Next Chapter coming soon in a few hours.
As for a review by Icestar100:
I've been having more trouble making sense of your incomplete sentences than figuring out what you're saying. You're probably upset i hailed Maya Kadayat as the main heroine of the story, therefore it flags her as the eventual only love interest. It was very confusing because you marked this review on Chp 16 when i talked about it only in Chp 18.
From my point of view I haven't really disclosed anything. I only said she was the Main OC and it was because of how her existence affects the story from the game we know, it doesn't translate into being Ajay's only love interest. I made that rather clear in that answer to the previous anonymous review.
Hajura 'Amako Hatama was a mountain holding an immeasurable secret to the outside world. But most of all it was the home to those near invincible Yetis. It was at the hardest time he had endured in the Himalayas after escaping Durgesh Prison did he run into that expedition force driven insane by that hallucinogen they called the "Elixir".
-I'd rather not go there again!-
"Can the herb be imported?"
"I'm terribly sorry for this my lord! I had instructed my attendants to watch the stored amounts at t-."
"I don't want your excuses! Can it be brought back in time?"
The Physician was sweating from his forehead. "This condition needs to be treated within 72 hours! Y-You have mentioned that this young lady had this fever since yesterday, that means the time left would be 48 hours or less! She needs the concoction before the given time or else the neura-toxin will take full effect and cause serious damage to her nervous system and might possibly lead to death as well!"
The moment had become the most tense for him after receiving this kind of bad news. Of course life was a cruel bitch and had to make it less convenient for him. But it was the most straightforward in decisions he had to make, Ajay had more a less settled his heart on what he wanted to do.
"Send me a picture of the plant, I'm gonna look for it." Ajay told the Royal Physician.
"Uh- Yes! Right away!" The doctor scrambled inside his bag and retrieved a book containing all the flora and fauna specimens, an encyclopedia of rare plants. After a quick reference with the glossary page he flipped to the page and presented it to him. "This one your lordship!"
Being given the book Ajay had a brief scan of the page on the characteristics of the plant. It was some rare variant of Wolf's bane, so it was essentially a poison to fight a poison. A bell-like plant with indigo petals.
"It's the root of the flower that we need, you'll need to collect at least 30 milligrams grinded down for me to make into a viable remedy." The doctor informed him.
"…..Ok. Please keep her stable, doctor. And thank you!"
"It is a pleasure, your lordship!" The Doctor bowed to him consecutively as if he was expecting to be executed for failing him initially.
Gary followed Ajay out of the room towards Bhadra's where Pagan was.
"Can I speak to you for a minute?" Ajay knocked on Bhadra's door.
"Excuse me my dear, I'll be right back!" Pagan followed him to the empty corridor.
"Let's hear it then!"
"I need a favor of you." Pagan raised an eyebrow, Ajay never asked him for anything apart from sealing his identity.
"Alright?"
"Could you take care of Bhadra and Maya until I return?"
"You don't even need to ask! That young girl is a real treat, of course I'll take care of her! And Yuma's Girl I guess….. Where're you off to?"
Ajay explained the condition Maya was in and the availability of the plant critical to the antidote up in the Himalayas.
"Don't kill the doctor."
"I wasn't thinking that, geez! Have some faith in your old man for god sake!" Pagan crossed his arms.
"Thank you. She has a deadline of 48 hours or less I can't dally. I'll be heading off after I've checked on the Arsenal."
"I'll arrange for a team to follow you-."
"No need! It'll just be a quick in and out." Ajay cut in suddenly.
"Ajay, you hiding something?"
Pagan was too shrewd to hide things from.
"I can't say, just please believe me for once. The more people you send the more danger I'll be in."
Ajay spoke in riddles, but it got Pagan thinking to just let him go and trust he would return.
"Alright, Ajay. I'll arrange for a helicopter to ferry you there and back, that's it!"
"Thanks, I owe you!" Ajay smiled at him and left immediately.
Gary who was standing nearby and bore witness to this closed the distance to his king.
"Should I send the scouts to tail him?"
"No. Call them off, there hasn't been a time he's ask me this desperately. I could see it in his eyes, he needed to go alone. Ha! To think he'd do all this for Yuma's girl, she must be a really special existence to him!" Pagan chuckled before returning to Bhadra's room to tell her the great news.
"Good news my dear, it seems Badala has plans. For the time being, you're coming to stay over with me!" Pagan announced joyfully.
Ajay approached the entrance to the Arsenal compound, when he was being chased by the marines he saw the flames erupting from the direction of the town.
A crowd gathered outside of the compound, both the townsfolk and the Arsenal employees. Though they heard the gun fighting last night, they stayed indoors. The next morning, they were expecting to return to work only for the Arsenal to be half wrecked.
There were a lot of voicing of concern that they had lost their employment. Ajay passed the crowd that made way for him and reached where the Condotierri had gathered, there appeared to be a marine amongst them who was tied up in the corner.
"Boss!"
