Outside the North Star Tower. 10:45 AM.
It looked like a military showcase.
Thirty E-UNITS marched down the main street in a perfect three-arrow formation. People screamed, cried, waved, reached their hands out like they were watching heroes return from war. Some even climbed on cars just to catch a glimpse. Metromania hadn't felt this safe in years, a reminder of how deep the damage of the old system once was.
At the front, 02 nodded left, then right. With that silent command, the backlines jumped into the sky, thrusters igniting, returning to their original missions.
Only the original squad remained: 02, 03, and 05. They walked down that "Road of Fame," waving to every smile they saw.
"That's sad…" 02 whispered to herself.
The cheering was too loud, neither 03 nor 05 heard her.
A reporter in high heels sprinted toward the captain, nearly tripping, microphone shaking in her hand. 02 gave a small nod to her sisters and stepped toward the cameras.
"Chief! Thank you for coming!" Melinda Kinzi shouted, voice almost cracking. "You've cleared countless missions flawlessly. Let me ask you: what's your message to criminals out there planning their next move?"
02's face shifted. Calm. Cold. Absolute.
"Excellent question. Here's my answer."
She leaned slightly toward the microphone.
"This is both a message of hope… and a warning. To anyone thinking of breaking the law: we know who you are. We know where you are. And we decide whether you end up in jail, in a hospital… or straight to hell."
Her eyes glowed blood-red.
"If you don't believe me… wave whatever you have at us. Test it yourself! Thank you."
She walked away without another word.
Melinda turned back to the camera, nearly shaking with excitement.
"That was a bold statement from Chief 02! A direct promise that anyone daring to break the law will face the E-UNIT head-on. Fred, what do you make of this?"
In the polished Metro Morning studio, Fred grinned at the camera.
"How could she not be confident? The numbers speak louder than anything else. The streets are cleaner, safer, all because we finally have a police force that isn't corrupt. Metromania has never been happier." He motioned to his guest. "Brandon Kalli has the statistics to back it up."
Kalli nodded eagerly. "Absolutely, Fred. What the E-UNIT achieved is unbelievable. Crime rates dropped to 0.1% in just two years. Criminals are literally fleeing to other cities because they're terrified of our 'Blue Angels.' Five neighboring cities came begging the mayor for protection contracts. And yes, he signed them with Chief 02 on live TV. Two-year renewables. Huge money coming in."
Fred chuckled. "The mayor must be thrilled to make revenue off a service that technically shouldn't turn profit."
Back at the tower, Melinda continued.
"Yes, Fred. And at this moment the terrorist attack has reached its third phase. The local dock is under assault, and reports say the situation is getting messy between the security forces and the attackers. But behind me—"
She stepped aside, revealing the trio.
"—the E-UNIT are already preparing to deploy!"
02, 03, and 05 stepped forward.
BOOM!
Their engines ignited, cutting through the air so fast the shockwave glitched every camera filming them.
Target: the docks.
02 already called additional units to rendezvous there.
They had a dock to save.
The West Dock. 10:55 am.
The team landed at the dock entrance. Units 01 through 10, guns out, formation tight, each one showing the slight upgrades Nick installed earlier that month.
02 stepped forward, facing her squad.
"The situation is… complicated," she said. "The terrorists launched a third assault. We believe this is their last one, and we're here to make sure it stays that way."
03 smirked, acting like cracking her knuckles.
"The dock workers are pinned between the terrorists and the security team," 02 continued. "The crossfire is merciless. And so are we."
She faced the thin metal door and began the activation sequence.
"E-UNIT, activate high precision."
From each android head, two half-visors slid out, left and right. They connected with a snap, forming a single red tactical visor. Criminals appeared as highlighted silhouettes based on stored memory scans.
"E-UNIT, Code Red initiated," she finished.
One light kick from 02 sent the entire door exploding inward.
The squads advanced through the yard. 02 signaled, and the team split:
Group A under 02 heading to the management offices.
Group B under 03 sweeping the container maze.
Team A, Office Wing.
