Chapter 26
"Sir? She has agreed."
Nicolae nodded. "But of course. There was no way that Aelis Merquise could have
endured watching her precious baby brother suffer," he said, nodding at the figure on the
floor.
Geoffry was barely clinging onto consciousness. Each time he felt like passing out, a
new wave a pain assailed him, making him wish that he could just die. But the soldiers
of the Neo-Rommefeller were true professionals. They knew how to torture him without
killing him. Now, as his body screamed at him, he managed to discern Nicolae's words.
"Aelis?" he tried saying, but through his bloody and swollen lips, it was more like
an inaudible croak.
Both soldiers turned. "Yes, Geoffry, Aelis. Your dear elder sister," Nicolae sneered,
then waved towards the younger soldier standing at attention. "Clean up this eyesore, and
put him somewhere where I don't have to see him. I'm off to pay a 'visit' to Miss
Merquise."
"But sir, His Excellency has forbidden you from doing so-"
"WHAT?! Since when?" Nicolae demanded, turning around.
"I believe he said that he wanted her mind as intact as possible," the soldier
said quickly. "But I'm sure he would allow you to enjoy her as soon as he was done with
her," he added, hoping to mollify his superior.
Enjoy her?! Geoffry thought, realization dawning. "Oh no you don't!" he tried to
say, struggling to get on his feet. He couldn't even manage the words. When he tried to
move his arms and legs, pain shot through them. "Ugh..."
Nicolae ignored Geoffry's struggles. "Very well," he said furiously, yanking out his
revolver and aiming it at Geoffry, "I'll just-"
"Wait sir! His Excellency has forbidden that too!" the soldier said desperately,
hoping that he wouldn't cause Nicolae to turn the gun on him.
"So he thinks he can order me around?" Nicolae snorted, gun still aimed at
Geoffry. "Well, he has another thing coming!" and he shot Geoffry.
Geoffry let out a scream of pain as the bullet lodged itself in his shoulder. He
writhed around in agony on the floor. Meanwhile, Nicolae looked at him coldly. "If only
your high and mighty parents could see you now," he hissed, cocking the gun again.
"Nicolae, what do you think you're doing?" a voice grated.
Nicolae turned around. "Nothing, your EXCELLENCY," he sneered sarcastically.
The cyborg smiled. "Now now, we must honor our agreement with Miss Merquise," he
chided. Nodding at the young soldier who stood standing there, he said, "Make sure Mr.
Merquise receives medical attention. I need to speak to him later."
"Yes, your Excellency," the soldier saluted.
"And as for you, Nicolae," the cyborg said, "You would be nothing without me.
Remember that. One word from me, and I will have your carcass thrown out into the woods.
Do not forget, I am your superior," he finished, and creaked his way out. Nicolae
stormed out after him, a murderous expression on his face.
Yuri turned around and sighed. Walking over to Geoffry, he lifted the young man's
swollen head to get a better look at him.
Geoffry glared at the soldier. He tried spitting in his face, but ended up choking on it
instead.
Yuri smiled faintly when he saw the spark of determination in Geoffry's eyes. "I'm...
sorry," he said quietly. "I would not have wished it to be like this."
"Go to hell," Geoffry rasped, gagging.
Chuckling, Yuri lifted Geoffry's broken body. "I should have seen that coming," he said
wryly, then carried him to the infirmary.
later...
Aelis collapsed in her cell. Her agreement had caused her "training program" to begin
immediately. She had first been escorted to a lab, where she had been prodded, poked, and
pinched. Then she had undergone trial after trial of flight simulations that left her
both physically and mentally exhausted. After hours worth of data gathering, she had
finally been half carried, half dragged, back to her prison, where she was all too happy
to go.
Just as she had been about to fall asleep, her door opened. She scrambled to her feet,
thinking that it was Nicolae. She had yet to meet him, and she was not eager to.
Yuri walked in with some food. "Good evening," he said politely, looking her over.
He received a nasty slap.
"Back off, pervert!" Aelis snarled, getting ready to lift her hot tea to throw it
at him. Yuri hastily stepped back several steps, raising his hands. "What's this? I
give you food, and you slap me?"
Aelis showed no signs of relenting. "Don't even try it!" she growled, tea in hand. "Did
you honestly think that a simple 'good evening' and dinner, which is probably drugged,
would win me over, especially after what you did to my brother and sister?!"
"What?" Yuri blinked.
