Sorry it took so long! Goodness... having a vacation was a blast! :) The simple pool and building lifestyle was something, but I'm going to the beach soon! :) So don't worry! The summer here in our country ain't over and I'll be enjoying it nonetheless.
Responses to reviews so far:
To Aviat0r:
Thanks for the review and I just saw your last two chapters. In the case of the APOLLO system... I put up the role of setting the character of its creator in 2015, but you'll be surprised of the first information of his origin.
And to my readers... you'll recognize a canon character in this chapter that you'll find interesting! This character has gone into the future STRAIGHT from the neuroi war, before getting to this year to try stopping the creator of APOLLO. Who is the character? Well... READ IT TO KNOW! :)
On to: "The Xingiet Issue (Part 2)"
CHAPTER 3
"The Xingiet Issue (Part 2)"
*Flashback…*
*Blue Neuroi Vessel: Typhoon… Bridge… Mid-1958…*
Camila had been walking back and forth just waiting for Serena to come back… but all she's getting is a nervous feeling. Never has she seen something like what she's actually experienced ever since The Purge … a spike detection on what seemed to be the Red Neuroi… and this worried her. Serena was supposed to get back to Camila to tell her experience of the matter, because the detection was somewhere northward. They were in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean…
Finally, Serena was able to make a call.
[Camila, it's Serena.]
Finally. Anyway, what did you get?
[I think it's best I show you, Camila. You're gonna be stunned by it, I think.]
*5 minutes later…*
Serena was already in the bridge by then, carrying her sheath for the Gold Lightning Katana. As much as there was still a living Sakamoto, she chose to honor their name by being around as 'Savior Serena.'
Camila had her eyes widened at the sight of the photos that Serena took overhead. There were earth-born neuroi born out of the ocean. "It… doesn't… make sense. These… are obviously like the Red Neuroi but…" She cupped her chin at something else that she noticed.
Then Serena saw the curious look from Camila. "Camz?"
"They're… not in formation. Look." Camila urged Serena to get closer to look at the photos. Even Savior Serena noticed this as well… and it was odd. "They're supposed to be in formation."
"And they're supposed to be attacking something… or even a place like Europe or Liberion… but they're just… split. It's like… they're wild."
"Yeah. It seems we're looking at some brainless Red Neuroi."
"Brainless?"
"I don't mean they're completely zero on their Inteliigence Quotients… but actually low. They have basics as to how they move or make sounds with whining, but… right here… they're just showing daily life and basic stuff. Nothing more."
"I see."
"Whatever this may mean…" Camila didn't finish as she heard another spike alert and ran to the console where the world radar is. She looked at where the spike was and it was somewhere near Xing. "I need to contact Elder Drel." She then pressed a few buttons and finally, Drel was on the other line. "Elder Drel… have you been detecting…"
[We have, Camila. And somehow it's going to spread.]
What do you mean?
[Due to the help of some ancient witch teachers we've come across, we have a bit of a problem. Ever since The Purge when Rosaimus injected the essence of the Red Neuroi into Earth's magic draw points… power increased from those because of his rule and control over all Red Neuroi, including the spawned neuroi species spawning from Earth. We've seen its power completely drop down and even cut itself off the magic points… but we don't know why the heck the power Is suddenly coming back on those same draw points.]
Can't site examples?
[I can't. I'm sorry if I can't be any of help. This is the first time we've seen this. Magic flow may be compared to energy that we know… but resurrection of certain energies aren't proven yet. Once the energy its cut off its host, it will immediately start dissolving. But this... it is cause by something else. We'll see what we can do in finding out. In two years, I'm afraid... we cannot last here. You know that this will mean that some of the humans will hate us. Although our co-existence was promised to us, we must not let their progress be hindered.]
Camila groaned for the fact that the Blue Neuroi will leave whatever they've established. After 12 long years, Elder Drel announced it. Two years later, all of them would have to leave and humanity must make its own history from then on.
After Serena heard that Camila cut the transmission from her conversation. "Camz... it's okay. You guys helped us from the beginning after all. We'll be fine."
Camila crossed her arms. "I'm afraid not. Something tells me that things will go wrong."
"Some of us know that."
"By SOME you mean you and Mio? The remnants of the 501st have started to think about the future instead of the present. It's been so long that they've been wishing to have their childhoods or teenage years restored. By then, they won't be able to see that the neuroi are going to be threats in the future. Magic spawn points are no joke. The flow of it has always survived through the millions of years that this planet has lived. Now that it's abused... your race will start suffering for sure. But if it doesn't remain a serious problem while we're still here... then we can be peaceful before we leave."
Serena smiled. "Then let's make some problems go away then."
"Agreed." Camila replied before both of them went back to studying the photos and the charts they held about the magic spawn points used to summon neuroi. 'I hope what we're doing now until the end is worth it.'
*End of Flashback...*
*30th of August, 2015... Kyzyl... Tuva Republic, Orussia...*
Although Kyzyl was just a simple city and the center of Asiect, it was also a city in which some of the Orussian Systems Preservists' Group have always been meeting to discuss matters related to their country... and to what their allies' issues have been. One of the issues addressed was that the SSG had been making a lot of serious moves to almost expose them. It even involved them stealing warheads from Arab Saudi. But that was only the beginning of things. Soon, they were starting to recruit more men into joining. The preservists' don't even know who their benefactor is... but the preservists have their own benefactor: The Orussian Prime Minister Micheli Koslov.
After the Prime Minister's move to secure peace in Europe after certain wars were halted, he was given a medal symbolizing peace which was actually from Karlsland. He was a president back then. But after he retired from his presidency, he remained a Prime Minister... making him a favorite target for the SSG, which he didn't mind at all. His allegiance to his country was just as important as his alliance with the Liberion government. He even started giving intelligence of their activities to the trusted CIA, which made more of a friendship with President Grant more than ever. However... he was only given the resources and not the assistance of the Liberions, which suited him and the rest of the preservists group fine.
The Prime Minister arrived in Kyzyl one high afternoon after he heard there were strange whines starting a week ago. It concerned his men inside Kyzyl, and he decided to take a look at it himself. The more concerning part... is that the whining sound got louder each day... and citizens were even asked to evacuate from the middle of the city. Why? Because a red rune marking has appeared in the middle of town.
Lt. Nikolai, together Sgt. Kamarov from the Orussian military came to take a look at the scene arriving with three military recon cars and most of them armed with AN-94's. The scene was at an intersection of the where there are hardware stores and convenience stores around it. Nikolai gather his troops and even a science team to check it out. He then received a phone call from his cell phone and answered.
