The drive was quick but worrying, I mean how would you feel if you were on your way to fight against a literal army? I turned onto the bridge entering DC and caught sight of the base, it looked more like a school than an actual base.
I turned off the road and parked as close as I dared to the entrance without getting caught. As I stepped out I saw Patrick waving me over, I grabbed my sword and walked over to him. Patrick looked worried as I reached him "I hope you know what you're doing Sam." he said softly.
"I don't, that's like ninety five percent of the fun!" I said giving him a smirk.
"You're gonna die, great. Good luck bud." he said shaking my hand, I nodded before he got back into his car and drove off. I ran across a field, the Sun was high in the sky so I had no real cover but I didn't really see anyone around which was a little weird. The capital city of the nation and no one was outside? The last time I was here it was filled with people...I also almost got murdered by my immortal brother Horkos and...you know let's just get back to my suicidal plan here.
As I came near the fence I could hear electricity crackling within it, the defenses weren't down? I was late, Shane had plenty of time to cut the power. Did he fail? Did I cut too sloppily and he bled out? Oh god this is really bad!
Time to improvise I guess.
I ran along the edge of the fence and I could see a number of Gargareans training along the massive campus. Groups were jogging and chanting as they jogged, and leading each group was a Germanus. The massive men clearly were taking great joy in pushing the soldiers around, I felt rage boiling inside me as I looked at my faction get bullied. If anyone has the right to bully them it's me!
I hid behind some trees as I kept running along the edge, finally I saw the front gate. It was not your ordinary gate, it looked pretty impenetrable, standing at ten feet tall and looked to be made of solid steel about a foot thick. Right next to it was a small box where a single Gargarean and a Germanus were watching security cameras.
I took a deep breath before I started walking towards the entrance as if I belonged. The two guards looked up and quickly ran out with weapons drawn.
"Hold! Name and reason for entering." the Germanus said while the Gargarean just nodded along. What should I do here? I really don't have a plan, eh better to wing it than do nothing right?
"Yeah I'm here to kill Fitzpatrick aaaaaand anyone that is siding with the Triumvirate? So chop chop lets get this gate open huh?" I asked smiling.
He punched me...hard.
I fell to the ground groaning as the Germanus started to kick me mercilessly. I groaned as he stomped on my body like he was doing a dance, suddenly the kicking stopped. I cracked my eyes open and saw the Germanus standing there, his arm had a deep slice into it and was pouring blood.
The Gargarean gate guard was standing there with his sword drawn and bloodied. I tried to get up but I was pretty sure my ribs were broken or something cause it hurt a lot just to move.
The Germanus growled as he drew a large sword and started to fight against the soldier. I slowly got to my knees and grabbed my sword, my bones screamed at me as I moved. I saw the soldier get picked up and thrown through the glass of the small gate house.
Finally the Germanus turned back to me and raised his sword ready to kill me when a small noise went off to my right. Then something hit the Germanus and he went rigid, he dropped to his knees and I caught something wooden sticking out of his head as he fell to the ground dead.
An arrow!
"Sam!" a familiar voice shouted next to me, I looked over and saw an old friend.
"Kinzie." I said as she grabbed my arm and helped me to my feet. She handed me some Ambrosia and I took a bite as at least a hundred warrior women entered the small road to the gate.
"Hylla called me, she told me how you were being an idiot again and asked me to reinforce you. We're here to help Sam, we know everything." she said with a smile and I sighed before giving a small laugh.
God I love you Hylla.
I felt my breathing become more stable and I could stand on my own, I gave Kinzie another smile before walking into the gate house. The Gargarean was bloodied and he looked on the verge of death, he didn't make any attempt to hit the alarm though.
"Please...please stop them." he whispered before closing his eyes, then I heard a clanking sound and the buzzing around the fences stopped.
Shane came through!
"I will stop them, I promise." I said as I grabbed the microphone that connects to the whole base and hit the speak button.
"Attention dumb fucks!" I shouted and I heard my voice resonate throughout the base, no doubt everyone heard me. I grinned as I kept speaking "My name is Samuel Strife, you all know who I am and what I did last year. I am addressing every Gargarean soldier that can hear me: Fight back! The Triumvirate has a stranglehold on our faction but they do not have our honor! They do not have our interests! They do not have us! If you want the Gargareans to be whole again then fight back against General Fitzpatrick! You are good men, honorable men, and I hope you will do the right thing. If you don't...well, I'm here to kill Fitzpatrick, anyone in my way that tries to stop me is going to suffer the same fate as him! Your choice!" I said before ripping the microphone out and slamming my fist down on the gate button.