"Is everyone ok?" Ajay asked for their wellbeing as first priority.
"I'm afraid not….." Samson stepped aside giving Ajay full view of their losses.
"Antorio…Antorio… Antorio-…." Stella cried against the body of her fallen comrade. She embraced the singed corpse of her friend. Next to her was a heavily injured Alberto whom was also in grief.
"Alberto, what happened?"
"W-We were disarming the bombs and then….. Antorio pushed me aside-….and then-…" Being made to retell the story of how Antorio selflessly saved him at the last minute took the light out from his eyes.
"Rest. Don't think about it anymore, don't squander the life he saved." Ajay pushed his head gently back to lie in the stretcher that his body was placed upon. Alberto pressed his hands to his face as he broke into tears as well.
Ajay got up and walked to Samson.
"Pagan has a chopper at my house, I suggest you bring Alberto to tag along so he can get emergency treatment. There's a doctor there as well, just tell them I told you to come." Samson nodded and called Emilio and Luca to carry Alberto to the hill.
"Antorio's body, we'll make arrangements to ship back to Florence."
"You need not worry yourself over these matters, we'll handle it. As for the Arsenal, I'm afraid-…. I'm sorry, we've failed you!"
"No. You haven't, we might have lost most of the equipment by we still have the most important element still alright and that's the employees are safe. The equipment can be replaced with the shipment Longinus was bringing in today, It'll take some time to restart but we'll rebuild. When I get back I'll sort the deal with the Arsenal. Until then, maintain public security of the town and block off this compound. Tell the employees they'll be on three days leave then I'll explain out intentions for the future. For now, I'll assign Bipin to oversee the Towns administration and Elina to the Arsenal."
"Understood, I'll tell them. Um-…. Where will you be going?"
"Maya's suffering from a rare ailment that's life threatening. I'm going to the mountains to retrieve an antidote!"
"Then some of us should accompany you!"
"No. I need all of you to manage the situation here!" A whiff of authority was used in his tone on Samson.
"Very well, boss. Um….. this might not be the best time to say it but….. we have someone you might want to see." Ajay knew who he was referring to as they both turned to the marine that was taken prisoner with Ricardo standing guard next to him.
"Hi!" The jarhead responded brightly, avoiding the fact that he was captured.
"Keep him under house arrest in the cabin or the shed. Don't let Yuma get her hands on him or he'll spend his entire life in Durgesh Prison." Sooner or later, Yuma was going to hear about her protégé being involved in the raid and start looking for answers, starting with the marine.
"Isn't that where he should belong?"
"Maybe, but I want to see if he might be able to help me get in contact with the rest of the Marines to go against Willis. When I was engaged with his superior he told me something rather interesting, the marines aren't cooperating with Willis." Ajay shared this bit of important intel with Samson to earn his trust he'd keep the marine safe.
"I see. We'll do our best to keep him-."
"You did this! You did this to Antorio! I'll kill you! Assassino!" Stella made a racket by kicking the marine in the gut and- "Owwww….. my man berriesss….."
"Woah! Woah! Woah! Stella, Calmati! Calmati!" Ricardo and Luigi struggled to restrain her. "Let go! Let go!-."
"I know I'm asking a lot right now, but if he's alive when I get back we might be able to give Willis a taste of his own medicine soon." Ajay clarified that they weren't restricted from avenging their comrade by then they'd only face harsher adversity.
"Understood, I'll….. try to keep her in check." Ajay nodded and went over to the marine.
"Your Captain made it through safely, I'm leaving you in the company of the Condotierri. Try to be nice! Or she might kill you." Ajay pointed to the grieving Stella.
"I won't mind!" He said with an optimistic smile.
"Funny, we'll talk in a few days. Try to stay close to them, they're there to protect you."
"How ironic! And what from might I ask?" The marine said in an annoying tone to try and irritate Ajay into taking action against him, but Ajay knew better that it was a defensive mechanism for being alone behind enemy lines.
"Yuma's troops, and I'll tell you right off the bat! She is the only one that scares me." Ajay said with a grin.
"Oh…." The marine seemed to get the message and returned to a blank face. If the feared Northern Demon feared something else, he had good reason to avoid it.
(Screech) An SUV came skidding towards the compound, the crowd that assembled at the gate quickly ran and jumped aside as the crazy driver ran through.
The car doors flung open and out came a bewildered Longinus, staring at the Arsenal with agony written all over his face. "NOOOOOOOOO!"
He collapsed into a kneel waving his two hands towards the rubble where the Arsenal stood.
"ANIMALS!... BARBARIANS!... Desecrating a place of worship! Who did this?!" Longinus stomped hard towards Ajay and the marine.
"You!-... You did this!" He drew his machine pistol from the fine white suit tailored by Mumu Chiffon and pointed it at the Marine.
Ajay kicked his hand just as he depressed the trigger and released a burst of lead at the burnt walls.
(Gulp) The marine saw that this crazed African had the intention to kill him on the spot.
