Battle Of Planets
Chapter 36: Decoy

Chapter 36: Decoy

"Prepare the helicopter. I need to get there ASAP," Edward commanded, striding out of the building as the helicopter landed on the open ground.

The powerful blades churned the air into a chaotic gust, tousling his hair, yet his expression stayed grim.

He needed to get there. To protect the people. To protect his friend. But it was already too late for him to realize the truth lurking behind the scenes. Guilt gnawed at him—he had wasted his time trying to prove he treated everyone fairly when he should have been standing by his friend’s side.

He looked back at the Lieutenant. "You take care of things here."

"Yes, General," the Lieutenant replied, matching his pace. "I’ll handle everything—you don’t need to worry."

Edward nodded before stepping toward the chopper, which hovered just inches above the ground for a quick departure. As he reached for the cabin door, a sudden explosion split the air.

A missile hit the tail of a helicopter.

The explosion generated a shockwave that violently jerked the aircraft. The helicopter spiraled uncontrollably, its rotors cutting into the ground like a massive blade of devastation. Metal screamed, sparks flew, and the cockpit crashed forcefully into the ground.

Edward hardly had a moment to react before the impact knocked him sideways. The helicopter’s frame crumpled, and the deadly spinning blades sliced through everything in their way. One came alarmingly close—too close.

He activated his armor just in time. The protective plating enveloped him, shielding him as debris and shrapnel tore through the wreckage. The world around him was in chaos—flames, smoke, and the deafening wail of destruction.

Through the haze, his keen eyes fixed on a shadowy figure nestled inside a nearby building—a Rogue.

A faint glow of energy flickered from the attacker’s armor—a shoulder-mounted missile launcher still smoking from the strike.

He had fired the shot.

"Rogues!" Edward growled, his sharp gaze fixed on the solitary figure running for safety. The rogue knew precisely who he was dealing with and wanted no part of it.

"General!" the lieutenant shouted, his voice urgent. "Are you all right?"

Edward nodded curtly, his expression unreadable as both men observed the rogue vanish.

The Lieutenant muttered a curse under his breath before shouting an order. "Don’t let him escape! Go after him!"

Edward stayed motionless, his mind racing. Coco. This wasn’t just a random attack—he had directed everything—the missile strike, the ambush—a meticulously planned delay. If Coco had gone this far, more rogues must be lurking nearby, ready to impede him further.

"General!" A Ranger’s voice interrupted his thoughts. Edward turned to see a car abruptly halt next to him—taken in a hurry. The Ranger leaned out from the driver’s seat, urgency evident in his tone. "Get in! We need to leave—immediately!"

Edward squinted. "Sergeant, when did you figure out how to start a car without keys?"

The Ranger took a deep breath, feeling the sweat trickling down his forehead. "G-General! I promise to think about my actions later, but at this moment—"

Edward sighed, then yanked the door open and slid inside.

The Ranger slammed his foot on the gas pedal. Tires screeched as the car roared forward, tearing down the road with reckless speed—as if it had a mind of its own.

The car raced down the highway, overtaking others in rapid succession. Ranger’s eyes remained fixed on the road, aware that the General might comment on his reckless driving at any moment.

"What’s your name?"

"Tim!" he shouted in panic. "I promise I’m a good driver! It’s just... I’m freaking out!"

Edward chuckled, his gaze set on the road ahead. "Don’t worry about me. Just be careful; we’re not alone."

The screech of tires resonated behind as other cars pursued. A Rogue appeared from the hood, equipped with armor. He fired a missile towards them.

"Ha! Dream on, you rascals! These streets are mine!"

Tim swerved quickly, just avoiding the missile. Edward kept his eyes fixed ahead, his grip on the dashboard tightening.

"I swear, General, this isn’t who I am!" Tim exclaimed anxiously, "I’m much more civilized than this!"

He forgot once more that the General himself was sitting beside him.

"Alright, alright, just focus on the road for now."

Tim nodded, but before he could reply, a deafening horn blared, followed by the sickening crunch of metal as a car crashed into another from an intersecting street.

"Damn it, these pesky peasants!" Tim spun the wheel sharply, the tires squealing as more than six cars closed in, missiles and gunfire exploding around them. "I know a shortcut. We’ll reach there in no time, General!"

