Commander Paul debriefed the bomber crews about the mission and learned of the position of the camp. However, they were unsure about the fate of the crates they dropped, as they had to leave right after being low on fuel. Despite the seeming success of the mission Paul elected not to send anymore supplies as they did not have the fuel to send the bombers out again and have continual patrols of the scout planes. The Major once again protested but the Commander was firm.

"Major I'm going to say this once. Even if I did ground the scouts, we only have the fuel to send the bombers out on four round trips. Even if all the missions were successful the supplies would only bring a couple days relief. Those in the camp have to fend for themselves until reinforcements arrive. That is the reality."

With Sergeant Henderson reluctantly agreeing with Paul the matter was settled. Focus returned to the defenses of the airbase. Despite the defense of the airbase being top priority only four artillery guns and two armored cars could be spared from other locations. Machine guns mainly maxim guns had to be the primary means to fight off an attack with most being placed in hastily built trenches but also in the watch towers. Two lines of trenches were completed with a third being dug. The primary means of attack would be the scout planes and bombers which would strafe the advancing enemy. Then the three lines of trenches would come into play. If the last trench line was overwhelmed what aircraft and personnel could be evacuated would, and the base itself would present the last stand. Paul was impressed with the work of his men and became elated at good news from the communications room. Reinforcements would soon arrive.

Levi was bewildered. It was clear that this was another person not of this world. Before he could figure out what to say he felt pressure on his ankle and fell down.

"Show respect heathen!" One of the bunny girls had pulled him down before the girl.

"You all can get back on your feet. I'm not here to be worshipped by you." Said the girl.

Once everyone got back up Levi was finally able to formulate some questions. "Who are you and where did you come from?"

She came closer and grabbed his jaw staring deep into his eyes. "Such fear and confusion yet a sense fierce loyalty and duty keeps the fear in check. Underneath it all an induvial that is compassionate with pure intensions."

"What…"

"I am Rory Mercury the Apostle of Emroy one of the last not to have fallen before the Harvester. Like the others I fled before his might, but I can flee no longer. He must not be allowed to corrupt another world." She let Levi go and turned to the bunny warriors. "I need to talk to Beveren take me to her."

The warriors quickly took her back to their leader who quickly fell before Rory.

"Coward, hypocrite!" she screamed. "You chastise these soldiers who have done nothing wrong, but you flee when your allies needed you most. Now you are the sole leader left to stand against the Harvester."

"My Lady…"

"I am not your savior! You will succeed or perish at your own hand. I am willing to offer you aid but there is a price you must pay."

Beveren looked as if she was about to cry. She wanted nothing more than to be forgiven. "I'll do anything you want please relent from your scrutiny."

"You will no longer retreat to save your own hide. You will turn and face your enemy and fight." Beveren nodded. "You will also free these men and return their weapons to them."

"Wait! I couldn't possibly…"

Rory interrupted her again. "Your stubbornness has caused enough damage. Any enemy of the Harvester must be allied with if we are to stand any chance."

"We've tried to negotiate with them, but they refused. They will turn on us and show no…"

"Enough of your cowardice!" She was having none of it. "If you want my help you will do exactly what I say without question!"

With that all the guardsmen were freed and the tentative alliance was formed.

She then took Levi aside in private. Once they were out of sight, she grabbed his arm and buried her face in his sleeve. "Oh, this is so exhausting!" I'm so tired of putting on a fake face and pretending to be a leader. I just want to abandon everything and wonder this world, but he will not stop until I'm his. I haven't felt this vulnerable since Hardy's proposal."

Levi's mind was overwhelmed, and he no longer cared about giving logical responses. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

Rory released him and laid up against a tree sticking her legs in his direction. She was disappointed about how bland this was getting. "I was expecting you to be more intrigued Private. Aren't you curious about a child exercising such authority and wondering about my origins?"

"The fact that I know rabbit people exist now has made everything else seem moot, but I would like to hear what you have to say."

"Poo you're no fun." She walked up to him grabbed his wrist and moved it slowly to her chest. Levi immediately pulled away taking a few steps back.

She giggled. "Ok so you do have your limits. Now I can make things interesting."

"Regardless of what you are you still look like a young girl and I won't take part in anything lewd you want me to do with you."

She licked her lips and then sat back down crossing her legs. "Well to start with I'm much older than I look. I've seen several generations before your birth, but my past is irrelevant. At this time, you need only to be filled in with recent events."