"Ease down, Longinus. He was led astray by…. "The Asshole"."
"…'The Asshole' you say?" said Longinus after he calmed down and asked, Ajay nodded. "The Asshole" was a name used exclusively for Willis between Ajay and his friends.
"Mmmm. Then he must be enlightened about the good word!" Longinus's attitude went back to his usual style.
"I agree. Why don't you try converting him?"
Longinus smiled with glee when Ajay suggested "Yes! I will!"
"I'm on an urgent mission, I'll be back in one or two days. We'll talk then!" Ajay told him before boarding his jeep and driving off quickly.
Longinus turned to the marine smiling ever so brightly giving the marine a feeling of dread, for a moment he regretted not pulling the trigger when he had the chance.
The place Ajay sped to was the Royal Palace, where Samar was currently in his armory. The designated chopper was waiting on the helipad of the palace for him. Ajay went there to get equipped in the Armory. He donned the combat clothing that went with his mask, because it provided the most protection. Also remembering to bring a rebreather and oxygen tanks for the thin air at high altitudes and against the hallucinogen from the "elixir".
Samar drew the weapons that he requested for with haste and brought the appropriate ammo with him. The weapons Ajay brought with him were:
The SA-50 Gepard Lynx anti-material rifle with the load being Armor Piercing Incendiary ammo.
The SPAS-12 Semi-auto shotgun, the shells he asked for were of the Dragon's breath variety.
The Sawn-off M79 grenade launcher for close quarter explosive engagements.
He brought the maximum firepower he could afford in engaging the inhabitants of Hajura' Amako Hatama mountain.
Samar placed a gauntlet in front of him.
"What's this?" He asked as he picked it up.
"A ballistic gauntlet with built-in grappling gun and hook to help you get to places faster on the mountain slopes. Using mono-filament tri-weave cable. It's been one of my pet projects for some time."
Ajay hesitated to take it. "Has it been tested?"
"I figured now would be a good time! Who do you take me for? I'm the one who designed the crossbolt, sir!"
Ajay thought about it for a while, every single advantage might help him reduce the time taken to retrieve it.
"I'll be taking it then." Ajay took the gauntlet and wore it. And went back to filling his pouches with the ammunition required for the weapons.
"Expecting to come into trouble on the mountain top?" Samar had some suspicions about what Gary had told him from when he returned from Ajay's house.
"Just the local residence."
Samar had no idea what Ajay was talking about, how would there be people living up in sub-zero temperatures in the Himalayas?
The sound of feet pattered towards them. "Badala! I heard what happened- Wha- where are you going?!"
Saras had arrived from the Royal Fortress as soon as she heard the raid on his house and on the Arsenal as well.
"Saras, perfect time. I need you to get your father to enact Martial Law in my territory, also tell Yuma that Maya's here."
"Wha- What happened?" She had only been informed of the attack on the house and the Arsenal by the communications officers.
"I don't have long so I'll give the short summary. Maya's suffering from an illness that could kill her if I don't get a certain flower on a certain mountain!" He said as he finished packing the medical pouch and moved on.
"And you need all this?!" The way he dressed was like he was having a last stand.
"This is just in case…. "the locals" become hostile."
"I'll come along-."
"You'll do no such thing!" He said almost immediately.
"And let you go out alone to an icy mountain to search on your own when you could easily die or get lost? I came because I heard from Darshan about your excursion into the mountains. Badala, Maya is my friend as well!" She wore a face of determination and partly of pleading.
-How did Darshan know about this?-
He hadn't seen him anywhere last night or today so how did he know?
"There's a reason I didn't ask the Condotierri to follow me. And it's the same reason you can't."
"I don't care! I still want to come!"
"Can you stop acting like a spoilt brat for one second?!" Ajay shouted as he slammed the grenade satchel on the table, obviously out of built-up anger. The armory became silent as Saras was staring stunned by his outburst, then she faced him once more.
"Why… Why won't you let anyone help you when you need it the most? Is it because you don't trust any of us? Why won't you let me show the strength of my friendship? What's so important you'll hide it from even me? Your fiancée….. Ajay." She asked in tears.
Ajay was left in shock when Saras said his real name, his entire body turned rigid and words couldn't form in his mouth. Saras was showing as side to him he didn't think existed with her. Ajay had a soft spot for crying women, it was an image grafted into him from his mother and it caused him to feel highly agitated when he didn't do something about it. So against his better judgement-
"…. (Sigh)…. one condition."
"Name it!" She asked as she wiped those sudden tears away.
"Whatever you see, whatever you experience over there…. Don't ever let it leave those mountains or you'll never be treated the same as before."
"Ok." She didn't need to think it through.
"Samar, get her a set of matching equipment. Saras, go topside to Mr. Chiffon's and ask for Winter combat clothes."
"Right!"
"Sure thing."
Saras went in a hurry, evidently smiling as she went off.
"Why did you give in?" Samar asked him, knowing the trip was dangerous for Ajay to request all these weapons and loadouts from him.
