"Bridget," Aaron yelled and recovered to his feet. His searching eyes led him to charging cyborgs. His body moved on its own, and he ran away.
Cyborgs pursued him with fury.
"Someone! Help," Aaron begged and saw the boat in the distance. He wept tears of delight, "I'm so close." Still, he halted and inquired, "Wait. Where's Bridget?" He scouted behind him with worry.
A massive cloud of smoke covered the area. Cyborgs emerged and lunged.
Aaron growled. He inhaled deeply and blew a giant gust of wind.
The cyborgs were pushed back.
The smoke cleared, revealing a cyborg towering over Bridget.
Bridget laid with fear in her eyes.
Emanating energy, Aaron furrowed his eyebrows and blew winds harder than before.
The cyborg covered his face with his arms, and he flung back.
Aaron rushed to Bridget and kneeled. He asked, "Are you alright?"
Relieved, Bridget nodded and sat up.
"Let's get out of here," Aaron urged and smiled reassuringly. He picked her up and stood defiantly against the oncoming hordes of cyborgs. He gritted his teeth and focused his energy.
Heavy winds came from him and deterred the cyborgs.
As his parted brown hair swayed, Aaron floated into the air. His winds pushed him up. He glanced down and suggested, "Hold tight, Bridget."
Bridget slightly nodded and stared at him in awe.
A cyborg pointed and alerted, "They're flying away!"
Aaron and Bridget glided down the small cliff and headed towards the boat.
On the sand, a certain cyborg, Number 5, observed them and aimed his laser gun. He fired with no mercy.
A laser hit Aaron's shoulder.
Aaron and Bridget screamed as they plummeted.
Aaron crashed on the sand.
Bridget rolled farther away than him.
On the sand, Commander Number 3 bent his knees and aimed his giant laser gun at The New Heroes. "None of them will escape," he proclaimed and charged a Laser Beam.
"That big blue guy is making his move," Hafen notified loudly. He narrowed his eyes and jabbed a cyborg with a combination.
Nearby, Pepe kicked a different cyborg in the head. He turned back and noticed the giant laser gun. "Everyone! Take cover," he shouted.
Commander Number 3 grinned and fired.
Laser Beam traversed through the air and headed straight for The New Heroes. It destroyed a portion of the small cliff and everything in its path. It had a massive force of energy around it.
The small cliff cracked apart and crumbled. Even so, it was not the intended target.
On his hands and knees, Aaron crawled towards the ocean and clutched his shoulder. Blood oozed out, and he yelled in pain. His chest heaved greatly.
All of a sudden, a large shadow casted over him.
Aaron looked back and saw the Laser Beam. It headed straight for him. He stared at it with awe, and he knew it was the end. A memory of him and Bridget showing the boys of The New Heroes potato chips flashed in his mind. He closed his eyes and winced.
"Aaron," Bridget shouted and appeared. She pushed him out of the way.
Aaron rolled away until he stopped himself. He quickly looked towards Bridget.
With tears rolling down her cheeks, Bridget swiftly exclaimed, "I love you!"
Laser Beam entirely engulfed her upper body and crashed through the sand, searing it. Its shockwave pushed Aaron further back. Cold sand reburied the crater and created a large dune.
Aaron's eyes widened, and he murmured, "I'm alive." His face suddenly filled with horror. His mind raced, and his heart pounded in his chest. He pushed and managed to get up again. Ignoring his wound, his own blood dripped on the sand. In a state of shock, his ears rang, and his vision blurred. His eyes scavenged the aftermath in a frenzy.
Smoke emitted from the site of the crash.
"Bridget," Aaron cried out and kneeled in defeat. His mouth hung open with despair.
In the meantime, Pepe pushed rubble off him and desperately got up. He launched himself with a pillar of rock towards the site and observed the scene with a solemn expression. "Aaron," he called out.
In a few seconds, Aaron's hearing returned, and he paced around. As he heard the scream of Pepe, he found remains of a body. Even though he wanted to, he was not resilient enough to handle it.
Bridget's lower body was thrown aside by the shockwave. Steaming blood gushed onto the sand and made a puddle.
Aaron's face wrinkled with grief, and his lips quivered. In a puddle of blood, he kneeled in front of Bridget's legs and sobbed. Tears streamed down his face. His hands trembled as his heart and mind were in turmoil. His love sacrificed herself for him, and she was murdered in cold blood.
