Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia or any of its characters or plot
Chapter 7
Hunters and The Combatants
It was finally morning but it didn't do anything to comfort the now enslaved STARS, their home now in tatters, and some of the building burning further crushing the spirits of the remaining STARS. Though few STARS were killed in the raid, those that managed to get their weapons where either shot or thrown off the top of the mall by the slavers. The zombies had been recalled at the sound of a horn after a large number of slavers came up after the zombies finished their raid. Brandishing guns and not taking their aim off the new slaves herded into a large circle in the middle of the parking lot many of them bound by ropes, cuffs or chains. All the males capable of fighting or putting up a resistance were definitely bound or restrained, the only people not bound or restrained are mothers or young children. Berwald felt anger rise in his throat as he saw a young child and a mother accompanying the child shoved to the ground roughly hurting the young child. If he didn't have his hands tied behind his back he would have made every effort possible to throttle the man who hurt the child and the mother. He looked to his left and right to see his friends also bound and beaten just like him, he looked to Tino who was half way to crying after the fear they all experienced from the zombie swarm, Belgium was doing her best to comfort Katyusha and Seychelles. Sadiq who put up the biggest struggle with the zombies was too tired to sit upright and laid beside Toris and Eduard. Berwald looked towards the slavers who were circling around their new slaves like vultures, their tamed zombies being herded into a group not far from the STARS, apparently aware that they are under the slavers control, the zombies obeyed every command that was given to them even by dragging the slaves around or by attacking the slaves to emphasize the STARS new inferiority.
"We got a good haul" Berwald eyed two slavers that began conversing not far from him and his friends.
"Yes we did, seventy-two people, not having filtered out the old, crippled and useless" the second man said. Berwald felt his anger rise again, talking about them like they were products that could be disposed of when no longer useful.
"When do we start the filtering then?" the first asked.
"When Robert decides to join us" Berwald became shocked at hearing the name.
'Robert, are they talking about our search team Robert, or are they talking about a different Robert' Berwald thought, he looked to Katyusha, Belgium, and Seychelles also heard and Berwlad could tell they were thinking the same thing.
"Speak of the devil" the first said as Robert walked up to the two, the same Robert who organized and controlled their search parties. "You ready to start filtering out the old, weak and useless?"
"ROBERT!" Berwald yelled his fury now breaking through. "HOW COULD YOU!"
Katyusha, Belgium, and Seychelles looked shocked to see their search party leader Robert walking and talking amongst the slavers like friends.
"Ah, Berwald, still alive I see" Robert mocked as he stepped closer to Berwald.
"YOU BASTARD HOW COULD YOU!" Berwald still screamed not feeling himself get any calmer.
SMACK!
Robert hit Berwald cross the face, Berwald glared back not feeling any pain his anger reaching peak levels. Robert however held a sick smile on his face as he stared Berwald down knowing that Berwald isn't able to do a thing.
"Why?" Robert looked over to see Katyusha tears streaming down her face and eyes pleading that what she was seeing was a sick joke.
"Why you ask" Robert said stepping closer to Katyusha his focus no longer having any interest in Berwald. "Because I get to have such a nice life as a slave handler" Robert knelt down to Katyusha's face and smiled that same sick smile.
"S-Since when?" Katyusha asked unable to fully ask in a full scentence
"Even before I joined the STARS" Robert answered. "I joined and pushed to be part of the search party to give information to my fellow slavers. It was easier than I imagined when I became the leader of the search parties" Robert said still maintaining that same sick smile. Katyusha couldn't look Robert in the eye anymore, her mind screaming that this wasn't happening. Robert grabbed Katyusha's chin and forced her to look at him.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!" Belgium screamed attempting to lunge and Robert but the restraints being nailed to the ground keeping them all in place stopped her.
"I don't think you're in any position to tell me what to do" Robert replied his smile not disappearing off his face, Berwald felt himself grow sick as he continued to see Robert mentally attack everyone with that sick smile. He turned his gaze back to Katyusha, and he continued to look over her smooth features. Katyusha felt extremely uncomfortable knowing that Robert was scanning her, it was a little obvious that Robert had a special interest in Katyusha, Belgium, and Seychelles. "I think you will be glad to know though" Robert began letting go of Katyusha's chin and began looking over Seychelles. "That I know where your sister is"
"Y-y-you know where my sister is?" Katyusha asked almost dreading to hear the answer.
"Well not for the most part, but I do know that she was definitely alive two weeks ago" Robert told her.
"W-what do you mean?" Katyusha asked eager to hear what it was he had to say, and also afraid to hear what happened to her sister.
