Author's Notes:
Summer classes for me tomorrow. No guarantee I'll be churning out chapter after chapter in a week. At least one or two per week like normal. I won't be covering Yogi or Reggie yet. That can be covered in a few lines less than a section in a chapter.
The narrow corridors resounded the music Killer Queen by Queen playing from a recording with the occasional screams of electrocution. It was the new Chief Interrogators favorite piece when getting to work. Unlike De Pleur, he tortures the victims in less physical ways and more to do with breaking down their psychological barriers. The music was one of these ways.
(ZZZZZZ) "AAAARRHHHH!"
But then again, there was still need to use a tinge of persuasion now and again. The Chief Interrogator was in fact exchanging notes with his predecessor who was tied to a bedframe hooked to a power source. Although his exchange was merely one sided where he was the only one giving Paul pain and suffering.
"This can continue to be painful, Paul. But it doesn't need to be that way for long."
"Put! Fuck you!" He spat in the Interrogator's direction.
They happened to be in the most ironic place for torturing him, De Pleur's former compound. The one he left after defecting. At its basement was a perfectly orderly torture room to conduct business, there was even an observatory with tinted glass to observe the torture.
A door opened in the far end of the room and whistling begun in the tune of the Star-spangled banner as a silhouette neared them from the darkness of the surroundings.
"The irony, Paul. Some many victims sat where you sat and now its your turn."
"Bads? Alright! I give up, I'll tell you everything I know!"
A finger reached out from darkness and placed upon his lips.
"Shhhhh… whether you have intel I want or not no longer matters. Today is a very special day. Cause I'm serving up a soufflé for a recently widowed mother of two."
"What-…..ahahhahah! Noore?! Is that who's behind the glass? That's right, I played with your husband and kids till they died inside and out! The loyal husband cursed the day he married that bitch that landed him in this mess. The two kids what were their names again I don't remember-…..begged for their mommy! Screaming like little girls as I plied off their toes and fingers… one… by…one!" Paul laughed maniacally with every spiteful word to hurt Noore behind the one-sided glass.
The hand that placed itself on his mouth previously pressed him against the upright bed frame with incredible force.
"Tit for tat they say, or what these parts call Karma. What you did to Noore's family I'll do upon you thricefold, she need not even bloody her hands to see you get your just desserts, Paul." The voice of Badala said ever so calmly like he was hardly infuriated by Paul's taunt and it made Paul nervous.
"Remember Paul, you're only one of the culprits of her families murder."
Cold chill ran down Paul's spine and he turned pale white as he recalled Badala telling him that when they caught him.
"No-."
"Yes." The voice replied.
"NoNoNoNo! She's just a child, you monster!"
"So were the young Najjar boys, but then. That didn't stop you either, did it Paul."
"No….." He refused to believe this was happening to him.
"I wonder how Ashley sounds screaming for her daddy, how long would it last for. For such a sweet girl I think she'd lose the strength to scream after a few days. Then I'll tell her why she's here."
"Huh!" Paul shivered.
"I'll show her what Daddy Harmon does for a living, every photo, every video. And let her see the face full of ecstacy as he sticks a needle into a victim's eye or pulls out his nail. I'll even tell her mommy shared the same fate as those people."
"NO! STOP! STOP! Godfuckingdamnit stop!" Paul cries like a coward and pussy, it even surprises the Chief Interrogator who worked on Paul for over a month in and out tortures. His body might crumble but his spirit held. Until now.
"I'll whisper into her ear sweet nothings, "It doesn't always have to be about suffering you know?" And I'd place a gun on the dashboard in front of her."
"Whu-…What?"
"Every time you pull this trigger and take someone's life of my chosing, a little bit of the pain you receive everyday lessens. I'll tell her."
"No-." Paul's face dropped further into despair.
"I'll turn Ashley Harmon into my perfect killing machine. My puppet to do my bidding! Tell me! How does that sound, Paul?!" A grin leaked from the shadows.
"NOOOOOOO!" He cries again into a wet mess, shaking the bed frame he's tied to with the cable ties cutting into his wrists where he was tied.
"Everything you've done, not just to Noore's family but everyone else has led up to this point, Paul Harmon. You've sown your own Karma. From the very beginning, and it all crumbled down when you met with me." Ajay came into the light revealing a sinister grin. Life vanished from Paul's body as he recognised the boy that Pagan brought back with him.
"Wha-…. You? You?! Why?! Why?! Why?! How could it be you?!" Paul shook around in his bindings.
"It was right in front of you all the while but you were too dumb to see it."
"You-…you were right in my grasps then!"
