CHOICES
It could not be! It simply could not!
The enemy army ... yes, because the number of opponents was so high that they had to be called a real army ... it is in fact, that his men, sent on the spot to recover the escaped animals, were annihilated by an enemy who had moved too early.
Conscious of having lost the first clash, he had not sent any kind of reinforcement, condemning those loyal men to an atrocious end.
It almost seemed that she wanted to make the animals run away, she actually knew well that if there was one thing he detested, it was the idea of losing her beloved collection. To dismantle this theory was the fact that his men had injured and attempted to kill the animals, this last detail dismantled the idea that Carmela had made of himself.
For the first time in his life he had rejoiced and enjoyed receiving news of the success of the plan for those bags of fleas, only because during the escape they had eliminated part of the competition. But aside from satisfaction with some good news, Derek knew well that he had to calm down and think clearly. First he would defeat his rival and only later, hoping not to lose them forever, would he recover the very rare animals. He had lost a battle, not war! Not yet ... never!
If the problems weren't enough, new ones had been created. The government had sent the army to quell what they called "civil war". Not knowing that the madwoman could have stood up to anyone thanks to the large number of men she had.
They would have given him problems too!
He had to try to ally with them, doing so would increase in number and crush the damned ungrateful. As if that wasn't enough, reliable sources had informed him that his daughter and other teenagers were accomplices in the escape of the animals. He did not believe in coincidences and the fact that his daughter had visited the power plant on that day explained everything.
The people in charge of the control room had fallen into his trap and concentrated on the main problem, without thinking of sending guards to check the perimeter as the animals were unusually calm.
The problem came from outside and nobody had believed it possible that the two were related.
In addition, the emergency generators had been out of use for a few months now and he had not thought how useful they could be at a time like that, postponing the work for their repair several times.
Rose knew she had given priority to the problem with her former employee and had taken advantage of it!
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"No! I prefer to die instead of running away like a coward! " Xu yelled furiously.
"You will do as I say! You will not endanger everyone for your stupid pride! " Shen replied equally distorted "He spoke ... who was to refuse the help of humans during our first attempt to escape?" The cat asked provocatively.
"You were not against then, why do you have to be now? Pulling out old stories doesn't change anything! " Said the peacock who felt the itchiness of his wings increase more and more. He would not have been able to remain calm for much longer.
Mei seemed to notice it and intruded on the quarrel "Guys, stop fighting and lower your voice. Xu, do you want to die today or do you prefer to have a second chance to kick those bipeds in the butt? " Mei asked putting into practice a subtle psychological game.
Shen's crest rose in surprise. He had not yet realized the enormous skills of his friend since until then he had always trusted others to solve problems. She had been against her decision to put her in the forefront of the vanguard but had proved perfect for a task like that. By now the fearful girl she had met on the airship had disappeared making way for a tenacious and courageous young adult.
"Um ... okay!" Xu agreed intimidated by the fury that shone through Mei's eyes. The cat turned to the peacock and also unleashed his impetuous impetus on him "You too will go with him!" she said without waiting for an answer before turning around and turning to Hua "Fly high and check the situation, but be careful!" she said them with conviction.
"How dare you?" Shen screamed indignantly. Never had anyone stepped over it that way. Not even now that he had lost his title! "Not now Shen!" She replied as if it had been the most normal thing in the world to put it aside like an old rag.
"I'm in charge of this operation! I studied the tactics of humans for months just to allow us to escape and now ... "" ... now you have to guide others to a safe place! " Mei interrupted him.
"You know what to do now. Where should we go, which roads are safe and which are not. You have to help others so we too will have a chance to get by. We will keep the humans busy and only when you have put the others safe will you come to recover us! " said the cat managing to attract the attention of all the cats present.
"She's right!" Guo supported her "Join the others and guide them ... we will kill some humans for you too!" The feline concluded by waving his tail impatiently.
"I won't kill anyone!" Indignantly protested Mei "So I ... I'll kill some bipeds for you and Xu!" Guo corrected himself. "I will too!" Kuen said "It applies to me too!" Zhong said.