"She was captured and was going to be put as a slave, but somehow managed to get away after killing her handler" Robert said. "She was being tracked by the Yellow Jackets and they just about got her back but somehow the trackers where killed, when and by who we don't know, it could have been your sister or another group I don't know, but up until a couple weeks ago" Robert said. Katyusha felt some relief to hear that her sister was seen alive two weeks ago, which was better than she had known before. "But I wouldn't feel to relieved" Robert started back up again letting go of Seychelles, and began looking over Belgium who growled at Robert as he examined her. "With where you all are going, you won't be seeing her again even if she is still alive" Katyusha's heart dropped as Robert said this. Robert moved onto another person keeping up the pace of his examination he was now looking at an old woman that they all recognized, she was the cinnamon bun cooker that Sadiq and Heracles liked so much. But however Robert didn't seem to care about her abilities which he also knew very well. "Too old" Robert said and motioned over to the two slavers that he was talking to before.
"Yes Robert" they said acknowledging the unknown command. One of them pulled out a hand gun and without hesitation shot the old woman in the head.
BANG!
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Katyusha and Seychelles screamed closing their eyes as they shot the cook.
"You bastard" Berwald growled menacingly at Robert.
"You should be thanking me for letting you live Berwald" Robert said looking back at Berwald. "Cause knowing what you could do I have it in my better interests to have you killed, but you're young and strong, which is what we need for labour slaves" Robert growled back. Berwald didn't care why Robert spared him, he just wanted to kill Robert, and tear him apart with his bare hands.
"But I'm curious" Robert began. "I don't see Heracles, or Feliks, and I definitely didn't see them among the dead. What could have happened to them?" Robert looked at Berwald and the others expecting an answer. But none of them were willing to give one. "Very well" Robert said and quickly pulled a knife from his belt and grabbed Raivis by the hair and placed the knife to Raivis's neck. Eduard panicked.
"WAIT what are you doing!?" Eduard cried hopping to stop Robert from killing his friend.
"If no one gives me an answer I will be satisfied to kill littler Raivis and his death becoming a guilt over you all" Robert said making his intentions clear. Berwald didn't know what to say, he knew they were shoved into the Sacramento river by Sadiq, but if he didn't tell them they would lose another person they held dear to them.
"They-they" Berwald said giving in, he couldn't deal with losing another friend. "They fell into the river and drifted down stream" Berwald told Robert. Robert sighed and looked at his two assistants.
"Send twelve zombies downstream and search for Feliks and Heracles" Robert demanded. "You" Robert pointed at the second slaver. "You go with them"
"Um sir, but downstream, that leads to the section of the city that the dreaded group are rumoured to reside in" the second slaver complained
"Right" Robert said realizing where downstream lead to. "You can take twenty zombies then"
"But Robert" the second slaver continued to complain.
"Is that a problem?" Robert said not seeming to care about the second slavers situation.
"No" the second slaver said.
"Good, then get going" Robert said pulling his knife away from Raivis's neck and sheathing the knife. "Thank-you Berwald" Robert thanked as he let go of Raivis and returned to examining the other slaves.
"What have you done?" Sadiq whispered to Berwald finding the strength to finally sit up in time to see what Berwald did. Berwald was near to tears.
"I'm sorry Sadiq, but I couldn't have Raivis murdered" Berwald answered.
"I can only hope that Feliks and Heracles have found a safe place, or another group already" Belgium said looking sullen.
"For all our sakes I hope they did" Berwald said.
BANG!
They heard another gunshot and saw a second senior get killed, probably because he was too old and decrepit to be of any use as a slave.
With the Reapers
Feliks and Heracles where taken into the mall where they were dried off and warmed up after being pulled from the river. They were taken to the food court after where Feliciano, and Yao began cooking up some good food for their two new comers.
"Good food" Heracles said after taking the first mouthful of pasta that Feliciano cooked.
"Like very good, where did you learn to cook?" Feliks asked.
"Ne, back at home in Italy" Feliciano answered feeling delighted to have his cooking complimented by both Heracles, and Feliks.
"And there's more to come" Yao said placing some noodles down in front of Feliks and Heracles. "The soup will help warm your body"
"Thanks" both Heracles and Feliks said at the same time
Alfred, Arthur, Kiku, Matthew, Francis, Ivan, Vash, Ludwig, Gilbert, and Roderich were in a separate room discussing about what they should do now that if there is a slave group that is strong enough to take on a large group such as The STARS then they needed to deal with the problem as soon as possible, or find a way to prevent it. Natailia, Elizabeta, Lichen, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vientam, Thailand, and Im Yong Soo and any others went to bed being too tired to do much more.
"Why don't we just go over there and shot them into oblivion da" Ivan suggested emitting his evil aura again.
