It began to spread like wildfire amongst the communities in that area. Jason Brody, the foreigner who aided the Golden Path insurgency had taken refuge inside the mountains opposite Delta Barracks on the other side of the old deserted town of Banapur.
The police had cordoned off the area with barricades to prevent people from entering and leaving. They were not going to let the crazed killer "Snow White" go, the SWAT-style special duties police officers were sent into storm the cavern and were not heard from again, highlighting the danger of this individual the Demon's apprentice chased all the way here.
It caused such a scene that many of the civilians gathered around the outskirts that were barricaded to have a look. Joining in to assist them were the Military forces from Delta Barracks garrison.
"Look!" A quadbike went at maximum speed creating a dirt cloud behind it. Reaching closer to the southern barricade guarded by the regional police inspector, the figure became clearer. It stirred their excitement about their otherwise ordinary days, a blessing nonetheless from the old days of civil war.
Climbing off the quadbike he appropriated from the paratrooper forces was Ajay fresh from the battlefield out at the borders of Kyrat near the Akaash valley in the mountains. Blood had dried over his armour and body, permeating a heavy killing aura that kept many back even from their distance away. It was at times like this, the people finally understood why the charismatic Duke of Lakshman had a name like a demon attached to him.
"Inspector." Ajay greeted the highest-ranking police officer in the area.
"My lord. As you can see, we've barricaded the area as instructed by Captain Hamal. Our stations' officers are watching the East and Western exits, while the Royal Army is monitoring the Northern side. They have provided snipers as well to give overwatch."
"Inspector, while I don't hold any authority over yourself and your officers. Jason Brody is no mere fugitive, we've lost over three hundred soldiers and fighters to this psycho. We're not letting him loose again." Ajay wanted to highlight to the constables the danger of attempting to arrest Brody. He wasn't going to do that, so neither should they.
"Understood, my lord. We'll take your sound advice."
"If he leaves this area and you see him, if your powers as an officer aren't sufficient I will vouch for you killing him." Showing the policeman that even Badala wasn't above the law was important in keeping the natural order of the internal affairs. If military officers were above the law like before, there was no reason for the police to do the same and they'd all fall into a state of corruption not dissimilar to previously.
"Thank you, sir! Um-." The inspector was wondering why he entered through the barricade and towards the cavern alone.
"I heard from the police channel, you haven't heard from your Special Duties Unit for some time. I don't want to rain on your parade but I'm preparing for the worst. This time, I'll be sufficient on my own." Ajay told the one in charge of the barricades as he unslung his slayer and dropped in two fresh cartridges of buckshot from close quarters.
The inspector seemed to want to object but this was the Demon after all, so he made way for him to enter unhindered…. Almost.
"What do you want?"
"Watching you attempt to kill a tatbro, how can I sit by and watch?"
"Then just sit and watch! That's all you've been doing all this while hasn't-." Ajay experienced another attack on his mind, an unbearable pain as fragments of memories flowed by. One pertaining to him rescuing him from Golden Path when he'd been beaten to a pulp by Sabal, Vel and… Brody!
"What… what have you been doing?... huh?" Ajay turned his way, but his mouth was shut tight without a response as he just stood there.
"Bads….."
"You think I know a way of rescuing him from his situation but to tell you the truth I don't. After all this time, why hasn't the real one fought back for control of his body? I don't need to dwell on why, he's made his choice. All of our efforts have been wasted, now there's no Jason Brody. Only that pirate in control."
Ajay checked his equipment as he climbed the steep cliffside towards the cave entrance. He took a Vector Kriss PDW that was slung to the quadbike and hastily carved some talisman runes upon the bore of the weapon. Brody was technically an "exalt", so he wouldn't be easily killed by normal small-arms.
"Killing Jason won't bring Kamala back."
Ajay's hands stopped in place from where he climbed with the assistance of a rope.
"….. It won't… But it'll prevent more from ending up that way. So are you gonna lecture me on how that won't be the case?"
"…"
The figure following him remained silent for a moment.
"Of course not, even you are aware of the danger he poses to people in general. How many lives has he taken? The longer he lives, the more lives will be lost. Brody has gotten what's coming to him. This was the Karma he arranged for himself, both Jason and Vaas."
"You know that isn't true. I'm afraid, that when you kill him…. You're killing a part of yourself as well."
He said before disappearing. Ajay clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction as he continued down the narrow path to where he found an article of clothing that matched his own armour by the entrance of the cave. It provoked him into picking it up and identifying what was seemingly familiar looking.
One of the ceramic plates from Jeevan's armour, shell cases were lying around indicating a fierce confrontation that led into the cave.
Ajay took out a flare and lit it as he ventured deep into the dark cave. The only sound that daunted the narrow walkway was the constant dripping of water from the ceiling. He had been here long ago, so he was kind of familiar with the layout if anything.
First, he was going to remove the opposition and assert Jeevan's status. The Kalinag thangka was the last priority.
