Chapter IX:

They rested for a good while, besides eating well, sleeping and also training a little with their "Magic", especially Jimmy and Sarah, while Nazz and Double D, in the company of Kevin, Eila and Sanya, practiced with the sword and the katana. It had been a while since the Peach Creek boys had begun to put aside those differences they had, especially against the Eds and their scams, and now they were thinking about the Future of the World. Gone were the old quarrels, fights and moments where only pain and discomfort remained. Jimmy was one of them, thanks to Perrine, who watched him train without any rest, he had begun to solve the first issues without the others helping him, although he could not handle everything and was helped by Sarah or his "Guardian". Kevin also showed himself as someone capable of leading assaults against enemy positions and more so being a Captain of the Local Football Team of his school. Thanks to his strategies combined with the cunning and lightness of Nazz and Mio, they achieved great success against the enemy.

Rolf was a great help in holding off the invaders, as was Johnny, while the Eds had changed dramatically and now that they were with their partners, they were treading a very important path of responsibility.

At that moment, the group was gathered in one of the HQ rooms, where they could hear the latest reports about the war against the "Shadow Neuroi".

- Hey, do you think we are going to the East.- Rolf asked curiously.

- That's up to the Commander and the Lieutenant, man.- Answered Kevin, who was folding his arms and leaning against one of the walls.- But, be that as it may, we're going to have to be prepared for whatever comes.- He said.

- I hope the neighborhood is intact. Seeing all this destruction makes my hair stand on end and even more so when I remember that our homes may be gone.- Sarah asked with an air of regret and prayed that this was untrue. Kevin took a deep breath and had to shrug it off.

- I'll be honest with you, Sarah: I'm afraid I won't have a house anymore too, but, hey, look on the bright side: we are legends, we are writing history on its pages.- He said, which could be emotional but, even so, it didn't take away the fear of what would happen later on.- Although I hope we can have a roof over our heads.

- We all ask the same, Kevin, but we cannot predict the Future, only take our actions and see what results they will bring us.- Spoke Nazz, who was returning from training with Double D, while sheathing his katana.- The Kankers have committed horrendous crimes throughout the World. We can't think of ourselves, yet, as there are still many people who are suffering because of them.- She paused and looked at those present.- If there is the final campaign against Liberion, I am more than willing to go and give them what they deserve.

- Count me in, friend.- Sarah joined in.

- And me, the Kankers are a real plague, a thousand times worse than the locusts that eat the crops.- Added Rolf, comparing them.

- What I want most is to see them behind bars and never set foot in Peach Creek again.- Continued Ed, who was with Erica.- After what May did to my girlfriend, I'll never forgive them.

- It's true.- He heard Jimmy speak.- I know my mistake started with asking them to punish them for what happened on "Friendship Day" but that's in the past and with what I saw, during the Battle of Berlin, May acted like a complete coward: attacking from behind is from someone who has no heart, who only thinks for herself and believes that the world owes her something in her favor.- He paused and looked at the couple.- We will do justice and they will regret everything they have done.

- I too was a witness to that horrible and cowardly act May carried out. I never liked that she was bothering Ed, even though I didn't think much of it, before. Now I recognize that what she least had or felt was love, but rather that she saw him as a simple object.- Sarah said and toasted her brother and the blonde from Karsland.

There was a pause, a moment to think, some closed their eyes and fell asleep but, suddenly, the doors opened and at the slightest movement that was heard hovering around the "Room", those who were immersed in the deepest sleep, ended up opening their eyes and seeing two people entering the place and these took a firm position.

- Good afternoon, My Commander!.- Greeted the Peach Creek boys and the other assembled "Witches".

- Good afternoon, my friends. At ease.- Asked Minna, as she presented the most current reports.

- What news do you have for us?.- Eddy asked her.

- Well, to begin with...- The girl was about to say, who took a seat on a chair and then opened the folder containing all the information obtained thanks to her Agents and other support.- I have come to announce that the Kanker have retreated and lost the Capital of Orussia, the original one. Even so, their offensive against the East continues.

- Shall we go there?.- Mio wanted to know and the redhead nodded her head.

- That's right, the enemy still continues to pose a series threat to both Suomus and Orussia. The uprising has been a success, that I can't deny but, even so, we can't let our guard down and more so with those three crazy women out there, ready to strike their next blow. Any move they make affects us, so we will have to get ready to march to the Eastern Front and end their presence once and for all.

Everyone was anxious to hear those words: "End their presence", that was something so desired but impossible to achieve, but that did not matter. They would achieve that goal no matter what and regardless of the consequences.

