Warnings: Language but I'm not upping the rating unless someone asks me to.
~P.S. - So, things are about to happen… be prepared.
Secluded in her bedroom suite of the Mandalay, Lilith ran frustrated fingers through the knots of her dark hair. Her eyes stung from the many hours staring into her computer screen. Looking through emails, security cameras, phone records. Everything. And still somehow the information she wanted had managed to elude her. Taking a moment to roll her shoulders and relieve the ache in her limbs from the position she had held them in for some time, the dark-haired woman once again stared at the dozen or so files spread out around her queen-sized bed. Printed over each was a photo of a nation. Some, those of the ones native to Earth, were clear. The others, taken from security cameras and images captured from drones, were of the 'alternate' nations.
It was only when the screen before her became too blurry to read when Lilith decided it was time to finally call it a night. Rolling off from the side of the bed, she strolled over to stare out the plane glass window that made up the back wall of the bedroom. Focusing on the transparent image of her reflection, Lilith lifted a hand up to her blouse and slowly began to undo the buttons from the bottom to the top. She continued until the shirt hung loose from her shoulders, revealing the tanned skin and black bra beneath. Her hand came to rest over the ugly red skin on the right half of her abdomen that curved around her side and part way across her lower back. Even using her whole hand she could not cover the spread of scar tissue.
Lilith closed her eyes and let her focus center on her other four senses. Even now it still felt hot to the touch. She could almost smell the choking scent of smoke and taste it as it burned its way down her throat. She could hear her own voice.
"Seth wake up! We have to find Mom and Dad!" Her voice had been higher-pitched back then. Time and experience had morphed that young girl's vocals into that of a woman.
"Lily sweetie, you need to go." Lilith felt like her palm was burning. Her free hand clenched shut in a tight fist to try and distract from the sensation.
"Lily look out!" She was trembling.
Then he had come. "Hey, hey it's okay. It's okay I've got you."
She had tried to tell him. "Wait we have to go back-!" But the arrogant, self-righteous prat hadn't listened.
"It's okay, you're safe. I'm a hero!" Eyes snapping open, Lilith lashed out with one hand and grabbed hold of the closest thing she could throw -a lamp from the nearby coffee table- and flung it at the wall. The light shattered and crumbled to the floor.
Shoulders heaving, Lilith stared wide-eyed at the mess she had made then looked down at the hand that had thrown the lamp. She was bleeding across her palm. Sighing, she quietly settled down and walked over to the small bathroom adjoined to her office and wrapped her wound. No sooner had she closed the door, that she heard someone enter through the entrance.
"Ms. Walker! Is everything alright?" Ah, it was Dillon, her personal assistant.
"Fine Dillon. Sorry about the noise, and the mess. Just got a little frustrated." She could hear him walking around and then the sound of clinking pieces of ceramic. He was probably picking up the shards. "You don't have to clean up, I'll take care of it later" she called to him while buttoning up her shirt and making sure her appearance was more acceptable. Once this was done she stepped out of the bathroom to face her assistant. "Was there anything you needed?" she asked him.
Dillon glanced down suspiciously at her hand which was wrapped in white gauze before letting it go and facing her. "I heard the lamp breaking. But I was already on my way because President Walker has requested a meeting." Lilith nodded in understanding though inwardly she rolled her eyes at her brother's insensitivity. She was exhausted. It was near midnight for crying out loud.
"Duty calls then" she sighed, giving her sympathetic employee a wan smile. Gathering up her files on the nations and placing them carefully into the drawer of a bedside table, Lilith followed Dillon out of the room and towards a conference room on the top floor.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Dillon suddenly began the minute they were alone in an elevator. "You don't have to if you don't want to" he amended quickly when he was given no immediate response other than Lilith's curious stare.
"Thanks for the offer but no. I would rather not." Dillon nodded but Lilith could see his shoulders sag a little. "I really do appreciate it though Dillon."
The man perked up a little. "You're welcome ma'am. It's my job to look out for you. And just so you know, you'll ruin your eyes working in the dark like that."
Dillon's expression didn't change from his normal friendly yet professional disposition, but Lilith couldn't help but smile. "Yes I know. You only remind me every time you interrupt my work for some meeting or other." They stood quietly for a while. "Thanks though, for your concern." Dillon nodded his head.
"You're welcome." The elevator made a slight dinging noise to signal their arrival at the building's top floor. Dillon exited first and extended his arm to keep the automatic doors from sliding shut as Lilith followed. From there, they continued down the hallways until they reached a large penthouse office.
"Not the conference room?" Lilith asked curiously.
Dillon shook his head. "No ma'am, this is a private meeting."
