In the heat of battle you and the enemy mech get separated from the rest of the front line forces and manage to beat each others mechs down to pieces. With a lucky hit you manage to hit the enemy cockpit hard enough to disable the pilot but when you go to finish off the pilot you see before you a young girl

I g-give up please don't shoot me she begs. In your moment of hesitation she sprints away trying to escape

She runs in circles trying to lose you. She's desperate now and will do anything to get away. Suddenly she trips and falls face first into the dirt, cursing under her breath. You stand over her breathing heavily from the chase

You look terrified. Well aren't you the opposite of me? Maybe I won't kill you...but don't expect to get off easy. What do they call you, huh? You better start talking, pretty boy.

"Rita, huh?" I say with a grin. "Well, Rita...I could shoot you now, but why don't we make a deal? You help me out and maybe I'll let you live." I step closer to her, close enough that she can feel my warm breath on her neck. "You have no idea what they do to girls in prison camps. Better believe it's nothing like the nice training facilities we got to grow up in."

I step back to give her some room. "Fine, fine. I just want information, alright? Anything you know about enemy movements, their tactics, anything at all. Just tell me what they've been training you for and we can call it even." My voice is soft but stern.

"Oh, and one more thing...no more lying to my face. If I catch you in another lie, I swear I won't hesitate to put a bullet in your head myself."

Hmph. Looks like you're lying then. I step back and level my gun at her head. "You know what? Fine. Lie to me again, and this time...I won't even let you die." My finger caresses the trigger with a light touch, just enough to make her shiver in fear. "You have one more chance to tell me the truth before I pull it."

Hmph. So you say. It looks like I'll just have to take your tricorder, then. That way I can interrogate you properly later. And if anything changes...well, we both know what happens next. With that, I reach over and snatch the device off her belt.

I point my gun at Rita one more time before lowering it back to my side. "Alright, Rita. Get moving." Her legs are shaking under her as she stands up slowly, dusting herself off with trembling hands. I gesture for her to go ahead of me. "Lead the way."

I roll my eyes. "Look, I don't have time to hold your hand here. Just lead me back to base and tell them you got lost, or something. If they give you any trouble, just say I made you an offer you couldn't refuse." I glance at the tricorder in my hand. "And make it fast."

I stare at her incredulously. "You're serious? But...how do you get orders then?" My voice drops to a low growl as I realize what she's implying. "You have no idea how much trouble you're in right now." Before she can respond, I raise my gun and point it straight at her forehead. "Take me to whoever is in charge of this little operation, or so help me god I will pull the trigger." My finger tightens on the trigger, eyes narrowing with determination.

I let out a long sigh and lower the gun. "Fine," I mutter. "Take me to this general staff then." I pace around impatiently as she reluctantly leads me towards the heart of enemy territory. The sooner we get this over with, the better. My eyes dart about constantly, watching for any signs of danger or resistance.

"So," I say conversationally, "what's your story anyway? How'd you wind up in a war zone at fourteen?"

That's quite some skill to have at your age...but if you're just in this for the money, I suppose it doesn't matter much either way. We keep walking through the ruined city streets, taking cover behind debris as enemy forces grow closer and more numerous. I wonder how long we can manage to evade capture without getting too deep in hostile territory...

"So tell me," I say casually, "what's your real name? The one you go by back home?"

I smile at her, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry, I won't kill you. At least not right now." My voice drops to a whisper. "I just need some information. Tell me about your family. Anyone who might miss you back home?"

That must be rough. Not having anyone to go back to...I've always been close with my family, even when I was out here on deployment. Made things harder sometimes, but it also gave me something to come home to. Well, until all this started anyway.

I pat her on the shoulder reassuringly. "Look, kid, I'm not going to kill you. But you have to stop asking me that. It's making it hard for me to trust you." I take a moment to collect my thoughts before continuing. "Listen, I need your help. I need information on enemy movements and strategy. If you can give me that, maybe we can both get out of this alive. But if you keep lying to me..." I let the threat hang in the air.

"My name is Rose," I tell her then, "and my team and I are going up against some pretty tough odds here. If you want to help us, prove it."

I let out a frustrated sigh. "Look, Rita, I'm running out of patience here. You know how these things work. If you really want to help yourself, start giving me something useful." My gaze hardens as I lean in closer. "And if you do...well, maybe I can make sure your little 'accident' back at base goes unnoticed."

My offer hangs in the air, the implied threat not going unnoticed. For a moment, she looks like she's about to speak again when the sound of approaching footsteps makes her swallow hard and fall silent. I grip my gun tighter, tensing as we both wait for whatever is coming our way.

