Hey. Here's your 8th chapter, I won't tell you how many from the end. : P Go and enjoy this marvelous piece of writing I've prepared for you! Ciao.
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Striker slunk out of camp quietly, easily making it past the guards that patrolled the low walls. Not like they would stop him if they did see him, he was a Captain after all and a well known one at that. He crept over the hill, then jogged along in the safety of its shadow until he reached the cave marked as the meeting place.
"Show yourself, Moki," he said quietly, sitting down on a rock. A monol appeared out of he gloom of the cave, hovering near by.
"The General wants your report," came a wispy voice. "Now, he says you've skipped to many check ins and he's shortening your time."
"Great." Striker rolled his eyes, settling back on his seat. "I'm a Captain now, a fairly high rank in their army. All I have to do is wait out one more attack and show me and my men as heroes and we're set. If the Phoenix boy had been back while the Advisor was healing I would've done it then, it would've been easy to get them together without their little helpers."
"So, where is the next attack and when?"
"I don't know. I just have a feeling the way their General has this calculating look all the time, like she's evaluating people and supplies constantly. The only reason I can think of is because she's planning something, but she hasn't announced it yet."
"Will you tell us when it is?"
"If I have time."
"Very well. General Ironfist's orders for you are to take out the original two plus the Advisor as a safety precaution. Got it?"
Striker frowned, his heart strings tugging at the thought of killing Pixie, or even her friends at this point. "Yeah, I got it."
"Good. If you can get here next week at the same time it would please the General, something you need to do right now."
"Fine, I gotta go before they miss me."
"Go, and always be looking for that chance, Striker."
"...I will."
"You'd better if you want to live." Moki faded back into the gloom, leaving Striker by himself sitting on the rock. He sighed and went to the other side of the hill, keeping to the shadows until he reached a few trees that grew outside of the main gate. It was easier to slip into than the side ones, and looked less suspicious if he was caught.
A familiar figure was sitting outside under one of the trees, her voice singing softly as it was carried to him on the wind. "Pixie?" he whispered quietly, hoping not to scare her.
"What? Oh...hi Striker." She turned back to the fields before her, this time silent as the wind gently about them.
"Why are you out here?" he asked, sitting next to her under the tree. "I couldn't sleep, so I took a walk. How about you?"
"Something like this," she murmured, her eyes having a faraway look to them as she let a sigh escape from her. "Between those four, I haven't slept much in the last two days."
"You looked a little frazzled this morning when I dropped by..."
"Yeah, hardly slept last night at all."
"Why?"
"It's a long story."
"We have time, unless you're getting tired..."
Pixie hesitated, hooking her hair behind her ear with her free hand, the other one was behind her cushioning her back from the tree. "I can't really tell you the whole thing," she said slowly. "But something happened between Genki and Holly last night after Tori and Tai were ambushed in that alley..."
"Yeah, although the General didn't do the punishments for those guys this time, normally she does the whippings personally."
"She was catching up on her sleep this morning," explained Pixie, smiling slightly. "I don't think she'll be doing any others any time soon, either."
"Huh? Why?"
"It's hard to say..."
"She didn't get knocked up by her 2nd in command, did she?" asked Striker openly, giving Pixie a small smile. Pixie turned an interesting shade of red as she battled between slapping him and laughing. She opted for both. "Ow! What was that for? You obviously thought it was funny."
"Yeah, but you don't say things like that about Holly and Genki. He's too much of a gentleman to do something like that."
"Right..." Striker could feel Pixie's eyes looking at him and met them with his own, soon finding him self leaning closer than he aught too to her. At the last second he pulled away, jumping quickly to his feet. "I should be going," he mumbled heading for the main gate.
Pixie opened her mouth to say something but stopped, her eyes shadowed by the trees leaves as he disappeared into the distance. "Gomen, Striker," she whispered to herself, leaning back against the tree as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
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Striker mulled over the night before as he wandered around the camp. He was due in an hour to a Captains meeting with the General. No one knew what it was about, but that was normal. Holly didn't tell many people her plans until she was ready to finalize them, and even then the knowledge those who she had told of it was probably very limited. He was willing to wager the Phoenix boy didn't even know what was going on since it was obvious he didn't like fighting.