"Well!" Shen said through clenched teeth. The offense was still burning, but he was well aware that Mei was right "Guo, you will come with us too!" Said the peacock before setting off.
The feline swore, but did as he was told. Others had also been injured, but not as seriously as he, Xu and Shen. They risked condemning themselves and sentencing others to death if they remained ...
"Down!" A partially screamed whisper from Hua made them drop suddenly. Shen peered through the branches of the bush where he had hidden. Humans. They were those of the secretary, she recognized the clothes!
"Be careful! There should be a small group of them around here. The alpha ran away with the others! " A man said from above one of the buildings they called cars.
"Remember the white peacock with red spots must be caught alive!" Another said holding a large black plastic object in his hand.
"Eliminate the targets!" This last statement was repeated several times by a high-pitched and strange voice and the animals did not understand who was talking.
"We attract them to the reserve! You take advantage to melt it! " Mei said before crawling towards her goal.
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Derek looked around. He had machines and men sufficient to recapture the animals, but not to keep up with hers. Frustrating!
For now he was sure that his daughter would take care of his "friends" so he could spend all the resources he had against the traitor.
She knew well that the numbers gave her an advantage, but did not decree her victory. Not yet at least.
He knew well who was in charge of the group of soldiers sent to stop the ongoing conflict as soon as possible.
A smart and fair man, incorruptible. He would have had to leverage his moral principles to convince him to collaborate and probably would have prevented him from killing the traitor who was his greatest wish at the time.
But at least they would have stopped her. That was what mattered. The collector left the courtyard in time to see the large armored trucks stop in front of the large door of that secondary entrance to the castle.
The colonel came down as if he had come to discuss business and not to fight a war. He had been a good soldier, decorated with the highest honors. He must have seen worse than two who quarreled with each other making spite of each other ...
"Good evening Collector" introduced himself "I heard you have problems. The situation got out of hand and collapsed in half a day. " He was knowledgeable. Better to feel the ground.
"I wasn't expecting such an outcome. Animals have always been unpredictable, but such a move on their part was somewhat unlikely, don't you think too? " He asked carefully observing the other's reaction.
"They are not the only problem, are they? Someone has decided to appropriate and stop the horror you leave behind, "said the colonel, looking at him with disgust. Derek felt his bowels twist in anger. He believed her. He was one of the many idiots who had collected the seeds she sowed without even asking a question or letting some doubt creep into her mind!
A real disappointment from a man who had a reputation for being very intelligent. Maybe she would have believed him too ...
"So I would be a monster? He can't believe in a woman who kidnaps children! " Derek said haughtily.
The colonel's serious gaze wavered in the face of such a revelation "I don't think I understood correctly ..." he said, shaking off the initial shock. "My daughter and five of her friends ... have been kidnapped by ... the woman." replied the collector unintended to pronounce her name.
"I apologize to you for what I say, but given your reputation I find it hard to believe!" The colonel said, who had become agitated to know that in one way or another, children were in danger.
Derek sighed, pretending to be nervous even though he was perfectly confident in the plan he devised. "Follow me to my office, I have something that will make you change your mind!" He said heading inside the building.
Fortunately the colonel, even if he didn't trust him, decided to go along with his request.
Once in the room a computer scientist aired a truly disturbing video on a computer.
Four boys, a girl and three boys, were in a dirty and dark room, sitting on the ground with their hands and feet tied.
"Please! Please, it forced us! She forced us! " One of the boys said in a terrified voice "Shut up!" A man screamed as he entered the camera view. The video stopped after two seconds.
"As you see that individual wears one of his men's uniforms. They captured the boys after forcing them to collaborate with them! " Explained the collector.
"And should I believe you? It could have been all you!" said the colonel, showing his disappointment.
"Then you will believe the ballistic results made on my dead men in an attempt to save my daughter!" Derek insisted, nodding to the man sitting in front of the computer who nodded and started looking for a second video.
"Stop showing me these frames ..." the colonel was interrupted by the hasty entrance of an individual who handed him sheets and then went out again.