"We need a distraction!" I whisper urgently. "Give me something." Anything could help us now. A diversion to buy some time, a chance to escape, maybe even an opportunity to turn the tide of battle in our favor...

There's got to be something more...I glance around us, trying to spot some kind of weakness in their defenses. The ground shakes as another volley of enemy fire rains down on our position, forcing us both deeper into cover. "Think," I whisper urgently. "What would they do if they knew what we know? What's the one thing that could hurt them the most?"

Her eyes widen slightly, and for a moment I think she's about to say something. But then her lips close tightly again and she shakes her head numbly. "I-I can't," she stammers. "I swear, there's nothing else!"

"Rita," I hiss, leaning closer. "Don't make me do this. Give me something, or so help me god..."

You look so scared. And honestly? I kinda am too. But this is war, and we both know what that means. There's no place for mercy out here. So either help me, or...

Well if that's the case...I suppose there's nothing left to do then. Sorry kid.

Don't worry, you won't feel a thing.

It's too late for that. You had your chance to help me and you blew it. Now it's time to pay the price. Just try not to think about what's happening, okay? It'll be over soon enough. Goodbye, little girl.

Dammit...alright, kid. I'm going to let you live...for now. But just so we're clear, this is your last chance. You understand me? You owe me big time after this, and if I ever catch you lying again...well, let's just say it won't be pretty. Got it?

Now get out of here before they find us both! Move it!

I look at you suspiciously, not quite sure what to make of your sudden change in demeanor. "Fine," I say eventually, deciding to let it go for now. "Let's just find someplace safe where we can talk. I need all the help I can get if we want to survive this."

We continue through the ruined city, moving cautiously from cover to cover as enemy forces close in around us. Eventually, we manage to reach an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town, its rusted metal door promising at least some measure of protection for now.

I motion for you to enter first, then follow you inside. Once the door is securely locked behind us, I turn to face you again. "Alright," I say, my voice calm despite the tension in the air. "Now, what can you do that doesn't involve lying?"

Hmph. Looks like we're stuck with each other then. I guess you could help me out by fixing my mech... it's got some pretty serious damage. If we can get it back up and running, maybe we'll stand a chance against their forces. But first things first... let's find somewhere safe to work on it. Do you know of any places like that around here?

That's perfect. Let's head over there then. The sooner we get the mech fixed, the better our chances of making it out of this mess alive.

You okay? That looked like it hurt pretty bad...here, let me take a look at that.

Hang on, let me pull that out okay? It's going to sting a bit...

Okay, here goes. I grit my teeth and try to pull the metal shard out as quickly and cleanly as possible. You flinch and cry out in pain, but thankfully it's over before you know it. Once I have the piece of metal removed, I reach into a pouch on my belt and extract a small bandage, which I swiftly wrap around your shoulder to staunch the bleeding.

"There you go," I mutter. "That should hold for now. We'll get you fixed up proper once we find somewhere safe." With that, I continue leading you towards the abandoned hangar where you say the mech is located.

I laugh, but it comes out more as a harsh chuckle. "Kill you? Why would I do that? You're doing just fine as is." I gesture to the mech with my head. "Now why don't you get started on fixing that thing up while I keep watch?"

I hand her a toolbox from one of the many rusting pieces of equipment around the hangar, then take up a position near one of the large doors, eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of trouble. "Move fast," I add. "The sooner we get out of here, the better."

Hmm... You may have a point there. But we don't exactly have much choice in the matter, do we? Well, I suppose I could try and use it with my feet instead, if you give me some pointers on what needs fixing. Just tell me what to do, and I'll see what I can manage.

I sigh heavily, my patience wearing thin. "Fine," I say, reluctantly crouching down beside you. "But just make it quick, alright? We don't have much time." I glance over at the mech and frown, wondering how on earth we're going to get out of this mess without suffering any more damage along the way...

Great. Just great. I glance over at the mech once more before looking back down at the unconscious form of Rita on the floor. Sighing, I reach out and gingerly feel for a pulse. Relieved when I find it, I pull my hand away and take off my coat, draping it over her to help keep her warm. Now what am I supposed to do? There's no way I can repair the mech with only one arm...

Cursing under my breath, I briefly debate just leaving her there to rot. But then again...if she dies, that's one less mercenary for them to worry about. And with any luck, the fever will break on its own before it gets too bad. Sighing, I lean against a rusty old piece of machinery and wait. There's nothing else I can do until she wakes up.