"You come from the hole beyond. How did you get here?"

Rory sighed. "I merely passed through what was opened, tomorrow I will bring you to those responsible and they we tell you such things. I am not here to answer 'how' but 'why'. In our world there are many gods that seek mortals to do their bidding. In return for such services, they are granted extreme powers and immortality becoming Apostles. Time for them is frozen, that is how I have come before you now. The day I became an Apostle my aging was stopped centuries ago."

"How old are you then?"

She shook her head. "It's clear I'm old my exact age is not of concern to you. While the gods are loved by most, they themselves are not always compassionate. I myself have had a fear and hatred for certain gods…"

Levi was now listening intently. Despite thinking she was powerful he believed she was outlining a mythology rather than tangible beings. "So, you serve one god but resent others?"

She nodded. "I can empathize with those who hate the gods and our enemy is one such example. You know of the great dragon?"

"How do we kill it?"

"It is not the dragon itself that is the enemy but the one who rides it. His real name I will not breathe here but he is referred to as the Harvester. He once served the god Palapon. He was a brilliant leader defeating any army that threatened to upset the balance of the world. He constructed incredible weapons and conjured powerful spells.

He developed and rivalry with the Apostle of Flare and they soon fought brutal battles but with both being immortal one could never kill the other keeping their power in check. However, one day the Harvester defeated his rival so brutally that he was cut to pieces. It was expected that he would scatter the remains so that they could never be reformed but instead he gathered them together. Using an amulet the remains were sucked into it and he gained the powers of his stricken foe. This upset caused Palapon to discard him, but despite losing his original powers and immortality he still retained the powers of the Apostle of Flare.

Resenting his fall from grace he turned against the gods and sought to rid the world of their influence. Many of his former allies turned against him, but despite the formation of a large coalition it was soundly defeated. Most were killed or surrendered while a handful escaped and reformed. Despite this setback many in Falmart still opposed him.

He then hunted down two more Apostles and gained their powers as well. Seeing the danger five of the remaining Apostles led a new coalition against him and victory seemed assured. The Apostles won several initial battles and it seemed like the Harvester would soon fall. The full might of the two armies met outside the city of Rondel and just as victory seemed near for the Coalition the Harvester appeared with his Great Dragon and defeated all five Apostles. The remnants of the Coalition were absorbed into the Harvester's army. Any that refused to give their loyalty were brutally killed. Only a small remnant escaped into the mountains to an obscure group known as the Huguenots known for their healing abilities and compassion. With the Harvester closing in on the remaining forces they were desperate and managed to find a way to escape to your world."

Rory who had told the tale with a distressful demeanor began to writhe on the ground. She let out a gasp and returned to her feet. "He made me feel fear for the first time in centuries. So now you know how desperate our situation really is."

"So, they call him the Harvester because he seeks to harvest the bodies of the Apostles and harness their powers."

"In addition to the abilities I earlier described he is known for his horrid ways of torture. That is why the ones that came to your world fought you so viciously coming here."

Levi let the story sink in. If what she said was true, then there was little that could be done to stop the Harvester even with the technology of Earth so much more advanced. How could this supernatural enemy be stopped? "Why don't your gods just like smite him?"

"It is the responsibility of the Apostles to act on the will of the gods, however I believe the gateway between our worlds is of their will. If the Harvester is killed, then his army will fall apart, he has no one to succeed him."

"We must link up with the remains of the National Guard and see the governor. If you can show him your supernatural abilities and explain what exactly is happening, we can call upon the army and undergo full mobilization."

Rory shook her head. "I cannot."

Levi was baffled. "But why? As far as anyone outside of West Virginia thinks this is merely an internal riot. If you don't act more will likely but killed needlessly?"

"Your people will reject us. They will see anyone exotic as their enemy." She sighed.

"That's not true!" retorted Levi. When I first saw the rabbit people, I couldn't believe my eyes and thought it was some strange trick, but when I found out they were real I realized that anything could come through the void. Yes, many will reject you but just as many will be sympathizers. We only need to sway popular opinion in our favor."

"I'm no stranger to bureaucracy. Its slow and tedious and all the talking only gives the enemy more time to attack and expand."

Levi could no longer hide his frustration. Well, what do you intend to do?!"

