Author's Notes:
Jackal and Jack. Are they one in the same person or different? Who knows. My iteration of the story won't affect this uncanonised theory.
It had been an entire week he spent out in the frozen wilderness, learning the true nature of Kyrat and improving his senses to the surroundings and ingenuity at using the nature to his advantage in combat.
The windows to the villa was slit open from the outside as Ajay squeezed inside. He had returned to Lanka. But he could not unfortunately come by the front entrance, his appearance lacked considerable credibility. Ash white paint and blood red patterns gave the impression he was an unknown mountain savage, adding to the black pelt wolf accompanying him. The first thought they would have was he was a savage and he'd have to prove he was Badala. But he didn't want that.
He'd spent a considerable amount of effort creating a third party that hounded the Golden Path, having it traced back to him was bad for his image.
"The Duke has a sick hobby of dressing savagely and mutilating bodies of innocent victims." It might not look like that at first but opinions and rumours spread like wild fire.
He went to the bath to wash away the week of filth on his body, an incredible sensation passed over him from the warm water. Finishing his shower, he donned some clothing and went to find- (Crack)
"Ahhh! Wolf!" The house servant screamed as she came into the kitchen to find Vajra scavenging in the pantry. (Sigh)
Ajay ran down and went to clear up the mess and just in the nick of time as the butler came over at the quickest speed with a shotgun. Ajay wondered how the butler came into possession of one. They were shocked to see him, as he learnt from them that news was the Duke had disappeared mysteriously without leaving any information to his whereabouts. Ajay immediately cleared up the misunderstanding, it was his fault for not communicating his absence but he had stumbled upon a epiphany and didn't want to lose his way and surged forward.
The female house attendant assisted him in washing down his new companion, Vajra. Surprised as she was to see such a powerful creature act as friendly as a dog, but then it was under the company of a demon duke so it wasn't as unbelievable as it was imaginable. The butler left to report the return of Ajay to the acting-Fortress commandant which was Ajay's appointment that he stepped in to maintain function of the fortress. He would in turn inform High Command that Ajay had went out on reconnaissance to understand the Golden Paths current status behind the storm. At least, this was what he told him to say, telling Arjun that he went on a scenic trip was one way to make the former freak out and complain with his colleagues about the eccentricity of Ajay's behavioural quirks. He could imagine him anxiously biting his fingers when he initially heard he went missing and tearing his hairs of his head when he returned with such a layman explanation.
Vajra shook the wetness after the attendant was done much to her grief as he splashed her, but she laughed instead. At the end of his little Friday the 13th scare on the Golden Path with dead bodies he chanced upon a rather interesting trait on Vajra. As impressive as the black pelt wolf was on its own, it actually had the ability to summon nearby wolves to help it. It gave off the feeling that Ajay had befriended the king of the wolves, but it was as simple as Vajra dominating the local inhabitant wolves with his powerful physique. A body which was larger than most wolves and almost at the proportions of a great dane breed of dog. The wolf wasn't just strong but cunning as well, it knew all the weak points of the other predators and humans were no exception.
He regretted not training Bishal in the same way, now it was as meek as a house cat in his presence. But in the end he had the lightning quick Vajra instead to aid him in giving more options against the Devas. Even if all he was confident in achieving was the delayal of the Devas to command their field elements, at least the Army had a chance to fight the less competent commanders of the Golden Path on fairground. He just had to remember to vaccinate it, the name Mad Devil wasn't just a behavioural trait. Noore came to mind, and that latters insistence to stop associating everything medical with a doctor. But she did know a vet in the vicinity.
When he had redressed for the cold and cleaned up the mess he made, he went to his office to inspect the progress thus far with the acting commandant before leaving for the North.
As he approached the door a flying object came his way. Ajay skilfully dodged as if the person that threw it had the intention for him to move out of the way.
"You bastard! You have the gal leaving everything with me!" The acting Commandant looked at him with scorn.
"I didn't leave it with anyone, you picked up the job its your responsibility." No one asked Maya to stand in, it was the Bastion Commanders duty to step in. By far there were only two, Amita and a Colonel from the army commanding three regiments that garrisoned Lanka.
"Tsk!" She clicked her tongue as she sat in the armchair.
"Thank you."
"…..." She responded with no emotion at all. Ajay was clear what it meant, she was giving him the silent treatment.
"Can I have the reports?"
She reached into the draw and threw a file of the weeks updates in front of him. And was about to turn around to give him the continuation of her hostility when her eyes caught glance of a panting Vajra sitting obediently next to Ajay's leg.
Her eyes glittered for a moment.
Passing a quick glance at Ajay to make sure she wasn't seen in the act by Ajay. Fortunately, he was too absorbed with the happenings in Lanka. Vajra looked at her reach out with a longing to pet it.
