Chapter II:
The warm up of the day had begun, the footsteps of the Peach Creek boys, the jogging and the attentive vigilance of the "Witches" in their "Protected" was the beginning of a new day for them. The sun was beginning to rise and the waters of the North Sea were bathed by its golden rays, reflecting in a spectacle worthy of Mother Nature. Soon it would be daylight, one more of that war that had just begun and that they would not have any rest, now that the Cruels had razed countless cities, towns and Capitals of several African Nations, resuming their plan of world conquest.
The Eds were the ones in front, this time, while Kevin and the others remained behind, keeping pace with them and not stopping. Time went by and when they finished with the warm-up exercise, moving on to the cardio-respiratory exercise, Minna approached them to give them an extremely important announcement.
- Before starting the next exercise, I want to announce this very important news.- She said and then corrected herself, clearing her throat and letting the atmosphere be submerged in a deep silence, where only the fresh wind of the North Sea made itself felt, moved her hair and the dust settled on the beaches along with the sand until it formed a series of small harmless "whirlpools" that disappeared in a matter of seconds. This morning we managed to destroy the source of interference and we also managed to find one of the "hives" that the Kankers had under their control to launch offensives against the countries of Europe.- She said and that was a great news regarding the issue of the front.
- Great!.- Kevin cheered.
- However.- Interrupted the red-haired Commander and the boy was left speechless.- The destruction of the "First Hive" was only a fleeting victory.
- What do you mean?.- The red-haired boy asked with astonishment and she closed her eyes, being Mio the one who came closer to answer him.
- What Minna is explaining, Kevin, is that we have another six "Hives" to destroy. There were seven, but discounting the one that was destroyed early this morning, we have this current number.- Fuso's Major told him, while the young man could not believe what he was hearing.
- And where are those others, Miss Sakamoto?.- This time it was Nazz who asked her question, standing up and stretching her body.
- The other six are positioned in various parts of the world, the "Second Hive" is located in Africa and until recently we have learned that Prague, Warsaw, Vienna and Budapest, as well as South Africa until almost reaching North Africa, have been razed to the ground by a new enemy offensive.- Added Mio and this time her tone of voice was much more serious about it and also icy.
They noticed her countenance and that expression that impressed them so much when they saw her like that. As a Veteran of the war against the "Neuroi" in the Past, the young Japanese woman felt fury at those people who had had the audacity to harm others who had done nothing to them. Now it was clear that this fight was not going to be like the other one, but that it was overcoming it, with the passing of time, into something much more dangerous and that it would not have a solution by diplomatic means. The Cruels knew neither mercy nor peace, they were ready for anything, they would put all the cards on the table and with it they would get the greatest benefits for themselves.
- Major Sakamoto.- Kevin asked and she came out of her coldness.
- Yes, excuse me.- She said and bowed slightly.
- No, you don't have to do that, Ms. Sakamoto, there's no need.- Nazz backed her up.
- I know, but...all this...is unacceptable. I swear I will not rest until I see the Kankers sit in the dock and pay for all the damage they have caused.- She swore and then felt Minna's hand on her shoulders.
- The whole World is waiting for the same as you, Mio, however, as long as they are still standing and attacking the Nations of the Planet, then we will have to respond with what we have.- She said with a serious but calm voice.- Now, listen, there is one more thing you need to know about it and that is about the fight we had this early morning.- She said. She asked for their attention and those present stood up.- Your friend, Double D, has been a great help and provided us with excellent cover when it came to destroying the "First Hive".- She said and that left the boys speechless, who turned to the young man in the black cap.
- Oh no, no, no, no, it was just a small thing, nothing more than that. I couldn't take any of the credit.- The boy maintained.
- Nonsense, "something small" are you saying. Double D, whatever size, the help you have given us has been more than enough to destroy that enemy position and to know where the others are. Thanks to you and your research, you have put us on a much more advanced scale than the Kankers and if we continue like this, we will be able to stop their plans.- Minna congratulated him and that was something he did not expect, leading him to lower his head.