"I was, and you wasted that opportunity on nothing. Well, it's not like I couldn't have broken out at any time it's just that I wanted to see what else you'd show me. I was this close to meeting Willis again. But then, you let fear get to you and tried to shove me to poor Noore." Ajay laughed disdainfully at the despairing creature called Paul.
No words could form in his mouth at the time when Ajay revealed this to him. And then he said it..
"But I'm gonna give you that chance, one last time."
Paul looked up in disbelieve as did Noore who stood up from her seat in the observatory room, her heart pounding. Ajay turned to the Chief Interrogator.
"Cut his restrains and leave."
The Interrogator was too shocked to believe what Ajay just told him but followed it willingly, whatever he was planning he was assured with strength. The interrogator cut off the restrains and left the room and locked it quickly when he exited.
Paul fell to the ground left stunned at what happened, and gazed at Ajay for a few seconds not knowing what to do.
"Now…. convince me." Ajay enticed him to come at him. Paul struggled to his feet and grabbed the scalpel from the table. "Yearghhh!" He charged at Ajay with red in his eyes.
Ajay casually dodged it as he swished his blade in Ajay's direction to cut and injure him.
"Come on, Paul. You'll have to try harder than that if you want your daughter to be safe and sound." He said laughing in a playful manner.
"Monster! You fucking monster!" He fumbled to pick a more definitive blade from the work table. A combat knife entered his grasp. Something he was more familiar with. Ajay took out his kukri for the sport of it.
They circled around each other.
In Paul's thoughts,
-I need to kill him! He needs to die! For Ashley's sake! He-…. HE NEEDS TO DIE!-
"Rargh!" Paul roared as he swung his knife at Ajay. Consequences with Pagan slipped his mind entirely, Ajay was the most dangerous person to Ashley's safety. He needed to go.
Paul thrusted and slashed with maddened vigour which Ajay calmly parried. The more Ajay smiled the more insane Paul became as he sensed he wasn't changing anything. Until he begun to laugh maniacally as if he lost a few screws in his head. Murmuring to an absent Ashley that daddy was coming for her soon.
From behind the glass, Noore and the Chief Interrogator watched as Ajay broke him mind and soul from a human into a rabid animal. The Chief Interrogator cringed at the sight, despite bearing witness to many atrocities during his time, the Duke of Lakshman was a scary monster that toyed with one's mind.
But to Noore, it was clear what Ajay was doing. He was exacting revenge on Paul on her behalf.
Ajay induced despair onto Paul through his daughter, Paul's only hope in life. And he made it such he would crush it, deform it and twist its nature then have him look at what he had done to her. It didn't matter if Ajay meant it or not, Paul whole heartedly believed it and it was a torture to him that no physical affliction the Chief Interrogator could outmatch. No wound was greater than that of the heart.
She wondered if she was a cruel woman, to yearn to see Paul's face of despair and fall into a depressing madness. Ajay was bringing out every bit of Paul to trample upon.
"DIE!" He shouted as he thought Ajay was backed to a corner. A leg came up and struck his hand forcing the knife to clatter to the floor. Ajay swung his kukri pass Paul's side of the abdomen and cut deeply.
He yelped from the pain and the blood rushing and stumbled to pick the fallen knife up. Ajay did nothing to stop it. Then he went at Ajay with as much energy as he could bring out.
Ajay continued to dodge and slash a part of Paul whether lightly or deeply it hurt him terribly. Ajay had coated his knife with a native plant sap that increased a person's sensitivity several times. In the hopes that Paul would feel every bit of pain Ajay was doing to him. Paul wailed in pain and agony but he got up with shaky legs and bloodshot eyes.
To entice him further, he threw the knife away which received the immediate response of a mad dash at him. But Ajay caught the hand holding the knife and twisted and sent a struck to his wrist with the other arms elbow. (Crack)
His wrist had shattered from the enormous force delivered by Ajay. "Eaarggghhh!" But Ajay didn't stop there.
"This little piggy went- (Crack)!" His snapped Paul's fingers one but one, the latter didn't stop screaming. "Ah! AAAHHhh!" Ajay continued by pummelling with brutal strikes from his fists that carried the strength to break his bones, hardened from his upbringing and by the blood he spilt.
In hell and empty on energy to continue fighting Paul fell to the floor with no strength to budge, his exterior was battered into a pitiful state. Ajay reached out and grabbed him by the hairs on his head and wrapped his arm around Pauls neck and begun to choke him.
"You've misplace that chance I gave you. But I'll give up one last chance….. Say my name."
"A-ahjaey…." He struggled behind the lack of air.
"Sorry, I couldn't hear you I don't think Noore could hear you even behind the glass."
"Hee-lp…. Me….." He made the last effort to beg to Noore to convince Ajay to stop.