"Arg! Don't play innocent!" she shrieked, throwing the cup at him. Yuri ducked,
and the cup shattered out somewhere in the hallway. "Get out! Get out!" she demanded,
continuing to throw various items of food at him. "You want to rape me? Well, I'm not
going to make it easy for-"
This is pointless, Yuri thought irritably. Slamming the door shut, he ducked
around the flying food and finally managed to tackle Aelis, pinning her to the floor.
As soon as she felt his body on hers, Aelis opened her mouth to scream. "No no no!" she
cried, thrashing around. Yuri slapped a hand on her mouth. "Do you mind?!" he hissed,
annoyed, then jerked his hand away when she tried to bite him.
"How stupid can you be?! You're trying to rape me; of COURSE I mind!"
"I'm not trying to do anything besides feed you!" he howled, frustrated. Then
he finally realized what she was saying. "Oh...you think I'm Colonel Nicolae, don't
you?"
Aelis stopped short, blinking, then resumed her struggling. "Well, it doesn't matter if
you're not! All that matters is that you're going to do the same thing he's going to do!"
she wailed, trying not to start sobbing out of fear.
It didn't work. Aelis could no longer hold back her emotions, and tears began to pour out
of her eyes.
Yuri stared helplessly. "Sasha, help me," he murmured. "What should I do? I have no
experience with women, especially not beautiful, blond, young-What am I saying?!" he
finished furiously, shaking his head to clear his mind.
Meanwhile, Aelis continued to sob. This is it, she thought miserably. I wonder how he's
going to start? "Make...make it quick," she choked out through her tears.
She was surprised when suddenly, the weight on her disappeared. Yuri had sit up, and
was...blushing? Then he pulled out a handkerchief and began wiping her tear-stained face.
"Now now," he stuttered uncomfortably, "I'm not going to do anything to you. So stop
your crying."
Aelis was struck dumb. THIS was a soldier of the Neo-Rommefeller? Suddenly, she
remembered Reena's words.
"Look for him...He's kind. He helped me; he'll help you too," she said quietly, and
turned look at him. "You're the one who helped my sister, aren't you?" she asked.
Yuri stiffened. "I won't tell anyone," she added, hoping to calm him down. She knew that
if he truly was the one who had helped Reena, if anyone found out, he was likely to be
shot. "But...was it you?"
Yuri sighed. "Yes...it was me," he whispered.
"But why-"
"Why don't you clean everything up?" Yuri interrupted, standing. "I'll get you a
new dinner."
"Oh...Okay," Aelis said quietly, then watched him open the door and leave.
a few days later...
"Yuri, why do you fight?"
The two were in Aelis' cell playing a game of chess. Yuri only pressed his lips together
as he moved a knight forward.
Aelis sighed. Yuri had simply refused to answer her question. She had found the gentle
young man to be a good conversationalist; in fact, he was better than she, but when it
came to this issue, he would not talk.
Today, however, Aelis had decided that this had gone on long enough; she was going to get
some answers out of him.
Moving her bishop, she said, "Yuri...stop running. I know you're hiding something.
Please...tell me why is it that you fight."
"You wouldn't understand," he said harshly, moving his queen and taking her
bishop. "You haven't gone through half of what I've had to."
"So?" she challenged, taking a pawn and setting herself up for another move.
"What makes you think that I wouldn't understand."
"Aelis, please. Stop asking questions," he said shortly, trying to maneuver
around her trap. "I already told you, you wouldn't understand."
Aelis tried another tactic. "Then why are you fighting this war? Don't you want peace?"
She finally got a response. "Peace!" he spat, viciously knocking out one of her knights.
"Peace, is it? A false peace, bought by the loss of lives!"
"But Yuri, in war, there are always soldiers who die," she said quietly,
capturing one of his knights. "And innocent men, women, and children as well. That's
why we don't WANT another war. So more people can't die. Is that what you want, Yuri?
To cause more grief and pain in this world?"
Yuri shook his head slowly. "No...I don't," he sighed, stretching. "I've seen enough
death as it is." Glancing up at her, he said, "You know, the two closest people to me
were casualties of war. One during the Eve Wars, one during the Himmler/Atkins
uprising. No, I'm not in this to kill."
"Then WHY?" Aelis pressed, leaning forward.
Yuri's head dropped in shame. "For...revenge," he said quietly.
A slap resounded through the small room.
Yuri rubbed his cheek as he looked at Aelis. Aelis was furious. Her eyes flashed
indignantly as she stuck a finger in his face. "Revenge, is it? All of this, all these
casualties, all these deaths, all for your piddling ridiculous little revenge?!" she
snapped.