"Don't even think about it."
But Ajay was not oblivious to the surrounding.
"Favor." He still had one he owed her, who would have thought she would expend it on something as mundane as scruffling up the fur of anything furry.
"Done." To his sealing of the deal, she walked over unrestraintly to hug the black wolf. She used the Hunter's whistle on it, hoping to shorten the gap in their upcoming friendship. But to her surprise-
(Grrrrrrrrr) What followed was hostility on Vajra's end.
"Oh?" Even Ajay took notice to it.
For Maya, it was not the result she expected. She crouched with a flabbergasted look on her face.
"W-What?..."
(Bark) (Bark) Vajra took things to another level as he switched her status in his eyes from neutral to enemy. Maya, too surprised that the herald whistle failed. It wasn't that she did it wrongly, she'd done it many times on various different animals too. Not just the small ones but on Tigers and Bears too. It was Vajra.
"Heel." Ajay said as he stuck his hand out in front of the wolf and what followed was the obedient sitting of Vajra.
This too was a surprise to Ajay, he had quite high evaluations of the hunter's call. Perhaps it didn't work on freaks like Vajra who were monarchs of their respective animal species in Kyrat. This made some sense as the first thought reminensced back to when Prayan was mauled to death by Bishal's mother the sky tigress. The first thought should have been the hunters and animals were best of friends, but it didn't seem so with the Sky Tiger. Bishal was a different case as it was raised from young by Maya, but its mother was a proud tigress of the Kyrati Kingdom.
"…. Hey, how'd you do that?" She asked.
"I trained it."
"I know, but how?"
"This coming from a hunter, don't you have pride in your signature trait?"
Maya pouted, the level of humiliation was unbearable, but she couldn't refute. If the other hunter cadres heard him say that, they'd throw their bows on the floor and head home.
Ajay sighed and grabbed her hand. "Ah-."
Bringing it over towards Vajra and caressing its pelt on the back. Vajra didn't respond wildly like the last time, then Ajay retrieved his hand leaving Maya's on the fur. Nothing bad happened.
Her mood began to brighten as she gently patted the fur of Vajra the same way she did on Bishal. This time the response was different as the wolf rolled on its belly for her to continue. She giggled and gave in to its demands.
Ajay shook his head and returned to his reports.
"Hey, Ajay…"
"Mmm?"
"Where were you these six days?" She asked petting Vajra generously.
"All I'll tell you is that I haven't been wasting this week."
"…."
She understood this at least, so a silence matured between them.
"How did it come to this?"
Ajay put down the files and looked in her direction baffled.
"One minute your father's rebellion was at the point of its climax, now it's become almost on par with his royal highness and Mistress."
"I don't know." He really didn't.
"And I don't like it, we have no choice in this matter, all we can do is prepare."
She laughed dryly.
"Never a corner or ending for you is there, Ajay."
-No corner? Try getting betrayed by people you thought were your comrades.- he retorted inside his head but never voiced it.
"You have no idea." He said instead.
"Do you really feel no bond to your father?"
"That person, who calls himself Mohan, is not my father."
"I don't think I could ever comprehend you, how you could decide whether someone is family and in a split second later decide he's not. You scare me."
"I do, and you know what? Some times I do too." He said looking upon his hands as if they were smeared with the blood of tens of thousands.
"I'm sorry, I've drifted into something dull." She chuckled awkwardly.
"Don't be."
"I'm tired, what say we return home while we still can." She proposed they return to the homestead to rest up before the skies cleared and foreseeably the longest battle would commence.
"Ok."
"Great. Let's get going then." She sadid rather cheerfully, as if she wanted to return.
"Mmm…."
"W-What?" She could feel Ajay staring at her intensely.
"I never pictured you as such a schemer." He said smirking, she had a bad feeling about his next sentence.
"Schemer?" She was completely perplexed on what Ajay was on about. As he smiled bashfully and said.
"If you were so eager to fulfil your bet and sleep with me, you need only ask!" He said slyly as in all intensive purpose to be a joke.
And in that instance, she turned red with fury and embarrassment. Drawing her kukri. Ajay laughed as he exited the room before she fully drew it, she threw it at him. The knife wizzed passed him and embedded itself on the door.
"BASTARD! I dare you to bring it up again!" It reminded her of how incorrigible he was. Why did Ajay always do this to her even when they seem to have a growing relation? It was because he knew that to drag her into a world as cruel as his, she would never be the same again.
Ajay laughed as he went to requisition a vehicle for their return, Vajra ran to catch up to him. As he expected, like what Saras did with her daily.
