by.

“What’s your name?” Kriss asked.
“Toria. Why?” the purple-haired girl answered, confused at the question.

Kriss grinned. “So I know what to put on your gravestone!” She unleashed a few lethal plasma shots at Toria, who ducked and dashed to the left wall. She returned fire; Kriss avoided her shots as well.

“Sneaky,” she teased. “How rude to fire during such a nice conversation!” Toria took aim, unleashing a barrage of shots at Kriss as she charged forward, closing the gap between them. Kriss ducked and weaved her way through, making sure not to get hit.

Kriss cursed under her breath and returned two or three shots, one finally connecting to the advancing soldier and skimming her cheek. The two of them stopped, Toria touching her wound tenderly with two fingers. She grinned.
“This will be interesting,” said Toria as her guns charged another volley.

“The world is mine,

A voice called into the darkness,

The embers burning,

Through the earth,

Tunneling through dreams,

Burning them to a cinder…”