Reason to Live II
Chapter 6: The Beginning
April 25th,
Roma Termini, Rome
1430 hrs
(Frederick's P.O.V)
Something's wrong…seriously, I feel something is wrong. Its operation time, but I don't feel right. Usually, I would be excited during operation times such as this; not to mention, civilian bystanders free! Roma Termini is closed down due to the arrival of my-our target. To note, he is someone important in the Italian Parliament; a big fish I might say! The Government wants him taken out after they figured out his corruption attempts. No charges were made on him due to the fact that Padania Hit-men were hired and sponsored by him. Maybe there's more than one son-of-a-bitch who sponsored Padania activities in Rome...sad we only managed to uncover a few.
Getting a little off topic, but that's what our mission is right now. But something's wrong…I can definitely feel something changed around Edward. His looks…? No…he looks the same to me. New haircut…? I don't think so. But I'm sure that something disturbing coming out from him. His cackles and his chuckles were eerie and send chills down on my spine. The way he called my name earlier is also disturbing. He never called me 'Frederick' even once after his first mission. We were used to using the nick 'Yank/Yankee' and 'Kraut', that we never call each other with our given name; even in the dormitory! After so long coping up with him, I knew something's not right with him. This person behind me isn't him. It isn't the Edward I used to know. Then…who…
…John Michael?
Impossible! Not of all times! He couldn't have remembered! I was careful enough for the past few months not to rile up his memories. He's like time bomb with no time, not telling when he'll set off and cause great casualties. I just hope it isn't the time yet. In the middle of the upcoming crossfire, he could've lied to the rest that an incoming enemy round killed me, and he would be free of charge…for a moment. I know Triela would go and find who killed me if I ever died.
"I would've died…if I ever lose you…" Her words from that night when we first kiss circles my head for a moment, doubting me if she would ever search for the murderer
Rather, she would commit suicide and join me to the grave. I don't want to trouble the Agency too much, but if this happens…things won't be the same. I have 5 sisters to take care off; one is the person I care for the most. I don't want to endanger them in this matter, and I don't want to lose them too early. Triela is precious to me…having her die for me is something I can't face. I promise I'll protect her, even if it spends my remaining life span. But for her to die in exchange for me is something I will prevent from. Damn lost in thoughts again…
…lets just hope my feelings were incorrect
"Frederick, Edward, Triela, Henrietta, listen up." My thoughts dissolve in the presence of Sylvia Amati, Edward's handler. She's on the field today as our handler; his handler precisely. Hillshire's on the intercom line; along with José who would be supporting us fully as we engage our targets. Intel has it he'll arrive at 1430, but it seems however he's five minutes late. We were assigned to standby and watch the situation before we storm the station.
"Your target today is part of the Italian Parliament itself. The Government has ordered us to assassinate him in the benefit for both the SWA and the Italian Government. This man has been found guilty on corruption and supporting terrorist actions. We're here to stop him." With a photo of our target shoved at us, all we could do is watch and listen as we receive our orders
"He will have heavy bodyguard escorts, both from Padania Hit-men and his own personals; best of luck for all of you, junior operatives." The minute the horn of the railed transport sounds, we knew its mission time "Alright. Lock and load boys and girls!"
(Triela's P.O.V)
Moving close to Frederick, I pump my shotgun as I watch him loading his StG 44 Assault Rifle…
…hesitantly
I can sense something's wrong with him. It's always like this. When something's wrong, he's not over-excited taking out Padanias. I have a feeling something's wrong today. But I can't determine what it is…
Decisively, I close in on him and tap him in the shoulder. To my surprise, he flinches as though he had just been awoken from a long slumber of nightmare. He looks at me and observes me for a second, taking heavy breath in between his blinks before he embraces. Closing my eyes, I patted his back and ask him what's wrong. He didn't answer. I ask him again, what's wrong? Finally, he replies
"I…I'm afraid I'll lose you…"
"Frederick…" Not caring of anything around us, I embrace him for a moment as the train pulls to a complete stop "I'll be fine. We'll finish this together; like always..."
