Orange Star: A revised history

Commanding Officer Mel

Disclaimer: I still don't own the company that made Advance Wars but I do own a copy of the game as usual.

Author's note - And anything that is in Romanji or Pinyin and base Cantonese will be translated, or stated otherwise. Read And Review! Also . . .this'll be a transition chapter more than anything else, as will the next one . . .once I get to it. Zank you.

". . .what . . .what is this place?" Sami asked as she looked around the relatively secluded island.

". . .I dunno . . .it gives me the creeps." Andy said.

". . .hmm . . .I don't wanna know . . ."

"Hey . . . what's goin on? Looks like there really is fighting."

Place: Unknown island

". . .I shall deal with this once and for all." Eagle said.

"Eagle!" Came a shout on the com-link.

"Huh? Who's there?"

"It's me, Mel."

"What do you want?"

". . .looks like you've got a score to settle."

"Yes I do."

"Allow me to lend you a hand."

". . .you?"

"There's something that has been bothering me for the past few years . . .and finally, I think we've reached the end of this puzzle."

". . .indeed we have. Where are the others though?"

"I left without telling them. It pains me so . . .but I have to do something about the man in black and his clones."

"Agreed. I shall take to the skies. You try to take the enemy's headquarters!"

"All right then. Let's rock!"

Place: Orange Star outpost

". . .where'd Mel go?" Sami asked looking around.

"I dunno . . .haven't seen him lately."

". . .aren't we supposed to be dealing with the fighting over there?"

"Yeah . . .but the thing is . . .our orders are to remain here on patrol."

" . . .who issued them?"

"Nell did."

" . . .weird . . ."

"What's even weirder is we're short a few units . . ."

"Huh?"

"Yeah . . .some naval battalions and then some have gone somewhere."

"Ah . . .probably isn't important."

Place: Unknown location

". . .Grit!" Sonja shouted.

"Howdy Sonja. How y'all doing?"

"I've finally tracked down the man in black. I need you to tell Mel and his friends some info I found."

"And what might you be doin' in the meanwhile?"

"I need to check something more. Don't worry. I wouldn't do anything foolish."

"You wouldn't be tryin' to pull the wool over my eyes now would ya?"

"Of course not Grit. You'll tell them won't you?"

"Well, I reckon I have to. Stay put now. I'll be right back."

"Ah . . .Grit's always managed to be more useful than me." Sonja sighed.

Time: Days later

Place: Battlefield against Andy's Clone

". . .eat this!" Mel shouted invoking Destruction Strike and finishing off the remaining black troops. "DIE!"

Place: Green Earth HQ

". . .was that it?"

"I think so Eagle." Mel replied, looking slightly drained. "I think that's the last of them."

"Eagle!? Mel!?"

". . .what the . . .?" Mel turned to see Sami running into the room.

"What are you doing here!? Why'd you just vanish for a couple days!? It's rude!"

". . .um . . .what are you doing here? I thought I strictly had Nell change the orders so that you guys wouldn't be involved . . ."

"Well . . .we kinda thought it was fishy . . .that, and you kinda went missing for a couple days was a dead give away." She frowned.

"Ah . . .sorry."

"Hmph. Well . . .we're to continue or pursuit of our foe . . ."

". . .hmm . . .at least you didn't have to see our last foe."

"Huh?"

". . .it was Andy . . .in a sense." Mel said, still rather troubled himself. "I knew that there were clones earlier on . . .but I didn't expect them to be this . . .bad."

". . .huh . . .well I didn't know . . .that's kinda . . .scary." Sami said.

"Hmm . . ." Mel nodded. "Huh . . .what's going on?" He looked outside. ". . .what the? There's more of them coming!"

". . .Mel, let me handle this. The rest of you go hunt down our foe. I shall hold his minions back."

". . .I'm staying." Mel said.

"No . . .they need you now. "

"Yeah . . .Mel, let's go. I think you've got more of a score to settle with the man in black than with Andy clones."

". . .true. All right Eagle, I leave this in your hands. Stay alive okay?"

" . . .I'll see what I can do. But they won't find me easy prey!"

"If you don't make it out alive, I'll kick your ass." Mel said as Eagle signed off.

". . .um . . .you know, that's actually impossible, if he's dead you can't really go kick his ass . . ." Sami said.

"Ah . . .stop ruining my fun 'mi."

"Whatever . . .let's go then. I think this'll be important." She argued.

"Ah . . .fine. Where are the others?"

"Waiting for you outside. Let's go before those clones get to us!"

"All right. Let's move."

Time: Days later

Place: Another unknown region

". . .where . . .are we?" Sami asked Mel.

"I told you . . .I don't know. But this place gives me the chills. I can feel something malignant in the air."

". . .yeah . . .I can feel it a bit too . . ."

'Mel . . .there is definitely something amiss here.' Dark said.

'Really?'

'Yeah . . .I know it. And I have a really bad feeling about it. Don't do anything rash.'

'Gotcha . . .'

'Well . . .you and your girl . . .do your thing. I'll keep watching from here.'

'Okay.'

"Sami?"

"Yeah?"

"Tell Max he's in command. I don't think either you or Andy can do this."

"What?"

"It's true . . .you both don't have the attack capacity that he has."

"Okay . . .fine." Sami nodded reluctantly. "I'll tell him."

Time: One week

". . .ugh."

" . . .what?"

". . .I hate this place." Sami said.

". . .why?"

" . . .I can't shake the feeling that there's something wrong with this island."