The deeper he went, the more it became clear Jeevan had it tough. Lying around against the walls were the special duties police officers with machete-sized holes through their kevlar jackets. Their ammunition stripped from their persons. The rifles they were using were mostly Israeli X95 Micro Tavors which were imported from Israel and given to the police forces to fit their duty rifle requirements, so it was fair to assume that Brody got his hands on one as well. Not that it would matter unless he hit a critical area his armour couldn't protect. Ajay was more concerned about Jeevan.
This place had become a spider's lair, and the spider could pop out anywhere at anything.
Ajay wasn't the type to fall for jump scares, that still didn't mean he was going to let Brody get that fall on him. His talisman count had been reduced significantly during his fight with the Rakshasa, such that he was left with only two talismans for dispelling spells.
(Sniff) A pungent smell began to creep in as he ventured further, he could not see the smoke permeate the surroundings, an incense was burning somewhere. The brewed scent smelled similar to a certain compound of hallucinogen that proliferated the region in the past. Gurus and monks used to indulge in this stuff while no one was looking.
But this concoction smelt different.
-Shit.- He knew he shouldn't be breathing it in, but he wasn't so vulnerable to these sorts of narcotics. At least not the common stuff that those two Brits used to play with.
(cough)(cough)(cough)
He was sorely mistaken about the potency of this stuff being smoked within the narrow confines of the cavern. He was starting to see double-vision and knew that he wasn't truly immune to this stuff.
He saw a figure in the dark, upon a higher ledge in the cavern looking down at him.
"You like it? Made it especially for you, Hermano."
The Airbase was filled with a triumphant mood, this was mainly to do with the armies that had returned. At least three-quarters of it had.
The pub had already been packed with soldiers depriving the pilots of a means to celebrate their long-awaited victory. Especially since every pilot had survived, although the number of aircraft that made it back was a different story altogether. Pravi had also broken a record for bringing his plane back intact. However, it was not all sun shine and daisies for them.
His commander had been restraint upon landing by members of the Indian Army Provost for actions that went against the initial plan. Right now, the charges were down to court-martial for attacking the Pakistani aircraft on their own soil. While there would be some talks as to why they had intruded Kyrati airspace, that was no reason for him to do the same. He had engaged a small flight of F-16s over a residential area. The debris of his kills fell and injured some civilians, now both sides were inquiring and acting. As it stood, he could be kicked out of the Airforce for this one act.
He could see them walk into a Dornier aircraft, awaiting clearance to take off. Cuffed and escorted into the aircraft, Commander Singh made no attempt to resist as he was brought on-board. Pravi and the pilots walked over to give him their respects for the work he'd accomplished thus far.
A provost stood in the way as he got closer.
"I want to have a word. So please piss off, dog." Pravi had in his own right declared war with the Military Police who flung his baton his way. A cross-jab to the throat had him fall on his back, the rest of the provost came to aid their fallen comrade.
"Enough!" Pravi's superior shouted. "Lieutenant, while I appreciate your efforts to bring me before the court. Allow me a few minutes with the lads to clear things up." The provost officer nodded and gave him free space to approach Pravi and the Indian and Russian Pilots.
"Sir-."
"This is my responsibility for acting recklessly on a one-man vendetta. I'll happily receive it, knowing that I let my old friends rest in their graves even a little easier from now on."
"You mean you-.."
"Not quite what I had in mind, same airframe and markings. Different pilot. I'm afraid I've worsened the situation here for Kyrat and you lot."
"Don't say that, you led us this far. Sir."
"And now, it's up to you to lead them. The court will not let this slide lightly so returning here might not be a possibility."
He, lead the squadron? What was his superior saying? A hand rested on his shoulder.
"Today, I've heard a lot about your exploits and your ability to surpass your own demons and limitations. That is something I still need to work on, with whatever time I have left. I'll leave the squadron in your care then."
He said as he took steps back and the provost came in.
"One last thing, I heard over the comms channel. A rumour that Badala had used nuclear weapons on the American naval fleet."
The surprise was evident in the pilots and provost when they heard this.
"It's just as a wild uneducated guess. But that man's likely next move is to destroy every US presence in the region, including that in Pakistan. Even if it meant threatening our rivals into extradicting them with the nuclear weapons he's amassed." Pravi was getting jitters just from hearing this, Saraswati's partner was like a ravenous tiger with a hunger unsatiable. Or Atilla descending on the Ancient Romans.
"You have two options, you either request Command that we pull out. This way we no longer become liable to whatever consequence he's gotten himself into."
"And the other?" Commander Singh chuckled as he was asked for the other alternative instantly like the first wasn't really an option to him.
"The other, you stay the course and fight alongside our Kyrati friends. And share a bond that might never be relived for ages to come, until we can see the end of this path. But that also means you will have to dirty your hands and this may include nuclear delivery duties." The group was silent when they heard him say this.
"Chose wisely, Prav. You're now the leader of the Squadron." The provost brought him on board the turbo-prop aircraft that was already moving off the tarmac to the runway.
He wasn't sure if he would see him return as the squadron commander to take back his post. But now a new weight of concern passed over Pravi to the new job he'd been given.
"Did he just put Prav in charge of us?"
"I think he did. Padma, we're really scrapping the bottom of the barrel here." His fellow pilots had a laugh at him. Pravi flung his hand which they dodged playfully and teased him.
