Reason to Live
Chapter 10: Final Duel
March 6th,
Rome, Near St. Peter's Basilica, Apartment no. 5, 12th floor
1335 hrs
(Frederick's P.O.V)
"Is that all you got? I've seen a 14 year old do better than you, Giorgio!"
"Oh? Are you talking about Triela? She's a fine girl indeed. After I'm finish with you…Frederick, is it? I want to see her face running with tears for the lost of her beloved boyfriend!"
"Go ahead and try!"
-1 Hour and 30 minutes earlier-
March 6th,
Social Welfare Agency
1200 hrs
Looking back, lots of things happened to me. From the time I'm founded alive in the Piazza di Spagna, to the time where I first join the agency as a junior operative. Koch is the person who saved me from my misery of having the inability to walk and touch by giving me this mechanical body. Then I met my 'sisters'. Henrietta, Rico, Claes, Angelica…
…and Triela.
"Hey…Triela…"
"Yeah?"
"…Will you…keep my dog tag?"
"What? W-why?"
"…I have this strange feeling I won't survive this mission…"
"Frederick…"
"Will you keep this... incase I didn't survive?" I hand over the dog tag to her. She receives it, but still hesitates on keeping it.
"…I-I don't know…"
"Please…?" she pauses and sighs
"…ok…but promise me you'll come back alive!"
"…I will. I promise."
I don't know since when, but after Koch's death, I had lost my will to live…until she came to my room that night and comforted me. Now, all I want to see from her is her smile each day; with no drawbacks or fakeness, I just want to see her smile…
That's my reason to live…
To see Triela smile…
To protect Triela…
-Present-
March 6th,
Apartment no. 5, 9th floor,
1345 hrs
"Damn it!" I duck to cover as three shots from Giorgio's Dessert Eagle pierce through my right leg. His shots were accurate and deadly.
"How's that feel, boy?" he asks as he reloads his pistol. I can tell from the 'click' and 'clack' sound the pistol makes
"Heh…this isn't over!"
The shoot-out continues soon after I break my cover and start hitting him with my dual Mauser. The building is slowly being engulf by fire from the first explosion as the duel continues on. Time is running out...
-30 Minutes Earlier-
March 6th,
Apartment no. 5, 9th floor,
1300 hrs
"Ninth floor, clear!" I holler while reloading my StG 44 Assault Rifle.
Ninth floor…the building is crowded with Padania members and the remnants of the officer who participated in the attack on the Social Welfare Agency. Rico's on standby in the building across the street with her sniper rifle, assisting us on clearing rooms in the 10 story apartment. Hillshire requested to the SWA's higher ups that only Triela and I should go and clear things up. He knows that I'm supposed to be the only one to go; and that I want to. But he also knows that Triela can't stand to see me battered up for the second time. As decided, he requested that only he, Triela, and I will be participating on this mission. The SWA decided to send Rico as well however for support and back-up.
"Frederick, cover our six! We're moving to the tenth floor!" Hillshire orders as he move up to the tenth using the last set of staircase leading up.
I catch up with them a minute later after I make sure that no one's behind us. As I move up to the 10th floor, an explosion occurs below us; shaking the building. Jean reports that a bomb had just exploded downstairs, igniting the fuselage line, the gas that runs through the building. He said he'll be sending the Fire Department, the Police Department, and the Medical Department incase something unexpected happens.
"I copy Jean. Expect the Fire Department, the Police Department, and the Medical Department to come on our assistance." I reply using my intercom as Hillshire and Triela readies themselves for the last room take-down. I prepare myself as the first inline
"Ready?" I ask
"…Don't be reckless now…" Triela stated as she takes deep breaths before I charge in. Grinning, I reply:
"I won't."
"Wait!" Call Hillshire as I was about to charge into the room "I'll be first."
-Present-
March 6th,
Apartment no. 5, 9th floor,
1350 hrs
"AAAKKGGHH!" I scream as five shots from Giorgio's Dessert Eagle hits me, sending me slamming the wall before I manage to get back on my feet and dodge two shots
"Hah! Got you! How's that now, kid?"
"Heh…" I start taking deep breaths as blood leaks through my chest before it stops the minute after "It tickles!"
