Agreed to make bad games, What the Hell is Titan Fall 134

## Chapter 134: Protocol Three: Protect the Pilot

*Sizzle Sizzle Sizzle* — *BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!*

As the BT’s shoulder cannon activated, countless missiles rained down on Sloan, causing her to stumble back repeatedly.

“Damn it!”

A scream echoed through Sloan’s radio:

“You will pay for your recklessness!”

Enemies meeting face to face, their hatred intensifying.

The battle began!

Two Titans, maneuvering through the launch site.

Countless barrages of fire ascended, engulfing the entire area in a blaze.

Explosions filled the air with smoke, and sparks flew everywhere.

Titans colliding, heavy artillery clashing with heavy artillery!

Players held nothing back, all fueled by a burning rage, unleashing their fury on Sloan.

The “Flame Titan” laid down a gas tank, detonating it with a shot, creating a fiery spectacle.

The “Powerful Titan” locked on to Sloan with three bursts from its machine gun, opening the magazine and launching rocket barrages like a rain of arrows.

The “Ion Titan” charged its laser beam, sweeping across the path, a blazing inferno of light, shattering everything in its path.

The “Ronin Titan” wielded its twin swords like dancing dragons, weaving through the void, its blades slashing through a thousand enemies.

The “Beast Titan” danced through the air, nimble and graceful, unleashing a barrage of fire from above.

Finally,

There was also the “Legion” of the streamer Da Xiao Mei.

A revolving machine gun unleashed its full firepower, roaring with fury, automatically targeting, leaving nothing alive in its wake.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

All the players’ anger was unleashed on Sloan like a violent storm.

“AAAAAHHH —!!!”

With screams and massive explosions, Sloan was left in a sorry state, fear etched on her face.

Without any armor, she appeared utterly terrified.

A stark contrast to the Sloan who had executed BT just a moment ago.

“You damn dog!”

Da Xiao Mei had never shown such a ferocious expression!

Her teeth were clenched, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

“Didn’t I tell you, you little punk? Don’t you ever let me catch you again! I swear!”

As she spoke, a majestic prompt appeared in the interfaces of every BT across the globe—

【Flame Core Ready!】

【Rocket Core Ready!】

【Laser Core Ready!】

【Flight Core Ready!】

【Sword Core Ready!】

Da Xiao Mei’s eyes were bloodshot as she stepped forward.

DONG!

“Intelligence Core—!”

“READY!!!”

WHOOSH—

BOOM!!!

Six Titans! Six cores!

At this moment, the figures of players worldwide converged into one.

The blaze of flames, the roar of rockets, the explosive burst of lasers, the release of flight, the slash of blades…

All converging into one!

RUMBLE—BOOM!!!

Sloan’s Titan was blasted to pieces, ripped apart by the flying sparks.

Amidst the blazing flames, Sloan, resembling a charred corpse, no longer held her former arrogance. She screamed, trying to extinguish the flames engulfing her.

However, the BT suddenly took a step forward!

Like a ferocious tiger descending a mountain, or a dragon emerging from the sea!

The colossal revolving machine gun pierced through the cockpit of the blood-red Titan, lifting it into the air!

The monstrous revolving machine gun roared to life!

*THUD THUD THUD*—*WHOOSH*—*BOOM BOOM BOOM*—!!!

Exploding bullets reduced the Titan to a pile of mangled steel, unrecognizable.

The cockpit, with Sloan inside, was obliterated, leaving no trace.

“Die —!!!”

Da Xiao Mei screamed, venting her anger!

A full one hundred and fifty rounds of machine gun fire!

All emptied!

Only now did Da Xiao Mei exhale a breath of relief, her expression fierce.

“爽—!” (爽 means “refreshingly enjoyable” in this context.)

The words hadn’t even left her mouth when a violent tremor shook the ground, and Commander Sarah’s voice boomed through the comm:

“Cooper! The spacetime folding weapon is about to activate! Get the Ark out of there, now!”

“Roger that!”

Da Xiao Mei spoke as she crushed Sloan under her foot, then ran towards the Ark launch mechanism.

This was the most critical moment!

The launcher was like a loaded cannon, and the Ark was the ammunition.