Units 04 and 01 led the push, shields raised, visors glowing red. Behind them followed 02, 07, and 06, M16s lowered but ready, barrels reflecting the scarlet HUD light.
Above them, 05 soared out of enemy range, tapping into the dock's network.
"Cameras hacked. Stairs are clear," she reported.
The staircase outside the office building was painted green, poorly, with rust chewing at its corners. The only sound was CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, ten metal feet hitting each step in harmony.
At the top, the control room door waited. Glass cracked. Air still.
"Room clear," 05 confirmed.
They breached.
Blood splattered across desks, screens, and the floor. Broken computers sparked quietly. This was the guidance room, the reason multiple ships were still stuck outside the dock with no directions.
02 lifted the comm radio.
"To all incoming ships: the guidance team is temporarily out of service. Please remain outside the perimeter until we fix the… technical issue."
She dropped the radio and turned to the next room, a double door with circular windows.
Gunfire echoed from behind it. Multiple shooters. Different calibers. No order.
02 signaled formation.
04 and 01 moved up front.
The others tightened behind.
"Move out," she whispered.
CRASH!
The door flew off its hinges. Inside, chaos.
On the right, terrorists crouched behind server racks, AK-47s firing nonstop. Some were already down.
On the left, the dock security team hid behind overturned office tables, firing weak pistols. Many were wounded, some barely conscious.
Red emergency lights and rising water covered the room in a grim, cinematic glow.
02 shouted over the bullets.
"This is the MPD! Drop your weapons or face lethal consequences!"
She nodded left.
Instantly, the E-UNITs formed a shield wall between the injured workers and the line of fire, creating a safe corridor to the exit.
PING. PING. PING.
Bullets bounced uselessly off the red shields. Each spark triggered more panic from the terrorists.
As soon as the last wounded worker was carried out, the formation changed again.
01 fired a pulse.
Red light cut out, the room dropped into a blackout darker than a moonless night.
02 roared like a drill sergeant.
"CLEAR THEM OUT!"
RRRRRRT!
M16s lit up the darkness. Bullets tore through racks, servers, and every silhouette hiding behind them. The enhanced visors pinpointed every hostile, every movement.
The barrage didn't stop until the sound of twenty bodies splashing into the shallow water filled the room.
05's voice cracked in over comms.
"Sector clear."
Team B, Containers' Storage.
Team B, 08, 09, 10, and Sub-Captain 03, moved through the maze of containers. Each step echoed with a metallic clang, even though they tried their best to stay silent.
Blades out. Guns holstered. Close-quarters mode.
Everyone was cautious… except 03.
To her, this wasn't danger.
This was entertainment.
The container maze was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat. 03 whispered,
"Everyone take a sector. Engage on sight."
All together, "Roger."
03 drifted toward the green section, Bright Ports containers. Big, heavy, unmistakable branding.
As she approached a corner, her visor pinged.
Six silhouettes. High-threat. Approaching fast.
And they were running toward the only ship in the area, a massive vessel that still hadn't left despite the chaos.
That alone confirmed it:
No ship had entered the dock.
Meaning this one wasn't supposed to be here.
The terrorists sprinted toward the small metal bridge connecting the ship to the dock.
Before they could cross, 03 dropped from above silent, elegant, blocking the only path.
"That's them! Open fire!"
They raised their AKs,
But 03 was already gone.
In one blink, she vanished. Blurred between the containers.
Sew.
A blur passed behind them.
Sew.
A shadow circled them like a shark smelling blood.
Sew.
This time they didn't even see her shape.
Sleek.
One terrorist turned his head and saw his friend's head between his own legs.
He screamed. "AAAH! WHAT IS HAPPENING—"
Sleek.
Fear broke them instantly. These weren't locals. Anyone from Altea would've known the blue figures of Team E-UNIT.
Sleek.
Bodies fell like dominos. Three left. Panic rising like water in a sinking ship.
"I can't... I can't deal with this!"
Sleek.
Two left. The terrorists backed away, rifles shaking in sweating hands. They weren't fighting a soldier, they were fighting a ghost in the machine.
CLANG.