"Huh." Curious as to what her brother wanted, Lilith dismissed her assistant and entered the room. Inside, facing her and sitting at an ornate desk, was the President himself. Her younger brother Seth Walker.
The bleach blond man smiled as he saw her arrive and stood from his chair. "Lily" he greeted, walking around the desk to embrace his sister.
Lilith stiffened slightly at the sudden show of affection, but returned the gesture just as earnestly. "President Walker" she greeted in a slightly admonishing tone while pulling herself away from the embrace. "I thought we agreed that when it came to business we would remember to be professional." Seth smiled but stepped away and returned to his seat at the opposite side of the desk. At the same time signalling for Lilith to do the same as well.
"Of course, Ms. Walker" he amended himself. "And how was your trip to Kyoto?"
Nodding her approval, Lilith seated herself across her brother. "Educational."
"Oh?" Seth arched a brow in disbelief. Knowing that there was more to tell.
"Well" sitting back and crossing her legs Lilith ran a hand tiredly through her hair and pulled it over one shoulder. "I'm sure you were notified but the Pirithous formula had some… unexpected side effects"
Seth nodded. "Indeed. If you call practically sprouting a clone an unintended side effect."
"Well, he wasn't exactly a clone."
"How so?" Seth leaned forward in curiosity.
Lilith gestured towards the closed tablet sitting unused on Seth's desk and the younger man nodded for her to use it. Logging onto the tablet, Lilith reached up to her neck and unclasped the thin necklace she always wore. Dangling from the end was a pendant of a waning crescent moon with an inverted cross extending off the bottom. She took the pendent which doubled as a flash drive and inserted it into the tablet.
Seth shook his head fondly as his sister started sifting through the files she stored there. "I will never understand you insistence on keeping all your important information on that thing. What if you lose it?"
Lilith gave her brother an annoyed look that made it clear she was tired of having that particular discussion. "I won't. And besides, this way I can make sure what's kept here never falls into the wrong hands."
At Lilith's dark look Seth raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine."
"Alright, here." Lilith turned the tablet around to show two side-by-side pictures. One of Kiku Honda and the the other of the aforementioned clone. "You see, the individual who appeared when we used the Pirithous formula has red eyes. The State of Japan has brown. He also appeared in a black uniform whereas Mr. Honda normally wears white. And their personalities I have been told are quite different."
"In what way?" Seth asked.
"He's apparently very disagreeable. And not nearly as polite."
"So kind of like a 2P" the bleach blond deduced.
"A what?" Lilith blinked in confusion.
"A 2P. You know, like a second player character." Again Lilith shook her head in confusion.
"Seth I have no idea what you're talking about" she remarked while removing her necklace from the tablet and replacing it around her neck.
Seth rolled his eyes. "You never did enjoy video games as much as me" Seth teased before going to explain. "In a video game, normally fighting games, when two people want to play as the same character the second person usually gets a copy with a different color scheme so that it's easier to distinguish them. It usually ends up with the 2P looking like some sort of evil twin."
"Hm. I see" Lilith remarked. "2P, that does have a good ring to it. I've just been referring to them as alternates but I like that better." Making a mental note to make the change into her notes later, Lilith then refocused on the original reason why she had been called. "But you should have already been briefed on this, so why was it you asked to see me? I was about to head off to bed you know."
"Ah, my apologies. I have some good news actually. And a gift."
Lilith perked up in her chair. "A gift?"
Smiling deviously, Seth opened up one of the drawers of the desk and removed from it a silver case. Both siblings stood to their feet. "Is that what I think it is?" Lilith asked in anticipation.
Seth nodded. "Yes it is. Your R&D team brought it up just before I had Dillon come and get you."
Lilith raised her hand over the case and let it hover. "May I" she asked with breathless trepidation.
"Go ahead Lily." Lilith was so anxious to see what was inside that she didn't even bother to admonish Seth for the use of her childhood nickname. She flipped the lid of the case to reveal a silver pistol and a single magazine of 9mm bullets. One bullet was removed and set apart from the rest. It was tinted silver with an odd blue sheen. "It's a P226 Sig Sauer"
Lilith lifted the gun and tested the feel and weight of it in her hand. It was comforting and familiar after having gone so long without one. "I know" she reminded Seth.
Her brother smirked and continued. "The bullets are 9mm casings but I'm sure you're more interested in this" he reached around to retrieve the single bullet from the case.
"And you'd be right" Lilith remarked, replacing the gun back into its place and turning to face Seth more directly. "But I think I can guess what it is."
Seth's smile turned triumphant. "We have laying before us, the first -we believe- fully-functioning Pirithous bullet." Seth offered the bullet towards Lilith and she eagerly took the bullet and placed it into the magazine before inserting it into the pistol. "We finally did it Lilith. We've finally found the key to killing an immortal."
