Capítulo 8: He Doesn’t Need One
10 Years ago
A 6-year-old Ray was sitting in the backseat of a car as his father was driving it. His mother was sitting on the seat next to his father. They were driving through the roads of London towards the Heathrow airport. A swarm of entomorphs had overtaken the city. They were eating any humans they saw. A bunch of entomorphs was running after their car.
Ray's father says, "Ray, Mary, we're almost there. Once we reach the airport we'll be fine. We can escape to the east."
Ray's mother leans to Ray and consoles him. She tried to smile but her fear and anxiousness were purely visible on her face. They reach the airport and get out of their car. They saw many people running towards the runway as the armed forces were trying to hold the entomorphs off. It was obvious that they weren't having much luck. Ray and his parents too run towards the runway. Suddenly they look back at a loud noise and see a swarm of entomorphs coming their way. Ray's father picks up Ray in her arms, holds Ray's mother's hand, and starts running. They reach the runway and see the last plane, a military c17 about to close their ramp. The military soldiers standing at the edge of the ramp were shooting RPGs toward the entomorphs and yelling at them to come quickly. They increase their speed and suddenly Ray's mother stumbles and falls, which makes Ray's father fall too. Ray gets thrown towards the plane. Ray gets up and turns around. He sees his father trying to pick his mother up. He tries to run towards them but a soldier comes and starts dragging him to the plane. Ray screams, "Dad, Dad."
The soldier just says with a hardened face, "I'm sorry, boy."
They get on the plane and the plane starts running through the runway. The plane takes off just before the entomorphs take over the whole runway. The soldier sits Ray up on a seat, pats on his shoulder, and leaves to join the other soldiers. Ray was sobbing. Suddenly a young girl comes to him and offers him candy. Ray looks at the girl.
The girl asks, "Why are you crying?"
Ray replies, "My parents, they....I...…"
The girl says, "Here. Have some candy."
She sits beside Ray and says, "My parents are in the army. They're fighting those insects now down in the airport. They sat me in this plane and said they'd come to see me one day if I kept on smiling. So, you should cheer up too. Then you too will be able to meet your parents again."
Ray looks at the girls with widened eyes as he admires this girl's ability to smile even at this situation. He says, "I…..I don't know."
The girl forcefully puts a candy in Ray's mouth and says, "Ahhh. You're a pain. Just smile already."
Ray swallows the candy and after a few moments asks, "What's your name?"
The girl replies, "Tessa Robson. You can call me Tess."
Present Time
"Ray, Ray, RAY, WAKE UP."
Ray wakes up at Tessa's loud voice and finds himself inside a C17 aircraft. He rubs his eyes and sits up. Tessa reprimands him, "Hey, stop sleeping and listen to the captain."
Ray replies, "Sorry. Just had a dream about old times."
The C17 had all members of the 71st test platoon sitting beside each other and another 10 people sitting before them on the other side of the plane. All of them are wearing black combat body suits. Captain Lee and another person with the same outfit as Captain Lee were standing in front of the cockpit door.
Captain Lee says, "We'll reach the airspace above Delhi in less than 5 minutes. So, let me brief you all one more time. A swarm of spider entomorphs has broken through the Delhi border and started feeding off of the civilians. Our job is to evacuate the civilians and stop the entomorph's advance till the Jaegers from Lost Eden get here."
Rohan was sitting next to Ray. He asks Ray, "What was Lost Eden again?"
Ray sighs and says, "It's a manmade island created almost 100 years ago. Before, it served as a military base. But now it's the HQ for the Jaeger corps."
Captain Lee clears his throat as he sees Ray and Rohan talking to get their attention. He then continues, "We will jump inside the borders while the 69th Test platoon will jump straight to the border. Upon landing Kuda, Rohan, and Aditi, you three will focus on taking down any entomorphs you see. Ray, you'll work with Avni to locate and gather the civilians in one place. Once rescue VToL lands, load the civilians in them. Lastly, Tessa, your job is simple, heal any injured person you find. Am I clear?"
The six of them reply in sync, "Yes, captain."
"Good. Now get ready to jump."
All of them get up. Everyone except Ray wears a parachute.
A boy from the 69th squad comes to Ray and says, "Finally we get to be on a mission together. We've heard stories about the 71st squad. But we won't get left behind."
Ray smiles and says, "Of course. Let's do our best."
"Yep."
They shake hands. The pilot's voice comes through the speakers, "We'll fly by the location from 15000 feet above in T minus 30 seconds. 71st platoon, please take your positions near the back ramp. I'm lowering it."
Ray gets close to the ramp and looks at the red light. Yuki jumps on his shoulder. Ray says, "Are you ready, Yuki?"
"Always, Master."
Captain Lee approaches Ray with a utility belt. The belt had four knives attached to them. He says, "Ray, take this with you. I think you're ready."
Ray smiles and wears the belt.
The ramp had already been lowered. The moment the light turns green Ray says, "Okay guys, see you on the battlefield." and jumps.
The captain of the 69th squad panics as he sees Ray jump without a parachute and asks Captain Lee, "Captain, did he just jump without a parachute?"
Captain Lee smirks and says, "He doesn't need one."
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