Perth, Western Australia
The brown-haired boy snuggled against his equally horrified mother as they stared at their television while sitting together on the couch.
"We will give you the updates as they come in. But to recap, several bombings have just occurred around the Isle of Dogs in downtown London." The reporter announced.
Paris, France
While sitting at their tables, Medea and the other prisoners gaze in horror at what was displayed at the small digital TV hung at the top corner of the mess hall.
"It was 9:15 am in London when the bombings occurred in an orchestrated manner at Greenwich Foot Tunnel, Upper Bank Street, Trafalgar Way, Baffin Way and Blackwall Tunnel."
A look of concern furrowed Medea's brows as she pursed her lips shut and curls her fingers into fists. She is unable to speak as she sees the horrific images that are displayed on the television.
Moscow, Russia
Eva Mikhailova stared wordlessly at the flat screen television in the living room in front of her. She was preparing her own lunch in the kitchen when the news reports of the bombings came in.
"Every access to the Isle of Dogs has been cut off by the terrorists. The exact number of casualties is still unknown but it is said that around a hundred police officers were killed or injured."
Eva sighed heavily before removing her arms around the kitchen desk and turning around to the window in front of the stove. "Ricky…" She said softly as she looked at the sky. "Wherever you are, I hope you're safe."
Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Aizawa watches the television in front of her as she lies on her hospital bed, still recovering from her injuries.
"Over 150 thousand people are reported to be trapped in the Isle of Dogs after the bombings happened. Police are unable to enter the area for the time being, but the military had just been contacted and are on their way to the scene. At the meantime, the British government had advised all civilians who are trapped there to stay in their homes and nearest safe areas until further notice."
Aizawa briefly closes her eyes to give a moment of prayer for the trapped civilians. She turns her head and puts on her hand on the book placed on the drawer next to her bed. "Yukino-sensei…"
London, England, United Kingdom
"To all citizens who are still inside the Isle of Dogs and the Canary Wharf, do not lose hope for help is on the way. For now, please stay inside your homes or the nearest safe area. And remember, stay strong and never lose faith even in our trying times."
After listening to the announcement from the mayor of London, Ricky's mother lowers the volume of the radio placed at the side of the dining table.
"I guess for now, all we can do is sit around and pray that things will get better." She said as she turns to Sella and Leysritt who both stood beside her.
"We hope so too." Sella said as she and Leysritt bow their heads. The doorbell rang and the three turned to the door.
"Who could that be during a time like this?" Leysritt inquired, turning back to Sella and the mother.
"I don't know." Ricky's mother shook her head in worry.
"Stay there, we'll get the door." Sella said, gesturing the mother to stay in her seat. As the bell rang again, she and Leysritt cautiously go over to the door while inserting their hands into their pockets, preparing to draw out their pistols.
When they reach the door, the bell rings once again. Sella wraps her hand on the doorknob and turns to Leysritt. The two women nod their heads to each other before Sella finally opens the door.
To their relief, it was Ricky and Saber. And to their surprise and confusion, the two rush into the apartment while carrying the injured Kairi by his arms.
"Sella! Leysritt! Go get bandages and blood! We have a bleeding man here!" Saber barked at the two women as she and Ricky hurriedly carried Kairi over to the couch. Without any questions, Sella and Leysritt immediately obey and rush to the kitchen.
"What's going on?" Ricky's mother asked as she got up from her chair.
"Mom, don't mind letting my friends stay here for a while, do you?" Ricky asked as he and Saber laid Kairi on the couch.
His mother looks up to see Mordred, Chulainn, Shirou, Rin, Illya, Yukari and Sakura entering the apartment. She sighed and replied to her son, "Of course."
While Yukari closes and locks the door behind her, Mordred rushes over to Kairi's side as Saber removes his jacket and shirt, revealing the gun wounds on his left lung and waist.
"Hang on Sisigou, you're going to be alright." Saber gave a quick pat on Kairi's left shoulder before turning her head. "Sella, Leysritt! Where the fuck are you, god dammit?!"
