With the Deathseekers brought to heel, the IDF slowly began to build up its numbers. The Deathseekers, now the Shadowfort Guardians, were assigned to guard the IDF Bulwark, and protect Exile Caravans, refugees and pilgrims flooding the neck of IDF lands.
Alexander walked along the jagged stones that formed the wall of the Shadowfort. Along with him were Tank, Talon and Krusty.
"Not exactly the cave, but it will do." Alexander said.
"Yes, but the rocks are rather sharp..." Krusty said, touching the rocks before recoiling his hand, "It will do the job of keeping wayward Betrayers and Shadows from our walls."
"Hmph. Well, at least we can defend ourselves better here. It was only a matter of time before those Shadows overran the Den..." Alexander said
"I do agree this place is formidable in defense." Krusty said, observing the towering black granite walls.
"That's right. I mean, look at this place! It looks like shit Saruman would have!" Alexander cried.
"You do love your Lander movies..." Talon sighed.
"You there! Exile!" A stern voice cried out.
"Huh?" Alexander turned around. A portly man with a cruel face, a glorious beard and a handlebar mustache greeted them. Accompanying him were two squads of Landers, who looked just as evil as he did. All of them had a sour faces, as if the mere presence of Alexander and his companions disgusted them.
"I bring word from the Directress herself... For your eyes only." He said, holding out a sealed message.
"Yeaaaah... That's gonna be a bit of a problem." Alexander said, looking at the paper, "What is this...?"
"Is there a problem?" The man said smugly.
"I can't read." Alexander said quietly, tossing the paper to Krusty.
Krusty caught the paper and adjusted his glasses, "It seems the Directress is coming over with a group of officers for a diplomatic meting beyond the Mountains, and they want us to come."
"Say what?! Those nimrods from the Hilltop and the Riverfront get to sit their asses all day while I have to haul my ass all the way back into the dusty Shadowland!?" Alexander cried in shock.
"Afraid so, Sir." Krusty said.
"This blows." Alexander said.
The portly man coughed, "I am Captain Omura, the Leader of Shadowfort-"
"Leader?" Alexander said, "From what I'm told, there isn't any Leader here yet."
"Well, I'm the defacto Leader." Omura said proudly.
"Ha!" Alexander cried, "Haha, and my ass is the President of Mars."
"Show the Captain some respect!" His henchmen hissed, strode forward with four of his mates.
Tank stepped forward and growled, causing Omura's men to back off, but Alexander restrained him cooly with a hand.
"What is it you want?" Alexander demanded.
"Hmph. All I'm saying is that there's an election coming up. If you value the lives of you and your... mercenaries, then you better vote for me." Omura said.
"And if we refuse?" Krusty asked.
Omura smiled. "Now, my friends, we either do this the easy way, or there's always..." His hand drifted to his holster, revealing a pistol, "That "other" way."
Alexander grabbed a broom, "Let's try that other way first!"
"Whoa, calm down boss!" Talon cried.
Omura scowled at him, "Exile Barbarians..."
"You watch who you call barbarian!" Alexander hissed.
"Hmph." Omura said smugly, "I will be coming along the expedition. If you try anything, I will not hesitate to kill you."
"The feeling is mutual, fatboy." Alexander said as Omura walked away, "Can you believe that guy?"
"Yeah boss." Talon said.
"Truly." Krusty mused,
"I'd kick his ass if you want." Tank said.
"It's a good thing you guys are coming along." Alexander said.
"Ummm, Boss, I have this thing to go to..." Talon said.
"I have a date today-" Krusty said.
"I've got Diarrhea... " Tank said..
"Are you kidding me? You'd let me go off with those guys from IDF alone?" Alexander cried.
"Pretty much." Krusty said bluntly.
"Wow." Alexander said in shock, "Don't expect any souvenirs from me, you traitors."
"That's low, boss." Talon said, slightly hurt, "All I ask is a bottle of sand from wherever place you go."
A few minutes later, Mitsuru and her entourage arrived.
