Disclaimer: Check Chapter 1.
Wolf's Fury R1
By Storm Wolf77415, Wing Commander White Wolf, and Centurious the Azure
Wolves and Knights
(Demeter Villa, Euphie's Bedroom)
Sebastian stood before Euphie, "I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around the idea of your family having a barbeque. I mean…it doesn't exactly strike me as something that people of your rank and station would do." The Supreme Ace had been totally caught off guard when the Third Princess announced that her brother, Fourth Prince Gilgamesh Sai Britannia, was hosting a barbeque, and they'd all be attending.
Euphie let out a delicate laugh. "I suppose it is rather odd to hear it, but my brother Gilgamesh is very proud of his barbeque. He has a chain of restaurants spanning the entire empire!" She smiled, recalling fond memories. "He's always coming up with new recipes, and makes us eat it all the time. I imagine you'd enjoy it very much."
In truth, the Storm Wolf of Jachin Due was rather excited at the chance to taste some good old-fashioned barbeque once again. Having lived in Kansas City on Earth for the first thirteen years of his life, he was raised on barbeque. All thanks to his father, William Connor. They'd go to the same place every Friday night. The sweet taste of the cooked meat still danced on his tongue.
"Well, I'll admit, I do enjoy my barbeque. I suppose it would be rude not to attend." It was then he came to a realization. "It just now occurred to me. If I go to this thing with you…it means I'd be meeting your entire family, wouldn't it?" Euphie just giggled again, giving a slight nod. "Good thing I had my uniform pressed then."
"It starts in the gardens promptly at 4:00. I trust you won't be late, Commander Connor?" The Third Princess asked, slipping into her formal mode.
Sebastian bowed low, much as a proper knight would to his lady. "No, Your Highness. Both Sergeant Farkas and I will be assembled and waiting to accompany you and Baroness Monarch to the event." With that, The Storm Wolf kissed her hand, and departed. Jorge was standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his broad chest.
"You all right, Boss? You look like you're about to face a firing squad."
"Hardly, Sergeant Farkas. We're going to a barbeque. I hope you got your uniform ready." Sebastian grinned, marching down the corridor to his bedroom in order to change. His redcoat was already laid out. The Storm Wolf regarded his uniform for a few seconds before pulling it on. As the ranking officer of ZAFT present in this world, he felt the need to represent his organization properly. It wasn't long before he was dressed, Fenrir slid into his belt. He would leave his sidearm in his room, but the blade would not leave his side.
He emerged into the corridor, where Jorge waited, clad in his own green uniform. The red stripes running down the sides of his pants, signaling his rank as a Sergeant. "Wow, I almost forgot what you look like in that." Sebastian remarked. He saw Euphie and Tia come up, both in formal attire. The Sea Dragoness in the same dress she wore when first meeting the Storm Wolf, Euphie in a pink dress adorned with roses.
"Shall we go to a barbeque gentlemen?" Tia asked. Sebastian gave a slight bow, offering his arms to both girls. Jorge fell into step behind his commander, and they headed to garden where the party was taking place.
(Darwin Gardens)
It was a gentle spring evening, and the many members of the Royal Family of the Holy Empire of Britannia were enjoying the weather. The focus of attention was on a young man of nineteen standing in front of a massive stainless steel grill. He was clad in an expensive leopard print suit, minus the coat, with the sleeves of his Dolce Gabbana silk shirt rolled up to his elbows. Completing the ensemble was a gold apron labeled "Kiss the King."
"Ah, nothing like the smell of charcoal and meat cooking on an open flame." Gilgamesh Sai Britannia took a deep breath. "It's moments like this that make me proud to be the King of Britannian Barbeque." He looked to an attractive young woman of Japanese descent sitting at a nearby table. "And no king is complete without his queen. How are you enjoying yourself, Rinny? I trust the food is of top quality as always? As my Queen of Barbeque, your opinion matters the most to me."
The young woman sighed, bluish-green eyes rolling in annoyance. She wore an expensive looking red dress that came to just below her knees, showing off a pair of long legs. She ran her hand through long black hair tied up with black silk ribbons. "I'm not nearly drunk enough for this…" Fourth Princess Consort Rin Sai Britannia whined, looking at the half-empty glass of red wine in her hands, contemplating how much more booze she needed to knock down in order to finally be free.
Rin was about to finish off her glass and get some more wine, when all of sudden she noticed a change in the air. Usually these royal functions were full of idle chattering and passive-aggressive small talk, and the most difficult choice being what color limousine to take. The only time when things got quiet was either when the Emperor himself showed up, or something very unusual or awkward happened. "What is going on?" She muttered.