"Coming ma'am!" Leysritt yelled after she collected multiple bags of blood from the bottom drawer of the refrigerator. She closes it as Sella hastily walks over to her with a syringe, a tube and several rolls of bandages in her hands. They rush out of the kitchen and over to the couch.
"You must be Ricky's mother." Chulainn said as he, Rin and Sakura walk over to her. Shirou, Illya and Yukari stood behind Saber and Ricky as Sella and Leysritt hands them the medical equipment and bags of blood.
After giving Chulainn a nod, Ricky's mother asked, "What's happening out there?"
"Hell and chaos." Rin simply answered.
"And no one is safe, even if they are hiding." Sakura added.
While Ricky inserts one end of the tube into one of the bags of blood, Saber wraps the bandages around Kairi's upper body to stop the bleeding from the wound on his left lung. "Are you still with me?" Saber asked Kairi who is breathing very heavily.
"Sir, please hang on." Mordred choked as she clings onto Kairi's hand.
"Ar…Arturia…" Kairi managed to speak.
"Hold on! You're going to be fine!" Saber cried as she finished wrapping the bandages around his upper body. Ricky also finished inserting the other end of the tube into the syringe.
"I…I've always…believe…you are a good person."
Saber glances at Kairi with her mouth agape before she begins wrapping the bandages around his waist.
"Even though…you were hot-headed…stubborn…that's what I've always liked about you." Kairi added. Saber bites down her lip as she fights back the tears that are starting to form in her eyes.
"Come on sir! Not much longer now! You have to hang on!" Mordred cried as tears also begin forming in her eyes.
Kairi slowly turned to Mordred and said barely above a whisper between his heavy breathing, "Mordred…look after…Arturia…"
"Don't talk to me like that!" Mordred paused for a moment to take a gulp as a few tears have managed to escape and roll down her cheeks unchecked. "Please!"
"Ricky! Inject the blood dammit!" Saber shouted at her second-in-command. Ricky wasted no time in going over to Kairi's side. He gently takes Kairi's hand from Mordred and carefully injects the syringe into his wrist. Kairi looked back at Saber, who noticed that the color in his eyes is draining.
"Sisigou…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry for everything…" Saber said with her voice beginning to croak as she struggles to hold back her tears.
Kairi flashes a smirk at her. "Don't be…and don't stop…don't stop fighting…" With that, he closes his eyelids and his head tilted to the side.
Ricky removes the syringe from his wrist and everyone present in the living room stared at Kairi, lying utterly motionless on the couch.
"Sisigou?" Saber uttered.
"Sir?" Mordred added. She grabs his arm and places her fingers on his wrist. But to her horror, she could not feel his pulse. "Sir." She looks back at Kairi with her eyes widened. "Please wake up, sir. Please wake up." When she didn't receive any response, she raised her voice, "Please wake up, sir! PLEASE WAKE UP, GOD DAMMIT!"
As she releases his arm, Mordred threw her head onto Kairi's chest and sobbed uncontrollably. "Sir! Please wake up! Please don't leave me!" She bawled in despair.
Ricky turned to Saber, who is unable to hold back her tears any longer.
"I…I'm so sorry…I'm sorry, Inspector…I am-" Saber wailed in inconsolable grief as she closes her eyelids and finally let her tears cascade down her cheeks. As much as she didn't want to believe it, Inspector Kairi Sisigou is gone, and there is nothing she could do but accept the horrible truth.
4 Years Ago...
Inspector Kairi Sisigou stared at the young woman standing in front of him with her chest raised and her hands placed firmly behind her back.
"Are you Corporal Arturia Pendragon?" Kairi inquired.
"Yes sir. I was recently assigned by the commissioner to be your partner." Arturia replied. As Kairi continued staring at her in confusion, Arturia asked, "Is there something wrong, sir?"
"No, nothing really." Kairi said, placing his hands on the sides of his hip. "It's just that for someone as young as you, I'm impressed you already rise up to the rank of Corporal so quickly."
"I may be young at age and short at stature, but I can assure you that I'm dedicated to the cause. I've worked hard to graduate from the academy so that I can be a member of the force, sir." Arturia explained.