[Comrade Nikolai.]
Minister Koslov? I heard you were supposed to be at Moscow.
[I understand. But this matter requires more attention. I pulled strings just to get here to take a look at the rune.]
I suggest you don't get near the area. The rune keeps glowing brighter each time.
[Of course. You and your men do what you can to secure the area first. Whatever that rune is doing there, could actually mean something significant will happen.]
The science team recently arrived to scan the rune. They're getting some Ion readings.
[Ions, you say?]
The same kind of material we use to power up some shields to combat against neuroi.
[I see. So this is neuroi-related?]
I'm afraid so.
[Then we have to start calling anyone we still know who could (static)...] But somehow, Koslov's signal was being jammed and Nikolai could only hear static.
'This is bullshit. Why now?' "Comrade Kamarov... use your earpieces to contact HQ. We're having signal problems."
The sergeant kept working on his communications as he tried raising anyone on the radio. He even made an effort to manually adjust his radio where his earpiece was connected to but... "No good, comrade! I can't get anything! There's something jamming the frequency!"
"Gyaran! Run back to the car and get some anti-jam transponders. We need to set it up around the perimeter to contact anyone with our radio."
"Da!" Gyaran said before he started running to a recon car. It was a GAZ-2975 Tigr, which was good for storing some minor equipment and small-arms weapons. The variant they brought with them can house 8 men inside, and there were three cars of them around the perimeter.
While Nikolai was waiting for Gyaran to come back, Sgt. Kamarov watched as the scientists were putting some energy transponders to identify the rune's properties. 'This is some surreal material I'm seeing. Although I believe aliens are around to take us down... magic is not one of my fortes in analyzing.' After he finished that thought, he heard some scientists speak as if there were hard readings coming from their transponders. Then he heard that the readings were off the charts just before one of the transponders sparked up due to the scanning overload. It was a small electric discharge that disabled it. "What happened?!" He asked one of the scientists.
"I don't know! That transponder went haywire and..." He didn't finish it when another transponder then blew up from an electrical discharge. "The ion is overloading! Get clear!" And soon, his team recovered the remaining transponder before they ran to safety. Soon, the rune glowed bright red. "My... god." He muttered to himself.
Gyaran just came running with the anti-jam transponder equipment when his eyes were focused on the rune making him stop with a feeling of awe. "What... is that?"
Nikolai and Kamarov only looked at the rune as it glowed brighter. The lieutenant decided to give orders. "Men... get back! It's glowing brighter, so shield your eyes! Stand by! Benin... set up a sniper position on THAT building!"
"Da!" Benin replied as he ran towards the storage building before he kicked and knocked down the door before he went in. With his AN-94 in front and his KSVK Anti-Material rifle at his back, he searched for the stairs and then climbed it. When he got to the second floor, he immediately went to a window spot in which only his upper body and his arms can be exposed, and has a view of the scene where the rune should be. He then put down the stand of his KSVK just by the window spot and made sure his aim toward the rune was steadied. He slowly started to refocus his aim from the scope of it as the glow was brighter than ever.
"Men! Take positions behind the cars! Now!" Nikolai shouted while behind the lead car. Kamarov and the rest of his men including Gyaran only looked at the sight that the rune glowed brighter. Soon... the rune was no longer seen a much brighter red glow came when several humanoid shapes were made. "Prepare yourselves!" But just as he said it, a short beam projectile passed him only by a mere inch, and some more came toward them as it hit their cars. One of the soldiers was hit at his forehead killing him instantly. "RETURN FIRE!" Nikolai shouted as he loosed rounds from his AN-94 with the others following his lead. Soon, the bright glow slowly disappeared and the men finally saw neuroi humanoid infantry running and shooting at them with blasters at hand. They took cover behind walls as they exchanged projectiles with the Orussian military.
*Orussian airspace...*
Two Su-37 aircraft have been patrolling the Orussian airspace and they detected something on their radar.
Patrol Two to Patrol One. Do you have readings for unidentified bogeys?
[Affirmative, three readings at our 3 o'clock! Let's handle this and intercept them!] The flight leader said before they banked right and identified there were neuroi units coming in. [Neuroi sonics! Tower... this is Patrol One! We have identified some neuroi sonics in our airspace! What are your orders?]
[Roger, Patrol One. Kyzyl is currently under ground attack by an unknown enemy. Verify... are the aircraft heading southwest?]
[Affirmative, tower.]
[Patrol One and Two, you are cleared to engage the enemy.]
[Roger, Tower! Patrol Two, be as a wingman and cover me. I'll engage and you will do the same. We're eliminating these bastards and send them to hell!] The flight leader said before he engaged the afterburners to accelerate his SU-37, with the other doing the same. [I have tone! Bird is flying!] He shouted as he released a stinger missile before he used his machine guns when he got close. The missiles hit one of the neuroi and its hide was damaged and exposed the core. With the flight leader's machine guns, he aimed and gave a short burst at the core before the neuroi was shattered.
I have tone! Fox Two! Patrol two's missiles was launched and was primed against another sonic neuroi. The explosion then made an opening and the pilot discovered something. Negative on the core! It's mobile! He said before he fired the machine guns at the mobile-core neuroi. It was too late as the hide regenerated faster. I have tone...
[CHECK YOUR SIX!] The flight leader's warning came too late as a beam reached the wingman's plane past the afterburners and the cockpit from behind. Immediately, the plane was torn into half and exploded. [Tower... I lost Patrol Two with NO CHUTE!]
[Patrol two, this is Air Hunter! I'm responding!] A 19 year-old Orussian responded. [I'm coming in hot from behind the neuroi now! Opening fire!]
An Orussian witch with her striker unit alternate of the SU-37 was flying right behind two more neuroi sonics holding a PKP MG while she finally opened fired against one of the neuroi. Her silver Spetznaz spandex uniform was tight but got used to it while it was very strong against the harshest climate elements. Her curly brown mid-back lengthened hair followed the wind as she kept accelerating against the neuroi. Her familiar is the Siberian Tiger.
Bullets were loosed from her machinegun and the neuroi responded by speeding up. 'Damn it... they're after the other SU!'
[Patrol One to any unit! I got a fast tail and... GYAAHH!] She saw the patrol flight leader's SU was hit with a strong beam to its left afterburner and left wing, making his aircraft out of control. [Mayday! I lost control! Left wing's cut off and... (static)] She only saw one of the pursuing neuroi hit the craft with beam, thus hitting its nose and cockpit, leaving no mercy as the aircraft exploded.