"Leader! Leader! Why're you so ruthless?"
"Quit the drama, get back to your rooms and rest." He said in a slightly authoritative voice unconsciously.
"""Wwwwwooooooouuhh!""" They cooed as he was showing himself to be the big man. An empty can came flying their way, they dispersed and jubilantly went to the officer's mess to have a drink. Probably putting the tab on him for his promotion to their "glorious squadron leader".
"I promised you a drink, did I not?" Pravi looked behind to see Sokol 1-1 approach him, the Russian Squadron Commander who went by the name of Simonov.
"Hope you don't get me to try any of that strong stuff you and your boys have been making old Alex struggle to concoct the last few weeks." Their poor bartender was made to serve out of the usual orders of drinks with exotic cocktails which the Russians' demanded.
"Oh? But from what I hear, he's already perfected the flavour to our liking and has received our officers' seal of approval. Now he's earning big bucks."
"You mean Rubles."
"One man's paltry is another man's treasure."
The Russians had been paying old Alex the exact amount for his drinks and services, except in Rubles. Because he had never specified the currency when the Indians' used their rupees but equivalent to American to avoid confusion. So they were drinking at his bar at their interpreted price, not that he ever addressed this problem. He was a very meek person. So the Russians' took advantage of this brief period of "cheap" drinks. The mercenaries and Indians were cursing, not because they were playing foul. But because they hadn't thought of that earlier.
"You do know that Alex is Badala's favourite bartender, right?"
Hearing this made Commander Simonov turn white as a sheet, Pravi chuckled internally. There was literally no one from outside who wasn't afraid of the Demon of Kyrat. The exploits were seemingly unreal with a person who had such a pretty-boy face and iconic brooding eyes. However, many veterans including Commander Singh and the mercenaries have mentioned he had the eyes of a person that has commited mass murder and atrocities. He decided he was going to trust their instincts on that one.
"I'll pay for this one, just don't order one I'll pass out in front of the guys in a single glass." He would need it, the Russians had literally drunken Alex's Vodka and craft beers stocks dry. They owed him a pretty sum, at least a Regiments worth of drinks.
Simonov laughed heartily and patted him on the back, he wasn't ignorant to the silent kind deed Pravi did for him.
"You need to come to St Petersburg when you're on holiday. I would be more than happy to show you a taste of local hospitality not available to tourists."
"I'll put a raincheck on that. Now, enough dallying. I'm not sure if they'll be anything left besides baby champagne after the events that have taken place." Simonov chuckled just thinking about it.
They headed to the officer's mess that seemed to have a line forming outside with NCOs and technical officers who accompanied their officers into the mess. Hopefully, they'd give them a special "heroes" discount for the work everyone knew they did.
"Stop or we'll shoot!" A commotion took place at the nearby hangar as boxes were tossed in the way of the Kyrati military police who pursued a person cladded in a pilot's flight suit, from the portions he could tell was that of a woman. There was no way to cover those luscious curves on that one.
However, Pravi was not on the privy knowledge that there was another female pilot besides Michelle and another one from UAE who was currently retraining in India with Sukhois. Pravi approached them to see what all the fuss was about while Simonov had a funny feeling about what was going on.
"Guys. Guys, is there really a need to point the guns at lady here?" Pravi entered the audible distance and took the attention of the MPs off the pilot onto him. In that spilt-second, he didn't expect the next scene to take place.
"Drop it! Unless you want blood on your hands!" She latched her arm around Pravi from the back and pressed what felt like a combat knife against his neck.
"Woah! Woah! Hang on, what's with all the hostility?!" Pravi was too dense to figure out the situation. Even Simonov who had come over and pulled out his Makarov on her from behind knew what was the scenario.
"Lieutenant, that woman is a POW." He said to bring clarity to Pravi's baffled mind and explained the MPs situation in those few short words.
Pravi turned and looked at her and then to the patch on her arm. There was an unmistakable American Red, White and Blue flag emblem stuck to her arm. Along with a unit patch of a swooping Bald Eagle titled "Fighting Eagles". The pieces fell into place as he realized the significance of her presence here.
"No way…" He declared in an excited tone which baffled even her.
This woman was more than many ways likely the Raptor pilot he shot down with Simonov.
And he believed it was more than the machinations of fate that brought him to meet his kindred spirit.
"You've always been a slippery one, you think this narcotic will stop me from tearing that head off its shoulders?" Ajay scanned the cavern walls as he continued to venture deeper into the caves in the direction he knew he was heading. Somewhere around, Brody was circling him.
"Oh, what's this?" His answer was met with a response and a cackle-like laughter.
"Daisy's not gonna like what you're gonna do, hell she might give her frowny face on this one, Ajay."
"That boat has sailed between us, shit for brains. If she were here right now standing between you and me, I wouldn't hesitate to put a slug through her to get to you."
"Owwww….. Dark, Ajay. Man, those Rakshasa fellows were right! You really are losing more and more of your humanity by the second." Ajay was not affected by his attempts to throw his focus off with anger. He wasn't a raging bull as Brody thought he was, he was much colder and more calculative than the former would anticipate.
