Alarms were going off within Ajay's head as he stumbled once more on something that was so far fetch it wasn't plausible at all. Another shift in the timeline he was unfamiliar with.
-No, that can't be! Mom definitely killed him!-
So who was that speaking on the radio? Ajay wasn't sure himself, he'd never heard his father speak to him before or he was too young to remember. Only one person could confirm it.
He had to return back to the Royal Palace.
After organising his thoughts, he returned his focus back to Amita but found that they hadn't recovered from the words spoken on the radio. Ajay had to do something fast to restore their morale.
"Is this going to stop you from achieving your goal, Mukti Tigers?"
Upon hearing him, they seemed to have broken from the spell of disbelief and went back to fulfilling their roles in restoring the stronghold, outpost and routes back to working order.
"Amita….. Amita!"
"Uh- yes?" She too was recovering from the daze.
"Until we determine who that was speaking it would be best if you maintain a cool head and thoughts. Everyone here is depending on you to keep things running."
"Mmmm.. Alright! So will you stay at least?" Amita gave him a look begging him to stay to give her emotional support.
"Let's talk further inside."
Amita nodded and followed Ajay into the inner sanctum of the stronghold.
Ajay made her give him a list of the raw material that were necessary to rebuild what they lost.
A few tons of pine wood, an equal amount of sheet metal in various lengths and widths, power generators, fuel and fresh water. The list was endless but Ajay helped her draft out what was needed to bring Baghadur back to operational level. At a time like this, he couldn't leave the Tigers unprotected. Her field commanders and executive officers all gathered around to assist in explaining what they needed the materials for.
Mostly it was for housing, but there were other concerns. Besides repairing the roads and blown out structures they requested to build a water plumbing system for washing, showering and going to the john's. To improve the sanitary conditions of the place especially when the new unofficial town was getting more and more crowded. Ajay had no qualms with that, if it improved the chances of the Tigers interaction with the refugees and thereby allow them to trust them it was a cost he was willing to pay. There was even a proposal for a medical clinic, something the Tigers were in dire need of. Ajay offered something better, he arranged for a helicopter to be on standby in Baghadur, ready to deliver the life-threatening injured person directly to Noore's polyclinic. It was an especially dire time as he was to assume that the Royal Army's reputation had hit rock bottom because of this event and of the retaliation he ordered hours ago. Still, he couldn't let this set them back. The Royal Army was still the premier army of the country, protecting the people was its first priority even if it meant the people didn't appreciate it.
"Earlier, I sent the two heli-borne battalions and one mechanised battalion to play attrition with the Golden Path in Banapur."
He could hear physical gulps from the fighters around him. All of them were thinking the exact same thing. Badala was one person they were lucky not to have crossed.
"When they return I've have them set a forward base on the ridge to give you a baffle."
The Tigers right now were virtually defenceless, save for the stronghold itself but that was the last line of defense. Three battalions would assemble and make a temporary fort outside of Baghadur to assist and protect the Tigers.
"It's the least I could do, Hurk is my subordinate and he likely led them here in the first place."
"We appreciate all you've done for us." Amita sighed internally when Ajay refused to listen to her and insist it was his responsibility to shoulder.
"Sir Badala, permission to speak bluntly?" One commander asked.
"Yes?"
"What are your thoughts on the radio broadcast, do you truly think its Mohan Ghale?" The entire assembly turned Ajay's way, expecting a response from the person who had the closest records to what really happened to Mohan.
"That's quite enough from you lot-." Amita tried to defuse it from becoming a confrontation, what really happened could be what the Royal Palace was trying to keep from the public for sensitive matters.
"Mohan died at the doorstep of his own house, murdered by none other than his wife, Ishwari."
Eyes popped out of their sockets.
"WHAT?!"
"The hell?!"
"Why would she do that?"
Amita was just as shocked as the rest, why did Ajay reveal this to them and why was this kept by the Palace at all?
"It was purely self-defense, he tried to kill her but that wasn't the worst of what he did that day."
Ajay's expression darkened considerably and the group took notice and stopped asking.
"Regardless of this info I've indulged with you, keep this to yourself. I want you all to treat this threat as if he really did come back from the grave or faked it. Even if he were actually a con or fake, everyone else believes so and that includes the Golden Path."
Ajay looked to each of them and they nodded to him in understanding. Amita was deep in thought piecing the things she knew. Ajay had once told her that he was raised by Ishwari, back then she would have known what became of her husband. So Ishwari was the really killer of Mohan that day. It made sense, but what didn't was the motive for him to attack his own wife. Amita knew Ajay intentionally kept it from them, it was something so deep that it was impossible to get out of once trapped. Amita chose to ignore it for the time being and do as he said treat it like he was really back.
It was at this time that a huge commotion took place outside to stronghold sanctum and was getting closer. Shouts, jeering and threats were thrown in a particular direction by the fighters and people alike. Ajay could see flying fruit from where he was.
"Looks like they succeeded." He said, and they all understood what he was referring to.