"That's not what I asked for, Paul. It seems you're not good with opportunities."
Paul gasped desperately for air as he hands and legs wriggled to break free. Scratching Ajay's hands and pushing against his body.
"Ajay, stop." But to his surprise Noore came into the room and actually wanted to spare Paul.
"Why should I? And why should you plead on his behalf?"
"Be- because, no one will take care of his daughter. Also, you shouldn't bear the guilt on my behalf." Ajay made no expression that showed his was convinced any how. He loosened his stranglehold slightly allowing Paul to breath and cough violently. He could see that though Noore was unwilling to forgive him still in her heart but she still possessed compassion for a fellow man. Ajay was relieved to know this was her.
But that was what he himself could never be in this timeline.
"That's the poorest excuse you could give on his behalf, Noore." Paul shivered as it made it clear what might happen next.
"I meant every word I said concerning Ashley, Paul. Send her mother my regards, I'll raise her in your stead." Ajay latched his arms around his head and twisted till there was a life severing- "NooOOOOO!- (CRACK)" Paul's body fell to the ground with a face full of despair and helplessness as the light disappeared from his eyes. His last thoughts were -Ashley, baby…. Forgive me.- But it would never transmit to his daughter.
De Pleur's reign of suffering had ended in his own house.
Ajay remained quiet as he got up, his body filled with his own blood mixed with Paul's as he walked for the exit. All he said was obviously bluff to destroy Paul. Ashley, who was in the temporary care of Elina would never know what became of her father. He had enough for one day. He was sure Noore had too-.
Arms wrapped around him as she embraced him from the back with her face pressed on his back. He could feel it dampening though not from his sweat. Ajay turned around and gave her a hug, her slender hands had never had this much strength as they squeezed him tightly. His hand placed upon her head on his shoulder stroking her to comfort Noore and let her know he was there for her.
She wepted loudly in the small compact room over his shoulder as he didn't move from his spot the entire time she emptied her sadness and pain, kept within her for six long years.
The emotions that were bottled up inside her for so long burst out like a flood. So for the first time in a long while, Noore's emotional barrier crumbled. But it wasn't because of sadness, it was in relief.
The revenge that Noore sought for her family, had finally ended.
The storms had returned to fill the land with snow and violent winds once more. Samar bet the CNS operatives were cursing them right about now. Ajay had destroyed almost all of their subsystems and support equipment. They were going to have a very uncomfortable stay in Kyrat. Just as Arjun intended for the foreign invaders.
Lakshman Arsenal was working at full speed to bring weapons and ammunition to full the armories at the uncomplete Lanka fortress. Chiffon had been hard at work producing new uniforms and ballistic armor for the frontline troops and an exclusive uniform and armor design for the high-profile Unit 58. He brainstormed for months when Ajay turned to him to build an image for the Unit the size of a brigade, something different from the Royal army and guards under Yuma.
The basic colour was red representing the regal colours of King Min and an outline of Black that stood for soldiers under the command of the Northern Demon. And as usual with Mumu's style, form fits function, they were very functional indeed. The webbing for equipment had inserts for ballistic plates so it could be replaced easily and the soldier didn't have to wear body armor and combat harness over it. They were one piece together.
The Arsenal now had a department that produced all of these items under Mumu's supervision. While Samar had another important job to attend to.
Sitting on the work bench in front of him were the items recovered from the battle with the CNS operatives. Rifle, body armor, electronics, and support equipment. These were the things that he was tasked to investigate. Ajay had gone off early that morning, he spotted him with Noore driving off somewhere. It was probably something important and didn't concern him.
"That looks like an XM8." Declared Captain Goh who had come for second opinion regarding the equipment like the rest of his Marines.
"But it's built out of titanium and some other polymers." Perkins held up the rifle that barely weighed anything, almost lighter than a submachine gun.
"If it were just the frame it wouldn't be disturbing." Stew could guess it was more than that.
"It's not. Have a look at this." Samar handed out a bullet he retrieved from the magazine of the gun.
It was weird and didn't look like a normal bullet, it was flat on the end with a sharp needle of hard metal poking out.
"A sabot round?" Perkins was the first to guess what it was.
"Close, an Armored piercing discarding sabot dart." Samar nodded as he pointed to the rifle.
The projectile principle that followed modern tanks. A sub-calibre dart made of highly dense material fired from propellant that was for larger rounds and guided by a sabot that kept it straight as it left the barrel. The amount of lethal penetration against armor was greater than a bullet of the same size. Which explained the severe casualties that day besides the numerical and terrain advantages they had over the ill prepared CNS operatives.
"I tested it against heavy body armor."
