Author's Notes:
Had a rather interesting request for a new story today. Can't say I was too enthusiastic, just to remind all of you I'm rather picky when it comes to stories. My criteria for initiating a story is the need for some level of sensibility with the current world. I.e. If you ask me to do a fantasy world one like harry potter or something I don't have the creative skill to keep things relevant and fresh. Which is why most of my stories revolve around military oriented fanficts.
As me to do titanic. (I dare you) And watch me butcher a perfectly good story that you'd probably come find me down under just so you could scream at me. Lol.
Although I have to say, this story is almost finishing now. I think around thirty chapters minimum should just about cover it. Either way, I'd be the longest Farcry Fanfict story ever. Unless someone beats my record. I welcome it.
It went without saying, the rebels and their families experienced a few sleepless nights. Mainly because the true inmates harassed them from over the other side of the fence in Rajgad Gulag.
Some members of the family whom were overseas had been called back thinking it was merely to address some administration issues in regards to their overseas stay. College students, mistresses and children, relatives working and staying abroad in general.
What awaited them at the airport was their arrest and direct transit to Rajgad Gulag, a very shocking affair for them all who had done nothing to offend anyone.
But these were the King's orders. He wanted to make it clear to all of them, none missing out. That there was no escape for anyone that committed high treason. Ultimately, their fate was left to the one that put down the rebellion the swiftest. Badala, the Duke of Lakshman. Otherwise known in the Himalayas now as the Demon of Kyrat. It wasn't a very optimistic setting for those who'd spent much of their lives out of the country to hear of such a person, it gave them a sense of dread that a cruel judgement would befall them.
A battalion of soldiers had them taken out and transported via convoy to of all places, the new settlement city of Lakshman. They had expected something along the line of a public execution ground or Vyatha Prison in the South.
They were unloaded off the five-ton trucks and gathered in a rather nice field with a lake in the centre. It appeared to be a very newly built estate grounds as the neatly arranged houses were empty and barren of life. One of the newer housing development projects in the ever-growing city.
Sitting by the lake was a single silhouette, waiting for them. The soldiers indicated for them to head over there and made sure nobody ran.
Sun Kwan calmly took the lead and led the bulk of the rebels to where the unmistakeable figure stood waiting for him. When he was face to face, he knelt in front of him, inclining the rest of the rebels and family to do the same.
"I've thought long and hard about what I am to do with you. If I kill you here, the killing wouldn't likely stop from there. And there will be a very bloody road ahead for the nation. But if I spare you, what am I to do with over six thousand sympathisers of rebellion? It's no lie that some of the population is for your execution and having been denied this would put the country at odds with itself."
There were a lot of faces of worry, but majority felt safe that this person didn't seem to have the intentions of mass murdering them.
"In fact, I've received petitions from five different Generals in the staff to have you either executed or sentenced to life at hard labour. But ultimately, the terms of your sentence rest upon me."
"So what do intend to do then, Badala?" Sun Kwan spoke as the voice of the group.
"Things can never go back the way they were, Kyratis can't live mundane lives like before, Royal Army soldiers can never work in peace, Cantons can no longer live the way they have since the founding of Min Dynasty." Ajay turned to face them all.
"Some of you felt that through Rebellion, only then could the rot and betrayal be vanquished, some merely wanted to maintain their way of living. I'm sorry to say that it's impossible, not because we can't do so, but of the tide of change that's coming." The faces they were, varied in such a degree.
"Here is your sentence."
Their hearts tightened as his words would decide the fate of over six thousand convicted members.
"All of your wealth will be confiscated by the state, that is a given. Military personnel will demote three ranking grades. If you are a Captain Grade Two you will be sent to 1st Lieutenant Grade One. Your property and further territorial assets have been seized."
Ajay gave the given rights for committing high treason, but not the punishment yet.
"That is all."
Or so they thought.
"So….. You're letting us go just like that?!" An officer asked.
"I'm not just letting you go, I've taken everything from you." The officer and a few others of the military side grimaced, it felt like an insult to their efforts, like Pagan was mocking them once again.
"Then answer my question. Who is more responsible? You or them." Ajay pointed to the non-combatants.
"Us, who else!?" Ajay nodded in acceptance.
"Have you heard the term, sins of the father pass to the son? Well to tell you the truth, I don't believe in that, not because I'm a son of an arch-traitor. But because my fate shouldn't be bounded by the notions of others. Your sons and daughters had nothing to do with this, but your actions have made them suffer in one way or another." It was a reality they couldn't deny.