Quan, Lee, Junpei and Kenji approached Alexander.
"Yo 'xander." Junpei said.
"Actually, it's ALEXander." Alexander said.
"Come on, no nicknames here, we're all friends." Junpei said, "We want to introduce you to someone."
"Who is it?" Alexander asked, hoping it was a beautiful woman.
"Yup." Quan said. As they led him to a corner, Alexander saw a beautiful APC.
"We're riding her today, her name is Vera. She has a 20 passenger capacity, which fits 18 of us. 10 Officers, 8 Inquisition Grunts. " Lee tapped, "Get inside. Your gear is already in."
When Alexander entered, Mitsuru pointed to a seat across her. Alexander took a seat. The APC started to move.
"Alexander. I'm glad to see you today." Mitsuru said, "You look good in IDF Blue."
Alexander looked at his Combat Fatigues, which were dyed digital blue camouflage, and his red IDF armband, "I look ridiculous."
Mitsuru smiled, "I know we had our differences in the past, but let's try to get along."
Alexander nodded, "Sure."
"I see you're the only one from the Deathseekers who is coming."
"Not like I have a choice in the matter." Alexander said, "Now I know how the African Slaves felt, toiling under the yoke of the white man..."
"Alexander, are you seriously comparing a diplomatic mission to unite the outer tribes of the Shadowlands to one of the greatest tragedies in human history...?" Mitsuru cried in shock.
"Sigh... yes." Alexander sighed.
A few hours of driving, the Officers stopped at a few tribal villages, and gained their pledge of loyalty and support in exchange for support from the local Outposts and patrols. At that point, they gained 9 villages and 2 towns. Alexander also befriended Junpei, Kenji and an Inquisition Private named Cipher.
"I love these government issued Armored Personnel Carriers." Akihiko said as they drove, "Heh, reminds me a bit of myself; Big, can take a punch and fast too."
"I agree. We're sailing." Rio said.
"Yes... like we're on a ship... Sailing from Africa to America." Alexander said, turning to Mitsuru accusingly.
"Alexander, why are you like that? It's completely inappropriate to reference that." Mitsuru chided.
Alexander looked at her, making his irises flare, before bowing his head submissively, "Yes, Massa' Kirijo."
Mitsuru sighed.
"We're close to Outpost Alpha. Zen, mind radioing them before their launch an artillery barrage at us?"
"Copy that." Zen said, picking up the radio, "Eagle to Outpost Alpha, we're coming to your position from the Southeast. ETA 5 minutes. Do you copy?" Zen said.
Static.
"Outpost Alpha, do you copy?" Zen repeated.
Still static.
"I don't understand. We should have established contact by now..." Zen began.
"Stop." Mitsuru said as the driver hit the brakes.
Mitsuru peered above the APC. Alexander and the rest peered outside as well. At the distance, an IDF Outpost was burned out, and its Garrison were nowhere to be found.
"What happened here?" Akihiko said as they approached.
"Search for survivors." Mitsuru commanded.
Alexander and several officers stepped out. Walking up the gate, Akihiko tried to push it open, but it fell down, significantly damaged by what seemed to be a battering ram.
Alexander searched several rooms, and even pocketed a Lander music playing device, but found nothing to indicate the fate of the Outpost's Garrison, except a strange symbol written on the wall of a raven, with its wings stretched to form a C.
"No one here." Alexander said.
"Same here." Akihiko said.
"Looks like the guys who were stationed here just... disappeared." Kenji said.
"Disappeared? What, in a puff of smoke?" Rio cried, "We need to find out when this happened."
"It must have occurred recently. Look at the blood." Mitsuru said, "It looks fresh."
"And these footprints..." Kenji said.
"Looks like dragon footprints." Omura said, eyeing Alexander suspiciously.
"Maybe your mother walked barefoot here." Alexander retorted.
"Exiles..." Omura spat in disgust.
"Wait," Alexander said, standing up and concentrated his eyes, turning them dragonlike.