' . . .the time is nearing Mel.'

'Huh . . .what do you mean?'

' . . .I cannot say . . .but I fear there is definitely something amiss. I wish there could be more that I can do . . .but I remain trapped here.'

'Don't you have a true body or something?'

'Perhaps. However . . .I cannot be unleashed . . .not now.'

'What does that mean?'

'You shall see when it is time. Then you may or may not understand the consequences of future decisions on your part.'

' . . .bah . . .that doesn't mean a thing to me right now.'

'If it doesn't mean a thing, it doesn't mean a thing. Now then . . .deal with whatever is left. Your foe is losing as of now. You must hurry and continue your offensive.'

' . . . fine.'

'I shall speak to you again when I have to.'

"Mel? You look like you're in space again." Sami said.

"Uh? Oh . . .sorry."

". . .don't zone out like that. It's important that you concentrate on the battle right now!"

"Yeah . . .yeah . . .okay."

"Hmm . . ."

"What?"

". . .I don't know . . .but I have this feeling something should have happened by now."

"Oh?"

"Yeah . . .maybe it's just me."

". . .who knows?" Mel shrugged.

"Yeah."

Time: Another week

"Well . . .was that it Max?"

"I'm pretty sure it was. He's out of men and there doesn't seem to be anymore of them heading our way."

". . .good to know."

"Whoa! You guys! I reckoned y'all be here!" Grit said running in.

". . .how'd you get in here!?" Mel said in surprise.

"Ah . . .I snuck in when the guards weren't looking. Listen up! I found the snake's hidin' place!"

"Huh . . .then this isn't . . ." Max started.

"That's just the tip of the ol' bastard's tail."

"Dammit! That wasn't the real thing?"

"Don't count on it. All the functions of the HQ have just shut down." A tech said.

". . .Damn!" Max swore.

"Shit! I just remembered."

"What's the matter cowboy?" Mel asked.

". . .Sonja's in a fix!"

". . .huh!?"

"I know I shoulda went with her . . .but I think she's gonna go and try to take on our foe by herself."

". . .that . . .idiot . . ." Mel said softly "We'd better get there fast then!"

Time: Nearing September

Place: Location of Black Hole Fortress

"So . . .this is the Black Hole." Mel said. "So that's what they're called."

". . .yeah . . .still gives me a sense of . . .ugh." Sami shuddered.

"Let's go . . .Sonja's in danger!" Grit said lighting a new cigarette.

". . .do you have to smoke here?" Mel asked.

"It calms my nerves . . ."

"Fine . . ."

Place: Black Hole Fortress

"So you've been causing all this trouble. The one behind all this . . .chaos." Sonja said, as she slowly approached the man in black, who had his back turned to her. "Do you have a name, man in black, or shall we call you the disaster?"

"My name is Sturm."

"Well then Sturm, we've finally hunted you down. I know Mel would love to get his hands on you, but I've beaten him to it." She said pulling out her gun. "Time to pay the piper as they say."

"Hunted me down? You've done nothing but enter the door I opened for you foolish girl."

". . .what!?"

"Did you think I didn't notice you little girl? You and your pathetic strategy games! Is that all you're good for?" Sturm said standing and facing her.

"What!? But . . .that's . . . you couldn't . . .are you saying you knew all along?" Sonja paled. 'Dammit . . .I'm in trouble . . .'

". . .you've made one stupid mistake after another. Did you think you're a match for me? You fool! And once I've dealt with you, I'll deal with your beloved friends as well. It's time to put an end to this farce. Time to pay the piper was it? Well then . . .I hope this'll be enough. Black Hole!" Sturm grabbed Sonja and she was sucked into a vortex of destruction.

Place: Outside Orange Star HQ

Mel sat outside on a crate wondering what was going on, as the sound of rushing air was heard and the dull thud of something hitting the ground.

". . .what . . .the . . .?" Mel turned to look at the main gate. "Huh!? Holy . . ." There was Sonja, sprawled face down on the ground in a pool of blood. "SONJA!!!"

"Mel-nii . . .I'm . . .so . . .sorry . . .I couldn't . . .I couldn't . . ." She groaned as blood slowly trickled out of her mouth.

". . .Sonja . . .dammit . . ."

"I'll . . ."

"Sonja!?" Grit shouted as he saw what had happened from the inside.

"Grit . . .? I'm so sorry . . .take . . .take everyone and leave. The enemy . . .Sturm . . .he's more powerful than I imagined . . .that's . . .that's how he was able to beat Mel . . ."

". . .Sonja . . ." Andy said as he walked out. "Sonja!? Urgh . . ."

". . .Andy . . .I'm . . .sorry. You all have to leave . . .now . . ."

"Who's gonna run? He's gonna pay for what he did to you! Right Mel?"

" . . .of course."

"Heh . . .you're both right. There aren't many people that piss me off like this fella. We can't let him get away with it. I'll lend y'all a hand."

". . .who dares lay a hand on my daughter!?" Came a fierce voice.

". . .fath-fath-er . . ."

". . .whoa! How'd this guy get here!?" Max said in surprise.

"Whoever dares to harm my precious daughter shall be cut to ribbons!"

". . .hmm." Mel nodded. "I duly agree your highness." Ah! Mel! Are you well?"

". . .just fine. But the task at hand! Sturm is going down! Everyone ready?"

"Yeah!"

"Let's move then!" Mel said, pointing at the tall ominous building in the distance. "Our objective . . .take Black Hole HQ!"

End of chapter