"I once lived with my mother in the states, in the East Harlem's, a rough place to grow in. They say that America is a land of opportunity, but what they left out was like any other place, you need to be born into a world that grants that privilege. Kyrat was no different in that sense, that's why was an obvious disparity between a Royal Army soldier and a Royal Guardsman, Commoner and Noble, Kyrati and Canton. And what I and a few others had been working to eradicate. You've squandered that privilege and that belonging to your family as well on an opportunity that backfired. So now, you have no opportunity to pass onto your children and their children." Ajay explained the deprivation of a future and its effects on their later generations.
To have the strength and skill to qualify for a job or career tailored to you, but have that opportunity deprived from you. In the modern world where all men should be equal, this was a terrible fate that even being convicted in prison didn't matter. It doomed their descendants to a similar fate. This was the cruelty of the punishment Ajay dispatched to them. He would feed them, give them a livelihood, but they would never move up in the ladder of society even if they worked hard for it.
Even the previously rebellious soldiers became quiet with the situation they'd been thrown into.
"Do you now understand how the common people felt?" Ajay asked. "It's a disgusting feeling, isn't it? One that you couldn't help but loathe those more fortunate than yourself."
Ajay gave them a moment to reflect on what he had said before continuing with his point of bringing them here.
"But to let six thousand people skilled in a trait or two vanish quietly would be wasteful."
Faces seem to look at him with disbelief, he was sort of bending around what he had said moments ago.
"Why did you bring us here of all places, Badala?" Sun Kwan asked again.
"This place, is where you and your families will take residence."
There was much gasping and staring around the housing estates. This estate range was one of the many constructed by the council tradesman guild. They were not extremely luxurious in appearance yet neither were they lacking in any amenities like electricity, clean water plumbing, gas or even a telephone line. They were not small in size either, capable of housing a family of five each. And the numbers did seem to just be able to house all six thousand over people. But most unbelievable was the kind of vantage this housing estates had to the Lakes of Jalendu and to the lush forest surrounding it, giving off the ambience of a little Shangrian Paradise.
Could it be, that this place was truly given to them to start afresh?
"I rule this land under His Royal Highness, but that doesn't mean I built it singlehandedly. The city you see there was built out of the labour and pains of those that put their heart and soul into making a place for themselves here. That is my one rule if you want to live here. The City might be crowded with residence, but the actual numbers who are learned or have genuine trades are few. And that's where you come in."
"In this place, everything is decided by merit. You work hard, therefore you are rewarded as such. This is the opportunity I offer to all that come to call this place home….. And perhaps, maybe even you. If you are willing to work hard in the interest of everyone including yourselves and for the sake of the City's growth, then you'll have my support in any time that you are in need of it... and my thanks."
Ajay left them to think about it as he waved over to the soldiers whom had arrived with a truck that catered hot meals. Something they hadn't been eating since Rajgad Gulag.
He had made his choice of that matter of punishment that Pagan had given him, but in the end he just couldn't deprive them. He might be a demon, but he didn't pick in other's wounds. They might hate him for throwing them into this kind of situation, they might hate him because he looked down on their pride and saw a pitiful mass. The people of Kyrat might also question him why he was so lenient on them, weren't they the very source of corruption and greed he was talking about all this while? They would continually despise them for generations, and the former rebels would have to live with that shame for as long as people could remember what their predecessors tried to do. This would be their punishment to endure.
Sun Kwan was no fool, he would do his best to ensure that they carried on with their lives as best they could and perhaps earn their place in Kyrat once more. As Ajay had mentioned, Lakshman was in need of competent workers and educated people. Something the former Cantons and Nobles didn't fall short on. This was their advantage and their way towards future success. Their education was above basic arithmetic and writing letters. This gave them requisites to take up jobs in accounting and conveyancies, jobs that required a serious amount of writing. there was also a large majority in the military who could apply to be local garrison officers, policemen and other law enforcement or security personnel which the City was in need of to maintain law and order. So the future wasn't looking all that dark and Ajay had made them willing to tread this path in walking by their fellow Kyratis now as equals.
Their future co-workers might look at them initially with loathe and distrust but it was to be expected, all they could to was to slowly earn that trust with a reliable working attitude and friendliness to slowly melt that hate and distrust over time.
If they wanted to take a shortcut in this, only a desperate time calling for those who'd lay down their lives could possibly end the cycle of distrust they had amounted and cursed their descendants. Little did they know that such a time would coming quicker than they would ever anticipate.