"I heard that you got yourself into some trouble in the academy. You may have graduated from your training but you still need to learn disciple." Kairi pointed out.
"I admit that my conduct back in the academy was satisfactory, but that's because I do not tolerate failure, sir. If there is an obstacle, I fight my hardest. And if there is a problem, I immediately respond and work on it." Arturia replied.
Kairi smiled at her. "Although you are not perfect, I admired your strength and commitment. I look forward to working alongside you as my partner and apprentice." He extends his hand out to her.
Arturia stares at his hand for a moment before she gave a wan smile to her new superior and grabs it. "The honor is mine, Inspector Sisigou."
Saber continued crying as she remained on her knees. She could never forget the day she first met Kairi and became his partner. She still vividly remembers all the times and missions they spent together, as well as the calm and determined smirk on his face. But the man whom she considered her friend and partner is gone and her heart had been torn furiously by his death.
"I'm sorry Sisigou…I'm sorry…I'm sorry for everything…" Saber kept apologizing in vain as she grieved over him. And not able to withstand watching her sobbing in a state of despair any longer, Ricky embraced her.
"Hey. Come on. Stay strong, will you?" Ricky whispered into her ear as he hugs her tightly. Saber was stunned by his action for a moment before she wraps her arms around him and cried on his shoulder.
"Dammit…God dammit!" Saber bawled unhappily.
Mordred silently watched the two embraced each other in emotional pain as her tears freely roll down her cheeks. Shirou, Rin, Sakura, Illya, Sella and Leysritt lower their heads in pained silence. Yukari covers her mouth as her eyes brim with tears. Chulainn grits his teeth and turns his head away in sorrow while Ricky's mother wipes away her tears.
Ricky continued holding onto Saber as she kept crying. "It's okay. I'm not going anywhere. I'm still here for you." He said soothingly to her.
Thirty minutes had passed, and even though Saber is done crying and her tears have dried up, she could still feel the pain inside her. Her eyes and face are filled with nothing but a sense of hopelessness. She sat at the couch, staring blankly at the floor while Yukari and Illya sat beside her to comfort her.
Kairi's lifeless body was laid on the floor with a white blanket placed over it. Mordred kneeled beside it, never moving and taking her sight away from him even if she wanted to. Shirou, Ricky and his mother sat together silently at the dining table, contemplating what to do next.
A few seconds later, Rin, Sella and Leysritt step out of the kitchen while carrying metal trays containing a bowl filled with fruits and several cups of water.
Sella goes over to the dining table and placed the bowl of fruits on the middle.
"Thanks Sella." Ricky smiled at her as he takes an apple.
"You're welcome, Mr. Blade." Sella bows her head to him.
"So who are you and Leysritt? Are you two members of Gilgamesh's mercenary group as well?" Shirou asked as he grabs a banana from the bowl.
"No. They were hired by Saber to be her servants. Just like how she hired me to become a part of our group." Ricky explained to Shirou.
"Yes." Sella said. "So there is nothing to worry. We do not follow the man you are after."
"Glad to hear that." Shirou said in relief as he began peeling off the skin from the banana.
"I never thought our reunion would be under these circumstances." Ricky's mother said solemnly to her son.
"Yeah. But honestly, it's still good to see you again, mom. How are you holding up?" Ricky asked in concern.
"I'm fine." His mother smiled at him. "Sella and Leysritt have been very nice to me. And during my stay here, I even found a new job of my own."
"That's great to hear." Ricky said.
His mother nods as her smile disappears. "And I also spent the last two years reflecting over what I did." She lowers her head as she felt a huge amount of guilt within her. "I'm really sorry, Roderick. It's my fault that you dropped out of school and forced yourself to take on the life that you're having now. None of this would have ever happen to you if I hadn't ended up with Dean. I was so distraught over losing your father that I even lost myself."
When she felt Ricky placing his hand on top of hers, his mother looks back at him. "It's alright, mom. No matter what, you will always be my mother. And I'll always look out for you because I'm your son." Ricky reassured her. His mother smiled again as she places her hand above Ricky's and gently strokes it.