The gate lowered and I walked into the base with Kinzie at my side and an army of Amazons behind us. As soon as we passed the gate an alarm rang through the base and I saw at least twenty Gargareans running towards me being lead by two Germanus.
"Lay down your arms and die!" one of the Germanus shouted as they halted in front of us. I looked at the Gargareans behind them and they clearly weren't sure what to do.
"I have a better idea, fuck off." I said raising my sword, the Germanus did the same but then one gasped as a spear was thrust through his back. He fell to his knees as the spearman kicked him and ripped the spear out, his body falling forward.
The Germanus turned in shock allowing me to run up and slash into his leg. He grunted in discomfort and swung his sword, I grabbed his wrist with my metal hand and twisted. He growled as he let go of his sword and I grabbed it, then I thrust the sword into his chin and through his head.
He dropped and I ripped my sword out of his leg before looking at the Gargareans that had defected.
"You guys did the right thing, now tell me do you have any more tanks?" I asked.
The spearman nodded "Over there, in the garage." he said pointing across the campus.
I nodded "Kinzie you and half of the Amazons commandeer the tanks, take the soldiers with you, they can drive them. The rest of you get any innocent people out of here we don't want anyone dying here that doesn't deserve it." I ordered and they nodded and ran off.
I started looking for where Fitzpatrick might be holed up, I saw a massive building in the center of the campus so best to start there right?
I ran towards it when I saw a group of Germanus running towards me howling for blood. I raised my sword ready to fight when I heard another shout, I looked and saw at least fifty Gargareans running towards the Germanus on both sides! Arrows were fired and some of the Germanus fell before they even had the chance to fight. The soldiers clashed and kept the monstrous men at bay while I ran to the head building.
As I reached the steps I saw golden bars fly down and slam against the doors and all the windows, fuck! Fitzpatrick put the place on lockdown!
That was the least of my worries though, I turned just in time to see a tank rolling towards me with a Germanus manning it "Fire!" he shouted.
I dove to the ground as the shell completely obliterated the stone steps I was on. I got to my feet as the tank stopped, I heard the barrel clank as another shell was slotted, ready to kill me.
Then I heard the deafening boom of a tank firing but instead of me blowing up it was the tank! I turned to see the Amazons riding four M1 Abrams! I laughed as I saw Kinzie looking like she was having the time of her life directing the tanks.
I ran up and jumped onto the lead tank "Wow, you guys are quick!" I said over the roar of the machines.
Kinzie smirked "They were already prepping the tanks to fight back when we came in!" she explained and I smirked before suddenly one of the tanks to my left exploded in fire, I heard screaming as the riders burned within the war machine.
I looked up to see another line of Germanus tanks gunning right for us.
"Fuck! Bring us around!" I ordered as Kinzie went back into the tank and I dropped into the hatch into the gunners position. I loaded up the M134 that was mounted on the top of the tank and took aim.
"Open fire! Aim for the front center!" I shouted as I unloaded the gun on the tanks in an attempt to slow them down a little. The other two tanks flanking me opened fire on the Germanus and brought down two of the six tanks.
A couple of them leaped onto my tank and I opened fire on them tearing them to shreds. One got to me and I punched him in the face with my metal hand, sending him rolling down in front of the tank and to his death.
"RELOAD NOW!" I shouted as the Germanus fired again, the shells sparked against the sides of my tank and hit the left tank dead on. It was still going but I could see dead Amazons and Gargareans in the giant hole in it.
I felt guilt rip into me, fuck not again! No...no this is horrible but necessary! Not every death can be placed on me! They knew the risks joining me and that can't be held against me! Not to a leader! Not to a king!
"FIRE!" I screamed and the tanks fired again taking out two more tanks in a large explosion. Only two were left, we were doing really well!
Then the Germanus turned, their tanks were faster it was going to take a lot more time for mine to turn. They swung their barrels around and fired, taking out the left tank entirely! I screamed in anger as I swung my gun and fired again, I maintained my assault for as long as I could, hoping it was working as a stall.
Finally our barrels were turned and we fired in unison, our two shots decimated one of the tanks but their shots tore into the right tank and it came to a grinding halt.
Only one left.
I reloaded my gun but I knew it was pointless, their tank was much faster and we both had the deadshot. Then I had a pretty crazy idea.