"Bipin, walk with me." Ajay didn't wait for their response as he walked ahead in the direction along the lake. Bipin followed without question.
Catching up but not walking beside him.
"We both know you needn't be there." He referred to his self-sentence among the rebels. He was technically one for supporting the Rebellion albeit reluctant, but Pagan had personally absolved him in black and white writing in the form of a Royal Pardon.
Bipin didn't answer.
"You've made your sister worry for-."
"Don't bring her into every conversation we have!" He cut in quite offended.
"You always do that! I am a warrior, before all this- before I even became your bodyguard. My honour is mine alone!" It was Ajay's turn to stay quiet.
"I sat in Rajgad Gulag for three days thinking, just thinking. What if you weren't there? What if the great Badala, Demon of Kyrat wasn't there! Would I be able to reach as far is I had?!"
His voice became hoarse as he stated his true feelings towards the matters.
Ajay turned about and nodded to himself.
"I see. You think you've risen this far because of me. That generals promote you to be in my favour. Why you were always in units the best equipped. Why anyone bothered to read that thesis and allow you found Kyrati Armour." Ajay continued to nod.
"And now you want to let that all go because you think it was the only decision made on your own accord, am I right?"
"…..." (Baam) (splash) A blur of motion as a shadow struck Bipin square in the jaw and grounded him in the lake waters.
"Arrogant fool….. didn't I order you to mobilize to Yinke? A battalion against regiments thinking you'd be the safest there? Did I baby you all the way through your career as an officer?! Did I set you on that trip to Maharashtra or did you? You think you're so hot, like you're some sort of golden fucking stallion! You are nothing!"
Bipin got out of the water and grappled with Ajay as he threw another punch that missed and pushed Ajay to the mud. He then delivered a fury of punches down at his face which was blocked by Ajay's hands.
"And what about you?! When you came here you were just a foreign dog! Licking the king's hands to crawl your way up through your past relation!"
Ajay managed to use his legs to elbow lock Bipin.
"Fucking wastrel….. You had everything I wanted! You have a sibling who loves you! You once had a complete loving family that didn't fuck each other over!"
Bipin tried to break the lock but couldn't.
"You weren't alone almost your entire life! And I hate that you can't even realise that!"
"Fuck you, Ajay!"
As Ajay's vice grip began to loosen, Bipin released his arm and retracted it quickly before propelling a punch Ajay's way. In that short span reflex, Ajay did the same. The result was them both landing a hit on each other.
Ajay spat out a goblet of blood into the water. Bipin seem to extract a tooth that was hanging by some flesh. They'd been lock into some face off with fists and boots, there was no use of martial arts, nor any sort of elegant form. Just a raw down to earth brawl.
They were fortunate to have been quite a distance from the gathering, it wasn't something they would want the populace to see.
"After I'm done, you can let Sam pamper your booboos all you want."
"Hmph! I should say the same to you, you'll be crying like a wimp in Saraswati's bosom again."
After the skirmish of taunts, they clashed again with their fist and underhanded style of fighting. Like a bunch of adolescent boys having a fight in the mud. Ajay had his experience in unarmed combat, Bipin had youth of a few years younger, with stronger vigour and tenacity.
Their fight went on for almost half-an-hour, the gathering was not a bit worried for their return as it seemed like a long stroll. They filled their stomachs with warm food and were given the keys to their designated houses. They had a long day ahead of them in finding their way.
An hour had passed, Ajay and Bipin hadn't yet returned. Because they'd literally fought each other to the dirt. Even the grazing animals were scared off between their brawl. The most unexpected was Bipin's stamina, almost inexhaustible. But he didn't go away with light bruises as Ajay intentionally impaired his mobility with strikes to soft muscle supporting his weight and swings.
In the end, Bipin had finally exhausted his strength and fell in the dirt sore and in pain. Ajay was no better, despite being propped against a nearby tree he leaned against.
"You have a bright future ahead of you, Bipin. All that I've done was simply pave you the way….. but now I'll no longer be able to, I can't watch you from a distance or witness your rise."
"(huff) (huff)…. What do you mean?"
"Bipin…. I don't have long."
"... What are you talking about?..."
"The demon inside me can't match up to the force behind Mohan and Golden Path. We simply can't fight on par with genuine monsters when they come in person."