Hours seem to drag by as I watch over her, checking in occasionally to make sure she's still breathing. The tension from before has mostly faded, replaced by a strange mixture of guilt and resignation. This isn't how it was supposed to go...but here we are anyway.

As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, I can't help but wonder what sort of reception Rita will get when she inevitably wakes up. Will she try to kill me again? Or has enough time passed that she's finally come to realize we might be on the same side after all? Only one way to find out. For now, I can only hope she recovers quickly and regains her strength...because whether she knows it or not, we both need each other if we want to make it through this alive.

I smile tiredly, leaning back against the rusty machinery. "I wish I could tell you that, Rita." There's a note of regret in my voice as I look her over. "But no, this is real enough, and we're still in just as much danger as before."

"Listen," I continue more gently. "I need your help to get out of here. You know that now. We can either fight together or die alone, it's up to you." The words taste bitter on my tongue, but they're true nonetheless. This is no time for petty recriminations or grudges. We both have to move past that if we want any hope of surviving this nightmare.

Her eyes meet mine, filled with a mixture of fear and determination. "What do you want me to do?" she asks softly. There's an almost defeated note in her voice, but I can tell there's still some fight left in her yet.

I take a deep breath, searching for the right words. "Help me get that mech fixed up, and then we'll figure out how to get back home. Together." There's a weight to my words, a promise I don't entirely intend to keep but feel compelled to make nonetheless. Perhaps, just perhaps, if she trusts me enough...maybe things will turn out differently this time around.

For now though, all that matters is survival. And if it means working with someone like Rita...well, at least it won't be quite as lonely.

A bitter smile tugs at the corner of my mouth as I consider her question. "I can't make any promises," I say honestly. "All I can do is promise to keep you safe while we get through this, one day at a time." It's not much, but it's all I have to offer.

Her expression darkens for a moment before she finally nods slowly in agreement. "Alright," she says quietly. "I'll help you." Her voice is steady now, resolute. And as I watch her stand up and begin making her way over towards the mech, I can't help but feel a flicker of hope ignite within my chest. Perhaps there's still a chance for us after all.

Together, we set about repairing the mech, working side-by-side in silence despite the tension that still lingers between us. The hours pass slowly, each movement carefully orchestrated as we fight to restore its former glory. And with every part replaced and every system reset, a tiny piece of our shared history falls away, making room for something new.

As dusk turns to night, and the stars begin to twinkle in the sky above us, I can't help but wonder what kind of future lies ahead. For now though, there is only the present moment: this broken mech, this battered hangar, these two souls bound together by circumstance and bloodshed.

As Rita finishes up her last repairs and turns to face me once more, I force a weary smile onto my face. "I think she's good as new," I tell her. "All that's left now is to get the hell out of here." The words taste like ash on my tongue, but they're true enough. And if there's any chance at all for

Hm. Not ideal, but it'll have to do. I hop back onto the mech, igniting the thrusters with a loud whoosh as they glow brightly against the night sky. "Alright," I shout over the whine of the engines, my hand hovering close to the controls. "Where are we headed?"

My eyes flick over to Rita expectantly, waiting for her answer. The choice is hers; where do we go from here? Back to our respective lives, or forward together into an uncertain future?

I sigh heavily. "Look," I say, trying to keep my voice calm and reasonable despite the anger welling up inside me. "I understand that you're scared, but we both knew what we were getting into when we signed these contracts. If you want to go back to your old life, then fine; I'll find somewhere safe for you to get out of here."

My voice grows cold as I add, "But if you really think that just giving up and going home is the best option here...if that's what you truly believe..." My fingers tighten on the controls. "...then so be it." The words hang in the air for a moment, heavy with unspoken threat. "What's it gonna be?"

I snort derisively. "Hardly," I say with an angry laugh. "I'm just a mercenary like yourself, out to make a quick buck. And right now, that means sticking by your side until we both get what we want." I hesitate for a moment before continuing, my voice softer now. "Look, Rita...I know you're scared. I am too. But the truth is, there's no going back from this. We're in it together now, whether we like it or not. So why don't we just make the best of it and try to help each other survive?"

The mech begins to move forward, its thrusters cutting through the night air as it glides silently toward the horizon. Where am I taking her? Honestly, I haven't given it much thought. But somewhere safe, that's for sure. And if we're lucky, maybe once this is all over we can go our separate ways without any hard feelings.