Lilith shook her head, placed a hand on top of the gun, and pulled back the slide. "They were never immortal. This will simply prove it. Regardless, I assume since you're giving this to me I will be the one to test it?"
"You've got it. Besides, there is no one else I would trust. We were going to keep the finished formula in liquid form and send it back to Kyoto to test on Japan, but I'm afraid we're pressed for time. From what we can gather from the string of murders and thefts trailing across the country, the United Kingdom and the two 2Ps that he's traveling with are now in Nevada."
Lilith looked up from the gun in shock. "They're in state?"
"Looks that way. But they dropped off the radar as soon as they hit the state line. We have no idea when they'll strike but it has to be soon."
Lilith nodded her head in understanding and let the information sink in. "Alright, then who's my target? I'm sure you have one in mind."
"I do." Seth took a seat and Lilith followed after placing the pistol back in its case. "Of course testing it on America would be the most expedient course of action. But I would rather not risk three-hundred and twenty million lives if the death of a personification condemns its people."
Lilith rolled her eyes. "I already told you. My team and I have researched-"
"Yes yes we've already had this discussion" Seth waved his hand to cut her off. "But still, let's not take that chance. No, if we're going for the fewest human lives at risk, as well as the most convenient target the answer is simple. I want you to take out the United Kingdom. He's already coming here, and since Arthur Kirkland specifically represents the people of England there is a chance that even if his death has unforeseen consequences the continued existence of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will counterbalance it." Seth looked to his sister for agreement but was disappointed when all he got was a guarded expression. "You disagree?"
Lilith tentatively met her brother's gaze. "What about the rest of them? The ones we suspected of attempting a rescue of the Japan and his… 2P?"
Seth shrugged. "We received word from our spy" Seth accentuated the word 'spy' with air quotes, "that they've split up. Four are taking a jet from Naples and are heading here to back up the group already present and the rest are flying into Kyoto in a matter of hours. Why?"
"I want to remove our informant" Lilith admitted.
Seth sank back into his chair and ran a hand over his face. "We've been over this Lilith-"
"He's a loose cannon Seth!"
"He's not our informant!" the blond stood to his feet so that he was towering over his sister. "We have no right to make that call. Do you know how much damage control I have had to do because you've been sneaking around our allies' classified information trying to figure out who it is? A lot. And I'm starting to get tired of having to make excuses for you!" Lilith glared up at her brother and superior, biting her tongue to refrain from shouting back at him any further.
"Seth. Please, I need to do this. The man turned on his own kind. He even told us where their hideout is! The Principality of Sealand is represented by a child and he was willing to sell him out. This nation is the epitome of every reason why we are trying to get rid of them. He deserves this."
Seth began to pace back and forth. "No. You are talking about going behind the backs of our allies. How will you explain that the one bullet capable of killing a nation happened to find its way into our agent?"
"I'll find a way."
"No. You won't. I need you here Lilith. Part of targeting the UK is assuring that America remains in our custody."
Lilith rolled her eyes. "You are the President and you command the entire military. All you need to do is fend off three personifications. Only one of which actually uses a gun. Surely you can handle that on your own."
Seth wrinkled his brow and pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's not the point."
"Look. If I go to Kyoto, I can get rid of this spy before he turns on us just as fast as he turned on his friends, confirm that the Pirithous formula works, and make sure that this supposed rescue mission is unsuccessful. And any fallout that comes our way from the informant's death I will take full responsibility for." Lilith stood to her feet and holstered the gun loaded with the nation-killing weapon. "Give me a chance Seth."
President Walker eyed his sister, wondering not for the first time how they could be related yet look so different from one another. Her navy blue eyes always looked like endless pools into the abyss compared to his bright blue ones. "We only have one bullet." he finally stated. "I don't know how long it will take our people to make another one."
Lilith smiled at the steadiness of her brother's voice. "Then I won't miss." With that she turned and exited the room. She didn't see as Seth took his seat and dialed a number on his office phone.
"This is President Walker" he announced to whoever was on the other end of the line. "The mission is approved. You are to commence operations in fourteen hours."
Meanwhile, Dillon was there waiting for Lilith as she exited the room. "I thought I dismissed you for the night" she remarked as he fell into step behind her.
"I thought you might need something."
"Well you're not wrong" she responded with a smirk. "Get me something caffeinated and have Air Force Two prepped for takeoff."
Dillon quickly made the arrangements on the tablet he carried and then looked up curiously. "Are we going somewhere ma'am?"
Lilith shook her head. "Not we, I. I'm going to Kyoto. You're staying here." Stepping back into the elevator, the two of them started making their way to the roof.
