It has been a month since I got out of hospital, and there I was standing among ranks of soldiers in uniform in the middle of a supersized hanger. Apparently this hanger was part of a secret air base used during the Shadow Wars, and was located somewhere on the outskirts of Ayre. I had been blindfolded on the way in, but I can always check with Rin to be certain.

"Over the past one month, the rebels have conducted 14 terrorist attacks within the borders of the Hundred Kingdoms." Rojin said as he walked back and forth with his arms crossed behind his back.

"Their hideout is now confirmed to be located within Rochan's pass. Soul Steel, the S rank criminal is believed to have sided with the rebels. Men, this will not be an easy fight. Many of you may lose your lives. There is no good sugar coating the fact, in a battle, people die."

He paused for a moment before he continued.

"Men, I know you have all come from different nations all over the world, but regardless of your personal belief and religion I ask you all a personal favour; stay alive. As your commander, it is my duty to see all of you return alive. All of you are the most valuable and irreplaceable strength of the nation."
He paused and adjusted his glasses;

"Stay alive. And that is you're first and final order!"

The soldiers around looked up and stood a little taller.

"MEN! MOVE OUT!" Rojin planted his sheath on the ground and saluted.

"YES SIR!" we shouted in one union and returned the salute.

"Then I officially announce, operation Cold Steel II, start!"

***

The helicopter ride took about 8 hours as we landed on an empty airfield near Rochan's pass. When we arrived, the sun was already dyed crimson.

"I want the camp set up before dusk, or else you are all dead meat! Dismissed!" Isa barked out orders.

"Yes sir!" I saluted in one union with the rest of the squad, then went on my way.

"Fresh meat." Isa voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Yes sir?" I slowly turned around.

"Listen clearly, I want you to respect your peers, especially your elderly peers. They been through more, and never engage in a fight with them. Do you understand fresh meat?"

I understood that well enough. If it had been anyone besides Isa who said it, I would have just called them annoying. But I held back, since I wanted to keep my tongue.

"Yes sir."

"Now go fresh meat." She said, her expression unreadable.

I saluted then turned and ran to catch up with the rest of the squad.

***

It was morning, the sun was cold, but bright.

"You!" Isa pointed to one of the soldiers, "go check and set up the kitchen supplies!"

"Yes sir!" he saluted, then ran off.

"You!" Isa pointed to another person, "go see if the tires for the keep are inflated!"

"Yes sir!" he saluted, then ran off.

"You, you, you and you!" Isa pointed at several more people as if counting numbers, "I want the four of you to unload the crates from the helicopter and bring them here."

"Anything for you babe!"

We all turned our heads towards the owner of the voice. He appeared to be in his early twenties and stood about 7ft tall. He had a strong muscular build, bright red hair spouting from his head like fire and wore a white bandana wrapped around his forehead. He wore the same green camo coat and pants that I did, along with same black combat boots, everything was the same, expect everything about him was super sized.

"What is your name?" Isa forehead creased, and I could tell at that point, someone is going to get hurt, really, really...bad.

"Rumble Ajkin! And I gotta say that's some nice curves you got their sir!"

There was a lot of hooting and whistling in the background, but one glance from Isa and the world became silent again.

"Did you just call me BABE?" Isa bore her eyes like deadly drills into Rumble, which he seemed to completely ignore.

"Oh, you didn't like it? I will just call you honey then, my favourite foo..."
Before he even had the chance to finish the last syllable, Isa upper cut punch contacted Rumble's lower jaw, causing the sound of a shattered bone and shattered syllable at the same time.
We looked away from the bleeding and lifeless body of him, and our entire squad stood more disciplined then ever.

"Fresh meat, I want you to fill his position."

It took me a moment to realize she was talking to me, and in panic I replied:

"Yes sir!"

"The 4 of you, go!"

We didn't need to be yelled at further, we saluted and scurried away as fast as we could. After running halfway across the compound, the four of us gradually slowed to a walk.

"Damn! She's scary." The first guy to comment was a dark-skinned guy in his early twenties, and since there was this rhythming tune in his voice. He looked like a DJ.

"She reminds me of my sister." The next guy said this with a tremor in his voice. He was a head taller than me and had mop of blond hair. He was in his mid twenties. But because how soft he talks; I was going to call him Big Ted.

"But dam, she's hot!" DJ boy repeated.
"She called the rest of us 'you', but she called you 'fresh meat' and you responded." it only took me a moment to realize the voice was directed at me.
The man who asked was the only one shorter than me in the group and appeared to be around my age, he wore glasses and one could say his head was almost bald, so I was going to call him Baldie.

