Chapter 6: Under Fire
"Get down!"
I yank a musketeer's shoulder down, a red beam soaring over our heads. I trace the beam that goes into the wall, where the apparently magically enchanted walls slowly give in over a period of about ten seconds before the rock starts to glow red, turning molten.
"S-sir!"
"Get to the rally point!" I yell, glancing back over rubble before ducking down again.
"But sir, you need to get back, too!"
I take a look over at Spectre, who is still digging herself out of the rubble. When they attacked, they immediately attempted to bombard all of the towers, thus denying any of us a height advantage. The magic on the walls gave us some time to escape, but not enough time to get clear.
"No one left behind. Go!"
I keep low as I move over to Spectre, quickly lifting what rocks I can.
"You should go, Commander. There's no point for an SMG T-Doll who can't even dodge."
"I don't leave people behind. Now cover me, I'm getting you out of there."
"Commander? Commander, do you read me~?" PPK's voice says, as Spectre has been on speaker so I can hear any incoming broadcasts.
"The commander can hear you loud and clear, PPK." Spectre says as I grunt, rolling over a rather large rock over Spectre's undamaged leg.
"I've been engaged by four of these fire throwers, and we are pinned down on the northern end."
I push over another rock, slowly freeing Spectre's leg. "Continue to hold out, casualties?"
"Two musketeers are dead, one is bleeding, and one is fine."
"Copy that. Springfield, status!"
"No good either, Commander. Red Squad has been engaged and we have one casualty so far. We can't make an opening, there's just too many eyes on our position."
Dammit!
We underestimated the amount of people they were sending. Spectre and PPK reported at least twenty, but it looks more like thirty. Because of that, we don't even have the numbers advantage that we normally get when the musketeers gang up on a target to provide covering fire. It's basically one to one since it's thirty two musketeers against maybe thirty mages, and in one to one with a mage and musketeer, especially at this range… the battle's almost already decided.
"PPK, is there a retreat available to you if we can make an opening?" I ask, finally managing to remove all the heavy rubble from Spectre's leg. "Same for you, Springfield."
"If you would make an opening, Commander, then we may be able to escape and rally." PPK says before being interrupted by some gunfire. "However, I don't know how you'll do it."
I glance at Spectre and bite my lip.
"Sir, I'll do it."
"Was I that obvious?"
"This is the duty of T-Dolls, Commander. Even if I'm injured like this, this is what I was designed to do. Give me the order, and I'll fulfill it."
I pause, hesitating, remembering what it was like to lose a T-Doll, completely and utterly. There were no dummy links here, and not even the potential of a memory backup. If Spectre was obliterated tonight, there would be no second chances. But it's all that we have. I have to put my trust in her, and believe she will deliver us to victory, just like I always did.
"Spectre." I say, my left hand twitching. "I'm authorizing the use of your main weapon. However, please use discretion."
"Understood, sir."
"Hand me your musket, might pack a bit more punch than the pistol I have. We're going to make an opening for Springfield. Springfield, do you copy?"
"Sir?"
"We're going to break open the enemy formation near you." I say as Spectre hands me her musket and ammo. "When we do so, proceed to reach a vantage point that overlooks PPK's position. Do you have it?"
"Yes, I have her position, sir."
"PPK, Springfield will alert you when she's able to provide overwatch. Springfield, direct her as necessary in order to get PPK out of there."
"Understood, sir. I'll await your signal."
"Spectre, let's go. Everyone else, keep me posted if the situation changes."
Spectre and I keep our heads low, ducking beneath debris and occasionally firing a shot to delay an enemy mage from attacking us, once or twice managing to clip someone and I think delivering at least one fatal shot. She's got an injured leg, but she's keeping up. Though, I can tell that she's compensating for her leg.
"What's the game plan, Commander?" Spectre asks as we stick close to the walls, as the center area of the school is still being kept locked up to prevent an easy walk-in access.
"We're going to play rabbit, Spectre. As best as we can, anyways."
