A/N: Hello to all I am back with chapter twenty-nine of "Sound of Silence". In this chapter, we pick up where we left off last time.
Disclaimer: I don't own Strike Witches
In the medical war, the members of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing was in an all too familiar situation. They were gathered around the bed of an injured comrade. Suddenly, Eila opened her eyes.
"Eila!" cried Yoshika.
"What...what happened?" asked Eila weakly.
"You were shot down by the Neuroi." answered Hartmann.
"Oh yeah." said Eila, ever thing coming back to her.
"How do you feel?" asked Yoshika concerned.
"I'm okay." answered Eila.
"Nice to know, because you're going to be cleaning the bathrooms for a long time." stated Barkhorn.
"Yes ma'am." replied Eila.
"But Major, she was just injured." protested Eila.
"Well we are glad you're okay, this wouldn't have occurred if she obeyed her orders." explained Shirley.
"She's right." sighed Eila.
Eila sat up in her bed which is when she made a horrible realization.
"My legs..." said Eila, her body going cold.
"What's wrong?" asked Lynne.
"I can't feel my legs." answered Eila.
"Unfortunately, that is no surprise." said a familiar voice.
The witches turned to see the female doctor.
"The impact of hitting the ground broke your spinal column. I'm afraid you'll never walk again." explained the doctor.
"Dammit!" cried Eila.
"I'll let you be." said the doctor.
The doctor turned around and left.
"I'll never walk again." said Eila shaken.
Shirley walked over and sat down next to her.
"Eila, are you okay?" asked Shirley.
"I don't know." answered Eila.
"We're here if you need us." said Lucchini.
"Thanks." said Eila with a sad smile.
Hartman bent over to Barkhorn.
"Trude, how do you think Sanya will react?" asked Hartmann concerned.
"I'm not sure." answered Barkhorn.
Unfortunately, Eila had heard the question.
"Oh God. Sanya." said Eila shaking.
"Just stay calm Eila." said Shirley, holding the Soumous girl.
Eila took deep breaths and managed to calm herself.
"You're right. If I lose it then that won't be good for anyone." said Eila.
"Don't worry Eila, we will let Sanya know what happened." said Barkhorn.
"No. I want to let her know." replied Eila.
"Are you sure?" asked Shirley concerned.
"Yes." answered Eila.
"Then, we will let you rest for now." said Barkhorn.
Barkhorn turned and faced the other witches.
"Let's go." ordered Barkhorn.
The witches turned to leave.
"I'm sorry." stated Eila.
The others stopped and turned back to face Eila.
"This is my fault. I let my freaking revenge take me over and threw everything away." sobbed Eila.
Shirley walked over and comforted her.
"It's okay Eila. Everything is okay." said Shirley.
The other witches stayed with Eila for a while until the Soumous girl requested that they leave so she can rest. The others said their goodbyes and all departed. Major Barkhorn left and made a B-line right to her office. Once inside, she shut door behind her, raced over to her desk and quickly began to down the bottle of alcohol.
"That's right. I'll make all of your problems go away." said the bottle.
Barkhorn downed the alcohol until a knock at the door interrupted her.
"I'm busy." said Barkhorn.
"Trude, I want to talk." requested Hartmann, outside the door.
"Erica..." said Barkhorn weakening.
"Get rid of her. The quicker she is gone, the quicker you can return to drinking." demanded the bottle.
Barkhorn thought for a moment before quickly hiding the bottle.
"Come in Erica!" called Barkhorn.
Hartmann opened the door and walked in shutting the door behind her.
"Trude, we need to talk about what's been going on." began Hartmann.
Barkhorn slightly gulped and began feeling anxious.
"Is she on to me?" asked Barkhorn to herself.
Barkhorn took a deep sigh.
"Alright Erica." agreed Barkhorn.
"I just don't understand." continued Hartmann.
"There is a reason to everything." noted Barkhorn, trying to stay calm.
"I guess but, this just baffles me." said Hartmann, shaking her head.
"Well..." began Barkhorn, unable to come up with a sentence.
"It just seems like all the shit that's happened to us cannot be a coincident." finished Hartmann.
Barkhorn blinked for a moment before letting out a small sigh of relief.
"Well, this is war Erica. You know that." said Barkhorn.
"It sucks." said Hartmann sadly.
Barkhorn walked up to Hartmann.
"Erica, I know and totally agree with you." stated Barkhorn.
"Why us?" asked Hartmann.
"That's just fate." answered Barkhorn.
"It seems like things have gone down hill since the incident with Marshal Maloney." sighed Hartmann.
"We can only be grateful Sergeant Miyafuji was able to warn us." replied Barkhorn.
"She and Master Sergeant Bishop are the only ones who have survived...so far." noted Hartmann with a bit of sorrow.
"I'm glad for that. It gives their young romance a chance to grow." said Barkhorn.
"Trude, I want to talk about our relationship." said Hartmann.
"Um..." stammered Barkhorn.
"Trude, is something wrong?" asked Hartmann.
"No. I'm fine Erica." answered Barkhorn.
"Come back. You need me." came the voice of the alcohol bottle.
"Hartmann, I'm really busy right now." stated Barkhorn.
"Good." said the bottle.