"So what's the relationship between you two?" Baldie raised a brow.

"OMG, please don't tell me that's your girlfriend!" DJ boy piped in.

"Is she?" Big Ted asked curiously.

"Don't get too hyped guys, she's just sort of like my personal coach." I answered.

"Phew. Wait, is she single? Please let her be single, please let her be single..." DJ boy blabbered.

"Coach? I thought we all get the same training, how come you deserve special?" Baldie leaned forward, and by then we all stopped in our tracks.
To answer his question, I raised my arm and let them have a good look of my left hand.

"Hey, my bro has one of those too!" DJ boy said to himself.

"I never seen a type like this before..." Ted leaned forward for a closer look.
"A metal hand? What's so impressive about that?" Baldie snickered. Feeling the need to prove myself, I rolled up the rest of my left arm. The three stared for a moment then went silent.

Feeling oddly satisfied, yet insecure, I resumed walking pace until a voice halted me:

"Out of the way scrubs, the real man is comin through."

All four of us turned to newcomer. It was none other Rumble, the man knocked out by Isa. He was up and walking again lifting a huge metal crate in his hands. Normally guys would get pissed off and start a fight. But, he was an intimidating mass of muscle; the rest made way for him as all they could do was glare. But not me.

"Say that again douche bag, I am going to put your ass down right here." I said, standing right in his path.

The place went as silent as a tomb. Rumble lowered his head for moment setting down his crate then kicked it to one side. When he looked up again, he wore a wild, crazed grin.

"I thought the army didn't allow brats, you should go back to sucking at your momma's nipples!" he let out an mocking laugh, accompanied by several men around.

Triggered, I threw my coat on the ground and kicked it aside.

"Oh! A metal arm! The brat thinks he's special!" To prove some sort of point, Rumble stuffed his glove into his pocket then threw off his coat, then things became clear; his right arm was made of steel. A few major differences between of our arms: his was painted red; mine was a blend of grey and white; his was much larger and bulky; mine was lighter and slender.

"Still think you're a special brat?" he snickered.

"Shut the hell up!" I shouted. My face was flushed; it was a hot day.

"Ho? Alright then, little brat wants to fight! But don't run to mommy!" He supported his taunt by making a bunch of baby noises. Several of the men laughed, as more people gathered forming a circle.

"I will kill you..." I said, though I wasn't sure he heard it or not, because of the noise the crowd was generating, but that moment the look in his eyes changed, as he stopped taunting all at once, as he shifted into a fighting stance.

"Alright, don't cry when I..."

Without warning, I stuck at him, aiming for his gut.

He is much bigger than me, and is most likely a much more experienced fighter, but he doesn't know about my robotic legs, which will be my biggest advantage. The elemental of surprise is still on my side, there is a chance!
The moment I felt my fist connecting with his gut, there was the sense of pounding packed meat. His abs were hard, but was no where near Isa's. I looked up and saw an expression of surprise in his eyes, as he fell back one step.

In a fury, Rumble reached out and tried to grab hold of me; I nimbly side stepped behind him. Seeing the chance, I sent a quick jab towards his thigh, which successful got a wail out of him.
Now all I got to do is grab his wrist and pin it down with my knee...

While the thought floated in my head, I managed to grab hold of one of his flailing wrists; but, the second I grabbed hold and thought I won, his hand in awkward backwards position, managed to grab my wrist in reverse. Next thing I knew, my world was flipped 180 degrees, and my entire body was thrown to the ground. I didn't even have time to register the situation as Rumble's body slammed on top of me, along the sharp edge of his elbow jabbing into my rib cage, pain erupted through my ribs, pulsing with every heartbeat. Sealing any potential comeback, Rumble pinned my right arm down with an iron grip. I looked up and saw Rumble's face, his eyes were now resembled more of feral beast rather than a human.
Struggling, I reached up with my left arm and dug my fingers into his face, and the more I pushed the more it seemed to be workings, as his elbow pin loosened and his face furthered from mine. I began to lose strength and I felt my hand pushed back, the pressure on my chest increasing. All around me the crowd cheered and hooted, and I swore I saw a few gripping tight onto the cash in their hands. Moments passed, and it became obvious my stamina was reaching its limit, the world began to fade. I didn't care about the fight anymore, I just wanted out.

Curses...

Rumble's wide grin was the last thing I saw, before his face crashed into mine.
My world went black, again.

Q: Have you broken any bones before?