Going over the figures in his head, Striker realized he had just over a month to complete him mission or he would be hunted by Ironfist forever. And his new order to kill Pixie too wasn't helping him any. He had almost kissed her last night right after he heard the news, what was he thinking?!
Forming a serious or even semi-serious relationship was going to completely mess things up for him. He had learned early on that if you get too friendly with your targets its hard to kill them and then you botch the mission and your reputation is completely shot.
checking the sun, he headed over to the tent set up for these meetings and went inside, taking his usual seat with the other warrior commanding Captains. As General Holly and her second in command, Genki, walked in and took their seats at the head of the table, he noticed that none of the Light Infantry or Clean up Crew Captains were there, something that was very odd.
"You're probably wondering why only part of you are here and why I've called this meeting," she said quietly, keeping face as blank as always. "We need to do something to follow up getting that fort back. There are a number of choices, but I have chosen one of the more daring ones." She paused, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Their moral will be low and frightened after what we did last time, so I suggest we go and besiege the Ingrod Fort."
There were some gasps as Striker glanced around the room in puzzlement. Ingrod wasn't as hard to get into as it looked, he had looted their larders tons of times when he had been hungry. Then again, most of these people didn't have the ability to meld into shadows like he did...
"But General," said one of the Heavy Infantry Captains, "Last time we attempted that-"
"You think I don't remember it?" she asked harshly, backing off when she saw the look in Genki's eyes. "Look, we did suffer quite a blow there, I know. But if can pull this off, there's nothing we can't do, right?" There were murmurs of approval and heads nodding as she stood up and got a map from the cabinets near by.
"Sorry I'm late," said Pixie as she walked in the door. Glancing around the room, she added, "I see you've told them the news. You guys aren't scared out of your mind at doing this?"
"Not really," shrugged Striker, getting dirty looks from some of the others. "What? I had to sneak through their territory to get here after my village was destroyed. It was one of the places I went by, didn't seem like it would be that hard to break into."
"If you think its so easy, then you show us what you would do," said Holly roughly, pushing the map towards him. He could tell she was doing her best to keep her anger in check as he picked up a charcoal stick and began to draw lines.
"I would start here," he said evenly, "And do the same thing you did at the other fort, have liquid cubes come in through the mote and its grating. Then get some together who are good at hiding in the shadows and send them to the side gates to bust them open as quickly as they can. Those usually aren't as well guarded as the main ones. You main Warrior force and Heavy Infantry could be split up between hiding in the forest and attacking the front gates as a diversion. When the side gates are open, have them charge through there and surprise the enemy from behind. Those monsters who can create shield should stay with those in the front so they aren't slaughtered and can actually help. Give them a battering ram or something, I mean then at least if the side gates thing falls through you may be able to force your way in there, right?"
"Is that all?" asked Holly as he paused for a few moments, studying the map intently.
"I think so," he replied, flashing a smile at her. "So, how did I do? Are we using my plan or did I make a total fool of myself."
Genki and Holly exchanged glances, Genki nodding slightly. "We'll use your plan," he replied. "Even though she won't admit it, our dear General had no idea how she was going to get in there." Holly glared at his back, and if it weren't for the fact he was the Phoenix boy everyone knew he would be dead at that point.
"Great. When is this invasion planned for?" asked Striker, settling back down in his chair. "I mean, it'll take as least two weeks to get things off the ground, right?"
"Try one week," replied Holly, looking smug. "We're only using your squads, the rest are staying behind."
"Nani (what)?! Why?!" Holly gave the Captain who had said that a cool look, freezing him where he was.
"If we can pull this off, especially with only half the forces we have here, it'll pull them so low that driving them out should be a cinch. Do you see what I'm talking about here?" Holly smiled for the first time in ages as she went on, describing her plan. "If we do this, we're going after the main fortress. Think about it, in less than two months we could be free once more!"
"I'll do it," said one of the men, and older guy in his late 40's. "I've got a wife and three kids back behind us in one of the forts, and I would give anything to be able to live in peace with them once more and not have to worry about am I going to wake up and find them dead because of some surprise attack that got past us."
"I know some of you others have kids and wives, or want to someday," said Pixie from her seat by Genki. "I for one wouldn't want to raise a child in this sort of an environment. Not that they aren't safe way back in the fortresses and hidden villages, but I'd never get to see them or take care of them as they grew up. You left to help fight just as you last child was born, right Choiji?"