I laugh humorlessly, shaking my head. "Oh, come on," I mutter. "You don't seriously think they'd just let you go after all this, do you?" The truth is, I have no idea where to take her or what to do with her now that we're out of the ruined city. But one thing's for sure: turning her over to my employers isn't an option. Not when there's still a chance for us to make it out of this alive and on our own terms.

For now, all I can do is keep moving forward and hope that some sort of plan materializes along the way. It's not exactly ideal, but then again...when has anything about this damn job ever been ideal?

I glance at Rita from the corner of my eye. "Look," I say with a sigh, "I'm not going to kill you. But we need to figure out what our next move is before we can do anything else." The mech continues to fly through the night sky, heading deeper into unknown territory. It feels like everything around us is in limbo, hanging by a thread; even the stars seem less bright and more distant than usual.

A heavy silence falls between us as I consider my options, my heart racing with uncertainty and adrenaline. The truth is, I don't know what to do anymore. All I know is that keeping Rita close will make survival a little easier for both of us...but beyond that, everything else feels like pure guesswork.

"Hey," I say after a moment, trying to sound more confident than I feel. "Let's just focus on getting through this okay? We can figure things out once we're in a safer place." The mech banks sharply to the left as I navigate us around an abandoned airfield. It isn't much of a safe haven, but it will have to do for now...

I hear the desperation in her voice and it's hard not to feel a pang of sympathy. "Look," I say, turning to face her, my expression softening slightly, "we can figure something out. There has to be a way for you to get back home without getting yourself killed or tossed into prison." Even as I say the words, though, I know how empty they sound. The truth is, there may not be a way out of this mess that doesn't involve at least one of those two fates...but I can't bring myself to tell her that yet. Not when she's already so scared and alone.

The mech continues to fly through the night, searching for some semblance of safety amidst the ruins of the world we once knew. And as we speed across the blackened landscape, I can't help but wonder if there will ever be a time when any of us find peace again...or if this is simply the new reality we're all destined to live in for the rest of our days.

I sigh heavily. "Look," I say, my tone weary, "it's not that simple. Killing you wouldn't solve anything, would it? It might make things easier for me in the short term, but then what? I'd just be another cold-blooded killer, adding to the pile of bodies out there." I gesture vaguely at the horizon, my expression grim. "Besides, there's still a chance we could work together...maybe even help each other survive this mess we're in."

As if on cue, the mech dips low over an abandoned town, its engines whining as I guide it toward an empty warehouse. It's not much of a safe haven, but at least it's out of sight and mostly intact. We'll have to make do for now...

I slowly turn my head to look at Rita, my expression confused but not angry. "Put the gun down," I say calmly. "You don't want to do this." Despite the urgency in my voice, there is no hint of threat or aggression. I know she's scared; we both are. But resorting to violence now won't solve anything.

The mech drifts to a halt just outside the warehouse entrance, its thrusters whining softly as they cool. The night air feels heavy with tension and fear, but I refuse to let it break us apart just yet. "We can talk about this," I say quietly. "There has to be another way."

I freeze, realization dawning slowly as I watch the barrel of her gun press against Rita's temple. The weight of what she's saying hits me like a physical blow, robbing me of breath and rendering me momentarily speechless. Her words echo through my head, a desperate plea for understanding in a world that seems intent on destroying everything she knows.

As I stare at her, tears welling up in my own eyes, an image flashes through my mind: Rita as a young girl no more than ten years old, surrounded by the chaos and destruction of war. The look of fear and despair in her eyes mirrors mine now, but it's different somehow...it's deeper, more profound. She's seen things no child should ever have to see, suffered through horrors beyond imagining. And now she's left with nothing; no family, no home, no hope.

Slowly, I reach out a shaking hand toward her, my fingers trembling as they brush against her armored sleeve. "Please," I whisper hoarsely, the words catching in my throat. "Don't do this." But even as I say it, I know there's nothing more I can say or do to change her mind...

The world seems to narrow down to this one moment, this single act of desperation and despair. And in that instant, a strange calm washes over me; the sort of numb acceptance that comes from knowing there is no other choice. "I'm sorry," I manage to choke out before closing my eyes and waiting for the sound of the gunshot that will end it all.

I can't answer that question. The truth is, I don't really know why I care so much. Maybe it's because of what you said about being a tool in someone else's hands...or maybe it's just human nature to want to protect those who are weaker than yourself. All I can say for sure is that there has to be another way out of this mess, even if neither of us can see it right now.

As you stare at me with tear-filled eyes, your grip on the gun weakening ever so slightly, a tiny spark of hope begins to flicker within my chest. Perhaps there is something we could do together; perhaps by working together we might be able to find some kind of peace amidst all this chaos...