- My Commander.- Eddy spoke about it, stepping forward and listening to the echo that was lost in the "Room".- When will we leave to defeat them?. If it is true what they say, that the Kanker will be preparing an offensive to take the East of Orussia, then we should prepare ourselves as soon as possible.

Minna listened to him and nodded her head, slowly, while keeping her eyes closed on the matter. Trudie looked at her, as did the others.

- Good point about what you said, Eddy. We'll go, but, for now, you'll have to rest. We have the Kankers under surveillance, for the time being, as with them it's impossible to know what kind of tricks and tricks they can play against us, so we'll keep our eyes wide open 24 hours a day. Our communications teams and experts and agents on the ground are taking over the job, as are we. As soon as these final preparations are completed, we will leave for the front as soon as possible. We cannot let the Kankers gain ground, otherwise, what we have done so far will have been in vain.- She concluded and then lowered his authoritative tone of voice a little.- It is better that you take the opportunity to rest. Maybe tomorrow or in 48 hours we will leave.- She asked and then began her retreat.


She also needed to sleep for a while, almost, since the beginning of the war, Commander Wilcke had not slept a wink for many hours. Her body already felt "light" from lack of sleep and the stress could play a trick on the young woman. Trudie watched her and went to her, holding her arm, tightly, preventing her from falling and hitting the parquet floor there.

- It would be very hypocritical of me to tell you that you also need a few hours of sleep, Minna.- The Karlsland Lieutenant advised her.

- Nonsense.- She refused to accept that offer, "As long as those three sons of bitches remain outside, I must continue in command of this operation. Do you want another General Mallory in charge?.- She asked seriously.

Remembering the name of that traitor and who almost condemned all Humanity with the failure of "Project Warlock", caused a shiver to run down the dark chestnut's spine as a starting point. She swallowed saliva but stood her ground, she was not going to allow her friend and Comrade in Arms to have to bear the full weight of responsibility on her shoulders. He looked her square in the face and stood in her way.

- I am not asking you, Minna, I am ordering you: You must rest. Look at yourself in a mirror. You have dark circles under your eyes and you are very exhausted, you look like a zombie from George A. Romero's movies.- She pointed and took out a small object from his pocket, passing it to the Commander. The latter took it and examined herself.

The words may hurt, emotionally, for a certain person, but in the case of Commander Wilcke, that proved to be the opposite, since, when she saw herself in that mirror, she froze when she noticed that Lieutenant Barkhorn was right about her physical appearance. Her eyes were badly marked by fatigue, sleep that seemed to be a quagmire, a factory that did not recognize the necessary hours of rest and that on top of that was taking its toll on her. He turned to the left and then to the right, in both features could be noticed those dark circles so pronounced by the days in which he had not slept well. She didn't want to see any more and gave the small mirror back to her friend, who put it in one of her uniform pockets.

Minna then closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

- You're right: I'll go to sleep for a few hours.- She accepted the Karsland girl's offer.

- No, not a few hours, because you will only have a very short time to recover all your strength. You will rest for a while, in my opinion, all day long. If you want to get up for sundown, that's fine, but make the most of this time.- Trudie maintained, and again she was right.

Minna let out a huff that was lost in the distance, she hated to have to suspend her unfinished business for something as "simple" as resting, but she had to restrain herself and not refuse. It would be too childish and even more so for someone as important as that redhead was. She went, almost as if in "automatic movement" to her room, which was next to the office, and after opening the door, she went to her friend once again.

- I'm just going to ask you this: If something happens...- Minna didn't have time to finish her sentence, since her friend went ahead of her, once again.

- Don't worry: Everyone is working normally, there are no reports about enemy presence and if something happens, I will let you know. For now, rest. Turn off the "computer" in your head and sleep for a few hours.- She proposed calmly and sincerely.

No more was said. The red-haired Commander entered her room, said goodbye with a wave of her right hand to Karsland's Lieutenant and then closed the door, lying down on her bed, where she fell fast asleep.

A well-deserved rest was what the girl needed.


While Minna was resting in her room, in the "living room" where the other "Witches" and the Peach Creek boys were, some of them could be seen engaged in other time activities as it happened between Jimmy and Perrine with Sarah, who were enjoying the tea that the girl from Gaul prepared and the sweets that the white-haired boy and her red-haired friend made.

- I needed this.- Said Ed's younger sister, while Perrine poured some tea into her cup.

- I heard from Minna that the situation on the Eastern Front is quite complicated because of the "Shadow Neuroi".