Maya was more amusing to just to poke fun with. He smiled with a certain charming brightness.
-I'll treasure these moments with you even if you chose to forget me.-
The mood within the encampment was foul, there wasn't a patrol or group that didn't complain about their situation. They'd been told in their briefing that this place was a failed state, an image of a certain African country they had previous gone to make dealings in uncut diamonds was under their expectations.
Instead on the first day of their landing, they get attacked by a vicious assault that killed off nearly half of their forces despite their technological superiority in weapons and equipment though prototypes were highly reliable. An mechanized force struck them with the intent of destroying them, but it had been concluded by Dominic and Dane that the purpose was to instill fear upon them as well as stranding them in Kyrat making their arrival redundant.
"A frontal assault with gradual pincering attacks to force us into a heads on skirmish. Followed by Smokescreen to blind us from the IR designators that marked the targets for their guided missiles towards a majority of our equipment." Dane gave a review of the events through the Royal Army's point of view, and he wasn't wrong.
"Then there was that crazy bastard that came all the way up here. This assault… was definitely planned by him." Dane nodded to his superior's own assessment
"What are we to do about Mitch?" Dominic clicked his tongue, there was little he could do.
"Fucking spook. Have fireteam Zulu keep our incompetent executive within the compound, from now I'll override every of his Commands. Nobody answers to him." Dominic had the power to assume temporary command in his position, Lynch had stuck them so deep in shit they were about to drown.
"Right."
"What's our current inventory and reserves?"
"Ninety-seven alive and kicking, the rest are dead. Three-quarters of our vehicles including the ICVs are gone, satellite and jamming relays are gone. Quartermaster reports half the supply of rations are gone, we'll have to start eating the local delicacies soon. Ergh! Yak meat. Most of the Javelin missiles and Stingers are gone, but small-arms are good. Bert says we've got 4mm standard Sabot bullets for days."
Dominic didn't answer as he thought about their current situation.
"Sir?"
"I called the old man."
"!" To Dane it was serious enough to go straight to the CEO and tell him the deal they were in.
"Play along with Director Lynch for a while longer and see what secrets he's buried and take it from him."
"….." Failure within the board was the least tolerated. It was the firm belief by the 'old man' that when the subordinate made an error it was the leader's responsibility and not vice versa.
"So now what?"
"The Kyrati rebels' are attacking the government forces, Lynch and the other spook wants us to watch but how long are we gonna stay here? We'll finish this sooner than without us."
"Sir, need I remind you that they sat by and watched while we got pummelled and only helped the last minute?"
"The feeling is mutual, under the same circumstances I would have done the same. Right now, we need to familiarise ourselves with the terrain and get intel, we'll need some friends as well."
"Will do, as for friends…."
"Mmm?"
"I heard an interesting rumor with another fellow from stateside here, one Jason Brody."
"What about him?"
"The files we reviewed with Langley suggests he's a Status L, callsign 'Snow White'."
Being in an organisation that manipulated the CIA from behind with promises of corporate power and bribery, CNS had a wealthy stash of CIA records through a access hub to their mainframe. Being a senior officer in the enforcement sub-division of the Company he was given permission to use or gather intel. Status L, L standing for Leviathan was a catelog of one of the most dangerous men and women on the planet put in one file cabinet in an underground server and a hardcopy backup in another vault. They were dangerous because they didn't never worked with the CIA and some had threatened their establishment on several occasions. He'd been in one of the global hotspots that had a few drop by. Two in fact. One was that man that died taking out two resistance organisations whilst saving hundreds of thousands of fleeing refugees in Africa with the help of the Jackal, another Status L. Krieger corp was an organisation that was absorbed into CNS had also tasted the wrath of one by the name of Carver who killed their founder and executive. The old man bought the company because of the prior research files in bio-chemical engineering he needed to enhance his pet project. Something to give his supersoldier program a little more juice.
Dominic was against the idea of it not on the ethnics but as it was a wishful project that hindered much of the enforcement agencies potential to grow when billions of dollars gets sent over for research on a military concept that doesn't even exist yet nor was it necessary in a times like these where the most major conflicts weren't major powers fighting major powers.
But his neph-
"Sir, I'd like to suggest an alliance with Mr Brody." The end of Dane's constructive suggestion broke his inner thoughts. It was a good idea but would he join?
"What do we have to offer him in return?" He was being pragmatic about it. Whatever reason a fellow American had being here couldn't be good.
"Cash or stone incenti-."
"Do you really think he's here for that?" Now Dane was a little convinced it wasn't.
"(sigh) Investigate further, he might be an additional edge we could used. In the mean time prep for an attack on those government forces, we'll be playing a combat role whether Lynch or Ghale approves or not. We owe them a blood debt, and I intend to have it repayed in kind."