Bipin had been there when his battalion had gotten reports from the assaulting regiments on Lanka reported coming under attack by as the quoted "Rakshasa". This was the true enemy they were collectively facing.
"I can delay them if I try, but this power has a price."
"… What?"
"I will forget you and everyone. In the same way, no one will remember me. Because the Karma threads between us would have been severed."
"….Why?... Why would you do such a thing? Are you crazy?!"
Ajay laughed heartily at Bipin's hysteria, moments ago he was showing his spite for everything Ajay interfered with.
"It seems this was by design." Ajay recalled the time back in the cave when Sabal had rudely smashed the urn holding Kamala's ashes. That cloaked figure intentionally scattered her ash, to free her bodily remains. Sabal might've been a savage, but she had no reason to bother. He could feel a set of eyes pear through that garment cloak looking at him with longing eyes.
Darshan thinks he was some sort of reincarnation of a dead lover of hers she is attempting to have awaken the memories deep within and have him rise again. It was the reason she set about such a seemingly aroundabout methods and directionless path here and there.
"For my friends and the people I've come to love. Anything."
Bipin's expression fell, unable to maintain his calm.
"Don't look at me like that, Bipin. My ambition isn't all that far from yours, I want the best for Kyrat. Though I might not be able to see it ascend on its own, I know that with dedicated folks like yourself around, the flame can never be snuffed out." And not a second did Ajay show an expression besides the one fully at peace with himself and of contentment when he told Bipin the reality he foresaw.
To doom himself before all fate had been decided. Where no one would remember him even after death. To go this far for a failure of a state and a crooked monarch. If Ajay wasn't crazy, he didn't know what that word meant. No one would dare accept a role that he chose without denying one of the three at very least.
The people of Kyrat didn't realise how blessed they were to have such a noble at heart and at birth, watching over them, ready to lay his life down for them. Worst of all, they stood to not even know their bright tomorrow was as a result of his dedication. In comparison to Bipin's silence behind Sam's prominence where he had at least some recognition for this work, Ajay was just a demon lord doing what was expected of him. Taken for granted and would eventually fade into the background.
To see witness a person he held in the highest regard get sentenced to such a horrible fate, how could he remain calm and composed. How could he not feel heartbroken?
-Why do you torment yourself, so?- Bipin looked at that smile hiding no sadness behind it.
"Thank you, Bipin. I hope I can count of you in future, you've got a lot to live up to when you get older and wiser. Father of Kyrati Armour." Ajay jokingly dubbed him.
That's right, he was a pioneer in a concept that would never have come to fruition had he not pushed for it, and with the backing of someone like Ajay and Arjun it became a reality that saved their soldiers in many instances. It was also armour that fought and brought Yinke to heel, boots on the ground was always required in the battlefield over air superiority and would always be that way so long as battlefield were still about two sides fighting physically.
Why should he have such a future while his benefactor, his friend had such for his?
"Make me into one of the Kshatriyan Lords."
Ajay's smile halted.
"Do you wanna know the true purpose behind the Eight Kshatriyan Lord system that Pagan devised? They aren't just some elective placed at the centre of an autonomous power, yunno."
Ajay made it very clear to him in the next sentence.
"From his words, "Find Eight men and women whom you'd trust with the protection of Kyrat, eight people who would be willing to give up their birthright to do the most monstrous of acts to preserve our version of peace. Our Asuras to fight their Devas."."
Bipin's eyes widen at the hidden agenda behind the Eight Lord scheme. He simply thought like many it was some sort of propaganda movement as well as an efficient autonomous command branch that would circumvent the restrictions of a conventional army. But there was more to it than that. He had just assumed that Vasu and Han Feng were repentant and therefore were chosen. But in truth, Ajay picked them for very different reasons. Vasu was a former Golden Path Deva, he understood the sacrifices needed for holding the counterpart role. Han Feng's wasn't out of choice, or rather it was. He chose to continue living, no matter how cursed. Saraswati would rather live alongside Ajay or die without. Her genius in defensive structures and fortifications was unparrallel, Lanka was the greatest expression of that.
"Why do you want that for yourself?- Nevermind…. As long as I'm around, you'll never be one of the Eight. You deserve better than that, your father and family did too. But now it's just you left to continue the line of Kadayat."
"Don't forget my sis-…." Bipin just paused mid-way and cut his speech with silence.
