Chapter 18: In enemy territory.
Eowyn moon base
The Lunar Eowyn base was built by the Imperial Space Agency some 40 years earlier, in 1986. Over the course of three decades it had been expanded and equipped, so much so that now a thousand researchers lived there permanently. It was also used as a bridgehead for the launch of space probes and aircraft, as well as a laboratory where research of various kinds was carried out, primarily the search for exploitable resources on the Sidereal satellite. Every day, in fact, several rovers were sent to explore the illuminated areas of the Moon, keeping away from the hidden face. In addition to the laboratories, the base housed the researchers' lodgings, a spaceport where the shuttles to the Earth took off, the kitchens, a communications center and a hospital. The latter was hosted by Ellie Pratt, the first human to set foot on Mars, who after coming into contact with a mysterious artifact found in the ruins of an ancient city had lost consciousness, remaining unconscious for three days. Concerned, her colleagues had decided to take her to medical examination, and make sure she was fine. Now the blonde was lying on a bed and looking at the ceiling, with a distressed expression on her face.
Shit, I seem to go crazy ... Since I landed here my head hurts and I feel more and more strange ... I'm scared ... So scared ...
She think.
Suddenly the pain grew louder and in her mind she began to hear a voice that spoke in an unknown language.
Kubva pakadzika pamwoyo wangu ndinokutumai, Kubva pakadzika pamwoyo wangu ndinokutumai, Kubva pakadzika pamwoyo wangu ndinokutumai!
She put her hands in her hair, while a few tears began to rub her face. Her heart began to beat wildly, and meanwhile that phrase was repeated in her brain, like a mantra. Her breathing became more and more labored. She was going crazy. At one point, a very sharp whistle coming from where it forced her to close her ears and close her eyes, screaming in pain. Her shouts alarmed Dr. Fyodor Malikov (a man in his sixties with sparse gray hair, brown eyes and a short beard), primary of the structure, and Ted, who entered the room.
"Ellie! What's wrong with you? "Her colleague asked, worried.
The blonde did not answer, remaining with her eyes closed. When he opened them he revealed her irises, usually blue like the ocean, now turned red like blood.
"What happened to your eyes?"
Ellie still did not reply, merely staring at the two impassive, then a chilling grin formed on her lips. She got out of bed and stood up, with a diabolical expression on her face.
"Ellie ... What's wrong?"
"Miserable terrestrial ..."
"What?" Dr. Malikov asked, confused.
The woman, with the movement of her hands, literally disintegrated the two men, reducing them to a bloody mush. Ellie smiled satisfied, then went out into the corridor, where she came across Paul, Harry and Dan.
"Ellie, what's up? Where are Ted and Dr. Malikov? "Asked the second.
In response, the woman crushed all three of them in a matter of moments. Some patients and nurses who had witnessed the scene were frightened and tried to escape, only to be massacred in turn.
Finally, after a long time, I can get wild!
She thought, sadistic.
At the same time, in another part of the base, Dr. Sophie Randall (as well as director of the lunar base Eowyn), was sitting in her office and doing some paperwork. She had short brown hair, purple eyes, lipstick on her lips and was a very beautiful woman. She was also one of Lelouch's lovers, who had wanted her at his service both for her talents and for taking her to bed. Like others he was conditioned by the geass, and could not oppose Lelouch's orders, even when he had ordered her to suppress her husband Takeru, turning off the machinery that kept him alive. She hated him for it, but willy-nilly he had to work for him on the moon, and occasionally go down to Earth to satisfy his cravings. Normally and rule the situation on the base was quiet, that's why he was stunned when the intercom placed on his desk he heard the following message:
"Code 119! I repeat! Code 119! "It was the extreme emergency code.
"What happens?"
"The base is under attack!"
"And from whom? Martians? "
"It's not time to joke! One of the patients has gone mad and is making a killing! "
"Whose is it?"
"Ellie Pratt!"
"The astronaut arrived this morning?"
As if morning, afternoon and evening made sense in a place like this.
She told himself.
"How did you get a weapon?"
"She is not armed! Slaughters people with bare hands! "
"I warn you that if it's a joke ..."
Suddenly communication broke off.
Christ ... Better than reach the surveillance room.
Arrived at the destination turned to the staff.
"How's the situation?" Asked.
"Look at yourself." Anna Clément replied, pointing to one of the monitors.
The scientist approached and what she saw stunned: Ellie was actually carrying out a massacre, using only the hands, with which smashed anyone who came in front of her.
"Orders, directress?" Kate Novak asked.
"Send a security team, who use heavy weapons! If necessary, seal the hospital sector and flood it with gas! "
"But there are still civilians in there!" Anna protested.