Dane understood what he meant, if they didn't return their grief to the Army they'd never be satisfied and the men would go out of control. In the meantime, he had to investigate the background of Jason Brody to find out his reason for arriving and recruit him. A Status L was a powerful ally whether they liked him or not. The next was to patiently wait for Lynch to reveal his purpose here and take it from him.
"Yes, sir."
"And bring out the 'big boomstick' for this op." Dane was a little surprised he mentioned that weapon. The hand-held weapon that whilst still in prototype phase had tremendous potential to morph the battlefield to whoever deployed it.
"Codes to quartermaster, 45-99-12 to unlock the case. Have fun."
"I will sir, but to be honest I think it's a little overkill." Dane left those words before dashing off excitedly like a child ready to redeem a present from a toy store.
"No, it's not." He recalled the scene their base fell apart and amidst the chaos, laughing at them was that one individual that could be classed as the most terrifying Status L he'd seen.
-Not with a person like him around.-
Ajay and Maya drove back to the North via a Jeep to the tune of Men without hats. Vajra enjoyed sticking its tongue out in the window despite the strong winds.
The music was broadcast by Rabi Ray's newest competition deemed to outdo his predecessor with the music hits from the West. Albeit from the 70s to the 90s, the Radio Dj was a fanatic over Western hits and imported an entire collection. From Beegees to some Britney Spears albums. Rabi Ray was furious, comparing him to poor Chotu and openly threatened the fellow DJ that he knew Ajay and would call a favour to eliminate him with extreme prejudice. Rabi Ray was getting a bit out of hand with that invite he gave that time, even if Rabi Ray now gave more positive comments on his radio broadcast and was no longer a pirate radio channel but an official broadcast at the Society of Social Harmony relay.
Ajay, being raised in the states was inclined to side with the new and upcoming DJ for familiar songs.
They drove back to the homestead, it had been a long week for them and there was only a short time left for them to rest and get their minds sorted out. It was going to be as a long dead middle-eastern dictator once said, "… the mother of all battles." Maya was incline to agree with Ajay's suggestion in returning home. She sat with Vajra on her lap and its head out the window.
Ajay was starting to feel that Maya's fixation wasn't restricted to just Tiger cubs but all things furry. He hoped his companion wouldn't suddenly have a change in heart, he trusted it.
Hours later at the doorstep of the homestead his trust was betrayed.
Due to the goodness of Maya's delicious treats the wolf was domesticated, what were in them, Scooby Snacks?
He was going to disappoint Vajra for taking him into battle in Lanka while Maya was defending Delta Barracks where the three battalions were and Unit 58 was due to fight with the division of the main force attacking Lanka. It was extremely dangerous despite their numbers because if the Golden Path were tired of attacking Lanka they'd divert to Baghadur to reinforce the rest of their split force and prepare for another siege with more preparations in store from capturing the rest of the South. That was why after repelling the main force, he had to lead Yuma's Royal Guard held in reserve to pincer and crush the rest of the force and aid the rest immediately after.
He while the wilderness training was enjoyable, there was nothing like the scrumptious smell of Bhadra's cooking. Like the enjoyable whiff passing by them at the very moment.
"Quarter my share says its Goat curry." Maya placed her bid like they usually did upon returning together.
"The same says Chicken Bhutua. Turmeric sometimes smells like curry."
"Since when did you become the chef?"
"I was always a cook till I got kicked out by a superior chef." Implying Bhadra.
"….."
Ajay opened the door and they placed their coats on the hanger.
"Bhadra. We're home."
Noore was no longer staying with them, but in a nearby house with Paul's daughter, Ashley. Simply furnished but suitable for a one daughter and single mother to stay and live in. Bhadra occasionally came by to say hello and bake a cake or two. Ajay hadn't been around whilst this was happening, he'd been working non-stop and was doing wilderness research.
Somehow, she took it upon herself to take care of Ashley in Ajay's stead. It was a great help to him as he had more important things to handle right now. But he was slightly concerned, Ashley was the daughter of the man that cruelly played and took the lives of her dear family. What was her thoughts on raising his daughter? He didn't understand that well, though he'd been the one that orphaned Ashley. He checked through Paul's house and the family registry, Ashley had no immediate kin. Aside from her dearly-departed adultering mother, Paul was the only family she ever had. Paul Harmon itself was an alias forged by the intelligence agency he worked in before coming to Kyrat, so his actual birthname was probably wiped from the records.
Vajra shook the ice-cold blanket off its pelt, Ajay took a towel and wiped down the dampness. It didn't hurt now and then to give a little care to his animal friend, it was obedient enough to know what Ajay intended and let him wipe the condensing ice off.
