Angels and Fire

The sound of metal scraping and grinding cut through the silence of the forest. All around animals scattered in panic, trying to escape the noise. The metal scrapping was followed by a deep whirring, and several loud pops, that sounded like gunshots. The sound's belonged to a massive engine, that was now currently backfiring, as it failed to function properly. Something in the intake manifold, an issue with a lack of engine coolant, and several warped heads in the main engine block would ensure that the mechanical beast, that relied on the engine wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Despite the Engine failure Abigale was still pushing the machine, in a desperate attempt to get it moving again. With the loud screech of more metal, grinding, one of the massive legs lifted into the air, taking one mighty step, that seemed to shake the earth. As soon, as the leg came crashing down into the soft earth, an alarm sounded and they system itself powered down. Steam erupted from several vents, both inside the pit, and outside the vehicle. The alarm continued to sound as Abigale began reactivating the tattered systems to confirm the damage. She yelled out over the sound of the alarm, cursing loudly as she kicked at the lower console until it erupted to life again. "Goddamned piece of shit." Her voice was full of frustration and anger.

A fire had started under the left leg coupling, and it threatened to reach the main reactor if she didn't get it under control. She had been lucky enough to have purchased a few chemical fire extinguishers just in case something like this happened, but they were all outside of the cockpit, meaning she would need to hop out and run over to them.

Abigail did just that, opening the cockpit, and dropping to the ground with a grunt. She was cursing loudly as she ran to grab the extinguishers and carry them back. She could feel the heat, radiating off the rig itself. The exhaust vents had melted during re-entry, and she had ruptured her coolant line and lost all of the coolant designed for this thing. She had been trying local engine coolants, but the rig boiled them off too quick. That's why the fire started, it was just simply too hot. "fuckin damn garbage piece of shit Machine... Why are you trying to make my life hard" She screamed in frustration as she activated an extinguisher to try and get the flames under control.

A moment later a new fire had cropped up under the right leg coupling. "Your doing this on purpose... I fuckin know you are..." She continued to scream at the machine in frustration.

@Kadakism

Abigale continued to curse as she let loose another blast from the extinguisher trying to get the flames under control. Ever since she had crashed onto this rock she had had nothing but problems. Her entire existence was challenged, everything she knew was in conflict, and now her goddamned machine refused to work without bursting into flame. She was a brilliant mechanic, but here, with salvaged scrap, and limited equipment, she could only work so much. Angels made miracles, not her.

In an attempt to keep herself occupied, she had joined the local police force and now spent much time at the academy, training to become an officer of the law. It had been a good distraction, but given that every night she would return here to sleep in the cockpit of her machine, she was always brought back to the reality that she was failing rather harshly. It was all becoming very frustrating.

Maybe it was the alarm or the roar of the fire extinguisher, but she hadn't heard Saeta's approach. So when she heard that sweet, yet firm voice ask if she needed help, Abigale jumped a little. She turned sharply, not sure what to expect from her, and stood in silence for a moment. Saeta was only a bit taller than her, but she had wings. Was this an angel? A small angel? The wings were a dead give away, so soft, and beautiful looking... Abigale gave her head a shake to clear her thoughts and nodded. "Yeah... Grab the extinguisher, pull the pin, point the nozzle at the fire and squeeze the trigger." Normally she would have protested an angels help, but if the fires reached the engine core, there would be a crater where they now stood.

After she gave her instructions, she turned and loosed another blast from the extinguisher.

Abigale was surprised at how quickly Saeta responded to her orders. The angel had wasted no time in grabbing an extinguisher and taking to the air to control the flames from above. Chemical fire retardant rained down like snow, as the flames began to succumb. Abigale continued her assault from below, dousing the flames closest to the core, and trying to prevent them from spreading any further.

Before long her extinguisher had emptied. It was at this point that she noticed Saeta smothering the remaining flames with a cloak. they had both emptied a full can each and were just managing to get things under control. Had the angel not been there, this could have been a disaster. She grabbed the last fire extinguisher, and for the next few moments, walked around the rig, putting out the smaller fires that had erupted. A fuel line here, a grass fire there, nothing too bad.

Once everything had settled she sighed with great frustration, as she gave the leg of the machine a swift kick. "Pieceofshitmachine..." She muttered to herself. this was a common thing for her, to yell at and otherwise degrade her rig. back home she had often been asked why she didn't get a different one if she hated it so much. The truth was, she loved this rig, and the abuse was more a way for her to vent her own frustrations at everything else. The machine was not so sensitive so as to take offense to her rants and raves, and that suited her just fine.