"And?"
"It passed through like butter, the person wearing it might as well not wear armor. The effect is worse as the plate causes the projectile to fracture."
"Ouch."
"Exactly."
It wasn't the only weapons the Hussars encountered that led to heavy loss despite armor support. They were reported to also have airburst grenade launchers, some javelin-like ATGMs and automatic shotguns in their possession. Everything they had was dangerous.
"What about the armor?" David asked to change the subject from a grim new discovery.
"Some sort of titanium composite alloy in laminates. These mercs really have money to spend on tech like this!" Samar exclaimed. But the Marines were in the same mind. Not even the US armed forces equipped or spent this much on troopers.
"Electronics is the standard GPS and dead reckoning module, but what's the most curious of all is the thermal imager integrated into the visor on the helmet."
Stew peered through the helmet and pushed down the ballistic goggle visor which activated and displayed the room in thermal imagery.
"Sweet!"
"Not sweet, every operative was wearing one. They'd see you before you saw them." Perkin guessed a scenario.
"But out of all the gizmos that were retrieved this cloak that his grace appropriated from the prisoner is rather intriguing. In fact, there is no other example like it. Though I can't see it with the tools I have there are microscopic lens dotted throughout the fabric capturing the surrounding environment and blending to the appropriate scenery. The best part is it doesn't reflect someone on the other side. It's just been programed that way. From what I see, it's linked to that watch over there that turns it on and off."
A watch looking device sat on the table next to the cloak.
"Wow. An invisibility cloak! What I wouldn't give for that." Fantasized Perkins.
"Badala's strict instruction, Perkins is not to approach five feet from the cloak until he returns."
"Damn it! If he wasn't him I'd kill him for this!" Perkin roared while the rest laughed.
"But it still doesn't play out the technological superiority they have against us." David as every was serious about it.
They're supposed boss was here and Ajay had met and nearly killed him had it not been for the Deva Vasu Sen that escaped a month ago. It boiled down to what should they do. Attempt to assassinate Lynch, but would it free them from the eyes of the CIA and resume their military career? Or help Ajay snatch the documents before Lynch got there. Even if Lynch wasn't alive, it would be embarrassing to have congress get their hands on filthy secrets of the CIA and put them on trial.
Without noticing her entrance, Maya had come in.
"Miss Maya."
"'Sup." She greeted before looking at the cloak that was left unattended and threw it over her shoulders. The marines weren't allowed to say anything, because she had a special status with Badala that they were clear on. She played around with the watch and suddenly her lower body vanished before their eyes.
"Sweet jesus! It's a floating head!" Perkins poked fun at her.
"Oh?" She reached for the rifle on the desk and the magazine.
"Woah… wait- what are you doing?..stop!"
"Now I would like to ask….." She said cocking the rifle after inserting the magazine. "Do you see the shots?"
The marines scattered from her as she pointed the gun at perkins behind the veil of the cloak, Perkins was too surprised to move.
(BAAM)
A round fired from the rifle pass Perkins and struck a target board behind him.
"Well?" She asked expectantly without indication that she did anything wrong. Was she targeting the board all along?
"I didn't see the image of the shot from the back of the cloak, this thing is legit." Stew said.
It appeared that the cloak wasn't a reflection of whatever was around it but a microprocessor innovate a similar landscape to the surrounding like a true chameleon. It almost reminded them of the Predator alien.
Maya turned the radial on the LCD screen watch which deactivated the cloaks mimic function.
"And it even tells time." She waved the watch-like device with a smile. Devilish, the through that crossed everyone's mind. She was easily the fourth person that was not to screw around with in Kyrat.
Now that they more-a-less knew the capabilities of the operatives what was their countermeasures?
For the sabot ammo fired by the CNS operatives, David suggested a layer of diagonal honeycomb sandwich against the armor plates being issued to the Army as standard. The idea was to erode the flechette from the shot before it reached the actual plate. It didn't guarantee the shot wouldn't penetrate but it would reduce the damage done to the individual shot and guarantee his life. They would have to experiment on the different lightweight materials that could achieve this. Titanium was the first option but again they lacked the time to manufacture that many for all the troops. Plus, the CNS operatives only numbered around a hundred or maybe less after that raid. The worry was that they'd start supplying the Golden path with similar weapons and equipment. But that was left to the Royal Army's strategic air defence command or SADEC for short to denied future air intrusions attempting to smuggle shipments by air.
They heard a rumor from communications that the Indian Air Force had forced the planes to land at their airbase and confiscated the C-17s. Under pretext of failure to acknowledge air space and repeatedly refusing the air control's warnings. While Kyrat wasn't yet recognised under UN or US legislation, it was technically made as a part of Indian airspace as per Arjun's mutial border agreement pact with India via Saraswati's hard work engaging with the New Delhi defense officials.