Hartmann stared skeptically at her for a moment.
"I'm sure you could spare a moment." said Hartmann.
"Not really." said Barkhorn.
"It's working. Now, keep going." encouraged the bottle.
"Trude, what's wrong?" asked Hartmann.
"Nothing." answered Barkhorn firmly.
"It's because of what's happening." confirmed Hartmann.
"As the commanding officer, this all fall on my shoulders. I constantly feel pressure." admitted Barkhorn.
"Let me help you." requested Hartmann.
"I don't need it." replied Barkhorn.
Hartmann relented and kissed Barhorn before leaving.
"Hurry. I'll male everything better." said the bottle.
"Yeah." agreed Barkhorn, disappointed in herself.
Outside the door, Harmtann leaned her back against the wall.
"Her breath had alcohol on it." said Hartmann terrified.
After the others left, Eila was forced to consider the terrifying thoughts her her paralysis brought. She was examined by the doctor and had her dinner but, her thoughts didn't stray too far from her mind. Eventually, the sun went down and Eila got ready for bed and laid down. As she was getting ready to slip off into dreamland, a knock interrupted her thoughts. The door opened and a figure enter which send a chill right through Eila.
"Oh no." said Eila horrified.
Sanya V. Litvyak waved at her girlfriend then walked up and sat in the chair by her bedside. Sanya then passed the familiar notebook to Eila.
How are you?
Eila took the pencil and tried to stay calm. She wrote down her answer and handed it to Sanya.
I'm fine. I wish I could be with you tonight.
Sanya let out a small smile reading this. She then wrote something down and handed it to Eila.
I wish you could as well.
Sanya bent over and kissed Eila. After they broke the kiss, Sanya wrote another question down.
How long will you be here?
Eila looked the question and wrote down her answer.
I'm not sure.
Sanya thought for a moment then wrote something down.
Did the others visit earlier?
Eila read this and wrote down her answer
Yes. They were here earlier.
Sanya smiled reading this then she wrote down yet another question.
What did you talk about?
Eila read this and easily answered it.
They were happy I was alive and vowed to be there for me.
Sanya gave a warm smile because of this, then wrote something else down.
So will I.
Eila choke up reading this. Sanya bent over and again kissed Eila. Eila then wrote down her own question.
How are you handling this?
Sanya read this and wrote down her answer.
I'm fine. I was terrible worried but, when I heard you were alive I was so relieved.
Eila flinched a little reading this. Sanya noticed and wrote down a question.
Is everything okay?
Eila wrote down her answer, trying t stay calm.
No. There is something really important I need to tell you.
Sanya became clearly concerned and wrote something down
Please tell me what is wrong Eila.
Eila took a deep gulp wrote down the reason.
The...impact of the fall...
Eila stopped and couldn't continue. Sanya gently took the pen and wrote something down.
Eila, please tell me what's wrong.
Eila shook her head and wrote something down.
I can't Sanya. I just can't.
Sanya became increasingly concerned and wrote a sentence down.
Please tell me Eila.
Eial began getting teary-eyed. Sanya whipped the tears away and made the same request.
Sanya, I cannot tell you. I just can't.
Sanya wrote down something.
Please tell me.
Eila looked at the worry in Sanya's eyes and decided to do so
The impact of hitting the ground broke my spine. I'll never walk again.
Sanya read this and closed her eyes. She then wrote down another sentence.
I don't care. I love you Eila and I always will.
Eila got choked up and scribbled something down.
I love you Sanya.
The two witches then shared a passionate kiss.
Hours passed by and the dark of the night engulfed Orussia. Lynne stirred in her sleep and awoke rubbing the sleep from her eye. She looked over and saw Yoshika looking out the window with clear worry on her face. Concerned, Lynne decided to get to the bottom of this.
"Yoshika, what's wrong?" asked Lynne.
Yoshika jumped slightly surprised by Lynne's voice. She quickly calmed herself down.
"I'm fine." answered the Fusoan witch.
"You seem worried." noted Lynne.
"I'm fine. I'm just worried." replied Yoshika.
"What's wrong?" asked Lynne.
"Ever since Sakamoto was killed, things have been going terrible." answered Yoshika sadly.
"Unfortunately, that's true." sighed Lynne.
"I'm worried something will happen to us." said Yoshika.
"Don't worry Yoshika." stated Lynne.
"How can I not worry?" asked Yoshika.
"I'm here for you Yoshika. We'll be fine." answered Lynne.
The two girls shared a kiss and went back to bed.
Fuso-Britannian Wars: In the late 1600s, the relationship between Fuso and Britannia went into turmoil. King Charles II and his supporters claimed that Fuso had supported the republicans under Lord Oliver Cromwell. In 1676, the Royal Navy sailed to Fuso and began to bomb major cities including Osaka, Edo and Nagasaki with the intent of landing an army. However, a terrible storm delayed this and forced Charles II to abandon the plan. In 1685, he continued with English forces landing on Kyushu and battling occurring with the Fusoan forces being aided by the Dutch. The Britannians were forced to retreat but plans for another attack was halted by the suddenly death of Charles II in 1685.
A/N: There is chapter twenty-nine finished. Next time, we continue onward. Please review.