"What is it?" Mitsuru asked.
"Something... something's not right..." Alexander said.
Suddenly, an arrow struck an IDF corpsman in the leg, "Argh!"
"Holy shit!" Alexander cried, "Ambush!"
"Oh, you don't say?!" Lee snarled sarcastically as spears and arrows rained down on them.
"Form up! Form up!" Mitsuru shouted a command, as the Officers and the Corpsmen locked shields. Several Dark Exiles appeared and rained arrows at them. Alexander hid behind a rock, and grabbed a throwing axe by his shoe-holster. He threw one at a Dark Exile-archer, and it fell into dust with a cry. He retrieved the axe and grabbed the fallen Corpsman.
"Let's go!" Akihiko cried.
"Hurry!" Rio shouted.
Alexander ran, but a Dark Exile threw a throwing club at him, clipping him in the head and knocking him down. The Mask-wearing Exiles quickly captured the injured IDF Corpsman and retreating behind a rock.
"They're gone." Kenji huffed.
"No kidding." Akihiko said, "Looks like they were only interested in that one guy..."
"They... They took Alvin." Cipher said, on the verge of tears.
"Cipher, I'm glad to see you alive and all, but man up!" Lee said, "You're gonna see more deaths before this is over." Lee said, as if he was certain the Corpsman had already died.
"Break out the food. I'm quite hungry." Mitsuru said.
"Ehehehe... Yes, break out the food, Kenji." Junpei laughed nervously.
"You're in charge of logistics! I'm just your assistant!" Kenji cried.
"You didn't bring any food?!" Zen cried.
"This is bullshit! We stopped four times to buy fireworks and now you're telling me we haven't got any food?!" Akihiko cried.
"Hey! We didn't expect the garrison here to be wiped out, so excuse me for believing in us!" Junpei said.
"This is a disaster! We'll all starve to death thanks to Iori!" Omura cried.
"Not so. The nearest town is northeast from here." Mitsuru said, "If we leave now, we'll be there in an hour, maybe two if we drive fast."
"Northeast... That's where those sorcerers live!" Kenji cried
"Those are just rumors superstitious Exiles make up." Omura said.
"I'm with the skinny kid on this one. Those people are weird. And their leader is a witch! We should give that place a wide berth unless we end up with a new asshole growing out our heads." Alexander advised.
"The Sibyllus have a sizable army at their disposal, thanks to 14 tribes they united. They have also sent emissaries with messages of peace. We could use their support and armies." Mitsuru said.
"We don't need 'em." Alexander scoffed, "You have the might of the Deathseekers at your side. And the Defense Force has a larger army. We don't need an army of altar boys and monks to frock it up with us."
"Those "army of Alter Boys and Monks" aided in a raid of a Shadow Outpost, which lead to us capturing a strategic sector rich in wood and minerals." Mitsuru said
"Big deal? Our boys have been sending Shadows crying back home with a pacifiers for three years." Alexander countered.
"That's if you think every Deathseeker can cleanse the Shadowlands from Shadows, which is highly unlikely since you got your asses handed out to you last week." Akihiko said.
Alexander sighed, "Alright, but don't say I didn't told you so. Like Lady Kirijo said, its an hour's drive until we reach the Sybillus redoubt. Lets mount up."
Nodding, Mitsuru and the rest picked up the remaining supplies remaining at the shattered outpost and headed North.
The road was long, snaking up and down several hills and crevasses, but other than a few skirmishes with Dark Exiles, it was uneventful. At the top of the last hill, the Officers caught sight of the vast wastes that was the Shadowlands, which stretched far beyond the horizon.
"I didn't know the Shadowlands would be this big." Kenji muttered.
"Its not a surprise." Akihiko said gruffly, "This is an entirely new dimension."
"It is?" Junpei said.