She widened her eyes as it was the first time she saw the neuroi were THAT barbaric. 'They're... barbarians, looking for blood.' She thought while two neuroi turned while in high speed to intercept her. She then hovered as her rage was greater. "You want blood... I'll give it to you!" She said as she aimed her PKP towards her opponents, letting the other sonics fly to Kyzyl, using the intercepting neuroi as a distraction.
*South Kyzyl... gun store...*
During the attack, Koslov was forced to come with Yuri as both of them had to find any sort of protection that is currently attacking the city: Neuroi humanoid infantry, which rather sounded too much to handle. And so, Yuri had an idea and thought of getting more weapons than use just his Five-Seven to protect Koslov.
Yuri, who was wearing a suit and tie like Koslov, was able to load himself an old AK-74, which was still allowed on those parts of the country. 'I never knew they would still sell something that's not allowed in Moscow.' "I expected Kyzil would make some example, but this will work already." He looked over Koslov, panting from the running. "Sir?"
Koslov waved his hand to stop Yuri. "I'm fine. I'm not one to handle weapons like yours or just a simple handgun."
"Sir, you're fully aware that the whole city's now in a blackout situation. We don't have any means to communicate because I may have an idea as to what aliens there are jamming our comms. And if it were true... it may start dragging itself all the way to the center just to desolate Kyzyl. I call them tower units. They disperse jamming foil and it seems to be working. We've no way of contacting even using our radio. Your cell phone's not an option as well."
"Then what do we do from here?"
"Pray that any jet would shoot down those towers before they cause more damage. But my job's to get you to safety, Prime Minister."
[(static)...Nikolai to any...(static)] Yuri was clearly hearing Nikolai's voice coming from his comms earpiece. Then it was clearer. [This is Nikolai! Anyone hearing me on this transmission?]
Yuri was surprised. 'Did they just use a anti-jam transponder?' Nikolai... it's Yuri.
[Yuri?! Where the hell are you?!]
I'm with the Prime Minister now. I'm holding here at a gun store somewhere south of the city. I heard you checked out the middle of it. Can you get here?
[That will prove rather difficult considering our mode of transport is gone. We'll be on foot on to your position so stick tight.]
Roger.
[Do not engage and let anyone know of your presence. That's the best you can do for now until we get there.]
Da. I'll keep quiet and keep the Prime Minister out of trouble. Just hurry. Out. Yuri then looked at Koslov. "Sir, we're gonna have to find a better hiding spot. We'll have to make sure we're not spotted."
"Okay…" Koslov simply said before he was helped to another spot that seemed inconspicuous to the neuroi infantry.
*Somewhere in the city…*
Nikolai and Kamarov's teams were on foot and were cautious more than ever. They had no other communciation means except through local radio thanks to the anti-jam transponders that Gyaran had saved. It's only a good thing they haven't encountered any neuroi infantry while they were travelling on foot towards Yuri's position for the last 10 minutes…
That changed when they've gone through a complex proper near a hotel. Some neuroi infantry were riding a neurified truck, and Nikolai only seemed to think of hiding, but didn't have any more time. The truck was heading their way. 'Shit!' "CONTACT! Take cover!" He shouted as he and his men took cover at some alleys before they saw beams coming at them. They returned fire as they saw the humanoid infantry disembark the neurified truck. "Kamarov… H-E's… NOW!"
Sgt. Kamarov just got in cover before he took a grenade and pulled its pin… then waited until it was time, until it took 2 and a half seconds later before he shouted out he was throwing before he did. The grenade was thrown then landed and rolled under the neurified truck before it exploded. The neurified truck lost its neuroi skin as it exploded because the neurification came remotely from one of the infantry… who was already vaporized by the high-explosive and the truck's destruction along with the others. Nikolai's men only saw white flakes around the area. "Clear!" Kamarov shouted and pointed his weapon at the direction where the truck came from. He decided to contact Yuri.
Yuri… it's Kamarov. Where are you?
[Still staying put… no changes except a neurified truck passed by.]
Shit. It looks it's the same one we took out. This time, we'll be the attention of whatever attacked this truck.
[Then why the hell did you…?]
[We had no choice.] Nikolai butted in. [They already spotted us the time it made a turn towards our direction. I'm sure they've already called in other units like they are, or probably air support.]
[I wouldn't worry about that. Underground tower neuroi have started to move towards our direction. It may be far, but if it doesn't change direction, we'll be right along its line of sight and will make the building fall down on us. Think you could hurry?]
[We can try. Stick tight. Out.] Nikolai ended the transmission and then checked on his teammates. Gyaran was not lucky as he was hit square at his torso and chest where his heart was. 'Damn. They got the lad.' "Keep your eyes open and move forward. We've got to get the Prime Minister to safety!"
7 minutes later…
With no other threats as they ran, they figured that only a few infantry were sent to take out buildings, or civilians in that matter. They kept heading south until they were sure they were near. Nikolai remembered that part of Kyzyl where a local gun store can be seen. And finally, just between a liquor store and an antique shop along with residential houses, the gun store was located. There were cars on the road as they crossed to the other side, but Nikolai stopped all of his men in suspicion before they took cover at some cars. Kamarov then took cover with Nikolai near a van just near the gun shop. "Comrade Nikolai, what are you doing?"
"It's too quiet. Something's not right." Nikolai whispered before he felt the ground shake a little. 'Oh… no.' He thought as he knew it was all too familiar. "Shit… it's under us." Before he spoke further, the cement just near them bursted as an object protruded and extended from underground. "Oh… shit… TOWER NEUROI… RUN!" Nikolai shouted as he told his men to run from the tower neuroi. When the tower neuroi focused its sight on the men running past cars on the extended road, its main sight on its head glowed red before it heated up to fire a beam.
[For a unit leader, you're stupid!] Air hunter said on the comms before bullets hit the tower neuroi's head. The Su-37 witch flew in and fired with her PKP MG at the head of the tower neuroi before she saw beams on to her and blocked them. Then she passed by the head when Nikolai looked at the sight, then telling his men to take cover at the cars to take themselves out of sight. [Nikolai, are you alright?!]
What the hell took you so long? And why did you call me stupid?
[Sorry about that… but this unit can't change its sights if whatever was targeted is directly below its head sights. It's okay if you get near it, as long as you don't get farther from where it is before it gets a clear aim at you.]
I see. We'll make a break for Koslov.
[Let me finish this bastard first!]