“BT! Get the Ark out!”

Da Xiao Mei controlled the BT, bringing it beneath the launch port, grabbing the ammo bay door with both hands, straining to wrench it open.

At that moment!

*Sizzle*—*THUD!!!*

A deafening explosion echoed!

Da Xiao Mei’s vision went black!

The powerful force hurled her and the BT skyward.

BOOM!

They crashed heavily to the ground, their vision blurry.

“Cooper! BT! Do you copy… What… What happened…?!”

“Cooper! Copy… Please respond!”

“…Please respond!!!”

Sarah’s voice crackled in the comm, her tone broken.

The BT’s quad-screen visual system was also now filled with static.

Confused electronic sounds echoed through Da Xiao Mei’s headset—

【BT: Cooper… Launcher’s… shock… overload… my… internal… internal… systems】

【BT: Attempting to restore… reboot system… visual…】

【BT: Visual system… system restored…】

As the four screens before her flickered back to life, Da Xiao Mei noticed that even after restarting, the BT’s vision was still plagued by double images and color distortions.

But at least it worked.

However, the BT’s main program was not doing so well.

It was as if countless bits of data were clogging his processor, overwhelming him—

【BT: Analyzing… results… show… show… show… ejection… only solution…】

【BT: Warning! Detected… hostile Titan…】

Before the words were out,

Heavy footsteps pounded the ground.

Seeing who it was, Da Xiao Mei’s heart sank.

It was Lao Zei.

And his imposing, heavy Legion Titan!

This guy was a real pain in the neck.

DONG!

Sam jumped off his Titan, crouching before the BT’s visual system.

Through the BT’s visual system, Sam looked at Da Xiao Mei for a few seconds before laughing, his voice laced with approval and recognition:

“You’re lucky today, hero. I never work for free,”

As he spoke, Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out a card.

On the card, a red vertical banner was printed, featuring four large, metallic letters—APEX.

Below the letters, a white skull with ram’s horns was spray-painted on the flag.

Under the skull, there was a string of blurry sixteen-digit serial numbers.

“Call me sometime, you deserve this, good luck.”

PUM PUM!

Sam clapped BT’s shield and walked away.

“Whew—”

Da Xiao Mei let out a sigh of relief as she watched Sam leave.

She was just about to take a closer look at the card when a gust of wind blew it away.

The BT’s voice echoed again, still a bit confused, repeating, “Ejection is the only solution.”

“BT, BT, are you alright?”

Da Xiao Mei gently tapped the BT’s cockpit.

A series of random characters flickered across the screen.

Right in the middle, the BT was forcibly executing a full system reboot—

【Executing emergency reboot…】

【Transferring backup power…】

【Auxiliary power system online】

【Detecting neural connection…】

【BT: Cooper, help… me… enter… that… launch… assembly… bay… my… automatic… navigation… system… disconnected… nected…】

【BT: Need… need… need… to… get… the… Ark… We… need… to… work… together…】

“Okay!”

Da Xiao Mei responded, her voice grave.

Having lost the automatic navigation system, Da Xiao Mei had to focus all her mental energy, using precise controls to bring the BT back to its feet.

“Cooper!”

Sarah’s voice crackled back into the comm:

“Our external attacks on the Ark are ineffective. You’ll need to find a way to destroy it from the inside. We’re on our way to your location now!”

Before Da Xiao Mei could speak,

The BT spoke first—

【Commander Sarah, I have a plan】

【If my reactor core is exposed, it might destabilize the Ark】

*Sizzle*—

“What? BT?”

Sarah seemed to have missed what he said.

【We… can… I… can… detonate it】

The BT said,

【I’ll… I’ll… I’ll… transmit coordinates…】

Detonate?

As a mournful orchestral melody swelled in the background,

Da Xiao Mei was momentarily stunned.

Then, she couldn’t help but wonder, even at a time like this, the BT was still trying to crack a joke.

Detonate.

To put it bluntly, it was a plan for them to self-destruct, taking the Ark with them.

At that moment, Da Xiao Mei felt a bit lightheaded.

To her surprise, she didn’t feel any fear.

It seemed that, unknowingly, she had already grown into a great hero who could face sacrifice without fear.