"Got it, sir."
"Unfortunately, I'm not very well versed in their firearms, so I'm going to be able to get one, two shots maximum. Don't rely on me to bail you out."
"Should I simply attempt to kill them all?"
"We're trying to buy an opportunity for them to leave, so with any luck the remaining musketeers and Springfield will be able to take them out. If you're cornered, don't hesitate."
"Understood, sir."
"It's more important to me you come back alive than you keep all of your ammo, Spectre." I say as I hold a hand up, peeking around the corner. Springfield and two musketeers are keeping their heads behind some debris, occasionally poking up to return fire, but unable to get a clear shot off. "Three targets, ten o'clock relative to Springfield at twelve."
I exchange places with Spectre, who also peeks around the corner. "Targets confirmed, sir. I'll patch you through to Springfield?"
"Do it."
"She's listening."
"Springfield, you hear me?"
"Sir?"
"Spectre and I are in position. When she makes her move, make your way over to the corridor at your nine o'clock position. We are in cover there."
"Copy that, sir."
Frankly it feels like cheating in how we can communicate like this. Almost like telepathy, as the enemy has no way to know of us being here, as Springfield's communications with us give zero indication of our presence. But I suppose that's our absolute trump card.
And it's what we're going to exploit every single battle.
"On your mark, Springfield."
"Got it! Alright everyone, ready? We're going to make our big move."
I see Spectre tense up, readying to sprint out.
"Ten seconds, commander."
"Copy." I say, looking behind us to make sure no one's about to sneak up on us.
I mentally begin counting down the second.
"—wo, one. Mark!"
"Go!"
Spectre rushes out and I take a knee behind her, aiming down one of the fire mages. Since it's noisy, I wait until Spectre has their attention until I open fire, clipping one of them in the side but not getting a lethal shot off.
"Go, go, go!"
I see Springfield head out of her foxhole, along with two of her comrades that are still living. One of them is carrying the third, despite the reported casualty.
I managed to reload in time due to them providing covering fire, but only one of them manages to land a fatal hit on one of the fire mages keeping them pinned. Springfield also ducks behind a piece of debris to reload while her squad continues to move to my signal, with me simply looking over their shoulders to make sure no one is aiming at them.
"Ha!"
I hear Spectre cry out as she leaps to the left, having used her still good right leg and high speed to dodge a firestream directed at her faster than a human would be able to. There's a distinct sound compared to the musket fire of her own firearm being shot, with a male voice crying out in pain.
One louder gunshot rings out, with the third one dropping dead. Springfield reloads her gun as stands back up, moving to check each of the bodies and putting a bullet in each of their heads as if to make sure they're dead. We're still not sure of the extent of magic, so it's best to be sure.
"All clear over here."
"Sara, check on Spectre!" I say, turning back towards the musketeers who are still in cover and are now checking on their clearly dead comrade. "Get to the rally point. Take her with you."
"Sir… what about you?"
I glance back over at Spectre, who's being helped up by Springfield as apparently she didn't quite stick the landing due to her leg. "I've got to help PPK out. Take the hallways, use them as cover. Sara!"
"Sir?!"
"Designate someone the acting leader of Red Squad, I'm taking you under my direct command."
"Got it! Michelle, you're in charge! Get everyone to safety!"
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
"Stay safe out there." I say, jogging over to Springfield and Spectre. "Spectre, report."
"Eight shots used in that burst, sir. Down to seven in my current magazine."
"Alright. Musket, and open a channel to PPK." I say, holding it back towards her. Spectre accepts it before also nodding, saying I'm online. "PPK, report."
"Still pinned down, only one of them is left up. The bleeding one is unconscious, likely she'll be dead if you aren't here soon."
"Copy. Spectre, Springfield, double time. We're getting them out of there. Springfield, get to a vantage point, I want you providing overwatch and to rain down on them. Get somewhere defensible where you can dodge fireballs and whatnot."
