3rd person POV:
On the shoulder of the gears, Yn and Cynthia began talking as they made their way to the cave.
Yn: What do you think is powering it?
Cynthia: Powering what?
Yn: The thing heating the meteor. I'm no super genius, but I know whatever is heating the meteor has to be man-made.
Yn: There's no natural thing that could do this.
Cynthia: True, but until we confirm it, everything is on the table.
Yn: Even aliens?
Cynthia: Thought your money was on, man-made machine?
Yn: I think it's a man-made machine. I hope it's aliens, that would be so swick.
Yn: Oh, or maybe it's some kind of Aztec space ship?
Cynthia: Were the Aztecs in the space race?
Yn: I think so, they had something to do with space.
Arriving at the "cave" which was really a hole going diagonally down, the group entered it to see what was inside.
Going deeper into the cave, everyone began feeling this intense heat.
Cynthia: Ugh... Whatever is down there is definitely connected to the source of the heat.
Pilot:(coms) At the rate the heat is rising, we're going to have to turn back. Our Gears aren't meant to handle these kinds of temperatures.
Cynthia:... Fine, let's turn back for now.
Yn: What? I can keep going.
Cynthia: Yn-
Yn: I can do it on my own if you want.
He leaps off the Gear and floats down the cave.
Cynthia: Tch, damn it... Never mind, we're going as down as we can. Yn get back here!
Not listening, Yn goes further down the cave, ahead of everyone.
As he looks at the walls of the cave, he notices how it looked like something shot out from whatever is at the end of the cave.
Yn could only guess some kind of laser, perhaps that's what caused Helios to fly out of the sun?
He didn't know, all he could do is continuing onwards, despite the heat that was increasing.
Powering further down, Yn eventually entered an opening despite the others who had already begun to retreat.
The heat began dying down as Yn found something strange which he didn't expect.
In the opening, encased in stone was Gear.
(Gear of Helios)
Yn: A Gear?
Yn: Yeah, I don't think the Aztecs had any of those...
Through the camera on his helmet, the Captain was able to see the Gear.
Jacklin:(coms) Good work, Direx.
The others of his group then arrived and together they began inspecting the Gear.
Cynthia: Don't run off like that, again, got it?
Yn: Hey, no harm no foul.
Cynthia: There will be harm after I shove my foot-
Jacklin:(coms) Cynthia, what have we found?
Cynthia: I don't know. The damn scanner says it at least 100 years old but look at it.
Yn: Its design is nothing like what you would see a hundred years ago.
Cynthia: Exactly. Its design is akin to modern-day Gears.
Jacklin:(coms) A Gear in a meteor that flew out of the sun... I'm more concerned with why is a Gear here than how it looks.
Jacklin:(coms) Is it operational?
Yn: Uhhh...(inspects gear)
Cynthia: We're working on that part...
Yn: Hmm...
(Punch)
Cynthia: Did you seriously punch it?
Yn: You have an any better idea?
Cynthia: Yes. Don't punch the giant robot.
(Kick)
Cynthia: Okay, you did that to piss me off-
(Shhhhhhh)
Everyone:!?
Steam began escaping from the gear, as the middle section of its chest opened up, revealing the entrance to the cockpit.
Without hesitation, they rushed up to the entrance to the cockpit and looked inside to see an empty room.
There were no buttons, no levers, no pedals, or anything in between. It was just an empty space, with glass-like panels lining the walls.
Cynthia: What the...?
Yn: Maybe it's an incomplete Gear?
Cynthia: Or, it's completely reliant on the link system...?
Pilot: I doubt it, there are no harnesses or anything. Even if the link system supported full mind control, any pilot would be sent falling after the gear took one step.
Cynthia: So whoever made it was not the best at design choices...
Pilot: Let me try and see if I can get this thing running.
Cynthia: Be careful.
Pilot: Of course.
Entering the cockpit, the entrance shuts, making everyone jump back.
Yn: What the stardust is going on?
Silence then overtook the group before the entrance to the cockpit reopened.
Red mist floated out of the cockpit as everyone looked inside to find the pilot that went in was now gone.
Everyone:!?
Pilot 2: Where did he go?
Pilot 3: Gerry?
They approach the cockpit.
Yn: Hey wait a minute-
Two more pilots enter the cockpit which such behind them. A few moments pass before it re-opens whilst red steam came out of it.
Those two pilots that went to investigate instead, were now gone as well.
Yn:!?