She looked to see where Euphie had just entered the garden with Tia. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw the huge mountain of a man standing behind them. Charles Zi Britannia was considered a truly impressive physical specimen, standing at six foot six exactly. But the literal giant in the room dwarfed even the 98th Emperor of Britannia himself, towering over everyone present at seven foot three.
Rin then directed her gaze to the young man who both Euphie and Tia were holding onto. She didn't recognize the strange red uniform he wore, but there was no denying the intensity in his eyes, a clear-cut blue; It reminded her of hardened steel forged in the hottest of fires, the eyes of a soldier. Her delicate eyebrows arched when she saw the weapon tucked into his belt. "Why is that guy carrying a katana?" She wondered.
(Garden Entrance)
Sebastian felt some apprehension as the trio approached the entrance to the gardens. The smell of cooking meat permeated the air. For the Storm Wolf of Jachin Due it was an inviting odor. "Ahh, now there's something I haven't smelled in a long time! Tell me Euphie, do you know how your brother prepares his meat? Kansas City style, Texas?"
"I honestly don't know, but you can ask Gil once when we get there." Euphie cuddled up against him, giving him a strong whiff of her body lotion. Sebastian blanched a little…it was the same as Lacus's. They were about to enter when the two guards stationed at the entrance crossed their polearms.
"Excuse us your highness. But we have to ask that your companion forfeit his weapon. We can't allow any threats after all." The guard replied in a gruff tone, he indicated to Fenrir.
Tia was about to protest, but Sebastian stopped her. The Supreme Ace put on his best commander's face, setting his hand on Fenrir's handle. "This is a symbol of honor, not an offensive weapon." He replied in a sober tone. "I can assure you that I wish no harm to anyone here. I am here as an invited guest of the Third Princess, so please let it pass." He gave a sharp glare to them. The guard was about to protest when Euphie took his hand.
"Please let it pass. I assure you he won't cause any trouble." Euphie put on her cutest, most adorable smile. It was one that even Cornelia couldn't resist. Sighing, the guard nodded to his associate, they pulled back their weapons, admitting Sebastian, Euphie, and Tia.
The Storm Wolf of Jachin Due was used to being stared at when he entered a room, especially when with Lacus. However, he still couldn't but shake the awkward feeling when everyone stopped talking and started at you. Sebastian eyeing everyone in their royal finery. "Wow…all the frills and ruffles here make me feel slightly underdressed!" He whispered to Euphie.
"I can assure you look way better than any of these stuffed peacocks, Commander Connor. You don't need frills or ruffles to make yourself look attractive." Tia whispered. "And thank God you don't wear a wig."
Euphie giggled. She saw the Japanese girl sitting forlornly by herself. "Rin!" The Third Princess cried out, breaking into a brisk run, coming up to her sister in law. "It's so good to see you again!"
"Hey Rin, still trying to commit suicide by alcohol?" Tia drawled. "If so, may I suggest something stronger like Jack Daniels or Jim Bean? That might make it a wee bit quicker." The Sea Dragoness just giggled, ignoring the annoyed glare from Rin, who reached out for another glass of wine, only for Sebastian stopped her.
"I think you've had enough for one night, Your Highness." Sebastian gave a dashing smile, eliciting an annoyed blush from her. "Beautiful girls like you shouldn't feel the need to get hammered."
"Oh that's easy for you to say! You don't know my husband!" Rin huffed, her hair swinging back and forth as she waved her arms about. "If you had to endure what I do on a daily basis, the bottom of a bottle would be your best friend too!"
"Sounds like your marriage isn't all that it's cracked up to be, eh, Rin?" Tia teased, eliciting a confused look from the Storm Wolf, and a look of dismay from Euphie. "Let's just say that Rin would rather not be here." She leaned in close. "Gilgamesh is a great cook, and a superb business man…but he's also kind of an asshole."
"He's only kind of an asshole? Honestly Monarch, you have a gift for understatement!" Rin snapped, visibly angered. Not caring if the other royals stared at her outburst, they were used to it. "I can't stand him! There are days where I contemplated jumping off the roof of the palace just to be free of him! I'd rather be back in Japan, eking out a life in the ghettos than remain trapped in this damned gilded cage he keeps me in!"
Sebastian instinctively took her hand, causing her to gasp and flush a little. "Uh sorry…force of habit." He jerked his hand back. "It sounds like you've got a story to tell, your Highness. Perhaps you could tell me? I'm not sure if I could help you, but I could at least listen."
Rin sighed. "Fine, but none of that 'princess' or 'your highness' nonsense, okay? My true name is Rin Tohsaka, you can just call me Rin." She straightened herself up, beginning to tell her story. "I was born in Japan. My family owned an import/export business. So we were moderately rich." She frowned. "Truthfully, my family wasn't all that close. Dad worked all the time. Mom was a doormat. The only one I really had any feelings for was my younger sister, Sakura."
She fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat. "Then the invasion happened. Dad was killed when the office was destroyed in the initial Britannian strike. So Mom had to take care of both of us, working multiple jobs just to support us. At least until that day three years ago…" Rin sucked in a deep breath as Euphie gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "We were out shopping, all three of us together. It was one of the few rare moments we had together. It was nice."
"Until a Japanese terrorist cell decided to cause trouble, and as a result, the Third Prince, Clovis sent in troops to 'pacify' the unruly masses." Tia cut in.
"A grenade from a Sutherland hit near us, Mom died instantly. I don't know what happened to Sakura." Rin struggled to keep control. "As for me, all I remember was getting thrown about twenty feet, and when I woke up…he was standing over me. I recall getting picked up in his arms, and he brought me back here to the homeland. We got married a year later, and my life's been hell every since." She shivered a little. "I think I've developed a complex against barbeque for the rest of my life. I cringe if I hear the word burnt ends."
Before the Storm Wolf could say anything he heard a loud squeal. He looked over his shoulder to see a young girl of about 14 with red hair tied up in pigtails wearing a very frilly looking peachy dress stomp up to the grilling prince. "Gil! I got barbeque sauce on my dress!" She held out her skirt showing a dark red stain. "Do you know how much the dry cleaning is going to cost to get it out completely?"
The Fourth Prince just gave a dismissive shake of his head, handing her a white linen square. "Then keep a napkin handy, Carline. There is a reason they exist after all. It will save you a lot of trouble down the line." She just turned her nose up, before walking off. Not seeing Tia snickering at her predicament.
Euphie frowned, it was well known that the relationship between the Sea Dragoness and her family was rocky at best, but she didn't want to press the issue. She got up from the table. "I'm going to make the rounds of the place and speak to the others if you don't mind. Rin, would you care to join me?"
"Sure, why not? It beats having to be near him." Rin jerked her thumb where Gilgamesh was continuing his culinary orchestra. She got up, walking off with the Third Princess, leaving him alone with Tia and Jorge.
"As long as we're on the subject. I'll introduce you to some of the major players in the family. That's Carline's twin brother, Fifth Prince Cassius. He has a rather perverse lust for violence." Sebastian watched as she sat down at one of the tables, joining a boy the same age as her, with the same brilliant red hair and pale skin. "That lovely specimen of humanity is Fifth Princess Carline Le Britannia, to sum her up, she's a spoiled brat."
Tia then directed her gaze to where a man in his mid-thirties was sitting by himself, trying to negotiate a slab of ribs without making the same mistake his sister did. "Over there is Crown Prince Odysseus Eu Britannia, the nominal heir to the throne. Although truthfully, the chances of him becoming Emperor are slim to none. He can't make a decision to save his life! Hardly the kind of person you want on the throne."
It was then a stately looking woman entered the garden. Like many of the others, she wore an expensive looking gown, colored a brilliant violet. The dress had an open window on the chest, exposing the top of a pair of massive breasts. A peacock feather adorned her long hair. She may have been considered beautiful if not for the haughty leer on her face.
"Ah…if it isn't Gwenny." Tia drawled. "That right there is Crown Princess Guinevere Su Britannia, technically second in line to the throne, but I doubt she'd be any better of an Empress than her brother Odysseus would be Emperor." She rested her chin in her hand. "She's known for blowing money on worthless decorations for the palace. If she ever got on the throne, she'd probably bankrupt the country in a few days."
"If you'll excuse me for saying this. She's not bad on the eyes." Jorge finally spoke, taking in the First Princess.
"Not sure if she's your type, big guy." Tia rested her head on the table. "Guinevere is the picture of a classic snobby, rich girl. The only things that matter to her are money and clothes. Plus her compulsive need to buy needless and quite frankly, grotesque decorations for the palace? Sheesh, she may as well light a bonfire and throw her money on it!"
"Don't be too quick to judge, Lady Monarch." The big Hungarian said. "This world isn't always as cut and dried as we believe it to be. Sometimes people are just using a tough exterior to hide their real pain."
Tia was about to respond when Sebastian suddenly growled. "Commander Connor?" She asked nervously. He looked tense, hand deftly going down to Fenrir's handle. If she didn't know any better, he was about ready to attack someone. "What is it, Commander?" He just subtly pointed his finger. She followed to where his gaze was currently focused on the man had just entered the garden.
He was tall and dignified, his garments a spotless white trimmed with brilliant royal purple. But what was the most striking thing about this new arrival was his face, short cut blonde hair framing a pair of focused purple eyes that held a calculating gleam. Tia suddenly had an idea of why Sebastian was so tense. "Hey…chill out will you? I thought you didn't want to attract attention."