They made their way through the narrow corridor towards the living area and to their surprise.
"Ah, hello."
They had visitors. Daisy and her companions with Noore at the lounge.
There were some he recalled their names but not all. Hurk was apparrently taking his time off showing them around as he was sitting with them too.
"Oh? Fancy seeing you here." Ajay responded.
"Yes well, Noore invited me over."
"And the rest are your minions I suppose."
"Yes.." She chuckled.
"I'm not even gonna refute that." Riley declared with his hands to his back, they were in the demon's home so they had to watch their behaviours. Perhaps only Daisy saw a man in him, the rest were terrified the moment they heard his voice announce his return.
They became even more terrified when a giant wolf came in from where they entered.
"Hiee!" Liza was the first to respond. The boys were neutral while Daisy held eyes of fascination and began to whistle the same way Ajay did to subjugate them.
The wolf lay on its front as she came over to pet it and Vajra welcomed it. This action initiated an envy in Maya and a tinge of humiliation to a civ who could do better than the hunters.
"I'll be in my room, have my share sent up."
"No. You're joining us for dinner or nothing at all." Ajay said while she was halfway up the stairs.
"Tsk! Fine! Whatever! I'm going up first." Her hostility to Daisy and her friends' presence made as she went up to change and have a shower.
"What's her problem?" Liza murmured within the protection of her friends around her on the couch.
"She's a firm believer that there's no such thing as innocence in war." Ajay responded as if she she it loudly to him. Liza was a little shocked he heard her when she herself was sure he wouldn't.
"And what about you?" Noore asked from her seat.
"That innocence are always the ones that get grinded down to paste over stupid upstart ideals. Take Golden Path for instance." Ajay said with a cold grin.
"Righteously passes itself off as liberators, yet resorts to underhanded acts like kidnapping and human trafficking to fund their operation. You're quite familiar with their modus operandi, aren't you?" Ajay said to them as he went over to retrieve a bottle of ten-year scotch from the counter and a few glasses which he brought to the table.
"Then again, Pagan and me are no saints either. Sinners? Plenty. Noore knows that best of all." Ajay made no attempt to cover this from the light hearts Daisy's friends were. Instead he poured generously to all the seven others at the seats.
"Ah- thank you…."
"Thank you"
"Gee thanks!" Riley was estatic towards the hospitality.
Ajay threw the whole bottle over to Hurk. "Hehe! You read me like an ipad." He was unfamiliar with that phrase but took it with a pince of salt he meant book.
Ajay sat next to Noore who had a glass of her own favorite drink already poured in it. The heavy tonic gin she brought from the airport duty-free. It was pretty heavy stuff for him as a pleasure drink, Noore was used to it as it helped drown her sorrows in the past. Noore smiled at him warmly, which he smiled back in kind. The rest almost mistook it for a relation going on between them, but it was more of close companions. Nothing more.
"I was just sharing my history here with the rest." Noore gave him a brief intro to what they conversed about. Ajay nodded and took a drink from his glass.
"Care to share?" Daisy asked him for him to give a brief summary of his to ease her friends' tension in dealing with him.
"Sure, if dinner is ready. Bhadra?"
"All done, just waiting for the go."
"Alright, we'll be over."
They assembled at the dining area with a table extension and chairs. Maya came down in lighter clothing sitting the furthest away from Daisy and the rest next to Noore.
"Looks like I was wrong, here. Here are the winnings" Ajay chuckled as he handed his portion to Maya, she wasn't going to refute as all of Bhadra's cooking was great. Ajay threw a raw steak in Vajra's direction and the wolf caught it in mid-air and went over to the fireplace and gorged itself in the Yak steak from the fridge.
At first, Daisy and friends were not familiar with the spread and were a little reluctant to start digging in. But the moment those spoons full of soup or stew touched their mouths, they had converted to Bhadranism and herald her the deity of the kitchen. It was a little scary that it Bhadra's cooking was acclaimed not just to local tastes by foreign as well.
Ajay talked about his history in Brooklyn and how he encountered Daisy, leaving out the parts that referred to his identity as Ajay Ghale and his mother's name Ishwari. Bhadra and Maya listened in on it as this was the first time he'd indulged a little of his former home.
Maya's thoughts dwelled on his history in the states a feeling of guilt fell on her opinion of him. While everyone thought his live was set over there, it was anything but stable. Ishwari's worsening will to live affected her terminal cancer condition. The first step to Ajay's change in attitude from the days in Brooklyn was understanding he'd been responsible for taking his mother's life. The fool-hardy arrogant street kid became a meek person. Noore begun to have a better picture of his entire live road that led to that point in time.
