Anthem for the Drowned
For those of you interested, I've also just started a Bioshock fanfic called "Brotherhood of Shadows" about a teenager who travels to Rapture after his father dies, leaving him no other place to go. If you get bored of this story but want to read something else by me, it's over there. Thanks
-Anthem
Chapter 11
I was awake. But just barely, I refused to acknowledge my own consciousness, I was too comfortable. The grass underneath me felt nice against my skin and the chill, morning air was soothing against the scar from Ophelia's axe the first time we'd met. As my thoughts turned to Ophelia, memories drifted lazily into my mind and I allowed them to float by without seriously giving them any attention. I became aware that my arm left arm was hooked over her waist, holding her against me on the soft ground. I felt her stomach move in and out in sync with her breathing. Her hair lay gently across my face and it fluttered as I breathed in time with her, trying not to wake her. I felt so peaceful there, like I never wanted to move, just lay there. But then my thoughts turned to the battle. It was coming, too soon. Too early I thought don't want to move… My beautiful moment was now slightly overshadowed by the impending bloodshed. With a sigh I forced my eyelids open.
"I knew you were awake" she said softly. She turned over so that we were now face to face, inches apart. I laughed, brushing her hair out of her eyes,
"Did you now?"
"It doesn't matter either way, as much as I'd like to lay here and argue the point with you, we need to get moving, the sun will be up soon and we need to make it to Death's clutch before noon." I frowned slightly and looked away from her face. It was then that I noticed that I couldn't see the sky or anything around us. The veil of black tears the usually hovered around Ophelia had drifted away from her and now hung like drapes around us, like a tent of some sort, hiding us from view. I sighed…
"Alright" I kissed her and then pulled away.
"Get dressed" she replied, "I'll meet you down at the sea in two minutes, and don't you dare be late or I'll kick your ass again." I laughed,
"As if…" The black veil around us flew back to Ophelia's body as she got up, spread her black wings and flew from the ledge. I quickly pulled my jeans back on and the black shirt with the bird and ankh back on. Securing my guitar over my shoulder, I leapt down and entered the cave, approaching the shores of the mighty black sea where the troops were amassed, silent and waiting.
"You know where to go, flow like a river!" Ophelia said, pointing to the exit. As the troops sprinted through the mouth of the cave, I saw Ophelia motion to me with her finger. I flew up to her position.
"What's the plan?" I asked
"The battle today will be small, just a test to see how strong Ironheade is now. Most of our forces will be stationed at the dry ice mines, only about one eighth are going across the ravine today to fight" She replied.
"So we will lose?" I asked
"Yes, but we won't lose a significant number of troops, one enough to make it appear as if we're putting up a fight. In addition, the two of us need to stay hidden. It's not time for them to know who's behind this force yet. We will observe and learn and then ambush them at the dry ice mines when they inevitably seek to destroy us. Are you ready?"
"Oh Hell Yeah" I yelled.
"Good", she said giggling, "It's going to be a long day".
We flew ahead of the troops, landing on the snowcapped mountains with a good vantage point of the Ironheade camp. Our first wave of troops would approach from the river on the right flank and the next three waves would come from the front. The primary objectives were to capture fan geysers to keep Ironheade in its weakened. The secondary objective was to deal as much damage to the Ironheade forces before our small test force was wiped out. The troops were slower on foot and we waited silently until they arrived. When they finally approached, Ophelia flew down to meet them and clarify instructions one last time before they went into battle. I sat watching, one leg stretched out in front of the other. Just watching I told myself, See what they do, analyze.
Ophelia landed next to me, I could see below that the first bride was just beginning to make her way out of the woods. A headbanger stood by the river, and he watched her, a confused look on his face.
"Ryan, I want you to take the rear command, launch the next waves on my signal", Ophelia ordered. I saluted and then flew down to wear the rest of our troops were waiting, just out of sight of the enemy stage.
Ironheade was slow to react, but they barely managed to overcome the first attacking force, using the short pause to try and bring more troops to the stage. As the small army started heading towards the first fan leech I heard a shrill whistle from Ophelia.
"Go!" I yelled, pointing ahead, "Stop them from capturing that geyser". Frightwigs, Gravediggers and Brides surged forth around me, pushing towards the Ironheade Army. The short skirmish that ensued resulted in total loss on both sides, the final gravedigger being decapitated by the Ironheade leader, Eddie, himself. While Ironheade attempted to quickly create more troops, Ophelia ordered in the next wave of our troops. The sprinted up the hill towards the next fan leech, quickly overcoming it, releasing the fans. But as the monster flew away, the next party of Ironheade troops arrived, but this time our forces overpowered them. The few remaining tear drinkers headed to the Ironheade stage and begin hacking away at it. Alarms sounded and Eddie was beginning to panic as he tried to order in more troops and defend his stage.
Another whistle, go for the third wave, our most powerful by far. This one included everything from gravediggers to lightning rods. The battle seemed in our clutches even though we'd aimed to lose. But Ophelia knew something she wouldn't let on. In fact, I started to suspect that the battle was not to observe Ironheade, but to force something to make a move against us, for all the surprises in their forces to be laid clear. She couldn't have been wrong about losing, this battle wasn't over yet. That's when I heard the sounds of revving engines coming from the left of the Ironheade stage. I flew up to Ophelia and looked at the oncoming forces. Those weren't Thunderhogs they were…
"Fire Barons" Ophelia stated, the smile spreading over her face, "I knew they would come, they can't resist a good fight, especially now that Lionwhyte's dead. This is what I was waiting for. Come one, were leaving now to prepare the dry ice mines." I followed Ophelia back the way we had came, stopping to descend below the layer of fog where the remainder of our huge army waited.
"Bring more troops from the sea" she commanded, "I'll hold them off at the ravine as long as possible, unlike us they can't travel along the water, they'll have to build a bridge, and I'll keep them at it as long as I can." With that she shot off towards the sky while the rest of us went about preparing the battlefield for the next Ambush.