Air hunter kept on firing until she eventually exposed the core after the fast regenerating. 'It looks like my efforts have paid off!' She laughed as she fired at the core and it was finally shattered. The tower neuroi itself is an easy opponent against any flying witch as it can't always fly or pursue the witch evading every beam it can throw. Later... she looked down and saw the Orussian soldiers storm the gun store and finally secure Koslov. She then looked around to see if any more neuroi show up.
[Koslov is secured.] Nikolai reported.
It's best you all hurry up. There are still sonic neuroi that haven't found me, but I can't leave you here without any air support.
[Then give us some cover while we find a car for us. We can't risk having Koslov killed.]
Is it for the preservists' or is it for politics?
[Both.]
Good enough.
[Zyuganov, thank you.]
Please. She then giggled. Call me Frederica.
[Alright then, cover us.]
You got it. She replied as she saw the men running on the road, careful as they scanned for neuroi infantry. 'It looks like it isn't over yet.' She thought as her determination rises to finish what she started...
*Conversation between Nikolai and Price...*
[That's exactly what I told you. That rune appeared in the middle of Kyzyl.]
[I see.] Price answered with a Britannian accent. [And the pictures you sent was the rune marking?]
[I'm not too happy still with that rune around Kyzyl. It's already being cleared out. But whatever it is... it transported those neuroi sentries.]
[It's obvious it's not a coincidence considering that the town's half-desolated.]
[What about your end?]
[Still trying to find Supremacist cells. They're hard to crack. The only source I got is from the Agency. Nothing much to go for except for their intel. However... knowing that hacker is on the loose...]
[Hacker?]
[He calls himself Project Mercury. I don't know what the name is. He's one of the world's most feared hackers and it seems he found his way into the SSG by getting attention. Obviously, the hard part is cracking in IP address every time he's traced. He knows his way around areas with cameras... electronics... databanks... If he even touches a computer... he could turn any electronic device against us as long as he's got a network uplink.]
[Isn't that the man who unleashed that Apollo antivirus scam?]
[It's more than a scam. It hacked into multiple bank accounts. He immediately got the cash... but he's being tracked by the agencies. They don't like him. The 141 can't even make it simple unless the intel we get is solid. Nikolai... keep your eye on Orussia. I don't think that attack was just a random one.]
[I see. We got Koslov... while I heard you were going to pursue a Xingiet fellow.]
[Jun Xi. He's arriving in Xing as we speak. However... another team's gonna get to him. The real job's simple: track down the SSG cell in Beijing. The government of Xing put this off the papers and allowed us the operation.]
[You're going to secure the cell?]
[Everyone inside is expendable. That's my share. Now tell me the rest of yours.]
[So far, there's nothing much on our end. Vorshevsky's worried about the attack he even issued martial law on the whole south of Orussia. Every now and then, neuroi surveillance drones are spotted, but we take them out each detection anyway.]
[Good. Don't let them gain any eyes on you. I have to go. I'm leaving soon.]
*The Five Dragons Casino... Beijing, Xing... October 23, 2015... 2150 hours...*
Jun Xi was leaving the casino and a pair of binocular eyes were looking at him. Brianna was in a Mercedes Benz with Josephine as the driver. "There you are."
Jo then eyed the direction of the binoculars and it seems that Jun Xi was catching a taxi. "Doesn't he drive a car?"
"No. He left it back at the hotel. He didn't want to be followed while driving a car. Bright man."
"That means he knows we're following him?"
"He knows... but he doesn't know it's us, specifically." Brianna said as she saw the taxi Jun Xi embarked in leaving the parking space. Josephine immediately started the car. "We better be sure it's a solid hit." She said before Jo started to leave and drive to follow the target. Bree then used her earpiece communicator.
Kenneth, online?
[Yup. Grid's ours and it's running. And that tracker you put in his jacket is crystal clear on my grid map. You're good at it.]
For a long time, Ken. Understand something: Once you slide something in... don't let them know what you did or you're caught red-handed.
[Is that a quote?]
No. It's an advice. You're terrible at it.
[Meanie.]
Just put a smile on what I said. At least you could compliment me for it.
[NOW you're looking for a compliment? Whatever.]
Anyway, start tracking the possible routes he could take. If it's near that SSG cell location the agency provided us, we'll jump him.
[Sure thing. By the way... they told me a taskforce is coming in to secure the place.]
I heard. John Price isn't a joke. During the 90's... while he was still SAS, he had to stop a compacted nuke missile exchange by taking out a target in Orussia, which was then having economical problems.
[You know I could have just searched that. Why are you telling me?]
I'm only telling you because you don't know his reaction to how he's executed the man. The left arm flew off.
[A berett 50 cal was what's used.]
And he almost felt sick the first time he's seen so much blood through the scope.
[Wait... it isn't in the profile.]
It isn't. I spoke to him myself. Bree said as she kept her eyes forward and looked at the taxi. He's about to leave the city limits. Something's up.
[Her mother's residence is just off the highway. He'll be getting to a dirt path just to see her.]
So he isn't getting there yet. Bree said as she started thinking of possible reasons for visiting his mother. 'Could Jun Xi actually be scared of everyone else finding out that he screwed up badly he decided to spill the beans?'
[Wait a minute... His mother is not at home.]
What?
[And he's making a call. I'll let you listen to it...] Kenneth said as Bree was hearing the call. The details were about the Jun Xi going to her house to pick up a few things. The mother was already informed that he returned. Jun Xi made a reason, however, that he had some things to take care for the night before he could join her there again. He'll be having a brief time in the house and she might find the house empty when he's there. Then he hanged up. [That's about it. Whatever he's gonna pick up, it'll be either important to him, or important to the SSG.]
Get me the director right away. Whatever he's gonna do, we may need to interrogate him there and then to get the info we need.
[I don't think it's needed. Remember the 141 taking care of the cell?]
That's not just the info we need. I'll make him talk for that, of course.
[Well you've got your stuff and…] Kenneth then paused and spoke again. [I just detected a radar scramble. I don't know where, but you better be careful.]
Impossible. Only military hardware could hide units with radar scramble.
[Maybe. Whatever you'll do now, there's no turning back. I can't provide a realtime visual at this point until it's too late.]
It's alright. Then Brianna felt the car stop when they saw the taxi finally arrived at the house. The house was rather grand… and somehow, off. It wasn't the usual Xing cultured house, and this had Bree suspicious. Are you sure about the house?
[Yeah. Ling Xi lives in that house. She's just out buying stuff from the market due to shortage. That's what I've heard from the phone call.]