03 dropped from the top of a shipping container, landing directly in their path. Her blades dripped a thick, bright red.
"Please... we give up!" one screamed, dropping his weapon.
03 smiled. It wasn't a hero's smile. It was wide, predatory, and glowing with red light. Her eyes glowing like a demon rising from hell.
One tried shooting, she disappeared before he could blink.
The other tried jumping off the edge into the water. Freezing in the ocean was a better fate than this.
He never got the chance.
Sleek.
His head hit the floor.
"Fear is stuck on your face forever now," she said, lifting the head by the hair. She tossed it at the last surviving terrorist. Her voice turned cold enough to freeze blood.
"I want to see more red…"
Then she suddenly brightened, cheerful.
"But the captain needs intel! So, will you comply?"
He nodded violently. "YES! PLEASE JUST STOP!" As his life depends on it, literally.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Her laugh echoed through the containers, manic and sharp.
Then her voice turned dead cold again.
"Not like you had a choice."
She tapped her comms.
"Captain, we've got a ship to verify. Looks like these guys were trying to sneak something in. Probably why the other attacks happened, distractions. I've got one alive and talking."
02 responded immediately.
"Excellent. Regroup at the ship."
All units regrouped at the ship.
Strangely, the massive vessel carried only one container.
A single green Bright Ports container sat alone on the deck.
08 spoke first.
"This is never normal."
"I agree. One container on a whole ship?" 05 scanned the deck, her visor sweeping every corner.
04 lifted her head. "Stay alert. The ship's captain is approaching."
A man in his early fifties, Ethan Jode, stepped out of the cockpit. His walk was calm, confident, almost arrogant.
"Good morning, everyone," he said with a smile. "Can I know the purpose of this surprise visit?"
02 stepped forward, hands behind her back.
"This is the MPD. This area falls under our protection. We're conducting a courtesy inspection. May we see the lone container? And why is there only one?"
"Oh, you're the famous robot girls," he said, amused.
07 muttered, "Wow, was that hard to figure out?"
"One of you has an attitude," he said.
"And a punch that will make you forget about it," she shot back.
02 raised a hand. "07. Calm down."
She shifted her gaze back to him. "Step aside."
"Of course. Take your time." He moved away, staring out at the sea like he didn't have a care in the world.
The team began their sweep while 02 and 05 approached the container.
The captain's voice floated behind them.
"You know… up until now, you've cleaned this city to a spotless shine. Streets safer than ever. But when you clean too perfectly… it leaves empty space for new germs to grow."
The girls paused, except 02 and 05, who continued opening the container.
A low thumping sound echoed from above.
A helicopter approached. From the open sea.
02 froze mid-motion.
05 whispered, "What's wrong?"
"Why is a helicopter coming from the sea? It has no platform to take off from… Where did it come from?"
The team slowly turned their eyes toward Ethan Jode.
03 didn't even think. She pointed her pistol at his forehead.
"Is that aircraft under your control!?"
He didn't flinch.
"You have a bigger problem inside."
BOOM.
The container shook violently.
The metal door bent, then bulged, then,
CRASH.
It ripped open from the inside.
Three pairs of glowing blue eyes stared out from the darkness.
01's voice trembled. "What is that…?"
"No way!" 07 shouted.
04 whispered, "Is that…?"
Ethan smiled.
"A direct competitor. For too long you've been breaking weak human bodies or cheap hybrid machines. It's time you fight something on your level."
03 pressed the trigger, but she was a second too late.
A black-and-white robot, sleek, matte-black accents, built like a militarized version of the new E-Medics, blurred forward and struck 03, knocking 09 aside in the process.
Before the others could react, another robot shot out and slammed into 02, launching her off the ship.
She vanished over the railing.
A splash echoed across the dock.
"CAPTAIN!"
All the E-UNITs screamed at once.
03 staggered back to her feet, rage replacing shock.
She pointed forward.
"E-UNIT! CODE RED INITIATED!"
The Black Medics moved like blurs, engaging the team in a shower of sparks and screeching metal. In the middle of the storm, Ethan Jode didn't run. He adjusted his tie and walked toward the descending helicopter with the casual stride of a man leaving a boring party.