"Let's not" Matthew sighed. "There are likely to be too many slavers for us to deal with alone, not including the tons of zombies they may have accompanying them" Matthew continued. "Plus if we're not careful we could end up shooting many of the slaves"
"To true" Alfred agreed.
"But then what do we do" Arthur said. "I mean we all are bloody strong fighters, but we aren't invincible in combat"
"Why not send a notice to The Combatants?" Francis asked looking, everyone turned their attention to Francis, who for the first time as long as everyone could remember finally made a decent suggestion.
"I would like to agree with that Francis" Ludwig began, "But The Combatants are easily a few days from here, and even then it's going to take them a few days for them to get here"
"Yeah, and there's no telling how much time we could have before we find ourselves in the same positon" Alfred said.
"Who is the Combatants?" Vash asked, the same question seeming to cling to Gilbert, and Roderich.
"The Combatants are a large group of survivors that we met roughly seven months ago" Alfred began explaining. "They have a large arsenal and plus have close to two hundred people" Vash, Gilbert, and Roderich looked shocked at hearing how many people there were in the group.
"That many people!?" Vash said shocked. "But if they are so strong why aren't you with them?"
"We didn't want to stay with them, they live in the country side, and tend to not stay in the same place very often. Plus we wanted to find refuge in a city, much more equipment, secure buildings, better living conditions etc" Alfred explained.
"Then is there any better way for us to reach them?" Roderich asked.
"Not that we have, unless they send a messenger, or by whatever divine intervention they somehow show up on our door step" Arthur said supporting his chin with his hands. Francis began playing with a rose between his fingers, everyone at a loss of what to say next.
They talked a little more and then many of them began napping being exhausted from last nights events. A few hours past then they heard a knock on the door.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
Everyone turned to the door that they closed to get some privacy, Francis stood up and opened the door to see Feliciano standing in front of them.
"Ne, it is almost ten" Feliciano began. "Everyone is almost up and Yao and I are beginning breakfast, you all up for breakfast?"
"Yeah let's" Alfred said standing with everyone else. They left the room and began heading for the food court, they found Im Yong Soo, Thailand, Vietnam, Elizabeta, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Romano, and Lichen have already gotten up and are at the food court eating breakfast.
"Good to see your awake and full of energy as always Im Yong Soo-san, Hong Kong-san, and Taiwan-chan" Kiku greeted his Asian friends.
"You should know it takes more than a long night to tire me" Im Yong Soo bragged shooting his hands in the air.
"That's not what I would have guessed when you complained so much about being tired" Hong Kong said sipping some coffee.
"So how was the meeting Kiku?" Taiwan asked.
"Didn't get anywhere" Kiku answered he thanked Yao as Yao dropped off a plate of food in front of Kiku. "We are thinking of contacting old friends to help, but they are too far away for it to be our best decision"
"Who are your old friend's?" Taiwan asked again.
"A large group of survivors called the Combatants" Kiku began explaining. "They live in the country, and tend to stay away from the cities so they aren't anywhere nearby which is the difficult part in contacting them"
"How many people are in this group?" Hong Kong asked.
"Roughly two hundred people" Kiku answered.
"Wow even in this time that's a lot of people in one group" Taiwan said.
"They attack slavers and free the slaves" Kiku explained. "They've done it so many times that they have gotten over eighty people from doing that alone"
"Wow interesting I would like to meet them" Taiwan said looking excited.
Alfred along with Matthew, Francis, Arthur, and Ivan sat together at a table. Yao along with Feliciano dropped a few plates off at the table.
"Thanks Yao, Feliciano" Alfred said and the Chinese, and Italian man nodded in acknowledgment and turned to head back to the kitchen.
"Man what a predicament we got ourselves in" Matthew said eating some toast with butter.
Francis and the others quietly began eating their breakfast but the peace was quickly disturbed when Feliks came bounding down the hall and into the food court.
"Like How Is Everyone Else!?" Feliks cried trying his best to be cheerful and welcoming with the others he hasn't gotten much of a chance to meet.
"Hey Feliks, Heracles" Alfred greeted the loud Polish male. "Do you two feel better?"
"Yeah" Heracles answered.
"I would feel better if I like knew that all the other STARS are alright" Feliks said.
"Yeah I understand" Alfred said. "I don't think that we've fully introduced everyone" Alfred said realizing that even after pulling Feliks and Heracles out of the river they didn't introduce themselves.
"No you didn't" Heracles answered realizing that they didn't get fully introduced either.
"Well no better time than the present right?" Alfred said turning to look at everyone present. "I'm Alfred a shotgunner, and unofficial leader of this group"
"I'm Matthew, I'm the sniper of this group and one of the trackers of this group" Matthew introduced himself.