"What? But Ms. Walker-"
"It's going to be dangerous where I'm going Dillon. And not exactly sanctioned by the President either. I need you here for your personal as well as professional safety." Stepping out of the elevator and climbing a few steps to a doorway the two stepped out onto the roof of the Mandalay where an impromptu airstrip had been set up. Awaiting the two, were a host of people rushing about preparing for Lilith's departure.
"What about your safety?" Dillon continued to object as Lilith stepped into a flight suit she was handed by one of the people around them. She also took a cup of espresso that was conjured by someone and downed it as well.
"I can take care of myself" she assured her assistant, tying her hair up into a ponytail and accepting a helmet that was handed to her. The two then started towards the end of the roof where a sleek black SR-71 Blackbird waited for them. "Is Python ready?" Lilith asked, stroking the side of her jet.
Dillon rolled his eyes at the unnecessary name. "I still don't know why you bothered to name it. Its call sign will still be Air Force Two."
Lilith smiled. "Forever number two." She shook her head before continuing. "I flew Python before I was the Vice President and I will still fly Python after this term is up. She's my baby and I would never ask her to change."
When given the go-ahead, Lilith climbed up a short ladder and set herself as comfortably as possible into the jet's cockpit. Dillon sighed from where he stood on the ground. "Well, good luck then Ms. Walker. I will be here waiting when you get back."
Lilith couldn't respond, as the top came down over her head. But she did offer a quick thumbs up before placing on her helmet and performing the last few preparations for takeoff. Within minutes the Blackbird was in the air and heading for Kyoto at its fastest speed. Dillon once again sighed and started making his way back inside. "Stay safe ma'am."
~Fourteen hours later~
"Alright that's IT! I'm done with all you bastards!" throwing the spoon he had previously been using to consume his paella to the ground, Lovino Vargas got to his feet and stormed from the room.
"Lovi~ don't swear in front of los niños. It's not very nice." Antonio chided as he promptly followed after his former charge in a most likely vain attempt to soothe his anger.
"Continuare a parlare di me come se fossi un bambino cazzo di Spagna! Guarda cosa succede!"
Still sitting comfortably in the table the four nations present had been using to eat, Sealand glanced curiously between the open door where Romano and Spain had fled from and the bleached blond Flavio who was still quietly sipping his apple martini and smiling quietly to himself. "Um, what did he say?" Peter asked the older half-nation curiously.
Flavio blinked at the small child. "Oh he said-"
"Ay!" Spain stuck his head back in the door. "Don't tell him!" And then he rushed out again after Lovino who was still ranting in Italian. Flavio shrugged but didn't bother to go on with the translation.
Peter sat quietly waiting for Flavio to say something. When he didn't the small micronation just sighed. "Adults are weird" he observed.
Flavio looked up from his drink. "Why?"
"You always fight over stupid things. I don't get it. Why did Romano get mad?"
"Hmm" Flavio hummed in thought while swirling the drink in his hand. "Well, it's because I told him he has an inferiority complex." The blond downed the rest of the alcohol and placed the glass down. "He just proved my point too."
Peter cocked his head to the side. "What's an inferiority complex?"
Flavio tapped his chin with a finger in thought. "It's when you think you're inferior to everyone else and choose to compensate by acting like the entire world is your enemy. You lash out at the world and pretend you don't care because you think the world doesn't care about you. It's very sad and pathetic really."
"Tino says it's not very nice to say mean things about people" Peter admonished, crossing his arms and frowning. "Even if that jerk England and Mr. France always do it to each other. Finland says I'm not supposed to."
Arching an eyebrow, Flavio leaned forward on the table and smiled. "Isn't calling your padre un coglione a mean thing to say too?"
Peter gasped and then morphed his face into a pout. "It's not bad if it's true!" he objected.
"Well, it's true that our dear Lovino has an inferiority complex" Flavio remarked.
Peter's mouth formed an 'o' in amazed understanding. "How do you know that? Is it because you're the same person?"
After thinking about it for a moment, Flavio shrugged and nodded. "I suppose. We're not exactly the same person. Obviously. But close enough." With that said the Southern Italian turned back to his plate of paella and began eating once again.
Peter nodded sagely. "So you know that Romano has an inferiority complex because you have one too" the young micronation concluded.
Flavio's spoon stopped halfway to his mouth. "Aha ha. I don't have an inferiority complex kid."
Peter shook his head and the triumphant smile stayed firmly in place on his mouth. "Sure you do! I figured it out because I'm so smart! Lovino thinks people don't like him so he gets angry all the time and you don't think people like you very much so you say mean things that will make them angry. See? I got it! I got it! I'm so smart, I'm going to be a great nation someday and everyone will have to listen to me and-"
From there on Peter started rambling on about how Sealand would one day become the greatest nation of all time and how he would rule the world and blah blah- his normal speech that the other nations didn't care to listen to. Meanwhile though, Flavio sat dumbfounded as he stared at the small boy. It appeared the kid was more receptive than he thought.
