Author's Notes:
I have made up my mind. I will post whatever I type!
There was a lot of changing/changes for my overall story but the ending is still as I have imagined it to be.
-Sigh-
Nah! Nah! Nah! I don't even know why I say that, any way here's another chapter after a long time.
Enjoy? I hope?
Disclaimer: I do not own Strike Witches.
Chapter Four: What Happened, Really? Pt 3
Year: 1945
Location: 501st "Strike Witches" Squadron Base
Time: Flashback: Few Days Before
[Point Of View: 'Deki Maou']
Two men stood with their backs against each other. Both of them have ragged breaths as they stood still, eyes wary of their surroundings. Then, they simultaneously reloaded their guns, an M14 and AK74u. After reloading, they immediately run towards different directions.
The man with the M14 went towards the middle and opened a door before making a dash to the stairs to get to the second floor. He reached the second floor and proceeded to grab another M14 off the wall, just in case.
Meanwhile...
The man with the AK74u run towards the room where he found an MP40. But by the time he reach his destination a 'sound' rang throughout the building. Wasting no time he changed destination back to the stage so that he could regroup with his team mate.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
He had just finished checking new his M14 when he heard the 'sound', this made the man still for a bit. He tightened his grip on his gun and run towards the stage. He had just landed on the ground floor when he heard a 'new sound'.
The new sound distracted the duo and before any of them could react, the floor beneath the man with the M14 cracked, fire and 'flaming hellhounds' burst out of it.
Unable to react quickly, the man was devoured by two of the flaming hellhounds. The whole thing happened so fast that the man with the AK74u was met with the same fate.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
"Ouch", I said while caressing my neck where the hellhounds had bitten down on my character.
"...again", Sanya commented.
"Yup... again", I mimicked her comment. She was referring to our deaths, the fifth death within the hour. We had just finished with her training on how to play the game, it didn't even take long since Sanya follow commands and instructions perfectly.
The strange part about the whole training bit was Sanya herself. She never once asked any question regarding me or the 'equipment' we are using. She just tilted her head on the guns but said nothing of it. The only thing that she would ask was the controls and a little help, it would seem she likes learning through working.
Learning through working may seemed okay at first, but it all went down when she accidentally bounced off a grenade to my character's feet, killing me in the process. Luckily, I have the game set to 'Old Settings', otherwise she would have been scarred for life. Newer settings of the game have 'Realistic Settings', some rumours say other people who have used the settings was sent to rehabilitation centre because of PTSD.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
"...", Sanya said nothing more and proceeded to nibble on a potato chip.
I stopped and dropped my controller to get some water jug so that we have something to drink. I returned with the water and found Sanya playing again. She's playing through the tutorial again and trying to beat one of the high scores, high scores set by 'her'.
I smiled, she's already into the game and its only been an hour. She's already this good and this made me wonder, just how strong will her team be once they get to play as well.
"Here", I offered her a glass of water in which she gladly accepted.
"hmm... let's see...", I mumbled as I scanned the results.
"..." Sanya once again said nothing after she finished drinking. She looked at me for a bit before refocusing on the game and once again restarted the tutorial.
"I'm such a noob", I mumbled to myself as dark clouds began to gather on top of my head because of depression. "I can't even get pass the 'hellhound level'. How am I going to beat the map's 'Final Boss'?", a sigh escaped my lips even more depressed that before.
Over the years of gaming, many games have been 'Remastered'. Some of these games are the ones with the limitless 'horde mode' or 'survival mode'. When remastered, some of the old gamers complained about it being the same game just with a better graphics. To solve the problem, they came up with an old setting of putting more 'Level Boss' and later when you reach the final level you get to fight the 'Final Boss', which would effectively finish the game.
Sanya and I have just quit a 'Zombie Survival Map' on 'Normal' setting and the map has thousands of rounds already.
"Ahh...", Sanya suddenly stopped playing and continued to look at the screen. This made me curious and looked as well.