Immediately, I leap out of cover and waste no time to find him as both of my Mauser starts blazing. The clock is ticking...
Will I be able to make it out alive...?
-15 Minutes Earlier-
March 6th,
Apartment no. 5, 9th floor,
1315 hrs
An explosion suddenly occurs as Hillshire kicks the door open, sending him back to the walls. The door is booby trapped with H.E grenades. Hillshire suffer severe wound from the blast, but is still alive. Through the door, stands Giorgio Adriani, the bastard who's been on the run for months, the bastard who attempted most attacks on the SWA…
The bastard who kill Koch…
"Triela." I call her while facing Giorgio "Take Hillshire down stairs to be treated for his wound."
"But what about…?"
"I'll take care of him. He's mine…" No replies came from Triela. Only sounds of rustling cloths; movements "Frederick…you are the most stubborn, most reckless boy I ever met!" is a reply that came from her mouth
"…but…you are the person most important to me. You promise you'll come back alive?" she asks as she lifts Hillshire on her shoulder
"…When is the last time I lied to you?" I reply chuckling as I approach her
"…Promise me Frederick…promise me…" I move closer to her and kiss her tears before we kiss passionately for a moment before I break off the kiss. "I promise."
With that said, she smile softly and walk away from the scene as I return to face Giorgio Adriani
"…So…you must be Frederick, the only boy in the Agency's assassins…" he stated
"That's right Padania. I'll pay for what you did to my sisters and Koch!"
"Ahh…so that old man that saved you is named Koch…what idiot is he to save a tool like you!" anger starts flowing through me soon after as explosions starts ripping the room and fire starts scorching all over
"Ahh….it seems the second bomb just explodes. Now there's still one more for the big bang…you got 15 minutes to kill me and escape, or I kill you."
"You…BASTARD!" I draw the StG 44 and sends him a hail of led which he's able to dodge. Dropping the rifle, I switch to my Mausers and start the real duel; under the roof of the burning structure
-Present-
March 6th,
Apartment no. 5, 9th floor,
1355 hrs
"…One stripper clip on back up…." I stated while dropping one of my Mauser pistols. "Damn it, he's been able to hit me a couple of times, but I can't even scratch him!"
"Giving up already, boy? You still got five minutes to kill me, or else we all blew up!"
"Tell me…" I start as I reload one of my Mauser with the last stripper clip "Tell me what're your intentions!"
"Intentions? Since you're going to die after all, might as well just tell you. After the loss of both Franco and Franca, the Padania Republic Faction required a new way to stop the SWA from breaking their plans."
"And what does it have to do with you?" he starts laughing; slowly, then it gets louder and louder "Well, I'm an ex-member from the SWA's Section 1!"
That answers and covers where Padanias get the data from. Section 1 mostly handles all the data we gather in the field. Intelligence, captured ones, you name it! Having one ex-SWA operative here is quite a surprise
"My bombs might not be as powerful as Franco and Franca's bombs, but it's powerful enough to send the SWA down to its knees!"
"What makes you want to join the Padanias?" I ask
"Money."
"Such typical moneybags!" I draw out of cover for the last push. He did too as well. taking my aim, he fires his D.E towards me as fast as his finger can pull. But no hits confirmed...
I take one deep breath and squeeze the trigger…
"AAAAAKKKHHH! MY FINGER! MY FINGER!"
…And watch him fall to the ground as he lose his trigger finger.
"Now who's laughing, bitch!" I aim the pistol towards him as I limp closer and closer. He starts to beg, but I don't care
"This is for the lives you took in the Piazza di Spagna that day!" I fire two rounds, one on each of his leg and continue
"This is for my sisters and Triela!" another two rounds, one on each arm and continue
"P-please! L-let me go! I-I know how to defuse the bomb! L-lets end this!" I stop on my tracks, gun still pointed
"You're right….lets end this..." I take one deep breath and lower my gun...
...for a moment
THIS IS FOR KOCH YOU DIRTY SON OF A BITCH!" And I finish him. With three rounds remain in the chamber, I fire two on his chest, and one on his head as the fire engulfs the room; causing almost everything around me to collapse
"Let hell burn you to ashes…" I stop and look around at the situation, and at my wrist watch.
I couldn't believe my eyes…
"…One minute before the final blast…"