As the Storm Wolf looked on, he overlaid the image of another blonde haired man in white, the mask neatly fitting over his violet eyes. The resemblance was all too uncanny for him. He leaned in close to the Sea Dragoness "Tell me Tia, that man who just came in…Who is he?" Sebastian struggled to keep his voice even. Tia could see the intensity and barely restrained rage. She took a deep breath before leaning in close.
"Second Prince Schneizel El Britannia, Prime Minister, and as of right now, the front runner to be the next ruler of the empire. The court refers to him as 'The White Prince', for obvious reasons. He's a brilliant tactician and strategist, with a long string of military victories." She arched a delicate eyebrow. "But the place where he really excels is at the negotiating table. He's one of Britannia's best diplomats. In fact he prefers diplomacy over violence."
"I bet he's a real devious bastard too, prone to scheming a lot?" Sebastian watched as Schneizel worked the room, bantering with his brothers and sisters.
"Why yes, he is known for having a plan for every situation." Tia put a hand on his arm, praying that he didn't so something rash. "Does he remind you of somebody?"
"Yeah…" Sebastian looked to Jorge, who only gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. "Excuse me for a second, Tia. I need to have a quick chat with Jorge." They moved off to a secluded area. "You saw him, right? I don't need to tell you who he reminds me of, do I?"
"No Boss…I immediately made the connection when you did." Jorge's huge arms folded across his equally massive chest. "I guess if your little girlfriend is this world's answer to Lacus. Then it would make sense it would also have it's own version of Rau Le Creuset." He snuck another glance over to the Second Prince. "Although I have to say he looks a little more sane to me than old Iron Face did, but not by much."
"I always thought the White Meteor was unsettling because of that mask he wore. Rau always seemed like he was on the brink of snapping." Jorge frowned. "But I look at this guy, and it makes me wish he wore one as well. So what do you want to do about this, Commander?"
"For all we know, Schneizel could be the complete opposite of Rau. If we asked him to, he could very well help us find the our brother and sister wolves and help us find a way back home." The Storm Wolf bit his lip. "But my soldier's instinct is telling me otherwise. I look out at this sea of decadence and it makes me really question what it is Britannia stands for. Euphie is a sweet girl, and I don't think she really buys into all the Darwinian bullshit." He sighed. "But they are still her family, blood is thicker than water, as the saying goes."
"So what do you want to do, Boss?" Jorge would have followed Sebastian anywhere and did whatever was asked of him, even if it meant killing someone with his bare hands.
"For right now, we keep this to ourselves. We need to redouble our efforts to find Anthony and the rest of our pack." Sebastian looked out to where Euphie and Rin were chatting with the Le Britannia siblings. "We may be in Britannia's good graces right now, but I have the feeling we'll become unwanted guests before too long." He got a mischievous grin. "That being said, we're in a prime position right now. They don't realize how vulnerable they've left themselves."
Jorge mirrored his CO's expression. "Indeed, we can get an inside look at the most intimate aspects of their lives. How they handle a crisis. When we do make our break with them, we'll know they'll react, and we can plan our operations against them, accordingly."
Sebastian tugged at his collar. "Still, we should be cautious. Euphie's sister, Cornelia, doesn't trust us. Which is smart of her. We certainly don't want to attract the attention of either Schneizel or the Emperor himself, if they found out where we came from, we'd be locked up and never see the light of day again, until they learned how to get to the Cosmic Era and pillage it for their own greed."
"Not that we'd know how in the first place." Jorge said. He noticed Guinevere approaching them. "Heads up, Boss. We're about to have our first royal engagement of the night." The two of them snapped to attention.
"So…you're Euphie's mystery man." She circled around the Storm Wolf, as if she was a breeder analyzing a foal. "The gossip mills have been buzzing since you took on Cornelia's Knight a few weeks ago. Needless to say I was curious." The First Princess sniffled as she sized up the Supreme Ace. "Still, I can't help but be a little disappointed…I figured someone who'd be able to match Guilford in single combat would be taller."
"Height only matters when it counts, Your Highness. Besides, I don't need to be tall when I have my friend with me." He jerked a thumb to Jorge. The two men snapped to attention, offering their best salutes. "Allow us to introduce ourselves properly. I am Commander Sebastian Connor, and this is Sergeant Jorge Farkas. We're honored to be in your presence." He took Guinevere's hand, his lips just barely brushing against her knuckles.
"Well…you at least know how to properly address royalty. I suppose that's a point in your favor." The First Princess said, drawing her hand back. She sighed watching as her siblings continued to struggle with the food. "It appears our dear brother is pushing that swill he calls food onto us. It's so disagreeable to my figure!"