"Fuck" he muttered without even realizing it.
Peter however, did and gasped. "Mr. Flavio you said a word Sweden says I'm not supposed to hear."
"Cheh" Flavio clicked his tongue and sat back in his chair. "Whatever. Hey ragazzo, can you get me the laptop I was using before? I might as well get some hacking done"
Sealand deflated from his speech of bombastic rhetoric and frowned, but nevertheless he got up from the table and rushed off to collect one of the few computers available in his small fort. It was only once the micronation was gone that Flavio allowed himself to wilt into what could only be described as a sulk.
"Bambino stupido" he muttered into his plate. For some reason, it didn't taste as good now that everyone else had left. "What does he know. I don't make people angry because I'm pushing them away. It just happens because no one can handle my personality." Despite his valiant attempts at self-delusion, Flavio couldn't help but admit in some deep dark pit inside himself that maybe, just maybe, Peter had a point.
"Flavio?" said blond looked up and was surprised to find Antonio once again leaning in through the doorway. "Estás bien?" The Italian cleared his throat and leaned away from his food, putting on an easy smile that wasn't necessarily genuine.
"Fine obviously" he responded with an air of condescension. "My skin's quite a bit thicker than Lovino's you know. It seems you raised someone with the maturity of a five year old. Shame shame." Flavio clicked his tongue again in mock disappointment.
To the Italian's surprise though, instead of getting angry and ranting at him like Alejandro usually did, Antonio just smiled and sat himself across from the other. "Maybe" the Spaniard conceded. "Or maybe Lovi's just willing to let it show that he's hurt. Even if it's not in the most productive of ways. That takes a strength all on its own si?"
Flavio frowned and stuffed a spoonful of the food Antonio had made for the four of them into his mouth. He chewed slowly and methodically before swallowing. Only then, with Antonio still sitting patiently, did he answer. "Speaking of the manchild, don't you need to go calm him down or something?"
Antonio laughed and shook his head. "He'll calm down on his own. He just needs to rant a bit. El pequeño Sealand makes a good sounding board."
"Cheh" at the mention of the micronation Flavio sniffed and turned back to his food. "That kid complains too much" he griped at the man he knew was listening.
"Why do you say that?" Antonio asked curiously.
Flavio huffed, crossed his arms, and flipped the length of the fashionable scarf he was wearing over one shoulder. "Always whining about becoming a nation. About being acknowledged and respected. He should just be happy that he's alive and free." The Otherworld nation looked up into the face of his former sovereign's counterpart. "Can you imagine what would have happened to him if he was born at the same time as us? Lived under the power of the ancients. Nonno, Graecia, Germania..." he trailed off.
Antonio's smile dimmed and he shook his head. "It would not have ended well. Your abuelo would not have been so kind."
"Hah, that's an understatement. Nonno would have crushed him!" Flavio slammed a fist into the table in demonstration, a sick smile on his face as he likely imagined the conquering wrath of the Roman empire on a little abandoned fort. "Would have cleaned out the what, six humans that live here and made this place into a summer home. Hell, even during Oliver's imperialistic days he would have crushed this little fort just to make a point." Antonio breathed heavily, considering Flavio's words. But before he could say anything, the Italian continued. "If it were any other time, any other era, he would never have even had a taste of freedom. He should just be happy he has others who are willing to take care of him not out of obligation or politics but because they genuinely wish to. He has the whole United Kingdom, and even Finland and Sweden for some ungodly reason I can't fathom. He's wanted."
"You think I didn't want to take care of you?" Antonio suddenly asked. Removing any chance for Flavio to go on with his rant.
Flavio looked up in shock. "Che cosa?"
"You think Alejandro didn't want to take care of you." This time Spain said it as a statement rather than a question.
Flavio laughed nervously and fiddled with his clothes a bit. "Don't be stupid. As if I gave a fuck whether or not that idiota wanted to take care of me. I just wanted to make his life a living hell so I did. I know he didn't, doesn't give a shit about me. He wanted Veneziano but got duped by the Austrian. He just kept me because I was his territory. Possessive bastard."
To his credit Antonio took the words in stride. And only when Flavio had finished did he speak again. "I cannot say I can perfectly speak for my counterpart. As you wisely pointed out before with yourself and Lovino, Alejandro and I are not the same person. But we are both Spain. So I will say this. You were wanted. I won't say you were what I expected when Austria offered to give sovereignty over you to me. But if I truly didn't want you, I would have traded you to France."