Rin kneels beside Mordred as she drank her cup of water which she handed to her earlier.
"I'm sorry for your loss." Rin said softly to Mordred.
"Thanks." Mordred said as she looks back at her.
"I know how it feels losing someone close to you." Rin said.
Mordred looks down at her cup which she holds in her hands. "Even after Arturia became a criminal, Inspector Sisigou never stopped thinking about her. I guess it's because he treated her more than his partner, but also his friend. It's like despite what she did, he still forgave her. I admired Inspector Sisigou. I wanted to be just like him." She glances at Saber who is still sitting on the couch with Yukari and Illya before turning back to Rin. "And looking back, I wish I could find myself forgiving Arturia too."
Everyone present in the living room turn their heads when they hear the bathroom door open. Sakura steps out while she is now dressed in a sleeveless dark tan vest with a white long-sleeved shirt underneath it, a black skirt, white socks and brown shoes. After wiping her hair, she removes and lowers her towel to let her long purple hair flow down.
"Leysritt, thanks for the clothing and letting me wash up." Sakura said.
"You're welcome." Leysritt responded as she bows her head to her.
Sakura turns to Rin who smiled at her. "Good to see you back to normal. I never liked your hair being white." Rin said.
"Yeah, me neither." Sakura replied as she gently strokes the strands of hair over her forehead. "And you guys already have someone with white hair anyway."
Illya pouts at Sakura. "I should have expected Rin's sister would have the same bad sense of humor as her."
Sakura, Rin, Shirou, Ricky, his mother, Mordred and Yukari laughed in response. Surprisingly, Saber couldn't help but chuckle as well. Yukari turns to Saber and smiled at her as she places her hand on her thigh.
"Feeling better?" Yukari asked.
Saber's smile quickly disappeared as she lets out a sigh. "I guess so." She replied as she turns to Yukari. "But now we have to ponder on what are we going to do next." She turns to Ricky and asked, "Where's Chulainn?"
"He's at the balcony of my mother's room. I'll go join him because I need to take a smoke." Ricky replied.
"So do I. Can I join you?" Saber asked.
Ricky gave a wan smile and gestures her to follow him. "Why not?"
As Ricky and Saber enters the bedroom, they could see Chulainn leaning against the railing of the balcony with a cigarette inserted through his lips. They walk over to the large glass windows and Ricky slides them open.
"Hey Cuchu." Ricky said.
Chulainn removes the cigarette from his mouth and turns to them. "Hey." He replied and waves his hand as Ricky and Saber steps into the balcony. As Ricky closes the window behind them, Saber takes out her box of cigarettes from underneath her suit and opens it.
"Tch. Only two left." Saber said, looking peeved.
"Let's make them last." Ricky said to her. Saber chuckled as they each take a cigarette. After tossing the now empty box over the railing, Chulainn takes out his lighter and lights up their cigarettes. Saber and Ricky remove their cigarettes from their mouths and blow out the smoke before they and Chulainn turn and lean against the railing, looking at the skyline of the Isle of Dogs in front of them. For now, the screams of fear and horror have died down throughout the area, but they can still see the smoke billowing from the areas which Gilgamesh's men have bombed in the distance.
"To think that a few hours ago, this place was calm and peaceful." Saber said as her eyes softened.
"Our hometown has experienced many attacks before. I never imagine I would ever be in one." Ricky said solemnly.
"You know, I honestly never find myself liking England." Chulainn uttered. "But the reason why I came here it's because when I was a kid, I heard many wonderful stories about the country, as well as their history, culture and cuisine. So when I grow up, I moved here to find a job, because it's my dream to live here. And shortly after I did that, reality spit me hard in the face. I went from job to job, trying my best to adapt into this new world. Instead, everywhere I go, I only received scorn from others. Everybody treated me like shit…all because I'm an Irish. I can never forget the manager of the restaurant I used to work in Manchester, deducting my pay whenever I make a simple screw-up. As well as those fuckers whom I thought were my friends in my next job after that. And when I got myself arrested, I almost felt like giving up and accept the fact that I'm not welcomed here." He paused for a moment to inhale his cigarette and blows out the smoke from his mouth afterwards. Chulainn lowers his cigarette and turns to his teammates. "Until you two came along…"
2 Years Ago…
Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
Chulainn, with his wrists cuffed, walked through the hallways of Merseyside Police Headquarters alongside two police officers, a sergeant and a corporal.