Held in an arm lock in both sides as he was being pushed forward by Emilio and Luigi.
"Who threw that!? Fucking savages! Let go!" Paul yelled out angrily threw the bag over his head at the fighters and civilians as they threw pebbles and dirt at him.
"I never thought this day would come." One of the officers said in disbelief.
Ajay remembered to don his mask as Paul had a pretty good memory of faces. In fact, he was one of the only enemies that would recognize who he was, he did have lunch at his Compound after all with Pagan. Amita noticed this subtle action and was as shrewd as ever in deducting the reason.
"Ricardo, take off the bag before he suffocates."
Ricardo notioned to the other two who took out cuffs and chained it to his feet and hands. At this time, a considerable crowd had gathered and waited around the balconies and stairs to see what would become of the countries sickest fuck.
How was the demon lord gonna torture him for information concerning this current predicament Kyrat was in.
Paul regained his bearings and found himself surrounded by civilians and Tigers, right in front of him were seated Ajay and Amita. It was a very judgement style of arrangement they were in around Paul who was currently on his knees gulping softly.
"I'm glad."
"H-Huh?"
"Ricardo and his team did their best not to rough you up. You're just the way I imagined I'd deliver you like a Christmas present to Noore."
"Noore?…. Noore?!...ahahahahhaha…" Paul began to laugh hysterically the way Ajay recalled. Ajay grinned sadistically and got up walking towards Paul.
"Yeah! Funny ain't it? She though her family was safe and sound all this while…. It's perfect, Paul! The ultimate despair you could give to a person is false hope, you probably were looking forward to seeing that look on her face crumble when you personally tell her that you chopped her man and kids into cubes and you did it all those years ago! Hahahaha!..." Paul's expression instantly ashened as Ajay cackled diabolically.
The crowd wasn't sure what he was talking about but seeing Paul's face drop was a refreshing sight.
"You!-… You didn't-." Immediately he realized that there was a chance that Noore also knew.
"Oh. She knows alright, but what she doesn't know yet is the other culpit."
"Other…. Culpit?" Ajay squatted in front of Paul.
"Who else wrote those tear-jerking mommy letters than the sweet innocent Ashley!" Ajay smiled to Paul's horror. Ajay knew everything about Noore and her families' predicament.
"Uh-…..ah-….." No words formed from Paul's mouth which just opened and closed. Just then-
*L.I.V.E… live today! P.A.R.T.Y….party run and play!...* A familiar ringtone rung from Paul's phone, to the crowd it was merely a phone call. But both Paul and Ajay knew exactly who it was.
"Well speak of the little angel…." Ajay reached into his back pocket.
"Hey!- HEY!- what chu' doing!? Stop! Stop!"
Ajay quickly snatched the cellphone out of his pocket and walked back to the seat. The crowd was quietly watching Ajay take the lead. Ajay hadn't even layed a hand on Paul yet the latter was already hysterical and shivering.
He raised the cellphone.
"I wonder who could it be?" He teased but Paul knew he understood who was calling.
"Bad's come on!….. please…." Paul adopted a head bending stance to show he was serious.
Ajay motioned to Ricardo and he understood what to do. A cloth gag went over Paul and into his mouth.
"Hey what're you- muuuuunghhh!"
Ajay pressed the button to receive the call.
"Yello? Harmon office speaking?" Ajay asked in a friendly tone, he could hear giggling on the other side.
*You're funny! Ops! Um…. Is my daddy over there?* Ajay felt slightly bad for taking advantage of such a sweet girl but Paul asked for it.
"Oh! Is this darling Ashley Mr. Harmon always talks about?! Why hello there, I'm Trevor his new apprentice!" Ajay quickwittedly coined an alias.
Paul screamed as loud as he could behind the cloth gag to get Ashley's attention and remind her not to speak to stranges.
*What was that?* Ajay had to hand it to Paul, his daughter was incredibly inquisitive. Just like the note that revealed his wifes infidelity, nothing escaped this kid's sharp observation.
"Oh, that was your dad. The boss made him stay back overnight for a celebration we were having. We invited him over for the office gathering next door and he had a bit too many to drink that's all. Your dad's alright, sweetheart!"
Paul wailed behind the cloth gag in defeat and despair. The crowd of tigers and civilians were astounded by Paul's reaction. They'd never seen a man full of agony from Ajay talking to his daughter. But Paul knew what was to come, when Ajay was still in captivity he mindfucked Paul by using his Daughter as a tool to torture him. Ajay knew too, which was why he used this to get him to talk.
*Oh…. Ok. Well I guess I'll call again later.*
"Um- Ashley?"
*… Yes?* That was a close one, she nearly hung up on him.
"Your dad might not have had the time to say this so I'll spoil the surprise for him. You've been couped up in that mansion for quite some time and I know you've been waiting patiently for your daddy to take you outside to roam around. How about we surprise him instead?"
Emilio and Luigi struggled to hold Paul in place as he shook about and actually cried.