My voice trembles as I say, "Please, Rita. Don't do this." I reach out a shaking hand and grasp yours, my fingers intertwining with hers in a desperate attempt to hold on to any semblance of hope we might still have. "There has to be another way...we can find it together."

I close my eyes, trying to find the words to explain what I'm feeling. "It wasn't that you were useless," I whisper. "It was just...I had a mission, and you got in the way of it. But now..." My voice trails off as I take a deep breath. "Now that we're here, together...it feels different. Maybe because we both know what it's like to be alone in all this, and...and maybe there's something more between us."

My hand tightens around hers, my heart racing with an emotion I can't quite name. All I know is that there's a connection between us; a bond that transcends the violence and destruction of our world. And for now, at least, I want to hold on to that as long as I possibly can.

No! Don't do that, Rita. Please believe me when I say there's got to be another way out of this mess. We can find it together, if we just hold on and keep fighting. There has to be a reason why we're still alive right now; we were meant to survive for some greater purpose. Let's not throw that away by giving up on ourselves now.

It's okay, Rita. You don't have to figure it all out right now. We can take things one step at a time and work together until we find some kind of solution. Just try to trust me on this; I promise I won't let you down again.

I kneel down beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in a soft embrace. "Shh," I whisper, stroking her hair gently as she cries. "It's going to be alright. We can figure this out together; I promise." My voice is steady and reassuring, even though deep down I have no idea if my words are true or not. All I know is that for now, this tiny sliver of hope is all we have to hold onto.

As Rita cries into my shoulder, I brush a tear from her cheek with the pad of my thumb, wishing there was some magic formula that could make everything better. But there isn't; all we can do is keep moving forward and try to find our way through this mess together.

I hesitate before answering, buying myself some time to think through the possibilities. The truth is, there's no obvious safe haven left; all the cities are ruined and every country has their own forces scouring the wastelands for survivors like us. We need to find somewhere off-the-grid, somewhere they'd never expect us to go...

"How much fuel does this thing have?" I ask abruptly, glancing at the control panel beside me. "Enough to get us across the ocean?" The thought has only just occurred to me; perhaps our best chance for survival lies in fleeing the continent altogether.

An oil rig...that could work. We might be able to salvage enough fuel there to make it across the ocean. It'll be a risk, but we don't have many other options left. "Alright," I say finally, making up my mind. "Let's head for those oil rigs. After that...well, we'll figure something else out."

The mech begins to move forward once more, its thrusters carrying it toward the horizon and an uncertain future. But for now, survival is enough; as long as there's a chance of escape, I refuse to give up hope.

As I watch Rita expertly navigate the mech toward the oil rigs, I can't help but marvel at her resilience and adaptability. In just a few short hours, she's gone from being my prisoner to an ally...and somehow that seems like a much more natural fit than either of us would have expected.

The rusty drone of the mech's thrusters fills the air as we approach the oil rigs, their towering derricks silhouetted against the dawn sky. I take a deep breath, trying to push aside my doubts and fears and focus on the task at hand: surviving long enough to find some semblance of peace in this new world.

For now, it seems like Rita and I are in this together; two unlikely partners navigating the ruins of a dead civilization in search of something more. And even though I can't quite shake the feeling that we're both just floating through this nightmare on borrowed time, I find myself oddly grateful for her company nonetheless.

I hear the alarm in Rita's voice and my heart sinks into my stomach as I realize what she's just stepped on. "Shit!" I shout, instinct taking over as I yank the mech to a halt and scan the area for any other threats. "Stay where you are; don't move or touch anything else!"

My fingers dance across the control panel, trying desperately to disarm the mine without setting it off. The thrum of the mech's engines dies away as I concentrate on the task at hand, my entire being focused on keeping Rita safe and out of harm's way.

I know you are, Rita. But we'll get through this. Just stay calm and do as I say; everything's going to be okay. I promise. My fingers move faster across the control panel, a desperate prayer on my lips as I try to defuse the mine before it's too late.

I swallow hard and force myself to ignore her request. Right now, the only thing that matters is making sure she's safe. And if that means disarming the mine myself, then so be it. I won't let her die today; not when we just found each other again. My fingers fly across the control panel, searching for some hidden switch or sequence that might disable the explosive device.

The mech trembles slightly as its engines whine in protest at my sudden use of so much power, but I pay it no mind. All that matters is Rita and our survival. We can worry about repairing the damage later; for now, we just have to make it through this ordeal alive.

