{Somewhere from the remains of Mexico. Free and Sovereign Country of Jalisco capitol.}
A highly decorated general walked through doorway where a leader sat discussing politics to a servant. Upon entering said servant gave his respects and left promptly. The leader looked at the general that entered and delightfully said, "Ah, what great hearing from you. I do hope your not the bringer of bad news again."
"President Ram, I bring news of the armada you sent northwards."
"Ah good, I'm now convinced you do bring good news for once," she seemed pleased.
"Unless you consider the slaughter of the forces except for twenty-seven survivors a success."
{Somewhere from the remains of the United States of America. Team Black Star base.}
I sat at the front of the table as we, for the first time ever, had a team meeting. I tried to sort out what had happened and why we did such an event. After we had parted with Dragon Slayer and Ravenous Hound everyone wanted to speak with me. So, I had decided a meeting would be held in the mess hall where if the team didn't speak their concerns then they will be forced to remain quiet.
"Well then, where shall we start?"
Everyone remained silent until, "Why in hell did you dress my sister as a maid, and have her fight?"
I answered him as rudely as he did, "She did it on her own free will! I didn't even ask her, she asked for permission and I let her do it kicking and screaming the whole way."
"Oh right, like Alice will go out an kill indiscriminately. I hate people who can do such a thing, that's what you all are, monsters," Butler said sarcastically then followed up with, "Come on Alice, let's go, our agreement has been voided."
Alice remained quiet as I yelled at him, "Your a butler under contract, you can't leave!"
"You broke the rules!"
"The rules were that I'd save her and you'd be a servant!"
"I told you to protect her!"
"You'd said no such thing!"
"I've had enough, come on Alice, let's go."
Alice stood her ground and stayed in her seat.
"Come on Alice, let's go!"
"No," Alice responded.
"What?" Butler responded in confusion.
"I'm staying, since you hate me so much."
"When did I say that?"
"You said you hated hunters."
"But your not a bounty hunter Alice."
"That's Maid Gunner to you, BUTLER."
The air in the room became tense, no one spoke, no one dared to breathe. Even the relaxed Devil Girl was not at ease until Butler, head low, went back to table and sat down. I looked at Butler, would my sister had done the same thing. Would she hate me for what I had become? I sighed, may her soul rest in peace.
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President Ram toyed with the bracelet she had gotten, it was a simple bracelet, it was a small metallic star held onto a simple blue thread-lock string. "So it was a band of seven?"
"Yes, they were led by the bounty by the name of Black Rock Shooter."
"Black Rock Shooter? Was that the one who crippled the Oblivions? Or was that Dragon Slayer?" the president asked. "Only four years in charge and at twenty-eight years of age and the stress is already dulling my senses."
"It's amazing you cope with it so well
Miss President, you do own half of the world after all."
"Stop flattering, I can't promote you any higher without making up positions. And please you know very well I prefer to be called Ram."
"It wasn't flattering...Ram. You're just an admirable person."
"So you've told me countless times Strength. On to business," the President said changing the subject. "Now as we know Miss Black Rock Shooter is highly prosecuted in the hell hole that is the Oblivion Empire. Now if we can coax the Empire out and possibly capture one of their leaders we will gain a significant advantage on them. What I propose is that we lure them out using the promise of catching Black Rock Shooter, using this," she handed the bracelet to Chief of War Strength, "as evidence to our bluff."
The Chief of War nodded and removed her regal coat to reveal a sweater, and dawned the hoodie, "Of course, right away Presid-...excuse me, Ram."
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"Okay that's another problem solved. I'll talk to Hound about it tomorrow at the bar alright Devil Girl?" I asked to make sure I had all the facts straight.
"Alright," she quietly answered.
"Okay any other complaints I can decline?" I joked, but no one found it very funny, "Anyone?"
No one answered so I carried on, "Well since we solved your problems how about mine?"
The air remained stiff and no one answered and Mefe squirmed to try to remain calm, "My only question is a simple one, who are you Mefe, or should I say Mii, before and during the war?"
Her purple witch hat covered her eyes as she said, in a barely audible tone, "My name is Mii, and I was a doctor for the Norte Americanos during the war. Before it I went to a medical college to train for a medical degree, but then the war started and they needed doctors and that's how I got here I guess."
"But your twenty-three how did you have enough time to study medicine?" I asked seeing a flaw in her story.