"Yep! Looks like your dad 's been having a hard time from the looks of it. What do you say? Wanna give him a good cheering up?!"
*Mmm! Ok!* Ashley sounded eager.
"Great! I'll have a chauffeur pick you up and bring you straight to the office. Oh- um…. I don't really know were Mr Harmon lives, I'm new here see." Ajay sounded like a new office boy. The charades that Ajay played were scary knowing his purpose of the call was to track down Ashley.
*That's ok, Trev! I'll turn on the GPS for you and you can track my phone. I'm not sure where I am cause I'm new here too, hehe!*
"Thanks Ashley. You're a sweet girl as Mr Harmon said you were." The young girl giggled once more after being complimented.
"Better rest up, sweetheart! It'll be a long day tomorrow!"
*Ok! Goodnight, Trev. Can I call you Trev?*
"Of course you can, goodnight princess." He could hear her chuckling away, she seemed to adore the role of princess very much.
Ajay disconnected the call, tucked the phone in his pocket and Luigi loosened the gag off Paul. But by this time, Paul was no longer screaming. He'd expended all his energy crying out for Ajay to stop torturing him with prospects of Ajay getting back at him through his daughter. His face was a stained mess, the crowd was shocked by the scene before them. After all he'd done, Paul was nothing more than a pathetic creature before them. And the one that grounded him into putty in his hands was none other than the Northern Demon, Badala.
"Right now, you get to decide if Ashley gets dragged from the house and stuffed into a gunnysack or….. she gets ferried nice and comfortably to an office building whilst remain oblivious to daddy Harmon's day job."
"…. What do you want to know?!... If that was really Mohan?!" He said in defeat.
"You obviously wouldn't know, what did Willis think?"
"H-he didn't believe it either, the guy just magically popped out of thin air like fucking Christ!"
-Magically?-
Ajay's thoughts suddenly swum towards the occult, what about himself? His existence, his knowledge were all reality defying. Was his father also in the same category? The more he thought the more it hurt to think in a neverending circle.
"Where're Brody's friends and Kamala's parents?" The whole crowd was shocked by Ajay's question. Kamala's parents were with them?
Paul looked up in surprise, he had been under the impression they were in Baghadur all this while. Ajay frowned as he interpreted that from his expression, Brody's friends weren't here. Paul laughed in self-pity, he'd been fooled by a bunch of brats into chasing a wrong lead and got himself caught in the end.
"Why did the Golden Path attack the North?"
"To retrieve some legends named Eight Devas!"
The name caused the crowd to gasp in shock and fear, they started to discuss fervently.
"Eight… Devas!?"
"Impossible! They were alive all this time?"
Ajay had personally never heard of these Eight Devas before, yet everyone had. And they sounded extremely dangerous. He didn't want to ask Amita because it would seem suspicious, he would have to wait until he returned to the Royal Palace. There were questions he wanted answered from Paul like when Lynch was coming, what were the troop positions and many more. But it would have to wait for another time or at least after Yuma's interrogators had done some softening up on him.
"….. Ok, Paul. You've earned your daughter's continued ignorance."
Ajay turned to the Condotierri to tell them they were heading off.
"I think you should head over to Army HQ to hear what Arjun has to say about all of this. As soon as your men can manage themselves. I'll inform King's bridge garrison of your arrival, bring a small group if you're uncomfortable travelling alone. Who knows, on that trip you might see Bhadra again." Ajay told her before he departed.
"Bads! Can you take these cuffs off me now?"
Ajay laughed at his naivety.
"Who ever said I'd be letting you go, there's one more person who's been dying to meet you back home. Ricardo, tape him and send him to the Army G2."
Ajay walked ahead to get a headstart as his bike that Pagan loaned him was parked all the way over the ridge.
"What?! Bads wait! WAIT! BADALAA-muuughh!"
While Ricardo and the other two escorted their new captive via helicopter from the returning 5th Dragoons. Ajay took the scenic ride back to the Royal Palace to get some answers, it gave him time to clear his head and think about the possibilities regarding the reappearance of Mohan who was assumed dead by the country.
There was an undeniable sensation that triggered him to match his vision of the Ghale Homestead with current events. He couldn't shake the feeling because to him there was no such thing as the unreal in Kyrat. His revival, and way before that the Yetis were signs that the world wasn't always what it seemed. Did his father really get "resurrected" or was it simply a con done to roust the Golden Path out of despair?
He arrived at his destination without the answer in his heart, making him all the more eager to ask Pagan or perhaps Yuma about it.
Seeing him from a distance, none of the Palace Guards made no attempt to stop him from entering.
Ajay finally arrived at Pagan's lavished study to find the entire War council there with Arjun and-.
"Ah! My boy! Perfect timing, let's-." Ajay closely stared at Pagan and said…
"Where's Pagan?" The war council and Pagan were shocked by what Ajay's question when he asked the very person where was he.
"This is one of those games of yours isn't-."
"Stop wasting my fucking time, Eric! Where is he?" Ajay spoke frowning.