Yuri chuckled sadly, which stopped her. Shaking his head, he said, "I told you...that you
would not understand..." as he continued the chess game.
Glaring at him and sitting back down, Aelis said coldly, "No, you were right. I DON'T
understand. Not at all."
an hour later...
Yuri stepped back out into the hallway, chess set in hand. He rubbed his cheek again,
which now had a distinct handprint on it.
"Yo! Yuri!"
Yuri turned around. "Will!" he called as a fellow soldier jogged up the hall.
Will grinned impudently. He was slightly shorter than Yuri, with brown hair and green
eyes. Throwing an arm around his friend, he said, "So, how was today? Anything...
INTERESTING happen?" he teased.
Yuri pointed to his cheek. Will winced. "Ouch...Geez, you really pissed her off, didn't
you?"
"I suppose you could say that," he said, walking down the hall.
The two walked for a little more. "Hey, Will. Thanks for covering for me," Yuri offered.
"Don't mention it! And beside, you like her, don't ya?"
Yuri glared at him. "I AM your superior, you know! And you are not supposed to address
me like that!"
"Oooh...SO sorry, Mr. Baron," Will mocked, bowing. Yuri rolled his eyes. "You'd
better not let the Colonel see you like that," he warned.
"Of course not! How stupid do you think I am?" he quipped. Grinning, he said,
"Man, Yuri. Stop being so darn serious! What'd you guys discuss in there anyway?
You're so quiet."
"Nothing..." Yuri muttered, looking down.
Will took the hint. "Hey, it's okay," he said affectionately, punching him on the arm.
"Besides, who needs women anyway?"
Yuri snorted. "YOU can't talk! You've got a new girl hanging onto you at every base!"
"Hey, can I help it if I'm cute?"
"Shut up."
"Yes...SIR."
Yuri just sighed.
elsewhere...
Geoffry lay exhausted on a bed. Even after several days of intense medical care, he still
wished he were dead. But still, it was an improvement, and now that he was healthier, he
couldn't help thinking about his family.
"Aelis...I wonder if you're okay?" he wondered, then sighed, ashamed. "I'm such
an idiot! To think that my last words to her were so cruel...Dad too. I wonder how
everyone's doing? Mom and Dad are probably devastated, and Thomas is probably blaming
himself, as usual. Wuten probably too. And then Eva..."
Here, Geoffry paused, and sighed. "Poor little thing! She's still so young, and she's
caught up in this, just like we are..."
Before he could muse any further, the door opened, and Colonel Nicolae stormed in. The
two glared at each other for a moment, and then Nicolae said, "Let's get one thing
straight, brat: You are alive ONLY because His Excellency has ordered it so. If I had my
way, you'd be torn to shreds and your head sent back to your parents. Understood?"
Geoffry said nothing, though he was tempted to. This must be the bastard who wants to
molest Aelis, he thought to himself.
Nicolae seemed to have read his thoughts. "And yes, His Excellency has also ordered that
I not touch your sister for the time being. But I'm in no mood to take orders from that
old tin can, so listen closely: I am Colonel Charles Nicolae, second only to His
Excellency of the Neo-Rommefeller. Despite his orders, I can still do whatever I want.
If I wish to, that sister of yours is going to be fucked so hard that she's going to wish
that she were a whore on the street, because even THEY don't go through what she will.
So here's the deal.
"You cooperate with us. You give us your little flight data, and I leave your
sister alone. Otherwise, I'll go in there right now, drag her out, and fuck her right in
front of you. And I'll do it over and over; it'll be my pleasure. Got it?"
Geoffry glared at him. "What's up with your obsession with my sister anyway?" he hissed.
"Are you so sexually frustrated that you have to KIDNAP your sex slaves?"
"Oh, you think you're clever, don't you," Nicolae sneered. "Don't worry, your
sister will just be added to the list of bitches I've already laid. But you want to know
why I'm doing this? I'll tell you why. I'm out for my revenge, and I'm going to get it.
I've already sent tapes of your torture to your parents; it's too bad I didn't tape your
sister's rape. I'm sure that they'll enjoy them. And later, after we're through with
you and your sister, all of our mobile dolls will have your data. So each time they fight
us, they'll be fighting copies of you and your sister, and each time they see them,
they'll be reminded of what happened to you two!"
"A little extreme, now aren't we, just getting revenge on my parents?"
Nicolae's eyes flashed. He stalked over to an intercom. "Baron! Get in here!"
A few seconds later, Yuri stumbled into the room and saluted. "Sir?"