A certain cyborg, Number 4, kicked him away and pointed his laser gun at him. He gave an icy glare.
Aaron's heart felt empty. With his back against the sand, he stared at the sky. Another tear fell off his cheek, and he admitted, "I... I give up. There's no point in living anymore."
In an instant, a vine wrapped around him.
Pepe pulled him behind and angrily demanded, "Aaron! Don't give up now! Fight and survive for Bridget! She gave up her life for you, so live!"
Number 4 lunged at Pepe, and his red eyes glowed.
Pepe blocked a punch with his arm. He stumbled back, and his eyes widened due to the sheer force.
Number 4 attacked with a continuous flurry of punches and kicks.
Pepe gritted his teeth and deflected most of the attacks.
Number 4 punched him in the kidney and in the jaw. Then, he grabbed his head and kneed him. He quickly followed with a hop to readjust, and he kicked him away with his other leg.
Pepe rolled on the sand and flipped back to his feet. He wiped blood off his mouth and remarked, "It seems you know some martial arts." He readied his fists and engaged in hand-to-hand combat.
In his despair, Aaron heard Bridget's voice.
"I love you," Bridget muttered.
Aaron closed his eyes, and a memory played in his mind.
In their last talk before they were reunited, Aaron and Bridget looked at the horizon from the field of flowers that they used to play on. They were now adults, and they sat on a bench.
The sun was setting. The sky was a beautiful mixture of orange and blue, and massive sky islands floated up there. Glowing crystals levitated in the air.
"We've known each other for a long time," Bridget muttered with a serene voice. She stared at a blue flower and reminded, "I'm leaving soon."
"Stay, Bridget," Aaron retorted and courageously declared, "I would like to be by your side, forever."
Bridget turned to him with an inquisitive stare and asked, "What do you mean?"
"I have loved you for a long time," Aaron finally confessed. He blushed and averted his gaze towards her.
Bridget's cheeks blushed red, and she nervously looked away, too. Trying not to overreact, she smirked, and a chuckle escaped her mouth. "I never expected to hear those words from you. Is that why you didn't want me to join," she pointed out and peered at him. She nodded and admitted with a gentle smile, "I love you, too."
Aaron glanced at her, and his mouth parted open, wanting to speak.
A red and orange tint covered their faces.
"If you love me, then, stay with me. Don't go to the military," Aaron urged in a serious tone.
"It sounds wonderful. Doesn't it? Spending the rest of our lives together," Bridget commented and giggled. She noticed his seriousness and became quiet. She sternly asserted, "I would love to, Aaron, but I have a dream to accomplish."
"Share a dream with me instead. What do you hope to get out of the military, anyways? Glory? Fame," Aaron grumbled and questioned.
Bridget looked at the sky. "There's a lot more to it than that, but it might be simpler, as well," she riddled.
Aaron raised a brow. "Simple yet complex. How does that make any sense," he sought to know.
Bridget turned to him and gave him a kind smile. "I want to protect this place and certain loved ones like... You," she revealed and held his hand in a comforting manner. "See, it's simple yet complex. I won't be here to cherish any of it." Her eyes watered with sadness. She was willing to sacrifice her life for a better future for others.
Aaron wiped her tears with his free hand and suggested, "Don't cry." He felt moved and inspired.
Bridget looked at the horizon again and sniffled. She lowered her head and laughed. "The sun is setting so majestically. Isn't it just so beautiful here," she queried with a giggle.
Aaron stared at her and affirmed, "So beautiful."
Bridget let go of Aaron's hand and rubbed her eyes. She took a deep breath and leaned back. "Aaron, can you promise me something before I leave," she requested and looked at him. Her feet swung back and forth.
Aaron nodded and inquired, "What is it?"
Bridget murmured with a muffled sound. After discussing their promise, she smiled and whispered, "I'll be back, someday. See you then." She got up and waved farewells.
Aaron waved back his farewells and watched her.
Bridget ran off towards the sunset.
Currently, Aaron snapped out of it and stared at her lower body.
In the depths of his soul, a fire was lit. It was a fire of desire, the desire for survival.
Aaron slowly and painfully got back up. He slouched and panted. He stood tall and proclaimed, "I'm free to choose what I fight for, and I choose life over death!"
With Bridget's words reigniting his motivation, Aaron refuses to die. He'll continue moving forward and honor her sacrifice.
At the same time, Pepe and the evil Number 4 engaged in mortal combat. Who will prevail in such a fearsome matchup?