"So you're probably wondering how did Daisy's ex turned from street brawler to a mass-murdering second-in-command to Pagan. Well, that's a story for another time." He laughed as if it was trivial, reminding them how dangerous he was to them, and their presence was hardly a threat to him.
"A can tell you that it involved a rather sizable amount of bodies that piled." He said with a grin to play with their reactions he was so fond of rousting. Strangely enough, there were three people that had the complete opposite of his expectations in their reactions, the expression of excitement. Specifically Riley, his eyes twinkled with fascination. Daisy smiled wryly and shook her head. Steve managed to maintain his cool. Liza frowned.
"How can you even say that lightly?" She asked him in a rather annoyed tone that he was just bragging about killing others.
"Why not, Miss Snow?"
"Wha-….?" Like she couldn't believe what he just said.
"Death is an inevitable part of life, you'll die one way or another. You might not ever live till an old age. It's what the Western world seems to forget at times, thinking that lives are valuable. But truly the only lives that anyone values is their own, sometimes that of their family counts too. But everyone else is of little concern, its just their egos playing a part in that moral understanding."
"I don't think-."
"Liza, that's enough!" Steve warned her. But Ajay waved his hand in a friendly way.
"It's alright, Keith."
"It's Steve! Goddamnit, Daisy! Sending his name in place of mine. What the hell was that for?" He said upset. Daisy snickered by bowed apologetically.
"For a minute there, I was worried you weren't asking these questions. And the answer to that is the United States of America isn't the whole world, Miss Snow. Yunno that funny thing one time I visited the one of the more-quiet southern states and they didn't even know who the president was then. It's a bad habit to measure the rest of the world base on your own standards and principles no matter how much we profess that the world is international. Muslims pray Friday noon, Christians go to mass on Sunday mornings, Hindus and Buddhists mediate without specific days. Everyone is different in a little way. The states seem to have forgotten that time and time again. Take 9/11 for instance, politicians and bureaucrats manipulated peoples fears of terrorists activities through media, propaganda and ethnic segregation. Tens of thousands of vengeful American men and women sign up on the Armed forces the next day, awaiting the day they get shipped to Afganistan where the terrorists should have been based. And end up in Iraq instead. Almost like Pearl Harbor, the same instance happened and they were shipped to Europe instead of the Pacific to fight the japs that bombed the port." Ajay said smiling without angst or vigour. But they started to see his point. It was their cultural upbringing that defined their moral conduct, the same way other cultures define other people's moral codes.
"Somehow, priorities switched to taking down a long-defeated dictator and occupying Baghdad. They didn't know why they were there to begin with but they had their orders now that they were servicemen. Till now I bet they thought they were sent their because Iraq was sheltering terrorists, but its even simpler." He took them on a little history lesson of the latest conflicts.
"Oil." Daisy answered the right question.
"Correct, with an economy as voracious as the States they can't afford to let an association that isn't under their influence control the oil prices or the states could fall into an inflation and everyone suffers. The government rouses peoples collective hatred and manipulate it towards achieving their own selfish needs."
"So you see, Miss Snow. Society is a little more vicious than it portrays itself to be. One decade something is alright, then next its 'morally' inacceptable and anyone that says otherwise is a blight to society. It's just that in this corner of the world, we're a little more straight forward and when we say we'll kill, we ready will. This is my job, sending the brave and the earnest to their deaths. With promises to give their families a better tomorrow."
"And will you?" Liza asked, she was rather active in inquiring which surprised Daisy.
"Telling them that is a waste of words, I can only prove it in the actions I have in place. And even if I didn't promise them that, I'd do everything to make it happen. I still have Noore helping me on the way, she might not look it but she's actually the Marquess of Shanath." Ajay chuckled.
The 'Ooh'ed in astounishment.
"The poorest Duke and Marquess in the history of Kyrat." Maya added. Noore and Ajay chuckled bashfully.
"Don't forget poorest Princess too." Ajay added, implying her as well.
"Not another word." She said with a powerful glare before attending to her furry replacement Vajra, Bishal seemed to have mysteriously spirited away with Darshan. And Maya wasn't the least bit happy about it. Be he a specialist major or not.
Daisy's friends were having difficulty picturing this chatty and rather politically informed person to be a savage demon that terrorised the Golden Path. It was even harder picturing Daisy once in a relationship with him. So their mouths hung without saying anymore.
Ajay waved his hands up in defeat. But they understood what she meant, despite his and Noore's appointment in nobility, they lived rather simply. It was mainly because Ajay wasn't the type to spend on unnecessary purchases like Pagan did for brief moments of fun only to get bored the next minute. Every dime and penny went to funding the S-program and Unit 58's upkeep. Arjun discussed with him whether they should activate it when the storm settled but Ajay insisted to keep it as a trump. They didn't know what other surprises Mohan had brewed up in the last two months, the fortress might not be such a big surprise to him even. So they had to play his cards wisely.