"What are?" He asked suspiciously, starting to read. "The bullets that killed my men didn't belong to any of the weapons in our possession and to clarify further doubts look at this!" Derek answered by clicking a button on the keyboard and starting the video.
The video camera was placed on the helmet of an armed man and you could only see the weapon held by him that was shooting madly at the enemies. The individual hid behind a tree and only appeared when the shots were safe. He killed many opponents, but turned suddenly attracted by a scream.
Next to a large investigating magistrate a stranger had grabbed a girl who was struggling like crazy screaming and kicking.
"Leave me! Put me down damn dung of manure! " The young woman screamed as she tried in vain to escape the hold of the man.
A boy clung to one of the stranger's legs who had his friend in his hand and tried several times to lift her with the intent to make him lose his balance but without success.
Eventually he too was captured.
The soldier carrying the video camera moved as soon as he saw that the young men were being loaded by force on the magistrate, but a succession of shots preceded his fall to the ground and the end of the video. "Tell me all you know! The position of the enemy, their number and the weapons they have! What if he has an idea where those kids and his daughter can keep them! " The colonel said, this time, fully convinced.
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Mei took a piece of wood trying to make as little noise as possible. Once he found himself behind the armed men who were chasing them he threw him with all his might to their right.
His plan worked perfectly as it did not reveal their position, but made the attention of the bipeds direct in the wrong direction.
Panicked they fired shots in the void and the animals took advantage of all the confusion to reach them, unheard, behind them with a few leaps. They were enough for everyone to look after a human, but this disadvantaged them because they let their guard down.
Kuen was struck by an unknown weapon that made him scream in pain and collapse into semi-unconscious ground and the one who had stunned him, instead of completing the work, turned his attention to his fellow man in difficulty, hitting Syaoran in full.
The poor wolf whined loudly, as he had never done before. He fell to the ground holding a paw on his right side from which a large amount of blood spilled.
With the last remaining strength he used his whip mace to strike the human who stood above him and send him to the world of dreams, but immediately afterwards he too followed him.
The guard who had hit the wolf approached the animal cautiously and took aim. It had to hit a point that would not have damaged the animal's fur too much and whose wound could be easily hidden once embalmed.
Carmela had been brilliant. If you are unable to control live animals, dead animals are better.
You earn less, but you can be sure that the profit is forever.
The deluded man made a strangled sound when a blade pierced him out of his belly and fell to the ground lifeless as soon as it was removed. Zhong cleaned his weapon on his victim's robes and immediately ran to rescue the fallen wolf.
He tore off a large piece of his shirt and folded it carefully before placing it on the wound and pressing as hard as possible in an attempt to slow the bleeding.
Mei and Tai-Yang were quick to light a fire on which to burn a blade.
They knew well that it was the only way to cauterize the wound and prevent the wolf from dying and they didn't care much about the fact that smoking would certainly alert humans to their presence.
Shu checked the wound realizing that there was both an entry hole and an exit hole.
Bad news. Two holes then double blood loss. He knew well that being seriously injured was what they risked, but living it was different from imagining it!
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Derek proudly observed the large number of men who stood under his command.
They had doubled if not tripled with the arrival of the colonel and this had restored confidence in those who were still loyal to him.
The numbers don't win the battles, but now he could put in place a plan with well-trained soldiers accustomed to such situations. Probably his opponent could not say the same.
To avoid spies, they had gathered in a large complex of abandoned factories. By now all that remained were empty and large buildings, perfect for use as a hiding place.
They had reached the site in small groups in less than two hours and were currently discussing the strategic plan to surround and annihilate the enemy.
She had killed many of his men, which is why the colonel authorized to strike with the intention of killing. His men were hiding in the mountains and if this worried the collector a lot, it seemed that the colonel had not noticed.
The building in which they were located was larger than the others in which the various vehicles had been hidden. The men were loading all the weapons at their disposal as well as supplying each one with as much ammunition as possible.
"At this point there is an abandoned house. Being the only place where there is a civil construction, I deduce that it is also the place where the boys are held prisoner. We will give priority to the patrol of this building. Remember that the safety of children comes first and foremost, "said the colonel to the collector and his lieutenants.