Flavio couldn't look the Spaniard in the eyes, though he did maintain his condescending smile. "Yeah right. Like I said, you're a possessive ba-"
"Bastardo possessivo I may be, but I gave up on America fairly quick no? Let Francia and the damn Englishman fight over him. Sure I had territory, but without the personification I knew I would never control him. I could have fought for him more like I did with Mexico. As it stood he seemed just as profitable if not more so than your brother Veneziano. I could have cut my losses with you and gone after him at the time. But I didn't." Spain quieted for a moment, and refused to speak further until Flavio finally looked him in the eye. "I'm sure somewhere, though he might not be able to show it, Alejandro felt the same way I did."
"And what way was that huh?" Flavio asked while trying to sound like he didn't care if he got an answer or not. But Spain would give one to him anyway.
"You were my henchman. And even after I got over the disappointment that you weren't Veneziano, I still decided to keep you not because I didn't want to appear weak or give up what was mine. But because I did see value in you Italy Romano. And I wanted to see what you would become. Of course I can't prove any of this, but I hope you can take my word for it when I say that I am proud of who you have grown to be and I'm sure Alejandro is too. In his own way."
Flavio sat in profound silence and didn't notice as his smirk fell off his face to reveal a shocked expression that rarely made it to the surface. Spain said nothing more, and got to his feet. "Where are you going?"
"I should see if Lovino has finally calmed down. If so we should continue our meal. Would you like to come with me? You could apologize and help put this little squabble between the two of you behind you."
"Heh, like I would ever do that" Flavio scoffed even as he rose to his feet to follow. "It's not my fault he decided to storm-"
BANG!
An explosion sounded somewhere above the two nations followed by a shockwave that sent the two men reeling to the ground. "Cosa cazzo diavolo era!?" Flavio shouted above the ringing that was going through his ears.
"I don't know! But we need to find the others!" Antonio reached over and grabbed Flavio's wrist before lunging for the doorway.
From there the two started for the stairways that would lead to the top of the fort. "Where are we going?" Flavio called up to him.
Antonio opened his mouth to answer, but instead the two were met with the sound of gunfire and a hailstorm of bullets. Both dove out of the hallway to avoid them. "Mierda!" Antonio cursed once they were clear. The Spaniard leaned his back against the wall and looked down. Out of left side of his abdomen blood was spilling rapidly and staining his tan uniform. "That's not good."
Flavio glanced at the wound with wide eyes. "You got shot!"
"Heh heh" Spain laughed sheepishly. "You noticed."
The Italian slapped his counterpart's mentor on the side of the head. "Idiota!" More gunfire rained down the hallway to their immediate right. "We need to get out of here and get you some help!"
Antonio nodded. "Agreed. But we need to get out of this mess and find the others first."
Flavio nodded and pushed Antonio back against the wall as the older nation tried to stand without support. "Just stay put for now." The blond peeked around the corner to see a group of three soldiers making their way closer to their position, rifles at the ready. "There's three of them. I can take out two when they get close but the third might get a shot off." Flavio gave Antonio a serious stare to which the other nodded.
"He won't."
Biting his lip in anticipation, Flavio waited with bated breath as the three men neared their position. When at last he could spot the barrel of the first rifle on his peripheral the Italian lashed out, grabbing the barrel and shoving it away before stepping into the man's close quarters and stabbing the man to right with a knife taken from the table where they had been eating. Once sure that his carotid artery was severed, Flavio turned on the man whose gun he still kept firm grip of and carved a line across the man's neck. The two fell to the ground and the Italian turned just in time to see the third soldier who was aiming at him get his neck snapped by Antonio who had waited for the opportune moment to strike.
"Grazie" he thanked the Spaniard.
"De nada." After relieving one of the humans of their guns for Antonio's use, he and Flavio continued through the fort taking out a few straggling soldier here and there. "I didn't know you used a knife" Antonio remarked.
Flavio shrugged. "I don't. It's more Luciano's thing. I tried to learn, but it never really appealed. I usually use these" reaching into his jacket with either hand Flavio pulled out two 92FS Berettas. "Beautiful aren't they?"
Antonio blinked. "Why did you wait to pull those out now?"
Again the Italian shrugged. "I do find some satisfaction in causing direct damage. I suppose it's a weakness all of us from Otherworld share."
"Interesting." With that said the two reached the doorway to the surface of the fort and burst through it into the light of the midday sun. "Lovino! Peter!" Both men waited for a response when a second explosion went off. Once again shaking the foundations of the fort and causing the two to stumble. "Gah" Antonio gasped as his loss of balance caused him to irritate his still bleeding wound.
"You okay?" Flavio asked while stowing away one of his pistols and offering his arm for support. Antonio nodded and accepted the aid.
"Fine. But we need to find the others." Just then a dark shadow passed overhead and both nations looked up to see a dark aircraft pass overhead.