Okay. Just before they ambush us… let's make this fast…
*Somewhere in Beijing city limits… System Supremacists' Group cell…*
"Move!" Price, who was in a balaclava like the rest of his men were moving in with submachine guns to secure the SSG cell and look for any more intelligence. The body count was already 23 while they were exploring the first floor, second floor and basement.
But when they got to the 2nd basement via the cargo elevator…
"Price… the terminal…" One of his men said as they looked around the empty room, only finding a computer unit in the middle. "There's nothing here but the terminal."
Then the captain groaned. "It's obvious, isn't it?"
"There's no sense of searching the place." A girl's voice came from the terminal. Price figured it has speakers. For the meantime, it was only sending audio. "I had a feeling this place was to be stormed." She giggled.
"Who are you?"
"Fraulein Destroyer… good captain. And don't worry. You and your men won't be harmed… but I'm warning you now: Stay out of our way."
"Are you SSG?"
"I'm simply the one who pulls the strings. There's an actual leader to the group, and I control him."
"You're strange for being the benefactor."
"Is it because I'm too young for the job?"
"…because you're insane. If you're continuing to support the SSG, why don't you show yourself?"
"That would ruin the fun."
"You think this IS A GAME?!" Price shouted. "Whoever you are… we'll find you… track you… kill you…"
"You have nerve. And I thought you wouldn't snap at a young girl?"
"I'm not seeing a young girl over the other line but someone who just wants to destroy everyone's way of living. Tell me something: Why?"
"Because this world doesn't deserve humanity as a whole. It should be ruled like how it was done in the past. And YOU… are one of those who should be given disciplinary action by insubordination."
Price found that answer more than what he expected. 'Is she really serious in this? If she's talking about humanity… is it possible…?' He stopped that thought knowing she was still waiting for a response. "So you wanna begin? Fine. I defy you."
"That's the way. Then I'll have no problem killing your other team, Price. Hold your breath." Destroyer laughed before the transmission was cut. The terminal exploded and he was relieved his team including himself was at a safe distance.
And Price had a new problem: The other team was gonna be executed. "Let's go, let's go!"
They got back on the ground floor and got out of the cell before they heard a series of explosions from inside. They got away from the entrance and the building, along with the entrance was later engulfed in flames with the explosion swallowing the whole establishment. With instinct, Price immediately got in one of the two SUV's they brought in. "Get in! We've got to get to her ASAP!" And as soon as his men started the engines, it revved before the two SUV's left the area, only to be pursued by several motorbikes with their drivers armed with SMG's. They eventually fired at them. "Tannen!"
"On it, sir!" Tannen replied before he smashed the window open and put out his MP5k SMG and returned fire, followed by his two teammates. One of the bikers got hit and immediately lost control before being thrown off the bike. "Got one! Sir… take a hard left at the intersection! We can lose them in the tight alleys!" He advised Price and the captain followed the suggestion. At the intersection where cars were travelling, he made a tight left and the other SUV behind his followed, and they eventually found they were going against oncoming traffic.
The bikes still followed and this made Price pissed off. "They're still on our tail! Tannen… keep at it!" He ordered Tannen and the other kept firing with his two teammates. Soon, the other SUV behind them had a problem. One of their teammates were killed in the shootout.
"Reyes is down!" Tannen said before he made a headshot on one of the bikers, throwing him off the bike taking another biker as an accident. "Sir…?" He said before he saw the tight alleyway and the SUV finally entered through there with the other SUV following. "We got incoming behind us." Tannen reported before the other SUV just exploded. "Shit! One of them was carrying a launcher!"
Price knew it was getting too tense. With his team missing half of his team, he knew he had to call for reinforcements.
Baseplate… this is Bravo Six! We're going to need immediate assistance. How copy on our air support?!
[Bravo Six… JH-Delta air support is ETA at 2 minutes. Informative: We've got another strike made by a group unknown personnel somewhere off city limits. Main agency team has just been ambushed and now under attack.]
Copy! He said just before he drove the SUV out of the alley and into the main road again, no longer in oncoming traffic, but a two-way flow, which he followed with his direction. "Tannen, how many after us?"
"Sir… I'm seeing two… no five of them! One of them has an RPG-7!"
Price was getting a little uncomfortable. "Tannen, shoot that launcher now!"
"He's too far behind, damn it!" Tannen shouted as he loosed rounds against the other bikers, more evasive than ever. They returned fire and he took cover. "Son of a… steady yourselves, you shits!" He then reloaded his MP5K…
Later… some sirens from police cars responded against the motorbikes behind them and Price knew the police were worked up by the Beijing officials of the government. "We got at least something to buy us time." He muttered before he contacted Baseplate.
Baseplate, this is Bravo Six! Any second later won't be an option! We've got to get to the other team, so we need our ass clear! Where the hell is our poppet?!
[Price… Bishop here… AND COMING IN HOT!] A teenage witch said before she appeared in front of price while she sped past them with her strikers and her M4A1 assault rifle. Price then heard gunfire from her and the return fire of the bikers, with one of them killed by her. [One of them is down and… Whoa!] She exclaimed before an explosion was heard. Price was worried.
Poppet?! What is your status?! Are you there?
[I almost got hit by an RPG. There are two of them in one bike with the passenger carrying the launcher. They're not getting away from me.] She said before Tannen spotted her flying low.
"Sir… she just appeared at our six." Tannen reported before he saw rounds coming from her M4A1 to the biker and passenger with the RPG-7, later shot and with their bike out of control. "Launcher is down!"
"Good. We need to clear the rest of them." Price advised.
JH-Delta, you know what to do.
[Way ahead of you, Price. I'll catch up when it's done.] Bishop then fired at the bikers and Price was getting some distance from them. [They're easy pickings after all.] She said as she loosed several more rounds at the last biker, sending his bike and himself in a fiery inferno from a gas leak as cause of ignition. [Looks like that's all of them. Still doubting me, old man?]
Not if you do well. We're going to help them so get there first, poppet. I don't want any more casualties on our side.
*Brianna's team… decoy house…*
Jun Xi's withered body lays on the kitchen table as nothing else from its brain existed thanks to the SSG good for covering up their own tracks with the nanotech they own. Indeed, they didn't just make their own subordinate die… but the nanotech also 'ate up' whatever was behind the skin of his whole head.
Brianna was using the thick kitchen counter as cover along with Josephine. Both of them were pissed to find themselves in an ambush set up by the SSG. Worse… their enemies have shield penetration weapons that can pierce a witch's shield easily with laser projectiles. This didn't make Brianna feel comfortable at all.
Josephine kept returning fire on her enemies with her G3 she recently found. "We're pinned, Bree!"