Cynthia: Okay, no one else is entering the Gear! Understood!?
Everyone: Yes, ma'am!
Yn:(mind) Did they just...
Putting two and two together, it seemed the three pilots that entered the Gear were now dead.
Without getting inside the Helios Gear, what remained of the group lifted this mysterious Gear out of the cave with their own gears.
Exiting the cave they then brought it back to the S.S Dawn, where it was loaded into the second hanger bay, separate from the one which held the other Gears.
Now secured to a wall, with three walkway bridges going across it like horizontal prison bars, they began examining the Gear.
After a day, Captain Trudian and her first mate were on a balcony in hanger bay 2, discussing the gear as Yn helped one of the engineers examine it by giving them the tools they requested.
Jacklin: So what do we know about it?
Cynthia: Not much. The substance it's encased in, is making it difficult to see the inner workings of it.
Cynthia: They have to shove their faces and cameras against it to get blurry images.
Cynthia: We might be able to get a better idea if we went inside, but no one is willing.
Cynthia: Drones also disappear once inside.
Cynthia: And searching for Gear models came up empty as well. No known Gears match its design.
Jacklin: So what's covering the gear?
Cynthia: I don't know that either, just that it's the same material as the meteor.
Cynthia: And before you ask, we don't know what the metal is. It seems to be carbon-based, we need more time to figure that out.
Jacklin:(sigh)...
Jacklin: Prepare the Dawn to leave. If possible, we'll tow Helios back.
Cynthia: Roger.
With the expedition done, the crew of the S.S Dawn began heading back towards Earth with Helios.
After his shift ended, Yn went to his room where he began thinking about how they lost three pilots to that gear.
Tired, Yn drifted to sleep.
Yn: Zzzzz...
(Explosion in the distance)
(Ship rumbling)
(Alarms blaring)
Yn:?!
Waking up, Yn heard the captain's voice on the intercoms.
Jacklin:(intercom) Battle stations! Immediately! We're being attacked!
Yn: What!?
Jacklin:(intercom) This is not a drill! Repeat! This is not a drill-
(Explosion in the distance)
Putting on his clothes, Yn rushed out of his room just as the gravity was turned off on the ship.
Yn:(mind) Who the hell would attack a U.S.R.A.P.U vessel?!
On the way to the stairs, Yn noticed black humanoid drones with guns. They were obviously not apart of the Dawn's crew.
Shooting at Yn, they attempt to kill him, but he manages to get inside the staircase before they do.
Locking it, Yn quickly made his way to the upper floors when he saw smoke coming from the lower floors.
Yn: I wanted a space adventure, but this isn't what I expected... On my first trip.
Yn: This ought to keep my mind busy.
Yn tried to find a way to his station but checking the damage report of the ship on his watch, he found his station to be blown to bits.
Yn: Thank stardust the manual says report to my superiors in case something like this...
Eventually, he arrived on the floor where the bridge resided. He decided to go there, to see how he could be of help.
Seeing a few drones trying to break into the bridge, Yn knew he couldn't run.
Yn:(mind) Looks like I get to beat up some pirate drones!
In the bridge itself, the captain and her mates prepared to attack the assailants who were attempting to break in, but when they heard several loud knocks against the door, they checked the camera to see Yn had knocked out the attackers.
Yn:(coms) Can I come in? My station has a large hole in it.
Allowing him entry, Yn gets into the bridge before they close the door behind him.
Inside the Bridge, Yn saw Cynthia, the captain, and the other mates.
(Second mate: Ron Tango)
(Third mate: Juliet Julia)
Yn: So what's going on?
Cynthia: We're being attacked.
Yn: By who?
Cynthia: No idea. All we know is that there is a lot of them.
Cynthia: They have a warship, a small army of Gears, and they have invaded our ship, killing everyone on sight.
(Kaboom)
Ron: Hanger bay 1 just suffered a large beam attack. Our remaining gears in reserve are destroyed.
Jacklin: Tch... Where is my backup!?
Juliet: There's no one! I'm getting no response.
Jacklin: Great, they're jamming us!
Yn: What do they want?
Jacklin: The meteor and the Gear probably.
Jacklin: They've already hooked it to their vessel and they're currently learning the price of entering the gear.
Pilot:(coms) GHAAA!
Juliet: Another Gear down!
Yn: What do we do?
Jacklin: Hope for a miracle, because no matter what we do, we are doomed if no one saves us.
Yn:...
Looking at the Helios gear, Yn knew that gear was probably their only hope.