They could guess that the US overseas authority was not one bit pleased about it and would demand their birds and pilots whom were in a state prison back. How New Delhi would handle this was beyond them. Either way, it was out of their hands now.
They played around with the camo cloak a few times until a lightbulb mentally appeared over Maya's head, her gifted intellect would allow her to see it solved.
"Hand me some flares or thermite, a lot of them. Come on, chop chop!" She instructed them and they did as they were told.
They gave her both and in large quantities.
"Perkins, here."
"Wow, really?" He accepted the cloak willingly after receiving her approval.
"Wear it and stand there." She pointed to the range. Then his face turned pale, being reminded of what she did to intimidate him the last time.
"I won't shot you, I promise on my heart."
"Is your heart even there?!" He retorted as a straightman.
"That's not a very nice thing to say to a woman, Perkins. Shall I ask someone else to take your place instead?"
"Nope! All good." He made his way to the place she designated with the cloak over him.
"Now hide." Perkins turned to radial and he disappeared.
All of the men peered through their thermal optics. Like before, Perkins was no where to be seen even on thermal. Maya popped the flares and lit the thermite around the dirt and it produced a heavy concentration of Infrared smoke. Thankfully it was the range and their were ventilators to divert the smoke out but now there was a astounishing discovery.
"Ah! I see him!"
"Yeah, that's Perkins alright. Check out those hips!" David joked to their amusement.
Perkins took of the cloak. "Very funny guys! It was earned through rigourous thrusting exercises."
The men snorted as if he was bluffing them.
"So what did you see?" He asked them.
"We saw the whole place lit up with a decent amount of IR and noticed a dead spot in the place you were."
"The cloak doesn't seem to adjust to abnormal surrounding temperatures so quickly, so in the thermals you'd appear as a null IR area and that's how we'll detect them." Perkins finally understood her strategy, it was smart. But it required a person with incredible intuition of guessing where they roughly were. So all they needed with to manufacture an special IR smoke grenade. A few magnesium compounds blended to the phosphorous mix would do the trick.
With all of these countermeasures in place, the CNS operatives were a smaller problem to the main threat.
"So how's Badala doing, Miss Maya?" Perkins asked the random question as they hadn't heard from him for quite some time though they'd been busy themselves gathering reconnaissance from the Golden Path's newest full size base in the very heart of Tirtha. While it looked like the Golden Path was offering protection to the remaining hundred thousand civilians there. It was actually a human shield in its grand design. They knew the Royal Army wouldn't attack them or risk discrimination from the civilian populace to their already poor standing in Pacchim Valley. The Northern Regions weren't so affected under Yuma and Ajay's supervision and support to develop.
Lakshman now had a population of over three hundred thousand. Ironic as it used to be the barren Valley of Death where only a few villages here and there survived by lending their human resource and iron smith trade. Lakshman was starting to resemble a proper large town no longer a frontier town when it first begun. It was all thanks to Maya, Ajay and the diligence of the townsfolk.
"I don't know. Go find him and ask." She shunned Perkins rather coldly when the subject was brought up. What in the world happened to make her so upset, Perkins and the rest wondered. But as she turned away from them her eyes danced about unsettled and her heart was palpitating uncontrollably.
Recalling that ridiculous bet she made with Ajay. When she came to back in the homestead and retraced the events she covered her face, avoided him the entire morning.
Because she felt like she could die of embarrassment. And why was this so? His bet with her was for her to spend a night with him. Her forehead burned thinking about it. She knew very well that it was Ajay that incredibly lasted so long that she fell on the couch drunk. Yet, she knew that Ajay wouldn't really mean what he said that day in the Hun settlement.
So why was she getting flustered over it?
Something so trivial.
The winds weren't as strong as it was when it arrived but it was still strong enough to blow them off the cliffs had they not taken the specially equipped snow track vehicles back to Lanka. By now the fortress was around forty percent complete. The three main corners of the fortress that were the size of a stronghold each had been completed and entered operational status. They were called bastions by the engineers for ease of reference of the entire fortress.
The inner part of the entire fortress comprised of intricate mazes of pathways and overhead bridges for ease of supporting various parts of the fortress, it also made it difficult to an attack to reach the inner sanctum area where the uncomplete third Arsenal unofficially dubbed Lanka Arsenal. It's main job was to exclusively supply and rearm the garrison forces in Fortress Lanka at any time. A feature that Ajay added into the main plan to make it more sustainable to attacks although it was unnecessary. But it would allow forces that passed by to resupply quicker, especially Amita's Tigers.
