Chapter 14

Audio 2131

Playing

"They have failed to retrieve our child and our sister has decided to take matters in her own hands."

"Do not underestimate our sister. She is not foolish to go alone."

"Indeed. She always brings her elite squad when dire situations happens."

"Correct..."

"Let us hope that she doesn't do anything foolish. We know how she behaves when loses her temper."

"Indeed. Knowing our sister, her temper can sometimes get the best of her."

"Yes...but that temper will put to better use against the rebels."

End of Audio Log

Audio 2132

Playing

"Sister. You have returned. Were you successful?"

"Yes. We have him...at long last. Now...let us begin."

"Yes...let's."

End of Audio Log

(Dante's pov)

13 hours earlier at the Avenger.

I was in Maria's cell with Maria as I held her close while she closed her eyes to rest. For another hour, Marco shows up and knocks on the cell door to gain my attention.

"Dante. We got another job to do." Marco says as he opens the cell door.

"Maria...wake up." I nudge Maria.

Maria starts to wake up as she yawns a bit with a stretch from her arms.

"What is it?" She asks me.

"We got a job to do."

"Ugh...why does it have to be now? I was having such a nice dream..." She smiled.

Really? I wonder if she was dreaming about me...wouldn't surprise me if she was...

"I'm sure you did." I chuckled as me and Maria got off the bed.

We went to load up in the armory as Giovanni seemed to be worried about something...this isn't like him to worry so suddenly...

"Giovanni? Is something the matter?" I asked him.

"Yeah...I couldn't sleep cause I kept seeing these...visions. horrible visions of destruction..."

"I didn't know Ethereals were psychic." Marco said almost sarcastically.

"Not helping, Marco." I frowned at Marco.

"Nor did I...I think the visions were trying to warn me something. The thing is...what?" Giovanni said as I took my quiver of bolts off the shelves.

"Maybe it has to do with the elders." Maria said.

"Maybe and if that's the case...we're gonna stop them."

"Amen to that." Roman said as took his plasma rifle while attaching the bayonet on the rifle.

"Don't worry, Giovanni. I'm sure we'll find a way to prevent it." I smiled slightly at Giovanni.

"...I hope so." Giovanni muttered as I took my machete off the shelf and put it in my sheath on my back.

As we loaded up, we got in the Skyranger with the Commander and were headed to Hong Kong to do a supply raid. It may sound like a simple job but I am really paranoid about the elders getting involved...

"So...how does it feel be with a team of aliens, Marco?" I asked Marco.

"Honestly if it weren't you and your friends, I would probably be paranoid and keep my gun close to me. But with you and your friends, I know you guys can be trusted." Marco smiled.

"Good to know." I chuckled.

When we got to Hong Kong(which was probably a 15 minute trip), I said this little nostalgic line that you may be familiar with...

"Ah...so this is Hong Kong. People talk of it as an interesting place filled with mystery, laughs and excitement they say. Not really my scene." I sighed.

"Then what scenery do you prefer?" The Commander asked me so suddenly.

"The peaceful kind like Rome. Oh how I wish to live there..." I said as I loaded my crossbow.

"Smart man." Marco chuckled.

"Okay, people. Let's move out." The Commander says.

We quietly moved forward to where the supplies were...but here's the thing...there was 3 guards(one officer and two troopers.) patrolling the supplies...this really waved the red flag.

"Somethings not right..." I said.

"What do you mean?" Roman asks me.

"Few guards and the supplies are right there in front of us. It's a trap." I said as I aimed my crossbow at the officer.

"Only one way to find out. Let's take those guards out before we jump to conclusions." The Commander said.

Marco loads a grenade from his grenade launcher and blows the guards up with the grenade. I immediately glared at him for pulling a stunt like that(I mean for all I know those crates could be loaded with clusters of explosives that could kill us all.) and his response was just a shrug. He's lucky he didn't blow up the crates otherwise I would kick his ass for that. I cautiously slithered towards the supplies as I picked up a discarded 2x4 from the floor...I slowly open the crate as I closed my eyes bracing myself for what it has in stores for me...to my relief...nothing happened...in fact...nothing were in the crates!

"They're empty! All of them!" I shouted.

As I shouted that, I got shot in the stomach by a plasma weapon...I clutched my wound in agony as I slowly moved to cover behind a building as they kept firing at me only to get a couple more wounds on my arms and shoulder...I was beginning to black out from the pain as I heard Maria shout...

"DANTE!"

Maria...I'm so sorry...

(Giovanni's pov)

"Damn it! We got to get him out of there!" Marco shouted in anger.

"One problem. Look..." Roman saidy as he points straight.

I look where Roman was pointing at and...shit...there it was...the elder...along with elite troopers, a elite officer, two heavy MECS and a sectopod...this was going to be ugly...I had to think of something...so I did something risky...

"I'll hold them off buy you some time to get Dante and get out of here."

"You're not thinking..." Roman says as he looks at me with shock.

"Just do it. Go on without me if you have to..." I sighed.

"...Okay...let's do this." Roman mutters.

"Good luck." The Commander says with seriousness.

So that's what I did, I did my best on buying them time by attacking the elder and the elder's soldiers with my psionic powers as Roman and Marco rushed to get Dante. They managed to get him to safety to get back with the Commander but it got worse when the elder hits me with a stasis and let me tell you...it sucks. Your body just shuts down...literally. you can't see...you can't move...you can't hear and you sure as hell can't speak...I hope they managed to escape...

(Marco's pov)

"Hang on, little brother! We're getting you out of here!" I said as I threw a flare to signal for evacuation.

The Skyranger showed up thankfully as me, Roman, Maria and the Commander escaped Hong Kong. I held my brother tightly as he groans in pain...god damn this is bad...I took some clean rags from my pocket and covered his wounds with the best I can...we were silent on the whole trip...fearing for my little brother's life...we finally got to the Avenger as I rushed to the infirmary ignoring everyone as I quickly place Dante on one of the beds gently. I angrily ordered the doctors to treat my brother's wounds as they quickly got to work in treating Dante with fear on their faces...then I heard Dante's voice...rather quiet almost...

"Ungh...Marco...?" Dante muttered.

"Shh...it's okay, bro...get some rest. The doctors are here to help you."

"It hurts..." He groans.

"Shh...stop talking. You're going to be alright..." I said as one of the doctors inject anesthetic in Dante.

I hope...ADVENT...you really crossed the line this time...and now this is personal...I'll kill every last of you mother fuckers even if it kills me...mark my words...

(Giovanni's pov)

12 hours later in a unknown facility

I wake up in a room of some facility as I see an elder in front of me...

"My child...It is good to see you finally awake..." She says.

I didn't say a word nor did I felt like saying anything to the bitch for capturing me here...but she did something that kind of scared me for life...she slowly puts her hand on my forehead as I felt her psionics flowing to my head. You know how in Mass Effect when Asari melds with your mind? That's what's happening here...almost as if she was trying to bond with me cause of this unusual feeling of love for some odd reason. I'm guessing this is how Ethereals bond...rather odd if you ask me...

When she stopped using her psionic, I passed out again feeling a nasty headache...I'm gonna need some painkillers after this...