"Arthur, I'm a regular fighter, but I guess you could say I'm a machine gunner, I also manage medicine and tools for this group" Arthur introduced himself.
"I'm Ivan da, I'm one of the sole machine gunners and close quarter fighters, I also help Kiku maintain weapons and strategies" Ivan introduced.
"That over there is Kiku" Alfred pointed to Kiku over at the far table with the other Asians. "He's part of our stealth/tracking team, he also maintains weapons and also works with us in strategies"
"What about me" Francis said flailing his arms in annoyance that they aren't allowing him a chance to introduce himself.
"I'm sure your familiar of Feliciano, and Yao?" Matthew asked pointing to the two cooks. "Feliciano manages our rations and helps cook. Yao aside from being one of the stealth/tracking team he is one of our primary fighters and close quarter fighters"
"Over there beside Kiku is Taiwan, she doesn't have a major role in the group as of yet, but for the most part helps Vietnam and Elizabeta. Vietnam over there like Taiwan doesn't have a major role, but we don't put too much on her, she is mute from trauma. Im Yong Soo, Hong Kong, and Thailand are being set up as fighters and Hong Kong is trying to become part of the stealth/tracking team" Alfred continued. "Over there is Romano, he's Feliciano's brother and he is a shot gunner like me" Alfred said sounding a little proud. "Over there is Roderich and Elizabeta" Alfred pointed to the couple sitting at another table. "They are a couple plus don't piss Elizabeta off, she's pregnant. And Roderich is more in charge of home maintenance" Alfred said.
"My sister isn't here yet" Ivan said sounding slightly happy about this fact.
"BROTHER!" Feliks and Heracles jumped at hearing a high pitched girl sqeal.
"Me and my big mouth da" Russia said glooming he was suddenly tackled out of his seat by Natalia who came flying out of nowhere. Everyone else gripped their seats or the table in surprise as Natailia dived in and out of their vision at seemingly superhuman speed and strength.
"We should see about here being part of an assault team" Alfred said.
"Oh by the way Ivan, how was your night last night?" Arthur asked slightly mocking the poor Russian.
"Kolkolkolkolkolkolkolkolkolkolkolkol" Ivan chanted as menacingly as he could, after all he was half scared to death by Natalia hugging him, and annoyed with Arthur teasing him.
"Before I get interrupted again" Francis stood seeing a chance to introduce himself before he was ignored. "I'm Francis the head cook, and also the head of the search team, but however such a team isn't fully established yet" Francis said. "To say the least we all share the same responsibilities, but however what we just said is our individual specialties"
"I see" Heracles said. "And who is this young woman?"
"Ah meet Ivan's adopted sister Natalia" Alfred said.
"Natalia huh, what a pretty name" Heracles said.
"Wait Natalia, Natalia" Feliks began saying repeatedly. "AH!"
"What's wrong?" Matthew asked slightly shocked at Feliks outburst
"Natalia! Do you have a sister named Katyusha!?" Feliks asked connecting some dots. Ivan looked up surprised and eager, Natalia actually looked away from Ivan and stared at Feliks.
"Yes we do da" Ivan answered. "How do you know about that da?"
"S-she was part of STARS" Fleiks said beginning to stutter.
"What really?" Alfred said shocked. "Well Ivan it looks like we may have found out about your last and still currently missing sister"
"You were with Katyusha? How was she da?" Ivan asked eager to hear about his favourite sister.
Feliks and Heracles faces suddenly drooped. "I wish I could say that she is fine, had we not been separated because of the Grabbing" Heracles answered. "Depending on how fast those slavers work she could be made a full slave and be sent across the country in a week"
"Is that the fastest slavers are known to work?" Alfred asked.
"Well preparations for transportation would take the fastest slavers we know a full week before they can start transporting slaves, but most often slaves are kept with the slavers until someone wants to trade or buy" Heracles answered. Everyone else's attention was caught by Feliks outburst and heard the rest of the conversation very well.
"Kolkol Which slavers group has her da? kolkolkolkolkol" Ivan asked chanting his evil chant.
"I like believe the slavers group that like attacked us is the Hunters" Feliks answered.
"Okay so we know the name and we know that they use zombies as their dogs to hunt people down. So how should we organize this?" Alfred asked.
"I've got an idea" Francis said raising his hand. But Alfred ignored him.
"Anyone?" Alfred asked again. "No one?"
"WHY DOESN'T ANYONE LISTEN TO ME!?" Francis cried. Everyone turned to look at Francis evilly.
