Here's the next chapter! Thanks again to all reviewers and story alert-ers!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything!
A/N: This chapter takes place in the future, it's a narrative version of what Alyssa is telling Kumalo. I figured plotting it this way would be more interresting than having her talking to him
Again, thanks to reviewers: Firepony, where are you? I wanted to reply personally to your wonderful reviews but found I couldn't. So I will say it now. Thank you!
To All readers: Wondering who exactly Darren is? A little riddle at the end, see if you can figure it out.
Chris crashed through another fence, narrowly dodging a blast of fire.
"Get him!"
The demons growled behind him, all to aware that they were awfully close to resistance territory. One of Chris's teammates chanced a discharge at the demons, the heavy laser concussion weapon recoiling in his hands as it fired a volley of glowing shots. Given the opportunity, Chris vaulted himself over a crumbling wall, seeking cover behind it. Quickly, the members of his team joined him behind it, setting up their weapons as soon as they made it behind the wall.
"Radio for backup!" Chris yelled to the only mechanic that had made it through their scouting mission. The man nodded and held the radio device to his mouth.
"This is Alpha R team, we request backup immediately at the northwest entrance to the compound, over."
"Alpha team, this is Command Center, how many are with you?"
"Command Center, we have 14 resistance fighters with us including Alpha Eagle. I'm afraid he's been wounded sir. Request backup now."
"Copy, Alpha team. Backup is on its way immediately. Protect Alpha Eagle at all costs until we arrive."
"Yes sir. We will wait for you."
"Now why did you tell them I was wounded, Cortman?" Chris asked, clutching the bleeding wound at his side, frowning deeply.
"I thought they might hurry some more sir." Cortman said, grinning. "They're on their way now, you just stay put."
"Easy for you to say," Kayla muttered gruffly, firing her mounted weapon and ducking an energy flare. "Now pick up a weapon and shoot at these bastards."
"Can you see how many there are?" Chris asked, taking a brief peek with aching difficulty.
"They took cover too Chris. But from what I can remember, I think 16 or 20 were on our tail."
"All demons?"
"No. Couple of witches and humans, but not many."
"Weapons?"
"Concussion assault rifles. Good thing we intercepted that military weapons convoy last week huh?"
"Yeah. Now we can return their bullets to them. Any of them using their powers?"
"A couple. But Wyatt's Power Block policy is really a damper on it. I reckon without it, they'd have blasted through this wall already, correct?"
Chris nodded and chanced another look, falling heavily at the exertion. The sound of incoming motor engines and the billows of dust and dirt attracted their attention. The demon team sent fireballs at the vehicles. Seeing one come out of cover to attack, Kayla adjusted her aim and hit the demon in the chest, giving a loud yell of victory when the opponent burst into flames. The vehicles took cover behind a collapsing building, scores of resistance fighters ducking their way to the wall where their fellow team members had been holding out.
"Glad to see you guys!" Cortman shouted, "Where's air support?"
As if in answer to his question, the loud whirring of twin helicopter blades invaded their hearing, as three Resistance Air Support planes came into view, soaring over their position and unleashing a torrent of gun and missile fire on the demons below. Witches that had come along for the ride set free their powers from their position on the helicopter's skids. Several of the demons burst into flames. Their luckier counterparts immediately lunged for cover. The few humans and witches who'd been on their side were also rather unlucky. The Demon leader picked up his radio device and attempted to call for his own backup. He briefly cursed his lord when the device wouldn't work.
"You, demon! How many are left?"
"Not many my lord. The witches and humans are dead."
"That's not a loss. Not at all. Now go tell the others to retreat. No regrouping. We're more vulnerable in a cluster. Tell them to meet up at our previous recon point. Whoever stays behind, gets left behind!"
The other demon bowed, and scampered along the cover or debris to inform the others. The Demon leader cursed once again and began to flee along a safe, underground path he'd noticed earlier.
"Quick, get Alpha Eagle into the plane. Bring all wounded as well."
"Yes sir."
Chris stood with Cortman's and Kayla's help. He groaned as Cortman's riffle bumped on his wound briefly.
"Damn it Charlie! Sling your weapon over your other damn shoulder!" Kayla reprimanded, shouldering Chris's weight as Cortman listened to the fiery woman.
"I can walk you know." Chris protested, as they lowered him on a stretcher.
"No one's taking any chances Alpha Eagle," the medic on board informed him "Not with you."
"Wilson, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Chris?"
Resistance fighter and medic Andrew Wilson grinned. "Just following protocol Chris."
Chris beamed back at him. "Screw the protocol Andy."
"Will do Alpha Eagle Chris."
"You're incorrigible."
"And you're hurt. Now let me see that wound…"
"Full house! Give me all your money bastards!" The heavy demon rumbled, pulling in the money on the table to him with large, tattooed arms.
"I think you're cheating again, Furlong. You've been winning the game the past three times."
"Yeah!" Another demon chorused, dropping his losing hand on the table angrily. "You think you can pull one on us? Think you can cheat us, you freaking waste?"
"Look, I won. And if anyone thinks differently, they can fight it out with me, how's that?" Furlong roared, eyeing the other demon with pure hate.
"Break it up. You now the Commander doesn't like fights over card games." Another demon said calmly, looking at them warily from his afar position on a chair where he'd been sharpening his blade. He stroked his beard and added, "He doesn't like fighting period come to think of it."