"Bring that Merquise girl in here. Her brother's about to have a nice show."
Both Geoffry and Yuri paled, though Nicolae didn't notice the look on the latter's face.
Yuri swallowed hard. "Yes...sir..." he said slowly, and turned to leave.
a few minutes later...
"Yuri?"
Aelis cocked her head quizzically, then flounced to a corner of her cell. "I'm not
speaking to you," she said coldly.
Yuri said nothing, but only went over and grabbed her arm. "What?!"
"The...Colonel...wants...to...see...you..." he choked out stiffly. The blood
rushed out of Aelis' face. "No..." she gasped, her knees buckling. "No no no!" she
cried, hysterical, clinging onto Yuri. Looking up at him, she pleaded, "Please, no!
Yuri, help me!"
Yuri's face twisted in pain. "I'm sorry...I must obey my orders," he said softly, then
dragged her out.
elsewhere...
"You wouldn't," Geoffry said slowly, sizing Nicolae up and down. "To do so would
be a blatant disregard for your orders!"
"Do you think I care?" Nicolae smirked, then smiled as Yuri reappeared, Aelis in
tow. Geoffry's eyes widened at the sight of his sister. "Aelis!"
But Aelis was too petrified to say anything. Maintaining her death grip on Yuri's arm,
she looked up in terror at Nicolae's leering face. "So, Miss Merquise, we finally meet,"
he said casually, then went over to pry her off of Yuri's arm. "You are dismissed."
Yuri nodded, then slowly left the room. Once he closed the door, and turned and ran down
the hall as fast as he could.
inside...
Nicolae's eyes danced with eagerness as he looked at Aelis' terrified form. "Ah...Aelis,
my dear, you cannot possibly know how long I have been waiting for this day."
Aelis still could not manage a single word. Even when he grabbed her and started ripping
off her clothes, she was still too frightened to speak.
"Wait! No!"
Nicolae stopped, both annoyed and victorious. "What is it now, boy?"
Geoffry's eyes clearly showed the horror he was experiencing. "Let her go," he begged.
"I'll help you, I swear. But leave my sister alone."
"No! Geoffry!" Aelis pleaded, finally regaining the use of her voice. "You can't
let these-"
"Aelis, shut up," he said through gritted teeth. Looking at Nicolae once again,
he said clearly, "I'll do it."
Nicolae sighed. "Very well then. I suppose I shall have to maintain my distance for
now." Standing and straightening his clothes, he opened the door...and nearly ran into
Will.
Will grinned at the flustered Colonel. "G'day, sir," he said, saluting.
Nicolae only glared in annoyance at the young man. "Out of my way!" he snapped, pushing
past him. Will rolled his eyes. "Geez...someone's got a stick up his ass," he muttered,
then called over his shoulder, "Coast is clear!"
Yuri poked his head from around the corner. "That was close," he said, breathing a sigh of
relief. Will pretended to sulk. "Aww...I was looking forward to breaking in on Sir I've-
Got-a-Stick-Up-My-Ass Nicolae!"
"Well, be glad that you didn't. He would've hated you even more," Yuri cautioned,
then stepped into the room. "...Are you alright?" he asked.
Looking up, Aelis nodded slowly. "I...I think so," she said quietly. Yuri nodded.
"That's good," he said, then gestured to Will. "This is Will. He'll get you some clothes
and escort you back."
"Pleasure to meet you!" Will called cheerfully. Yuri glared at him, and he
backed off. "Okay, fine! Sorry for trying to lighten the mood a bit," he grumbled, then
extended a hand towards Aelis, "Alright, milady, alley-oop! Let's get out of here."
After Will and Aelis had gone, Yuri turned to Geoffry, "And you?" he asked.
Geoffry was in no mood for pleasantries. "Don't even try it!" he snarled. "I've just
agreed to help the enemy! How do you think I feel?! And don't try winning me over, just
because you've tried to make it look like you're helping my sister. I'm not so
gullible!"
"I know you're not. But just...be careful. Nicolae's not a pleasant person; he
hates you enough as it is." Yuri paused. "Just what did you do to him again?"
Geoffry smirked. "After he caught me, he tried showing me off in front of the entire
Neo-Rommefeller. I tripped him and pushed him off the stage."
Yuri chuckled. "Yes, that would make him hate you." Then he grew serious again. "Don't
make him angry," he cautioned again. "Neither you nor your sister will live to regret it."
"I don't need advice from you!"
Yuri groaned. "It must run in the family..." he muttered, walking out, his cheek
throbbing once more.