"Um I've got an idea" Matthew raised his hand. Matthew stood and whispered it to Alfred's ear.
"That's a great idea" Alfred said smiling.
"What is it?" Francis asked wondering what Matthew told Alfred was.
Both Matthew and Alfred looked at Francis evilly and grabbed Francis everyone stared in shock.
"What are you doing!?" Francis said suddenly feeling very scared.
A few minutes later.
"YOU'RE ALL CRAZY!" Francis yelled. He was hanging upside down from the roof of the mall his feet where wrapped around a pulley system on the roof which was used to bring up heavy supplies to the upper levels of the mall from the outside. Francis was currently hanging at the second level height out of three levels, everyone stared some confused others either looking satisfied (Elizabeta) and others laughing their a**es off. Their joke of turning Francis into unwilling bait had just turned reality. "PUT ME DOWN!" the French man yelled.
"How is this relevant to our current problem?" Arthur asked Matthew who was laughing.
"It has no relevance, it just makes me feel better and helps me think better" Matthew said returning to laugh at the position of the French man.
"Oh I see" Arthur said understanding just a little.
"Okay" Alfred answered as he lowered the rope causing the French bait to go closer to the ground.
"Ah okay" Francis sighed thinking he got through to the others, but however Francis looked at the ground and saw something that startled him.
"Aaaaauuuuuuurrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhh" several zombies groaned and moaned below him.
"AAAAHHHH! PULL ME UP PULL ME UP!" Francis cried, and he felt himself stop and started being pulled back up. He was slowly pulled back up to the third level and he got glares from everyone.
"Make up your bloody mind will ya" Arthur said. Francis could see Alfred, and many others pouting.
"Z-z-z-zombies" Francis said huffing and puffing with relief as he pointed to the ground below him. The others looked over the edge to see a group of twenty zombies huddled below Francis, and they saw a man standing roughly ten feet away from the zombies looking totally calm with the fact that zombies are just ten feet away.
"Well what do you know, there are zombies" Alfred said mused. "Wonder why we didn't see them until now?"
"I wonder why that man is standing over there and not running like a regular person?" Arthur said pointing to the man.
"Th-th-those zombies" Feliks said looking frightened, Heracles didn't look frightened but he looked angry and tense.
"Do those zombies look familiar to you two da?" Ivan asked looking at both Feliks and Heracles. "Well let's get you reacquainted da" Ivan said stepping up behind Feliks and Heracles an evil look in his eyes.
"YOUR CRAZY LET ME DOWN!" Feliks cried.
"WAIT NO!" Heracles cried realizing the mistake Feliks made being the same one that Francis did earlier. Alfred smiled and he began lowering three men down.
"Set up a pulley for me as well, but I won't be hanging upside down" Alfred said. There were five pulleys on the roof and they were currently using three, Alfred would be using a fourth. "Kiku, Yao, Hong Kong, Im Yong Soo. You guys head down stairs and prepare to ambush them." Alfred said.
"Alright Alfred-san, shall we use firearms? After all you Heracles-san, Feliks-san, and Francis-san will be in close proximity of the direction of fire" Kiku said bringing up a concern that even stopped Alfred in his tracks.
"That is a good point, um are you comfortable with fighting all those zombies with just melee weapons?" Alfred asked. Kiku looked at the zombie group down below and seeming to gauge their numbers against the strength of the four male Asians.
"Yes Alfred-san I am sure we can take them on with just melee weapons" Kiku answered as he and the three other Asians left to get ready.
"Alright, lower me down" Alfred said. Ivan began turning a lever that lowered Alfred down towards the ground.
"Why would Alfred want to lower himself like we did with Francis, Heracles, and Feliks?" Arthur asked.
"Probably to look cool" Matthew answered.
"Hey there" Alfred called to the man standing in the same place he was before.
"Hey" the man responded looking both confused and sceptical.
"How can we help you?" Alfred asked smiling to the man.
"AH PULL ME UP!" Feliks cried hanging roughly five feet above the twenty swarmed zombies.
"I see you found the two runaway slaves I'm looking for" the man said pointing to Feliks, and Heracles. "But why do you have that man hanging upside down?" the man asked pointing to a screaming and cursing Francis.
"Oh him, we just felt like it" Alfred answered. "How do you know these two anyway?" Alfred asked referring to Feliks and Heracles.
"I am part of a slaver group that grabbed those two and the rest of their group" The man began to explain not relenting his gaze from the screaming two. "And they got away, so by right they belong to us, so can you hand them over?" the man asked trying to be patient and polite.
"I guess that makes sense" Alfred said putting a hand to his chin in a thinking position. Feliks and Heracles looked at Alfred shocked, he sounded like that he was going to hand them over. "But however you lost them, and we found them, so I wave my rights to finder keepers, losers weepers" Alfred smiled striking a victory pose.