"You have messed up big time, Cu Chulainn." The sergeant, who is walking in front of Chulainn said as he looked at the documents in his hand with a lopsided smirk. "Smuggling over 80 stones of cocaine between England and Ireland? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Who's going to help put your children through college now, huh?"
"I've already told you multiple times! I was set up! I really had no idea that the crates were containing drugs and the real people whom you should be after betrayed me!" Chulainn cried.
"I guess you sniffed too much of that stuff to actually remember what you did." The corporal, who is escorting Chulainn from behind, responded as he gave a rough push on his back. Chulainn growled in frustration as the two policemen chortled.
"Sergeant!" A low-ranking police officer cried as he runs up to them.
"What the hell is it?" The sergeant narrows his eyes at him in annoyance. The policeman hands him a document and the sergeant curtly snatches it from his hand. As soon as he took a glance at the document, the sergeant drops his jaw and widens his eyes in shock. After taking only a few moments to read it, the sergeant turns around and ordered the corporal, "Release him."
"What?!" The corporal asked incredulously as he and Chulainn stared at him dumbfounded.
"Just fucking do it!" The sergeant barked.
The corporal flinched. He takes out his keys and unlocks the handcuffs around Chulainn's wrists. After the cuffs are removed, Chulainn rubs his wrists and turns to the sergeant, who stares back at him irritably. "Get the hell out of here."
Chulainn steps out of the police station, still completely baffled by what had just happened back there. One moment, he was arrested and ready to be taken to his cell where he will remain until the day he faces prosecution for a crime which he was wrongfully framed for, and now he is walking out of the station scot-free. When he arrived at the pavement, he sees a black SUV pulled up to the curb and came to a halt in front of him. The window lowered, revealing a blonde-haired woman in a black suit.
"Good evening, Cu Chulainn." The woman greeted.
"Who are you?" Chulainn asked.
"The ones who got you out of there." The woman opens the door for Chulainn and gestures him to come inside. "Hop on."
Chulainn stared at her in confusion for a moment before stepping forward and entering the vehicle. After being framed for a horrendous crime and possibly losing his job as a result, he doesn't have much of a choice but to join her. As he entered the vehicle and sat beside the woman, he noticed another person sitting on the other side of the SUV. He leans forward to see the blonde-haired man in a white shirt waving his hand at him.
"Hello, good sir." The man greeted cordially with a smirk.
"Um, hi?" Chulainn responded as he waves back.
"Settle down. We have much to discuss." The woman said to Chulainn who leans back on his seat and fastens his safety belt. The window beside him closes and the SUV drives away from the police station.
"Kiritsugu, we have collected Cu Chulainn." The driver said as she places her finger on her earpiece.
"Good. Return back immediately." Kiritsugu replied.
"Understood." The driver responded before removing her finger and placing her hand back on the steering wheel.
"You are one lucky man tonight, Cuchu. And you should be thanking her." The man said to Chulainn with his arms fold and motions his head to the woman sitting between them.
"Cuchu?" Chulainn looked back at the man in annoyance.
"Ahem." The woman coughed, causing both men to fall silent. She turns to Chulainn and extends her hand out to him. "My name is Saber. It's a pleasure to have you with us." Chulainn silently grabs her hand and shakes it. "The man next to me is Ricky Blade, and our driver is Maiya Hisau."
"How ya?" Ricky grins at Chulainn while giving a mock salute. "I'm sure that's what they say back in Dublin, right?"
Chulainn grumbles under his breath before looking back at Saber and releases her hand. "Nice to meet all of you, but would you guys now care to explain why did you guys set me free? And what do you want from me?"
"Simple. We set you free because we know you are innocent." Saber answered as she places her hands on her thighs. "You were set up by your co-workers into helping them deliver crates of raw minerals to the docks when they actually contain bags of cocaine."