"wow...", was all I said look at the screen. Sanya has been running around the map killing enemies left and right when the hellhounds reappeared, the scene that followed was amazing, I didn't think there was a function like that in the game but then again I was always playing with the 'others'.
On the screen, the world seemed to have gone in slow motion. Sanya's character was running when the hellhounds attacked, the man slide on his knees on the floor. He then pulled out his knife and sliced the one to his right, the slice cut the hellhound's head off. To his left arm was his pistol which killed the hellhound in front of him in a head shot. After killing the hellhounds, he pocketed his side weapons and caught the PM63 that he threw up into the air. After catching, he immediately spray bullets to the enemies that appeared in front of him, killing most of them while slowing down the others when their legs shattered.
The action scene was amazing that I didn't notice the button system that appeared to execute the action. Not seeing that would cost me later when I rejoined her in the game.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
I snapped out of my reverie when I felt a tug to my right. I saw her handling me my controller and then she went back to concentrate on the game.
"wow, you are a very good gamer and fast learner too", I commented to her as I join her mid game. Joining mid games were fine with the exception of the enemies having double the numbers or having double their health or sometimes both.
I grabbed my controller and settled down on my sit. After joining, I immediately moved from my position and started racking some points to buy a gun that is better than a pistol.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
Location: Over Romagna Sea
Time: Noon, 12:00pm
[Point Of View: 501st Strike Witches]
The sky over the Romagna Sea is cloudy and the breeze of the wind is cool to your skin. Everything is peaceful and quiet, until it was broken the sounds of gunshots and lasers slicing through the air.
An aerial combat is happening between the Strike Witches and the Neuroi.
The skirmish has only began half an hour ago(11:30am), the main reason for the delay of the engagement was the neuroi. Apparently, the neuroi is an old class, one which is fast and small as a fighter plane. It has also the uncanny ability of hiding in the clouds making its search hard on the witches, especially without Sanya.
* pant... * * pant... * * pant...*
Miyafugi Yoshika has been using her shield for awhile now and was getting tired from the constant barrage of lasers that comes her way. She had been protecting the whole group from the lasers because of its unpredictability and being one of the three witches with experience fighting it.
So far, the enemy seemed content on hit and run tactics making the witches exhaust their magic and limited ammo. Begrudgingly, the tactic seemed to work against them.
"Minna! Miyafugi can't keep this up anymore! She's getting tired!" Gertrude shouted over the sound of gunfire from her team mates.
Minna gritted her teeth as another burst of lasers hit the large shield in front of her. They would have used the same tactics that defeated the same enemy but it seems the enemy have learned from it and changed to what they were using now.
"Hold on Miyafugi! I can see a pattern on the attacks! Everyone! Prepare to attack on my command!", Sakamoto shouted.
"ROGER!", everyone confirmed.
Minna sighed in relief, "just in time, major".
"Yeah... but not fast enough", Sakamoto stated as she look at the exhausted Miyafugi.
Everyone in the squadron is now concentrated and ready to do what was commanded.
"Miyafugi, are you okay for another shield?", Mio asked.
"Yes! Sakamoto-san!", nodded Miyafugi as they dodged the barrage of lasers that would have kill anyone slower.
"okay, good. Now, once I give a signal, you are to fly down and deploy a shield once it fires at you."
"Lynette, go with Miyafugi but keep your sights on the left wing of the neuroi, that's where its core is."
"Perrine, use you 'tonnerre'(thunder) to stun the enemy.
"Roger!", came the reply of the trio.
"Shirley, Lucchini, both of you are to distract it from the right flank."
"On it!/Got cha!", replied the two.
"Hartmann, Barkhorn, Eila, I want you three to push from behind it."
"Yes, ma'am!" professionally replied the by the three.
"Minna, your with me."
"Lead the way."
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
The Neuroi flew towards them from the right and fired. They dodged the attack knowing Miyafugi can only use her shield when the Major give the signal. The neuroi immediately went into the clouds after it fired.
"Ready!"