She again sighed, "That was a lie too, I'm actually twenty-seven."
"Anything else I should know?" I asked.
"No that is all."
"Okay then, meeting adjourned."
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"STR, I thought we had agreed to have specific times to meet?" The empress said in a surprisingly calm tone.
"I'm sorry Overlord, but I bring urgent news from Jalisco," a girl with a hoodie and mechanical arms bowed down in front of the leader of the Oblivion Empire.
"Your position always bring all the good news," Dead Master said with quiet contempt, "what are you again, Chief of War?"
"Yes, Chief of War, it's on par with being vice-president of that cesspit," STR said as she rose to her feet.
"Very well, what do you have to tell me?"
STR extended her hand containing a bracelet, "They have successfully captured Black Rock Shooter."
Dead Master became quiet, her eyes wide with shock, "No..."
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A knock came from the door in my room. It had been about three hours since we had our meeting and I really hadn't expected anyone coming in be it due to anger or exhaustion. I got out of a resting position and sat on my bed, "Come in."
A purple witch hat popped into the doorway and I instantly knew who it was, "Hey it's Mefe...I mean Mii, may I come in?"
"Sure come in," I made space on my bed and patted it so she knew where to sit. The rooms were made for two people one bed on each side, but I had one removed to have more room for exercise and to make it more home-y.
She was unusually quiet when she closed the door and sat beside me, "Rock I want to come clean, there's more to me than what I've said. I didn't lie at the meeting, I just don't think I can tell anyone else my story not even Matagi."
My mind flashed back to her licking her blood-soaked hatchet clean but I was then snapped out of it, "But I'd rather not talk about it here."
"What?" I asked in confusion, "but this place is much more secure!"
"Please this is the last time I'll ask you to not ask any questions," Mefe...Mii pleaded, "Please do it for me."
I thought hard, I felt betrayed, this seemed to become a theme, betrayed by those I trusted the most. Was this road really that dark? Did everyone have their own agendas? Gold Saw had already betrayed me, was...whoever she was...going to do the same thing? Would the others soon follow? Maybe Dragon Slayer was right, maybe I did need a tighter leash or maybe no team at all. All I knew was that I felt betrayed, and I really didn't want to feel that way.
"No." I finally decided to answer.
"What?" her voice cracked in disbelief.
"I'm sorry, I just feel betrayed... Mii."
I stood up and began to walk out the door, as, for the first time I had ever seen, she cried. It would've broken my heart if it wasn't already.
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The empress was in a fit, two women came to calm her, one a blond with a dress, and another with jet-black hair and a small trench coat. They kept her from destroying the throne room, and after subduing her they brought her to STR for a brief second, "Mobilize an army to attack Jalisco, show no mercy, have it done in at most three months".
STR gave a slight bow and walked off with a vicious smile as the women presumably took the Overlord to her room for breath. As she was carried off the Dead Master mumbled softly herself, "We'll share our pain soon enough...and our..." She never got to finish her personal sentence, exhaustion had finally gotten a hold of her.
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Black Rock Shooter is the property of the artist, Huke, no copyright infringement intended. I would appreciate, support, comments, and constructive criticism. See a spelling/grammar mistake don't be hesitant to mention it in a review, negative or positive. HAHA! There ya go people who wanted to see Dead Master and her obsessive qualities, hopefully I didn't butcher her since she wasn't supposed to be here, hope you guys also enjoy Ram. Ooh STRength's character seems decently crafted too. Also I'd like to mention, I might've forgotten to mention in previous author's notes, that Dead Master is in her, huke-verse/OVA-verse outfit, other aesthetic changes are Gold Saw and Devil Girl not having horns (you can decide yourself if you want to imagine Dead Master to have them) and Black Rock Shooter can be in any outfit except, Beast, Insane, RAH white, or Innocent Soul style. Also remember I'm taking suggestions for filler chapters until I feel I can begin moving the plot again. Finally for the review corner when I speak to non-critical reviewers:
LordMarik: General? Do you mean Bailey? Or do you mean the leader of Jalisco? If it's the latter then the leader would be Ram, leader of the Free and Sovreign Country of Jalisco. Dead Master is leader of the Oblivion Empire.
One review for that chapter but I wasn't really expecting much due to the hiatus. But still...
Much obliged,
Ωmega