Ajay got up after recovering his breaths, his bruises unnaturally healed during their small talk and Bipin was quick to realise it. If he had this much of an ability and it was not enough against whatever was coming. What could possibly fight against it then? A new concern brewed in Bipin's mind, he understood that for there to be a tomorrow, many would have to lay down their lives in the most valiant manner possible. The question was, was he ready for such a daunting task? Ajay didn't want him to take up that mantle, but what about himself?
"There are many forms of honour, Bipin. No greater and no lesser. To Vasu, preservation of his humanity is his honour. For Han Feng, it's the interests of the one he loves. And Pagan? His would be seeking redemption in every way he can. As for you, perhaps yours could be steadfastness. Food for thought."
Ajay made his way back to the site where the gathering was.
"What about yours?" Bipin asked as he was curious about what Ajay's honour would be. But Ajay laughed his way back without stopping, he murmured the answer to himself rather than to Bipin.
"Demons have no honour. That's why we call them demons."
"Nukes in Kyrat?!" Arjun's voice resounded in the Lanka HQ command Module enclosed for confidentiality sake.
The same expression of fallen crests and disbelief was found throughout those gathered in the Command Module since the Headquarters in the Royal Fortress had been wrecked bad.
Ajay was calmly tinkering with the newest modification to his compound bow when he said so, built in collaboration with the late Samar's apprentices. A self-loading mechanism for retractable arrows in a magazine, by pulling back the string and releasing he would charge a pneumatic system that strung a new arrow on the notch and thereby increase his firing rate. The bow used to prey on his foes stealthily, hence became his "predator bow".
Arjun's hand was visibly shaking, Ajay had put him through difficult odds once again. First, telling him about the appearance of "Rakshasa", the auditors behind Mohan's return and Golden Paths rise and imminent arrival. Now he told them about callsign "Broken Arrow", somewhere in Kyrat was a crashed delivery system for the lost nuclear weapons.
Arjun's eyes darted to the Marine Officer David and his men standing in the room when he spoke of said weapons in the premise. He would have preferred they didn't know about it, but Ajay clearly was intending for them to hear it. Not out of national interests but as an agreement they had from man to man.
"That's as far as Willis will indulge now, surprisingly Lynch has been just as stubborn despite the care and consideration Major Kadayat gave in "persuading" him."
"Question." Arjun's adjutant dutifully raised his hand.
"What is it, Layak?"
"What do you intend to do with the Marines?"
Everyone turned to the Americans like predators. Having them go back to warn Pentagon seemed like a really bad idea.
"Ease up, gentlemen. What we discuss here today will be the privy knowledge they can take with them on their way back to Washington." Ajay explained.
"E-Excuse me?" David didn't quite understand like Perkins did.
"I'm saying we're done, Captain. As much as I hoped it was just mere files to blackmail Langley, this find is clearly beyond their jurisdiction now."
David had no choice but to agree. WMDs were of a national concern, especially theirs.
"Why are you telling us this?" David couldn't understand the rational behind Ajay's unpredictable natural.
"It's simple, David. My promise was to ensure that your status as AWOL and disavow be revoked. This intel sent directly to the NSA will ensure you and your group under a witness protection from "the other" intelligence agency. I've arranged some contact with the CEO of CNS to have you transited back home via New York. Play nice with the mercs, alright?" Ajay held out an SD card holding a video clip of Willis's interrogation/testimony for him to use as a means to clear their names.
David didn't know what to say, Ajay was right on that.
"In other words, David. We're done here, goodbye." Ajay motioned the MPs on site to escort them to the airport to be escorted back.
Perkins seemed to show some hesitation in following through and stepped forward to confront Ajay but David grasped his shirt and shook his head. To his surprise, Perkin's shook him off and proceeded on.
"I'm not leaving-."
"Gregor!" David called out.
"Oh- does that mean you're ready to let go of your country, family and identity?" Ajay mocked him in a disdainful way for being so naïve in his declaration.
"There are still marines in Kyrat."
David was stunned, he could only be referring to one group. The splitter group of their platoon, led by Fredrick Grilles, his other platoon sergeant.
"In a few weeks, you can consider Staff Sergeant Grilles and his men, officially MIA."
"So you're gonna kill'em."
"Only if they get in my way, I hope they do just that. Wasn't it you who said you'd kill him if you had the chance?" Perkins wanted to lash out but David heaved him back along with the MPs.
"You wanna swing, don't you? Huh! I like you, Perkins. That's why I'm giving you this opportunity to walk away from everything scot-free. But if you insist on pressing further, I'll make it that the entire force recon para-marine unit dropped here becomes a blank history in the files. Your family members won't receive pension nor compensation and you will achieve nothing. All because of a self-righteous conviction whim."