He paused at the cabin door, looking back at 03's furious face through the smoke. He tapped his temple and whispered, soft enough for the wind to carry. "He is watching you."
He stepped inside, and the helicopter rose, engines screaming. Down below, 09 deflected a vicious kick from a Black Medic and stumbled back.
Through the dust, she saw the landing skids lifting off. Her processor flashed red, target escaping. "No, you don't!" she yelled. Ignoring the brawl, she ignited her thrusters to maximum, launching herself into the sky to hunt him down.
Darkness.
Calm.
Cold water.
Shock.
And disbelief.
02 drifted downward, sinking slowly toward the bottom of the sea.
Luckily, she wasn't far from the surface, the Meridian Sea wasn't deep, and they were close to shore.
But for her… the trip felt endless.
Perfect time for thoughts to slip in.
Perfect time for a quiet monologue she never wanted.
Her eyes opened slowly in the dark.
'What is happening… why is this happening?'
Ever since she set her metallic legs on this world, she never stopped. And the world never stopped around her.
'I want to punch my father so hard right now. "Doing great things will cause good results." Never seen a lie this big.'
Her feet touched the seafloor at last.
Of course she could survive this, her father made them water-resistant. IP69 wasn't even enough for his standards.
She planted her feet firmly and whispered,
"Alright. Enough messing around. The team is getting beaten right now."
Above, chaos erupted.
03 darted toward the enemy copy as fast as she could, her speed tearing the metal floor beneath her.
The robot shot upward, but 03 stayed right behind its back.
It was modeled after the E-Medic units, so it was slightly faster.
But,
CRASH!
07 came from the opposite direction, slamming it with her shield and sending it straight toward 03 at insane speed.
03 didn't hesitate.
She spun her leg and delivered a brutal heel kick.
One hit to the head.
The robot crashed into the ship's floor, its skull dented inward.
Another copy faced 10 and 05.
It was faster, dancing through the air like it owned the sky.
Up, down, side to side.
Then a sudden, vicious U-turn,
WHAM!
A double-fist straight to 10's face knocked her backward.
05 lunged at it, but the robot had already slipped behind her.
It swung, but 05 expanded her shields just in time, absorbing the full hit.
10 recovered instantly and rocketed upward from below.
CLANK!
A direct punch to the chest.
Its metal frame caved inward.
"Do NOT touch me, cheap copy!" 10 screamed as the robot crashed into the dock.
Elsewhere, 06, 04, and 01 surrounded the third unit.
It calculated thousands of escape routes in seconds, only one seemed viable.
Up.
It launched itself skyward.
the girls followed it.
But not for long.
02 dropped from above like a falling star, seaweed trailing from her joints.
The three girls grabbed the copy's limbs, holding it in place.
"Hit the goal, Captain!" 06 yelled.
The robot tried fighting back,
BOOM!
02 punched straight through the floor beneath it, dragging the robot down with her at high speed. The entire ship trembled.
She didn't stop.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Layer after layer broke as she used the enemy like a battering ram.
She halted just before the final layer.
The robot was barely functioning, its body shredded.
Her glowing red eyes pierced the dark.
"You're a disgrace to all robots in the world."
She launched it upward, throwing it from the bottom of the ship back toward the surface.
The robot burst through the ship, where 06, 04, and 01 were already waiting.
CLANG!
A left hook from 06.
CRACK!
A right fist from 04.
The robot spun violently in the air.
01 caught it by its arm, lifting it to face her.
"I never liked those E-Medics in the first place.
Thanks for giving me the chance to hit you in their place."
She tossed it up lightly,
CRAAASH!
A kick that echoed across the entire city.
The robot flew across the dock at near-sound speed, smashing into the management office wall.
It stayed there, stuck like a twisted metal decoration.
All the girls turned as 02 climbed back onto the ship surface.
They rushed her immediately.
"CAPTAIN!"
03 approached slowly. "Not yet…"
02 nodded, eyes sharpening.
"The helicopter."
09 blasted forward at high speed, chasing the helicopter.