"Dude, tell'em." Hurk nudged Riley. They murmured softly with eachother about something.
"What's up?"
"Um- Sir Badala?"
"Don't be shy, Badala will do."
"Ok. Badala. Well, I'm a licensed pilot."
"Uh-huh."
"We know we've been causing a lotta trouble for you and all, so if it's alright I'd like to dedicate my services to you." The rest were surprised by Riley, while they were reluctant to, he had taken the first steps towards recovering their relation with him and the locals.
Ajay raised and eyebrow. It seemed that Hurk and Riley had discussed their options. So Hurk encouraged them to take an active part to make amends. But for Ajay-.
"Your service isn't required Mr Brody."
"Um- can I ask why?"
"Because it makes you and your friends involved in this civil war. Even now, your status as Americans is being questioned in the states. Langley had a clear cut definition for you, and that's terrorist sympathizers."
"T-That can't be."
"Langley is a building full of assholes like and worse than Willis Huntley. The word patriotism is the most make believe word they've used on everyone."
"Pftt!" Hurk couldn't control.
"It would be funny if it wasn't such a bother, your brother's been making it difficult for us. But considering your status and his. The CIA are a little more accommodative of him because he has a particular set of skills that aren't common. Perhaps they'd draft an amnesty contract with him. Termination of selective targets to reduce prison sentence. Doesn't sound bad for him, doing his dream job."
They were all silent with the mention of Jason, it was a taboo they wanted to avoid but Ajay intentionally brought it up.
"Um-."
"But if you're quite insistent in repaying, I have a proposition." Ajay stated. He stumbled upon and opportunity to draw the troublesome Jason away from this battle, having only to deal with the more dangerous Devas. Jason's friends were the key.
"Ok?"
"In a few days, there's going to be a battle. Chances of Jason being there are pretty high, most likely in a special unit or with the vanguard spearheading the front for thirty-thousand fighters."
"Thirty-thous-!"
"Shhh!"
"I'll have one of you in the fortress broadcast your location to him, when he does come, we'll box him and you can have a few minutes persuading him to lay down his arms and getting off the playing field. I was hoping Miss Snow would take up the challenge seeing her history with Jason."
Liza hesitated when it came to something dangerous like this, the memories of Jason in his split-personality state gave her shivers. Noticing something wrong Ajay was about to retract the idea when Daisy stepped forward.
"I'll do it." The rest were shocked by her volunteering, Ajay was also a bit surprised. But he stated the conditions first.
"….." Perhaps her cool headedness was what Jason could trust, it would be a lie to say Ajay didn't feel uncomfortable on letting her go.
"Knowing your personality, I know I can't convince you otherwise. Say Jason takes you with him, would you follow?"
"Yes." She responded without hesitation. She knew that if the dialogue failed Ajay would come straight for Jason's head, regardless whether he was grateful to Grant for taking care of Daisy or not. Jason was an infidel in Kyrat.
Sighing internally, he finally said.
"Alright." Noore was about to suggest otherwise but another person spoke for her.
"Wait! You can't be serious, Daisy?!" Riley was the only one to voice a complaint.
"Hey, Bads. Weren't you in a relation with her?!"
"It's precisely that which I know she's more stubborn than General Arjun, and she'll only make life difficult if anyone doesn't give in." Ajay said with meaning, Riley found it hard to argue back.
"Somehow, I feel that even Jason won't hurt her of all."
"And if you're wrong?" Noore asked.
"I don't make wrong choices, I make investments. Very well, you'll accompany us back to Pacchim Valley. Then I'll start briefing you." Daisy nodded, although her friends were ever so worried things wouldn't go according to plan.
"Let's see if there's even a single bit of him left." Ajay murmured.
The Lanka Arsenal worked around the clock to repair and inspect all the weapons that returned from the patrols and brought from the North. Just to make sure the cold and dampness didn't affect any parts. The forges churned out fresh cartridges sent out to the bastions by the box. It was the lifeline of the fortress should the fortress be contested for control by the aggressors, and also supplied the troops that dispatched from its compounds to attack from the fortress.
The stage was set, the troops ready and the fires lit in every soldiers, every warriors eyes. They anticipated this day with patience of a saint, all of them thirsted for the blood of the Arrogant and ignorant Golden Path fighters who would come.
Ajay was preparing in his own way, as per agreement Daisy came along to bait Jason away. If she couldn't convince him she at least kept him off the battlegrounds, that guy was a pain in the ass to deal with. Riley was still against her going as it was his brother so he should have gone, but they didn't know the soundness of Jason's mind at the time.