Next to the Arsenal in the neighbouring sector were several other facilities such as a hospital for the troops and civilians alike, a central communications building and tower for the antenna, a few barracks that were made to house over two hundred soldiers each. There was even a bazaar for the civilians to sell their wares inside and for civilian workers and soldiers alike to purchase and enjoy their items and food. There were also four villas located in the most protected place on the top of the mountainside added to the design by Pagan's request. One was for him to stay when he visited in comfort. One was designated for Ajay whom he assumed would spend more time in Lanka than back in his humble Homestead and as the Commandant of Lanka. One was surprisingly for Amita whom her Tigers were expected to occupy one of the Bastions as a part of their alliance. It showed to the Tigers how close their ties were with the Royal Army and Crown giving them a sense of pride that their movement was not only recognised by the Northern Demon but by Pagan himself. The last was vacant for whomever was an important guest to stay in. Strangely there was none for Yuma or Noore despite their contributions elsewhere. Though Yuma as the Queen would be staying in the same villa as Pagan. Noore was a major player in Kyrat's revenue so the fact that Pagan didn't ask one for her was strange.
Personally Ajay wasn't against the idea, it did make sense that dignitaries might come in the future. But they were in the midst of a civil war, building these villas was a waste of time that could have been spent to speed up the bastions fortifications. Still, it didn't stop the Royal planners from initiating it over two months ago. Three of the Villas were all ready by the time Pagan came to visit and say hellos and shake hands with the common folk as a part of campaign effort. He suggested another golden statue like that in the Royal fortress here. But the designers pleaded with Ajay to convince him otherwise. Ajay was also inclined to disagree but he tactfully handled it by telling Pagan it could wait till the Civil war was over and the citizens were celebrating their victory, the statue of him could be even larger due to donations and gratitude. 'No' wasn't a word in Pagan's vocabulary.
Ajay's villa was attended to by his own personal butler and attendants that kept the villa in an orderly manner. It replicated the design of the Royal Palace or perhaps the word was inspired by it albeit in a two-floor apartment size. It was just as lavishly furnished with brightly coloured garlands and fabrics that decorated the house.
For once, he was glad it was comfortable to stay in at Lanka. Because he brought Noore back with him to Lanka from Paul's compound which was somewhere between Pacchim Valley and the Uttar region. He would have driven straight home after their business was done but the weather was too strong to go all the way back home in Lakshman.
Noore had slept along the way, tired from all the crying she'd been doing. Ajay brought her to the bedroom and tucked her in. He'd been doing a lot of tucking others away recently, including a heavy and shameless Er Hu. He felt like he wanted to puke when he remembered that scene where Er Hu was having a perverted dream and was acting it out in reality.
The butler and attendants were sent by him back to their quarters as they weren't necessary tonight. So they could return to have a goodnight sleep today. This was the first time that Ajay would actually sleep in the Villa since it's contruction. He'd spent his nights resting in the barracks on a vacant bunk.
He went to the shower area and down poured hot water from a portable heating source in the back of the villa. The warm water washed away the blood from the late Paul and some of his own. The warm water stung some of the areas that had cuts or abrasions, mainly his fists which he used to beat Paul half to death with.
Ajay now had the time to question his emotions at the time he took Paul's life from him.
Nothing.
It wasn't just Paul. But everyone else he shrew. His mentality was such that because he had killed over tens of thousands over in the previous timeline, then what was a few thousand more here. No one had died here yet. But it never crossed Ajay's mind, because the experience of sending Kyrat into anarchy was real. He felt disgusted with his attitude, it was a sign that his humanity was fading away slowly. If anyone he knew passed away again, would he shed a tear?
Ajay had no such luxury as he did in the previous timeline. His very presence was what deterred the Eight Devas. He'd heard from intelligence that Jason Brody had been elected as a Deva despite his background and heritage. The hell was Jason thinking? Or was it no longer Jason Brody and instead that psycho that Daisy and Jason's former girlfriend Liza kept talking about. There were two more being ascended to the title of Deva. But unlike the rest, these two were kept a secret from even the Golden Path communities. For the sake of protecting their identities and making the Royal Army wonder perhaps. Mohan was restoring the strength of the Golden Path to its former power or even more than before.
Vasu Sen's strength was the greatest concern to Ajay. He was an abnormality, but were the others imprisoned with him the same? He had to guess so. Vasu's swings were like a passing freight train, knocking Ajay off his footing every swipe. Luckily he didn't stay long of the result would have been clear. The Devas were genuine monsters.
