A/N: Hey peeps! This will be the last chapter before I take a hiatus. I really hate to do this but I have exams coming up and it's my last year before university so I really need good grades. After that, this story will probably continue in July. I also have a camp of two weeks I have to go to during which I have no connection to any sort of internet so that's also a part of my hiatus I believe. So... I will only return during half of July, I'm terribly sorry. I know people hate this, but I need to this and I have no other choice.
On another, happier note, this is where the nations will escape, yay! Prepare yourselves for some *cough* death *cough*. But... don't worry. That's all I have this week. ENJOY!
Oranje – 2:17 – Austria
I nervously tap on the steering wheel of the van. I wish I could help, but I have to stay put so we can get out of here as quick as possible. I glance to my side to see Italy nervously biting his nails. Finland on the other hand looks completely calm.
"Sulyutan!" I hear Korea yell and not long after I hear a grenade go off. Italy jumps at the loud sound. Gott, hurry up everyone. I am not in the mood to sit in a van while it explodes.
While we were waiting for the signal to come to pick them up, Finland and I were playing a simple card game with Italy pacing around and nervously rambling pasta recipes. But now we have to sit and wait in the middle of the firing. This is more nerve killing than anything else.
"Finnland, Italien1, do you know the way?" I ask the other nation through my open window.
"Yeah, I believe so," Finland answers. "If my van is full first, I can take the lead," he offers and I nod in appreciation.
"I can also leave first in case my van is full first," Italy confirms. I can see him shaking slightly, but don't mention it. To my opinion, he's already being very, very brave. Being friends with Germany clearly did change him a bit again.
"Good, that's one less thing we can worry about," I say and the other two nod. I look into the rear-view mirror and finally spot the other team coming out of the building. Finally! But the enemy seems to have spotted them too. There's an increase in enemy fire and I anxiously watch the last team come out of the building. But then I see two bodies fall and curse to myself.
"Portugal! Japan!" I hear China yell as the two go down, blood already running freely from their wounds. Shit, two down. I risk sticking my head a bit out of the van to see a bit better. The Netherlands picks up Japan without a moment's hesitation and Turkey picks up Portugal. Okay, if we hurry, we can keep casualties to a minimum.
"Get in!" I hear Finland yell to everyone, revving the van's motor a bit to urge them on. Denmark is already inside Finland's van. China runs in behind Turkey and a limp Portugal, firing away. He's shielding the two from any other bullets so they can get inside the van safely. I can see Luxembourg is bravely doing the same with Netherlands and Japan. Brave boy.
Belgium has taken Japan's gun and is firing away at the enemy. She is clearly too happy about getting a chance to shoot at them. Well, who can blame her? Sweden and Norway grab Denmark's hands and quickly jump inside Finland's van. Canada pushes America inside right after and Iceland covers them. He waits for everyone to get inside before jumping in himself.
"Iceland!" he doesn't get the chance to, he's hit right before he can get inside the van. Luckily he's close enough for Denmark and America to catch him and drag him inside. Once that's done, Finland doesn't even wait for them to close their doors, he simply stomps down on the gas pedal and gets going. Shit, I hope no one else is going to get shot, that would be really unfortunate. But of course, people are getting hit now, we're turning our backs to them and there is less shooting from our side.
"Luxembourg!" I hear Belgium yell. Meanwhile, it appears Germany, Netherlands and a limp Japan have already gone inside Italy's van. But as Luxembourg was covering them, he also got hit. Belgium drags him inside the van with the help of France and England who now cover her. Once they're inside, Italy happily starts racing after Finland and also stomps down on the gas pedal. I look inside my own van, leaning over the window to look. I put my right hand on the passenger's seat to bend myself a bit further.
"Österreich2, get going," I hear Prussia call out to me, jumping beside me in the front of the van. Turkey and Portugal are right behind me, covered by the others. Russia, China and South Korea are still shooting at the enemy. Both China and South Korea throw the last of the grenades and I grin. Time for us to get going too, everyone is inside. But as I want to turn around, a stray bullet hits me straight through the right hand. I yell out in pain, China in the back also cursing, being hit at the same time.
"China!" South-Korea panics. I quickly grit my teeth and steel myself. I need to get going, with or without an impaled hand. I ignore the aching and bleeding of my hand and quickly get going after Italy and Finland.
"I'm alright, it's just my shoulder, I'll live," the old nation replies. I hear them closing the doors of the van. I hiss in pain as the hole in my hand is placed on the gear shift. Prussia beside me gives me a worried glance but I ignore it. I turn right and race off the parking lot and onto the street. Finland is already getting further and further away. Italy is not so far in front of me but also really doing his best to get away though.
"I'll use the gear shift, you focus on not using that hand. Tell me what to do," Prussia says, removing my bleeding hand from the gear shift and grabbing it himself. I sigh but agree. My hand is hurting more than it should from a normal bullet wound. Luckily, the bullet went right through so I don't have to bother with taking it out. I look briefly at Prussia and he nods reassuringly.
"Third," I order as we speed up, the enemy running after us and still shooting.
"Fourth," we're getting away. They're starting to give up on shooting.
"Fifth," the road is a straight way here, we can go as fast as possible here without bothering to steer. I notice the van is getting at its limit so I don't go any faster. It appears Italy and Finland are also going at the same speed. More or less.
"Is everyone here?" Finland asks. "I have Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Canada and America in my van. Iceland has just passed away from a bullet through his lungs and Denmark and Canada are wounded. So I count seven nations including myself. What's your status?" he informs us all.