"Dead meat!" The woman replied.
Ellie had just killed her umpteenth victim (a pregnant woman), when twelve soldiers armed with assault rifles burst into the corridor and began to shoot at them. However, this raised a defensive barrier, consisting of a transparent sphere with violet contours.
They evolved, from my time ...
She thought, amused.
After a few seconds he annihilated the enemy formation.
"The bullets are ineffective ... It's surrounded by a protective barrier!" Anna said, alarmed.
"Isolate the hospital sector! Let the gases out! Where is the head of security? "
"Major Oscar Hammel is heading for the hospital sector at the head of fifteen men!"
"Tell them to lurk in front of the doors! If that thing manages to pass, they must open fire! "
"But the bullets ..."
"Shoot the same! That barrier could yield! "
She was heading towards the exit, when a series of nozzles emerged from the walls, from which a milky cloud spilled out and enveloped everything. Those few who had escaped the massacre died suffocated, but Ellie merely sneezed.
What a nuisance ...
She think.
It's a monster!
Sophie thought, shocked.
"Major Oscar Hammel has arrived on the spot!" Kate informed her.
"Tell him to keep himself ready to shoot!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Damn it ... It's since the siege of Weiswolf that I did not live a similar crisis!
Oscar thought, adjusting his glasses. His soldiers were arrayed around him, their weapons pointed, tense and nervous.
"Major Hammel, will you receive me?"
"Yes, Dr. Randall!"
"We managed to isolate the hospital sector, but nerve gas had no effect. And not even the bullets ... If that woman manages to get out the whole base will be in danger. "
"Leave it to me, he will not resist a second blast!"
"I'm counting on you."
At that moment the armored doors in front of them were torn and thrown to the ground. After a few seconds, Ellie appeared, smiling wickedly.
"Give me a grenade launcher!" He ordered.
One of the soldiers handed it to him, he took it and pointed it at the woman.
"Bye bye, beauty!"
He fired, but the blonde with the strength of her thoughts sent the grenade back to the sender. It exploded, tearing the whole commando.
Sophie was increasingly nervous.
"Send more teams! And alert the Earth! We need reinforcements! "
"Yes!" Anna answered.
"And now What is she doing?" Joe Wise asked.
Sophie turned, looking back at the monitors. Ellie had begun to shine with a red aura.
"Only God knows ..." the director answered.
After a few moments the blonde stepped on the ground with one foot, and at that moment the surveillance room fell in the dark. Anna and Kate screamed in terror.
"What happened?" She asked.
"The whole base is in the dark ... Must have launched an EMP or something!" Joe replied.
"And the communications center?"
"That too went!"
"So it is impossible to communicate with the Earth!"
"And also with security teams."
Damn!
She cursed, furious.
Pendragon, April 3rd, 15:14 pm
An IAL airliner had just landed at the airport.
"Welcome to Pendragon, capital of the empire and center of the world, the largest city on the planet. I hope you enjoy your stay here. "A hostess said, speaking on the microphone.
How I hate these blandishments...
Leila thought, annoyed. She stood up, imitated by other passengers, including her traveling companions.
"It's been years since I set foot in Pendragon." Cornelia said.
"Me too ... Sure, Lelouch has worked hard to bring it back to its former glory, after the destruction caused by FLEIJA." Marianne said.
"One day you will have to explain to me how you know all these things," The former princess told her.
"One day, my dear. One day ... "The shining lightning promised her.
"Now let's go down, and keep the tongues in check. The OSI has spies everywhere, if we miss something we are passed off. "CC warned.
Tony snorted.
"Prudence is never too much, right?"
"Exactly." Faye intervened.
"Come on, let's move." Edward spurred them.
When he got ashore, the group reached the terminal, then took a bus to the city center.
"Okay, we're in Pendragon. Where will we stay? "Esdeath asked.
"At the Victory Hotel. It was opened last year to celebrate the eighth anniversary of Lelouch's conquest of the world. It is located a short distance from the imperial palace. If we stay there we will have more chances to meet Sayoko. "CC answered.
"It's a luxury hotel ... Can we afford it?"
"I have a lot of money with me. But do not ask me how I got it. "Faye said, self-assured.
"I do not care, either." The general asked.
Meanwhile, Tony was looking out the window. For now there was only a lawn and a few trees, but soon they would arrive in the real Pendragon, a magnificent and opulent city, which housed among other things the ministries of war, foreign and economic, various luxury hotels, the INN, a shopping center, the headquarters of a major IT company and so on.
We are in enemy territory ... Basically it is like being in the middle of a minefield. We will have to move with extreme caution ...
The boy thought.