What his side needed more than ever were individuals that could rival their power. There were hints of such people he'd meet before. Kamala possessed unnatural charisma, Hurk was a godly sniper with the designation 'Mizaru', even younger Jeevan had an unbelievable absorption rate of military knowledge and problem solving. Arjun and him agreed he was to be the Unit Commander of the S-programs Unit 58. Arjun possessed steadfast fortitude as reflected in his age. Saraswati was a genius in defensive builds. Maya like Yuma before her had tactical genius in the midst of battle, as reported by Saras during the Airport offensive against then- Solomon's mercenary cohort.
With time and effort, they could grow to become masters of their own league but the Devas were in the way of that, threatening to snuff them out before their hour came. How long more did he have to wait for them to fight alongside him as equals?
But there was one person that could stand against the Devas presently.
Although, Ajay was not inclined to approach and ask him. How could he convince him, how could Darshan fight alongside him against Mohan and the Devas? His presence gave the impression he was aligned to no one, Yuma was using him just as much has he was using her, a mutual agreement only.
Wait. Gary and Shili both said he had affiliation with old Bibek. As surprised as he was when he met Maya and Bipin's old caretaker to learn that the frail old man that could barely walk without help was a legendary General taught him he couldn't judge by exterior. Could he go to the old General's house and request how to fight like Darshan then? But that would take him off the playing field and he couldn't risk doing that at anytime soon. Where was Darshan anyway? The man was like a phantom. Even Maya had been complaining she couldn't find Bishal anywhere when she came to offer treats to him. With the vagrant-looking man that was actually an officer in Yuma's company and a white tiger that acted more like a house cat in Ajay's presence he wasn't having much hope looking for them to help him.
But even so, he couldn't fight his father on his own.
Ajay walked out of the shower all dry and ready to turn in for the night when he found Noore up sitting by the window looking at the winter wonderland before them.
"I feel lighter than ever. It's so unfamiliar it's disgusting." Noore hugged her body tightly.
Ajay just stood watching the scenery without talking, just listening.
"I now know what you meant by emptiness even after vengeance…."
"…"
"How did you cope with it?"
"I didn't. I spent months at one time, sitting and watching the scenery like you are. Nothing enlightened me, nothing gave me the strength to continue on. The world moves even without us and we hate it for leaving us behind so we retaliate against it and become the monsters."
"Even now, I still don't have the answer. My anger, my rage against Mohan, Sabal and Jason can never be quenched. Even in death I still want them to suffer. That's all I've made out of my life, living by vengeance. That was how Badala first came into existence."
"I….. I don't want to live that kind of life." She protested against Ajay's prospects.
"Good for you."
"No it's not good, Ajay. Then what about you?"
"I don't know. What becomes of Ajay Ghale when the war ends? For a long time, it was a bullet to the head. Pagan would manage somehow with Yuma now so it's no problem."
It was painful to hear Ajay's lack of will to continue living, he had a deathwish as she suspected all along.
"Maybe… Maybe there is a place for us on the other side." Noore tried to sound hopeful.
"Maybe." He responded to assure her otherwise of his own thoughts.
But Ajay knew better. He'd searched long and hard, people had always reminded him that there was something to look forward to when their hard-earned victory came to fruitation. But that was them. He was nowhere to be found in that picture. Ajay still saw the mass murderer of millions that deserved a fate worse than death in him. His guilt ran the entire length of the Kingdom.
He was the demon of Kyrat.
"Why don't you see yourself a part of Kyrat's future, Ajay? Please, indulge in my selfishness just this once." She knelt in from of a seated him and clasped his hands earnestly.
"For so long, I wondered why did you come up and tell me of my families passing? Why did you swear to keep me alive as long as you lived? Why would you go so far for a stranger you barely knew and want to save her from an unsalvageable disaster?"
"For my own selfishness."
"Why?"
"Then let me tell you a story then."
Noore moved over to sit next to him to listen attentively.
"There was once a boy that cursed the world he lived in, the cruel situation brought upon him and his mother by a man who was his father he barely knew but hated nonetheless. The mother died of heartbreak slow and painfully. The boy became maddened with insufferability and blamed everything but himself. He obeyed his mother's last dying wish to bury her with Lakshmana. So he travelled into Kyrat a homeland he barely knew and chanced upon a queer man who declared his familiarity with him but the boy knew nothing of this weird fellow. A king he was, a tyrant at that.
Frightened by his infamiliarity and display of cruelty to the people around him the boy fled and bumped into a group he too knew nothing of. Claiming they knew his father, the leader lent a kind and friendly smile. Something he yearned at the time in such a cruel and unforgiving place.
He witnessed the tyranny against these people that 'rescued' him and wanted to repay them, but he also had a mission. Returning his mother to Lakshmana. Was it a place? And if so, where was it?