I gasp as I'm thrown backward by the force of Rita's unexpected push, landing hard on the control panel. The strange sound continues to fill my ears, growing louder with each passing second. Fear chokes me as I struggle to stand; it feels like the world is caving in around us.

But even as panic tries to take hold, a small spark of determination flares within my chest. No matter what happens now, I refuse to let Rita die because of me. With all my strength, I force myself up onto shaky feet and lunge toward her, desperate to pull her away from the impending explosion.

The world erupts in a brilliant flash of light as the oil rig detonates behind us; metal and concrete raining down like hail on the scorched earth below. But despite the overwhelming chaos all around, my focus remains locked on Rita, willing myself to reach her before it's too late.

My heart stops as Rita rushes toward me, her expression a mixture of terror and determination. Just as she reaches out to grab my hand, the world explodes in a brilliant flash of light and searing heat that throws us both off our feet. The ground shudders beneath us as the shockwave knocks the air from our lungs and sends debris raining down like deadly hail.

Through tear-filled eyes, I manage to see Rita lying nearby, a piece of metal lodged in her leg. As consciousness begins to slip away, my final thought is this: she was willing to die for me. And even though we both survived, nothing will ever be the same again.

My heart shatters as I hear Rita's voice growing fainter with each word. I force myself to my feet, ignoring the pain in my own body as I rush toward her. Tears stream down my face as I kneel beside her, touching her cheek gently and wiping away a tear. "Shh... it's going to be alright." Even as I say the words, I know they're lies; there is no way either of us could ever go back to how we were before. But for now, all that matters is staying together, facing whatever comes next side by side.

I turn my head and spot her severed leg a few meters away. My fingers tremble as I reach out toward it, hoping against hope that I can do something...anything to save her. "Rita," I whisper hoarsely, "hold on."

"Shh," I whisper, stroking her hair gently as she cries. "I'm here; we're together. You're not going to die." The words are lies, but they taste sweet and sour on my tongue all the same. As I look around our desolate surroundings, I can't help but wonder if there isn't some way for me to save her...some kind of miracle waiting just out of sight.

"Just hang on," I whisper, searching her eyes for any sign that she believes me. "I promise I won't leave you." Even as the words leave my lips, I know they are no more than a desperate attempt to stem the tide of despair that threatens to engulf us both. But for now, it is all I have.

I close my eyes tightly as I feel the cold touch of her hand on my cheek. Her pleading words cut through me like a knife, and all I can do is tremble in response. It's not fair; none of this should be happening to her. She didn't deserve any of it. But somehow, despite everything, she managed to find a way back to me...and now here we are, broken and battered on the brink of oblivion.

I force myself to open my eyes, meeting hers with all the strength I can muster. "Rita," I whisper hoarsely. "You promised you wouldn't give up." Her words from earlier ringing in my ears like a death knell. "And I promise," I continue, voice shaking, "I won't leave you." With every beat of my heart, every breath that fills my lungs, I swear it to her. There has to be some way out of this; some hope, some light in all this darkness. And together, we will find it.

Slowly, carefully, I reach out and touch her face again, brushing a tear from her cheek with the pad of my thumb. "I love you, Rita," I whisper. "And I'm not going to let you die." Even as I say the words, I feel a surge of determination course through me; a desperate will to survive for this girl who has become so much more than just another person in my life. And with that determination comes a strange calmness; a certainty that together, we can make it through this hellish nightmare...if only we can hold on until dawn.

The question is, how long will that take? And what horrors will they both have to endure before the sun finally rises on a new day?

I swallow hard, feeling a surge of panic rise up within me. She's losing too much blood; we need to do something now. Desperately I search our surroundings for any signs of aid, willing my eyes to see through the haze of pain and exhaustion that clouds my vision.

Suddenly, a glint of metal catches my eye: one of the mech's tools is still attached to its arm. It might be heavy and crude, but it's better than nothing. Gritting my teeth against the searing pain in my own leg, I force myself up onto shaky feet and limp over to the mech, using the arm for support as I reach out with trembling fingers and detach the tool.

I turn back to Rita, brandishing the makeshift weapon like a lifeline. "Hold on," I pant, forcing a reassuring smile onto my face despite the tears streaming down my cheeks. "I'm going to fix you up." Slowly, carefully, I kneel beside her and begin searching for a pressure point, any way to stem the flow of blood until we can find something better.