"Sir ..." tried to start saying Derek. As soon as he was given permission, he continued, "If we get closer to their hiding place, we risk using the boys as a shield or as hostages ... worse still, they will kill them to prevent them from saying what they have seen. We must seek her first! When we have it in hand ... "
"... they will kill the kids or use them as a bargaining chip! I think I have more experience than she does on the field, so try to obey orders if you want to hug your daughter again! " The colonel replied, annoyed that the collector had given voice to his concerns.
In situations like this one always took risks and hoped that his decision was the best.
Derek leaned against the railing that overlooked the interior of the building. It was the first time he had to obey orders and he didn't like it at all.
He and his superiors were on the second floor of the old building, far enough away from indiscreet ears where to develop a good strategy.
The colonel entered the room opposite the long corridor that overlooked the interior of the building where Derek was staying, to take his personal belongings before going to war.
It was at that moment that the collector's eye fell on a stranger, escorted by a guard, who was led towards them.
All the men turned as soon as he passed between the various tables on which the weapons were placed and looked at him with curiosity.
He was apparently young and seemed surprised by the amount of artillery in that warehouse. He carried a large backpack with him and was dressed as if he intended to go on an excursion.
"Hey! Who are you?" Derek yelled, drawing all eyes on himself. Even the colonel, from the room he was in, heard him scream that question and decided to go check it out for himself. He managed to take only a few steps.
The boy, as soon as he saw the Collector raised an arm in the air before shouting "Goodbye Derek!" And press the detonator.
A suicide bomber.
Ingenious, safe and lethal.
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Shen sighed in relief as soon as he saw the caves that would serve as a refuge for the next few months.
He was exhausted and knew he would hold on for a little longer.
He was losing a lot of blood! He had to hurry to join the others, give quick orders and hope that someone could medicate him enough to prevent him from bleeding to death.
Although wounded, Xu wielded his Kyoketsu Shoge (a steel chain at the end of which a large double blade was attached) with extreme dexterity and this was enough to make him seem very dangerous despite his limping gait.
Guo was made worse, but had been medicated by Shu, so he was better than the peacock.
As soon as they entered the cave Guo grabbed Shen by the wing with the intention of guiding him. The bird's eyes did not see as well as those of a feline in the dark.
Taking a few steps, a hiss preceded a dull thud and Shen felt Guo push him behind him to protect him while Xu snarled menacingly to intimidate anyone who had fired the arrow.
"I didn't think I'd see you so soon!" Jia said an albino doe "I thought I didn't see you at all!" It was an albino fox "Luckily you were wrong!" Said the first "Yeah!" The other said relieved.
"Where are the others?" He asked for a voice that Shen recognized immediately.
"They stayed behind to fight a group of humans chasing us, Cong," replied the peacock. "Hopefully everything is fine!" The squirrel answered before lighting a piece of wood at one end and guiding them to the place where the others were.
Once they reached their destination, Shen was relieved to find that they were all well apart from those who had been injured in the clash that took place on the walls of the reserve.
As he watched everyone and they stared at him, Xu and Guo, a familiar figure approached the peacock. "My Lor..." poor Zhan was struck by Ning's pointed club, unexpectedly taken by Shen and used against the unfortunate wolf. Everyone jumped in surprise.
The peacock had always been unpredictable, but this exceeded anyone's expectations!
But didn't those two already know each other? Were they friends or did the peacock lie to them?
Shen let go of the secure support represented by Guo and with his last strength he bent over the old friend who was on the ground while pressing a paw on his head, panting with pain. "For the moment I am only Shen! Nobody needs to know my true identity! " He whispered in the wolf's ear before the darkness claimed it.
I apologize to everyone for the long wait! But the study is really a lot and I didn't find a free moment to post the new chapter!
The idea of the suicide bomber was lightning fast, it was not my intention to put it! Too explosive as a turn-up? Let me know what you think, the comments I appreciate them very gladly!
See you soon,
X-98