"Understood, sir."
"Spectre, you're with me. We'll continue to snake our way through and free Spectre up. Springfield, when you get up, look for the rally point and let me know what the situation is."
"Will do as well, sir."
"Alright, let's move out. We can still turn the tide."
We quickly move towards our respective objectives, with Springfield getting up to the ramparts of the school and using them to provide cover to us whenever we're engaged by extra fire mages that are seeking out musketeer squads that are pinned down, probably. We've killed three and injured several others who retreated, but no definitive kill count yet.
Fortunately, Springfield's ability to rain fire down, along with her having zero enemy pressure as no one else is up on the ramparts, makes it easy for her to provide cover.
By the time we reach the area that has PPK, I confirm at least six additional fire mage kills. Damn, they must really have wanted this place, huh?
"PPK, we are in position." I say as Spectre and I reach the general, taking shelter behind some pillars that formed a hallway that looked into the courtyard from the east. "Springfield, status?"
"I have overwatch over the courtyard, ready to open fire on your mark."
"Copy that." I then nod to Spectre, who nods back. "Start with the ones closest to PPK. PPK, we're going to make an opening. Authorizing use of your weapon, but try not to go too crazy."
"I'll use four shots at most, then."
"Use more if you have to, but that's a good limit. Springfield, we will move on your shot. Spectre, ready up."
"Understood, Commander. I have the first tar—I see an additional three coming in on our position, though."
"Where?" I ask, glancing behind us to make sure we aren't about to get snuck up on.
"From the west side. What do you want me to do?"
"Change of plans. Spectre, PPK, on Springfield's mark I want you dealing with the short range ones. Springfield, take out the ones in the back before they can become a threat."
"Copy that, sir."
"Of course, sir~"
"Alright, Springfield. On your shot."
I exhale before preparing my own musket, peeking out around the corner. Alright… here we go.
Springfield's shot from the top echoes loud and clear, with Spectre dashing out. I open fire before ducking back behind my pillar to reload.
As I come out again to take another shot, I see that one of the four pinning PPK down is already dead, with Spectre quickly stepping to the side to avoid a fire stream from another one. PPK fires a shot right to the chest of the caster, who stumbles around as his veers off course, right into the ground as he doubles over from pain. This gives Spectre the time to leap in and tackle the mage, where he's quickly taken out.
It's times like this I'm thoroughly reminded of the difference in potential between T-Dolls and humans. A human tackling another human isn't instantly fatal, and there are special ways to kill someone quickly as a human, even in hand to hand. However, ways that would just hurt between humans are amplified with T-Dolls, because of their construction.
Simply put, a fist made of metal is going to hurt a lot more than a fist made of flesh. It's going to hit a hell of a lot harder.
Shots continue to rain in from above as Springfield fires from the top, taking out the two others that were advancing on our position. Fortunately, PPK can make up for Spectre's reduced agility with her leg, as the former of the two easily darts around attacks, misleading the enemy and dismantling their defenses with close quarters combat, all leading up to creating an opening for a fatal shot from her pistol.
"All four down!" Spectre announces as the sound of her weapon firing comes to a close. The last of her magazine, if I was counting correctly, was used in quickly protecting PPK from the last mage capitalizing on her focus on the mage she was killing. "...sorry, Commander."
I emerge from my hiding spot, surveying the area before glancing at the last surviving musketeer. "It's fine, I care more that everyone comes home. Spectre, PPK, help her get them over to the rally point."
"Sir?"
I turn to the last surviving of PPK's squad. "Where's the captain?"
"Her last reported position was the eastern entrance, sir."
"Thank you. Spectre, PPK, go with her. Hold the line at the rally point, keep me updated."
"Are you sure, sir?"
I lean over to Spectre while handing her musket back and whisper so the musketeer can't hear me while she works out who's carrying who. "Springfield, I need you down here, ASAP. We're going after the captain and it looks like the walls are taken out ahead, so we're sticking to the ground."