Ajay stepped forwards intimidatingly, yet Perkins didn't flinch a single moment.
"What do you intend to do with the bomb?" Ajay smiled maliciously at Gregor's other agenda in confronting Grilles.
"I think you and I are in an agreement that your friend Grilles is there protecting it. But knowing his distrust of Willis and his long due absence, I can only guess he blew a whistle at some point to the CIA."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"Of course it does, I don't intend to give United States back their bombs."
"Really? What do you intend to do with them then?!" Arjun couldn't control himself.
"The same thing all nuclear states do with their bombs, Nuclear deterrence."
Gregor stared at Ajay like he was mad.
"You'll only draw them here!" He was clear what WMDs would do, like a magnet it would bring the actual armies over to find and retrieve it.
"Do you know why I like you, Perkins? You might be the most honestly stupid soldier I've ever seen. But that in itself makes you the best soldier, perfect for the meat grinder of some egghead's warmongering wetdream back in Washington or Langley to think up another brainstorm on revitalizing the war economy and distracting the general population from unpopular bills."
Perkins was speechless.
"But I also hate that this country sends its bravest to waste their lives over an underhanded manoeuvre to keep the "peace" like always. (sigh)… I'm sorry, Perkins. But this is the end of the road."
Ajay looked to the MPs.
"Escort them to the airport, and give them the honours they deserve."
The MPs took Perkins and the rest of the marines away. Leaving David whom wanted to say a few words.
"Badala."
"Captain Goh. I'll let you decide how you want to indulge the NSA with the privy of intel, it'll most likely decide your treatment as well. But I hope that you consider the welfare of your men and yourself who've gone through hell with you and back first and foremost."
Ajay dropped a letter into David's hands. He held it up and saw the address to his surprise was posted to the White House, Washington. Ajay winked.
Was the US government a threat to him, or was he the threat to the US government. Whatever this letter said, it was most likely meant for their Commander-in-Chief to read.
Ajay held out the other hand to David, he took hold and shook the hand.
"It's been a pleasure to know there are good soldiers like yourself out there still. Please tell Perkins that I'm sorry it had to be this way."
"…. Likewise, Badala…. And godspeed." David was sure he'll need it for what's coming.
"Oh-.. and I'll be leaving a few stranded Civs with you on your trip back. Some of Brody's kidnapped friends, take care of 'em while you return home, will you? they've been stuck here as long as you have in worse. Semper Fi?"
"I'll treat them like VIPs. Semper Fi, Badala." David responded understanding they needed protection.
When they were escorted out of the facility, Arjun approached Ajay after the Marines had been taken out of the picture.
"You can't be seriously thinking of keeping those bombs."
"I'm not. I made a call to New Delhi and Moscow. We've agreed that India will have the bomb to aid in their nuclear research to thermonuclear status. That should give our ally the status of the sixth nuclear superpower."
Arjun usually had an expressionless face, but when nukes came into play he was not ready to fool around with such a dangerous device that could call serious global attention.
"Moscow and New Delhi will dispatch a division of Spec-ops each respectively to search the mountains. They'll be covered under pretext of a division-scale military exercise in mountain warfare, and we're the hosts. They'll be here in a week's time after the holiday week, so I'll expect us to provide them with a warm welcome." Ajay looked to the staff who nodded their heads in approval.
"And you made this judgement call without me or the King's approval?" Ajay nodded truthfully and motioned him to come closer to whisper into his ear.
"The Americans already know." Ajay had intentionally let the Marines leave so they wouldn't know that the US authorities were already in Fubar. NSA was likely investigating Lynch's activities outside of his region. He hoped they would be accommodative to the marines in facilitating their reinstatement and clearing of their names as well as to restore Brody's friends identities as American citizens. That evidence he provided to David was worth that much after all, unless the NSA authorities were just as mean then even he couldn't help them.
"What?! How?!" Arjun replied as softly as he could but was still quite audible to the rest of the General staff.
"Pravindra was shot down after he killed my rogue employees. His weapons officer was killed during ejection."
He had a feeling it wasn't by the rebels or turncoats from the way Ajay mentioned it. To shoot down their ace pilot was not something easily accomplished when he had the spatial awareness of a bird of prey.
"Did you talk to him about it directly?"
"Commander Singh hailed me on it, and that man won't lie about what he heard, neither of them would."