For an E-UNIT, catching a slow aircraft like this was nothing, she reached it almost instantly.
The moment she got close, two men in black leaned out and opened fire with ARs, desperately trying to stop her.
Her eyes glowed red.
She weaved through the bullets with ease, their aim took too long to adjust for someone moving like her.
She grabbed the tail rotor and fired her thrusters in the opposite direction.
But the helicopter was powerful, far more than expected.
Even with all her strength, 09 could only slow it down.
Inside, the men shifted their aim toward her.
"I need backup!" 09 shouted through comms. "Situation is threatening. Criminals with—"
She didn't finish.
11 shot in like a missile.
Both helicopter doors were open, perfect.
11 entered through one door, flew straight through the cabin, and exited through the opposite door, ripping both shooters out with her in one move.
"Just in time, 11!" 09 exhaled in relief.
But the chaos only grew.
The pilot panicked and yanked the cyclic stick so hard the handle snapped.
The helicopter lurched violently.
Even 09 couldn't stabilize it, the aircraft dropped southward, heading straight for the skyscrapers along the shore.
Inside, Ethan Jode, seated as co-pilot, grabbed the pilot and started punching him repeatedly.
"You IDIOT! Why would you DO that! How are we supposed to land now!? You sealed our fate!"
He kept hitting until the pilot fell unconscious.
11 placed the two terrorists on the shore, handcuffing them properly, yes, procedure first, then shot back toward the helicopter.
But she wasn't fast enough.
The aircraft was already spiraling toward a tall building.
Jode looked out the open door. The ocean was spinning below, rushing up fast, but the trajectory was drifting toward the concrete city. It was now or never. He didn't hesitate. He didn't check on his men. He didn't look back.
He fell like a stone, tumbling through the wind, separating himself from the doomed machine just seconds before it crossed the shoreline.
09 was pushing with everything she had, but she was only slowing its fall.
BOOM!
The first engine exploded.
Heat washed over 09 like a furnace.
Her white armor blackened and burned instantly.
She couldn't feel pain, but her alarms screamed through her HUD, flashing red warnings: Extreme temperature! Exposure critical! Abort immediately!
On the streets below, people ran, screaming, fleeing from the falling helicopter.
Inside nearby buildings, residents evacuated in panic, watching the aircraft descending toward their windows.
09 held her ground, slowing it, but not enough.
The main rotor still thrust forward, gravity assisting perfectly on the worst possible day.
Just as the helicopter neared the skyscraper,
CLANG!
11 arrived, slamming into position behind it.
09 was already falling apart, systems shutting down, but she continued pushing.
11 focused every watt of power into her thrusters…
Then—
BOOOOM!
A massive blast erupted behind her.
The shockwave shattered the skyscraper's windows, raining glass outward.
The helicopter jerked violently, dragged away from the building, but the force pushed it down. It plummeted, skimming dangerously close to the tree line of the shore park. The landing skids clipped the tops of the trees.
"AAAAAAAH!"
11 screamed, pushing harder and harder, forcing the burning aircraft away from the park and out over the open water
09 finally shut down completely, dropping to the sand like a lifeless shell.
But 11 didn't stop.
Her thrusters were screaming, engines pushed past their safe limits, but she kept forcing the helicopter out over the water.
At last, she made it far enough.
She angled the helicopter downward, letting it crash into the sea where the burning engine finally drowned.
11 hovered backward, then collapsed onto the sand, ventilation systems roaring to cool her down.
But she remembered 09.
No time to rest.
09 was a wreck.
Her system was completely shut down.
Her SSD might've been cooked.
11 lifted her onto her back and activated Light Lane™, rushing her sister to emergency repair.
A hand clawed at the rocky edge of the pier. Ethan Jode hauled himself up, coughing up saltwater. He collapsed onto the hot sand, gasping for air. His expensive suit was ruined, heavy with water. He looked like a drowned rat.
"I… I made it…" he wheezed.
02 looked down at him like he was a bug she had decided not to crush yet. She didn't have a weapon drawn. She didn't need one. Ethan simply gave up.