"Is that true, dear sister?" The First Princess immediately froze, as Euphie, followed by the cook himself in all his glory. Gilgamesh just folded his arms across his chest, red eyes narrowed. "It's hardly 'swill', as you put it Gwen! I only use prime quality Angus meat for my steaks and burgers. The ribs and pork come from only the best pigs! And any chicken I use is always Grade A! I'm not just a cook, I'm a culinary artist, and I take my craft very seriously!"
Guinevere just took a step back. "You may be an accomplished business man and a master in the kitchen, but we all have different tastes, Gil. You should keep that in mind as well! Now if you'll excuse me I need to help Odysseus before he ends up making a fool out of himself…again!" She stalked off, her dress flapping in the slight breeze.
The Fourth Prince sighed. "It seems that not everyone can appreciate the glory of barbequing!" He thrust his arms out, theatrically. He sighed. "Oh well…I guess you can't win them all!" He turned to face the two soldiers, offering a slight bow. "Ah…good evening to you, Commander Connor. I trust you're enjoying the party?"
"Quite much so, Prince Gilgamesh." The Storm Wolf gave a bow of his own. "Unlike your sister, know that I will never turn down a good barbeque. I grew up in Kansas City, and we went out for it every Friday night. My dad and I never felt right if we didn't get our barbeque fix. Suffice to say, the food smells great. I can't wait to dig in."
The Golden Prince chuckled, "Please, call me, Gil. And you honor me by complimenting my work. KC is a center of barbeque, so you should be right in your element. I toured all over the world learning the finer points of the different kinds of grilling. Tell me, is there something in particular you enjoy? I guarantee you haven't tasted anything like it ever before." He gave a smug grin. "And probably never will again!"
"When you put it like that, how I can say no?" Sebastian's expression mirrored Gilgamesh's. The two got within inches of each other. "Tell me…how are your ribs?"
Gil snorted. "Apparently you don't listen very well, Commander Connor. I told Guinevere just now. When I cook, I only use the best ingredients. Tell me…you up for a little competition?" Sebastian gave a slight nod. "It annoys me to no end how my relatives delicately pick away at what I cook. That's no way to eat barbeque. It's meant to be hungrily devoured…like a hungry tiger!"
"He shouldn't have said that." Jorge chortled.
A gleam went off in Sebastian's blue eyes. Gilgamesh had thrown down the gauntlet. He was about to pick it up. "Or a ravenous wolf. Very well, your highness, I'll play your little game. What's the challenge?"
Gilgamesh let out a loud, hearty laugh. "Now that's the spirit!" He smacked his fist into his open hand. "All right, Commander. I have 100 prime cut ribs that I've prepared over the last few days. You and I each take half of them, and we'll see how many we can down in say…ten minutes? And by all means, don't worry about making a mess…I have a very good dry cleaner."
Jorge did his best to stifle a laugh. It was then one of the sommeliers brushed by him. Despite the relatively casual atmosphere, there was a station for wine. He couldn't help but notice how nervous the servers were acting. He mentally filed it away, resolving to keep a close eye on them, before watching as the contest got underway.
Tia rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Men…everything has to be a competition for them." she muttered.
Neither the Fourth Prince nor the Supreme Ace paid any attention to the slight jab at their masculinity. Sebastian just kept his gaze on Gilgamesh. "Never said I was worried about making a mess, but it's nice to know you'll foot the bill. So what's at stake in this little match? Are we playing for anything big?"
"Bragging Rights, Commander, men like us don't need to fight for anything more than that. Now shall we continue posturing needlessly," A feral grin crossed the blonde haired teen's face, "Or shall we feast?"
It wasn't long before the two men were sitting at a table, two piles of ribs in front of them. Sebastian had removed his red uniform jacket, revealing the dark green t-shirt he wore underneath. Likewise, Gilgamesh had removed his own shirt, revealing the leopard print wife beater underneath. "Last chance to bow out. I won't think any less of you."
"That's not gonna happen." Sebastian let out a slight growl. "Let's go!" With that, the two began scarfing down one rib after another with no regard for proper table manners, and mad gleams in their eyes. Guinevere watched a look of disdain, but the rest of her family was completely in to the match.
"Brother Gilgamesh is going to smoke this poser! How dare this plebian thinks he could ever contend with one of Britannia's greatest sons?" Cassius sneered.
"I bet he pukes after the fifth rib!" Carline rubbed her hands together in anticipation. It was then Tia slid in between the Le Britannia siblings. "What do you want, sea witch?" the Fifth Princess shivered at the friendly smile on Tia's face. It was completely fake, and both siblings knew it.
"How do you two feel about making a little wager with me on this contest?" She reached into her corset, pulling out a pair of one hundred Britannian pound notes. "Two hundred on Commander Connor." Tia whispered, much to their surprise. "What do you say?"