"Copy, sir. On my way down."
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Spectre asks as I step away. "Wouldn't it be better that we stay with you so you can have more firepower?"
"I need someone to reinforce the rally point. Spectre, PPK, you two have free reign over your weapons now. Do whatever it takes to keep as many of them alive as possible."
"Understood, sir."
"Don't worry, Commander. They'll be alive, trust us~"
I nod to Spectre and PPK as Springfield arrives, likely having found a staircase down she could quickly take to reach us.
"Sir?"
"Let's go. Keep us posted if you run into any issues."
"Yes, sir!" Both of them shout before heading over with the last musketeer.
"Thirteen total down so far based on what kills I think we have…" I mumble as Springfield and I start moving to the eastern entrance of the school. "We're about halfway, but we don't have our own casualty count."
"Most of the kills were from the T-Dolls. I'm glad we found them."
"Same here. We might've lost this one, otherwise." I hold a hand up, signalling for us to stop. Springfield and I then move behind some debris to glance into the courtyard.
It's a fierce duel going on. Professor Colbert…? Yes, it has to be him. That bald head and shepherd-like staff. It has to be him, engaged in a duel with another fire mage, the two constantly circling around each other as they hurl spells back and forth.
However, almost right behind him is Agnes, performing incredible feats of agility and dexterity with a flurry of acrobatics to avoid being cornered as she fights off three fire mages, even managing to reload in the air. However, on closer look, she must have been fighting more, because I can confirm at least two dead bodies near her that aren't musketeers.
"Good God, she's terrifying." I mumble to myself. It wouldn't surprise me if Agnes was actually a T-Doll at this point.
"She's a driven woman."
"Don't need to tell me that twice."
"What's the plan, Commander?"
"It's dangerous to shoot into the crossfire of the mage battle. We should get a vantage point, if one still existed." I mumble, pointing to the collapsed walls. Again, I was told they were supposed to be resistant to damage, but I suppose we didn't account for what exactly that meant, nor do we have an objective measure of how "resistant" it was and what "damage" meant.
"Should I utilize my special firing protocol, sir?"
"Maybe. However, it looks like this mage is focused on Colbert." I say, noting his features that are visible in the firefight. It's exactly as the figure that Colbert inquired about is described. White hair, a scar over his eye and an eyepatch over his supposedly nonfunctioning eye. "If we get in the way, we might attract attention to ourselves."
"Would that not give the professor an opening?"
"It would, but something tells me he wouldn't see the situation as 'defeat the enemy' but 'save the others'. Our attempted distraction would cause him to enter a senseless sacrifice" I mutter back. "We'll intervene if he gets trapped. As for Agnes… while she's in range, I'd prefer to have a better sightline. We could try to sneak through the courtyard, but being sighted by that mage Professor Colbert is dueling might have adverse effects."
I look around the courtyard and the collapsed wall, trying to find a way through. Think, think… alright, we're forced into a reactionary position here.
"Springfield."
"Sir?"
"Prepare your normal weapon. Stay low to the ground and see if you can't find a place with better sightlines to Agnes. If Agnes is in trouble, I want you to open fire. Keep your special firing protocol at the ready."
I see Springfield glance around the immediate area and nod as she goes prone to stay low to the ground as she moves outside our cover. She goes a few feet away before turning to me and flashing a thumbs up signal. I nod in return and peek out to observe the ongoing battle.
"So, Flame Snake, how does it feel?!"
Colbert is silent to the gruff, baritone voice that is practically dripping with resentment.
"You've weakened throughout all these years. Look at you!"
The roaring flames make it hard to hear any reply, but I can only assume that the insults continue.
"Whatever happened to the ruthless inquisitor?"
"He's gone."
Inquisitor…?
"Baaahahaha! You fool! Did you think you'd be rid of your past just by hiding from it?" I can hear Colbert grunt as he deflects another fire stream, careful to ensure it does not clip Agnes as he does so. "You can't hide from them, Fire Snake. I know it still calls to you every day!"