"They are secretly operating a drug ring which we have actually been tracking down and they used you as a scapegoat. But thanks to Maiya's penmanship, she created a document to fool the cops back at Merseyside that you were granted pardon from the mayor of Liverpool." Ricky explained.
"We also know you were a constant victim of workplace bullying in every job you had taken since you set foot in England." Saber said.
"Yeah well, I guess in this country, that's what happens when you are of a different nationality." Chulainn responded plainly as he shrugged.
"But there is one job you did that intrigued us, and that is you were a pit fighter for a night club when you were in Bolton." Ricky said.
"I did what I had to do to live and survive. And admittedly, I also wanted to let out my frustrations at the time." Chulainn explained.
"You do have my sympathies. Despite having experience in Ireland's Defence Forces, you had a terrible life back in Dublin, and then you suffer even more after moving here to England." Saber said.
"Sucks, right?" Chulainn said morosely. "I always thought England was a swell place. But the more you stay here, the more you realize that the idea of living in another country is better than the reality of it! You Englishmen live and work here in luxury, not caring why we foreigners came to your homeland and do what we gotta do to strive for a better life."
"Hey, we know how you feel." Ricky said as he leans forward while twirling his hair. "You think every one of us is living in luxury? If so, every British citizen should be richer than the Queen of England by now!" He snickered at his joke. "I know how it's like getting beaten every day, with no one around to help you out in your troubled times. I almost gave up living. But then I realized…" Chulainn stares at Ricky questioningly as he leans back on his seat and places his leg over the other. "If life hits you hard, you damn well hit it back harder."
"I admire your strength and determination to keep living, Chulainn. It's sad that the people around you are too blind to see how much of a resilient man you truly are, rather using you as a tool instead of someone far greater. Those fat cats living in ivory towers you mention? I agree with you." Saber leans towards Chulainn and said coldly right in front of his face, "They have no fucking idea how much we have done for them."
"So what do you guys plan to use me for?" Chulainn asked.
Saber backs away and extends out her hand again. "I want you to work with me and Ricky. Let's change this world together and show those fucks what we're capable of." She said.
Chulainn silently stares at her hand for a moment before scratching his head with an arched eyebrow. "Well, I really find all of this coming to me very sudden. You think you might give me time to-"
"How about if we punish the fuckers who got you into trouble, you might reconsider?" Ricky asked Chulainn, his smile curling up to a fiendish smirk.
"You guys can do that?" Chulainn asked incredulously.
"Do it." Saber ordered her partner.
Ricky places his finger on his earpiece as he looks up. "Burst into their unit now."
"Yes sir." The man at the other side of the line responded.
Ricky hums merrily as he proceeds to take out a tablet from the compartment at the back of Maiya's seat and turns it on. When the footage appears, he shows the tablet to Chulainn. To his surprise, Chulainn sees his former co-workers, the same people who forced him to do their dirty work and got himself arrested for doing so, sitting and standing around the living room of an apartment while drinking bottles of beer and having three prostitutes providing company for them. The doorbell rang and one of the co-workers lazily gets up from the couch and walks over to the door. After peeking through the hole, the man opens up the door. To everyone's alarm, as soon as the door is unlocked, several men in black suits burst into the apartment.
"Don't move!" One of them yelled as they draw out their pistols at Chulainn's former co-workers. The co-workers and prostitutes immediately fell to their knees and raise their hands up. The black suited men proceed to put away their pistols, draw out their batons and mercilessly beat up Chulainn's former co-workers, much to the shock and horror of the prostitutes.
Ricky whistled as he watches the footage in amusement. "Quite a show." He remarked.
"Tch." Saber snorted. "Honestly, if I was there, I would have killed them." She scoffed.
After Ricky puts the tablet back into the compartment, Saber turns back to Chulainn and extends out her hand again. "So, have you made up your decision?" She asked.
Chulainn sighed inwardly with a scowl. "I've met many people like them throughout my stay here in England. They make me sick." He looks up at Saber with a wide smile. "And I'm glad there are people like you who know how to teach them a lesson." He grabs Saber's hand and shakes it again. "Alright. You convinced me enough to join you. I'll be even happier if you can show me the ropes."