He keeps himself quiet for a moment, nodding in agreement as Sylvia, Henrietta, and Edward waits for both of us. But for most of it all, I do have some strange feelings on the American operative…
…there's something different about him today…something…vile…
(Edward's P.O.V)
The train drew to a complete halt. The screeching noise became our first siren as we fix our eyes on the train. My hands were shaking with excitement as a figure steps out of the railed transportation. No…it isn't because we'll be going guns-ablaze soon…
…but because today, my vengeance starts
Checking my M1A1 Thompson which is concealed safely inside an AMATI instrumental case, I look up towards the target as he and the rest of his bodyguards rally themselves before walking out of the station; armed and ready incase they make contact with Government agents…and they will. Frederick stood up from his cover, way behind the line of sight of their bodyguards and raises his Sturmgewehr (Storm Rifle/ Assault Rifle). Steadily he aims for the target's exposed head through the crowd of armed thugs. Henrietta watches carefully, and so is the rest of the group. A second later, he pulls the trigger. 7.62x 33 mm round came whizzing in the air as it flies straight to its victim without delay. The loud bang from his weapon attracts the bodyguards, lifting their weapon for a quick engagement while the bullet flies…
…and misses the target.
Another of his body guard came in the way; the bullet hits him in the head instead and killed him, sparing the life of this diplomat. The firefight starts. I draw my Thompson out of the instrument case with force and load a 30 round .45 ACP loaded box magazine and began firing from cover as Henrietta and Triela moves in closer for engagement. Frederick stays behind with his Assault Rifle, deploying suppression fire as the two girls' advances. Triela and her M1897 Shotgun makes short work to those foolish enough to show their heads at close range, while Henrietta's FN P90 mows down two-three Padanias at once. The deer frantically scour for available cover as fast as possible while screaming for his life as his men were mowed down at close range by the two girls positioned ahead. Not wasting any time, Sylvia advances with her M92FR Beretta handgun and fires three burst rounds as both Frederick and I advances to our next position.
Frederick's ability to stay calm in the field helps him a lot. Looking at him for a second, I can tell he's enjoying this firefight just like he used to be…
…or so it seems
His face reflects a huge tension, not like the usual where he hums lightly while loading a spare magazine into the weapon's chamber before breaking out of cover and returns fire. Something's in his mind…and I can somewhat tell that he's not happy about whatever thing in his mind. Is he afraid he's going to lose Triela? Is he afraid this is his last day? No…
…is he afraid to know that I'm going to kill him?
Yes…I bet that's what he has in his mind right now. Fear…GREAT FEAR! Spreading fear in the midst of combat is an excellent way to bring down morale on troops, rendering them to fight any longer and gives us an easier way to win the fight either surrender, or my personal favorite way…
…massacre
It has become something I'm quite fond off. Frederick thinks I'm sick, twisted, and wrong after that mission. I still remember. After the answer he has given about why we kill Padanias, I start thinking of a new way to please myself on having fun with them dirt bags. I found a way how to on our 2nd to last mission; various ways. Massacre, execution, torture, and interrogation…those are my personal favorites. Frederick saw it coming, and he's unpleased with the aftermath of our assault. Bodies were littered everywhere in the floor I'm supposed to clear. Red crimson blood painted the walls while severed arms, legs, or head; done by my empty hand added the touch to the huge amount of the lifeless corpses. I smiled gleefully back then when he saw me raise this one poor fellow after a serious torture using my left hand. He told me to let it go, feeling awful all the way.
But do I listen…?
No. I break his neck and drop the lifeless corpse on the ground, laughing. He's shocked for what I've done, and with a quick move hit my face using the steel butt of his MP40 Sub-Machinegun and knock me unconscious on the floor where I was taken and lectured by Sylvia. I didn't care about it. Five days later after the mission, it was the day where I figured out my identity. After another successful ambush on Composition B transactions, Frederick boasts about his kills after tempering me with his little mocking. I go and follow his advice on checking who has the most High Value targets. He won the score…
…but I won the game
"Hey, Yank!" His usual call to me never change though "Move up with Sylvia! I'll lay cover fire!"
"Roger that!"
Running forward, I tap Sylvia's shoulder and replaces her position as she move further ahead while I lay suppressing fire. This gives Frederick a chance to move ahead. Things weren't as easy as they thought it would be however. As the engagements between the two groups grew fiercer and fiercer, our objective decides to make a run for the exit.
