Chapter XI:
Flashbacks:
Seconds, minutes, hours, that was what the Kankers were causing all over the world with their respective invasion. They were delighted, yes, with the suffering of many cities, large cities that now seemed to be the scene of some natural disaster movie or Zombie Apocalypse, where everyone was trying to flee or survive as best they could. Gathered in the Central Hall of that "Palace", they were watching, accompanied by some good popcorn, those scenes of despair, chaos, death, destruction. An attempt to see who would be left alive, even committing heinous crimes such as murder and looting.
At that moment, Lee got up from the couch and walked over to her other two sisters, both of whom turned off the TV to hear her.
- Well, well, girls, it seems that the first phase of our game has been 100% completed.- Announced the redhead, who was standing in front of them.- So...what do you say we launch the next part?.- She proposed, and they both smiled mischievously.
- Why not? Let's do it, let's go on the offensive against those "Witches".- Marie agreed and Marie nodded her head.
- Say no more then.- Said the redhead and with a snap, one of her Servants entered the scene, giving her the order to launch a "Shadow Neuroi" towards the enemy territory.
It was time to begin the conquest of the World and no one was going to stop them.
In one of the places they had in their "Hive", one of their robotic fighters was coming out of there. Dark in color with all violet and displaying frightening wings and the shape of an immense B-52 fighter plane, he set off towards those lands to begin the plan of conquest. His other "Brothers" were attacking various points in Europe and Africa. The capitals of those countries were being reduced to ashes, a devastation not seen since the end of World War II.
Like a predator locating its prey, that "machine" took off towards the skies, majestic, unstoppable and with only one goal: to destroy everything in its path.
Smoke, huge fires, death and destruction in its path. The bombardments carried out by the "Shadow Neuroi" annihilated every trace of life, even in the depths of the Earth.
End of Flashbacks:
In Perrine's room, the girl from Gaul was sitting at a beautiful table decorated with Aristocratic touches and sharing an afternoon tea with Jimmy. The albino boy was enjoying this encounter with his "Guardian" but, at a given moment, the young woman left her cup on a saucer and approached him with her eyes, remaining in a serious posture, something that caught the attention of Sarah's friend. He did not know what the girl could want, but great would be his astonishment when he discovered what she had planned.
- Tell me something, Jimmy.- Perrine spoke in a serious but calm tone.- Would you like to be someone who can solve her problems on her own?.- She asked and that was a harsh reflection of the reality that the albino could not cope with. He had his hands against his legs and his head down. He still remembered the stern attitude Trudie had had at Kevin's house when he had wanted to defend himself, saying that the Eds had it coming to them for what had happened on that holiday. Then, she looked up and observed her "Guardian".- Don't see me as Trudie, however, don't think that this will always be joy and tea parties?.- She pointed out and stood up, walking to the window of her room, being bathed by the sun's rays.
- It's just that...- The boy's words were frozen in his mouth, hanging, immobile, heavy, but he wanted to express himself, even though it was impossible.
- Yes?.- Perrine asked again, turning around and looking at him out of the corner of her eye.- Don't be in doubt. If that happens, then you will feel guilty, you must let it go now.- She encouraged him but the boy couldn't do it, he just remained crestfallen, so the Gala girl went to him and put her hands around his shoulders, "Do you feel guilty for what happened with the Kankers ? she asked another question and then she noticed that he raised his head to nod.- Look, Trudie already told you: You are not responsible for this, okay? It's a different matter, it's another matter, and we can't always be in the position that others should solve our problems for us. It's not wrong to receive help, but we can't abuse people's generosity either.- She continued, and he listened to her attentively.
- Eddy is a fool. That party was just for the day.- Jimmy emphasized, still making his blood boil.- I don't understand why they had to add him. He would have preferred to be left alone in Peach Creek.
Perrine shook her head.
- I don't like that boy either. The same goes for Lynne and Yoshika, they also look down on him but we can't leave someone alone either, especially in a war.- The girl took a chair and approached Jimmy's side.- I understand that you hate him for what he did to you, but you can't do one thing either. Someone could have been hurt, like Double D and Ed.
- They weren't part of my list, originally, but being his accomplices, I had to do Justice against them too.- The Peach Creek boy apostatized until he felt Perrine's right hand on his shoulders, again.
- It was still very wrong what you did. But don't worry, I will teach you how to fight for just causes and to be a guy who can solve this kind of problems when you are alone or in trouble.- Perrine promised him, giving him a smile, which would not last forever. Jimmy understood that he was in front of a young woman from the European Aristocracy, so he would have a way to go for his "evolution".- I will teach you the steps to follow on how to face a conflict and...- When he was about to reach this "agreement", the alarms began to sound all over the military base.