Meanwhile, Sarah was still asking them through the comm:

“Detonate the Ark? What about you two?”

After a moment of silence, the BT’s voice sounded:

【I’ve run the calculations. Trust me】

Hearing this, Da Xiao Mei gave a slight smile.

She patted the BT’s cockpit,

“I gotta say, that’s a pretty good dark joke. Are you calculating how much we’ll be blown to bits?”

The launch bay door slowly closed, trapping her and BT with the Ark.

Da Xiao Mei took a deep breath.

In the face of death, she felt no fear.

Her previous vow echoed in her mind: 【Once I become a Pilot, I want to be truly deserving of the title】

Now,

I guess I can call myself a true Pilot.

Gradually, tears welled up in Da Xiao Mei’s eyes, a mixture of joy, sadness, fear, passion, thrill, and excitement.

A week, in the grand scheme of life, wasn’t much.

But the fall of Titan gave her a rollercoaster ride of a hero’s epic journey, filled with ups and downs and thrilling moments.

The sacrifice of a hero is inevitable.

But being able to go with BT, her old friend who had fought alongside her this entire time,

Brought her a sense of peace.

*DA DA DA*—*WHOOSH*—

As the launch bay energy indicator lit up section by section,

Da Xiao Mei’s breathing became increasingly rapid.

The Ark was just outside the launch bay port, emitting a dazzling blue light.

The display screen showed the protocols she knew by heart—

【Vanguard-Class Titan: BT-7274】

【Primary Protocols】

The BT’s voice sounded,

Da Xiao Mei spoke along with him.

【Protocol One: Connect Pilot】

【Protocol Two: Uphold Mission】

The charging sounds from her ears became more urgent, and Da Xiao Mei couldn’t suppress the emotions that were now surging within her.

Tears ran down her cheeks, but she still comforted BT in the most tender voice.

Before, you always took care of me.

This time, it’s my turn to tell you.

“Don’t worry, BT, I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here, trust me…”

【Roger that, Cooper】

The BT’s voice was as steady, strong, and reassuring as always.

*WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH*—!!!

The energy indicator was nearing full capacity!

But the familiar Protocol Three was still nowhere to be seen.

There was no time to think—

*THUD*—!!!

The launcher suddenly activated!

Da Xiao Mei felt a powerful thrust, propelling her and the BT towards the Ark!

Amidst the dazzling brilliance!

Orange letters finally appeared on the display screen.

Simultaneously, the BT’s voice sounded—

【Protocol Three: Protect Pilot】

*Sizzle*—

The hatch abruptly opened!

A blinding light streamed in.

Suddenly, BT’s hand reached in, grabbing Da Xiao Mei!

Da Xiao Mei instantly understood what was happening. She tried to grab the cockpit with both hands!

“What are you…!”

“What are you doing, BT!!!”

However, as a mere flesh-and-blood human, she couldn’t possibly fight the BT’s strength.

In an instant, Da Xiao Mei was lifted into BT’s palm.

She reached out to grab the BT,

But then she saw BT turning his head to look at her.

*Sizzle*—*CLICK*!

Just like before.

Just like countless times before.

BT raised his thumb, winking at her.

Then he clenched his fist, making a resolute gesture!

【BT: Trust me】

The next second!

*WHOOSH*—!!!

Da Xiao Mei’s body was hurled out of the reactor.

But BT’s body was inexorably drawn towards the Ark!

【I’m BT-7274, Vanguard-class Titan, you can call me BT…】

That was when she first met BT.

【It’s good to see you again, Pilot…】

That was their joyful reunion at the water treatment plant.

【Pilot, I think we should stop taking shortcuts…】

That was BT’s adorable remark after they got separated.

【I got you…】

That was at the signal tower, BT’s hand reaching out when she was about to fall.

【I decline, Cooper is my Pilot…】

That was when BT stubbornly stood his ground against the commander.

【Protocol Three: I will not lose another Pilot…】

That was on the Sky-Titan, BT shielding her with his life.

【Hey, Jack】

That was BT’s friendly greeting upon his return.

Why…

Didn’t we just reunite?

One memory after another flashed before her eyes!