"Hmmm... I wonder why myself…" Ajay packed the last of the bags and rested on the bench. He had few hours of sleep before all of this stuff happened, although he'd gone without sleep longer.
The Helicopter flew with a combination or speed and smooth flying, only achievable by Kamran the King's pilot.
Inside the passenger compartment, Saras sat facing Ajay. Both were cladded in winter equipment. Saras went with the custom Kriss Vector called the Shredder despite Ajay's profound advice, Ajay detailed the C4 explosives for her to carry. She still wasn't aware of the type of enemy they were facing.
He was still having misconceptions about letting her get off the chopper when they reached. The primary reason he wanted to go alone was because the Relic had distributed the "Elixir" around it in large quantities, one small whiff of it and the hallucinations would begin. But there was worse, when the "Elixir" was taken into a person there stood a chance he would "Awaken" into a Yeti. Having his "plus-one" hallucinating during the trip was the last thing he wanted especially during a firefight.
"When did you find out?" Ajay asked over the headset.
"A little after I told you all about my betrothal, I wondered why you were reacting so much to the name Ajay. But then, it made sense after I plotted together the pieces, your disappearance after arriving with King Min, your matching heritage as an American, your closeness to His Royal Highness. I had my doubts but overall, I still wanted to believe it was you."
"…." He had to admit, he left himself wide open back then. But it explained why she became more aggressive. Coupled with the fact that she liked him for what he was, it turned out that fate had a funny way of playing its cards when the same man was her betrothed.
Of course she would feel content knowing they were already bind by an invisible string of fate.
"My turn, what's with the fake alias?"
Ajay was having misgivings about indulging her any further about his plans, there was no reason to tell her and endanger her in the process. So he remained quiet.
"Another question then, did you know about our betrothal?" Seeing that he refused to comment she asked another.
"No. And I don't think you should hang on to it, because of a custom."
"I'm not, but I'm sure glad it brought me closer to you, Ajay."
"I'm not the person you think I am, Saras. What you might learn from me might make you regret ever coming into contact, plus I know you deserve better."
"Let me be the judge of that."
"Stubborn as ever- didn't you hear what I just said?! I don't intend to pursue any relationship with anyone, that includes you!" Ajay turned away from her and looked out of the window after shouting it.
"(Sigh)….. Ajay, when I first met you my first impression was why would someone wear that damning mask like you do? Was it to frighten his enemies and demand respect from his friends? Or was it to mask the shame he had from his own face? Either way I watched you work, I watched you fight. You might bear the guilt for an unforgivable past but you ensured that everyone close to you gained something from you, and needn't share in the burden of your shame or pain. I know that behind that fierce and terrible mask of Badala there is the kind face of Ajay Ghale. And that's the man I want to be with and share in his woes and joys. That person so happened to be my betrothed too, could you imagine the feeling! It felt like Kyra had blessed me with such fortune very early within my life." She chuckled at the last part.
"…"
"So whatever you say, whatever actions you do to keep me away are irrelevant! I still want you and I'll do everything I have to do so!"
"… Want doesn't get!"
"I know, I'm just willing to try with all my might!"
"And I'm telling you you're wasting your time and your life on something that doesn't hold any value."
"Perhaps you might not think it does…. But I do."
It was impossible to reason with her, once she was set on something she'd go at it with everything. And that's what worried him, it was going to cost her life being around him and he'd have no way of making up for it. She was adding to his burden he didn't want to give to others.
"Then in the event you do, would you feel comfortable knowing that person looks at another that's not you?" Ajay gave an evil smirk.
-That's right, if she knows I won't give my affection to her but another on first opportunity that should do it.-
"It-…..It'll probably make me rather upset." She said in contemplation of the thought of him doing so.
-(Sigh) Finally!-
"But I guess I can settle for second place!" She looked up smiling.
-What?! How does one-…..!- Even after that she still wanted to consider an option together?!
Ajay's mind was having difficulty comprehending this, not even he was comfortable with the thought. So how was she ok with it? He had unconsciously dabbled into a conversation he never wanted to have with Saraswati.
"You're a difficult woman, I wish we never met." Ajay said so because he was certain her interaction with him and her rigid choices were going to lead her to her death.
Ajay closed his eyes to think about it.
-Not if I can help it!-
If she wouldn't change her approach, then he could.
"Ha! It was predestined, Ajay! So what have you to say to my resolve?" She said smiling.
Ajay looked into her eyes and said it.
"Till death do us part."
*We're arrived in the coodinates, Ajay! Fifteen seconds, the weather doesn't look like its gonna improve tonight. I'll return in the morning!* Kamran said over the intercom.
"Thanks, Kamran! We'll see you then." Ajay lugged his pack and gear before opening the door once the helicopter was hovering about the ground.
Ajay threw his pack to the ground and prepared his rappelling rope. "You coming?" He said to Saras still looking in a daze.