Eric's eyes widened as did that of the war council who thought they were discussing with the King. Except for Arjun who knew who it really was.
Eric sighed and surrendered.
"He's in the dining balcony with Yuma."
Ajay nodded and went that direction, leaving the war council in shock.
"Mate, how the hell'd you figure that out?" Eric asked before he left.
"You're too perfect to be Pagan. Your mannerisms look like a routine, Pagan never stays the same every time, just like his mood." Hearing his errors from Ajay, Eric could help but shudder the fact he looked so closely at his mannerisms and behaviour.
Ajay proceeded on his way.
"Shall we continue?" Eric mimicked Pagan once more, and they had trouble whether to obey a double's orders. Thankfully, Arjun was there to mediate Pagan's will through Eric the Melbournite. Arjun caught a last glimpse of Ajay walking off, he saw a troubled expression on the youth's face which he thought he was seeing things considering how unfathomable Ajay usually was.
-So even he has troubles sometimes.- Arjun couldn't help but smile wryly for his previously narrow thoughts.
Ajay reached the door to the dining balcony and knocked.
The door crepted open with Yuma standing by it. Her face was equally troubled.
"Come in." She urged him.
Ajay entered and spotted Pagan gulping down a glass of his favourite Domaine wine without a meal to go with it. Pagan became aware of Ajay's presence and waved him over.
"I was expecting you to come sooner or later. But to be honest, I'm just as surprised as you are…. Ha!" He sighed emotionally and gulped down on the glass once more.
Ajay sat next to him at the couch. Yuma was content with standing by Pagan's side as she rested her hands upon his shoulders.
"Paul said Agent Huntley was in the same trail of thought."
"Humph! So the CIA isn't too far from it as well."
"Pagan."
"You want to know whether your damn father was kept In a dungeon like he said, isn't it?" Ajay raised an eyebrow.
-So that's why Pagan was all sullen.-
Pagan was concerned about Ajay falling unde r the assumption his father was imprisoned all this time and would feel betrayed.
"I don't give a fuck if you kept him in a box or what not! What I want to know is if you saw his corpse in the Ghale Homestead."
Pagan was astounded by Ajay's behaviour and was left speechless for a while, then he laughed at himself. He'd thought wrongly about Ajay's thoughts concerning his father.
"….. Yes. Yes I did, to be honest I looked into his deadeyes for a while before attending to our little girl, and thought. This was Karma."
"Don't be ridiculous, Karma decided my sister to have her wrist slit by him?!" Pagan chuckled at Ajay getting worked up on his behalf, but treasured ever thought of kindness he spared him.
"And you?" Ajay changed his subject of inquisition to Yuma.
"Seeing Mohan's corpse was the last thing I wanted to do back then!" She told him straight.
"….."
"You seem to give this considerable thought. Ajay."
"When you heard that broadcast, did it sound like him?"
Ajay looked at their faces, it said it all to him. The disbelief that Mohan was alive, it wasn't possible. It really was him.
"Does this bring you any closer to finding out whether he's a fake or the one that Ishwari killed was a mere double of his?" Pagan's conclusion was rather believable. With someone as important as Mohan he could very well be a double intended to serve as a decoy but then the original got killed by his mother and he thought to take the initiative. But if that were the case then why now, he could have appeared immediately after his death to keep the Golden Path from toppling from grace.
"Mohan isn't the one that worries me, it's the ones that stand behind him that haven't shown themselves yet." Pagan was once again astounded by Ajay's intellect and forward thinking he chuckled in his own foolish thoughts, he was being left in the dust by Ishwari's brilliant child.
"(Sigh) This is as outlandish as there're Yetis in the Himalayas!" Ajay rubbed his head. At this declaration, both Pagan and Yuma laughed heartily. It was as he said, outlandish.
Ajay joined in the laughter, it was the last time they got to enjoy such a laugh.
"There's also one other thing I meant to ask."
"What is it, Ajay? You've lifted our mood quite a bit so I'll be mighty generous in informing you."
"I'll apologize beforehand for breaking the mood. What are the Eight devas that were locked in Rajgad Gulag?" Pagan's eyebrows frowned and followed with a sigh.
"They're your father's posse! Humph! Bastards every one of them! In fact, they were the one's doing all the work, Mohan just sat back and looked pretty. But their strength and cunning….. is not to be trifled with."
Hearing this from Pagan of all people that they were dangerous meant something rather serious, he had to gather as much on these Eight Devas to avoid them or counter their moves.
"Who were they?"
"Who were they? A bunch of traitors that's what, when yours truly took the Kyrati throne these Royal Guard officers rebelled and ran away with Mohan into the mountains. I sent the mercenaries to chase them and guess what…. They fucking joined them! And that was how the Golden Path came about, nothing golden about it…" Pagan begun mumbling to himself discontently, so Ajay turned to ask Yuma instead. But Yuma started to fill him in before he even asked, writing down their names upon a piece of paper on the coffee table.
