Chapter 10.
Two options
Within the next hour or so, the news about the revival of SSS spread all across the school. No doubt we had to take action, as the Demon threat became a major problem again. The A-team had to think something up and fast.
"Alright! What are our options?"
I looked at the other with that question, which was just answered by more question marks in return.
"Great! Am I really the only one who thinks this is a problem we should solve together? Why do I have to do all the thinking?"
That I only noted to myself, as I didn't mean to offend anyone. I did go into a state of pondering, as the situation was more daring than ever. I hated to admit, but we had either two choices: Take on the challange and fight to the bitter end, or evacuate. Both had a lot of risk to them. The first option could result in more people turned into NPC-s. The second one could cause us, the ones who even know anything about how to return the NPC-s to normal, to leave and let them down. Neither was a pretty thought. There was also the fact, that whoever was controlling the demons, knew our every step, and could strike any second
"Alright, let's start with the basics! How many people can we enlist?""A total of 109 if we count ourselves too."
"Good. What about our reserves?"
Tamaki now put a sheet of paper in front of me that had a list of all of our resources at hand.
"Nice, I see the Guild didn't get rid of the old stuff either."
"Naturally! Also not to mention the fact, that they put themselves into a state of emergency due to the demon alerts, so the amounts are rising with every passing second."
"Good. What about the civilians?"
Yuuki just shook her head in a worried manner.
"I'm afraid, no help can be expected from them. Some of them are already in the bunker."
"Bunch of faithless cowards I'd say!"
Yuta's dry comment just showed how bad the situation was, and how the tension was raising with every single second.
"Yeah, but there are a few, who are willing to help, so that's good I guess."
Riku's optimism was welcome as always. She somehow always found to bright side of everything.
"Yeah, there always are... Too bad there's too few of them!"
We all went to silence after that. After some while however I continued on.
"Okay, We need to seal the source of those demons then."
"Yeah, but first we'd need to know where the Demon Well is."
That Tamaki pointed out quite well.
"Any chance of anyone knowing it?"
Yuuki shook her head.
"The only ones who knew are either NPC-s, or have passed on long by now."
"Doesn't anyone have any idea at all?"
Tamaki was scratching the back of his neck in a nervous manner.
"Well... I know someone from the Guild ranks who's been on the bottom of the Demon Well once."
Everyone's eyes widened in surprise.
"And who?!"
"His name doesn't really matter, right? But what has great importance to our mission."
"So what did he see?"
Tamaki folded his arms and sat back into a comfortable position before starting his story.
"Alright, so the kid's name is Mako. According to him, he's once been down to the old Guild maze underground, and there he accidentally ended up on the bottom of the Demon Well."
"And how?"
Tamaki just folded his shoulder.
"Well the old Guild is a huge maze, full of branching tunnels, and for whatever reason they were tasked to go down there. They found a tunnel that wasn't on the map, they had, so they entered it. Unlike the twisting maze of the Guild, this one was straight forward and they ended up in a huge cavern, that was deep underground."
"And how did they know it was the Demon Well?"
"They didn't, because that name was given after the first direct demon attack."
Everyone was left speechless by that but Tamaki carried on.
"According to him, the tunnel was pretty long, but after about a good hour or so, they ended up in this cavern, that had a huge Vortex on the bottom."
"A vortex?"
"Yeah, an energy vortex, a violet colored one even."
That sent us all to thinking.
"And what else?"
"The vortex was like a portal. When they reached their hands into it, it disappeared in thin air, like it went to a completely different place. And then, suddenly a Demon lifted up from inside the vortex and attacked them."
"And how did they get away?"
Tamaki shook his head.
"The thing is, Mako was the only one who made it, and only because he was the fastest on his feet."
Stunning story that much was for sure.
"And, can he show us the way there?"
"I guess he could, but he's too scared, but I can ask him to point out the location of that side tunnel, which is more that nothing."
"That's more than enough. We can use that to point the well out aswell. We'll find it on our own."
My primary plan was as good as complete, but we also needed a backup plan.
"Alright, First is Operation Exorcism!"
Everyone smiled away at me.
"Sounds like someone has a plan. So what will it be?"
"I'll explain shortly."
Thus I took a sheet of paper forth and sketched the details of the plan up. I never was te one into computers and all, when it came to planning and such, which was something that stuck to me as a soccer player. The point of the plan was to create a diversion, which would lure the Demons away from the well, and me and the squad 13 guys would dive into the vortex.
"You mean we'll dive into that thing?"
"Exactly. You did say that it's like a portal. whether or not it is we'll take our risks. It only takes a leap of faith."
Everyone nodded in unison to show their agreement.