"Uh- Um- Yes!" She answered in a sheepish way but quickly secured her gear and rappelled down the same rope as Ajay.
Ajay made a quick scan of the area, for the time being the air was calm but not for long. Where were they exactly?
The Valley of the Yetis.
And where exactly was they were dropped off was at the base of the very mountain the flower could be found. The air returned to its original calmness after Kamran departed, Ajay hooked up his oxygen mask and threw his hood over.
"Saras, put on your mask. The air is too thin on the top….. Saras."
"Huh? Oh!- Alright!" She struggled to put on her mask, watching her fumble with the latches was refreshing to watch instead of her always seemingly taking control all the time.
"You've been acting strange since I answered…. was it that surprising?"
"I…..I wasn't expecting such a positive return from you! I thought I was still dreaming! Pinch me!"
"Pinch yourself!"
"Say it again!"
"No!"
"Say it! Come on!" She jumped him and forced him flat on the snow. She chuckled in her usual way and pressed herself against him, rubbing her face against chest.
Ajay was left in disorientation, and a tinge of regret for ever giving that answer.
"I promise, I'll remove that doubt in your eyes soon enough!" Saras said as she looked into his eyes.
"We'll talk about this when we've gotten the flowers, can we?" Ajay wanted to remind her why they were here in the first place.
"Oh- Sure!" Saras got off him and held out a hand to him.
Ajay took the hand and got up, scanning the site which they landed in.
"So what do we do?"
"Go up this mountain, find the plant without waking the inhabitants, go to a relay station for sending communications out of Kyrat and spend the night."
"Woooo…. A romantic night in a blizzard."
"Is that all you could think about?!" Ajay sighed, all that was in her head was pink nonsense.
"Also, you said something about inhabitants…. Here in the mountains? Why would anyone want to stay here, you could barely survive more than a week here!"
"Saras, I'm gonna caution you on what your about to see. You might find it hard to comprehend even after seeing it but you have to remember my condition."
"I know, what happens in the Himalayas stays in the Himalayas! What's with the charades, what is it?"
"You'll see soon enough." Ajay took point with Saras in tow as he navigated around the peak to the top.
In truth he wished they would never encounter one of them, but this was reality and he had to face it. So he prepared the necessary equipment in this environment and the capable weapons at appropriately dealing with them.
Ajay and Saras climbed the mountain through a man-made trail that zig-zagged up into the mountain of Hajura' Amako Hatama. The snow was about knee deep so their speed was dramatically reduced, especially when they were climbing.
Ajay wondered if they'd come across the expedition party Yuma had dispatched here to look for relics concerning Shangri-La. Mohan's homestead had one such relic kept in the family for generations which he scattered throughout Kyrat and Ajay had diligently recovered. Then there was that trance he experienced every time he found one, adding to a story about Kalinag and his adventures in Shangri-La. But as Ajay read through the thangkas, the moral of the entire story became clearer. Shangri-La wasn't a place but a condition attained when seeking inner peace, something along the lines of achieving Nirvana like what the local hippies would have said. Then again, Yuma was delusional then. She spoke in the same way Kalinag and the other seekers were going about in Shangri-La. It felt like the mountain top was messing with their heads, could it have been that she obtained a sample of the "Elixir" from the expedition back then which caused the deterioration of her sanity?
To be honest, he really didn't want to tamper with the Relic at all, not even go near it. He still had difficulty overcoming that period of time he experienced. After destroying the relic back then, he woke from the detonation of the relic plant only to find himself become of "Them" and then he blacked out. The next time he opened his eyes he was back in the homestead with Sabal who explained they found him on the mountain top exposed, he was back too normal then. A dream he supposed but it felt entirely real, was it entirely the "elixirs" fault? That it was a hallucination he had from being dosed with a good amount of the pungent odor.
After venturing for an hour to the top, there was still no sign of the flower on the way up. The Physician was quite insistent it could only be found on the peak, because the seeds scattered in the strong winds and laced several mountain tops but only with sufficient sunlight would they grow. Light found only on the peaks which was out over the clouds.
The grappling gauntlet that Samar built was rather useful, it was like something from the comic books and yet the design seemed really practical, just point and shoot. A retractable cable able to support 150 kilograms and pull it up with a winch motor that was attracted to his back in a small canister the size of a soda bottle. He became Tarzan in the ice mountains. Unfortunately, Saras hadn't been exposed to a similar regime of running and climbing so she fell behind. Ajay patiently waited for her to climb the mountain with him. The grapple could also function as a retracting rope that could lift Saras from the lower levels once Ajay climbed one, all she had to do was wait for him to lower the cable to hop right on and ascend. The speed improved dramatically when only he needed to climb the steep rocks.
This continued a number of times because the mountain was getting narrower as they got higher.
Then they came to the place.
The entrance of the shrine appeared before them.
"Oh. There really was a structure here-."
As she walked forwards to seek shelter from the increasing snow, Ajay held her hand to prevent her from taking any further steps.
"Hey!"