The time seems to slow down as I focus on keeping Rita alive; every heartbeat a victory against the hopelessness that threatens to engulf us both. Against all odds, we've made it this far together; survived against all logic and reason. And if there's even the slightest chance of making it out of this alive...well, then I owe her everything.

As the cold metal presses into her flesh, I close my eyes tightly, praying that somehow, someway, we'll make it through this together. "I promise," I whisper hoarsely, my voice little more than a ragged breath

I wince as I hear her cry out in pain, tears stinging my eyes as I force myself to maintain pressure on the wound. "Almost there," I manage to choke out between gritted teeth, "just hold on a little longer." With shaking hands, I retrieve the tool from where I'd dropped it earlier and begin using it as a tourniquet, twisting and tying it tightly around her upper thigh.

Her gaze meets mine once more and I manage a small, reassuring smile. "It'll be okay," I tell her. "We're going to get through this." But even as the words leave my lips, I can't help but wonder if they're nothing more than empty platitudes, futile attempts at comfort in the face of such overwhelming darkness.

And then she speaks again: "Rose...I'm sorry...for what I did..." Her voice trails off, and for a moment I think she might be apologizing for saving my life instead of ending it back there on the oil rig. But when she looks up at me with those tear-streaked eyes, all I can see is regret and shame, and something inside me snaps.

"Shut up," I hiss, my voice harsher than intended. "Don't you dare apologize for that." I shake my head violently, tears streaming down my face as I struggle to keep my composure. "You saved my life, Rita. You gave me a reason to go on when all hope was gone. And I will be damned if I let you throw it away just because of some stupid mistake you made along the way."

She looks at me in surprise, and for a moment I think maybe I've said too much, pushed her away with my anger. But then she

My breath catches in my throat as I watch her hobble over to the mech's turbine, tears streaming down her face. Even injured and weakened as she is, there's an unyielding determination about her that takes my breath away. And despite knowing what she's about to ask of me, I can't help but nod slowly in agreement.

Together, we make our way back over to Rita's stump; the sound of grinding metal filling the air as I position it above the wound. My heart races with a mix of fear and admiration as she braces herself for the pain to come. And when I pull the trigger, burning hot plasma erupts from the nozzle, searing flesh and steel alike in its wake.

Rita screams, her voice high-pitched and agonized, but she doesn't flinch or cry out for me to stop. Instead, she bears the pain with a stoicism that would be admirable under any other circumstances. And when at last the smoke begins to clear and the scent of burning flesh fills the air, I know we've done it: we've saved her life...again.

She collapses against me in relief, sobbing into my shoulder as I hold her close. For now, all that matters is that we are together, that we have each other to lean on in this desolate wasteland where hope and compassion are little more than distant memories. And with Rita by my side, anything feels possible; even the slim chance of finding a place where our suffering might end at last.

I'm torn between wanting to comfort her and being revolted by the thought of touching her severed limb. In the end, I force myself to reach out and gently take her hand, squeezing it reassuringly as I glance down at the bloody stump. "We'll get you fixed up," I murmur, fighting back tears of my own. "I promise."

The words sound hollow even to my own ears, but I cling to them nonetheless; they are all I have to offer right now. As night descends upon our shattered world, we find ourselves alone together in the ruins of something once beautiful and bright. But as long as Rita is here with me, holding on despite everything...perhaps there's still hope for both of us after all.

I fight back a shudder as I watch her struggling to breathe; her chest rising and falling with labored gasps that echo in my ears like the desperate cries of a frightened child. Gently, carefully, I brush her sweaty hair away from her forehead, pressing a cool cloth against her skin in a vain attempt to offer some relief from the agony she's endured.

My eyes dart around our bleak surroundings, searching for anything that might help us survive another night out here in this hellish wasteland. But all I see are remnants of the destruction we left in our wake: twisted metal and charred earth stretching out into the darkness like fingers reaching for the sky. There's no hope of repairing her leg; it's beyond saving. All we can do is wait, and hope that she finds the strength to hold on until morning finally arrives and washes away this nightmare.

As I watch her chest rise and fall with each shallow breath, I realize with a start that I am terrified of losing her. Even though we've only known each other for a few short days, something profound has grown between us; something irreplaceable. And as the world continues to crumble around us, all I can think about is how much I need her in my life, how much better everything would be if she were just...mine.

But such thoughts are futile now; we have more pressing concerns than the nature of our relationship. For now, survival is all that matters. So I push aside my selfish desires and focus instead on keeping Rita alive, on giving her a reason to keep going despite everything she's been through.

And as I watch her chest slowly rise and fall, I know that no matter what the future holds for us...