"Are you sure he didn't just enter Pakistani Airspace, invoking a response?"
But Ajay smiled deviously which was a common sing that a situation was truly in dire straits.
"Not unless Pakistani pilots fly Raptors."
Arjun cringed at the word. Raptors was a name used exclusively by one type of aircraft and operated by one country only. 5th Generation F-22 stealth fighters. The ultimate warplane of the 20th Century into the 21st Century. For such a high profile aircraft to be deployed, it only meant one thing.
The United States were already deploying to get back their weapons based on a hunch.
"It looks like Kyrat will be the new hotspot for 2015."
Arjun could no longer control his legs and plummeted into the armchair behind him.
"How could you be so calm?..."
"Why not, Arjun?" Arjun looked up into those pair of eyes burning bright with hope and belief they could make it out alive from this. Ajay had a plan for this. The officers were anxious to hear, though they were worried they had some hope there was a chance to win or even survive. He was after all, the auditor who made Pagan's alliance plan and deterrence of China a reality.
"The United States Armed Forces wants to get physical, but when they cross this natural boundary, how I wonder how they'll react to our mortal enemies as they are now?" Ajay tapped his finger playfully on his chin.
Arjun could see the crazed idea that brewed in Ajay's head, he was somewhat use to the pattern Ajay thought up his strategies now. He wasn't going to have the Indian and Russian Army fight with the US Expeditionary forces in an "accidental" confrontation like he initially thought. He was going to do something even more absurd, he was going to stage the US expeditionary forces against the Nye invulnerable and indestructible Rakshasa and their omni-potent Princess. If the Royal Army were made to fight the Americans' Army themselves, it wouldn't even be worth mentioning as Kyrat would lose hands down. But these mountains had beings unlike anything the outside world had ever bore witness to, beings that were of all times choosing to emerge from slumber now.
"I'd like to know if the world's most powerful army can stand toe to toe with most powerful beings in this realm."
Ajay was playing with a very viscous fire.
(Ting) (Ting) (Ting) A hammer striking an anvil resounded through the forge in Arsenal One, surpassing that noisy hum of the machines busy churning out rounds and gun barrels.
It was the first time in a long while since he'd been back in the place where it all started. He had been macro-managing based on the files Elina handed him because he was busy on the construction sites of Sagarmatha Air Base and Super-Fortress Lanka back then.
But today, he was here with the late Samar's apprentices to supervise the building of weapons he could mass produce to counter the unkillable Golden Path and their Rakshasa allies. Darshan had left him a message and a letter which showed the sketches of a powerful demon sealing talisman. Supposely, when their flesh came into contact with the items engraved with the vedic rites in his sketches, it would cancel out the effects of the Exalted Golden Path fighters, who were strong by virtue of a talisman tattooed onto their skin with a powerful law of nature. They would fall like any man would to bullets. If it struck a Rakshasa, it would potentially weaken his host and banish it from the body. For they weren't facing actual Rakshasa, just mere flash clones or possessed bodies. This was because the natural laws of the mountains forbade beings beyond a certain mortal boundaries to that extent. Darshan did not make it too clear in his description but it sounded like the mountains had a life of its own and was more powerful than any of them. The Rakshasa were technically demi-gods in that respect. Ajay shuddered to think how they were able to fight with such powerful beings who possessed over thousands of years of experience in warfare.
How did the humans of old dare to challenge such powerful beings with the technology they had? The answer was the Demon Banishers. These exorcists were at the frontlines of those ancient immortal wars, but as the Rakshasa vanished from history, so did they. Until they were nothing more than a medium group under the Devi dynasty payroll. Only shining in the hour when Yalung came to exact revenge upon the old King.
Engraving talismans into kukri tangs or onto the gun barrels of weapons didn't make them work against those two enemies though. It was still short of one key ingredient, which was someone to chant and ordain them first with the associated spell, that's where Darshan came in. His ritual was different from those held by the monks in Chal Jama, or Jalendu who were of a different faith and concept. Once ordained and blessed, they would work indefinitely, unless the talisman script was damaged in some way.
This meant that when Darshan was ready to pay a visit to the Arsenal like he promised, he might potentially spend the whole week ordaining the bulk of weapons to ship to the frontlines.