- Hey!.- Eddy called him and he looked up.- What you did is not something for you to feel humiliated: You gave a great act of bravery, my friend. You should be proud of that.- Said the boy in the yellow shirt.
- Yeah, that's right, Double D, that was awesome, I know what "Magic" is like too.- Ed added excitedly.
- Look, among the three of us, you're the only one I don't dislike, but...dude, that must have been great!.- Joined Kevin in the congratulations, so the young intellectual felt renewed in the moral aspect.
It was the first time he didn't end up hurt, humiliated or tied to a tree for the actions he and his friends took with the cons. Something like this was not seen every day but, at that moment, he was able to look at others and not feel shame or other negative emotions, but that he was getting the respect he deserved. With his head held high, looking at those present, he knew well that this was important in his life, now he had to fulfill the rest of the way, of his role in developing a "Serum" so that it would give the necessary power and stamina when fighting on the front lines against the "Shadow Neuroi".
- I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the support you have given me, my friends.- Said the intellectual to those present.- I do not want to make a promise, because I know that, at this time, what is most needed are actions and not words, so I will not rest until the results are suitable for all of you and we can fight against them.- He spoke to all of them, who listened attentively, while Trudie stepped forward.
- It is true and here is something more important: When you begin to develop the "Magic" inside you, that is where you will have to learn to handle it correctly and for that, there is someone we know very well and who will be a great help for you.- Pointed out the dark chestnut.
- One question.- Asked Sarah and Trudie gave her the floor, seeing the first results in the redhead's behavior.
- Go ahead.- Said the Officer.
- Do you know the name of that person, does she live far away?.- She asked out of curiosity.
- Her name is Anna Ferrara and she has been an Instructor for Mio, Yoshika, Perrine and Lynne in the past. She is a great woman and also one of the best in this field, but she is also very severe and strict, so obey her orders and you will see that she will gain your trust.- Answered the young woman to that question and that was a little uncomfortable, "When Double D has developed a "Serum" for you and you have taken it, and the "Magic" is generated inside you, you will go with Miss Ferrara to train you and learn to master it.- The Lieutenant told them at that time, "Any questions," she asked.
- Does she live around here?.- It was Jimmy who had the floor.
- In Romania, more like the Venice area, the outskirts.- Answered Francesca.
- It seems that they know her very well.- Daid the albino with curiosity.
- Exactly, we trained with her during the war against the "Neuroi", although now it's your turn and when you have to use the brooms like the "Witches".- Said Lynne with sympathy in her voice.
- Awww, I always wanted to do something like that.- Sarah's friend got excited, as it brought back a lot of memories to the fairy tales she had brought with her.
- Okay, it's time to get back to the exercises. You will start with sit-ups and push-ups, walking.- Minna ordered, returning to that activity and nothing more was said.
Plumes of smoke rose into the skies, different colors intermingled with black, gray and white. Down below, countless fires could be seen raging over the city of Abuja, Nigeria's capital. The devastation was impossible to describe in words: buildings and skyscrapers were no longer standing, homes were piles of rubble and ashes, people were fleeing in terror, while, from their central ship, the Kankers were in command of the offensive.
- Coordinate fire on those military bases North of Abuja.- Lee ordered his forces, and they kept their word.
In the blink of an eye, the fire was concentrated on those installations, which disappeared in the blink of an eye, only ruins and smoke everywhere. Everything that meant defense infrastructure were piles of scrap metal in flames and with it we could appreciate the advance of those invading forces.
- My forces and the "Second Hive" are positioned over the Sahara Desert, plus they have a good firing position to go towards Southern Europe and destroy any trace of resistance on this continent.- They heard May, who was going to go out to her ship and lead the rest of the operation. Marie and Lee walked up to her and placed their hands on her shoulders, giving her a reassuring smile.