"Yeah," replied the Captain who had spoken earlier. "She was 4 months old when I left, and that was 6 years ago. She writes me letters now with the help of her mother and older brothers. But I missed all of her toddler years, and soon she'll be getting even taller and older. If this continues for several more years, I won't even get to go see her as a teenager."
"This is a very important battle," said Holly, rising to her feet. "I want you to go over your squads and pull out anyone who's too old or is still injured from the lists. Go through the other squads that are going and pull soldiers from there if you must. Pixie, I want a list of all the good Liquid cubes that we have in an hour. Striker, you go through everyone and pick yourself three squads of shadow-type monsters. You have until tomorrow morning to give me the list. Oh, and Genki?"
"Yes, ma'am?"
"You're leading the main charge." Genki stiffened in his seat, looking at Holly's back as she walked out the door.
*sighs* "Yes, ma'am."
"You'll be fine, Genki," said Pixie from beside him. "You did a great job last time, we completely crushed them at the fort."
"Yeah, but we were fighting on our turf, not theirs," said Genki slowly. "Things may turn out alright, though. I hope they did, this is one of those 'win it or not' situations. If we win, we may win the war. If we lose, then our hopes of beating this guy are almost shot..."
"Yeah, I know," said Pixie, leaning back in her chair and staring at Striker's back as he walked out the door. "Look, I have to go get this list done for Holly, ok? I'll see you in a bit."
Genki nodded and waved his hand as she walked out the door, a hundred scenarios playing through his head of what the battle would be like and who would walk away in victory...
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Striker hurried through the camp, having looked at three squads already. He had a couple Night Flyers, which weren't the best as hiding in the dark but would do with some training. He had been informed of a few Ragnaroks in the camp who had been trained to stay in the shadows, but decided to use them as a last defense from their size. He had seen some Black Hengers earlier and was trying to find them right now, and had been told of some Black Golems that were in the Light Infantry that were fairly small of stature. He had looked at a Black Saurian or two, but they shined in the light and would be easy to spot in the dark. He had recruited all the Evil Hares they had in the group, well known for being able to meld in the shadows with their dark skin. Now is he could only find a way to shield their eyes...
"Careful," said someone, stopping him just as he was about to run into a pole. "You need to watch were you're going."
"Thanks," said Striker, looking up to see Genki holding the back of his tunic and the pole inches from his face. "Can you let go now?"
"Sure. Making up your list of monsters?"
"Yeah, you know of any in the camp?"
"I think there's another Silhouette or two in the Light Infantry, females as well, there are some Clays in one of the other squads, I'm not sure which one. Hm, let me see... tried any Black Plants?"
"We have some?"
"Yeah. You've tried the Monols, right? What about some Soboros? Or a Black Worm?"
"There are some here?"
"I think so, go ask some of the other Captains."
"I will, thanks." Striker stopped for a second, glancing over at Genki. "Hey, Commander," he called. "I just have one question. How do you know so much about monsters? You're from another world, right?"
"Let's just say I have my sources," said Genki with a grin. "See you tomorrow at the meeting, Striker."
"Yes, sir."
Striker thought things over as he went, weighing his options as he did. He could just be disappear and be claimed dead at the next battle. Ironfist wouldn't fall for that, though. He needed something that would either get him off the hook or go through with the plan. It looked like killing Genki and Holly as well as Pixie was the only choice he had right now, and it wasn't something he relished the thought of....
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Yeah, I know, its shorter than usual but the next one will be so huge so you don't need to worry about it. *is knocked over as Temi and Ice from the other story run in a jump on her*
Me: Hey! Stop that right now you-"
Temi: When are you gonna write about me? When are you gonna write about me? Huh? Huh? Huh?
Me: Get off of me and I'll tell you!
Ice: No, you tell us and then we'll let you go!"
Stormy: Pups! Where are you? Temi and Ice, its time to go!
Temi: Ah rats,
Ice: Yeah.
Me:*sticks tongue out at them* Ha ha! You'll just have to wait and see, pups!
Pups: Why you...
Stormy: Pups, get back here NOW or you can't play with Uncle Z later...
Pups: *glare at crosseyedbutterfly* Coming mom!
Now that they're gone please be good and review, I did give you three chapters in a week, after all.
~crosseyedbutterfly~