"Of course I will." Saber smirked. "Welcome to the team…Lancer."
"Heh. That was a good meeting." Saber said before taking another puff of her cigarette while the three continue staring at the city skyline.
"Aye." Ricky said in agreement. "Cuchu was kind of hesitant back then."
Chulainn snickered. "I was. But looking back, I don't regret what I did. It was a pleasure fighting alongside all of you. I felt like I finally had a purpose in living." His eyes softened and his lips transform into a wide smile. "And also realize that there are people out there who do accept me for who and what I am."
Saber smiled at Chulainn for a brief moment before Ricky spoke up, "Speaking of, Saber…" He lowers his cigarette and he and Saber turn to each other. She notices the solemn frown on his face. Chulainn also turned to the two and watched. "Why did you accept me? Why did you help me take down Dean? Do you ever truly care about me back then?"
Saber pursed her lips together as she stares wordlessly at Ricky for a moment. "I helped you because you were afraid. You were too afraid to help your mother and fight against the monster who tortured the both of you. I never want you to suffer the pain you went through any longer. I have come across many people who have reached out to the police for help, hoping that they can aid them in their desperate time of need. Some were lucky, but most were not. I wanted to help Candace Miller, but she died never getting the protection she need. That's why I didn't want the same thing to happen to you. In order to save you, I taught you to fight back and protect yourself, and I'm glad I did."
Ricky elicited a harsh sob as he stares at Saber. "So you do care." He said.
"I do." Saber replied softly with a wan smile.
Ricky managed to break out a small grin. He tosses his cigarette over the railing and takes Saber's hand. Saber also tosses her cigarette away before placing her hand on Ricky's shoulder and sliding it around his back. Ricky lowers himself to her level and also wraps his hand around her back as the two find themselves pulling each other into a warm embrace.
"It feels good to have you back." Saber whispered into Ricky's ear as they rest on each other's shoulders. She could feel Ricky nod his head in response.
Chulainn tosses his cigarette over the balcony as well and stuffs his hands into his pockets. He smiled as he quietly watches the two stay in their embrace. A few seconds later, their moment of peace and silence was interrupted when the three could hear a voice speaking into their earphones.
"Team Saber! Can you read me? Please respond!"
Everyone widen their eyes. It wasn't Maiya, but it was still a voice that Saber recognized. She and Ricky pull away from each other before she turns back to the skyline and places her finger on her earpiece.
"Medusa? Is that you?" Saber inquired.
"Roger. Good to hear from you, Saber." Medusa replied. "Maiya sent me and my team to help you out."
"That's great. Thank you for coming to assist us." Saber said.
"You're welcome." Medusa said. "Now listen up…"
After everyone gathered in the study room, Sella pushes the bookshelf aside, revealing a metal door. Leysritt opens the door to reveal a dark room. She flips the switch on to unveil several weapon racks, filled and neatly arranged with all sorts of pistols, rifles, sub-machineguns, machetes, combat knives and ammunition clips.
"Heilige Scheiße." Illya uttered as she, Shirou, Rin, Chulainn, Yukari, Sakura and Mordred stare at the racks in awe.
"Suit yourselves up, and get ready to enter the lion's den." Saber said to her team.
Ricky's mother, Sella and Leysritt stay outside while the others step inside the room and examine the weapons. A few minutes ago, Medusa had explained to them that she and her teammates are now stationed at the south end of the Greenwich Foot Tunnel which had been destroyed. They have taken out Gilgamesh's men who were guarding the area and thanks to Chiron; they successfully interrogated one of them to reveal the location of their boss. It turns out Gilgamesh and his higher-ranking men are currently hiding at a construction site in Bellingham ward in the London Borough of Lewisham. Medusa also has a plan to help Saber and her teammates escape the Isle of Dogs, but they must reach the Island Gardens within an hour. With little time to spare, Saber and her team must quickly make their preparations. And when they do leave the area, they will head straight to Lewisham to deal with Gilgamesh and stop him before he launches the Grail missile onto the Canary Wharf. After their plan to stop the bombings has failed, Saber and her team have decided to bring the fight over to him.