"KINZIE?! PUSH FORWARD! GET AS CLOSE TO THE TANK AS YOU CAN! RAM THEM IF YOU HAVE TO!" I ordered and tank lurched forward towards the Germanus at full speed. Their tank quickly pulled into reverse as they tried to maintain a safe distance to fire at us but we kept gaining ground.
They clearly weren't paying attention to where they were going because we got closer and closer I saw the fence straight ahead. Finally I grinned "Stop!" I shouted and he tank came to a slow stop but the Germanus were still backing up.
Right through the fence and into the harbor!
As the tank sank into the water I looked back and saw the carnage that had been wrought, Gargareans and Amazons alike were running down Germanus as they rebelled. A few of the buildings burned and the only place that was still under Triumvirate control was the main building.
"Kinzie? Aim for the front door of the main building. Time to deal with Fitzpatrick!" I ordered and she nodded before the tank started towards the locked down building. The barrel was pointed at the door and in the blink of an eye the bars were destroyed and the door was blown open.
I hopped off the tank with Kinzie next to me, I drew my sword and glared at the building that held the sadistic general.
"Time to end this!" I said marching up the ruined steps with my friend. I was met with a Germanus who had to have been some kind of elite because he was wearing more armor than the others. He threw a sword at me and I barely had time to duck, I felt the sword shave a part of my hair off as it flew over me.
Kinzie jumped on the guys back and started to beat him "Sam go! I'll handle this guy!" she said as she wrapped her legs around his neck. He threw her off and chased after her as she hit the ground rolling and then was on her feet in an instant.
I ran into the building and it looked even worse than the outside! Looks like with everyone trapped the Gargareans and Germanus inside all tore each other apart. Bodies littered the halls and blood was everywhere, holes were torn into walls, lights were flickering, and worst of all it looked like there were no survivors.
I glared at the fallen soldiers bodies and looked around, finally I saw a directory and examined it, General Fitzpatrick was on the top floor!
I made my way to the stairwell and ran up two at a time, I reached the final level and opened the door. The hallway was pristine, not a single thing was wrong as if the rebellion hadn't reach it. Seeing as how everyone was dead I guess that was exactly it.
On one of the doors there was a sign that read "Fitzpatrick".
I kicked the door open and a man was standing ten feet away from me staring out the barred window. He was a younger man than Langdon, he looked to be in his thirties with curly brown hair and brown eyes.
"Hello Samuel." he said in a low voice without even turning to look at me.
"You're done Fitzpatrick, surrender or die." I said ready to absolutely murder this prick!
The General chuckled as he turned to look at me, he drew a sword from behind his desk "I can assure you boy, regardless of your actions here today, you have failed." he said confidently as he swung.
I deflected and punched him in the stomach, he doubled over but blocked my swing. He regained his footing and tried to cut my throat but I backed up before the blade could hit me.
"You will not win! This goes far beyond what you know! You are insignificant! As am I! As is every pitiful excuse for a soldier that dies for you out there!" Fitzpatrick shouted as he punched me across the cheek and knocked me down.
I grabbed my stinging cheek and hissed, Fitzpatrick walked over to me laughing, well time to cut that shit short! I brought my foot back and kicked forward right into his leg, his leg broke completely as my boots cut the bone in two. He screamed as he fell to the ground clutching his leg.
I stood up and grabbed his shirt collar "You know what I have heard about you? You're a monster." I said glaring at him, my red eyes glowing brightly and my desire to kill nearly insatiable. He looked tired as if he had no more strength left in him to fight.
"But you're nothing more than an amateur, who stomped on the grave of a real monster. A real monster that wanted to stay buried! But you just...kept...stomping!" I growled as I proceeded to punch him mercilessly.
"A real monster understands shame! A real monster knows what he has done and lives with it! No matter how despicable the act! You're a monster?!" I chuckled though nothing was funny, his face was barely recognizable now.
"No...You're looking at the real monster." I said quietly before I grabbed his head and twisted hard to the right.
Fitzpatricks neck snapped and I let him drop to the ground, I stood up and looked out the window where Gargareans were roaring for blood and chasing after the remaining Germanus. I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Shane and Kinzie standing there both looking beat up but otherwise totally fine.
"You win? Where's Fitzpatrick?" Shane asked as he walked in, I pointed to the dead General on the ground. Shane looked confused "Sam?" he asked and I looked at him, concern was written all over his face.
"That isn't Fitzpatrick...that's his double."
REVIEW! Btw everyone if you have stayed up to date with chapters please reread Chapter 11. I remade it so its like twice as long now, please look at it cause it's vital to the story. Please leave a comment guys!