"We're continuing, we have till evening then we'll head over to the relay station."
"Could we take a break at least?"
"Sure but not in that cave."
"Ok? Is there something you'd like to- (ROOOAAARR)." Ajay didn't need to explain because the resident of the cave came out to apprehend the unknown presence to the Relic's proximity. Ajay pulled her behind a jutting rock to hide from the newly arrived Yeti.
Saras was beyond speechless, she was frozen stiff as she saw as sight that wasn't realistically possible.
"Ajay… am I seeing correctly?" She said as they watched the Yeti stand guard by the cave entrance and sniff about for the unwanted visitors.
"Ajay!"
"You're not seeing wrong, meet the mountains local inhabitants."
Saras now understood why Ajay had told her the condition the way he told her, even if she were to break it and tell the world of its existence no one would believe her.
"We're just gonna avoid getting into contact with it and be on our way." Ajay pointed to the next cliff they were to climb up to get to the top.
Saras nodded and followed him silently, avoiding the Yeti or arousing its suspicion.
The cliff was directly over the entrance to the cave that Ajay had prevented Saras from entering. Ajay took slow and careful casts of the rope too some of the anchor points found from previous expeditions to the mountain peak. With careful climbing and swinging he reached the cliff above.
Now it was Saras's turn, the distance was too far for him to throw a rope or the cable from his grapple to her so she had to climb on her own.
Saras climbed with care and threw the grapple at the anchor with precision and slowly climbed towards the cliff.
But then a strong gust of wind blew at them and Saras swung towards the snowy wall and hit it. "AAAHHHHHH!- Opfff!" Her grip loosened and she screamed as she plopped into the snow below right in front of the Yeti. Ajay turned deadly paled but didn't hesitate to rush down.
(ROOOAAARR) The Yeti finally noticed the intruder and gave a loud roar to announce its authority before running up to Saras. Saras was frightened beyond measure, an unknown mythical creature was charging towards her and meant certain death. Her eyes danced in their sockets and her limbs shaking from where she stood as she didn't know how to escape any longer.
"Eerrrraaaghh!" Halfway down, Ajay yelled as he jumped off the ledge with his knife raised and slammed it with full force into the Yetis back. The Yeti fell on its face from the force of Ajay's body weight coming down with gravity. Ajay didn't stop there as he pummeled the Yeti in the back of the neck to hit its spinal cord and killed it.
(ROOAARRR) The Yeti gave one final death wail before collapsing in the snow.
Ajay retrieved his knife and ran over to Saras. "Saras, you ok?! Saras!" Ajay shook her from her shoulders. Saras began to slowly process what had happened. Initially she had already resided to die, the next second Ajay had descended upon the Yeti and killed it like it were only another animal.
Saras hugged Ajay seeking comfort in knowing she was ok. "I…. I was…. So scared!" She buried her face on his chest once more. Ajay wrapped his arms around her to comfort her as quickly as possible, because they weren't at the best place to be.
"Come on, we've got a peak to climb a flower to find and then we can get the hell out of here!" He said stroking her head as she leaned on his shoulder.
"Mnnn!..."
Ajay and Saras continued to climb the mountain but with more care than ever before so that the same thing wouldn't repeat itself. Saras had received an emotionally scarring experience and wanted to leave the peak as soon as possible, so Ajay worked quickly to find the flower in the snow around the cliffs.
"I'm a burden aren't I…."
"It's too late to say that now. We're in this together in surviving for the night."
Finally, they reached the top of the peak after what seemed like four hours of climbing. The sun was already about to set over there. Ajay and Saras dug around the snow on top of the peak. Thankfully there were the flowers they had been promised.
"Found three, here…." She passed it over to Ajay who collected two and placed them in one of his many pouches.
"Right, that's more than enough. Let's fly back." Ajay had Samar pack for her the extra wingsuit and parachute for flying. He helped her put on hers before taking position.
"Just follow where I go, leap of faith!" Ajay took the initiative and jumped fearlessly of the ledge and glided down the mountain. The skies weren't what Saras were afraid of so she jumped and glided naturally for her first time, taking a while to catch up to Ajay but fly next to him she did. In about two minutes they reached the above of their destination. Seeing Ajay pull his cord, Saras did the same and their parachutes opened. They descended slowly to the ground and picked up the parachutes as they went to the place Ajay had promised, the relay station. Ajay turned to look at Saraswati's mental state, she was indeed shaken by doing fine.
Reaching the courtyard to the small cabin shelter of the relay station Ajay told Saras to stay warm in the cabin as he went about setting traps for the night. He'd seen the Yetis and they had seen him, they'd likely attack him at night when he was thought to be the most vulnerable. There was also the expeditionary force sent by Yuma which he had yet to encounter, he thought they were the ones he'd encounter near the relic and not just the Yetis. Where the hell were they?
Ajay tried not to think too much, it was affecting his thoughts and concentration at staying alive, right now it wasn't just him here.