"Stay out of it, old man!" Crowley yelled, in anger disregarding the fact that the other demon was higher in rank and power. "I know Furlong cheated and I'm going to make him swallow all these cards, one by one. The Commander can go look at something else, I don't give a flipping fu-"
Crowley never finished his sentence. The person he was about to insult had just taken him by surprise from behind, gripped his neck and sent him to the ground. Crowley howled with rage and attempted to stand, ready to attack and defend his stubborn pride.
"Damn it Crowley, stand down!" The previously calm demon said angrily, "Stand down if you know what's good for you!"
But Crowley didn't listen. Blinded by rage he lunged at the Commander, uncaring that the other demons were now also calling him to stop. The other dodged his attack easily, and sent him once more to the ground with a well-aimed kick. Crowley attempted to get to his feet once more, but remained sprawled as a heavy boot pushed against his lower back. Crowley shrieked pain and fury and sought to stand yet again. He finally lay still when the boot repositioned itself on his neck, digging into his carotid artery. Crowley wanted nothing more than to stand and beat the lights out of this human that had somehow attained the position of Commander. He would love to see him scream. But it didn't work that way. Lying completely still, struggling to breathe and stay conscious, Crowley could only look at the dark green eyes above him that glared at him contemptuously, merciless black jade pupils set in narrowed brows.
"What did you say Crowley?" The other asked harshly, lips curling into a snarl.
"N-Nothing Commander Fenrir." Crowley managed to gasp out, using the Commander's code name as a way to demonstrate his fake repentance and respect.
"Are you sure? I think you were going to say something Crowley. Are you sure you don't want to say it anymore?"
"Yes Commander." Crowley said between panicked breaths, losing the battle for air.
The Commander lifted his boot and gave the now gasping demon another warning look before turning to leave. But Crowley wasn't done. Even though he'd just been chocked, he couldn't resist a final verbal retaliation.
"Fuck you."
Crowley had expected more time to react. He had expected that this time around, he'd be ready to offer resistance. But it didn't play out like that. Before he even had a chance to raise his arms in attack, he was against the wall. This time, the Commander's hand was wrapped around his neck, not his boot, and was so close Crowley could see the intertwined snake tattoos on his hand that delineated his high rank. Crowley watched as he reached down and unsheathed his blade, the same blade Crowley had seen stained in blood many times before. He and the other demons had had a joke about it, saying that it forgave and spared none. The demon swallowed thickly, desperately thinking of an exit. Without hesitation the Commander brought the dagger to his neck, pushing it against the soft skin.
"You've crossed the line Crowley. You've crossed it by a long distance. And now you will get the pleasure of knowing what happens when someone crosses me."
The older demon that had tried to stop the fight in the first place now came towards the commander of their unit, placing a hand on the other's shoulder.
"Come, my friend and leader. This scum is not worth your time."
"He isn't. But it's about time my warnings took on some meaning. He will do well to respect those of higher rank. Am I right, Crowley?"
Before Crowley could respond, another demon came through the door, glancing at the group of demons gathered around it with wariness. Unsurprised at the sight before him, the demon courier stepped forward, bowing lightly and saying,
"Commander Halner, Lord Wyatt requests your immediate presence."
"Tell him I'll be there in a minute."
"I'm afraid the matter is pressing, Commander."
Giving the blade a final press, Darren removed it and stored it in the sheath next to his sword and gun. He adjusted his dark clothing and the chains that hung from his belt.
"This isn't over for you Crowley. This is far from over for you."
Darren kneed the demon in the stomach and kicked him when he fell to the ground.
"I'll deal with you later."
Chris winced as Wilson pressed down on the wound.
"Am I going to live, doctor?"
"Cut it out with the jokes." Andy responded, though smiling a little. "Of course you're going to live. But you'll be in pain for a while."
"Nothing new." Chris responded, eyes darkening. Andy hated this fact and quickly changed the subject.
"Well, I have some painkillers on board, and I'm going to need to stitch this up. What the hell happened Chris?"
"Well, we went to check out the town. Turns out those bastards got to it first. Completely burned to the ground."
"Any survivors?"
Chris shook his head. "We found some bodies. We think the others were taken prisoner. We were going to check for vehicle tracks or something and that's when we got ambushed. Some demons had stayed behind to see if they could capture some Resistance Fighters."
Andy nodded and carefully applied gauze to the wound. He couldn't fully operate and stitch it up on a moving plane.
"So that's when you got this?"
"Yup. One of them got lucky and shot me. It was a human though."
Andy briefly thanked the heavens at this fact. Humans weren't allowed to carry Concussion Rifles.
"We only lost two." Chris said somberly, looking away.
"It wasn't your fault Chris."
"I know."
Andy knew Chris lied. But for once, he kept his mouth shut.
Is Darren evil? Where on the timeline is this? What will happen with Chris?
Next Chapter: Back to the present! (of the story at least)
Take the time to review please!! Also, when writing this chapter I was under the influence of having recently watched Terminator Salvation (which was an awesome, amazing movie by the way) so if this chapter runs sort of like a post apocalyptic world scenario, that is why.
Riddle:
They call me Darren Halner
Who am I really?
Well, the key to this game
Can be found in my name...