"However, we need a second plan aswell."
"How come?"
"We need to take those into consideration, who don't want to help us, and want rather to pass on and start a new life."
Yuta was like en erupting volcano because of that.
"Take them into consideration? Anyone who won't help us is simply a traitor!"
I shook my head and waved him off.
"You don't get it right? Not everyone is like us, who would throw everything away for the better cause! I can't force anyone to obey me, even if it means the best for them. If we fail, it could mean the end to them aswell. We are not in a military Dictature here."
Everyone shunt their eyes at that.
"So, you have a plan for that aswell?"
"I do. Operation Final Destination."
"Which means, if anyone wants to pass on, we'll give them the chance."
Sayuri just pointed the obvious out so I nodded.
"And what's our first step?"
"We'll tell everyone about our decision, and we'll move over to Final Destination first. We'll need to see, who is willing to help us first."
That was all decided and we soon called an assembly in to the back of the office building onto the large open fields. As I looked over the over 700 people beneath, I felt like I swallowed a frog. Tamaki put a reassuring hand on my shoulder, to show me how he was by my side, and not only him, but also the others. Everyone else were getting anxious however.
"Come on already! Tell us why we're here already!"
I picked the microphone up so that everyone could hear me clearly.
"We called you all here, because we have news for you. First is, SSS is back at service and ready to work for you all."
"We all know that. Tell us something new!"
The loudest ones started getting on my nerves.
"I was about to get there if you didn't interfere all the time."
There were a lot o echoes of doubt.
"The thing is, the demons, like it or not, are back. So much even, that we've encountered a brand new threat not so long ago."
The doubt and the worries in everyone's remorse was clear.
"We've entitled this new threat as Super Demon. Some of you may have encountered it, or even seen the results of its attack."
A lot of people nodded at that.
"I'll tell you now, the Super Demon was defeated, but the threat is still not gone yet. We fear that they can strike again any second."
The surprise suddenly turned to fear on everyone's faces.
"And what now?"
"We have come up with a plan. Two plans actually: the first one is Operation exorcism, for which we'll need your assistance."
Everyone just looked at one another but the echoes of doubt were still strong.
"And what is this genius plan of yours?"
"We want a larger armed group to lure the attention of the Demons while me and my squad dive into the Demon well, and put an end to this demon threat once and for all!"
This was what I was hoping to get some support for. However, those who were head of the resistance still kept up.
"And why would we want to help you? You're in no position of demanding anything from us!"
"Yeah, if you want to do anything, why don't you do it on your own? Why need our help?"
"Yeah! Tell us!"
Everyone, even those who may have been willing to help us started listening to the cowards and slowly turned against us. This whole situation started bringing my piss to a boil. Tamaki saw that, and tried to calm me.
"Chill out Bro, you'l overstrain your nerves."
"I can't help it, these guys are just pissing me the shit off!"
More and more nonsense was thrown in and that slowly loosened my nerves and I finally cracked up.
"Would you idiots just shut the hell up?!"
Everyone quickly went to deaf silence.
"Don't you understand you maggots?! We're not demanding anything from you! What we are doing however is asking you sincerally! We're trying to reassure the future of those who will arrive here in the future!"
This was the first ever time I freaked out like this, and Tamaki was trying to hold me back, but Sayuri stopped him.
"Drill this into your dumass heads! We could just coward out, and try to evacuate, saving our asses from the trouble, but then we'd let the poor NPCs down, who are surrounding you even now!"
Every single civilian and even the doubtful SSS members now looked around. The number of NPCs was even more than the civilians and the SSS all together. Some even turned sad.
"The demons are being created with a computer program, and obviously if we can shut the computers running this program down, we can solve this problem once and for all, and bring the one responsible to custody!"
I was slowly calming down.
"What ever happened to the NPCs, your friends and comrades maybe, could happen to you aswell, so don't take it lightly! And that doesn't only mean us, but those who will only come here in the future. If the demons aren't put down finalisingly, it will endanger them too."
Finally some light was lit in everyone's minds.
"I'm not here to demand anything from you. I'm not a dictator, I'm just asking for your help in exchange for our help."
"Which means?"
"We have a second plan, which is for those who aren't ready to give everything for the better cause."
Some more remorse came at that, but now it was much more peaceful.
"To put it bluntly, those of you who aren't ready to help our cause, and want to coward out, just go ahead and pass on! I also understand those who are just against war, or just want to rather pass on instead of being involved with this madness. We understand you all."
I finally regained my composure.
"So again, I don't demand or order you to help us, I'm ust asking... No begging you! If anyone is willing to volunteer, please let us know now! Raise your hands, or just shout, or... Well anything goes..."