They looked to each other, before reaching and pulling out two hundred pounds each, "Deal!" Cassius and Carline both said, turning their attention back to the competition. Both men were still evenly matched, having finished their third rib and going into their fourth. It was fascinating to note that despite how fiercely both were eating, the Storm Wolf and Fourth Prince were also meticulous in picking the bones clean.
"Starting to get full yet? I think you're slowing down a little, Your Highness." Sebastian's words were barely coherent, considering the size of the rib in his mouth.
"A wise man knows how to pace himself, Commander." Gilgamesh sneered, taking a huge bite himself. "Those who blindly charge in are usually the first ones to die, or in our situation, lose their lunch." Sebastian just growled, digging into more meat. If there was one thing he hated it was losing. This little show was turning into a matter of pride.
Even as they continued stuffing their faces, Jorge continued keeping an eye on the servers. They all seemed to whispering to each other. The familiar icy ball of dread began forming in his stomach. It was a feeling he was all too familiar with. His fears were justified as one of the lead servers, pulled out a gun, firing at one of the guards, downing him with a headshot, eliciting screams from Carline and a few of the other princesses.
"Death to Britannia! Death to the Royal Family!" One of them cried, as the servers began pulling out assault rifles and rocket launchers, sending the panicked nobles scattering in all directions as the Royal Guardsmen struggled to keep order. "Your tyranny over the world ends here! May liberty and justice prevail!"
Sebastian barely had time to dodge out of the way, kicking over the table to provide cover. "These guys wouldn't happen to be friends of yours, would they?" He called out to Gilgamesh, likewise doing his best to avoid getting riddled with bullets.
"Hardly, Commander! These are just some annoying fans who don't know their place!" Gilgamesh wrenched his hands, "How dare they crash my party like this! Well, Commander Connor, it seems you can demonstrate your combat skills for us firsthand. I trust these flies won't be too difficult for you to swat down?"
Sebastian smirked, "It just so happens I have a can of bug spray, but I need to go get it first."
Gilgamesh gave a brief nod, before running off to find cover. Sebastian quickly crawled on his stomach, getting low behind the hedgerow, frantically searching for any sign of Jorge. He found him huddled behind some tables, the heavy gunner's large frame practically dwarfing Euphie and Tia. "You guys all right?"
"Just fine, Boss." The big Hungarian man said. "I saw the help acting funny, figured something was up." It was then that Guinevere came around the corner.
"All hell just broke loose!" Tia winced, wishing she hadn't left her sidearm back in her room. "I never thought someone would be daring enough to strike right at the capital!"
A big, meaty arm lanced out, pulling her into cover. "Oh my God, how could this happen?" The First Princess panicked, as princes and princesses ran about to avoid getting shot or blown up. "This is the heart of Pendragon! No one should be able to make it here!"
Euphie looked to Sebastian. Once again the cold stare was on his face, and even more intense than before. The Third Princess could see the barely contained fury in the Storm Wolf's eyes. She remembered hearing about his battle with Guilford earlier, but something told her that even then he was holding back. This time the gloves were coming off.
"Sergeant Farkas, stay close to both Princess Guinevere and Princess Euphemia. I'll handle this…in the only way I know how." He made to leave, but Euphie still holding onto his arm. He gently pulled her hand off his forearm, running a finger along her cheek. "Relax…everything will be fine. You can be certain of that." Sebastian crouched low, ducking between the tables, before vanishing from her sight.
"He moves just like his namesake." She whispered in awe, before feeling a giant hand on her shoulder. Euphie looked up to Jorge's weather beaten face, lined with the scars of many battles.
"Come along, Your Highness. This place isn't safe for us anymore." His voice was deep, but still remarkably gentle. It reminded her of an old tutor when she was young. Jorge quickly ushered both Princesses and Tia to the shelter of some large trees. He went to one knee. "Keep down and out of sight."
"But then my dress would get dirty!" Guinevere whined, but her younger sister grabbed her arm, pulling her down, as the feather in her hair was suddenly cut in half by a flying bullet.
"This man is trying to keep us alive, Gwen! The last thing you should be worrying about is your stupid dress! Besides which, you'll probably dump it in the trash after a week anyway!" The pinkette snapped, eliciting a slight look of surprise from her older sister. Euphie had always the quiet, gentle one. Never before had she raised her voice to anyone.
Two of the terrorists spotted them. "Don't move!" One barked, pointing his gun at them. Guinevere began whimpering, Euphie and Tia both looked on in defiance. It was then Jorge made his presence felt, lumbering out of the trees. The two bandits could only look on in silence at the giant looming over them.