"Major Vasu Sen, Captain Sanjeev Singh, Sergeant Major Bhishma Arya, 1st Lieutenant Jaswant Rajput (KIA), Major Paresh Kadayat (KIA), Major Vijaya Acharya (Disavowed), Dr Ved Sawal (MIA), Swara Lamsal (MIA)."
In that short list, there were already many things he wanted to ask her, luckily Yuma read his mind.
"Paresh Kadayat, right?" Ajay nodded, why was Maya and Bipin's father amongst the Devas? Wasn't he a patriot amongst the loyalists alongside Arjun and Raghu?
"Paresh was my double-agent in the Golden Paths ranks, he told Yuma and I where all the goodies were hidden amongst the Golden Path caches." So that explains that.
"Ok? So what about the last two, are they civs?"
"Oh, Ajay. The Devas aren't just the Golden Paths military might but every single affair. Education, hierarchal structure, logistic and human resources, psychological analysis and medical aspects were among the other things they could do. If they won, you'd be sure they'd be the ministers of the country." Yuma told him.
It was as Yuma said, they were more than just a military force but the very artery of the Golden Path.
"The ones that were imprisoned were three of the first mentioned Devas and Bhaskar, their archive and scribe."
"No longer it seems." Pagan chuckled not at all troubled by the tension of their freedom.
"What about the two MIA and KIA…. And that one that says "Disavowed"?"
"When Mohan died the two of them became mountain hermits somewhere, I dunno. I've never been able to track them like the rest. Jaswant Rajput was slain by Darshan Khati…."
Ajay caught mention of Darshan's name.
-I knew it!-
"… In fact, the four were incarcerated by him alone." Yuma completed her sentence as if she was recalling something.
"WHAT?!" He knew Darshan was unfathomable, but to the point that he captured four and killed one. Were the Devas that weak or was Darshan that strong?
"Darshan was meant to watch over you, are you that surprised?" She said with a smirk.
"I knew he was there for something but couldn't gauge his strength, also did you just say his surname was Khati, as in Bibek Khati?" Yuma cocked her head in surprise with Ajay's intel, just how well informed was he she wondered.
"Oh? I didn't think you knew about the legendary General Khati."
"General? That old guy?!" All he saw was an old caretaker of the orphanage.
"Looks can be deceiving sometimes, Ajay." Yuma covered her mouth to giggle at the expressions of surprise Ajay was showing at every unfolding of information to her, much to her content.
-Holy shit!-
Just how much history was dug into by these fellas?
Ajay looked down at the list and he noticed he missed one more. From the looks of it, it was that one person named Major Vijaya Acharya.
"What's with this one, disavowed?"
"It means exactly what it means, Vijaya Acharya is disavowed from service on both quarters." The one that answered for him was Gary, much to Ajay's surprise. Pagan exchanged a look with Gary and him to Pagan.
"Gary."
"Your highness." They acknowledged each other.
"Ok?"
"You need not worry about that one, Ajay. He's as harmless as a fly to us right now. He's actually on our side now!"
A turncoat, is that what Pagan was saying?
"Could I meet with him? I'd like to learn more about these people, their strengths, their weaknesses."
Pagan and Yuma chuckled slightly which made Ajay a bit agitated that they were leaving him in the gray.
"You don't need to look far." Pagan told him and motioned to Gary.
"You've looking right at him." Said Gary.
Ajay returned to the study after having a short chat with Pagan and Yuma…. And former Deva Vijaya now called Gary. Because Pagan didn't like his Kyrati name very much and made him adopt the alias of Gary. He never knew Gary was that important before, but he knew that one had to be a saint in order to keep up with Pagan's personality and outrageous demands. How the hell did a Deva end up becoming Pagan's personal butler/assistant? Ajay wasn't even gonna question it anymore. He left because, the more they told him, the more his headache kept acting up. There was an entire saga behind them each he didn't have the stomach to hear all of them. But he knew he'd have to ask sooner or later or he'd regret it, so he told Gary he'd come back to ask him and the latter smiled.
But overall from their end, in regards to his father. It was something not possible, they even knew where Mohan was buried in Utkarsh. The eerie feeling crept back into him, did his father come back through occult means? He lacked evidence to prove that the occult really existed in Kyrat. The Yetis could very well be just an unknown mutation and not a magical beast like everybody thought, it could still be killed after all.
That sort of thing made him wonder about the substance in his blood, would he mutate into that abomination over time? Such thoughts scared him as it did back then when he destroyed the relic.
Arjun welcomed him into the conversation, he was sorely needed in their problems. Eric had disappeared off somewhere, perhaps to practice on his "Paganism". The news was taking a toll for the worst it seemed.
A two-month long annual blizzard was about to fall upon them.
Arjun was suspending the air activity three days from now, so they were making the best of it making immediate supply drops. The S-program was also suspended, Ajay clenched his teeth at the direness.
"Two months….. the Golden Path will be more than ready for any offensive." Lamented one of the commanders.
"But so will we." Ajay responded.
"Your grace, do you have a plan?" The officers looked to him with eager expressions.