"Yes. Yamagishi gave us new research that the Shadowlands were formed when Tartarus fell. The debris, Shadows and essence of Nyx were both dense and light enough to cause an anomaly in the space-time continuum, ripping the fabric of our reality and opening a gateway between the Valley where Castle Iwa, Shadowfort and Westguard would stand. It also caused your worlds to enter ours." Mitsuru explained.
"In other words," Akihiko continued, "Its one way in, no other way out, except for the Shadowfort."
Alexander peered out the APC, "We're here."
The officers looked out and saw a formidable settlement on top of a small hill. Its entrance was guarded by palisades and dikes. Several crossbowmen guarded the hill, as well as men wielding long-axes, wearing armor and robe-like surcoats. They all wore coifs that resembled priestly miters, and were veiled with steel chainmail. Their sigils (symbols) were a Crossed X with an Eye in the middle.
"Heh, they look like guys from the Kingdom of Heaven." Junpei said.
Alexander hissed a breath of steam.
"Do you know these men, Alexander?" Mitsuru asked.
Alexander nodded, "Yeah. We've had a few border disputes, and I sent scouting party to forage these hills, and they all came back piece by piece in four large baskets, with that sigil."
"Hold off your quest for vengeance." Mitsuru warned.
"Sigh..." Alexander breathed in defeat, "I still think-"
Suddenly, the APC hit a bump, and a small explosion erupted from under the chassis.
"Whoa!" Akihiko shouted as Quan struggled with the wheel. They careened wildly before stopping abruptly.
"Is... Is everyone alright?" Mitsuru gasped.
"Yeah, we're good." Junpei managed.
"Mff... Mffff!" Kenji said, trying to get Junpei's foot out of his mouth.
"Argh! Zen, get your elbow off my ribs!" Lee hissed, holding up a plate of ribs.
"Gross! I thought there wasn't any food?!." Zen cried.
"What the hell was that?" Rio said.
Quen went out, "Improvised Explosive Device. Not a very good one." He said, inspecting the blast, "The chassis seems intact, but the explosion blew out the damn radiator."
"Can you fix it?" Zen asked.
"Does a bear shit in the woods?" Lee asked.
"Uh, yes. Quite frequently, in fact." Mitsuru said, unaware that was a rhetorical question.
"Yeah, I can fix it. I mean, it's not completely FUBAR. I might be able to fix it, but I need to make a dash back through the hill. I saw a few destroyed cars nearby." Quan said.
Lee nodded, "And the rest of the grunts can help you out. The Officers will treat with the Sibyllus. Cipher, you come along so you can document it."
"Yes, Sir." Ciper saluted.
"Great. One Officer for one Grunt. I thought I was worth more?" Quan sighed.
"It seems like a good plan." Mitsuru said, "Good luck, Lao."
Quan nodded and grabbed a toolbox.
The Officers continued on foot. Thirty minutes later, they arrived. As they stepped into the Redoubt, the Sybilline Guards formed a line along the entrance. As the Officers dismounted, they all pounded the butts of their long axes to the stony ground.
"Just keep walking..." Mitsuru said cooly, "No sudden movements."
The Officers kept walking, until they were greeted by two people, a beautiful woman and a tall, bald man with a hooked nose.
"Damn, they're hot!" Junpei whispered.
"Shut up, Junpei. Don't screw this up." Akihiko said.
"Greetings, Leaders of Iwa." The man said, "Long have we foreseen this visit. I am Lucius Draconus, Steward of Sibyllus."
"I am Sybilla, Seer of the Void, and Mistress of Sibyllus." The green haired woman said proudly.
Alexander locked eyes with the beautiful Seer, who looked at him hungrily.
A/N: Sorry for the late updates. I am not the writer I used to be (being busy and having ZERO creativity. Part two is coming soon, since the original part of this chapter was too long, and will take longer to finish.) atleast with this one done, I can focus on finishing the last part.
Remember, if you like it, REVIEW IT. It's not much. Just type a few words of gratitude, violence, anger, happiness and BOOM! You reviewed!
"Hope you enjoyed." Cipher said somewhat unethusiastically.