I close my eyes for a second, trying to put the pieces together.
"Yes, let me see it, Fire Snake! I want to see the one who blinded me, who took away my eyesight! I want to see the one who ruthlessly cut down the women and the children in the name of the Founder!"
Wait, if he took away his eyesight, then how is he…!
"Or I'll kill the ones hiding off to the side!"
"Commander!"
I let out a cry as Springfield abandons her weapon and tackles me in order to shield me. The impact is a lot more than what I was expecting due to her construction, but she was probably particular not to do too much damage.
However, I felt absolutely no scorching, no flames cooking me alive. There wasn't even a cry from Springfield if she took the blast for me.
"You wish to see it? Very well."
I glance past Springfield and see protecting us is a massive serpent of flame, which finishes absorbing a stream of fire sent our way.
"My only mistake has been thinking there was a way to save you, Melvin. I had hoped you would be able to see the world as I did."
The venom in Professor Colbert's words is truly something to behold.
"It is true, that there is always part of me that wishes to use force to solve the issue. But the 'me' that burned down countless villages is not the me that stands here today. It matters little if I blinded you that night, because as far as I can tell, you were always blind to the truth."
The serpent of flame quickly darts around the attacker, where an extended cry of pain rings out.
"This… how are you…?!"
"Forgive me, Melvin. I had hoped that I could save more than one soul that night, but I'll just have to settle for less. Goodbye… old friend."
"Good God…" I mumble as Springfield slowly gets off of me, then giving me a hand to pull me up as the pained cries stop, but only with a final swearing of revenge before the man in the flames is reduced to nothing but ashes, if there are any even remaining.
"As much as I abhor violence, there was a strange satisfaction in that." I hear Colbert mutter he approaches us. "Are you okay?"
"Only thanks to you." I say, Springfield going for her weapon. "I assume this is why you asked about me being religious?"
"You could say that I haven't seen eye to eye with the Church of Brimir for some time."
"What an understatement." I mutter, causing him to chuckle. "Sp—Sara, check in with the others."
That was close.
"Yes, sir."
She walks off to the side, presumably to conceal herself from Colbert. I note that there are no additional fire streams or gunshots being heard, so I glance over to check on Agnes—
"I found you."
—only to find her pointing her gun right at Colbert's head.
"Agnes—!"
"You don't know how long I've waited for this."
"It was you, wasn't it?" Colbert asks, closing his eyes before throwing his staff away. "The sole survivor of D'Angleterre. The one person I was able to save from there."
"How fitting that it was tonight that I finally have this chance. You'll finally pay for burning down my village."
"Agnes!" I say with a bit more force to it. I see her recoil slightly, but her resolve keeps her still.
"Ah, Commander. I'm sorry you had to witness this. I'd have preferred to have chalked it up to a kill in the crossfire. Don't worry. Do with me as you will, tell the princess, even. But I want this. No, I need this."
"Don't do something you're going to regret, Agnes."
"It's fine, Commander." I hear Colbert say as he nods. "I've mentally prepared for this, after all. This is a bit of a dream for me too, after all."
"You idiot, you can't just give up on life like that!" I hiss back.
"Don't get in my way, Commander."
"Then why haven't you shot him?"
"Because I have so much more to say to him. Please look the other way if something like this disturbs you, Commander. Besides, you have no right to interfere. This is between the one who murdered that village and the one who will avenge it, you dog of the church."
"If you could, at least properly address me. I am no longer their puppet."
"Quiet."
My voice dies in my throat as Agnes kicks Colbert right in the knee, forcing him to kneel down. She then places the barrel of the gun right on his forehead, so she can look into his eyes for the kill.
"Don't do it, Agnes."
"I can assure you, Commander, that I'm a faster draw than you." Agnes says, likely catching my right hand twitching in her peripheral vision. "You may be an excellent tactical mastermind, but your actual combat skill is lacking, isn't it?"