"He's running away! Get him!" An order from Sylvia is issued
With a swift move, Henrietta and Triela break from their covers and repeatedly mow down the remaining insurgents. Frederick follows close behind with his automatic weapon and grabs another cover as the girls engage a 2nd group of guards. Meanwhile, I was behind with Sylvia…
…and I know, my chance is here
I stood up from my cover and run forward; pretending to catch up with Frederick, Triela, and Henrietta. Thompson carried on my right hand, while my left readily plays with the Colt M1911A1 holstered under my jacket. Sylvia, my handler, holds her position and decided to give me covering fire while I move ahead. The chance is here! Concentrating ahead, she aims through her iron sights before it is too late for her to notice…
...I was there! I turn around, un-holster the .45, and raise it high; aiming steadily at her as she gazes at me with surprise and utter confusion. I grin devilishly as I see her face full of fright, frantically trying to re-adjust her aim towards me who's standing there with my weapon; safety's off. I pull the trigger of faith and moments later, she was pushed back from the impact; blood trailing from her temple as she fell backwards. You really got to know a person when he/she is closing to their death. Their face reflects if they regret the choices they made…or not.
…Sylvia regrets her choice. And I know the reason why…
I turn around and face towards Frederick and the rest of the girls as they finish the remaining body guards. The heavy sounds of gunfire have covered my tracks on murdering Sylvia. They didn't notice one bit. With that, I top it off with some of my own magic…
"SYLVIA!!!" I scream at the top of my lungs, drawing Frederick's attention unto the lifeless body of my handler "PADANIAS!!!"
Then there it is. A berserk the operatives go through when their handler died. Drawing my Thompson, I aim high with it while running straight under fire from the remains of the bodyguards. Finishing the remaining rounds in the pistol and holster it while using my right hand, single-wield the Thompson. Victims increases as I clear the last of the bodyguards, revealing our man shivering in fear as I kick him to the ground and hold him with my right foot and aim my weapon at his face; precisely into his mouth
"Noo! P-please…!" He pleads. But I don't care. With a sight and barrel fixed, I fire full burst of automatic and kills him instantly, nearly deforming his face for all I care. Frederick only able to watch and divert Triela and Henrietta's attention as I execute this poor old man, not with anger; but full pleasure and sensation. Yes…the sweet taste of vengeance…I can almost taste it!
April 25th,
Social Welfare Agency,
1722 hrs
Sylvia's down. She's dead. The whole agency knew it after the mission ends; and a funeral is arranged to commemorate her and her service which only lasts for a few months. While Frederick...he's there trying to 'comfort' me who has been stroke by the incident. He told me that his handler died in the hands of a High Value Padania by the name Giorgio Adriani. But do I need comfort for this…? No…to tell you, this is just a taste of what will happen next.
"I didn't know that our target is armed with a .45 caliber weapon…" Frederick said as he taps my back a couple of times
"He shot her…he killed her!!" I reply with an angry tone "And he deserves that!!"
Frederick pauses for a moment and ponders…
"Funny…the Intel I heard from Hillshire says that our target is supposed to be unarmed…the clean up crew found no weapon or gunpowder traces on him…that's strange…are you sure he…"
He's suspicious…
"W-what do you mean!!? HE KILLED HER!! SHE'S DEAD!! She's dead…" I walk off soon after, leaving Frederick alone
Frederick isn't a foe to be underestimated with. His quick thinking makes him one of the most deadly field agents when it comes to Close-Quarters Battle in both minimal and high density cover. He relies on speed and accuracy to fight his foe, making him an excellent single-operative for Fast-Assaults where small arms won against well armed, trained, and equipped group of mobs and/or Padanias. I saw him taken down a whole group of Padanias armed with considerable weapons and flak jackets. I was still fresh back then; our second mission. Frederick just chuckle after he saw the group, saying that it's just another challenge. He leap from our cover, firing his weapon furiously towards the group.
None of them survives…
They don't have time to react to his attacks. The moment he opens fire, bodies starts falling with holes in their heads or necks. Some manages to fire their weapon after Frederick reloads both of his Mauser C/96 behind cover, but they're soon exterminated with his swift techniques and deadly accuracy. It's amazing to see how he performs efficiently and accurately with side-arms and assault rifles, but poorly with Sniper Rifles. His dual-wielding technique he mastered makes him a considerable foe. His accuracy and speed is a plus too…
He is one tough son-of-a-bitch…
But of course, this one-tough-son-of-a-bitch isn't always invincible. And I would prove that he isn't. As I walk into my dormitory, laughing at the face of the current chaos I created, I knew that everything will go smoothly. I will be single-operative, just like Frederick, giving me the ability to freely move and manage myself in and out of the agency. Of course, I can bet that Alessandro will be assigned as my supervisor…but that wouldn't stop me. Nothing can stop me now…
Nothing…