"What was that?" Flavio asked with more than moderate concern. His worry grew no less with Antonio's stricken expression
"That's a Rockwell B-1 Lancer! One of America's strategic bombers! But why would they-"
"AH! MAKE IT STOP! IT HURTS!" Both nations turned their heads at the sound of Sealand's screams of agony.
"Peter!" Flavio called out in concern and quickly helped Spain as they made towards where the cries had originated. A soldier stepped in their way. "FUCK OFF BASTARDO!" Flavio was quick to riddle the man with well-aimed bullets and the two continued. A minute later and they came into view of Lovino, who was huddling on the opposite side of the helicopter pad where smoke and fire were currently smoldering from.
Sealand himself was curled into Lovino's body as he gripped his left arm which was a frightening red and black. The boy was sobbing and screaming and the smell of burning flesh was apparent to all. "Make it stop, make it stop!" the micronation continued pleading with the older half-nation he was leaning on. Lovino looked to his counterpart and former mentor pleadingly.
"I-I don't know what to do" he stuttered. Antonio stumbled forward and lowered himself to his knees so that he matched Peter's height before turning the boy away from Romano and towards himself.
"Your arm" he whispered in horror. The limb was all but charred to the bone. And what was worse, the grotesque wound appeared to be growing. Even as Antonio took the burns in, they appeared to slowly be spreading over Sealand's shoulder. He couldn't imagine the pain the boy had to be in.
"My people. They-they killed two of my p-people. Everything's on fire. Wh-what do I do? Why won't they stop? I didn't do anything!" Peter cried to the older nation. Blue eyes wide and pleading with pain and confusion.
"Shh pequeño, try to calm down. We need to get out of here. The helicopter is probably destroyed. Can you think of any other ways we can escape?"
Peter looked at Spain in confusion. "Leave? But my people need me, I can't leave."
Spain frowned sadly and ran a hand through the boy's messy blond hair in sympathy. "We have to escape first. We'll help your people once the Americans leave."
Peter sniffled and shuddered in pain as the fires around his small micronation spread. But still he nodded and schooled his expression to seriousness in a way that would have made England proud before pointing with his good arm. "The boat you guys used to get here was shot down. But there's an inflatable life raft over there. We can use that to get away." Antonio nodded and stood tentatively to his feet. Mindful of the bullet wound he still had.
"You're shot stupid!" Lovino shouted.
"It's fine. It'll heal." Lovino opened his mouth to object, but when he caught sight of Sealand's arm again, he chose to remain silent. Spain looked down at Sealand. "I would carry you but-"
"I'll do it" Lovino spoke up. Turning to his counterpart, the Italian holstered his own pistol and lifted the micronation into his arms, mindful of the boy's arm. He then turned to Flavio who was once again dual-wielding his Berettas. "Take the lead. Make sure stupid Spain doesn't get shot again. Or me."
Flavio nodded solemnly and the four started racing to where Sealand had indicated the life raft would be. They found the orange device and Flavio got to work inflating it while Spain kept watch. "Where are the rest of the soldiers? I thought there would be more" he mentioned to the group.
Lovino was the one to reply. "I don't know. I was up here with Sealand and then those figli di puttana showed up out of nowhere guns blazing and dropping bombs. We managed to fight some of them off and hide, but right before you two showed up they started running away."
Spain started to wonder what would have caused them to retreat when they obviously knew at least some of the nations were hiding here but didn't get the chance. Flavio was done with the raft and had flung it from the fort to the ocean far below. "We'll have to jump for it" he informed them. "It's the fastest way." He offered a hand to the Spaniard. "Let me help you."
Antonio nodded gratefully and tossed his stolen rifle to the awaiting raft before placing an arm around Flavio's shoulders. Before they jumped he turned to Lovino and Peter. "We'll jump first and then make sure the raft stays put for you two okay?"
Lovino nodded. "Yeah yeah just go already." Spain nodded and gave Flavio the go ahead. Without another word the two leapt from the railing of the fort and made the long drop to the raft below. It hurt, but at least with the added healing factor of being a nation they were able to recover quite quickly.
"Alright?" Flavio asked as he worked to stabilize the now rocking raft.
"Si" Antonio assured before looking up for Lovino and Peter. "Go ahead Romano!" he shouted up to them. A minute later, and the four of them were safe and secure with Sealand cradled in Flavio's arms as Lovino tended to Antonio with the limited medical supplies stored in the raft. They all knew there was nothing they could do about Sealand's arm. Even as they began to distance themselves from the fort little by little and start heading for the English coast, they could still see the fires burning.
"It hurts" Peter cried again for the countless time.
"Stay strong bambino" Flavio tried to comfort the boy. "We'll get you help as soon as we reach shore."