Ajay had spent considerable effort forging the pieces that Jamuna requested from her specifications as she constructed the weapon he requested her to build for him. Samar's legacy apprentice was a chip off the old block, but Samar believes she could succeed him. Who would have thought that young woman from long ago, lining up at the recruitment drive to the upcoming Arsenal would be his successor as the head gunsmith in Lakshman.
Using his years in the machine shop and metal works, he crafted the folded steel parts with extra care as it involved a lot of flexing. Hammering the steel pieces to strengthen its mass, he quenched it in oil as the final part in heat treating the last metal piece.
"You've made my job considerably easier, who would have thought the Duke of Lakshman was a down to earth fellow."
"I've always been a down to earth man. The title and nobility are just part of the King's way of playing favorites." He said smiling, not that she would understand but nodded anyway.
Jamuna used a measuring instrument to ensure the parts were consistent and parrellel with no errors.
"Done. Here you go, milord." She held out the weapon to which Ajay reached out and held it in his hand.
The bow that is.
Built from folded steel and aluminium frames, composite tri-weave string.
His experience in the wilderness taught him about the value of absolute silence, it was a great asset to have. But there was one simple flaw to the simple wooden and recurve bows he used and that was they lacked killing power. They couldn't penetrate some body armors that the officers of the Golden Path wore. And as the range was further, they presented less of target area to hit, so to increase probability of hit it had to be at the chest area which was protected.
His encounter with large beasts, mainly bears, rhinos and the rest of the freaks Chiffon coveted for their furs and skin showed they couldn't be taken down with a single hit. Even for rifles, it had to be large calibre high powered rifle rounds to kill them, especially the rhinos.
Ajay drew the custom-built compound bow designed by Jamuna.
"Huh! Feels lighter…" Ajay was unfamiliar with the compound bow design so Jamuna briefed him.
"Those cams act as let-off, reducing the weight of the pull for endurance shots. Those ones currently take roughly 75% of the total draw weight of 95 pound."
"Great, I'll need it."
"Other features are the sound dampeners on the limbs when you release the string, reflex sight with laser rangefinder as requested. Drawing weight is adjustable from 60 to 95lbs depending on the target types and how quick you want the successive shot to be." It allowed him to give lead to his arrow in distance shots when the laser rangefinder marked the exact distance from the target rather than him giving a rough estimate. Especially important with the use of his mix of semtex sensitive explosive tip arrows.
Ajay went with her to set up the heavy targets at the range and drew a bundle of arrows from the stores. He strung an arrow to the notch and drew the bow a full arch. As marketed, the initial pull was difficult but as it passed a certain distance a whole lot of tension was relieved allowing him to hold the string back without much effort at all.
(Pow)
As he released the arrow with a powerful flinging sound the kinetic energy dart flew true to its target 50 metres away and pierced right through the protected target with a ballistic shield striking the and piercing the backing of the targets. The results, incredible.
"Nice."
"Nice? That was phemominal! I'm so proud!" Jamuna celebrated.
"….. Right, see if you can build a few tungsten-carbide tips while I sort out the rest of the calibrations." With access to the CNC machine in the Arsenal it would be no problem for Jamuna.
Assuming if he used the kinetic energy principle, the increase in mass along with 95lb bow velocity would allow him to penetrate most armored targets and deliver enormous energy on impact with such dense materials.
"You hunting Rhinos or something?" She asked with a bit of suspicion.
"No." Ajay simply responded.
With that out of the way, he could build several other types of arrows. During his wilderness experience, he'd gained enlightment on some new methods on killing with the bow. He crafted a whistling arrow to communicate with his wolves once, he could use the same method with the troops. He built an airburst explosive type arrow too used to scare and inflict maximum damage to a pack of dholes that got too ambitious with him once.
Whilst seemingly adding a bulk to his kit, it actually wasn't as large as the slayer. The bow could be folded for storage when he didn't use it and deployed immediately thanks to Jamuna's innovative ideas. The arrows simply required his trusty quiver made of a certain badger's skin to ensure they stay protected. It was going to replace his autocross sidearm in the 'silence but deadly' role. But most importantly, it could add to his usable weapons to deter the most dangerous enemy he would face during the battle for Lanka.
Jamuna saw a glint in his eyes, one she saw in all the cold-blooded hunters that frequented the armories for weapons refit.
"I'm hunting Devas."
Author's Thoughts:
(Ajay fudd) "Shhh.."
(Havok bunny) "Ehh…(Chews carrot) What's up, doc?"
(Ajay fudd) "Be vewy vewy quiet, I'm hunting Dwevas."