"WELL NO SHIT!" Brianna shouted as she used her P-90 for supressing fire. She even killed one of the men before taking cover again. "How the hell didn't we see this coming?!"
"We've got to find another way out of this! Matilda's en route already."
*Price and his team…*
"So how did you end up in the city limits and NOT with the two of them?" Price asked Matilda who was at the back of the SUV.
"Sorry, sir. It's rather embarassing of me to really be like this. Truth is… I was getting information about the SSG cell when I heard something went wrong with Brianna's op with Jo. I heard too late the SSG cell here was a decoy. I killed the man because he wanted to kill me first."
"Kill or be killed. I guess you've done the right thing, poppet. They still need you."
"Sir!" Tannen interrupted. "I just got off the comms from a private frequency. It looks like their attackers aren't SSG. None of them don't have any markings or patches symbolizing they're from that same group. Actually… they have tattoos but they're not of the group. Surveillance drones caught up a pic of them and they got the photos. They'll show it to you later."
"Good. We're going to need them." Price said before he finally turned to the dirt path.
Bishop… we're coming along the dirt path now! Now's the time to roll the carpet! Price said and Matilda was surprised of the surname he called out.
[Copy, Price. Incoming swiss cheese!]
*Brianna's team…*
[Boss… we got some incoming but I can't tell who with the radar scramble still up!] Kenneth said with some agitation in his voice.
As soon as Brianna heard the fire was focused somewhere else, she heard an explosion, good enough for a grenade launcher's shot. 'That's from a grenade launcher. Someone's here to help us out!' Brianna smiled at this and she got out of cover. "Jo, our reinforcements just arrived!" She said as she led the two of them just near the entrance to take out the others. At her surprise, there were three cars of the unknown assailants. Not minding that number, she engaged them, still unaware that she was still capable of combat so long as she has ammo.
"Bree, look!" Jo said as both of them took cover with the maroon-haired leader looking at the witch with the striker units, evading bullets. "That's Bishop, isn't it?!"
Brianna took a close look at the spandex uniform pattern and the hair of the witch in the air. "Katelynn Bishop. She's here. Then…"
[Main Helm, this is Bravo Six! Sorry we're late… but you better start moving to another cover. The attention will be on us this time!] Price said over the comms before Brianna saw one of their assailants' vehicles explode.
"Yeah! Jo, let's give them a good welcoming party!" Brianna stated more determined than ever as she left cover with her friend...
*A minute later...*
The situation was finally contained and Price was able to join up with Brianna. Later, other members of the 141 came in to secure the area and started the clearing op to take out any other evidence they were involved. Although Price has a different agenda in Xing, he has known her for quite a long while. They've done a job together back at year 2002 in recovering stolen chips that will then be used for cyber warfare. He was impressed with how she has shown her uniqueness in combat to which she always get closer. What he found from her... was guts.
Brianna, together with Matilda and Josephine were in awe while Katelynn Bishop, a confirmed granddaughter of Lynette Bishop, was hovering with her strikers while wearing a Black-Ops Britannian Royal Air Force spandex camo uniform. The Brittanian witch had silver upper-back lengthened hair and with brown eyes. Katelynn later noticed they were more focused on looking at her dual striker unit... the new F-35 Lightning. Katelynn then looked at Josephine. "Oi... aren't you that girl who saved that naval base back at Yokosuka?"
Josephine was quite surprised. "How'd you know?"
"I was on the ground trying to get some information. I visited the naval base to know some things when I saw you."
But Jo knew that Katelynn only served the RAF. Why would she be at Fuso? "Strange... you were looking for stuff? You're part of the RAF, you know."
Price then cleared his throat and everyone got their eyes on him. "Bishop here is part of the 141. I assigned her to close quarters air support, and she's impressively been making progress. I assigned her temporarily to investigate a possible SSG scout we followed all the way to Yokosuka. For some reason, we lost the scout's trace and we were never able to find him."
"The old man's probably worried I'll be sniped." Bishop giggled.
"Oh you know you won't allow that." Price chuckled and looked at Brianna. "Poppet, we need to talk."
Brianna then smirked. "You know I'm older than you."
"Better to simply call you by who you are. You stayed that way most often."
She nodded and looked at Matilda. "Tell Ken I'm off the comms for a while. Price and I need a word together." She said before she walked with Price.
Matilda then looked back at Katelynn. "Tell me, Ms. Bishop..."
Katelynn laughed at how she was addressed by the Karlslander. "Now you're just making me a lady! Call me Kate."
"Oh, um..." She then decided to continue. "Have you ever thought of going past the Mach 3 speed record?"
This... caught Katelynn off guard, and later felt a little serious. "Well you're rather insulting June Yeager's record."
"You know about June Yeager?"
"She's the only witch who made the Mach 3 speed record so far. Let me remind you that engineering for striker units are not the only the factor that makes a new speed record in the air but also their intrinsic ability. Like the great 'Shirley,' June also has the speed boost ability. The only difference is... the striker unit itself makes a good catalyst as to how she blends her magic in it. She's a minor in being a mechanic, and she gets help when she usually wants a tune-up on the striker itself. And by the way: I don't have any idea what model or maker it is." Katelynn explained this and the other two seemed to get excited. "Want to know more?"
Then Tannen came by. "Bishop, aren't you supposed to get back? They're mopping up the place and you're the only one who's expected to return to the carrier."
"Oh, sorry about that! Schnaufer, O'Brian... I must get going. I hope you both meet June soon. I DID meet her only at the experimental run of her strikers, but she didn't even tell me the model or maker of that strikers. Maybe if you know, you'd let me know?"
Josephine nodded. "Of course, Katelynn! It's nice to meet you." Then a small white card was thrown at her. "What's this?"
"Call me if you'd like some advice on tuning your strikers. I may have some free time depending on where I am. The carrier I'm on rather travels with its fleet for international purposes." Bishop then winked before she let her engines increase in power. "See ya somewhere, ladies." She smiled as she flew out followed by a forced wave almost putting an imbalance on the two witches.
Tannen snorted. "Likewise. It's a good thing she's usually around for a lot of stuff. If you miss Bishop, you should call the number. I gotta get going." He said before he left the two of them looking at the card.
Did Katelynn really leave something personal behind?
*Price and Brianna...*
Price still had his MP5 with him while he walked with Brianna to a leafy part of the dirt path. "What I'm about to tell you is rather... a little coincidental... I think."
"'You think?' What's up, old man?"