They traversed the boundless canyons, the treacherous water treatment plant, the mystical past and future, the towering signal tower, the perilous journey through the Sky-Titan.

Every time BT ejected her, he would make a resolute gesture with his fist.

【Trust me】

At that moment!

Da Xiao Mei finally understood the true meaning of those three words.

BT didn’t want her to believe that they could complete those seemingly impossible tasks through all sorts of methods.

He meant—

【Trust me】

【I will always uphold Protocol Three】

【Forever, I will protect you】

【Goodbye, Pilot】

【Goodbye, Cooper】

“B—T—!!!”

A blinding white light exploded from the Ark.

A colossal blast echoed across the cosmos!

RUMBLE—BOOM!!!

The brilliant white light erupted from the Ark’s core.

BT’s final ejection, not a moment too soon, flung her clear of the explosion.

Everything around her instantly blurred, twisted, and disintegrated.

Just like the emotions of all the players.

Only now did everyone realize—

Why, even with his host system malfunctioning, the BT kept repeating, “Ejection is the only solution.”

Why, even when their survival seemed impossible, the BT still said, “I’ve run the calculations. Trust me.”

That wasn’t his dark humor.

He never let his Pilots’ trust in him be in vain.

Not once.

At this moment!

Every player’s livestream went silent.

…

…

When the dust settled!

Commander Sarah’s ship arrived in time, activating a jump drive at the very last moment before Typhon exploded, saving them.

As the darkness slowly dissipated,

The players saw Harmony in the distance.

It looked just like the Earth in reality.

Peaceful, tranquil, beautiful.

The rebel fleet marched forward in a grand procession.

The war wasn’t over, and Cooper would continue to fight for their home.

“We destroyed Typhon, and our home, Harmony, is safe,”

“Sarah says she’ll place me in the Raider Legion, to keep fighting for our home,”

“Yes, I’m now a legendary Pilot,”

Cooper’s voice echoed, his magnetic tone as if he had experienced a lifetime of hardship:

“They said I’d get a new Titan,”

“But first, they’ll sever the neural connection between me and BT.”

“I don’t know how it’ll feel to have a new Titan, I kinda liked my old one.”

As he spoke, Cooper looked towards the distance.

The direction of the now-destroyed Typhon, where he and BT had fought.

His words were both a confession and a soliloquy.

Originally, this was where Cooper’s log was supposed to end.

But thanks to Lao Zei’s kindness, he gave the players some extra time to write down what they wanted to say to BT—

【You said you wouldn’t lose another Pilot, but I lost you twice in one day】

【If I could, I’d still ask you to throw me around a bit】

【Beneath those flat, monotonous synthesized tones was a loyal and reliable companion, I could trust him with my back, and he’d respond with a calm voice, saying, “Trust me”】

【If I could, I’d ask you to tell me another dark joke…】

【Hey, BT, remember that time we compared thumbs? I’d love to see that again…】

【If I could choose again, I wouldn’t want to be found by Lastimosa…】

【Over countless years to come, I may eventually forget the Fall of Titan, but I’ll never forget that I had a friend named BT-7274, a Vanguard-class Titan…】

【I miss you, BT】

【Goodbye, BT】

【This is legendary Pilot Jack Cooper, paying my respects, brother】

【Ending call】

*DA DA DA*… *DA DA*…

The Pilot helmet flickered a few times.

Finally, silence descended.

The screen displayed the Golden Wind logo once more.

A mournful symphony played—

【Golden Wind — Presents】

【Titanfall】

Title card retrieved!

The players remained silent.

Today, for the gaming community, was a sleepless night.

The media was abuzz, competitors were shocked, and fellow game developers were in awe!

Of course!

The ones who couldn’t sleep the most!

Were the countless gamers and countless “TV drama” viewers!

They were busy.

They were very busy.

They were busy wiping tears from their cheeks, then channeling all their pent-up frustration and anger into every corner of the internet related to Golden Wind, directly to the face of that little brat, Gu Sheng!

You damn dog!

You better sleep with one eye open!

【Keyboard Core Ready!】

Tonight’s goal!

Destroy that little jerk, Gu Sheng!!!

——

PS: I’m breaking the rules today, no delay! Early update, please vote for me!

(End of Chapter)

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