- What's going on, Perrine? Don't tell me what they're about?.- Asked the albino, hugging her with fear of what was brewing outside.
The door to the room opened and in came Yoshika with Lynne.
- A "Shadow Neuroi" has been spotted a few kilometers from the coast!.- The Sergeant informed her. Perrine turned to the boy to talk to him.
- I want you to stay with the others, okay. I'll be fine, don't worry. I'll be right back.- She promised, without giving the other man time to say anything about it.
With a nod of his head, Jimmy obeyed and with that, the three friends left for the airfield to grab their gear and take off for the skies.
The alarms that went off all over the base had stopped that "discussion", so to speak, of Eila and Double D. That sudden sound almost caused the intellectual boy to fall off his chair in fright but he was caught by Sanya's friend, who was still going on about his "intrusion" in the albino's room.
- When I get back, we'll continue talking about this. Now, go with the others and wait.- Asked the silver-white hair, so the other had to answer.
The young woman left the room, the boy had those words hanging from his lips. He had barely been able to gesture a couple of them but it was all in vain. That girl did not want him to do any kind of perjury towards the albino, who was still sleeping soundly and there seemed to be nothing that would wake her up at that moment. On the other hand, that first discovery she made with her investigations captivated her mind and, for a moment, she forgot that she had to go with the others to that shelter. No one knew where the enemy was headed until he was discovered, so she stayed there for a while longer.
The alarms had taken the other members of Peach Creek by surprise. Rolf was taking his animals to another shelter assigned to them. Eddy was Ed when they noticed that their intellectual friend was missing, so they turned and walked backwards.
- Eddy.- Their Science Fiction-loving friend called to him. The short boy didn't say anything for the moment, he just kept quiet and hoped that he wasn't going to refer to what happened with Jimmy or something related to the same. He redoubled his pace down the hallway.- Eddy, wait - Ed asked and ran after him.
- Let's just look for Double D and that's it, Ed, that's all.- Replied the other and noticed a certain silver-white hair walking away from his room, leaving the door open. Eddy signaled the other to stop moving forward and was stopped, a few centimeters away from bumping into the back of the first one, while the latter sniffed around inside. He noticed that the lights were off, the curtains were drawn to keep out the sun's rays and a small lamp provided some illumination to a desk table where a figure was cut out and moving his hands, as if he was writing something in a notebook.- Double D, are you there?.- He called softly to his friend, who did not answer, due to the low decibel.- Double D, come on, what are you doing?. Leave that for later.
Back he got no answer, so he had to make a decision: He opened the door and walked slowly into the room and tiptoed to the desk, where he touched his friend's shoulders.
He almost fell out of his chair, but grabbed the edge of the desk. His forehead was pearly with shock and he wiped it with the back of his left hand.
- Eddy, phew, thank goodness it's you, what's wrong?.- Double D asked the short boy, who shrugged his shoulders.
- They are calling us to go to the shelter, and why didn't you listen to me? I was calling you.- He answered, while the black-capped intellectual pointed to the bed where the girl was sleeping.
- This is Eila and Sanya's room, the latter is asleep in her bed.- He pointed in that direction, leading Eddy to contemplate the situation and then turn to his friend.
Taking advantage of those moments, Double D kept, in a small test tube, the first results of his research. It was small, he couldn't deny it, it would take a good amount of time to reach the final conclusion, however, perhaps he could conduct a test in the open field. He just needed someone who wanted to volunteer.
They left that room, although the boy remained, for a few seconds, looking at the sleeping albino, who did not seem to have understood the warning about an approaching enemy attack. He had, for a few moments, the idea of going to wake her up, although, in the end, he had to leave. He did not want to get into trouble with them, especially Eila, since he had left that warning that they would continue talking later.
It was then that they set off towards that shelter, however, the young man with the black cap looked back to the path that led to the outside, where the "Witches" were about to take off. His right hand holding that tube and the idea of being able to go outside, to make a test, to launch himself into the unknown, so he turned away from his friends and began to run towards that path.
- Hey, Double D, wait!.- Ed tried to stop him, but the boy was much faster than they were. He had a hunch and he couldn't waste it.