- Go and destroy those bastards. And if the "Witches" come to bother you, you know what to do with them.- The dark blue hair told her.
- Heh, you can trust me," said the blonde and after saying goodbye, she left for the North to continue with the war operations.
- Very well.- Lee saw his sister leave and with that he turned to Marie.- Let's coordinate the fire, now, on the Capitals of Liberia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali, Mauritania. Let there be a massive wave of refugees.- She said with coldness and disregard for the lives at risk.
Marie listened to her and contemplated the devastation in the streets of Abuja, as in the others that had been razed to the ground, one could see the desperation of the civilian population and the attempt to escape to safer areas, while the bombing continued with greater intensity. He crossed his arms behind his back and from there stepped outside his ship to get a closer look at the operation.
On the outer platform, the blue peli was greeted by plumes of smoke and the smell of fires rising from below. A henchman approached her and passed her a hologram about the advance of the "Shadow" forces towards North Africa, while the others continued to destroy the East African Nations, as well as their neighbors in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
- May will arrive in a couple of hours towards North Africa. We just have to wait for their victory to be effective and from there we will advance towards Southern Europe.- Said the dark blue hair, while they brought her something to drink because of the dry heat there and she enjoyed it, especially the "show" down there.- Hey, where do you think we should have our wedding with the Eds?.- She asked through her communicator.
Inside the "Command Room", Lee was silently contemplating the holographic map, his sister's question was reaching his ears but she didn't answer. She just stood there, staring at it and breathing deeply, puffing out her chest with the air coming in through her nostrils and then she remained pensive for quite a while. She stretched out her right hand toward the position ahead, this being Niger and Chad, both of which had begun to receive the fierce bombardment against them. However, Lee wrinkled her brow, only she could feel that pucker under her hair that covered that area and from there she brought her right hand up to her chin, seeing that they had more Nations to attack.
- "Central African Republic, Burundi, Toga, Ghana, Ivory Coast, from that area to the Atlantic Ocean we are going to need to have good ports for the fleet".- She thought until Marie's voice brought her out of it.
- "Lee, do you read me?.- She called back.
- Yes, I hear you, Marie, what's up? I'm busy.- She answered with seriousness in her voice.
- Hey, don't be so cold, I was just asking you where you would like us to celebrate our wedding with the Eds.- She questioned him, while the wind moved her dark blue hair.
Faced with that question, the redhead was silent again, and from there she went on to scratch her chin, while her right hand moved from the South until she reached the region from Morocco to Egypt.
- It is an extremely interesting proposal but, for now, I do not have an ideal place for our wedding.- She stressed.- Now, concentrate on the work and after we have conquered Europe we will move on to that point.- She promised seriously, while the other had to obey this to the letter.
Training was over for the day and the boys prepared for rest and other activities. Double D, after taking a good shower to wash off the sweat he had with him, went to Eila and Sanya's room. He opened the door and saw that the albino was lying sound asleep, so he repeated the same "procedure" and went to his workbench to continue investigating the contents of Rolf's barrels.
Under the light of that lamp, the boy took a syringe, its interior was overflowing with the aforementioned liquid and threw a couple of drops on the surface of the glass that was under the magnifying glass. He waited a bit to see what kind of reaction there would be next. His eyes remained fixed. Nothing, he looked at his watch, everything was still as before, not a single response. He scrubbed his eyes and began to feel tired, those exercises and last night's mission had been quite an exhausting "combo".
Until, all of a sudden, something began to catch his attention.
[I'm sorry, again, for the delay, but I've been busy and now that it's December and I'm closing other fronts, it got really complicated with the updates. I'm going to let this fic rest until next weekend/Monday and then I'll get back to it.
Well, something very important is coming for the next chapter, so get ready.
I send greetings and thanks to all of you and until next time, friends.
Good start of the day Wednesday from me].