"Yo Cuchu, perhaps you will like this." Ricky said as he hands Chulainn an SA80 rifle. Chulainn lets out a whistle as he grabs the rifle and examines it.
"As much as I like my AK-47, I should now get on with the times." Chulainn said in amusement.
"Amazing! This is the M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle which was actually used by the militaries of Turkey and the United States! I can't believe you guys have this in your safe house!" Shirou said gleefully with his eyes wide as he looks down at the sniper rifle in his hands.
"Gilgamesh provided me these weapons after I joined his group." Saber said while she inserts the ammunition clips into her Glocks. "Now we will attack him with his own weapons."
"Ironic backfire. I like that." Rin smirked as she inserts an ammunition clip into the SAR 21 rifle in her hand.
A huge grin appears of Illya's face as she pulls out a M134 Minigun from underneath the rifle rack. She adjusts the barrel and carries it up. "Payback time." She uttered.
Ricky's mother watches her son reloads his revolver and insert it into his pocket. After he picks up a Benelli M4 shotgun and pulls back the fore-end, his mother steps into the room and walks over to him. Knowing that this could possibly be the last time she will see him, Ricky's mother decided to speak with her son.
"Ricky?" She asked.
"What is it, mom?" Ricky asked as he wraps the strap of the shotgun over his shoulder.
"Watch yourself out there. And promise me you will come back alive." His mother said softly.
Ricky gave her a confident smirk. "Don't worry, mom. We will see each other again. I heard Italy is nice in spring. We'll go there together next year, aye?" He asked.
His mother smiled at him. "I love that." She said. Ricky gave his mother a brief hug as Sella and Leysritt walk up to her from behind.
"Sella, Leysritt, continue to take good care of her while we're gone." Ricky instructed the two servants as his mother backs away from him.
"Yes sir." Sella and Leysritt said in unison as they bow their heads to him.
"As always, we'll hold the fort here." Leysritt said.
"And we'll be sure to give Inspector Sisigou a proper burial when you are done with your mission." Sella added.
"Thank you. We appreciate it." Saber said to them as she inserts her Glocks into her pockets. She turns and walks up to Mordred as she inserts some shotgun rounds into the Mossberg 930 she is carrying in her hand.
"Mordred, I'm so sorry that I couldn't save Inspector Sisigou. He was a good officer and a friend." Saber said softly. After inserting the last shotgun round into her weapon, Mordred lifts it up and pulls back the fore-end. She turned to Saber with a look of somber and seriousness.
"Even after you left, Inspector Sisigou always believed that there is still good left in you. Do not disappoint him, even in death." Mordred said. Saber narrows her eyes and gave a solemn nod to her.
Meanwhile, Sakura wraps a belt of combat knives over her right shoulder and down to the left side of her waist. She picks up a Colt 9mm SMG and inserts the ammunition clip into it.
"Are you ready?" Rin asked Sakura as she places her hand on her shoulder.
"Always." Sakura replied with determined smile and she wraps the SMG's strap over her other shoulder.
Shirou walks over to Yukari after she inserts an M45 pistol and some ammunition clips underneath her suit.
"Never forget what I've taught you." Shirou said while carrying the M2010 sniper rifle in his hands.
"Even though I still don't enjoy using firearms, I'll still do my part in being a valuable asset to the team." Yukari said.
"Whatever happens, I'm glad to have fought alongside you, Yukari-chan." Shirou said to her with a warm smile.
"Likewise, Shirou-kun." Yukari smiled back at him.
"Alright, it's about time we move out! Is everyone ready?" Saber asked everyone present in the room. They nod their heads to her in response. As her face distorts into a scowl, Saber holds up her AA-12 and inserts a cylinder-shaped ammunition clip into it. "Let's go kick their arses out of this city."
Sovereign: I would like to thank LayLay lives for reviewing, Awaky and lutic vlad for following and Crimson-Tuna-Sub for checking out my story. Thanks everyone!