- Yes, that's true.- Perrine backed him up at the time.- There is still fierce resistance from the "Orussian Imperial Forces" against the invaders, but the thing is, sooner or later, fatigue and lack of food, ammunition, medicine and so on will cause them to dwindle, so we will have to go in and attack with everything we've got.

- We will have to exert a quick and synchronized attack to relieve the pressure they are under.- Jimmy put his plan on the table.- I don't know about you, but if we want to get the Shadow Neuroi off their backs, then we will have to hit them like a storm.

- It's not a bad idea, Jimmy, but we can't leave aside the enemy's air presence and if that wasn't enough, the "Sixth Hive" is still outside.- Said the silver-haired girl, who placed her hand on the boy's shoulders.

- It's true!.- The albino acknowledged the point in question.

- Not to scare or anything, but, first of all, if we want to drive them out of there, we'll have to destroy that "fortress" as soon as possible. We don't know how long the Kanker's plan to attack the other Nations can still stand," said Sarah seriously, while they continued with the party.

Meanwhile, Kevin and Nazz were asleep, while Rolf was talking with Lynne, Yoshika, Johnny, Plank and Mio.


Meanwhile, on the HQ rooftop, Ed, Erica, Eddy, Francesca, Double D, Eila and Sanya were contemplating the evening skies. Night would soon be coming and now that they were a couple, those three friends and those girls had formed an iron bond, one that would never break before anyone, not even the Kankers. And to think that they had several opportunities with which they wanted to get rid of them but failed in all of them, taking with them humiliations but that was fanning, even more, the flames of their hatred against those they considered "thieves of boyfriends". Those "Witches" had gone through a long road in which an evolution developed from the plane of friendship to romance, become a couple and now that they were, they both vowed to protect each other and thus end the Kanker's once and for all.

Francesca snuggled against Eddy's chest as he stroked her hair and face, leading the other to blush. Erica slept next to Ed, while Eila and Sanya stayed by Double D's side and as Twilight, the predecessor of the night, came and went, both they and the girls had to acknowledge that this day was one of the best they would ever forget.


Returning to the three sisters, Lee, Marie and May had finished the preparations to conquer the oil fields and the other objectives in mind. It was not going to be an easy task and they had to "invest" their time in moving their hosts that were in other parts of Suomus and Orussia, where they were still resisting as best they could the onslaught of those hordes of military and civilians that were driving them more and more out of their lands. The most important loss, for the Kanker, were the mines and factories that they had conquered with their "Lightning Offensive" but that, now, were not having the necessary effects.

Another quite delicate issue was the losses in their ranks, the troops that made up their armies had been greatly reduced, especially in the defense of the territories taken from their enemies. Now they were in serious trouble, since the resistance had multiplied and expanded in both countries, leading the sisters to give the order to withdraw and then regroup to later recover all the lost places.

- May spoke to the other two girls at that moment, while she sat down and left her tablet near her.- So far we have a large number of troops brought from the North of Suomus and the West of Orussia, where most of the clashes and casualties are occurring.- Reported the blonde.

- If we had the chance to create some good "Hydrogen Bombs", we would have already ended this fucking war a lot ago.- Cursed Marie, who pounded the table and then looked at her sisters.

- And how are we going to run this World? From an Underground Bunker System like the rodents?. You talk a lot but think nothing, sister. That would have been the worst thing.- Lee told her with sternness in her voice.

- At least I'm doing everything I can! I've already left that idiot Double D behind, if he wants to be with those bitches so bad, fine, let him keep them.- Exclaimed the dark blue hair girl.- You can't abandon that asshole Eddy!

- Repeat that one more time and I'll cut off that tongue of yours!.- The redhead warned her, grabbing her face and putting a dagger near her mouth.

- ENOUGH!.- May shouted and both of them stopped fighting.- Is this what you want?! Have you gone soft?! What happened to my two sisters who had razed, together with me, the Capital Cities of those damned ones?! Now, as far as I can see, I have a group of two morons arguing without any sense. This is not the plan we discussed and I speak for grandfather too!

Lee sighed and Marie wiped her tears. After that, they excused themselves and returned to the original plane.

- Well, let's put aside everything that happened recently.- Asked the dark blue hair and pointed out on the "Holographic Map" the movements of his troops, "The armies I have under my command have come to occupy part of the Volgograd City Center and have established a "Beachhead" on the eastern bank of the river of the same name. If we manage to destroy those who defend that sector of the city, then everything will be over for them.- Said the girl and the red-haired girl joined her.

- Mine can be of much help and more with the fleet bombarding the enemy positions. Besides we have caused several "Pockets" of troops that were trapped and they only have to fight or die. We will have to move fast before the Witches attack us.- She asked and they agreed to carry out the operation.