"It's still rather new. I got some recent intel about... maybe something you'd understand. My associate named Nikolai in Orussia just saw a rune marking since that organized attack made by the neuroi. Then there was a separate assignment put to one of our squads to track down an SSG messenger carrying documents going to one of their cells somewhere in Romagna. He escaped thanks to some of his friends... but gave us rather a good piece of evidence that what we're both doing would actually change things after a while." He said before he put his hand into one of his pockets. He pulled a photo paper with a picture printed in it. "This is a photo we took on the documents and one of them contained... this." He handed over the photo to her and the first reaction he got was something silent, but her face told differently. She was shocked of the revelation.
Brianna was clearly a rune marking. "Wait... the SSG has this? Why would...?"
"It's the same one Nikolai saw in Orussia. According to him, it transported several or more neuroi human-shaped sentries in the area. It did it two times, making it difficult for Nikolai's men to keep up with the sentry numbers, but they succeeded to getting a VIP out."
"So basically, you're saying that the SSG knew about the runes and they were the same runes back in Orussia's defense against an attack?"
"Shouldn't fit, but that's the only explanation I could accept with the evidence we got."
"Do you believe in this, Price?"
"I can't really explain, poppet. I don't know if believing something that's not factual is worth the time."
"Can't believe in magic either?" Brianna asked with a chuckle.
"It's not like that." He pointed out. "Something stinks from this. After I looked into the photo, it made me think more that the group may be involved with the neuroi."
"Maybe." Bree made a soft hum. 'But if that were the case... what's the real agenda of the SSG?' "Thanks for showing me this. I don't know what else to do if I wasn't told of something important."
"It's not a problem." He then cleared his throat. "I don't know where this will lead us to. I wanna find out."
"You and me both. It's nice to see you again, Price." Brianna smiled at him and he just looked away, still being serious. "You must be grouchy."
"...says the young, but in truth, an old woman who could be grouchy." Price countered with a chuckle and Bree faked a laugh. "What?"
"Keep it up. Maybe you'll end up that way for too long. I don't like that to happen."
"Oi. You know I'm just doing my best to try being genuine, poppet." Price stated before he changed the subject. "Anyway... we came across a dead end. That SSG cell location that was provided to us was another decoy again. I'm sure some of our 'tips' are just being worked out by the hacker."
Brianna narrowed her eyes. "Project Mercury. Fuck him."
"And I wish he was screwed. Without another hacker to counter him..."
"What about Kenneth? You've seen his profile, right?"
"He's into the high-profile status. I'd rather not risk him to go against Project Mercury."
"Hey! He can cover his tracks whenever he wants."
"That's not the point. I'm sure way before he even started to reveal himself much more to the world, he's being watched. You know how some CIA junkies just get into the private life of people, right? That's how Project Mercury does it. If there's even a single terminal inside the agency that he could hack... he could look into the whole system and track us all down easily. Fry is only the way in... but if he's tricked... it could us all to hell. He's a hacker... but even hackers can be tricked."
"Computer and space age..." Brianna groaned. "Somehow... it could be less complicated if it isn't."
"But if we weren't... the rest of us could live in terror right about now." Price said before he walked back to the scene. "Come on... we've got to rejoin the others."
*SSG Cell HQ...*
A scared man was kneeling on the floor with his eyes blindfolded and his hands cuffed behind his back. "Please... don't do this! I swear to God, I'm sorry! I didn't expect they were waiting for me!"
"Fool." Fraulein Destroyer's voice of disappointment rang out. "You could have watched the tides... or maybe observed better." She giggled before gently touching his chin. "Now you're just meat to me."
"Please... have mercy!"
Destroyer evilly chuckled before she removed the blindfold before he saw her with the steel mask on mouth and nose. He clearly saw the blonde teen tilting her head while her eyes like a hunter glared at his. "Do you like to see what the youth elixir can do to someone like me?" And he just stared in question at her. "It's once made forcefully by the Blue Neuroi during the second neuroi war. If there's a daily dose of it, we stay at our current age. The steel mask isn't just a simple mask but also something to vaporize the elixir. I breathed the elixir's vapor by the use of the mask.
"However, since the youth elixir was forced to be made, my father saw... one side effect, which I don't prefer." Destroyer giggled before she removed the straps of the steel mask. Horror came to his eyes when he saw her mouth and nose, burned like acid after years of getting the dose of the youth elixir. The skin was almost black. Her teeth were sharpened. Her nose had its nasal cavity partly exposed. She made a primal roar as she saw him finally scared and begging for his life to be spared. "Don't you see? I was already dead from the beginning! A mutative property was found in the youth elixir. So how do you plead? And how should you die?"
"Please... no... I'm sorry!"
"Don't be... because you're already guilty." She smiled and showed her fangs before she softly growled. "And the way you should die... hmm... Your ears should be plucked out first." Then her bare hands had its nails lengthen to claws. "Followed by YOUR EYES!" She laughed before she charged him with a growl, tackling him with his back on the ground. Sparing no time, she quickly started to bite his ear. Like it was just soft meat, she torn off the ear and blood came gushing out from where it once was, making him scream crazily. She used her hands to fully get the ear in her mouth as she chewed it. 'A curse is what was given to me... as is a gift. I do this personally with who I want to punish.' She thought and she finally swallowed the ear and looked at the man still screaming. "Dibs on your sight, lover boy." This time... she used her claws... and the rest was just related to meat being torn off... starting with his eyes.
*14 minutes later...*
Old Christmas came in after the feast she had with him wearing his mask. He saw her drenched in blood, as well as the body, already with its meat torn off its face, its chest... and even its thigh. "Still amusing yourself?"
She put a piece of her claw into her mouth and tasted her victim's blood before humming in pleasure. "It's rather a delicious moment. I wonder why my father didn't like to change the elixir's properties after seeing a flaw? He must have seen it but went on giving it to me anyway. The man I ate up just peed in his pants while he was eaten alive." She giggled at this before seeing Old Christmas holding up a folder.
"We've got a problem."
"That's only one of them, old friend. I've just gotten word our messenger was accidentally ambushed." She explained before she took the folder and opened it. There were photos of Captain John Price meeting and talking with a maroon-haired woman back in 2002, then at the recent scene at Xing. "The two of them met before. Now they're working together again. The One-Four-One will be staying longer than expected, but I always knew he had friends."
"What do you suppose we do?"
"We move to the backup plan. It's time they know... of our associates. Mercury!" She called out and the door of the room opened again. Somehow, Old Christmas raised his eyebrow, seeing a spandex costumed man with a yellow cyber-marking pattern on it. He was wearing shades and the sides of his spandex head-cover had thunderbolts on them. "Mercury... show him what you can do."