Ron: Three gears are left standing on our side.
Yn: What if we... What if we gave them what they wanted, in the most extreme way?
Jacklin:?
Yn: We take the Gear and use it to fight back.
Cynthia: But we can't pilot it.
Yn: There has to be a way to pilot it. Otherwise, what's the point of making a Gear you can't pilot?
Cynthia: Still we don't know, how.
Yn: We can at least try!
Jacklin:(sigh)... Go ahead.
Cynthia: Captain?!
Jacklin: He is of no use to me. If he wishes to try to pilot that machine, then let him.
Jacklin: All we can do is hope that his death is painless.
Yn: With what you just said... I'm now really motivated to prove you wrong!
Jacklin: Heh...Prove me wrong and I'll marry you.
Yn: Sorry, but I'm not interested in old women that give up so easily. I'll take you making me an ace pilot instead.
With that said, Yn runs out of the bridge, Cynthia unable to stop him, nor follow.
Cynthia: Tch...
Cynthia:(mind) You're going to get yourself killed, idiot... But at this rate...all I can ask is that you don't suffer...
Making his way to Hanger Bay 2 with some trial and error, Yn was now behind a corner, staring at a few of the invaders that were trying to pilot the gear.
Seeing the cockpit open, letting red steam leak out of it, Yn couldn't help but stare, with the memories of the three pilots entering it flashing through his mind.
Yn:(mind)... Who cares if this might not work!?
Yn:(mind) I already said I'd do it, so all there is left to do is see it through to the end!
Seeing the emergency intercom speaker on the wall, he opened it and began shouting through the intercom system.
Yn:(intercom) HEY CYNTHIA! IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, OPEN HANGER BAY 2, NOW!!
With that said, he makes a break for the Gear as all the invaders look confused.
As he got closer to the gear, the invaders noticed him, but he was unfazed, leaping towards the gear, the invaders began to aim their weapons at him until the hanger bay doors opened.
Air began escaping the bay, sucking everyone out of the hangar bay, whilst Yn held on to the gear.
Yn: Thanks, Cynthia!
Climbing into the cockpit which closes behind him, Yn began looking around to see how to activate it.
The cockpit began heating up exponentially.
Yn: Ugh... Is this what you did to everyone else?
Yn: Well I don't care! I need to use you!
Yn: So turn on, damn it!
His clothes began smoking from the heat.
Yn: Cook me all you want, I ain't giving up! Activate!
Yn: Do you know how many people got hurt-no...killed because of your rusty ass!?
He began feeling the effects of heatstroke but fought against it with pure will.
Yn:(panting)
Yn: You don't seem to get it...(panting)
Yn: I have so much more I can do. So many I can help...
Yn: So I can't let you kill me, yet!
Yn: WAKE UP!!!
(Punch)
He punches the floor.
Yn:... Tch!
Yn: Is this some sort of test of endurance? WELL BERING IT ON RUSTBUCKET!! TURN THE HEAT TO MAX ALREADY, I'M FALLING ASLEEP, HERE!
The heat continues to increase as Yn begins screaming with rage.
Yn: RAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Outside the Gear, the people on the bridge assumed he died and watched how enemy gears began entering the hanger bay to retrieve that Gear.
Ron: All our gears are down!
An enemy Gear reaches out to grab the Helios gear, until...
(Crack)
Enemy pilot: Huh-
The material covering the Gear begins cracking with light emitting out of the cracks.
This confused the enemy Gears while giving hope to the survivors on the bridge.
(KABOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM)
Hanger bay 2 was then completely engulfed in fire. The number of flames coming out from there that escaped out of the hanger door was enough to push the S.S Dawn in a certain direction.
A hole was then ripped open to the outside by giant flaming hands.
With another explosion of flames going off, a blinding light escaped the ship.
All eyes were on that light, which died down to reveal the Helios Gear.
(Solar Gear: Solas)
Yn floated in the cockpit breathing heavily with the walls now showing the outside.
Solas moved exactly how he did in the cockpit, which would make hard light walls of what was around Solas to Yn's scale.
He noticed this when he looked back at the S.S Dawn.
Yn:(chuckles)... This isn't like any Gear the academy tried to train me to pilot. But whatever...
Yn: I'm cool with anything that lets me save the day!
He then noticed Gears flying his way.
(Sola's theme)
Just by thinking and leaning forward, Yn flew towards the Gears. With incredible speed, he arrived in front of one and punched it.