After a few seconds, the neuroi burst out of the clouds from above them.
"Now!"
They immediately scattered while Miyafugi drop backwards and deployed her shields taking the neuroi barrage head on. Lynette dived backwards with Miyafugi and aimed her weapon, waiting for the chance to destroy the neuroi once and for all.
The sudden change of tactic among the witches seemed to surprise the neuroi that it 'instinctively' pointed itself to the direction of the large shield of Miyafugi.
The manoeuvre cost it to show its topside to Perrine who have returned to use her tonerre. Unable to dodge the magic attack, the neuroi is stunned and is unable to move.
The Neuroi was jolted into moving again when Hartmann, Barkhorn and Eila attacked it from behind making it move towards Miyafugi and Lynette.
Lucchini and Shirley used a combo attack which effectively destroyed the right wing of the neuroi.
The neuroi roared in somewhat of anger and fired its lasers. The witches dodged skilfully and pressed on.
The actions of both Lucchini and Shirley made it move towards the right side, twisting itself to turn against the perpetrators who had damaged its wing.
A fatal mistake.
By moving itself to turn towards Shirley and Lucchini, the underside of the left wing is shown in full view. A chance Lynette immediately took and fired.
Three successive shots were fired, all of them hitting the neuroi's left wing. It turned out the left wing has more armour than any part of it, which resulted in pieces of its armour to fall off but unable to penetrate.
The neuroi became aware of what the witches are trying to do and began to correct itself again to finish the two witches near the water. Miyafugi used her last magic to protect herself and Lynette.
At this point the neuroi is too distracted that it didn't see Minna and Sakamoto nearing it until it was too late, Sakamoto had cleaved through the left wing.
The cut MISSED!
On the last second, the neuroi was able to manoeuvre itself to protect its core. Nothing of the neuroi's efforts saved it, as the core is now visible.
"Now! Bishop!"
The laser broke the shield that protected her but as the pieces of the shield fell and dissolve, Lynette lined her sight towards the core of her enemy, her magic in full effect as she can clearly see her target without much disturbance.
She fired. Target hit, bullseye.
They all watch as the neuroi dissolve into beautiful tiny fragments that fell harmlessly into the ocean.
"YEAH!"
Everyone celebrated their victory, Miyafugi was caught by Lucchini and Perrine the moment the shield broke apart. They all sighed in relief that the battle was over.
Minna sighed in relief that they had made it through. The battle was too close and they would have lost Miyafugi if she wasn't strong in terms of her magic, especially shield. She looked at everyone as they help each other and boast of their skills and accomplishments though it was all in good natured gesture.
After passing a look at the squadron, she looked at squad leader who was a fair bit away from everyone. She found Sakamoto staring at the destroyed neuroi with a serious look, these worried her.
"Mio, what's wrong?", Minna carefully asked.
"It doesn't add up. These attack was unexpected, more so than we thought. The enemy was powerful and used a battle tactic. But... there is something else about this attack. I just can't explain it.
There is also Miyafugi...", Sakamoto replied as she turned to Minna.
Minna just nodded and gave Sakamoto her shoulder so that she could give her the support she needs right now. After retrieving Sakamoto, she gave the return to base order so that they could get some needed rest and food, it was late afternoon now after all.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
The Witches started to fly towards their base, unaware of a flat-triangular shaped neuroi watching them from high above the clouds.
There was a beeping noise and a bit of flicker of light throughout its body then it just vanished into thin air.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
Near ground level, merely flying a few inches from the ground another flat-triangular shape neuroi watched an individual through the window of the building.
The neuroi receive the same beeping noise and flicker of light, just as the one overseeing the battle at sea, these neuroi too vanished into thin air, not even Sanya was able to pick up its signal.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
To be continued...
Author's note no.2:
I had to re-write everything.
My character appeared to OP? I think. So, I had to remake it all. I also have to make use of the canon-verse now to ensure the timeline is on track. Or atleast some of it.
Well, I have nothing much to say anymore.
Until next time.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~