"We can't stop the Golden Path from attacking, it's especially difficult now because of Mohan's speech. There's definitely going to be rebel sympathy amongst the population and refugees that would likey aid them in supplies and intelligence." Ajay was painting a very grim picture for them.
"It's completely transitioned into true Asymmetric warfare. But it's made things easier for us, it's become so textbook we only need to follow the proper counter actions." His words gave them assurance.
"Like what?"
"I can't believe the words coming out of your mouth, you're a Commander of the Royal Army!" Arjun scolded that remark given.
"Don't be too hard on them, Arjun. This is a different type of warfare we've engaged in, we know the theory but haven't practiced it before."
"Humph!" Still upset with his officers for showing such unbecoming behaviour in front of him.
"The problem still stands, how do we prepare for a major attack with the grace of two months we've been given."
The officers were deep in pondering, although Ajay helped straighten out their line of action, they still didn't have a proposal to counter the Golden Path offensive.
"Ah!" Arjun made a sudden epiphany and rushed out of the study, leaving Ajay with the War Council.
"Did he forget to turn off the stove or something?" The officers cracked out laughting at Ajay's joke.
"Alright lads, settle down. The Marshal's definitely stumbled upon something, in the meantime we need to solve the logistical issues that the troops and Tigers will face."
"Your grace, will be continue to supply the Tigers? I don't mean to be offensive or anything, its just that given the strains in transportation capabilities supporting them will leave areas unchecked."
"….."
He did have a point.
It was like supporting a second army, like the Old Royal Guard formation alongside the Army. Though they didn't pay the Tigers and Amita wages.
"Right now, the Royal Army will be expected to have zero credibility with the civilians in the coming days. But it doesn't mean we shy away from our duty. Having the Tigers on our side to act on our behalf is the best of both worlds, they keep the Northern parts of Pacchim valley free from the Golden Path and they take a pool of citizens that could have joined the Golden Path into their ranks."
"I see, you've thought that far, your grace."
"Relax, commander. While we may be preparing for an offensive on the Golden Paths end. They'll simply be building up their forces and gathering intelligence. Winter and snow will mire them as much as it slows us down."
"…"
"I couldn't ask for a more perfect climate now. We'll bring the snow guards down."
The war council realized that the storm was becoming less and less of a set back and more of a god given grace of two months to ready themselves for the future more powerful Golden Path. Mohan's leadership was already cemented into the Golden Path, there was nothing they could have done about that.
"I've got it!" Arjun came back huffing and puffing as he held up a rolled-up schematic.
"No…."
"You can't mean-."
"Didn't you and his Royal highness shelve that proposal?"
"Someone please indulge me." Ajay reminded them he was the only one who wasn't aware of what that thing was.
Arjun hurried over to the table and laid out the plans onto the table.
"You might not know this, Badala. But my daughter was a graduate in Sandhurst, 1st degree honours."
"Seriously?" Ajay knew what it was. Sandhurst Military College, Britian's premier officer training school. It wasn't limited to British officers exclusively, some of UKs allies top students went there. So apparently, that's where Saraswati got her edge over the rest of the officers here. Her accent was also a bit more refine than the rest, might have had to do with the etiquette training she received.
-Wow….. Sandhurst Grad. What else was she, a glamour model?-
He was starting to see why Saras was known widely within the Army as its main role model officer. And that was even before he'd stepped foot in Kyrat. It also reminded him how irritated he was when someone kept something from him only to release the bomb at the very last minute. Mohan, the Devas and Gary were some examples of that.
Arjun nodded with a slight smile caught at the end of his mouth. He was thoroughly proud of her that was certain.
Ajay began to study the schematics Arjun laided out and figured it out before Arjun finished his sentence.
"A fortress?"
"Not like Baghadur, Varshakot, Rajgad Gulag or Ratu Gadhi for that matter. But a super fortress, one single citadel that overwatches the entirety of Pacchim Valley and guards the Uttar region from attacks foreign or domestic. When operational, the Royal Fortress will be pale in comparison."
The fortress had an intricate layout. Comprising of five pointed ends that resembled a star fort from the civil war days in the US. But each was the size of an existing stronghold. The idea behind it was, if one side was attacked, the other sides could take it back with general ease making the fortress unassailable. It was also self-sustaining which made it a catching point.
"When did she find the time to draft this?" Arjun began to scratch his chin embarrassed.
"I-….um….. placed her in the brig for about a month one time."
"Oh? What could Saras possibly do to get thrown into a cell for?"
"She….. she assaulted Sugun."
Ajay chuckled.
"It's rarely that simple isn't it, Arjun?"
"No….(Sigh) She did it because that little bastard sexually harassed a minor."
"Wow!... That pig really went for anything that has two breasts and a pretty face."
""Pfft!"" Some of the officers couldn't control their giggling.
"So why wasn't it placed into action?"
"Partly political, the little brat was trying to block me daughter. Not that I cared about the project at the time anyway. The reasons for it wasn't approved mostly had to do with the cost to build it. The Army wasn't in the budget to pay for its construction or upkeep. The Royal Guards certainly weren't lending any funding. We also lacked a desperate enough reason to justify that sort of spending to his royal highness."