Now though she needed to deal with her newest ally in the war on smoking craters and fire. The angel. Out of all the people, she had expected to find here, and an angel was not one of them. Back home they had often stayed away, defending heaven from the demons, and otherwise ignoring mankind altogether. She had come to see them as useless. This one, though, seemed to be different, not just in size but in attitude.

the Salute really through Abigale through a loop, as she had never in her life expected an angel to salute her, at least that's what she thought it was. regardless she was a soldier and she would show respect where it was due. Placing the fire extinguisher down, she stood sharply at attention and brought her hand up to her forehead in a salute. "Lieutenant Abigale Hunter. GeneMod 031. Mechanized cavalry" She sounded off smartly before bringing her hand back down.

"I appreciate your help. this could have gone a lot differently if you hadn't have arrived when you did."

Abigale couldn't help but smile when Saeta remarked that she had never seen such a weapon. It made her proud to know that her's was the only one here. Sure there were other machines she had seen. robots, and battle suits, but her mech was one of a kind. Its purpose was destruction, and she had used it to it's fullest potential. "I'm not surprised. My rig is top of the line. Even back home there was only a handful like her. Heavily armored, highly mobile, and enough firepower to make god blink." She snickered a little.

Now, though, the conversation had drifted in a direction that Abigale was all too familiar with. Her height. she gave a small sigh and looked at the angel before speaking. Suddenly she had remembered just how small Saeta was too. "Short? Your one to talk eh?" She had a coy grin on her lips and placed her hands on her hips as she spoke. "I spose you're right, though. I am human. but, I'm more of a perfect human. It's hard to explain, but I was made to be a better human than the rest of humankind." She knew how conceited it sounded to describe herself like that, but it was the exact truth of the matter. It was why she was made. "course, somewhere along the lines someone fucked up, and I came up short. Out of a hundred of us, I'm the only one under five foot."

She wasn't self-conscious about her height. Sure people liked to poke fun at her, or question her, or even refer to her as a child. Truth of the matter was she could bench-press four hundred pounds, and run faster than any of em. Short was a small price to pay for being superior in every other way.

As she stood looking Saeta over, a new thought occurred to her. Saeta had introduced herself as a weapon bearer. and even saluted like a soldier might. this meant that she had to be a warrior angel. "Wait, wait, wait. Are you... are you a Valkyrie?" Abigale had a sudden look of awe and disbelief as she spoke. If Saeta was a Valkyrie that was a big deal. All of her life Abigale had been taught that the greatest reward in life was to die in glorious battle. Then and only then the Valkyrie would come and take the fallen soldier to Valhalla.

"Does this mean that I am dead? Are you here to take me to Valhalla?" She had thought she had died when she arrived, and it had caused her to act in a questionable way. Now, though, in the presence of an angel that she was sure was a Valkyrie she was certain she had died. Strangely enough she looked excited.

For a moment Abigale could only stare back at Saeta. Her disappointment not quite evident on her face, but certainly in her lack of response. Not a Valkyrie? And she was still Alive? It was hard for her to really place how she felt about everything. Being dead would have explained so much more, and would have made everything else easier to swallow. She would have a proper reason for why things were so messed up here, and why the people were so kind. Also, the presence of a Valkyrie would have meant she had earned her place in Valhalla. She would live forever and be regarded as a brave warrior. The labors of her life would have all been worth it.

After a few quiet moments, she nodded her head. That was also the point she noticed the angels hand on her chest. A small blush crept across her cheeks. She wasn't sure why, though. The angel was not making a sexual advance on her like some of the people here had. And it's not like she was opposed to such advances. But this was different. This touch was not like any before. It wasn't like comrades congratulating each other. It wasn't like perverts trying to get off. It was, friendly, kind, warm even.

"forgive me. We are taught from a young age, that death in battle is the greatest honor we can have. And that when we manage glorious death, we are taken by the Valkyrie..." She paused for a second, thinking about how best to explain what a Valkyrie is. "They are angels, and they circle the battlefields and carry off those who die heroic deaths, to the great halls of Valhalla. There, we live forever in glory." She paused again, watching for a reaction from Saeta.

"forgive me for mistaking you. I had simply been excited at the prospect of finally having my time, that I hastily made an assumption."