("Beautiful Day", U2)
Outside the HQ, the "Witches" were in one of the hangars, ready to take off with their "Striker Units" and weapons. Yoshika, Lynne, Perrine, Trudie and Mio would go to the front to stop the threat heading their way. Each one of them carried their weapons for combat, plus Eila and Erica would be their support in case things got complicated with that enemy.
- Ready for takeoff.- Trudie announced, signaling the hangar operators.
- Striker units ready for takeoff!.- Added Eila, who was focused on the mission.
- Weapons loaded!.- Joined Yoshika and with that, the first to take off was her, followed by Lynne and Perrine. The first three "Witches" left the facility and traced their ascent towards the Heavens. The others followed suit, rising majestically.
In formation, taking off under those clear skies, the girls set a course westward, being watched by Double D, who was speechless. There were no words to help him describe what he was seeing. He turned his gaze, the sun was in his eyes and he used his hands to cover himself from the intense brightness, however, the sound of the "Striker Units", so similar to the fighter planes that Humanity has witnessed.
- "There goes Sergeant Yoshika, Lynne, Perrine, Lieutenant Trudie and Major Sakamoto...wait a minute, isn't Eila with them?".- Observed the boy and from there, just passing over his head, turning around from that blast, he noticed the silver-haired girl and her "Striker Unit", whose model was a "Messerscharf BF 109 G-2" and was carrying an MG 42 and a Suomi M1931 submachine gun in her hands.
- Eddy, over there.- Ed pointed to his friend, who was standing there, staring at the heavens.
- Will he be all right?.- The short boy asked and ran over to where he was standing.
He wrote down every detail, even the smallest he had seen in his notebook. His left hand held it firmly and his right hand wrote down everything that was there, being that young man from Peach Creek a witness of the power that the "Witches" had with them and with it, leading him to take out that tube with the glowing liquid, the possibility of being able to help them in this war. Maybe there would be a chance to tip the balance in their favor, although, on the other hand, it would take some time to put all the pieces together to get, as a result, what they were looking for.
Just as he was taking notes, a hand rested on his shoulder, he turned and noticed that it was Eddy standing in front of him.
- Hey, are you okay? You seem very focused on what Rolf had in those barrels.- The short boy asked at that moment. His friend turned his eyes, once again, towards the Heavens and there he could see the "Witches" in formation to attack the enemy. After that, Double D shook his head to talk to Eddy.
- Don't worry, I'm fine, it's just that...there's something that can help us to defeat the Witches.- He answered to that question. His friend raised an eyebrow and it was Double D who took the tube out of the right pocket of his pants, looking at it with that glow that reached his eyes.- This may be the key to tip the scales in our favor.
- Great, but how are you going to do it, Double D?.- Ed asked curiously.
- Don't worry, with time and effort I will be able to find a way for us to give them a hand.- He promised, although there would be failures at first, until the desired result was achieved.- On the other hand, we will have to listen to them and obey what they order us to do. If they are going to train us, then we obey their orders to the letter, without complaint. If we have to wake up early, we do. The "Witches" have been kind enough to believe us when the "Friendship Day Incident" happened, so it's time to return the favor.- He said and that puzzled Eddy.
- Wait, wait, slow down, Brainy.- Eddy asked, waving his hands as a sign that he did not accept the first thing.- Did you say we should leave the scams behind? What's gotten into you?.
- You heard him, Eddy: It's over. Maybe, later on, you can go back to it, in Peach Creek, although I think, as Perrine rightly said about Jimmy, this also for us: Sooner or later we will have to grow up.- The boy with the black cap said.
- Yes? That's interesting.- His friend said.- But they are fighters, military woman, we are just simple students.- He said and walked until they were face to face.
- You may like it or not, but they have matured since they saw their homelands burned to the ground by the "Neuroi". War is not pretty at all, but what will you do against a force that surpasses Humanity in technology? What will you do? This is not "Independence Day" or "Arrival". It's the real world and we have to fight them on their side, otherwise, we can kiss our freedom goodbye" - He gave that message that penetrated deep inside Eddy, who turned around and looked to the South, to where the "Witches" had set their course and from there to the West.
Ed walked up to him, standing a few paces behind his short friend.
- Double D is right, Eddy: I don't want to be forced to marry one of the Cruel sisters, I have a lot to live for and enjoy. So do you, so do Sarah and the others. We are not here to fight over scams. We can go back to them when we want but right now...I want to return that favor to the girls too. Besides, remember that it was Francesca who saved our lives and if they lose, we sink too", said that Science Fiction lover, for the first time in his life, such emotional and true words that left the young man without answer next to his forehead, which was pearly with cold sweat.