He suddenly yanked the handbrake and turned sharply, catching the pursuers off guard. With smooth precision, he veered off the slender road descending from the highway and navigated through twisting side streets.

With a grin, he glanced back and shouted, "Ha! I told you, you’re all noobs!"

"Watch out!" Edward shouted urgently.

Suddenly, a massive truck appeared in front of them. Their car slammed into it with a bone-rattling crash, the impact sending them spiraling.

The car rolled over several times before finally skidding to a stop at the corner of the street. Smoke began to rise from the wreckage, and the tires—now facing the sky—spun aimlessly in the aftermath.

A man jumped out of the truck, his eyes scanning the wreckage and his hand tightly gripping his Meta-bot, ready for anything. Behind him, the chasing cars came to a stop as, one by one, rogues began to emerge, their faces a mix of fear and curiosity. They waited to see if the General was still alive.

"You really think that took him out?" one rogue asked, his voice doctored with uncertainty.

"It doesn’t matter. We’re just here to keep him busy," another one snapped.

"But what if—?" a third rogue pondered.

"Then it would be good for us, wouldn’t it?" A rogue grinned ominously. "We wouldn’t have to worry about being crushed by the General in the future."

The car door swung open suddenly with a metallic clang. Edward emerged, his figure encased in the armor of his Meta-bot. The sight of him was enough to send the rogues scattering, fleeing as if their lives depended on it.

Edward cursed quietly as he watched the rogues escape, but a faint wail from inside the damaged car drew his attention back.

Tim lay there, severely injured, unable to activate his Meta-bot in time.

Edward wanted nothing more than to track down every last one of them, but saving young Rangers took priority.

With ease, he lifted the car off Tim and carefully pulled him out. Blood stained the young ranger’s uniform, but despite the pain, he managed a weak smile.

He coughed, "D-don’t worry about me. I’m okay."

"You’re not okay," Edward stated firmly. "I’ll take you to the hospital—"

"No!" Tim interrupted, his eyes filled with desperation.

At this point, a crowd had assembled, whispers spreading among them as they identified the man before them. Their General.

The one who was missing from the fight. In his absence, chaos had started to unravel their city.

"General!" a man exclaimed, relief evident in his voice. "Thank God you’re here. Please, they need you!"

"Yes, sir, go ahead!" another urged, stepping forward. "We’ll handle him."

They understood he had a battle to fight. If he hesitated now, who knew what devastation the city might endure?

"An ambulance is on the way, sir," a third person added. "But please—protect us."

Edward let out a breath, casting one last reassuring look at Tim. "Hang in there, kid. I’ll fix everything."

A wave of relief swept over him. Even in their darkest hour, the people remained united. That alone was enough to propel him forward. Without wasting another moment, he turned and raced toward the battlefield.

Edward felt the vibrations resonate through his body as he propelled himself off the solid ground, the force of his leap sending cracks through the pavement.

The weight of the metal armor enhanced his movements as he soared above the crowded streets.

Below him, cars screeched to sudden stops, honking in frustration. Pedestrians gasped, shielding their eyes from the dust stirred up by his movements.

Edward landed on the roof’s edge, his boots sliding on the heated concrete.

The towering skyline loomed before him—glass buildings shining with the intense glare.

Once more, he leaped off, the wind screaming against his helmet. The metal protested as he launched himself upward, clutching the coarse concrete of the next building. His fingers grazed its surface.

A labyrinth of narrow alleys weaves through the buildings, littered with trash, flickering signs, and sporadic movements—people lurking, observing, or attempting to flee the escalating chaos.

His foot slipped against a battered rooftop tile as he vaulted over another ledge. A girl standing in the alley below shrieked, crouching in fear.

"I apologize for that," he murmured, swiftly looking around for a more straightforward route.

His eyes fixed on the rooftop vents that led to a high-rise ahead. Without hesitation, he lunged again, the world blurring past him as he climbed.

Smoke plumes curled in the distance, sirens wailed from various directions, and the distant hum of chaos hung in the air.

This was the city he needed to protect.

Edward clenched his fists. "Hold on. I’ll be there soon."