"That makes two of us, although you hardly had anything resembling that of humanity, to begin with."
"Hermano, I'm more human than you could possibly imagine. At least more than you."
Ajay kept him talking as he lay tripmines along the way, with the darkness to hide those tripwires it would make them more difficult to detect until the last possible moment. If he could detect them, then it would at least slow him down during a pursuit out of the cave. He would bottle him in without room for Brody to escape again.
He looked down the last of his talisman papers, the other one he placed right at the entrance as the last remaining measure to catch him. Knowing his connection to the occult, it should influence him the most.
"Then you should've known better than to invite a monster here." Brody gave a sinister laugh at his remark.
"It's quite refreshing hearing you refer to yourself as a monster."
"…" Ajay pulled out his slayer and awaited the next move by Brody.
"You know hermano-."
"Don't call me hermano." He said in a powerful voice of intimidation whilst leaking a dangerous aura.
"Oh come on, Hermano-." (Ting)(Bang) Ajay interrupted by throwing a flashbang above him.
When whoever had been watching opened his eyes, Ajay was gone. He was no longer within the control of the situation.
"Playing hide and seek, hermano? So who's it?" His words were met with emptiness as to give away his position was pure folly. Only shadows passed by occasionally.
"It'll be a good old hand-to-hand, you 'n me. 'specially while you can't use those demonic rites." If Brody wanted to fight him on equal ground, he was dead wrong. He didn't need the demon to crush him to bits.
"I know you want to gut me where I'm standing, Ajay. I can feel your negative waves just radiating off the walls. So come out and lets make that a reality, I wanna see what kinda guts keeps you afloat in this farce you call home." Useless taunts that did get on his nerve only by virtue that Brody was extremely irritating. Ajay had prepared more traps around the place to limit his movement to this cavern section exclusively. He knew Brody's style, luring his opponents to get provoked into a square match when all he did was learn from every engagement and steal that strength. He maxxed out on escape reflex so he could live to die another day. From Daisy's story, that's how Jason had built the strength to confront Vaas and subsequently Hoyt. From jobless grad student, to CIA classification category L subject.
Ajay had a theory without proper evidence and merely a feeling from his previous engagements. This was the affect of a Rakyat talisman done by that Citra witch doctor and then "perfected" by Esha or Mohan. Brody was effectively a learning computer, the more he fought the stronger he got. To think the original host of the body would let a mere spirit possess him, he would be so sick of life that he didn't believe he should live another second on earth.
Just like how Ajay felt, once upon a time.
-For what its worth, killing you will free you as well.-
Ajay told himself as he prepped a White Phosphorous charge onto the ground, one of many he'd been placing around the area. He intended to flush him out once Jeevan was located. Placing the final charge, he went off to look for tracks that would locate his younger friend.
He found one such trail while incognito as he found blood trails that reacted to a small solution of diluted accelerant compound Noore gave him to breadcrumb his warriors with altered blood. When the blood fizzed in reaction to the accelerant but not explosively like with his blood he knew he was onto something.
It seemed that the pathway was leading him in the direction of where the library was, the one that held all the ancient scrolls and one particular piece of the thangka. Did Brody know the value of the treasure found in this area or did he treat it like random junk? He felt that him coming here was by no coincidence.
Until he entered the chamber filled with prayer seats, scroll cabinets and candle stands. And where the statue idol of the patron deity was, Jeevan was tied against it unconscious. Ajay immediately went to assert the condition of his apprentice, moving carefully to avoid any traps Brody had placed. But there only seemed to be Jeevan, the furniture and the thangka lying in front of him like bait.
He proceeded to untie Jeevan down, he wasn't sure how Brody had overpowered the younger man. Most likely with trickery and guile, as usual, that freak never engaged in a proper fight unless he knew he'd win. And he was sure that with Jeevan's prowess, he would have to think carefully about his moves in a duel. This gave Ajay more reason to blast him on sight with the slayer.
Jeevan slumped onto him dead cold, he had been heavily sedated from the looks of it by an unknown substance that even Ajay was unaware of. When Jeevan was thrown over his back in a fireman carry and ready to extract, Ajay turned to the thangka and reached down to retrieve it.
And it was here that his assumption about Brody's ignorance to the Thangka in the grand scheme of things came to light.
(puff) A huge bellow of smoke from a tripline triggered by retrieving the thangka was blasted into his face.
(cough)(cough)(cough)
This time, Ajay was genuinely caught by surprise. He should've seen that coming, but Jeevan was more important than some animal hide drawing, and he was assuming that Brody had the same impression. If not, he wouldn't have made Jeevan so presentable. But he did it to lower his guard around other things.
(Cough) (cough) (cough)
Ajay begun to cough non-stop, the concoction had entered his lungs coating it with a very dry solvent which caused this reaction. The more he tried to clear it, the more his fluids increased the flow of it into his bloodstream.
Ajay began to wobble about with Jeevan over his shoulder as he tried to maintain a level footing on exiting. But then, his body too felt heavy like lead and his vision became blurry.
"You fell for that one as I'd expected." He saw a figure at the entrance approach, in double images due to his compromised ability to stay focus.