"I don't think so" the man said pointing to the zombies. "I can have these zombies do everything I want them to, not only that I am part of the slavers group the Hunters, I have seen that you don't have any more than twenty people in your group, you don't honestly think that you can say no to such a powerful group such as the Hunters, cause if you do you should be ready for the consequences" the man warned.
"Is that a threat?" Alfred asked looking sternly at the slaver.
"Of course it's a threat, what do you think it was?" the man said soundly slightly more irritated.
"I couldn't tell what it was; after all it was a poorly done threat after all" Alfred mocked the man.
"You think you could do better" the man said showing that he was losing patience.
"Actually I think I can" Alfred answered still smiling. "How about this one. Go away and don't bother us, or we will destroy you and your entire group"
"Ha, nice threat but however it's nothing more than a bluff" the man said laughing.
Meanwhile
"You all ready?" Kiku asked his three Asian brothers
"Yes aru" Yao answered, Hong Kong, and Im Yong Soo nodded in acknowledgement.
"Alright now all we need is to wait for Alfred-san's call to have us attack" Kiku said. They hide behind a ledge in the outer wall of the mall, hiding them from site of the zombies and the man. Kiku could see the zombies and the man roughly twenty feet away.
Back to Alfred
"You saying that I'm bluffing?" Alfred asked.
"Of course I am, even if you could escape the Hunters there are hundreds if not thousands of other slaver groups, there is no hope for you no matter what you do" the man said.
"I beg to differ" Alfred said starting to grow tired of this man. "Do you even know who we are?"
"Why should I care?" the man asked seeming confident with himself.
"Well I guess that no one would know of us yet, after all we only made residence here just over a month ago" Alfred said realizing that he couldn't scare the man like he wanted to.
"A-a month a-ago?" the man stuttered, Alfred looked at him confused as to the sudden change in tone.
"Yeah, is that such a big problem?" Alfred asked.
"Are you part of that group that killed several of those Yellow Jackets?" the man asked.
"Yellow Jackets?" Alfred began thinking deeply. "Are you referring to the slavers that we ran into a few days ago?" Alfred asked.
"Did you meet them on a rainy day?" the slaver asked.
"Yeah" Alfred answered. Feliks and Heracles looked at Alfred stunned. "What?"
"Y-y-y-your them, the group that all those rumours are about" the man stuttered pointing at Alfred.
"Oh rumours huh, I like rumours" Alfred said smiling "Tell me some of them"
"You guys have a sniper that is said to be able to snipe a zombie across the city" the man began. "You are also said to have a man who could tear zombies apart with his bare hands, and an American leader who is strong but isn't always down to earth or so some of the rumours say" the man said.
"N-n-not down to earth?" Alfred asked looking horrified. Francis sniggered, that rumour for the most part was true. Feliks and Heracles looked at Alfred. "N-not down to earth" Alfred repeated like it was a curse to his existence. "WELL IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR GOING TO ADD ANOTHER RUMOUR TO THE LIST! KIKU NOW!" Alfred cried.
"Yes Alfred-san" Kiku, Yao, Hong Kong and Im Yong Soo jumped out from their cover, revealing themselves to the zombies. Kiku saw the zombies change their focus from the four hanging men and charged at the four Asians. "These zombies have seen their last day" Kiku said he lunged forward slicing a zombie in half, swinging around he high kicked another in the chest sending it flying back, a zombie trying to tackle him from the side Kiku impaled the zombie through the heart. Im Yong Soo swinging a Chinese broad sword he slashed a few zombies making them stager from the blow, continuing his series of slashes Im Yong Soo swung a couple more times beheading the two zombies. Hong Kong wielding two Bowie knives he spun his body around severing the limb off one zombie with one knife, and planted the second knife into a second zombies head. Yao using his favourite twin Hook swords he hooked one zombie and threw the zombie to the side, he kicked a second zombie in the balls making the zombie stagger like every other zombie they've canned. Using his hook swords he looped the hooks around the leg of another zombie slicing the leg off crippling it and making it topple to the ground. Yao swung the swords again embedding them into the skull of the zombie killing it. The zombie that Yao threw to the side got back up and charged at Yao, Yao quickly pulled a knife from his belt, throwing it and the knife landed into the zombies head. The zombie that Yao canned recovered and charged at Yao's unprotected back, Im Yong Soo stepped in the way and swinging the broad sword he decapitated that zombie too, Yao quickly patted Im Yong Soo on the back as thanks before moving on. Kiku drew a second katana and with precision he lunged and slashed four more zombies severing their arms from their bodies, Hong Kong jumped forward in Kiku's wake and swinging his knives he severed the jugular veins in two and stabbed the hearts of the remaining two. Im Yong Soo decapitated two more and kicked another in the balls, Yao hooked the neck of the zombie that was kicked in the balls and threw it into two other zombies, another zombie rushed at Yao, Yao jumped up and managing to get high enough he swung his leg and kicked the zombie's head, the head suffering from years of decay and rot it didn't stay on its shoulders, the head flew and the head smoked the slaver in the head knocking him to the ground. Yao threw another knife and killed a second zombie. Kiku split one more in half, Hong Kong gutted a second, and Im Yong Soo hacked the head off the final zombie. All twenty zombies layed on the ground dead, Kiku stepped up to the slaver still laying on the ground, he pressed his sword to the man's throat and Im Yong Soo did the same. Yao and Hong Kong walked over to Alfred, Francis, Heracles, and Feliks.
