:Refer to the information on the first part for disclaimers and such:
Upon a Moonlit Night Part 02
-2 days prior-
Ky squinted and rubbed his eyes as he leaned over a large table that was covered in various maps of Europe. All over the pieces of thick paper in brilliant blue ink were small notions, marking the location of Holy Order bases of operation. In black ink were noted the locations of where clashes happened and in red, the position and movement of the Gears. He started intently at the colored symbols, as if trying to burn holes through the paper with his gaze.
It just doesn't make any sense, he thought, biting his lower lip. The Gear's movements as of late seemed to be totally erratic and their hoardings were even more confusing. Blue-green eyes glanced from one red marker to the next; their positions seemed totally random. There was nothing strategic about the deployments and reports from the scouting units placed each group of Gears at less than twenty. Hardly a challenge to a squad of Order Knights.
Were the Gears baiting them? Ky furrowed his brow. He couldn't see any other reason why Justice would spread her forces so thin near human territory. What lay beyond the Gear camps, the French boy couldn't be certain. While the scouting units were good, they had never been able as of yet to determine what lay deeper into the northern territory. It was possible a larger Gear regiment laid in wait. Paris was northern most settlement still under human occupation and they were just barely holding out; their supplies and rations were getting low according to the latest reports. Amsterdam and Copenhagen had already fallen and recent intelligence told of sieges at Berlin and Barcelona. No word had been heard from the British Isles in months, he could only pray for their safety. Taking up his pens, Ky reviewed the latest reports and began to make the necessary marks on the maps.
For the most part, it still looked as if the Order was being nudged south and east. He pulled another map out from under the pile. This one showed the countries of Asia and the Middle East and was similarly pocked with blue, black and red. Specks of green dotted the map as well, the largest concentration being in Eastern China. These were the locations of the Japanese Colonies and they were shrinking. They had been the targets of early Gear attacks until defenses were raised, but now it was mostly disease and hunger that were the culprits. Granted it was a problem in every city; being concentrated only seemed to make it worse.
So what, then? What are they planning? Frustrated, Ky threw his pen aside and plopped down into a nearby chair. Closing his eyes, the blond rubbed the bridge of his nose and contemplated making a pot of mint tea. He had been reviewing scout reports and intelligence information while pouring over his maps for almost two days straight now. His body was growing weary, it needed rest, but he needed answers. Time was limited and growing shorter; Ky didn't have time for delays. He already felt guilty enough as it was, being in Provence and well away from the front lines. The regiment under his command consisted of just over a hundred able fighting bodies, most of them young and green; Ky was here to oversee their training until they were sufficient enough to be deployed elsewhere. Victories for the Order were dwindling and every loss burned him, making him wish there was something more he could have done.
Recollecting himself, Ky opened his eyes and was taken aback at the disheveled being on the other side of the table. Sol Badguy was probably the only person in the whole Order who could wear the organization's uniform and look out of place. His broad shoulders and slim hips fit the garment well, but it was the rest of him that unbefitting. Wild eyes, the color of blood, glared out from beneath long messy locks of brown hair that looked as if it had been tasseled by wind into an odd array of spikes and tufts. A long ponytail trailed down his backside; it too looking rather tangled and ill kempt. Ky couldn't fathom why the older man wouldn't just run a brush through his hair ever so often; it would look so much nicer. Sol's expression was flat as he stood with the same lazy slouch that Ky had always known him to have.
"What do you want?" he bit the words off sharply. Gone was the refined speech and cordial words; he was far too tired to be pleasant and it felt strangely satisfying to snap at the American for a change. Ky wondered belated why he hadn't heard the brunet enter, but Sol had always been rather quiet in his movements and he doubted slipping past the canvas flap of his campaign tent would have been hardly difficult for the man.