A black wall appeared in front of them and Rory motioned to Levi. "Come."

He was shocked at what appeared in front of them. "What the heck is that?"

"Hmph." She passed through and after a brief hesitation Levi followed.

Levi came up to the wall and upon coming into contact with it held his breathe as if he was diving underwater. After a second of blackness, he emerged and saw a pool of steaming water. It was slightly chilly, and he realized they were in the mountains. He next saw Rory with three men behind her. Two looked like people from her world wearing the clothing of the foreigners but the third wore a National Guard uniform. He recognized him as Private Higgins.

"Now we will come to a decision but keep things brief." Said Rory.

"Ross I thought you were ill. How did you get here?" asked Levi.

"I was given a vision and became distraught but worry not my mind has been cleared."

"Well, what did you see?"

He shook his head. "I will say later for the moment listen to what the young woman has to say.

Rory took the initiative. "Now as you all know the Harvester is on the move and he will not stop until he has killed all who resist him and take over this world. There is little to be done that can stop him, but we must do so nevertheless."

Levi frustrated could no longer hold his tongue. "Then what do you intend to do?"

She held out her hand to Ross. "If you don't mind." He pulled out his crucifix and handed it to her. "This is our only chance."

One of the foreigners spoke up. "Did you not see him turn Caron's cross to dust last night? True the relics are of great power, but the Harvester is too powerful for them to be of any use."

"My powers bolstered by the cross will perhaps stand a chance."

"With all due respect Apostle only those that practice our faith are capable of wielding it."

"Indeed, that is why the soldier will use it in battle alongside me."

"Madame I remind you that the rosary is not a weapon to be wielded in battle. It is meant only to heal or for a last defense. Although it seemed like Caron was using it offensively, he merely used it as a last resort. To take it with the intension of killing someone will only lead to corruption."

Levi cut in again. "You claimed several of your kind attacked the Harvester and he killed them all. I don't know much about these powers, but I doubt you and Ross stand a chance. I once again implore you to speak to the leaders of our realm and encourage us to formally mobilize our army."

Rory looked down a moment and then did something that shocked Levi. She removed her dress and slipped into the water. It was all so quick that his mind was reeling on what had happened. "Come rejuvenate yourselves."

The two foreigners quickly joined her, but Levi and Ross held back.

"Goddam it what the h*ll do you think your doing!?" demanded Levi.

"Please relax a moment." She replied. "You've been tense for so long and must take some time to clear your head."

"Not like this! God women show some decency."

"Unless you show your vulnerability to me there is no reason to trust you."

"But you're a young woman!" I refuse to take part in this lewdness!"

She sighed. "If your superiors ordered you to shoot me you would do it?"

Levi rubbed his face and gave a small nod. "Yes." He whispered.

"I admire your honesty but that's the very reason I refuse to go. This world is set for a massive war. It was a war of our creation and both sides will seek to kill and enslave us for our sins. I seek no forgiveness but intend to not go out quietly. I will fight the Harvester and die. It has already been foreseen."

"Foreseen? What do you…" Levi then turned to Ross who nodded.

"She will fight the Harvester and he will slay her."

"Then why do it? This is madness." Said Levi.

She slapped her hand on the water. "This isn't merely a premonition that can be changed on a whim this is my fate. After I am defeated it is up to Ross to use the opening while he tries to steal my powers.

"Nonsense. Ross has already said he won't do it. You killing yourself will not bring closure to what has happened. You must join the United States neigh humanity in stopping this threat. Do not abandon us to our fate." He looked upon the foreigners and then Ross. "Do you all suddenly have nothing to say?"

One of the foreigners spoke up. "We have lost everything and can no longer be recognized a belligerent. We placed our last hope in the Apostle, but the vision confirms what we already knew. We will die. You peoples must take your fate into your own hands."

"What a pitiful sight this is!" Everyone looked up to see Burmilla. Her cat ears and tail were exposed for all to see. "You sound as if you are already dead. We are still perfectly capable of fighting. Rory regardless of how bleak things are you must show strength. You may have forgotten after centuries of haughtiness, but we all know the story of your struggle against the followers of Zufumut. And you Huguenots have you forgotten about your fight with the Catholics and how you were saved?" She then turned to Ross. "You too were the only one in your unit that was spared when the void first opened. Don't you think God saved you for a reason? You can all dig your own graves now or you can listen to this Guardsman."