"Great job guys" Alfred said waving his hand cheerfully, he turned his head towards the roof where the others were standing guns drawn just in case. "Okay guys you can send me down now!" Alfred called and he felt himself get lowered until his feet were comfortably on the ground. "Oh and send the other two down as well!" Alfred called again.
'Two?' Heracles, Francis and Feliks thought as they realized what Alfred said. Suddenly Feliks and Heracles felt themselves being lowered, Francis however remained in his position.
"HEY WHAT ABOUT ME!?" Francis cried realizing that Alfred was purposely leaving him hanging.
"What about you?" Alfred asked not seeing what Francis's problem was.
"Your all so mean" Francis began crying, then he suddenly felt himself being lowered, astonished he looked up and was barely able to see Matthew's face as he continued to go lower to the ground.
"Aw Matthew you ruined the fun" Alfred said.
'I think we all had our fun for today anyway' Matthew thought lowering Francis to the ground. After Matthew had set Francis on the ground he grabbed his rifle and made for the parking lot.
"I would stay there if I were you" Kiku said pressing the point of his sword deeper into the slavers neck without breaking skin, as the man tried to get back up.
"So my friend I think it's time you answered some questions" Alfred said now in full control.
"B-before I do, can I ask y-you all something?" the man asked.
"Okay I guess depends on the question" Alfred answered.
"Just who are you guys?" the man asked. Alfred along with everyone else smiled.
"We are called the Reapers" Alfred answered. "We are survivors from different origins and lives, brought together by fate to survive this ordeal. Does that answer your question?" Alfred asked to see the slaver nod. "Now then we have some questions. First how many of you slavers are there?"
"Like I would answer that" the man scowled but he felt both Im Yong Soo's and Kiku's sword dig just a little deeper at his refusal. "I-I don't know, roughly seventy slavers" the man answered losing his nerve.
"How many zombies do you have as your hound dogs?" Alfred continued his questions.
"No idea" the man answered looking rather honest. "I would guess hundreds"
"How many slaves does your group have?"Alfred asked again.
"Again I don't know" the man answered. "Hundreds, we keep the numbers under control by having them bitten and turned into zombies which we add to our "hound dogs" as you call it" the man answered.
"What About The STARS" Heracles yelled stepping forward but was held back by Ludwig and Gilbert. "What Has Happened To Them!"
"I would think that you know" the man answered. "We took them as slaves, and we are going to send them back to our new base here in Sacramento to distribute them. Afterwards we will use them as slaves until we see enough reason to trade or sell them" the man answered.
"But Like What Happens If They Get Old!?" Feliks asked realizing that the man didn't tell them what they did with the old slaves.
"We kill them" the man answered. "Once they're old they are useless as slaves so we kill them and feed them to the zombies". Everyone was shocked, though it shouldn't have been surprising, they could help but feel disgusted about how lightly the man told them about it.
"What exactly do you make slaves do da?" Ivan asked in a dangerously low tone knowing that they held his sister. He had to hold Natalia back from slitting the man's throat, as much as he wanted to let her do it, he knew that Alfred was looking to get as much information out of the man, and he knew that they needed this information.
"Well it depends on the slaves age, gender and condition" the man began explaining the blades not relenting their digging into his neck. "If the children are young, we use them as cheap labour and have them clean, do laundry, and even depending on their handlers they can be used as forms of "relief"" the man said he felt the blades dig deeper as everyone grew more disgusted by what he was telling them. "Young strong males are used as heavy labour into building what we want them to build, anything from zombie pens, their own holding cells, and even luxury building for us" the man said cracking a weak smile. "The young females jobs can vary from dancers, to maids, bar maids, or even if the handlers sees fit even sex slaves" the man sniggered, he stopped when the blades again dug deeper against his neck this time drawing a little blood.