The Hungarian cracked his neck, "I would suggest you give up while you can gentlemen." He slammed his massive fist into his equally massive hand. "But I get the feeling that's not going to happen. So, please excuse me for what I'm about to do." Before either of them could react, He grabbed both of them by the throats. Hoisting them into the air, Jorge knocked their heads together, tossing them bodily into the bushes.
"Nicely done, Sergeant. It seems they should have heeded your warning." Tia folded her arms across her chest in amusement.
"I hate to break up the light moment, but there are still a bunch of lunatics with guns around who want to kill us!" Guinevere pointed a finger at the mayhem happening around them.
"AURRRRRRRRRRLLLOOOOO!" the howl of a timber wolf rang throughout St. Darwin Avenue, silencing everyone. Everyone looked to the far end of the street. Eyes widening in total shock as what could only be called a metallic titan slowly made its way down the streets. The evening sun shining on its battered white and green paint job. In one hand was a giant machine gun, hanging at its waist was a sheathed sword, and on right arm was a shield, equipped with a three-barreled cannon.
"What is that thing? Is it some kind of new Britannian weapon?" One of the mercenaries cried out, fervently hoping his pants were still dry and clean.
Jorge just grinned, knowing full well what was about to come, "No…just an old Wolf of War looking to defend his territory!" The various princes and princesses to looked to him in confusion. "Get ready for a show, everybody. You're about to see the Storm Wolf in his native habitat. Pray that you're not the one he's hunting. Those who are…rarely survive." Everyone looked up at the towering behemoth, the monoeye sensor flashing once.
"Damn it! Call in the Knightmare Frames! Take that thing down!" The terrorist leader snapped.
In the cockpit, the Sebastian looked down at his enemies. The Gloucester he had borrowed for his duel against Guilford was a good machine, but this ZGMF-515 CGUE was his one true machine. Like Fenrir, it was an extension of his own body; he knew every nut, every bolt intimately. He watched as a squad of RPI-11 Glasgows painted in a dark rusty brown rolled in. "Sorry guys, that's not going to do you any good against me!"
The Knightmare Frames opened fire on the Mobile Suit, but the CGUE may have well been Godzilla in that situation. They began launching their Slash Harkens, but they just bounced off since the armor was too thick.
"You can't stop us!" One of the Glasgow pilots declared, firing his Slash Harkens, the CGUE's arm came up to defend it, the grappling hook lodged in the forearm armor. The pilot cringed in terror as his Glasgow got hoisted up so it was level with the monoeye.
The Storm Wolf meanwhile was amused at the turn of events, watching the Glasgow hang like a yoyo. "Well, this is a thing." Sebastian drawled. "Since I really don't want you hanging off my machine like this, you're going to take a little ride. I hope you have your seat belt fastened." He began swinging the machine around by the Slash Harken cables faster and faster.
"I'm gonna hurl!" the hapless terrorist pilot exclaimed, frantically trying to reach for the ejection handles…or at least a vomit bag.
"He wouldn't!" Euphie exclaimed.
"Oh…he would!" Jorge remarked.
"Here's the wind up…and the release!" the Glasgow went flying, the cables still trailing behind. "IT'S OUTTA HERE!" Sebastian yelled. Again, everyone was dumbstruck. When the terrorists finally gained their senses, the leader was about to shout out orders when he found the 76mm muzzle of the CGUE's machine gun pointed in his face.
"I suggest you think really hard about your next line of thought, pal." Sebastian's voice came over the mobile suit's external speakers. "Your buddy is now probably half way across the country. I haven't even fired this thing yet…do you really want to mess with me?"
Hanging his head in defeat, the leader threw his weapon on the ground, which the rest of his followers mirrored. They all held their hands up to signify their surrender. Everyone began cheering. Sebastian emerged from the cockpit, looking every bit the gallant knight.
"He's amazing! I can't believe he stopped them single handedly!" One of the princes exclaimed.
The princesses began giving him amorous gazes. "He's quite dashing, who is he?"
Euphie stepped forward. "That is Commander Sebastian Connor, he's known as the Storm Wolf." She turned to look at her siblings. "And as of today…he is also my new knight!"
(Tokyo Settlement Area 11, Three Days Later)
James sat in the driver's seat of his car, Yukimasa next to him. They were currently sitting outside a row of storefronts in one of the most affluent districts in the city. One especially held the trio's attention. There were dark green canopies over the window, throwing minimal shade over the sidewalk, while in gold letters the word "Vangelico" was prominently displayed.
"This is the place, guys." Michael said, drinking in every detail of their target. "Vangelico is the premier jewelry store in town. I've heard more than a few of my golf buddies mention buying stuff for their wives and mistresses here. I think we could make a good take off it. But it we're going to do this, we need to gather some intelligence." He turned to face Yukimasa, "That's where you come in, kid." James pulled out an innocuous pair of glasses. "I got this from a buddy of mine. It's been outfitted with a micro camera, that's linked to my phone. Go inside, and take some pictures, so we can get the lay of the land."