Ajay diligently lay the traps of wood and explosive trip mines around the place and stacked rocks to form walls and fortifications for the night. They had achieved their objective, all they had to do was wait for Kamran in the morning.
Upon laying the final stone of the fortifications he went into the cabin to rest. Saras lay on the bed, tired physically and mentally. "Ajay, you're back."
"Yes?"
"Um-. Sorry, of course you are…" Saras was acting really strange ever since the scare she had at the Relic shrines entrance. Her entire personality became meek and shy.
"Urrghh!" As he entered a warm place the numbness caused by the cold dissipated and revealed to him bruises from the fall he had when performing that diving takedown.
"Ajay!- Come, I'll help you treat it!" She went over to the medical box that was stacked on the table, she had all the time to observe what was inside the cabin that she was waiting in.
Ajay sat on the bed and undressed his top and checked with a mirror, his left shoulder had absorbed the fall and was bruised from behind. (Crack) "Urghh!" It turned out it was also dislocated which explained the pain he was experiencing so he quickly relocated it.
"I'm sorry, if only I was more careful…."
"You can keep blaming yourself as much as I do and only feel sorry for yourself. But it's not gonna change what happened, shit happens, it's not like you knew when the wind was coming. As long as you're here it's my responsibility to take you back." Seeing this type of Saras was a rather weird experience which made him feel irritated.
"We've done what we've come for, now we just need to wait it out till morning." Ajay reminded her.
"Uh- Mnn!" Saras nodded her head a little sure of herself.
"They'll likely come again."
"There's more?!"
"There is, I'm not sure entirely what they are. Only what they used to be, human."
Saras seemed unsettled by what he had told her.
"There's some sort of liquid secreted by an underground tree which both causes hallucination and transformation into a Yeti. That cave we saw was where it led to."
"How-…. How do you know all these things?" Saras seemed even more frightened to ask than before, the trauma she went through with the Yeti shook her greatly and did a lot to her confidence.
"I'm actually a time-travelling wizard." He said with a grin.
"Pffffttt!...HahahahHAHAHA!" Saras broke into a laughter similar to the old way she used to. His sudden humor had worked as he intended it to, by making her forget her fears. As she wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes, the original light of confidence returned to them.
"Thank you. Ajay." She leaned over to give a peck on his cheek.
Ajay got up and tested the amount he could stretch his shoulder that was injured. He went over to his packs to retrieve some rations of food he prepared for the trip, not forgetting about the flower he grinded down the roots and placed it into a canister to protect the contents.
"I sorry I didn't take your words seriously." Saras started a conversation after a long period of silence with the only sound being the increasing wind.
"That's alright, I wasn't expecting you to. That's why I improvised." Although things got hectic all turned out well in the end. Saras got to show her sincerity to Maya by coming to help find the flowers, in fact if she wasn't around he wouldn't have searched the peak with such scrutiny as her and find the remainder of the plants that were required.
"These, things-….. you said they were human?" Ajay nodded.
"From the way you described this liquid it sounded like some sort of Mutagen."
She wasn't wrong on that theory. Because it morphed a person into one of those monsters, but there was one thing he could never explain which was that hollow voice in his head. He passed it off as a hallucination from the odors but now he wasn't so sure. Was it all just in his head and the chemicals were really doing all of this or was it actually occult. Either way he didn't care, they were out of here by morning.
"Mostly hunters and trekkers come up here either for exploration or hunting the Yeti. They take up shelter in the caves and get exposed to the liquid, then it's game over for them and they join the Yeti family."
"Again, how do you know all of this? Have you been here before?"
"This is just the cream of the top, Saras. You've unknowingly forced yourself into things where ignorance is a bliss. As for how I know, perhaps I'll tell you when I feel like it. But I can guarantee you, it'll be more unbelievable than this." Ajay said while he brews the satchel soup in the kettle.
"More unbelievable than Yetis?!"
"I told you before, you might regret having contact with me. This is just the prelude to it all! I hope this'll make it clear to you the dangers ahead from following me."
Saras wore a worried expression when he mentioned such, but this time she was stuck more in her thoughts. The experiences with the valley had shaken her core of beliefs making her decisions less resolved.
"Enough talk about that, eat up and go to sleep. It'll help you clear your thoughts." Ajay handed her the cup holding the hot soup to drink.
"Ok."
Saras took hold of the cup and drank to warm her body as Ajay poured some for himself. After drinking the soup Ajay sat by the door with his .50 cal rifle in hand and closed his eyes to get some rest in case he didn't have an opportunity to rest later.
Saras watched his activities with the cup still in hand, it would be a lie if she said she didn't feel secure from him sitting by the entrance. Saras lay on the bed trying to fall asleep as well. Ajay had prevented her from feeling hungry in the cold and also given her a sense of emotional security. She turned to the side watching him under the light from the lantern. Seeing him there resting like the occasion today had been nothing to him gave her a comfortable feeling and eased her uneasiness, allowing her to fall right asleep.