"Sir? She has agreed."
Nicolae nodded. "But of course. There was no way that Aelis Merquise could have
endured watching her precious baby brother suffer," he said, nodding at the figure on the
floor.
Geoffry was barely clinging onto consciousness. Each time he felt like passing out, a
new wave a pain assailed him, making him wish that he could just die. But the soldiers
of the Neo-Rommefeller were true professionals. They knew how to torture him without
killing him. Now, as his body screamed at him, he managed to discern Nicolae's words.
"Aelis?" he tried saying, but through his bloody and swollen lips, it was more like
an inaudible croak.
Both soldiers turned. "Yes, Geoffry, Aelis. Your dear elder sister," Nicolae sneered,
then waved towards the younger soldier standing at attention. "Clean up this eyesore, and
put him somewhere where I don't have to see him. I'm off to pay a 'visit' to Miss
Merquise."
"But sir, His Excellency has forbidden you from doing so-"
"WHAT?! Since when?" Nicolae demanded, turning around.
"I believe he said that he wanted her mind as intact as possible," the soldier
said quickly. "But I'm sure he would allow you to enjoy her as soon as he was done with
her," he added, hoping to mollify his superior.
Enjoy her?! Geoffry thought, realization dawning. "Oh no you don't!" he tried to
say, struggling to get on his feet. He couldn't even manage the words. When he tried to
move his arms and legs, pain shot through them. "Ugh..."
Nicolae ignored Geoffry's struggles. "Very well," he said furiously, yanking out his
revolver and aiming it at Geoffry, "I'll just-"
"Wait sir! His Excellency has forbidden that too!" the soldier said desperately,
hoping that he wouldn't cause Nicolae to turn the gun on him.
"So he thinks he can order me around?" Nicolae snorted, gun still aimed at
Geoffry. "Well, he has another thing coming!" and he shot Geoffry.
Geoffry let out a scream of pain as the bullet lodged itself in his shoulder. He
writhed around in agony on the floor. Meanwhile, Nicolae looked at him coldly. "If only
your high and mighty parents could see you now," he hissed, cocking the gun again.
"Nicolae, what do you think you're doing?" a voice grated.
Nicolae turned around. "Nothing, your EXCELLENCY," he sneered sarcastically.
The cyborg smiled. "Now now, we must honor our agreement with Miss Merquise," he
chided. Nodding at the young soldier who stood standing there, he said, "Make sure Mr.
Merquise receives medical attention. I need to speak to him later."
"Yes, your Excellency," the soldier saluted.
"And as for you, Nicolae," the cyborg said, "You would be nothing without me.
Remember that. One word from me, and I will have your carcass thrown out into the woods.
Do not forget, I am your superior," he finished, and creaked his way out. Nicolae
stormed out after him, a murderous expression on his face.
Yuri turned around and sighed. Walking over to Geoffry, he lifted the young man's
swollen head to get a better look at him.
Geoffry glared at the soldier. He tried spitting in his face, but ended up choking on it
instead.
Yuri smiled faintly when he saw the spark of determination in Geoffry's eyes. "I'm...
sorry," he said quietly. "I would not have wished it to be like this."
"Go to hell," Geoffry rasped, gagging.
Chuckling, Yuri lifted Geoffry's broken body. "I should have seen that coming," he said
wryly, then carried him to the infirmary.
later...
Aelis collapsed in her cell. Her agreement had caused her "training program" to begin
immediately. She had first been escorted to a lab, where she had been prodded, poked, and
pinched. Then she had undergone trial after trial of flight simulations that left her
both physically and mentally exhausted. After hours worth of data gathering, she had
finally been half carried, half dragged, back to her prison, where she was all too happy
to go.
Just as she had been about to fall asleep, her door opened. She scrambled to her feet,
thinking that it was Nicolae. She had yet to meet him, and she was not eager to.
Yuri walked in with some food. "Good evening," he said politely, looking her over.
He received a nasty slap.
"Back off, pervert!" Aelis snarled, getting ready to lift her hot tea to throw it
at him. Yuri hastily stepped back several steps, raising his hands. "What's this? I
give you food, and you slap me?"
Aelis showed no signs of relenting. "Don't even try it!" she growled, tea in hand. "Did
you honestly think that a simple 'good evening' and dinner, which is probably drugged,
would win me over, especially after what you did to my brother and sister?!"
"What?" Yuri blinked.