It was just as Arjun said, it was costly to build and costly to maintain. But there was another aspect to it. Its intended strategic location and construction made it such that he who controlled the fortress would reign over Pacchim Valley and to a small extent all of Kyrat. Just went to show how impressive it's design and function was.
"I'll bring this forward to His Royal Highness later. I'll have each regiment lend their sappers to help in construction. Is that alright?" Ajay took the initiative.
"""Yes, your grace!"""
So now they had a plan to repel and apply pressure on the Golden Path in the coming months. Ajay's eyes scanned through the schematics until his eyes caught sight of the project name of this wonder of military genius.
Written in the top left hand next to the project titled "Bastion" was the name Saras had handwritten beside it. What she wanted the super fortress to be named.
Its name was…. Lanka.
They'd successfully reached Pacchim Valley from their unhindered escape from Rajgad Gulag. The Field commander made camp near Chal Jama Monastery for the night to await Mohan's return from his rather successful broadcast. It was the first win in a long time for the Golden Path and to see the Royal Army in anarchy was an assuring sight.
Vasu and the others took the time to pray within the monastery for good luck and omen for the battles to come and the safety of his men. They had attracted quite a crowd who came after hearing the rumors that the Devas had returned. Vasu focused on his prayers without much care to the external noises. He relocated to the small room Raju provided him to be isolated from the rest, seeing the young man become a man in his prime made Vasu feel out of place.
"Years go by, yet this place remains unchanged…." Vasu turned his head to the familiar voice and got up to his two feet.
"I don't believe it!"
"Hello again, brother." Mohan went over to embrace him, Vasu did nothing to stop him.
"You-…. haven't aged a day." Something went off in Vasu's conscience that was telling him that something was truly wrong.
"No. No I haven't, a curse perhaps… or maybe a blessing. It depends on how the user sees it. Mine would be the latter."
"What happened that day?"
"Ishwari had a bastard child with Pagan! Confused and betrayed I confronted her, I got physical and she gunned me down." Mohan told him the truth of that day in a sharp and cold tone.
"Then how-." Mohan chuckled.
"Yes. How is the exact question that should be asked."
Vasu waited for him to speak, Mohan seemed to reminisce something back in the day. Vasu was all the more shocked by the news. Ishwari had an affair with Pagan?! Yet she even killed her husband, what the hell is going on? He couldn't understand, Ishwari deeply loved Mohan and they went through ordeal after ordeal. Was it perhaps because he sent her to the Palace to spy on Pagan that time. He could recall her face, so shocked by Mohan's order she didn't even refute him. He remembered Paresh and him fighting on her behalf because it was too harsh but his word was absolute. He even sent his boy Ajay with her to act as her cover of a single mother. Was that it? She was shrewd enough to wave off any advance from Pagan that was for certain. Vasu didn't understand the complexities of a woman's heart well enough to know the answer. Swara even told him so before.
"Let's just say that I have a benefactor that saved me from certain death and I'm eager to repay that debt as soon as possible. I can't repay it as I am now, but with the power of the country it would be a different story."
"And who is this…. Benefactor of yours, Mohan?" Vasu became suspicious with a rather shady character that was involved.
Mohan laughed and patted him on the back.
"I really do hope I get to introduce you to her when I get the chance."
"Her?"
"But now is not the time, we have to take the opportunity now to build up our strength to assault the Royal Fortress again. It is the winter season and a storm will approach cutting the Royal army from us, that is the window we need to fully reconsolidate our strength."
"Brother….."
Vasu smiled wryly, it was as he remembered him. Mohan hadn't changed one bit.
They left the monastery and headed back towards banapur in high vibes…
Until they saw the smoke.
"Wait here! We'll recce first, Mohan brother?"
"Alright. We'll do as you say."
"Please watch over that boy for me, I owe him a debt."
Vasu pointed to the still unconscious Jason that lay against the rocks.
"I'll treat him as if he were you, how about that?"
"I'm already starting to get jealous!" Vasu joked.
He took point after leaving Mohan and Jason behind. With him were, Bhishma and Sanjeev who refused to stay even in his condition and some other warriors.
They walked up the road that the more familiar fighter guided them through and stood before the horror in front of the main entrance.
Vasu returned to where Mohan was.
"Is it safe?" Mohan asked.
"You have to see this." Was all Vasu said before returning back to where the others expeditionary group were unaware of what Vasu was going on about but followed him accompanied by their leader, Mohan.
When they arrived home, their arms dropped to the side and the rifles fell out of them. It was not just the burning town of Banapur that struck them dumbfounded.
But the tree by the entrance…..
Was filled with hanging bodies.
Bloodied and bearing the crest of the crossguard kukris to show they were Golden Path.
The civilians who were still alive were wailing besides the bodies they dare not cut down.
"What the hell is this?!"