Why Sol was before him was a question as well. Ky never got the impression the older man was fond of his company, nor Ky for the matter; their occasional spars were a testament to that. Even that only further fueled Ky's dislike for his subordinate since as it stood, the blond had yet to win a bout. The fact that Sol could beat him, and repeatedly at that, with almost no effort irritated the French boy to no end. For all of Sol's lethargic nature, his skill with fire and sword were second to none.
"…just wanted to see if you were busy…" the American replied in his usual lazy drawl. He looked completely disinterested in the maps spread out before him, instead keeping his gaze locked on the young Commander.
"Yes, why?" Ky retorted reaching for his pen again. He averted his gaze to the maps again, suddenly feeling nervous under Sol's unblinking stare.
"Cuz there was a Gear sighting just outside of camp…" Sol reached out and picked up one of the maps of France and began to study it. Ky briefly wondered if the older man had ever spoken a complete sentence in his entire life. And then his words sunk in. Ky dropped his pen.
"Idiot!" he yelled as he dashed from the table, grabbing his cloak and Fuuraiken from where he had set them on another chair. "Couldn't you have said something sooner?" He turned towards the table and he swung his cloak on, snapping it in place. Sol was gone. A low growl arose in his throat as he rushed outside.
Ky didn't have to look far to see where the commotion was. Knights of all kinds were gathering at the eastern side of the encampment; many brandishing weapons as they ran past the campaign tent. Ky quickly followed them. As the blond drew near he could already hear the cries of Gears, they sounded numerous.
An ambush? Gears shouldn't be this close. His mind raced. The idea seemed unlikely; the scouts would have alerted the camp long before any Gears got this close. Unless they had run into the Gears and had been overwhelmed by them. The Order Commander skidded to a halt as he reached his troops. The Gears had gathered in the open field that the Knights used for sparing and weapons practice. Thankfully, the transportable nodes of magic they had brought for spell cast training were at the other end of the encampment so the Gears wouldn't be able to draw on their energy as efficiently, but that probably wouldn't stop the more magically-inclined creatures from throwing out a few elemental attacks.
"What happened?" Ky demanded of the Knight standing nearest him. The spearman flinched initially, gripping his pole tighter; beads of sweat already dotted his brow. He was young, not even twenty yet, and probably one of the recent recruits.
"Was all quiet, and then," the young man paused to swallow hard. "Then these Gears just barreled out of the forest, screamin' and hackin' at us." He shook with fright. Ky didn't doubt this would be the spearman's first real battle. He scrunched up his face into a snarl as he pushed thru the others, drawing upon his magical reserves for an attack. The ground shook momentarily with tremendous force, almost causing him to loose his balance. When he looked up the sight he saw made his breath hitch in his chest.
About fifty Gears of all types and sizes were tearing into the nearest ranks of soldiers; who were fighting back just as aggressively. Already, the ground was littered with a handful of carcasses from both sides. Behind the regiments of Gears was a Mega Death class Gear. It's hulking form roared loudly over the masses as it raised giant fists and drove them into the earth causing tremors again. The creature had a small triangular maw with visibly razor-like teeth. Two black horns twisted out of its head. The beast slightly resembled a dog and ram; its brownish red fur was already splattered with ichor and blood. It howled an immense cry before two golden eyes settled on a particular human. The Gear mark on its brow glowed a malicious orange.
Ky immediately channeled the necessary magic to mold a Stun Edge and threw it at the colossal creature. The ball of blue lightning hit the Mega Death class Gear in the side of its head and it instantly changed its direction.
"Shut down the nodes!" Ky yelled out before reading himself. Whether or not someone heard him wasn't important as now the large behemoth was staring him down. Ky sliced with a heavy slash to the Gear's chest following up with a Greed Saver. The Gear staggered before recovering. It lashed out with a backhand, whacking the blond Knight off his feet and pitching him. Ky hit the ground hard, knocking the breath out his lungs. He was slow to rise and the Mega Death Gear was already on top of him. It raised a heavy fist and slammed it down at a rigid angle.
Ky felt a sharp pain and then everything went black.