"Arg! Don't play innocent!" she shrieked, throwing the cup at him. Yuri ducked,
and the cup shattered out somewhere in the hallway. "Get out! Get out!" she demanded,
continuing to throw various items of food at him. "You want to rape me? Well, I'm not
going to make it easy for-"
This is pointless, Yuri thought irritably. Slamming the door shut, he ducked
around the flying food and finally managed to tackle Aelis, pinning her to the floor.
As soon as she felt his body on hers, Aelis opened her mouth to scream. "No no no!" she
cried, thrashing around. Yuri slapped a hand on her mouth. "Do you mind?!" he hissed,
annoyed, then jerked his hand away when she tried to bite him.
"How stupid can you be?! You're trying to rape me; of COURSE I mind!"
"I'm not trying to do anything besides feed you!" he howled, frustrated. Then
he finally realized what she was saying. "Oh...you think I'm Colonel Nicolae, don't
you?"
Aelis stopped short, blinking, then resumed her struggling. "Well, it doesn't matter if
you're not! All that matters is that you're going to do the same thing he's going to do!"
she wailed, trying not to start sobbing out of fear.
It didn't work. Aelis could no longer hold back her emotions, and tears began to pour out
of her eyes.
Yuri stared helplessly. "Sasha, help me," he murmured. "What should I do? I have no
experience with women, especially not beautiful, blond, young-What am I saying?!" he
finished furiously, shaking his head to clear his mind.
Meanwhile, Aelis continued to sob. This is it, she thought miserably. I wonder how he's
going to start? "Make...make it quick," she choked out through her tears.
She was surprised when suddenly, the weight on her disappeared. Yuri had sit up, and
was...blushing? Then he pulled out a handkerchief and began wiping her tear-stained face.
"Now now," he stuttered uncomfortably, "I'm not going to do anything to you. So stop
your crying."
Aelis was struck dumb. THIS was a soldier of the Neo-Rommefeller? Suddenly, she
remembered Reena's words.
"Look for him...He's kind. He helped me; he'll help you too," she said quietly, and
turned look at him. "You're the one who helped my sister, aren't you?" she asked.
Yuri stiffened. "I won't tell anyone," she added, hoping to calm him down. She knew that
if he truly was the one who had helped Reena, if anyone found out, he was likely to be
shot. "But...was it you?"
Yuri sighed. "Yes...it was me," he whispered.
"But why-"
"Why don't you clean everything up?" Yuri interrupted, standing. "I'll get you a
new dinner."
"Oh...Okay," Aelis said quietly, then watched him open the door and leave.
a few days later...
"Yuri, why do you fight?"
The two were in Aelis' cell playing a game of chess. Yuri only pressed his lips together
as he moved a knight forward.
Aelis sighed. Yuri had simply refused to answer her question. She had found the gentle
young man to be a good conversationalist; in fact, he was better than she, but when it
came to this issue, he would not talk.
Today, however, Aelis had decided that this had gone on long enough; she was going to get
some answers out of him.
Moving her bishop, she said, "Yuri...stop running. I know you're hiding something.
Please...tell me why is it that you fight."
"You wouldn't understand," he said harshly, moving his queen and taking her
bishop. "You haven't gone through half of what I've had to."
"So?" she challenged, taking a pawn and setting herself up for another move.
"What makes you think that I wouldn't understand."
"Aelis, please. Stop asking questions," he said shortly, trying to maneuver
around her trap. "I already told you, you wouldn't understand."
Aelis tried another tactic. "Then why are you fighting this war? Don't you want peace?"
She finally got a response. "Peace!" he spat, viciously knocking out one of her knights.
"Peace, is it? A false peace, bought by the loss of lives!"
"But Yuri, in war, there are always soldiers who die," she said quietly,
capturing one of his knights. "And innocent men, women, and children as well. That's
why we don't WANT another war. So more people can't die. Is that what you want, Yuri?
To cause more grief and pain in this world?"
Yuri shook his head slowly. "No...I don't," he sighed, stretching. "I've seen enough
death as it is." Glancing up at her, he said, "You know, the two closest people to me
were casualties of war. One during the Eve Wars, one during the Himmler/Atkins
uprising. No, I'm not in this to kill."
"Then WHY?" Aelis pressed, leaning forward.
Yuri's head dropped in shame. "For...revenge," he said quietly.
A slap resounded through the small room.
Yuri rubbed his cheek as he looked at Aelis. Aelis was furious. Her eyes flashed
indignantly as she stuck a finger in his face. "Revenge, is it? All of this, all these
casualties, all these deaths, all for your piddling ridiculous little revenge?!" she
snapped.