Mohan walked up to the tree of hanging corpses and noticed a sign board placed near it.
"We, the Golden Path died in agony for the shamelessness of breaking the New Year Truce. We long for our brothers and sisters to follow us in kind." Mohan read the sign calmly.
A cold shiver went down the expeditionary forces backs, yet they barely moved from the spot as they stared at the tree with desolation and despair.
Vasu marched up to the civilian praying to the corpses nearby and grappled him by the collar.
"WHO DID THIS?! ANSWER ME!" He shouted with fury.
But person looked at him with fear in his eyes, eager to get away.
Mohan came over and placed his hand on the man's shoulder.
"It's alright, brother. You're in safe hands now." The man broke into weeping tears and leaned on Mohan. Obviously traumatized by the scene that unfolded here.
"It was the damnable Royal Army, brother Mohan." Said a composed Sabal, coming down the steps.
"And where the fuck were you when this happened?! Coward!" One of the fighters called out furious.
Sabal's eyebrows twitched but he maintained his cool.
"Brother Mohan tasked me to ensure the safety and wellbeing of his lady benefactor. That was my primary concern, if you're uncontent then bring it up with him then!"
"You!-…."
"Enough, Sabal. There's no use fighting over nothing. Help them cut down the bodies and give them the burial they deserve."
"Yes, brother!"
"Understood!" Though reluctant to do so with Sabal the rest of the fighters obliged with Mohan's orders.
But at this time, the villagers gathered around Mohan pleading.
"You must not remove the bodies or the demon will return to exact terrible vengeance upon more of our sons and daughters!" They begged on their knees.
"I swear to you, this Northern Demon will pay for all that he's done! On my life!" Mohan took up a knife and slit his palm to let the blood trickle to the floor.
"You have my oath as well!" Voiced out Vasu who took out his kukri and slit his palm to let the blood flow to the earth.
"And mine!"
"And mine!"
"Ours too!"
One by one, the fighters showed great camaraderie in swearing the oath to bring Badala to justice just as their leader had done.
"Now, we will give your sons and daughters full honours and lay them to rest." Mohan left them crying in gratitude. Vasu followed him by his side.
"You want to meet my benefactor, no?"
"Can… she possibly change the outcome of this?" Vasu felt that this benefactor of his was powerful, if she could save Mohan from certain death she definitely had some power or backing that was terrifying. Mohan showed a modicum of respect for her which Vasu rarely saw for anyone, which meant she was really incredible.
"That oath you made, is it genuine?"
"How could you even say that?! I Vasu don't just make claims and don't follow through with them! This demon Badala… He must be stopped! He needs to die!" Vasu clenched his hand till the blood began to ooze out from his yet to seal wound.
"Good." Was all he said as Mohan brought him to a small brick house that was designated to himself, it was out of the town behind the woods so it was likely missed by the Royal Army. They entered and immediately Vasu felt they weren't alone in the house.
A figure cloaked in a soft velvet gab sat in lotus position motionless. Vasu almost mistook it for a goddess statue because that person was dead still.
"Are you positive you want her assistance?" Mohan asked again.
"What does she have to offer?" Vasu asked curious to how this benefactor of Mohan's could assist them.
"Power." The voice came as a shock to Vasu who stood with his wits about him. The voice was so ethereal it had an almost non-human touch to it. As if a celestial had descended to the earth to give them guidance in their destinies. The figure stood up with equal grace and walked towards Vasu.
"The strength of a thousand men, the guile to outwit a fox, the fortitude to endure the most punishing of afflictions…."
"….. What price does this sort of power come with?" Vasu asked with convictions.
"What any price for unparrellel strength comes with… sacrifice and loyalty."
"To you?" The cloaked figure held up a hand to her covered face as she covered her chuckling. That sounded so sweet to the ear, it made him feel inadequate before this woman. He turned to Mohan for answers, but the latter just smiled.
-What exactly did you dabble in, brother?-
"And what if I say I refuse?"
The woman said nothing, instead she raised her hand out before him. That hand was so pale and unblemished it was as if it were a beautiful porcelain hand, wrapped in satin embroided garments.
All of a sudden, his felt his body freeze stiff and couldn't move from where he was.
His body knelt before the woman without giving it that command.
It was then that an emerald light shone from that woman's delicate hand as she placed it upon Vasu's forehead.
Then, the pain began. He screamed to the top of his lungs, a pain like no other stretched itself throughout his body. His hand began to felt a hot iron brand upon where his Deva tattoo was inked onto the back of his hand.
"You came this far only to back out. Why not let fate carry you to your final destination? As did those that achieved Nirvana had done, oh so long ago…"
"Who-….Who are you?!" He managed to say before wrestling the pain once more.
"I am now your benefactor for the trials ahead. My name…. you need not concern yourself. But if I were to call upon you, Vasu Sen and you were to heed my call…."
"You will call me…. Master."
Author's Notes:
If you're wondering what was that song in De Pleur's phone for Ashley's number, it was
Teen Party by William South & Georgia South & Ric Featherstone.