He did his best to place Jeevan down as carefully as his body came crashing down.
"I need you to take a nap, hermano." Said the grinning Brody.
Ajay reached for his mouth and bit down on his hand till it bled to wake himself up, which had only achieved some measure of pain and wariness. He reached back and pulled out the slayer, pointing it as Brody. However, his aim was unsteady. (Boom) That didn't mean he wouldn't take potshots.
The figure appeared at the corner of his eye, successfully dodging a shot that wouldn't hit him.
(Boom) Ajay fired the second barrel in hopes to get lucky, although luck wasn't on his side this time.
"Man, you're as helpless as a baby in a crib, hermano. I could really kill you now if you weren't so precious to me!" He laughed. Ajay weakly reached out his hand and grabbed Brody's leg so tightly, he felt it would break under that vice-like grip.
"sssssss…. Now that's power! That's what I want from you, hermano. I can't tell you how sick I am to send another second in this pussy boy's body. I feel sad every day, like a fucking emo. I bet a body like yours is vibing with energy and all the protein a boy should have." He reached down and removed Ajay's hand that weakened in strength as well.
"That's right, hermano. I'm upgrading to demonic strength. Night! night!" Ajay fell into a deep ummovable slumber, vulnerable to the machinations of Brody for the first time. It was from this moment on, that Ajay would begin the fight for his own self within himself.
Pagan was surprised to say the least, the last time he'd been in Kumsa it was on transit to Kyrat during the days of the exodus. Back then, it was as he would have imagined. Total rural environment for miles, reminiscent of the Guang Zhou farming communities during the days he was back in Hong Kong and visited the mainlands.
It was no surprise why he chose not to visit again. But this was entirely what he had not expected, the Capital City was as busy and industrious as Lakshman. Most proliferant around the areas, were the grain exchange depots. Where the numerous farming communities exchanged their seasonal harvests for money and other necessities which keep the communities and towns afloat. This was made possible by the simple system which had been implemented by the Crown Prince during his early years of taking office as the Agriculture and Commerce Ministry appointments. It was no wonder, there were so many changes and why all seemed good in Kumsa when the heir apparent to the Kumsan throne was a capable leader and showed promise in governing.
And why there was always an easy and lightened mood about Surendra, King of Kumsa. Pagan understood the feeling pretty well that he could relate to Surendra just as easily. Although he didn't want to say it, Pagan felt luckier to have Ajay as the son he never had. Ajay, was a cunning tactician and manipulator of human emotions, it was surprising how he could always give such a genuine smile to him without being weighed by the guilt of his actions.
If Manendra were thrown into the same situation as Ajay into handling Kyrat, Pagan was sure he'd sink beneath the dirt. How would he handle the cunning of the Kyrati Nobles, the visciousness of the Cantons, and ruthlessness of the former Royal Army and Guard while managing the Lords that seemed to have their own agendas?
That's why the Kumsan Crown Prince couldn't be measured on the same level as Ajay who was obviously way better. It is no wonder Pagan felt not a smidgen of inferiority to Surendra or Manendra Kumsa. Again, not comparing, he clearly wasn't!
Against the Palace Guards' wishes that he stays within the Kingdoms' palace, Pagan walked out into the streets with almost no guards. Except for his old friends of the Prachin Vyadh tribe, what everyone knew more commonly as the Hunters. They were quite content with the lush and bountiful greenery in the area that defined the fertile soil of Kumsa. Plenty of opportunities to forage and hunt, and with their skills, it was almost not even a challenge.
Kumsa had been overlooked by many superpowers, the ancient Hindu kingdoms, the British East Indies, himself and the Cantons as well as the United States. Because besides a ton of rainforests to provide lumber and rice fields for the staple, Kumsa had literally nothing. Where Yinke had coal, Kyrat had Rubies and rare earth metals, even Papir had a salt mine. These were more appealing territories to the foreign powers, and so there was always strife in those places.
It did, however, become the resting point for all these great armies to proceed on into the other states, as the rice stocks could replenish their food supplies instantly. In ages past, the Devi bloodline and Papir principality had a strong grudge against the weaker state for letting the invaders through, not that they could do anything to stop such formidable adversaries, to begin with.
Kumsa was the only state to achieve autarchy, the state of self-sufficiency. However, without trading rights to its neighbours and lack of influence to engage with India, it had no potential to grow any further. So it remained small, but the people were happy and so were the monarchs of old.
He could see why Surendra was eager to bring his kingdom out of this sort of state of limbo even if his son was making a little bit of progress in his own right. And with Pagan's political muscle and cunning, it was possible for the honest King.
"Pardon, sir. Are you by chance, the King of Kyrat?" One of the kingdom soldiers asked seemingly on behalf of the people that looked at him with awe.
"…Yes… How did you know?"
The soldier dug into his pocket and pulled out a newly minted note, a Kyrati Rupee with his face on it. Since the alliance, the flow of currency and trade had begun to spread throughout the states.
He unconsciously smiles in the same way the thousand dollars note smiled and got the surprising reaction of the people who talked excitedly. It was like he was a museum exhibit they'd never seen before.
"It is His Royal Highness Pagan Min!"