"And as for the STARS whom you just enslaved?" Matthew asked.
"Well, it depends on the handler, but most of them will need "Breaking in" before we can use any of them as slaves, since they are new, and have been living a life of freedom until now they will be resisting their new slave life, and will be used for small tasks until they finally have their spirits crushed." The man explained.
"Like what will they be used for?" Feliks asked needing to hear what was going to happen to his friends.
"Well to answer that and another question that I know is going to come "What will you do to break them in?" we will make the slaves do hard labour for the most part, forcing fatigue onto their bodies making them easier to break in. To fully break them in depends on the person, sometimes a good whipping does the trick, others need to be locked inside a cage surrounded by zombies, parents will have their children taken away from them and blackmailed into thinking that if they work hard they will see them again. Young females and males will go under intense torture until they are willing to obey every command without question." The man finished.
"Where exactly is your home base?" Alfred asked.
"In the centre of Sacramento" the man said after giving in when Kiku's and Yong Soo's blades pressed deeper. "There is a large strip mall that we set up camp at, we bring new slaves to the camps and have them spend a couple weeks there at most for their "breaking in" and then we assign them their duties." The man answered, squinting to get a better look at the blades against his neck.
"Thanks that's all I wanted to know" Alfred said, turning away. "Release him"
"What?" everyone said looking at Alfred.
"Just do it" Alfred said. He received a few complaints but after telling them again to do it, Kiku and Yong Soo removed their blades from the man's neck.
"Go, if you're not out of sight in one minute I will have you shot" Alfred said. The man staggered up, he looked at Alfred.
"You've just signed your death warrant" the man said and ran away.
"Brother why did you let him get away!?" Matthew asked sounding angry. "He's going to tell his group where we are and we don't have the ability to defend ourselves against such a group"
"Matthew" Alfred said turning to his brother.
"What?" Matthew asked.
"How long does it take for a person to bleed out when they receive an injury to the stomach?" Alfred asked.
"If they force themselves to move a little over an ho-" Matthew stopped when he realized what Alfred was getting to. "Got it". Matthew quickly raised his rifle and brought the man into the sight of his scope.
"What Alfred didn't you say one minute though?" Arthur asked.
"Did I?" Alfred asked back. "Fire when ready Matthew"
BLANG!
Roughly an hour later at the square where the STARS are being examined
"Well that's all of the weak, old, and useless removed" a slaver standing next to Robert said.
"And we have a good haul still, sixty-seven people" Robert said looking over all their new slaves Katyusha, Belgium, Berwald, Sadiq and the others a few feet in front of him.
"S-s-s-s-s-sir" they turned at hearing a groggily voice, they saw a fellow slaver stagger towards them bleeding heavily from his gut.
"What Happened!?" Robert yelled running up to the man he sent out to search for the two escapees.
"I-it w-was them" the slaver said collapsing Robert and the slaver beside him caught him. Katyusha, and the others were close enough to hear what he was saying.
"I-i-i-it was them, th-t-the Re-Reapers" the man continued.
"The Reapers!?" Robert said shocked, he had never heard of the name before. "Is this the group we hav been hearing these rumours about?" the dying slaver nodded weakly.
"T-th-t-they have fo-found the t-two es-escapees" the man said drifting closer into oblivion. Berwald looked at his fellow STARS as they heard news that cheered them up. The rumoured survivor group had found their friends and was going to help them.
"How many where there?" Robert asked quickly.
"O-ov-o-over t-t-twenty" the man said but didn't stop there. "Do-do not u-under-underestimate..... them" the man finished his head hung limply and died.
RUMBLE!
"Robert what should we do?" the slaver next to Robert asked. "Shall we head south, find them and kill them"
"No" Robert said. "A storm's coming, plus we have all these slaves to deal with" Robert lowered his head as he set the dead slaver on the ground. "We aren't ready to face them, The Reapers just yet"
Notes: wow this one felt a little slow as I wrote it, none the less I liked it, it really drove home the image that the Reapers aren't people to mess with, plus it helps me set up for the next chapters. Expect the next chapter to come within a week, but I won't make any promises. PLEASE REVIEW, I really enjoy the reviews plus it encourages me to write more faster. I know that this story is losing some of its comedy but that's because this story is beginning to enter a serious point in the plot.
The poll I set up isn't going to be a critical plot maker, it was set up to help me make a decision, Please vote, but just so you know it isn't a deciding factor in this story much like the votes on who is going to show up next chapter. I also will try to work Spain into the story, if anyone wants to tell me another country that they want me to add that I haven't done already please do so.