"Please do not threaten the Commander, Captain."
A new voice. Springfield enters from the side, her normal gun pointed at Agnes.
"Don't worry about the crossfire, Commander."
I nod at this as Agnes glares at me.
"So there was something more to you than met the eye, huh? Ahh, it seems the musketeers will be in capable hands, then."
"You're truly fine with this, aren't you? What about the princess?"
I catch a flash of hesitation in Agnes' eye this time.
"You and I are different people, Agnes. I can't be whatever you are to her."
"Your skills in observation are as sharp as ever. Next you'll tell me the grass is green."
"Do you really mean to abandon her over revenge? Besides, this isn't the same man who slaughtered your village."
I see Colbert's posture lapse slightly, with Agnes' tension in her arm shooting up at his movement. Ah, I see how it is, Colbert. You both want and don't want to be the same person. You want to believe that you've changed, that you're no longer the butcher you once were, yet you still want the guilt of being that person. How foolish. You cannot have both, if you want to claim that one is dead.
Yet, of anyone here tonight, I have the least right to criticize this man kneeling before us, awaiting the execution from Agnes.
"If you want to kill him for it, then know you'll be nothing better."
"Hundreds died by his hand. What's one life in comparison to that?"
"An innocent life is still an innocent life. But remember that you're not the only one bearing that stain. After all, if the princess were to find out about it, she would have no choice but to denounce you. But even so, there would be plenty using it as ammunition against her."
I pause, giving Agnes the time to think it over.
So please, just put—
"Shut up, get out of my head, I'm doing this now!"
—a single shot echoes throughout the once silent night.
So I managed to proofread this in time due to the collab event taking me to brown town as I'm a bit sick and tired of getting boned by 26k attack power units at night. Fun times. Regardless, tried writing a more "in the zone" battle scene. Figured I would make it more that the commander played a secondary role in combat, with Spectre, Springfield, and PPK clearly doing the heavy lifting. I also somewhat tuned up the magic to be a bit more potent since FoZ is a bit loose when it comes to magic, and it makes it so there's actually some risk involved.
With that, I don't think there's too much to say for this chapter. Battle scenes still exactly aren't my forte, so I tried to convey what was going on with the narration based on Oliver's perspective. I feel like once we reach a point though, that you know, he has access to that communication tech that was being researched and other things, that battle scenes will become much more fluid. In a sense that it's less about "I shoot here, duck here" and more we just get to see Oliver's thought process as the T-Dolls carry out their mission. I mostly just used this as a characterizing chapter, regarding how Oliver treats his T-Dolls and the musketeers.
The ending sequence comes a bit out of nowhere if you're not familiar with FoZ, but if you are, you knew it was probably coming. I thought that was fine, considering how Oliver himself is an outsider and isn't very familiar with things, so he's seeing it happen for the first time like those who aren't in the know about FoZ. Thus, he's reacting to an entirely surprising situation and attempting to defuse it despite not knowing the full story. Next chapter should be a little less tense, but yeah, tried what I could for a battle chapter. I don't think I'll have too many of these, though, since it conflicts with what Oliver's supposed to be. I kind of wanted it as a "quick thinking" segment, but oh well. We'll see if it turned out well to you guys.
Also you guys have brought up other T-Dolls coming in. As much as I'd like to put in more, I'm trying to pace/limit the ones I bring in. I don't want to have too many, as I'd like to be able to have some time to focus on the ones I do have, you know? I'm thinking like, five or six tops. Any more and it's going to be a challenge to juggle them all, especially since Agnes kind of fills the slot as another T-Doll. Anyways, I've taken into account everyone else's feedback, so hopefully future chapters will improve on things I missed such as Oliver being kind of distant about Saito. This chapter and the last one were kind of written in bulk (as in, this chapter was mostly written before the last one was posted), so if there seems to be something I glossed over, that might be it, as trying to restructure an entire chapter can be kind of tricky. Anyways, see you all next time.