That night, Ajay had a dream.
….
….
Ajay opened his eyes to find himself in a cave.
"Huh?" Not just any cave but "that cave".
AWAKEN
"Urgh…." His head was feeling groggy already.
"Shit….. the gas." Ajay got up to his feet looking around for the exit.
"AJAY!" A shout echoed through the hollow of the caverns.
"Saras?" Ajay looked around
"AJAYYY!" She screamed again.
"Saras!"
STAND WITH US
Ajay rushed with rifle in hand that materialized from nowhere. The calls were coming from the inner sanctum of the Relics shrine.
(ROOOOAAARR) (ROOAAARR)
Two Yetis stood in his way guarding the corridor against his intrusion.
"SCRAM!" Ajay blasted his rifle at them and they burst into orange smoke, leaving him in disbelief. He ignored the illogic and moved onwards, there were Yetis in every corner and every time he fired his gun the Yetis would explode into puffs of smoke.
"AAAAAHHHH!" A head piercing scream struck his head just as he arrived where the Relic was within sight. The sound put him to his knees as he hugged his ears to block the sound out but it was no use. The vibration was scrambling the insides of his head. Ajay bit his lip and soldiered on rushing towards the relic but Saras was nowhere in sight.
"Saras! Where are you?!"
A puff of smoke hit him from the Relic tree and forced him on his knees once more. "Urrghh…(Cough) (Cough) (Cough)!-…..Huh!"
As he looked at his hands he could see the transformation rapidly overtaking his hands and slowly his body.
YOUR PATH IS WITH US, NOT AGAINST US
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH-(RRAAAOOOOAARRR)!"
AWAKEN AND WALK BESIDES US
….
….
Ajay woke up violently from his nightmare.
"AJAY! Wake up!" His senses returned to find Saras calling and shaking him awake for some reason.
(BOOOMM) The sound of a detonation of the many trip mines followed by a roar of agony.
Ajay picked his rifle up and opened the door.
"Stay here!"
The explosion came from the West down the slope of the valley and on que a Yeti came over the ridge burning.
Ajay shouldered the .50 cal rifle and fired the explosive slug at the Yetis head causing it to explode, decapitating the Yeti. The carcass of the Yeti tumbled down the slope and slowly disappeared into a fine orange mist.
Ajay went to survey the courtyard compound for any tampering of the traps. True enough two Yetis appeared from the South of the compound and of the East. Ajay turned to gun the closest one to him which was the Southern one. And turned around to find the East had closed the distance in a blink of an eye. The Yeti leaped into the air, determined to flatten him with its feet. Ajay vaulted to the side and drew his kukri and hand-held grenade launcher. He launched one at the beast which blasted it off its original footing as Ajay charged towards it with the knife ready in hand. As the Yeti struggled to recover its footing Ajay stabbed his kukri through its cranium from the chin.
"Ajay, your six!" Saras called out informing him of the imminent danger in the form of another Yeti.
-Why are there so many?!-
Ajay jumped for his fallen SA-50 rifle and chambered a round before sending a potshot at the next Yeti that was a few metres from him. The shot took the Yetis arm off and it growled in pain reaching for its phantom limb.
Ajay fired two shots at the head putting it out of its misery. As if four wasn't enough, three more approached from different directions.
-What the fuck is going on?!-
Saras came to his side. "I've got your back!" She unslung the Shredder in her possession.
"Close your eyes!" Ajay pulled the pin to the flashbang and threw it above his head.
(BANG) (ROOAOAARR)
The three Yetis stopped in their tracks, two fell to the floor while one had charged forwards recklessly.
Ajay kicked Saras aside as it came falling in front of them. He pointed the semi-auto shotgun at the beast's head and unloaded while Saras peppered the other two that were converging. Ajay unloaded the SA-50 into one of the beast before switching to the shotgun. The shots from his SPAS-12 produced incendiary sparks of magnesium at the Yeti, complementary of his Dragon's breath ammo. The Yeti lit on fire but ran towards Saras painlessly. Ajay saw this from his position and rammed the Yeti with his body so its trajectory would change from Saras. His shoulder got burnt in the process as smoke rose from his left hand with most of the clothing going up in flames.
Saras used her quick thinking and threw some snow over it to extinguish the flames.
The last Yeti came leaping at them in their most off-guard moment. Ajay pushed Saras aside as the Yeti swung its long arms at them. Unfortunately, he wasn't quick enough and the arms struck him in the abdomen.
"Puurrghhh!" Ajay was flung into the air and dropped back down to the earth blacking out.
"AJAY!"
The Yeti went for Saras as his vision was beginning to fade. Saras struggled to fight it off but the weapon she carried only served to cause the Yeti some agony as it shrugged the shots aside to grab her instead. Ajay watched in horror as the Yeti reached out to her, and her magazine ran dry….
That was when Ajay's nightmare became reality.
Next Chapter coming around the corner, hold on to your hats ladies and gentlemen! (Released)