Ajay played around with the key that Gary handed to him on a dying request from Samar. To think that such a dear friend was lost, it left a gap in his heart. Samar had left behind something for him to use, something akin and precious to his legacy passed down to his apprentices. A weapon to use against the new breed of foes? Or perhaps another armoured suit which Ajay was honestly tired of. Already onto the third iteration yet Chiffon was always enthusiastic to continue making improved versions based on combat experience for his combat couture line. He might need to use it when the time came, any and every piece of equipment was welcomed against the coming invasion.
If he were alone with Kyrat to fight the Rakshasa, he would be really worried. But now a turn of events had brought the world's most powerful states to fight over something they didn't truly understand and would get caught in the conspiracy spanning thousands of years. Call it manipulating their strength, but Ajay had already drafted some plans in using their military might to deter the Golden Path and the Rakshasas' progress. He was almost a hundred percent sure the mortal armies without any sort of protective devices or weapons were useless against them.
Although, there was one concern. Which was how willing were the US expeditionary force when encountering the Rakshasa to use Nuclear force to destroy them as a last resort. Especially when the proximity was within Kyrats territory. Man feared what they didn't fully understand, and their fear might lead to hysteria in deploying one such weapon against the Rakshasa. Kyrat would become a collateral against this kind of strike. Something he could ill afford to happen, it depended on the confidence of the American Supreme Commander and how quickly they could be destroyed before the Command back in the states knew what happened.
After sorting through the last few papers to sign and inspection runs, Ajay packed his things and gathered replenishments for his weapons like the sabot .700 nitro shots. He'd dispatched the respective orders to the parties to handle all the affairs in his absence, now it was time for him to meet Darshan at the appointed place to abide by his approved request.
He took a three-hour drive to a place called Shandar Kyrati Varshavan. A rainforest area not on any map or GPS save for the paper coordinates Pagan left for him. Inhabiting that place was a lone tribe called the Pravyadh, or as the rest of Kyrat knew them as the Hunters. He drove up to a barricade that opened before he even approached and gave his name, they seem to be expecting him.
He walked with a singular purpose, towards the hut that was designated to one of the most prolific elders in the tribe. As he was the only foreign-born member to reach elder status, yet he was just as respected by the Pravyadh tribesmen as he was in the Royal Army.
Many of the cloaked tribesmen and women stopped their work and looked at the new arrival with wonder. The one their actively-serving kinsmen had all been talking about. His presence here where only four foreigners were ever allowed privy of the whereabouts of the village grounds showed the sign of trust and respect the King of Kyrat gave to him and that they should as well.
Bowing as he passed them, Ajay was inclined to do the same to return their salutations with a curt nod. And would you believe it, a very familiar mutt appeared before him.
"Hello boy. How've you been, you naughty little devil." Ajay scuffled Vajra's well-groomed black pelt lovingly. The Mad Devil's best friend and master had returned to be with it. Vajra barked and yelped with joy, rolling in the dirt hoping he would scratch his belly. Ajay chuckled and did as the alpha wolf wanted, he owed it to his canine attack friend for leaving him out for so long.
Off in the distance, one of Brody's friends spotted him and rushed back to their accommodation to tell the others. But Ajay wasn't aware of that, he was here for only one person. To complete the arsenal of weapons he had at his disposal against Golden Path and their masters. He was here to begin his anti-demon training.
Darshan was already out on the veranda of his hut smoking a pipe in a relaxed pose. When Ajay reached his courtyard, his eyes flashed open and he got up.
"…." He retrieved his pipe from his mouth and took a few steps towards Ajay.
"Shall we begin?"
"Can I not call you master? How bout instructor?" Ajay tried negotiating first. And Darshan's response was-.
"Seal." (crush) He responded casually.
Like an anvil falling upon him, Ajay fell to the ground and crushed the floor tiles with an invisible weight. "Arrgh….."
Darshan squatted down in front of Ajay and said his opening speech before popping the pipe back into his mouth.
"Welcome to your first lesson of the day: How not to get hit by hidden spells." Darshan tapped the courtyard fence engraved with talismans to show where he got binded. He turned quickly to hide a smirk on his face where Ajay instantly knew he was having too much fun.
"Sunnova-…bitch..arghh." He struggled to lift himself but failed to overpower the sealing spell of miring suppression. A first taste of what a Demon Banisher could do, but Ajay didn't get his hopes up.
He was now in the hands of this annoying fellow for a good solid week. He was either on the road to slaying and banishing demons or….
He was in for a week of hell.
Author's Notes:
If all goes well and according to schedule, I'll be rolling out the Gate story soon without hindrance to RaK's rollout speed or performance. i'm very eager to begin.