Yuri chuckled sadly, which stopped her. Shaking his head, he said, "I told you...that you
would not understand..." as he continued the chess game.
Glaring at him and sitting back down, Aelis said coldly, "No, you were right. I DON'T
understand. Not at all."
an hour later...
Yuri stepped back out into the hallway, chess set in hand. He rubbed his cheek again,
which now had a distinct handprint on it.
"Yo! Yuri!"
Yuri turned around. "Will!" he called as a fellow soldier jogged up the hall.
Will grinned impudently. He was slightly shorter than Yuri, with brown hair and green
eyes. Throwing an arm around his friend, he said, "So, how was today? Anything...
INTERESTING happen?" he teased.
Yuri pointed to his cheek. Will winced. "Ouch...Geez, you really pissed her off, didn't
you?"
"I suppose you could say that," he said, walking down the hall.
The two walked for a little more. "Hey, Will. Thanks for covering for me," Yuri offered.
"Don't mention it! And beside, you like her, don't ya?"
Yuri glared at him. "I AM your superior, you know! And you are not supposed to address
me like that!"
"Oooh...SO sorry, Mr. Baron," Will mocked, bowing. Yuri rolled his eyes. "You'd
better not let the Colonel see you like that," he warned.
"Of course not! How stupid do you think I am?" he quipped. Grinning, he said,
"Man, Yuri. Stop being so darn serious! What'd you guys discuss in there anyway?
You're so quiet."
"Nothing..." Yuri muttered, looking down.
Will took the hint. "Hey, it's okay," he said affectionately, punching him on the arm.
"Besides, who needs women anyway?"
Yuri snorted. "YOU can't talk! You've got a new girl hanging onto you at every base!"
"Hey, can I help it if I'm cute?"
"Shut up."
"Yes...SIR."
Yuri just sighed.
elsewhere...
Geoffry lay exhausted on a bed. Even after several days of intense medical care, he still
wished he were dead. But still, it was an improvement, and now that he was healthier, he
couldn't help thinking about his family.
"Aelis...I wonder if you're okay?" he wondered, then sighed, ashamed. "I'm such
an idiot! To think that my last words to her were so cruel...Dad too. I wonder how
everyone's doing? Mom and Dad are probably devastated, and Thomas is probably blaming
himself, as usual. Wuten probably too. And then Eva..."
Here, Geoffry paused, and sighed. "Poor little thing! She's still so young, and she's
caught up in this, just like we are..."
Before he could muse any further, the door opened, and Colonel Nicolae stormed in. The
two glared at each other for a moment, and then Nicolae said, "Let's get one thing
straight, brat: You are alive ONLY because His Excellency has ordered it so. If I had my
way, you'd be torn to shreds and your head sent back to your parents. Understood?"
Geoffry said nothing, though he was tempted to. This must be the bastard who wants to
molest Aelis, he thought to himself.
Nicolae seemed to have read his thoughts. "And yes, His Excellency has also ordered that
I not touch your sister for the time being. But I'm in no mood to take orders from that
old tin can, so listen closely: I am Colonel Charles Nicolae, second only to His
Excellency of the Neo-Rommefeller. Despite his orders, I can still do whatever I want.
If I wish to, that sister of yours is going to be fucked so hard that she's going to wish
that she were a whore on the street, because even THEY don't go through what she will.
So here's the deal.
"You cooperate with us. You give us your little flight data, and I leave your
sister alone. Otherwise, I'll go in there right now, drag her out, and fuck her right in
front of you. And I'll do it over and over; it'll be my pleasure. Got it?"
Geoffry glared at him. "What's up with your obsession with my sister anyway?" he hissed.
"Are you so sexually frustrated that you have to KIDNAP your sex slaves?"
"Oh, you think you're clever, don't you," Nicolae sneered. "Don't worry, your
sister will just be added to the list of bitches I've already laid. But you want to know
why I'm doing this? I'll tell you why. I'm out for my revenge, and I'm going to get it.
I've already sent tapes of your torture to your parents; it's too bad I didn't tape your
sister's rape. I'm sure that they'll enjoy them. And later, after we're through with
you and your sister, all of our mobile dolls will have your data. So each time they fight
us, they'll be fighting copies of you and your sister, and each time they see them,
they'll be reminded of what happened to you two!"
"A little extreme, now aren't we, just getting revenge on my parents?"
Nicolae's eyes flashed. He stalked over to an intercom. "Baron! Get in here!"
A few seconds later, Yuri stumbled into the room and saluted. "Sir?"