"Milord, we thank you on behalf of the Arora Community!" One young labourer said as he bowed low to him.
"What ever for, sonny?"
The labourer dug into his pocket and pulled out an empty medicine bottle, he got on his knees and bowed lower.
"Your medicine saved the life of my young siblings from an early death. I dunno what the name of the disease was called, tet- tetaus?... I thank you in the name of our king." He struggled to say what Pagan was assuming was the disease tetanus, dangerous for children to be having.
"I-.."
"Your lordship also provided us with vaccinations so that our children may grow healthily!" Another claimed.
"Milord, is it true what the magistrates say? You will be building schools for both us and our children?"
They thanked and inquired of him one after another, that Pagan had lost the flow of the conversations. As they poured in and surrounded him.
All these things they had said he'd done for them, he did none of that. Could it be, that this was Ajay and Noore's doing? Noore distributed the medicine and vaccinations to them without cost, Ajay offered to build primary and vocation schools for the humble Kumsans' behind his back and had deliberately used his name to glorify his image?
He didn't know how to answer these people or to accept the praise for this work for the first time in his life. It felt so empty it was not his to claim and yet joyful, that he had such loyal subjects to do such deeds on his behalf. They had won the Kumsan peoples' hearts in the name Pagan.
Their excitement turned to fright when one particular farmer had approached him too close to giving his thanks that the Hunters dived in and placed a kukri to his neck, ready to slice it at a moments notice.
"STOP!" Pagan shouted to his hidden bodyguards, just as he was about to run it through. Blood dripped from a very small cut as the farmer shivered till his bladder couldn't hold back the liquids. Pagan looked around to see the people fallen back and frozen stiff shaking as he was. He could see fear in their eyes, as the hunters' eyes moved around scanning for possible dangers amidst the crowd that had tried to use this congregation to assassinate him at their convenience.
"Your Highness-.."
"Fall back, Naga! Until I say I need you to protect me!" He scolded the Hunter Leader in a furious tone. The hunters bowed apologetically and retreated into the shadow of mini smoke bombs that they threw on the ground.
Pagan reached out to the farmer that had been assaulted for getting too close, the farmer was becoming fearful that if he approached Pagan any nearer, they would take his life for it.
"Friend, I'm sorry for the misdeeds that my warriors have done to you, please forgive me for that scare." Pagan apologized humbly to earn the man's interaction once more. He showed his trust by reaching out and Pagan held firmly to bring him to his feet. He pulled out his silk handkerchief and wiped the man's neck, he had the man apply pressure to it with the handkerchief to hold the blood.
"Keep it, take it as a gift for your troubles. My good sir."
All it took were these words said meaningfully to the farmer to win back the crowds enamour with him. They kept a distance but not uncomfortable far or near as they thanked him for things he didn't do for them. After much interaction with the folks in the area, he went into an eatery and asked for a quiet corner to rest and ponder about the things he heard today.
"(Sigh)….."
The more they told him about the things they didn't initially have, even things as basic as a clean drinking water supply, electricity, utilities, small affordable luxuries like even a soda. The more questions floated in his mind why didn't they have these if they were a prospering autarchy which could feed themselves. Such that their harvest was so bountiful they could sell their crops all year around.
Could it be that the Crown Prince was hoarding and underpaying them? If so then wouldn't the King have known? He didn't think so based on both of their personalities, they were magnanimous to their people and their people knew it. But what weren't they doing right?
Clearly, education was severely lacking here. So were the supply of basic necessities. Yet they needed to be involved interregionally, but for some reason Pagan felt that if they were to be integrated into this new Himavana Federation he theorized, they might not cope with the rapidly changing environment. Which would lead to long-term damage in their ability to contribute to the new nation and their confidence in their abilities. The other states would be equally feeling inadequate and vote to oust the Kingdom of Kumsa for holding them back.
Why he cared for them was because they would soon become part of the same nation and part of the country's interests. It was like a country bumpkin entering the big city, there were major differences in social and cultural standings and beliefs. A country was founded by the peoples' collective desire for there to be one, and if even a fraction thought differently it meant that the ideal was doomed to crumble at any time.
He poured some of his whisky from a night flask in his jacket into the coffee, hoping it would wash away some of this cynical behaviour. But it did nothing to wash that anxiety away.
"That looks tasty." Pagan turned to the speaker who turned out to be a gorgeous thing standing beside his table.
Pagan held it out to her without worries if she was intruding, as he found in Kumsa, the concept of social class distinctions was not evident or rather they were never taught it. The Monarchy hadn't enforced it either and ruled with humility, they were more like parent officials than actual monarchs. Like Surendra said, his bloodline came from humble roots before becoming the first king of Kumsa, with a little help from that ominous group of exorcist warriors' senior.
(cough)(cough) She was caught by surprise by the potency of the drink.
Pagan ended up chuckling at the sight.
"Not what you expected, right?"
"But it smelt lovely from down there." She pointed to the lower floor of the eatery to which Pagan raised his eyebrow.
"You could smell from all the way there?"
"Hehe! I've got a pretty good nose, have I not?"