However everything went silent, and everyone just stared at eachother for minutes, and I shook my head turning back to the others.
"This was all a waste..."
"Cheer up bro... It can still turn out..."
"ME!"
Suddenly a young woman's voice broke the silence, and a group of three girls slowly made way towards us, and one of them had long Red hair, and seemed oddly familiar.
"ME! I volunteer!"
"Us too!"
Sayuri's eyes widened in shock.
"K-Kanna... Miko... And Himiko... ?"
Seeing the three little NPC girls raising their hands, wildly waving and happily yelling at the top of their lungs, that they want to help, could easily bring tears to anyone's eyes. I myself was touched to the bottom of my heart. What really shocked me, was the effect that the trio had on everyone. Seeing them and their example, lit the fire of desire in everyone's heart.
"Yeah, they're right! Let's join 'em!"
"Yeah, what do we have to lose?"
"Yeah, let's kick some ass and take names!"
"No mercy for the pests!"
Now I turned to the present SSS members, who were standing in the front.
"And you guys?"
"You know you can count on us! We all voted for you, and we'll be loyal to the very end!"
This was truely awe inspiring. It may only have been the moment's touch but putting the civilians aside, countless NPCs also raised their hands in unison. Tamaki now patted my shoulder and just noted.
"You see? This is what I call an inspiring leader."
Afterwards the assembly was dismissed with the note of everyone recieving their equipment and briefing in due time. We all sat back down in the office. Well at least we would've but someone was missing.
"Where's Sayuri?"
"She just went out to get our little Heroines up here."
"A good idea. They deserve it all."
True it was. Kanna, Miko and Himiko played a great deal of role in this all, so they deserved to be invited into our little round table. They were all members of our crew even with the present conditions. Sayuri and her friends arrived in only moments and Tamaki and Yuta, as good gentlemen, let them take their places, as did I for Kanna's sake, and took the place that was now rightfully mine in the great armchair, which used to belong to Misaki. Tamaki just watched me as I made myself a comfortable place in it, and only then noted.
"See? How many times have I told you? You deserve every bit of that leadership."
"I don't know... I still feel kind of unsure... Did I really deserve this?"
"Naturally. Misaki's letter described an ideal leader. One with the best capabilities, and abilities, and that is you, no doubt. She always had a keen eye for you, and now her best wishes came true in you taking her place."
It was a huge honor to hear someone as dear a friend as Tamaki say that. He then turned to the others to recieve some acknowledgement, and everyone nodded. Even our trio, who still shunt their eyes even now, even if they had all the rights to look us all in the face.
"So? What now Leader?"
The question was a good one, but since I already decided our schedule from now out, it was obvious.
"Spread out and seek everyone out! Ask them about their life and their wishes, and what they'd think would be best for them to help them pass on! With this, I hereby announce Opperation Final Destination!"
And finally the famous punch line everyone expected from me:
"Mission start!"
And like the wild winds, everyone left the room, and I was left with the three new faces. At first I just walked around them a bit, carefully observing them. I had to admit, Sayuri made friends with three of the most beautiful girls here. I finally sat down on my desk's edge and spoke my business.
"I have to admit you three, you surprised me quite a bit, never minde everyone else. What you've done is like a Miracle."
"Not Really..."
"Huh?"
Kanna now raised her head and the surprise was indescribable. Her eyes were full of life, glittering, blazing with fighting spirit.
"Kanna.. you... ?!"
"And not only me... Right girls?"
As I looked at Miko and Himiko... I never thought it was even possible... But they were back. The three of them got their souls back.
"But... But how?"
"Not even we know. As we listened to your speach, I felt this weird jolt of lightning running through me, then I lost consciousness and when I awoke, I was like this. Right Girls?"
The other two just nodded. To think that Kanna, the quiet and shy little NPC girl was this touched by my words... But even so, how? I couldn't get it off my mind, so I sought Tamaki out with that.
"They what?"
"They're back, and well."
"And their memories?"
I folded my shoulders.
"Like nothing happened. They remember everything."
"But why didn't Rika remember a thing?"
"I guess, she didn't want to remember, so that she could be together with you again."
Tamaki now rest his long list on his knees and dropped some tears, nodding swiftly. It still wasn't easy on him, but he was doing better slowly. As we returned to the office, Sayuri was in for a huge surprise: Kanna, Miko and Himiko were in their SSS uniforms. A small surprise to her, and Yuuki was there with them.
"Kanna... You guys... I..."
Sayuri was crying the tears of joy and ran up to the three to hug them close. The Quartet was back together again and all seemed well. Yuuki just walked up to me, drew me closer and whispered:
"I'm Proud of you!"