"So it's the old camera in the glasses shtick, eh? I've done this before." Yukimasa gave them a quick once over, before putting them on. "What do you think, do they suit me?" He gave a cheesy grin.
"Very funny." James snorted. "Okay, we're going to need pictures of the security system, all of the cameras, and the ventilation ducts. Once you've done that, try talking to the sales clerk, see if we can get any more extra information. Now get to it!" Yukimasa gave a jaunty salute, getting out of the car. He walked with purpose into the store, giving a nod of acknowledgement to the Eleven security guard who opened the door to him.
"Okay, I'm in." He whispered, sweeping across the store, " So far I see the alarm keypad, four cameras, and what appear to be about five ventilation ducts, I'll line it up so you can get a nice shot of it." Once he was certain, he had everything in the shot, he snapped a quick picture.
"Got it on my end! Nice work, kid." James said, noting the twenty-something young woman behind the counter. "Now go and work your magic on the attendant."
Yukimasa marched up to the counter. James bought him a very expensive suit to wear in order to not draw too much attention to himself. Putting on his most suave smile, he greeted the clerk. "Good afternoon to you, dear. Perhaps you can help me find something for the woman in my life?"
"But of course." The clerk said. "Tell me about her. What is she like? Does she have any specific tastes?"
Yukimasa thought of Kallen when she brought it up. "Uh, not really if I had to be honest." While they had the one date, he hadn't really considered if they were a serious couple or not. So he decided to just play along. "Uh, I don't know. She's actually not the type who wears a lot of jewelry. But I want to get her something special. I don't want to spend a lot though, maybe…8 to 10 grand?"
"If that's the case, then rings start at 7, bracelets at 10, pendants go for 13." The clerk began explaining as Yukimasa began looking at the main display case.
"It all looks pretty good. I like to think I've got a pretty good eye for this, but I'll go ahead and ask the tough question. Am I just paying for the Vangelico name here, or is your merch going to last for any period of time?" he asked.
The clerk just chuckled. "Oh I assure you, our jewelry is top notch. All of the gems are perfect clarity, handpicked straight from the mines by our own people. Our metals are 18-karat gold, and 950 platinum. We only have the best here at
Vangelico."
Yukimasa smirked, giving a slight nod of approval. "All right, you may just have made a sale, dear. I'm going to look around a bit, and I may come back once I've made up my mind. Thanks for helping me out today."
"Glad I could help, have a nice day!" She said, and with that, Yukimasa walked out the door, taking in the warm sun on his face. He put his hands in his pockets, walking down the street back to where James had parked his car. The younger man got in.
"Mission accomplished. So what's the next step?" Yukimasa asked.
"I want to see where the ventilation comes out." James started the car. "Let's drive around for a bit, I think we can find a place to access the rooftops. I want to see where the air conditioning unit pipes into the store." After driving almost all the way around the block, they struck gold.
"How about there?" Yukimasa pointed to a walled off building. "It looks like someone's renovating the place. Might be worth checking out."
"Good eye, kid." James stopped in front of the gutted storefront, letting his young business associate out. As Yukimasa entered, the Stadfeldt Patriarch couldn't help but smirk. It wouldn't be too long before they were back in action.
Yukimasa walked in, noting that the entire storefront had been gutted. There were cinder blocks, bags of quick drying cement, and all matter of other construction materials lining the place. He noted a flight of steps leading to another floor. "I see a staircase. I'm going to see if that takes me up to the roof." At the top of the staircase, he found scaffolding with a ladder attached. He quickly climbed up, finding himself in the bell tower. "Okay, Mr. Stadfeldt. I'm finally on the roof."
"Nice job, kid, you need to go about three roofs over in order to reach the rooftop of Vangelico, I need to see those vent intakes. Don't take long, we don't want anyone seeing you." Yukimasa began creeping along the roofs, keeping low in order to avoid being scene. It wasn't long before he reached his destination.
"You'll need a good vantage point, I suggest the southwest corner, be sure the picture is as clear as possible. It will be important for when we put this plan together."
Yukimasa found where James indicated. He climbed up on one of the service units. He snapped the picture, before hoofing it back downstairs to the car, handing the camera glasses back to James.
"Mission accomplished, sir. So what do we do now?"
"I'm going to talk to my associate. He's the tech expert, and can best extrapolate how to beat their security system. We'll call in Oghi and the other guys, and then we can start making plans." James smirked. "I'll be honest, I haven't felt this alive in years. I'm curious to see how well you do."
Yukimasa then got his own devious smile. "I guarantee you won't be disappointed, sir. I'm a Storm Wolf, and the impossible is what we do best!"