"Ah, that you do. I once knew someone who could tell a cuisine from afar. Coming from the kitchen downstairs, she'd spoil the chef's surprise everytime." Pagan chuckled just thinking about the good old days.
Him feeding a one-year-old Ajay at the dinner table with Ishwari, he was a substitute for a father and husband as they were a substitute for a loving family he never had.
"Really, and I was under the impression I was one of a kind. Who was she?" Her smile was like the summer which Pagan found delightful in its own right.
"She….. she was someone special."
"I see." She could somehow read that she was no longer in this world.
"Well, are you going to just stand there or are you going to have a seat?" Said, Pagan.
"Who me?"
"Of course, you've taken a drink out of my cup. The least you could do is have a chat while I fetch for some more." He exclaimed as he pulled the nightcap flask out of his pocket. He waved for the waiter who came over with haste.
"Two cups of coffee, and some snacks for the young lady. Your house speciality." The waiter nodded to the simple order and took her leave.
Have him take the initiative, she was forced to take a seat and indulge him for a bit of his time for intruding in his.
"So who do I have the privilege of having as a guest at the table? And where are my manners, I'm Pagan Min, despite all humbleness in appearance I am 'that' Pagan." The young lady with the raven black hair giggled pleasantly at his attempt to have humility from his introduction.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
"No, Pagan. I'm not."
"And that accent, it sounds Southern Kyrati."
"Good guess, even though I have never grown up in Kyrat."
"But your parents are from Kyrat were they not?" She smiled in a way that was awkward in facing that inquiry, Pagan was quick to see that her family circumstance was complicated.
"I'd like to think of them as a mother and a father sometimes, but they are both born in Kyrat."
"Then you should call them that."
"Why?"
"They were the ones that raised you to become this beautiful young lady I have as a guest before me. I think they've earned the right to be called as such."
"Right?" She was under the impression it was imposing on their freedom to call them that.
"Well, it has to be consentual on both ends. It usually starts with someone, maybe you might be that someone who starts it. I mean, you love'em right?" She wavered thinking about it for a moment.
"I-…. I do."
"Mmmm… That was weird, usually, you won't hesitate when you love someone." He decided to take advantage of this moment to tease her.
"No-… it's just, I don't know if he feels the same way about it."
"He? The man of the house."
"It's my mistress who runs things."
"Oh, I see. It's a matriarchal society, where the woman is the dominant one." For some reason, the way he put it made her laugh out right.
"Unfortunately, that man is in servitude to my master." Pagan realized his mistake quickly, still, he was quite surprised that apart from the Prachin Vyadh tribe there were societies where the women were the leading figures, granted there were a few communities like the Eastern Huns that were very respectful of their women elders.
"Yes, that would be rather weird to hear you call them mama and papa in front of their peers."
Pagan contemplated about it in a way to solve this societal riddle, it at least gave him problems to think about.
"You look just like him…" She murmured without paying attention to whether he heard it or not.
"Mmmm? Sorry, who?"
"No- Nothing. Just this guy I met during my trip to Kyrat. He broods when he thinks."
"Ah! Now a story about a guy, my, what an adventurous young lady you are." He said smirking.
"I can assure you, it is nothing of that sort. He's, well he's someone special to my mistress."
"I see, but you know what would be really sporting?"
"Your coffee and snacks, sir."
The waiter came over and placed the snacks and beverages before them. Pagan gave him a nod to acknowledge his efforts.
"What would it be?"
"Knowing the name of whom I'm discussing life issues with." He said with a broad smile matching the Kyrati Rupee and making a few other clients in the eatery turn and wonder where they'd seen him before.
She turned red as she realized she'd not even introduced herself while he had.
"I'm terribly sorry, I was just so caught up in what you said about having parents its just-."
"Its fine, at least you had people who loved and nurtured you from young. While I had something more akin to a dysfunctional band of crooks who call themselves father, brothers and sisters."
She was quiet as she realized he had a sensitive past on that topic they were on about with her insistence.
"As my tailor always says, that's ancient history. Let's talk about the future." Pagan managed to turn the mood around.
She reached out her hand in front of him and spoke her name.
"I'm Ashna."
Pagan looked closely at her eyes and did not grab hold of the hand for a while. But he eventually did after he gathered what he needed from her expression. He smiled as he shook her hand firmly and said.
"Your expression says otherwise."
He knew that wasn't her name and that she was lying. But who cares.
…..
…..
This dark place he woke up to was not unfamiliar. And as he regained consciousness of his surroundings, lights flickered over him as if on cue, like he was on stage.
Ajay took a look at himself, as a lightness daunted him that had never been there before. His armour was gone, his weapons were too. He found himself dressed in the same jumper and jeans that he came to Kyrat in.
A walkway began to light up in front of him, encouraging him to follow the trail. Then like television screens had flickered on, the walls that defined the narrow pathway ahead flickered with images of his life thus far. Stretching from Brooklyn all the way to the battle at point 2153.
"Quite a life you got here, Hermano."
"Brody." His wits were restored and what had transpired previously before entering this state.
"Man all these things, all that tough guy and scary monster acts thus far…. To think you were just a scared little boy crying for mommy and daddy. It would be boring if it wasn't true, but I can see its more pathetic than anything."
