I glanced up from my work as Iyana entered. She looked a bit more withdrawn than normal, but I knew better than to question her. She and Larou were working with the notes he had taken while Juuhachi-gou had told her story. We still had a few important questions to ask, but they could wait till morning. The three of us weren't planning on resting any time soon; in fact our day had just begun. The Demons preferred the night, so in an effort to keep up with them, we too have become creatures of the night. Normally Larou, Iyana, and I take overlapping ten-hour shifts during the day, ensuring that there will always be someone competent available should an emergency arise. In fact I probably would not have been up until about an hour from now had our scouts not reported the raid on Juuhachi-gou's resistance cell. Such news was more than enough cause for Iyana to summon both Larou and myself to the main hall. When we had word that a blond female was seen fleeing in our direction it was all prompting I needed. When I realized I could not sense her ki I knew exactly whom I was dealing with. So estimating from where our scouts saw her heading, I choose the nearest surface access and it seems that luck was with us tonight. She literally stumbled right into my arms; I couldn't have worked it out any better if I had planned it in advance. But even with the small lucky streak we seem to be having this definitely wasn't the time to get overconfident. There was lots of work to do, the most important of which was to make certain that we remained undiscovered. With all the patrols that were undoubtedly in the area I had to keep a tight lockdown. Although few people ever ventured out onto the surface, there were many ways both in and out, I had to make sure they were all secure. Even one breach could cost us everything, and we still hadn't discovered exactly why Golgotha was so afraid of Juu-san. Could it be because of that dream she had? But how could he have known anything about it? Maybe the Angel's appearance is what led him to her. Well there's no use worrying about it now, there's only one person who can answer all the questions that have been haunting me all these years, and she's off in lullaby land.
"Sir, we have reports from all stations."
I glanced up from my work. "Report Larou," I said in what I hoped to be a commanding voice.
"The Demon activity is very heavy, Hell Hounds patrols are everywhere. There have also been reports of Lord Golgotha and a large entourage of Demons that have been hanging around north entrance 28 where they lost track of Juuhachi-gou-sama. There are also scouting parties of the flying Soul Seekers who are..."
"This is beginning to look very dangerous, are you really certain that she has information that is worth this risk?" As always Iyana's sense of tact was about as gentle as a grizzly bear.
"Look Iyana, I understand your concern. We have all worked very hard to keep these people safe but we can't hide forever. Someday we will have to face the Demons head on and right now Juu-san is the only one who can give us even a glimpse of victory. So, in a word yes, she is worth it."
I could see that she greatly disapproved but chose not to pursue the discussion any farther.
"As I was saying the Soul Seekers are making constant airiel patrols over a ten mile radius of the surrounding area. Many local villages have also been tortured for information."
I considered these two developments carefully; the Soul seekers were a dangerous group. If anything they most resembled the giant vampire bat/human hybrids that corny horror movies depict, although those slobbered a lot more. True they had very keen eyes and were quick to find their prey, when morning came they would have to retreat to their nets in the hills. Unfortunately, they were the only ones who could not function in the sunlight, what little we had anymore. It seems that in an effort to make themselves more comfortable on our blood stained land, the Demons have been working for many years to block out the sun. So far they've only been able to dim it slightly, but no one around here can remember what the bright summer sun felt like anymore. I sometimes wonder if the sun is like our mascot, like it signifies our position in this war. It started out bright and strong but now it's slowly fading. Just like our hope, once bright and powerful, now weak and flustering.
'Oh Kami Juu-san please have a new hope for us. These people won't last forever in this artificial, sunless world. They need light, I need light. Please, we need something and we need it soon.'
"Gohan-san... are you alright?"
"Hmm? Oh gomen Iyana, I was just thinking about something. Now are you sure that there is no way that any of the surface entrances will be found?"
"As certain as I can be given the circumstances sir. The only way I can see that the will find us is if they sense us, but as it stands the ki shield is in excellent condition and running smoothly. Although you never know what kind of power these fiends have we would best be on our guard and continue exercising caution."
"Very well then carry on"
"Of course sir" Iyana replied respectively before taking her leave to coordinate the lock down.
"There is nothing to worry about Gohan-sama, We've battered down the hatches and those foolish Hellspawn won't even find a trace of us. If I were you I would retire for the night and continue questioning Juuhachi-gou-san in the morning. With Iyana and myself running things you have nothing to worry about."
"Perhaps, then again maybe Iyana was right about our overconfidence, it can be a very dangerous thing especially with the enemy so near. And even after all these years we still don't have even an estimate of their full power, I think it is best if we do not give them any chances."
"As always Gohan-sama I am certain that your wisdom is sound, therefore I shall endeavor to deserve the trust you have placed in me. If you have even the slightest concern for our safety you have but to ask and I shall do what must be done at once."
"That's very nice, thank you. What I could use right now is someone to help me with this paperwork, it's just pilling up with all the reports that we're receiving."
"It would be my pleasure sir."
I barely suppressed a sigh, 'six years I had been working with Larou and he still acts completely formal. I suppose It's just a bit more obvious now after getting used to the way Juu-san, at least she wasn't as cold as normal, the raid must have shaken her up a bit. I hope she's alright because we don't have any time to waste, Golgotha is out there and our hope is still dim.'
The door flew open suddenly creating a small gust that threw all my carefully sorted reports around the room. Unfortunately that was the least of my worries.
"Sir it's the Hell Hounds, I don't know how but they have found us. We must evacuate immediately, there is a pack of them coming down east entrance 12 and they are headed towards the citizens quarters." Although Iyana didn't raise her voice, she was obviously quite flustered not at all like her usual self.
"Kuso! We have to evacuate now, but if we do the patrols on the surface will catch us. Oh Kami, we have to get Juu-san out of here now, she's our top priority. As for everyone else, tell them to run every man for himself. Maybe, just maybe if enough people leave out different exits, there might be a chance some of them will make it. Come on there's no time to waste!"
With that I rushed out of the chamber and towards my room. There was no way I was going to let them have Juu-san, not after everything she's been through, and definitely not when we're so close the key to victory.
'But how did they find us so easily?'