"Gladly." Mercury smiled. Before he made a fist, and then punched the wall. Soon, yellow cyber markings flowed on the wall in the blink of an eye and the room's cameras made sparks, signalling they're having problems. Two ceiling sentry guns were deployed from each corner of the room. Then, he kept his focus and the guns didn't fire. They were supposed to fire at any threat, but they couldn't. The old man then saw the sentry guns were covered with the same yellow cyber markings. Mercury then smirked at the old man. "I'm just one of those who would use Integrate to make things easier on the electronics. Impressed yet, Garry?"
"Shut up." Old Christmas snorted. "You're still not on my approval list."
"One day, you'll see your phone spark up."
"If you touch my phone..."
"IF I do..."
"Enough." Destroyer commanded them and the two stopped bickering. She knelt and picked up her steel mask and put the straps back on while she covered her mutated mouth and nose. "Mercury... it's about time you get out of your cage. Show them what destruction really means. Start being loose and you'll find yourself in a good place."
Mercury chuckled. "Sure, boss. Maybe I can give you a bouquet of flowers if you like it."
"Shut up. I'm younger than you are. Plus, you won't find my face appealing. And I'm warning you: I'm a hunter for hunks." She said with a seductive voice before giggling again.
"Like I am?"
"Get out of here." She said while she shook her head in finding his nature immature. He chuckled before he sped out of the room in a flash with a red streak following him. She looked back at the old man. "Sorry about his behavior. Every time he gets into the system... he gets into more of the... erotic sites. It makes him quite proud of himself that he starts underestimating his enemies."
"Isn't that a bad thing?"
"No. In fact, his ego can help himself and us for a change. He'll be hard to catch knowing he's both a hacker... and a speedfreak. Like I told you before: He can cover his tracks easily."
"So what is his job?"
"Make attention. Bring chaos. Sometimes get the system to follow his will."
"Isn't that a little too advanced?"
"Yes." She said before she left with a factual info that Old Christmas didn't realize. "He's from the future if you don't know."
And the old man didn't see it coming. 'And she's right about chaos.'
CHAPTER EPILOGUE...
The air was chilly. The beach was calm. But one thing seemed out of place. A car was on the sands of the shore, and one was looking at the car as a target. The helmeted silver ninja looked at the car intently.
"Curse you... Mercury." Mio said as she looked at the BMW used as a test vehicle. She was in a cyber-suit provided to her together with a Katana. "If I'm the one to execute you, SO BE IT!" She then ran quickly with a silver streak following her thanks to her speed and time slowed down for her. She held her sword tightly before she made an incredible speedy slash combo. With an inhumane speed, time flowed normally again before she jumped back and her sword was flowing with electricity. The car only had a late timing before it was slashed 200 times vertically and horizontally before its fuel tank was hit and the car was engulfed in flames with an explosion. She breathed out in one good go and then removed her helmet, before letting her hair move freely. Her purple eyes then faded as she looked at the car in flames.
"I thought I'd find you here." Mio turned around to see a black curly shoulder-lengthened haired woman with a brown vest and blue jeans. "And you had to choose a Beemer as a test vehicle?"
Mio chuckled at the Liberion. "Loretta. How'd you find me?"
"I figure with the threat of Project Mercury, I'd find you here. He WAS the maker of the APOLLO system, right?"
"And I'm here to thwart his plans to make the system advanced. If he succeeds at this timeline, it'll be very bad. Why'd you follow me here?"
"I'm here to help, Mio. He's gone back here for personal reasons and I want to find out what the hell they are. If they're worse than what we've predicted... they're starting to accelerate their plans. With this planet going to hell in less than decade..."
"Or half a decade. You know the things that happen here with the earth-born neuroi can make things faster."
Loretta cupped her chin. "Likewise. Things at Atlas are somehow getting a little worse with the Alliance becoming a complete nuisance. We got a different agenda here, Mio. Even if the ripple gets cleared out by the current of the river... we'll try doing our best."
"You mean... some things wouldn't change?"
"Exactly. You know that theory in which time always repeats itself... and prevents a fabric in time to be torn up? It always happens. If that's the case, the future is already secured... and we just need to stop Mercury from making any more plans to take the whole system in the palm of his hand."
Mio turned her head away. "It's like you're saying our own actions determine not to change anything."
"Perhaps." Loretta said and nudged her. "But do you want to find out how we can or can't? I do."
The Fusoan sighed and smiled. "You already know the answer, Liberion. You handpicked me the moment I told you there was nothing left for me after the war."
"Isn't that a fact?"
"It remains so and..." Mio stopped before frowning. "I just hoped that Yoshika would understand. I left her. She was on her own. I never even told her I was going." She clenched her fists and closed her eyes... trying to contain her disappointment in a form of rage. 'Yoshika... I'm sorry. If there is a way I could tell you...'
"You can visit her if you want." Mio opened her eyes in surprised and looked at her Liberion friend. Loretta then put her hand on Mio's shoulder. "I think it's about time you see her again just before we continue. Hawaii's not a good place to hang around at."
"And you told me you wanted to relax." Mio chuckled before she walked with Loretta towards civilization, saying a simple goodbye to the aroma of the sea... "For Sam?"
"For Sam." Loretta replied as she lead Mio.
*Unknown place...*
Destroyer punched a simple and old picture frame of the Hartmann twins Ursula and Erica. "The past is no longer with me, father. I'm sorry... but I have other plans..." She muttered, later vowing that she would make her own world order like what her father has done. Only... her empire would not be in Earth. It'll only serve as an ordinary planet for the Red Neuroi. She then looked at the schematics of different space-ships suitable for Faster-Than-Light travel. 'They're so sure of themselves that they've secured a bright future they forget that the one who's willing to rule this planet is partly a human.' Then she looked at the photos of Price and Brianna. "You two have certainly made friends. Now you'll see mine. Let's see how much attention you'll finally give with Mercury around." She giggled at this.
One day, she'll reveal herself... not as a human, but someone who despises everyone else. But still... who... was she? Nobody else would know except herself and Old Christmas. If ever her identity would be revealed, it would come at a good time, and she knows it. But based on how she makes her plans... she's not only endangering her subordinates... but the future she knows. Then again, humanity will be screwed up as well... still making her victorious. Her fate is unknown. The fate of the world is undetermined.
In the end, time must flow. What happens then will be of a standard sequence of events... leading them to something either bright or dark... The age of true fear... is finally arriving.