"Bring that Merquise girl in here. Her brother's about to have a nice show."
Both Geoffry and Yuri paled, though Nicolae didn't notice the look on the latter's face.
Yuri swallowed hard. "Yes...sir..." he said slowly, and turned to leave.
a few minutes later...
"Yuri?"
Aelis cocked her head quizzically, then flounced to a corner of her cell. "I'm not
speaking to you," she said coldly.
Yuri said nothing, but only went over and grabbed her arm. "What?!"
"The...Colonel...wants...to...see...you..." he choked out stiffly. The blood
rushed out of Aelis' face. "No..." she gasped, her knees buckling. "No no no!" she
cried, hysterical, clinging onto Yuri. Looking up at him, she pleaded, "Please, no!
Yuri, help me!"
Yuri's face twisted in pain. "I'm sorry...I must obey my orders," he said softly, then
dragged her out.
elsewhere...
"You wouldn't," Geoffry said slowly, sizing Nicolae up and down. "To do so would
be a blatant disregard for your orders!"
"Do you think I care?" Nicolae smirked, then smiled as Yuri reappeared, Aelis in
tow. Geoffry's eyes widened at the sight of his sister. "Aelis!"
But Aelis was too petrified to say anything. Maintaining her death grip on Yuri's arm,
she looked up in terror at Nicolae's leering face. "So, Miss Merquise, we finally meet,"
he said casually, then went over to pry her off of Yuri's arm. "You are dismissed."
Yuri nodded, then slowly left the room. Once he closed the door, and turned and ran down
the hall as fast as he could.
inside...
Nicolae's eyes danced with eagerness as he looked at Aelis' terrified form. "Ah...Aelis,
my dear, you cannot possibly know how long I have been waiting for this day."
Aelis still could not manage a single word. Even when he grabbed her and started ripping
off her clothes, she was still too frightened to speak.
"Wait! No!"
Nicolae stopped, both annoyed and victorious. "What is it now, boy?"
Geoffry's eyes clearly showed the horror he was experiencing. "Let her go," he begged.
"I'll help you, I swear. But leave my sister alone."
"No! Geoffry!" Aelis pleaded, finally regaining the use of her voice. "You can't
let these-"
"Aelis, shut up," he said through gritted teeth. Looking at Nicolae once again,
he said clearly, "I'll do it."
Nicolae sighed. "Very well then. I suppose I shall have to maintain my distance for
now." Standing and straightening his clothes, he opened the door...and nearly ran into
Will.
Will grinned at the flustered Colonel. "G'day, sir," he said, saluting.
Nicolae only glared in annoyance at the young man. "Out of my way!" he snapped, pushing
past him. Will rolled his eyes. "Geez...someone's got a stick up his ass," he muttered,
then called over his shoulder, "Coast is clear!"
Yuri poked his head from around the corner. "That was close," he said, breathing a sigh of
relief. Will pretended to sulk. "Aww...I was looking forward to breaking in on Sir I've-
Got-a-Stick-Up-My-Ass Nicolae!"
"Well, be glad that you didn't. He would've hated you even more," Yuri cautioned,
then stepped into the room. "...Are you alright?" he asked.
Looking up, Aelis nodded slowly. "I...I think so," she said quietly. Yuri nodded.
"That's good," he said, then gestured to Will. "This is Will. He'll get you some clothes
and escort you back."
"Pleasure to meet you!" Will called cheerfully. Yuri glared at him, and he
backed off. "Okay, fine! Sorry for trying to lighten the mood a bit," he grumbled, then
extended a hand towards Aelis, "Alright, milady, alley-oop! Let's get out of here."
After Will and Aelis had gone, Yuri turned to Geoffry, "And you?" he asked.
Geoffry was in no mood for pleasantries. "Don't even try it!" he snarled. "I've just
agreed to help the enemy! How do you think I feel?! And don't try winning me over, just
because you've tried to make it look like you're helping my sister. I'm not so
gullible!"
"I know you're not. But just...be careful. Nicolae's not a pleasant person; he
hates you enough as it is." Yuri paused. "Just what did you do to him again?"
Geoffry smirked. "After he caught me, he tried showing me off in front of the entire
Neo-Rommefeller. I tripped him and pushed him off the stage."
Yuri chuckled. "Yes, that would make him hate you." Then he grew serious again. "Don't
make him angry," he cautioned again. "Neither you nor your sister will live to regret it."
"I don't need advice from you!"
Yuri groaned. "It must run in the family..." he muttered, walking out, his cheek
throbbing once more.
