Chapter XIII:

From their lair, the Kankers watched the destruction of that "Shadow Neuroi". Its remains falling into the depths of the North Sea. Lee put a hand to his face, while Marie talked to May about how it had been nothing more than "entertainment". However, at that word, the redhead faced them and walked over to them.

- I hope you know that this is a loss for us.- She said seriously. Her blonde sister was about to speak but the look of the other one made her shut her mouth.- Even so, in spite of this defeat, don't think that you have won the war, this is just a beginning", she said.

- It's true, the "Witches" had a lot of problems when facing our envoy, so I propose that we start with the next phase of the offensive.- May proposed and Marie supported her.

- I am with her. We have to attack some city, but farther away.- Said the dark blue hair and that made Lee think.

- Hmmmm, we were able to interfere with their tracking instruments. Grandpa was not stupid, but a brilliant mind that was not appreciated by those "geniuses" of his generation but if you want to take your enemies by surprise, you must affect all kinds of infrastructure around them," Lee's words were correct and that cybernetic strike had been the spearhead that damaged their opponents, "Let's prepare everything for the next "phase", girls. Those "Witches" will rue the day they faced the "Kanker Clan".- Ordered the redhead and left the "Operations Room".


How much time had passed. He did not know, since the first thing he felt, when he opened his eyes, was the caress of the wind on his face, refreshing and at the same time, he was clinging to someone, from the back, avoiding falling. His vision was a little blurred because he had been unconscious and from there, when he recovered, he saw that he was next to Eila, who was holding him so that he would not fall into the void. Behind him, Double D could hear the voice of Sergeant Yoshika, who was glad to see him awake.

- What? What...happened to me? How...- He had so many questions in his head, a flood that he could not answer them all at once. At that moment, the silver-white-haired girl's face turned and he became mute.

- You came with Minna and Charlotte, since we were having trouble with the "Shadow Neuroi" that the Kankers sent. What you did was...amazing!. She told her and then congratulated the young Japanese-brown girl. Every word she described was of astonishment, the intellectual, for his part, remembered what happened, his memories came in "drips and drabs" and from there he was able to emphasize the context.

- I remember that I took some of that liquid that Rolf had in his barrels, which I was investigating and obtained some small results, however, I was in the air and I even "created" a new type of ammunition with which they could defeat that envoy of the Kankers.- Recalled the young man and Yoshika nodded her head.

- Exactly.- The Sergeant backed him up.

- However, there is also the limit, which is only a few minutes, but thanks to your help, Edd, we were able to accomplish the mission.- Trudie maintained, which flew close to him.

- That's true, but I don't remember who saved me from sinking in the North Sea.- Said the boy with the black cap, and Eila was looking at him out of the corner of her eye.

- It was me.- Answered the girl with a neutral tone in her voice, while looking at the coast, the Headquarters. When that "Magic" disappeared, I saved you just in time. Had it not been for your help, that "Shadow Neuroi" would have reached its destination.- The silver-white hair's words sounded cold but mixed with a tone of gratitude, even if it was hidden and that the boy could decipher in those moments.

He said nothing, she was right about the success they had because of his help. Trudie and the others were talking among themselves, that could be an "ace" against the hosts that the Cruels would have prepared against them. What was certain, at that moment, was that Rolf's liquid was successful, however, Double D would have to work harder to find more answers to his doubts. At one point, the boy looked at his watch and saw that it had stopped at the 7 minute mark, by his own doing, before he was knocked unconscious.

- 7 minutes is how long the effect lasts.- He stressed and was heard by the girls.

- Do you have something planned with it?.- Charlotte asked the boy.

- This will take time but I plan to make the effect last as long as I can. I can't make any promises or anything like that, but I will do everything in my power.- Double D gave those words and from there they made their way to the airstrip.


Once they descended, the first to enter HQ were Minna and Trudie, who went to the "Operations Room", where they were greeted by the military and communications personnel. The two Officers walked in and noticed that the tracking devices continued with the interferences and there was still no cause that could serve as an explanation or anything like that.

- I don't understand, we destroyed the "Shadow Neuroi" that was on its way to London, why is this still happening.- Minna wanted to know, while Trudie remained silent, thinking about the reason why this problem continued.

It was an unknown, a complete mystery. Despite all the efforts of the operators and other experts in the field of communications, they did not seem to return to normal operation. It was as if they "refused" to "obey". The dark brunette took a few steps forward and walked over to where the radar was.

- What was the last area that was registered when we left?.- She asked one of the officers.

- It was this sector, to the north of the island, Lieutenant Barkhorn.- Answered the man, pointing with his index finger on the screen.- That is where we were able to ascertain its last position and then it remained like this.

- Maybe the "Shadow" that we destroyed was nothing more than a decoy and what it left there is what is affecting us now in communications.- The dark brown theorized and that could be true.

- And if so, then we would have to take care of it...- Minna finished speaking and turned on her heels.- I'll go over there.

- No, you must rest.- Trudie stopped her and it was true, as she had been working non-stop, "I will ask Erika and Francesca to go there as soon as possible.


Back in the bunker, one of the Soldiers told the boys that they could leave, everything was back to normal for the moment. For his part, Double D was accompanied by Eila, who stopped him to talk to him about an important point.

- Listen, don't think I'm cruel to you, but what you did before, I have to admit, was incredible. However...- At that moment, she closed her eyes and was quiet for a moment in silence.

