Tales from the First Panzer Division
Part Two: Negotiations




Mission Log: #8998652371. Colonel Karl Lichen Schubaltz reporting. There has been a recent rash of bandits in Guygalos. Emperor Rudolph assigned us, the 1st Panzer Division, to look things over. But this newest assault, we cannot overlook. There's a hostage take-over in the marketplace across the street from an Oriental restaurant. Well, we got problems. And it's NOT the terrorists.





"Come on, we need to use your restaurant as a front of our operations."

"No no. This is restaurant, business. Unless you're going to sit down and eat, you might as well leave."

"We just need to use your booths."

"Nuh-uh! No eat. No seat."



"That shirt is hideous, Chuckles." Leon stated, looking at the Hawaiian shirt that was covering the Imperial officer uniform jacket. "But it's fitting for you."

"Thank-you, Major." Chuckles smiled, then ate another aggroll. "You see, hotcheeks. The reason the Major compliments me is because I'm not afraid to speak my mind instead of having him read what's inside."

"Pig." Callisto barked, eating her vegetable lo mein.

"You should put some meat into your diet."

"She's a vegetarian." Doc spoke, keeping a straight face. "Not uncommon on Zi but very rare in the Empire. The Empire prides itself on its' beef and pork exports."

"I thought she was a vaginatarian. She doesn't want to swing on the vine with Tarzan." Chuckles sipped his tea, only to be smacked by Callisto.

"Pig."

"Knock it off!" Leon turned around to yell at them again. He turned around and concentrated on the psychic sight of the area.

"What do you see?" Karl asked, looking at him with a pair of binoculars.

"Six gunmen holding rifles, five knife men, four hostages, three grenaders, two incindary devices and a partridge in a pear tree." Leon grinned at Karl, the effeminate colonel slapped Leon's shoulder, smirking.

"You're a dumb-ass." Karl took the binoculars to his eyes and looked out the window. "Well, at least you're right on one thing. We got our hands full."

"Duh." Leon remarked playfully, then turned his attention back to the scene. "What's on your mind, sir... permission to speak freely."

"Granted." Karl went back to sitting down at the booth, putting the binoculars down on the table. "Leon... it's just that..."

"Yes?" Leon scooped some chicken and a baby corn with his chopsticks and slowly escorted it to Karl's mouth. Staring amorously into Leon's handsome face, Karl ate the food on the chopstick, moaning with delight. Smiling, the honey-skinned Major wiped the sauce from Karl's pouty pink lips.

"Well, I.... Leon, would you consider going on a date with me?" Karl's delicate porcelain-like features turned rosy pink as a cute smile found itself on his lips.

"You don't even have to ask." Leon responded, his gemlike eyes gazing longingly into Karl's. "I'd be more than happy to."

"Y-you will!?"

"Yes."

Before Karl and Leon could say anything else, gunshots ran through the streets. A few Imperial officers and soldiers fell down dead, more injured. The First Panzer Division drew out their pistols and returned fire, from a safe point of course. Leon psychically scanned the area and frowned, his attention directed at Karl.

"The hostages are dead, sir. The Knife Men killed them."

"Scheiße.... the bombs. What about the bombs?"

Leon scanned again, his expression grim. "Armed... and ready to explode."

Karl shot off the machine gun, getting a few gunmen in the chests and heads. "Everyone, evacuate out the back!"

Jinx shouted to the lady and the chefs of the restaurant in Mandarin. They rushed out the back, followed by the rest of the Division. Karl closed the door behind him, they ran down the alley as a big boom was heard. The Division hit dirt along with the restaurant patrons, the sounds of sirens and zoids erupted through the streets.

"Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah, sir. Permission to say, let's not do that again." Chuckles raised one hand, huffing as if out of breath.



Mission Log #8998652371: Colonel Karl Lichen Schubaltz reporting... mission: FAILED.




"We couldn't have saved those hostages regardless. The gunmen wanted blood."

"They got it." Karl turned to face his Major, then adjusted his hat, coughing.

Leon pushed his glasses back on his nose with his fingers, his exotic beauty best observed in this light. Karl blushed more, he cleared his throat again, trying to hide the fact that his thoughts aren't exactly G-Rated. Leon smirked and took Karl's hat off, then gave him a good hair ruffle.

"Trust me, sir. We'll have a good time."

"I hope so." Karl's delicate eyebrows scrunched together in frustration. "I wish I had a break, all others get theirs. I just want to spend time kicking back and relaxing. I hadn't have a long-deserved break since I first became Colonel."

"Rudolph expects more from you." Leon and Karl walked down the hallway of the base toward the main doors. "You are the LEGENDARY Karl Lichen Schubaltz."

"I-i know." Karl moaned, putting his arms behind his head. "But a soak in a hot, lavender-scented, bubbly bath while listening to Mozart wouldn't hurt."

"Oh Karl..." Leon twisted his body to face Karl, his hands on his milky cheeks. "Don't worry, you'll get your wish."

"Major Aethelwulf." Two soldiers with dark blue tassels rushed up and saluted in a frantic pose. "Y-you're needed in the Arcane Lab."

"Can't you see that this is my off-time? Oh well, I guess it can't be avoided. How about we going on that date tomorrow?"

"Sure." Karl held his hat with his hands, his slender fingers gripping the brim tightly.

Deep down inside, Karl was fuming mad, he shuffled back to his quarters and threw his hat against the bed. Taking off his uniform and then the shirt underneath, Karl went straight for the bathroom. His hand turned both nobs simutaniously and let the water get to its' proper temperature. Slipping inside the shower, Karl slid the glass door closed, letting the warm water hit his body. He squirted the shampoo in his hands and lathered his hair thoroughly. Then Karl tipped his head back to let the water and the suds rush down his trim, athletic body. Opening his eyes for a few seconds, the Imperial colonel was about to break into a fit of shakes that came when he felt defeated. Slamming his hands against the walls, tears came to Karl's gemlike green eyes.

"I'll never be able to confess my feelings to Leon at this rate! Jinx had already asked him to lunch once...!!" Karl began to shake again, shaking with emotional defeat. Opening the glass curtain, Karl went to step out of the shower but before he knew it, he fell down in the tub, bumping his head along the way. This knocked him out cold, but he didn't fall alone. Two hands turned off the water, and two loving arms scooped him out of the shower, wrapping a warm blanket around Karl's naked body. The figure in question carried Karl to bed, then patched up his headwound carefully.



Karl opened his eyes to see that it was daylight and he was lying in bed, wrapped in blankets. There was a cloth on his forehead and bandages on the bump on his head. Looking around, he saw no one in the room, and his uniform was folded neatly on the chair beside him.

The door opened and Leon stepped into the room, seeing Karl in his condition. He frowned and dropped his mission report.

"What happened?"

"I...."

"You don't remember, do you?"

"N...no..." Karl spoke weakily through dry lips.

"...I'll hold off on the mission report until you are well enough to take it."

"Leon..." Karl reached up to take Leon's hand. "Stay with me."

Leon smiled and set the folders on the table, then sat on the bed beside Karl. "Of course, Karl. I'll stay with you as long as I can."




-Continued-