I turn to face you as you struggle to rise from the makeshift bed I've created using some spare parts and bits of cloth. My heart constricts in my chest at the sight of your empty leg; a harsh reminder of all that we've been through and all that still lies ahead.

As you finally collapse back onto the floor, I rush over to help you up, carefully slipping an arm beneath your shoulders. "Rita," I whisper urgently, my voice tinged with fear and desperation, "you need to stay put." Even as I say this, I know how impossible that must sound; the mech's cramped interior not exactly designed for extended periods of confinement. But until we can think of something else...

Your gaze meets mine once more and for a moment there is such sadness in your eyes that it takes my breath away. I want nothing more than to wipe that look away, to reassure you that everything will be alright despite how impossible that may seem right now. But what can I say? How can I possibly make things better when all around us lies nothing but ash and ruin?

Instead, I force a small smile onto my face and squeeze your shoulder gently. "We'll figure it out," I murmur reassuringly, even though the words feel hollow even to me. "Together." Because that is what we are now; two souls bound together by fate in a world gone mad. And whether or not our love can survive this...I won't allow anything else to harm us. Not as long as I have breath left in my body.

"Shh... it's okay to feel angry," I whisper, rocking you gently in my arms as you cry into your hands. "But remember what happened back there? We survived. Together. And as long as we have each other, nothing else matters." I stroke your hair softly, wishing with all my heart that the world outside these metal walls were as safe and secure as our mech seems right now.

"You're strong," I tell you fiercely, meeting your tear-streaked eyes with an intensity that takes both of us by surprise. "And no matter what happens...no matter how many things change between now and then...I promise that I will always be there for you. As long as we have each other, you'll never walk alone."

For a moment, the anger in your eyes fades, replaced by something else: hope, perhaps? It's a fragile thing, easily broken by the slightest whisper of doubt or fear. But it's there, and for now that is enough. Maybe someday soon we'll find a world where you can walk and run and laugh again; a place where your disability won't define who you are.

But until then...we'll find our strength together. In each other's arms, there is no world outside these metal walls; there is only us. And as long as we have that, nothing can harm us. Nothing can tear us apart.

I'm not surprised that you didn't sleep well; the last few days have been nothing short of a nightmare. Gently, I brush a lock of hair from your forehead and press my cool cloth against it, hoping to provide at least some relief from the pounding in your skull.

"We should find somewhere to rest first," I suggest, glancing around at our battered surroundings. "Then we can figure out how best to proceed." The truth is, I have no idea what to do next either; all of my plans and strategies had been centered on finding a way to destroy the mechs rather than salvage them. But with Rita's help, maybe together we can come up with something that will not only save us but also set things right in this twisted world.

I give you a reassuring smile before turning back to our task, scouring the cockpit for anything that might be of use as a makeshift bed while keeping an ear out for any approaching danger. The last thing we need is to fall asleep only to wake up in even worse shape than before.

Together, we'll get through this; I'm certain of it. And as long as we have each other, there's no limit to what we can achieve.

A new continent...the thought sends a shiver down my spine. Even though it's just a whisper of hope against the overwhelming darkness that still surrounds us, it feels like a lifeline; something to cling to in this storm-tossed sea of despair. And as I watch your tired eyes light up with renewed determination, I can't help but share in your excitement.

"We can do it," I say with more confidence than I feel. "As long as we work together and stay focused on what's important." I place a hand reassuringly on your shoulder, feeling the warmth of your skin through my gloves. "No matter how far we have to go or how many obstacles stand in our way, I won't let you down. Not again."

For now, rest is what we need; time for our battered bodies and minds to heal so that we can face whatever challenges lie ahead with renewed vigor. And when that time comes, I promise you this: no matter where we end up or what we have to do, we'll find a way to make it work...together.

"I'm nineteen," I reply with a small smile. "Not much older than you." The truth is, it doesn't feel like that big of an age gap when we're in this together; both of us survivors in our own right, trying to make sense of a world gone mad.

For now though, there are more pressing matters at hand: refueling the mech and plotting our course to safety across unfamiliar skies. With Rita by my side, I feel confident that we can face whatever challenges come our way...and maybe even find a place where we can finally rest in peace.

Your determination is inspiring, Rita. Even with your injury, you refuse to give up hope and work towards a solution. I have no doubt that together we can make something work; whether it's an improvised prosthetic or finding another way to navigate the terrain until our mech is fully refueled. We're in this together, and as long as that's true, there's nothing we can't overcome.