- Miss Eila, are you all right?. She approached Double D to her but she raised a hand in the air, asking for a few minutes to recover.

- You are my responsibility, the same for Sanya and I don't want anything bad to happen to you. I know I'm a little harsh but if something were to happen to you, I would never forgive myself in my life.- Said the silver-white hair.- That work you did to face the enemy was great, but if you plan to take your friends to fight with us, then you will have to adapt to the harsh conditions of the battle front.- Said the young woman and the boy nodded his head. He was right.

- I know and I thank you for your words, Miss Eila.- Said the intellectual boy.

- Just call me Eila.- Answered the young woman, seeing that he was sincere, seeing that a small smile was being drawn on her face, even if that was only a first step.

He felt the girl's right hand on his shoulders, took a deep breath and when silence fell over them, he noticed that Minna and Trudie were accompanied by Erika and Francesca to leave towards the front.

- What's going on? Are we under attack again?.- Eila asked, turning to the two officers.

- There is still interference in the tracking equipment. We think it could be the work of the "Shadow Neuroi" and if this continues, we could have many problems... Serious.- Explained the redhead and that last word sounded quite strong, so the white-silver hair nodded her head and clicked her heels, leading these two to retreat.

Once the hallway was clear, with the exception of her and Double D, she turned to him.

- Come with me.- She asked and they headed towards the room she shared with Sanya.


- It is a fact that the "Witches" think that by destroying a "Shadow Neuroi", we will run away crying and begging for mercy. I laugh at their so-called "strategy" as well as their dream of peace. We don't know any of that nonsense, we will give them war and now, sisters, the time has come for our "Hives" to activate and start the next phase," announced Lee to May and Marie, as they met with their "High Command".

- Excellent, where should we start.- The dark blue hair asked the redhead.

- There is not just one place, but we are at war with the whole world. We will attack the cities of those wretches: London, Berlin, Rome, Moscow, we will reduce them to ashes. Their people must have already left there, so it will be more fun to hunt them and their Armed Forces.- Said May, who stood up and pointed at the map.

Just at that moment, a point began to shine on the screen and they saw something that caught their attention. One light, two, three, four, five, there seemed to be no end to it, glowing as if it were a "Christmas tree". The eyes of the three sisters widened when they discovered what it was.

- You know. I think today is a "good day" for our war".- Said the redhead, and with that they could see a huge fleet anchored in the ports of Normandy, France and others in front of Italy, "Let the party begin".- She said, and from there the order to attack was sent.


The door of the bunker opened and with it came out the Peach Creek boys who had taken refuge there. Eddy and Ed were looking for Double D, whom they found talking with Eila, so they hid in a corner to hear better, but it was too late: The girl placed her hand on the young man's shoulders, he nodded and went up the aisle, away from him. Once the talk was over, the intellectual turned to meet his two friends.

- Oh, guys, how are you...?.- Double D asked, but he didn't have time to say more, as his friend in the green jacket ran up and hugged him tightly.

- I thought we had lost you!.- Exclaimed Ed with tears in his eyes, happy to see him again, "When they came looking for you... they sent you to the front...- The poor young man could not finish his sentence, as this reunion was very emotional, so it was Eddy who approached him to continue the conversation.

He walked with a serene, calm step until he was a few meters away from the boy with the black cap.

- He's not lying, Double D. Tell us the truth: You went there, didn't you?.- The short man wanted to know.

For the first time since all this had started, Eddy looked worried and he wasn't lying: I could read it on his face. An expression of fear had come over his face and he had to nod his head at that moment. He searched for the words in his mind, sorted them out, and from there he blurted them out in a simple sentence.

- They took me there, my friends, and he could see what the enemy was, face to face: It's not like in your comics, Ed, much less in Science Fiction movies, but quite the opposite: The "Shadow Neuroi" are lethal, terrible and powerful".- He told about the first impression he had of the enemy. Ed felt as if a bucket of cold water had fallen on him. Eddy, for his part, remained still, silent, but it could be seen that his legs were trembling before the story described by his friend: "The girls fought them with great courage and determination, however, we must help them, we can't just sit idly by and locked up in the bunker while they face these ruthless armies", at that moment, his tone of voice became serious and he looked at his friends: "We have to give them a hand, they won't be able to fight them".

Eddy's forehead was pearly with cold sweat, he still remembered the image of the Cruels who promised to have them by their side, they would force them to marry them by force and that was something the short boy did not want.

- And how did they destroy it, Double D?...or is it still out there?.- He asked and noticed that the intellectual boy was breathing deeply.

- The content of Rolf's barrels and my first investigations were able to extend the effect up to four minutes and with that, to give more capacity to the bullets of the "Witches", destroying the "Shadow Neuroi", whose destiny was London.- He answered to that question and noticed that both friends looked at each other strangely. I know you will think that this is fantasy, even with something as impossible as "Magic" to exist in the world, I am afraid to say that I was wrong: It exists, yes, and it can be the only way to end this war.- He finished with tranquility in his voice.


[I will divide this chapter into a "Part One" and the next one into the other. I warn you that the next one is going to be longer and will be extremely important, plus I'm going to continue working with the relationship between the Peach Creek boys and the "Witches", plus the Cruels' plans with their conquest.

I hope you like it. I send greetings and thanks to all of you.

Good start of the week, Comrades, to all of you].