As Solas's fist punched through the head of the gear, disabling it, Yn could feel the imapct of the punch through his fist.
It didn't hurt but it did feel like he hit a solid object.
Yn: Rad...
Noticing how one Gear was aiming at him, Yn flew towards it.
Firing at Yn, he raises his arm to block. When the projectile hit Solas's arm, it exploded but did not harm the solar gear.
Spinning around, Yn kicked the enemy gear in half.
Grabbing the two halves of that gear, Yn threw them at his enemies, distracting them enough to get close and punch a hole through their Gears.
Seeing more Gears coming towards him, he decided to go meet them halfway and beyond.
Jeting across space, leaving behind a trail of hot blazing fire, Solas flew past and critically damaged every gear.
The battleship then began focusing its attention on Solas.
(Bang)
(Boom)
Yn: Ugh!
Landing a direct hit on Solas, sent the gear flying back. Yn inside the cockpit had his feet towards the bottom of the cockpit the entire time.
Yn:(mind) Why am staying floating in this one position? No, the better question is why I haven't obliterated that ship yet!?
Zipping around the warship so it didn't hit him again,
Yn:(mind) This feels so unreal! It's like I am the Gear! Or... We're one?
Yn: I don't have time to think, I need to act with everything I've got!
Yn: Gear- No, I need to call you something. But what... How about Helio-
A holographic image then popped up and showed "Solar Gear: Solas".
Yn: Solas? Alright.
Yn: Solas! Give me everything you've got!
Flying above the warship, Yn shouted to the enemy, as flames engulfed Solas, and another holographic image appeared in front of Yn saying "Overdrive Activated".
Yn:(speaker) My soul, it burns with an awesome power!!!
Yn:(speaker) Its loud raging flames roar out to me, telling me to defeat!
Solas began flying towards the warship. Once close, he flipped and was now heading straight towards it to kick it.
Yn:(speaker) Take this!
Yn:(Speaker) SUNSET OVERDRIVE!!!
(Finishing move: Sunset Overdrive)
With a leg surrounded in fire, Solas flew through the warship with ease, but the Solar Gear didn't stop there, it continued on to the meteor Helios and shattered it as the Warship exploded.
(Kabooom)
Yn:(panting)....(tired laughter)
Yn: I like you Solas... You're pretty rad.
Flying in front of the S.S Dawn's bridge, Yn waved at the survivors as the remaining enemy Gears that survived ran away, leaving them to continue their way back to the Earth.
(Meanwhile)
In the farthest part of the solar system, past Neptune, was the eight nations citadel, nicknamed Pluto.
Pluto was essentially a plateau in a dome with a building in the middle orbiting the sun like the other planets.
It was considered neutral ground where the leader of the solar system could discuss things.
Today was one of those days where they got together.
In front of a camera, broadcast to all the eight planets, the leaders began talking about the conspiracy theory plaguing the system.
Mars leader: Today we would like to make a statement about the conspiracy theory that is the source of many riots these days.
Mars leader: I know I should not be the one discussing such a topic seeing as I'm about to retire.
Mars leader: Nevertheless, allow me to settle the matter.
Mars leader: The conspiracy that we the leaders of the world...and the major tech companies...
Mars leader: Have been withholding advancements in technology to make a profit... Is absolutely false.
Mars leader:(sigh) Ju-
Mars leader:?
After sighing, the mars leader was able to see his own breath. So did everyone else there.
Through the P.A system of the building, someone with a voice modifier spoke.
P.A system: With that, you started it all.
(Cracking)
(Crakooom)
The roof of the building was torn off, as a gear entered from the plateau, stepping in the middle of the leader's place of meeting.
As the gear stood in the building, the temperature immediately dropped.
All eyes and cameras were on the Gear as its cockpit opened and a person walked out and looked down at the leaders.
The person who walked out was female, wearing a light blue suit, with purple highlights, an ascot, along with a silver helmet that masked the upper half of her face.
???: I Am Luna!
(The Masked Madam: Luna)
Luna: I've heard enough of your lie! You withhold technology from the people.
Luna: Technology that could have saved lives, which are now lost because of your greed!
Luna: Starting with you, I, and the Crescents, shall reveal the truth and freeze away the corruption!
Jupiter leader: You say we're lying but where is your proof?!
Luna: I am standing on it.
Going back inside her gear, the temperature began dropping much quicker as freezing cold wind emitted from the gear.
(Lunar Gear: Lunas)
(Opening theme)