"….. Reading my memories doesn't mean you get me."
"Ha! You're only saying that because I've read all there is to know about you, hermano."
"You've really earned the hatchet for this one, Brody." He couldn't let him leave what appeared to be his subconsciousness.
"Oh on contrary, Ajay. I've already done some of my voodoo magic on your ink. Now our minds are fused as one." It was disgusting to imagine them merging together.
Ajay ventured further until he entered a strange tropical landscape ahead. "Sis!... Where are you!?" A kid appeared before him calling out to a sibling that didn't exist. That kid didn't resemble a Himalayan but more of a local from southeast Asia or central America. The kid cried as he called out in vain.
-This is-…..-
"Hey! No peeking!" The voice called out angrily.
Ajay realized it as clear as day, these were his memories. Vaas's memories of childhood. And it was here that a conniving plan concocted in his head. If Brody could access his memories as easily as a flick of his fingers….
(click) A stream of memories that appeared in screens came before him, all of a certain someone.
"What the hell?!"
"Heh! So there's a trick like this." Ajay smirked.
"How the hell'd you-."
"You're in my subconscious, MY subconscious. I can do whatever the hell I want. Besides, if you have voodoo, then what makes you think I don't have anything?"
He could feel a presence reel somewhere within the subconscious layer of his mind.
"What an idiot you are, Vaas Montenegro. You put me in the same cloth as Jason, and that's where you'll pay!" He thought of a certain object and willed it into existence. A highlight of a demon hex floated before him and took a formless image of Vedic characters.
"8th Demon Banishing Hex…. Seal!" In this reality, he decided he didn't need to complete the full spell and nunciate just the spell title. Because this wasn't the real world, he was not bounded by such complexities.
A shriek could be heard and then a rumbling resounded.
(Rumble) The world in his subconscious shook and vibrated like a great earthquake. The black void shattered around them, revealing yet another area of which he had not an idea of. It wasn't a world created from his memory, but Vaas's.
An ancient temple loomed before him, reminiscent of the ancient temple structures like Angkor Wat. A storm cloud brew overhead with a threatening wind pattern.
And who should he find puking blood at the steps of this ancient temple than Brody himself? Or rather, his image began to fizzle and switch between Jason and a mohawk fellow in a sleeveless. Ajay was guessing this was none other than the infamous pirate that threatened the lives of Daisy and company.
"I have to admit, you're dumber than I thought. You could trap Jason because he didn't have countermeasures. But I'm not without such countermeasures!" But he wasn't ordinary, he was a demon banisher.
These sorts of tricks wouldn't work on him. No matter how powerful the spell or hex, if Ajay possessed a strong enough willpower, he could break through anything. He could see the lines on Vaas's face, meeting with a failure which he could not recover easily from.
He willed it, so the presence of his demon Banishing magic appeared before him.
"I guess, it'll have to be suppression after all." He said spitting out the last of the blood in his mouth.
The stormclouds swirled towards Vaas and gathered around him and his body began to glow with an orange light. Similar to lava that matched the ground that seemed to light up the same way.
Vaas started to grow in such proportions he no longer resembled his former self, but began to morph into a demon with glowing eyes and a red face that resembled a mask like Ajay's, it roared its first cry. His skin crackled and blistered till it no longer appeared human but stone-like. Opening its mouth to reveal the hot magma brewing inside which slewed all over the earth beneath this fifty-high giant. Just as Ajay wished for demon banishing magic to appear in this reality, Vaas willed himself to become the giant of his Rakyat lore. For if no man could beat him, then he would become no man. The giant was the most powerul creature that Vaas could think of, and his will reinforced the giant's powerful physique and aura till it matched the descriptions of the giant of legends.
In completing its manifestation, the giant rose to its feet and crushed the temple beneath its foot. It pointed down to Ajay and smiled devilishly.
"Your soul and body are mine!" Its mouth tried to mimick human words but sounded as inhuman as possible.
Ajay smiled with a delight he hadn't before, he could see the end of the route here. To get back to reality, he had to kill this giant. He didn't seem to be able to draw out the demon's powers even in this subconscious world, but that didn't mean he didn't have other means of achieving that goal.
Closing his eyes. He thought, therefore, it became real, the Schrodinger's cat metaphorically.
He opened them to find his wargear strapped upon him, every bit of it from his armour to his weapons.
The giant looked surprised and furious at the sight. Clenching its molten hands and flinging it his way, an unbearable pressure built up around where he stood as the fist came closer to impacting the ground beneath Ajay and squashing him like a bug.
In response, he reached into his back and pulled out the instrument which would give two reasons why that giant fist would never pummel him.
(Boom)(Boom) Two powerful shots rang out and impacted the giant's hand and exploding against its fist. As the fist had halted in momentum, the fingers on the molten giant began to crack then crumble to the ground, the giant wailed in pain at the effectiveness of the slayer on it, a magical entity.
Now a ravenous smile leaked from Ajay's mouth.
For he was about to show to Vaas, that by bringing him here to try and use his past to haunt him and break his mental defences…
He got more than he'd bargain for. The hunter had become the hunted.