Meanwhile, in the shelter, there reigned an unparalleled calmness; but, despite all this, Nazz was leaning against one of the walls, filing her nails in an attempt to free herself from the boredom. She could see Sarah and Jimmy playing with the dolls and Kevin chatting with Rolf, Johnny and Plank, but the blonde didn't seem very focused on staying locked in a subway room, a bunker, so to speak... At one point, when she blew on her fingers to remove the dust from those nails, she looked around and noticed that three people were missing.
- Hey, guys.- The girl called out to those present. Everyone stopped their activities.
- What's going on, Nazz?.- Kevin asked, approaching her.
- The Eds didn't come down here with us, did something happen to them?.- She asked with a slight tone of concern.
- Hey, it's true, Ed and Eddy were right behind us. Plank saw them but then they disappeared.- Added Johnny with more information next to his wooden "friend".
- Great, for sure the pacifier...- At that moment Sarah stopped and remembered the first words Trudie had with her, being one of them her hostile behavior towards her older brother.- No wonder they are gone, but we should go look for them...idiots.- Once he proposed that, Kevin was about to leave together with Rolf and Nazz but, at that moment, the door of the bunker opened and they saw the three friends coming down from there, down the stairs.
They noticed that Double D was holding that tube in his hands, while Ed was going towards the shelter's Center but Eddy was noticed with a stoic, lost look, those words they had outside had put him in a crossroad that he himself had to answer to it.
- Aww, Eddy boy seems to be interested in my barrels.- He heard the voice of Rolf, who was walking towards Double D.
- I really appreciate that you gave me permission to experiment with it.- Said the intellectual.- Although this is going to take some time, I may have to take a couple of extra samples to investigate further.
And while that talk was going on, Eddy took a seat in an armchair to reflect on the talk they had had outside. He just needed his time and with that would come the final decision.
Flying in the West, the Bruges group was only a few kilometers from where the enemy had been sighted flying over that airspace. While Commander Sakamoto was in constant communication with Minna, Trudie accompanied them for further combat. Eila checked the area with Yoshika, Lynne and Perrine, but there was no sign of that adversary. Below them, the North Sea was calm, serene, some waves were moving on its surface and the sun was shining brightly, but that was not good.
- I don't like this at all.- Trudie warned Minna over the radio.
Sitting in her office and accompanied by several officers, the Commander was talking to the dark brown woman.
- The radar shows us that they are close, but...- At that moment, the young woman stared at the screen.- What? It's strange.- The girl warned.
- What's going on?.- Eila approached Sakamoto.
- "They're over the target position, but...we can't detect it with our radars and satellites. Something must be going wrong. Keep your eyes peeled."- They heard Minna's voice from the other side.
- Roger, Minna. Over and out.- Trudie picked up the radio and left that message.
- I don't like what the Cruels have got, are they playing with us.- Asked Perrine.
- It could be anything. Remember that these "Neuroi" are not like the ones we fought years ago.- Said Yoshika, who drew a circle and stayed close to the girl from Gaul.
From the HQ, Minna was inspecting the tracking of her friends, but the radar continued to show that there were no "Shadow Neuroi" in sight. The redhead caught sight, whipped up her senses and, guided by a strange sense of danger, stood up and ran from there to the outside, to the corridors; attracting the attention of the Soldiers and Officers who were there.
Suddenly, alarms began to sound throughout the barracks.
- What could this be, another enemy?.- Asked one of the commanders, but when they went to check, everything was calm again.
- I don't like this and maybe Miss Minna knows what's going on out there... Maybe our technology is not quite ready to know where those rats are hiding, sir.- Reported one of the radar operators, whose instruments were going crazy.
- "Charlotte".- The redhead found the orange-haired girl, who was with her plane, checking to make sure it was in good condition.
- Minna, what's wrong? Minna, what's wrong?.- the young woman jumped from her seat to the floor.
- "Come, I need you at the front. Let Erika stay here with the boys, but..." At that moment, the redhead was silent for a few seconds.
- Yes?.- Asked the American and then realized that this decision could have consequences.
- "Let Double D come with the two of us. I will be responsible for all of this".- She left that message, Charlotte didn't discuss any of it and left for the bunker.
[New chapter and I'm sorry for the delay, friends, but these months I'm tied up with other matters. But, leaving that aside, I hope you like this new episode.
What will be Minna's plan regarding Double D?. What will happen with the "Witches" in this tense moment?. We'll see in the next chapter.
Take care and have a good start of the week, friends.
I'll be seeing you].