He had a mutual agreement with the group. Free them from the shackles of the King and they'll help him find Lakshmana. So he foolishly fought alongside them. It wasn't long before he saw part of their unsightly natures coming into full view. Two warlords fought for reign over the group, at this rate his goal to reach Lakshmana wouldn't happen. So he chose to help the one that rescued him. But strangely enough, when he was busy dismantling everything that belonged to the King. The King took the time to enlighten him about the happening of Kyrat. The true natures of the people thought to be heroes by the public.
There were many people who looked to him for help. A young girl who'd been unjustfully forced onto a religious figurehead mantle. A mother who's husband and children were in the tyrant's henchmen's grasp. A man with the mentality of a lost child.
But all that was on the boys mind was the final result. He didn't care for any of them nor their fate. So he handled them in the worst possible manner.
The girl he looked away as the warlord placed her upon the undesirable mantle of spiritual leader which he would puppet from the shadows. He fulfilled the man's requests but left him wandering the same road he'd done for nearly forty years of his life with no end. The mother…..
Perhaps he hoped that out of his whole journey there was at least one noteworthy thing. So he tried for once to be earnest and attempted to rescue her family and captured the henchman. But learnt that reality was cruel. The family had been long disposed of. Now he had the hard choice of delivering the message to her. He tried but it was as far as it went. So when he revealed to her the fate of her family, she stood at the ledge of Shanath Arena. She would jump down and end her life, he could see it in her eyes. She slit her wrist with his knife and cast it to his feet. A choice to make, right then and there she made it for him. Her eyes looked longingly for him to keep his own on hers, to convince her that there was more to life than pain. But he did the insufferable and turned away retrieving his knife. She knew that there was no salvation here for her and jumped.
If he knew that a little part of him had died that day, he would have done otherwise. But he didn't.
Now there was only one thought in his mind.
Not too long, the final bastion fell. He marched up to the tyrant kings palace and pointed his weapon. The king was not at all upset by his actions or appearance. Revealing onto him why his mother had run off with him so long ago. His mother like the girl, was forced onto a religious role she never wanted. Found kinship in the tyrant who suffered a similar fate as her once. Falling in love despite their differences and her status as a married woman, a child was a product of that love between them, Lakshmana.
Infuriated by her infidelity, her husband the leader of the rebel group killed the baby and in turn was killed by her. Filled with grief and pain she fled Kyrat with the young boy not old enough to know what was going on around him yet.
Lakshmana was a person, his half-sister. And then the King handed him his throne or what was left of it after all he'd done. The King not a king any longer left. But the boy felt deceived, after all this time. He could have told him the truth, he could have spared him the pains and suffering of the journey by telling him then and there.
But how was the King to know his mother had not told him of their past. Fury overtook the boy and he chased the former king and eventually killed him. But in his last breaths the King kept declaring he was not at fault for the way he felt, there was no hate for ending his life. But love, for allowing to look at the boy as his own son.
The boy retreated to his family home, confused and unsure of himself. Spending months sitting and pondering what he should have done to save himself of these feelings of guilt. It was clear as day, he should have paid more attention and care for the things around him, the people that at least gave a damn about him. But now they were no more, and he was alone. Days passed by without change in his lonely life on the slopes of the place he called home for four months.
Until the time of judgement came for him, the warlord had come with an army to take his life. The last person that could threaten his dream of a bastardized Kyrat. Praying fervently to indifferent gods who would never answer their prayers or needs.
The boy lost the will to fight off his allies turned aggressors and eventually fell to the floor riddled with bullets. His last thoughts were nothing but regrets for his decisions and indecisiveness, but there was nothing he could do not, it was too late. He finally admitted to himself he was wrong all along. The last seconds felt like an eternity in purgatory, but perished he did."
Noore naturally retreated backwards as she heard this tale spoken to her by the person in front of her. Fear was what she felt. But a hand reached out and clasped hers preventing her distancing from him. She already made sense of what he told her with what she knew about him and who that boy really was. It was terrifying, it was not possible. And yet it was standing right in front of her.
Her difficulty to move on was nothing. To the life of eternal puratory Ajay had lived.
Holding both her hands with an iron grip and a look of an endless cycle of despair running through his colourless eyes. He revealed the last piece of the puzzled that defined the deepest darkest secret he held for so long.
"That…. was the life of Ajay Ghale."
Author's Notes:
My usual style of editting some grammar in newly released chapters is to post them first and read it online. Then change when i spot them. So bear with them if you read when it just gets posted. Do note that i might spot the grammar later and not correct it. Between reading again and editing or writting in new chapters i would opt for the latter with less time available to write and post now.