Sealand shook his head. "Something… something's happening"
The three adult nations traded looks. "What do you-" Lovino was cut off as once again the Lancer bomber passed overhead. "They're coming back" he gasped in horror as he stood helpless, watching the plane drop something as it passed over the fort. From there the bomber disappeared into the distance without making another pass.
Antonio turned from his spot seated in the raft. "What was tha-"
BANG! This time it was Antonio who was not able to finish his words as an explosion far larger than any of the ones previous rocked the fort. The shockwave produced sent waves over the raft and had Lovino collapsing to floor. They only just caught a glimpse of the manmade structure of metal blossoming into orange flames before the agonizing screams of the Principality of Sealand stole the whole of their attention.
"Peter!" Flavio shouted as the micronation was ripped from his arms by the shockwave of the bomb and the screaming boy in a blue sailor uniform was sent into the water. The blond Italian's eyes widened in horror as the last glimpse he caught of the micronation was the twelve year old's face being overtaken by the charred flesh that had previously been confined to his arm and shoulder.
"Sealand!" Lovino and Antonio called simultaneously as they turned away from the horror of the physical structure to try and catch a glimpse of the disappeared personification. But they could see no child breaking the surface of the water.
"Peter! Peter!" Flavio continued to call the boy's name as he stripped himself of his weapons and jacket before diving into the water where he had witnessed the micronation disappear. After several moments of neither nations surfacing, Lovino followed suit and joined his counterpart in the water. Meanwhile, Antonio watched the waves for any sign of their young charge.
Flavio surfaced first with nothing and quickly resubmerged followed by Lovino in the same manner. They did this three or four times before Antonio noticed something floating near the raft. He reached out and grabbed it.
It was a blue sailor hat. The same one Sealand always wore. Spain felt tears sting his eyes. He knew.
"I can't find him!" Flavio shouted in frustration from where he waded in the water.
"Then keep looking idiota!" Lovino screamed back before diving again.
"Peter!" the blond shouted across the water. "Antonio for Dios' sake help! Peter!"
For a few more moments Antonio was paralyzed in grief and shock before he finally called out to the two Italians who were still searching fruitlessly. "He's gone."
"Of course he's gone stupid that's why we have to find him!" Lovino shouted back.
"H-here" Antonio held out the hat and both Southern Italians stopped their thrashing about to stare up at the soaked fabric.
Both tanned nations went pale. "N-no" Lovino shook his head. "He's still there. We just need to find him. He's-"
"His nation was obliterated. Torn apart." Flavio stated bluntly. His eyes were dead and Antonio couldn't help but notice that with his hair darkened by the water, he looked much more like Lovino. "He disappeared. Just like Nonno-"
"Don't you dare say that!" Lovino shouted though his voice sounded choked by tears. "H-he's out there! Peter! Peter!" Both Flavio and Antonio said nothing to try and stop Romano from his desperate searching. But the blond did silently climb his way back onto the raft with Spain. As Lovino raged through his grief they instead mourned in silence, staring at the fiery remains of what had once been a plucky and spirited micronation. "They killed him" Flavio whispered. "They murdered him and six humans. Why? How did they know we were there? We made sure no one was following us!"
"I don't know" Antonio muttered, with Sealand's hat still clenched tightly in his fist. "I don't know anything. Not how they found us. Not why they decided it was alright to kill humans in their pursuit of us. I don't…" As Antonio trailed off Flavio turned to meet the Spaniard's haunted forest green eyes. "I-I don't know how I'm supposed to tell Inglaterra."
Flavio's eyes widened at the realization. They couldn't tell Finland and Sweden. Not yet. But they did have to tell England that his son had just been murdered. "Y-you don't have to be the one-".
"Yes. Yes I do. I'm the oldest of us here. It was my responsibility to keep you all safe. And I failed. I will tell him. Before he finds out on the news while he's in America." Reaching into his back pocket, Spain retrieved his cellphone which had somehow miraculously survived all that had happened in the last hour. He dialed the number and put the phone to his ear.
"Inglaterra it's me." Flavio lowered his gaze and tried not to acknowledge the tears slowly making their way down his cheeks. Italy Romano did not cry. Luciano Vargas' brother did not cry. But he listened. He listened as penance because he had failed too. They all had. They got Sealand into this mess when they fled there for refuge. And now, he was dead. Meaning that the Sealand in Otherworld might very well be gone as well.
He listened as Antonio informed Arthur, and by extension Oliver, of Sealand's death. With the futile cries of Lovino's search as the only background noise besides the endless roiling of the sea.
A/N: And so Sealand is the first casualty on the nations' side. The next couple of chapters will be what happened in those fourteen hours before the attack.