- It is decided, but at what time do we attack.- May asked.

There was a pause that came with a deep silence. The three of them were in deep thought until, finally, they found what they were looking for.

- We will attack today and with everything.- Ordered Lee, and then they went to the front.


Just when that break had turned into a "Paradise", the anti-aircraft sirens began to sound all over the "Provisional Capital", leading people to run for shelter in the bunkers, basements and subway stations. The Eds and their girlfriends jumped to their feet when they saw Trudie arrive, who came running and opened the door leading to the HQ rooftop.

- What's going on? Are we under attack, Lieutenant?.- Ed asked the Karsland girl.

- No, not in this place. I'll explain in the "Operations Room", the others are already gathering. Come on, I'll go get Minna.- Asked the dark brown girl and they obeyed.


The red-haired Commander heard that sound, just when she was getting up after sleeping enough and with renewed energy, she went to change quickly and from there she went to where the others were. Trudie had arrived just at that moment when she was dressed in her uniform and from there, without saying anything else, they went to the meeting point.

- What's going on?.- The redhead asked.

- It's just a start.- The dark brunette informed him and after walking a long way, they reached their goal.


- Hey, do we know the reason for this meeting, and why are the sirens sounding if I don't see the "Shadow Neuroi"?.- Johnny wanted to know, who was watching everything from one of the windows of the upper floor.

- This is all very strange, folks.- Ed interjected and they listened to him.

- Yes, and it's scary to hear those sirens, it sounds like the "End of the World" is coming.- Warned Nazz, who was trembling with fear at that shrill sound, so Kevin hugged her tightly.

- Don't worry, there won't be any "End of the World" or anything like that, it's for people to go to the refugees in case of possible enemy bombers.- Mio reassured the American blonde.- It's okay to feel fear, but remember: Never let it dominate you completely, to the point of becoming submissive. Never do that.

- You are right, Major Sakamoto, I will not let it stop me!" Nazz swore and then they heard the doors open, giving way to Commander Wilcke and Lieutenant Barkhorn. They both climbed the small stairs and stood in front of their friends.

- Good evening.- Minna greeted, but no one said anything. You could see, in the faces of all of them and of the two girls on the stage that feeling of doubts and questions: "First of all, I must inform you that, by the anti-aircraft sirens that are out there, the population is being asked not to go out to the streets since the Kanker have launched an offensive in the East of Orussia to conquer the City of Volgograd, the last line of defense and bastion against the "Empire" that they have.- She informed them about it.

- How long ago did it happen, Commander?. We had no warning or news about it.- Kevin asked and she nodded her head, agreeing with him.

- This all took place a few minutes ago. It has been an offensive never seen before: very aggressive and fast, where they have started with a series of fierce bombings against the military positions that resist and everything to gain time, conquer the oil fields, the industries and thus launch a counter-attack to reverse this loss of territories by the "Awakening".- Reported the red-haired girl, making it known that they were now in a very delicate situation. And in view of everything that has happened and with time playing against us, I am going to let you know that, at this very moment, we are going to go to the battle front, so go get your weapons, the "Striker Units" and have your "Magic" on. The Battle of Volgograd City depends on our strategy and tactics against them.- She said and they got down to work.


Once they finished their preparations, they began their journey, rising in the Night Skies of a war that seemed to have no end, crossing the devastated streets of that city and after leaving the safety of it, they went through desolate fields, which were still burning after the bombings and clashes that had taken place. Both Eddy and Ed and the others looked down, where they noticed bonfires whose tongues of flame rose up to touch the Firmament and in which burned countless dejected forces of the "Shadow Neuroi" together with their war machines.

The smoke rose and formed "tentacles" that disappeared before it reached those present, although the smell was quite sour and impregnated the nostrils. Ahead they had small towns and villages of peasants who had been the victims of the flames, of a cruel and unjust war, while their lives were reduced to nothing, they were starting over.

Mio and the others took their eyes to the East, where a series of glows ranging from yellow to red, interspersed with orange, could be seen. Fire and death. Fire and destruction. Devastation. None of them, especially Sanya, could describe what would happen in that place. They only hoped they would make it to the front line in time to end the Kanker dream for good before it was too late.

Soon, the "Squadron" disappeared in the middle of the night, heading east.


[And with this chapter I announce that the next one is the end of this "Arc VI". Get ready, Comrades.

I send greetings and thanks to Matfix, Franco M. Romano and the other followers of Fanfiction and Wattpad.

Take care and I wish a very good week to all of you, friends].