"I have eight people with me, I think," Germany replies first for Italy's van. "I have Italy, Netherlands, Japan, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and England. Japan was shot straight through the head and Luxembourg is still suffering greatly from a shot through his abdomen. Belgium and Netherlands are debating on whether it would be better to kill him now and let his body heal itself completely by shooting him a second time. Or letting him slowly die or possibly survive by not doing anything," then a shot resounds. "England solved the problem. Luxembourg is now also dead," Germany solemnly informs us.
"Alright, then I believe we have everyone. I count seven people too," I then reply. "I have Prussia, Portugal, Turkey, Russia, China and South Korea. Portugal seems to have suffered a wound through the heart and is dead. China is wounded on his shoulder and I was shot through my right hand. We were the last to depart and no cars or vehicles seem to be following us. No one was left behind," I confirm.
"That's because big brother and I blew up some cars with the last grenades. And it also blocked the way out," Korea proudly says and I hear him giggle from the back of the van.
"Good job," I hear America giddily say. How is he talking through the earbuds? He doesn't have any?
"America, give me back my earbuds," I hear Canada protest from far away. Ah, that's how. Our vans start slowing down as we near the first intersection.
"Alright, everyone. It seems our rescue operation was a success. With 4 casualties and 4 wounded, not counting Belgium and America's earlier injuries. We did it," France announces happily and I let out a sigh of relief. I already knew that we succeeded, but hearing him say it really confirmed it. I hear some cheering coming through the earbuds and from the back of my van.
"We did it!" South Korea happily cheers.
"Da, we did," Russia replies.
"Alright, let's get our wounded and dead nations to Netherland's house so we can let them recover," I say.
"Hey! Who told you we could us my house?" The Netherlands complains as we continue our drive towards Amsterdam.
"Netherlands! Why are you stealing a dead nation his earbuds?! That's really rude!" I hear Belgium scold. I smile softly.
"Japan just woke up," Germany says as he appears in the doorframe. "He was the last one since he was shot through the head," the tall blonde nation sits down on the sofa beside me.
"How are the others? It's been a day already, they should have recovered much faster," I ask, watching as Belgium is getting scolded by the Netherlands for dirtying his kitchen while making waffles. England is silently sipping his tea beside Belgium, knowing fully well he was actually the one to spill the batter when he tried to help the female nation. But Belgium doesn't bother to tell Netherlands that. Mainly because everyone here knows the Netherlands is going easy on her because she's his sister.
"Luxembourg still has some pain in his chest from the two bullets but is feeling better. Iceland is about the same. Portugal is already up and running, helping Italy with tending to the last of the wounded. But I can see in the way he favours his right arm above his left one his chest also still hurts. Everyone should be starting to finish healing by now though," Germany looks at my right hand which is already completely healed now, the wound also took so much longer to heal than normal though. The healing may have taken long, but now not even a scar visible. Scars only stay when the wound was inflicted by another nation. Poor Luxembourg, England shot him in the chest to end his suffering yesterday.
"Putain de merde3, Angleterre," France is looking rather annoyed as he looks at the spilt tea on his pants. "Now my pants are ruined," he complains. The Netherlands halts from scolding Belgium to start scolding England. Because he also spilt tea on the wooden table and the floor.
"I didn't do anything," England protests. "That idiot America pushed me," he points at America who is running towards the toilet.
"I don't care, you spilt it, you clean it," the Netherlands growls as he throws a towel at England's head. Meanwhile, Belgium silently slips off her chair beside England and escapes the scolding from her neighbouring country. She quickly grabs her big plate filled to the brim with waffles she finished and approaches the couches. Canada, China, Germany and I are peacefully sitting there. She squeezes herself in between me and Germany on the sofa and smiles.
"Whew, thought I would never escape that scolding, England owes me one. Waffle?" she offers us the plate and we all happily grab one of her delicious waffles. I glance at Germany to see his eyes light up comically. He's always had a sweet tooth, even if he doesn't look the part.
"Have all of you contacted your governments already to tell them that you're safe?" China asks Belgium and Germany. Belgium nods with her mouth full of food. Germany politely swallows.
"I made sure Portugal's government knows too since he wasn't able to do so himself right away. And I also personally checked on everyone to see if they did," he confirms. I smile softly, typically Germany.
"You know, I really missed my waffles," Belgium mutters as she grabs another one and offers me another. I happily accept the offer.
"It's been a while since I've last eaten them too," Canada says, also taking his second one.
"Waffles!" America is returning from the bathroom now and is already racing toward us to also grab a waffle. Belgium offers him one with a smile. Russia also approaches from his position beside the window and joins us in the couches. America plops down beside Canada and Russia sits down beside China.
"Where are Prussia, Korea and Turkey?" Germany asks as he doesn't see them anywhere. I look around to see the dinner table occupied by France, England, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. The couches are full and I know Japan, Italy, Portugal, Iceland and Luxembourg are in the bedrooms, still recovering. Or in Italy's case, taking care of the recovering by feeding them food (mainly pasta) non-stop.
"I don't know, could they be with the recovering?" Belgium answers.
"I just came from there, and they weren't there," Germany replies.
"I think they went to the grocery store a bit further down the street, saying that we needed food for lunch and dinner," America recalls.
"Wait, those three were sent to the grocer?" I ask, already imaging the dumb situations that are surely occurring. "None of them speak Dutch," I sigh.
"I think Prussia said something about knowing Dutch actually," the blonde superpower grabs another waffle to stuff his mouth with.
"Oh, alright then," I cross my arms and try not to worry too much. I mean, Turkey has a habit of fighting with Greek people. Prussia has a habit of talking too loudly and Korea has a habit of running off and being too enthusiastic. I can only see this go wrong. But I suppose I should just wait and see, maybe they can actually pull it off without causing any ruckus.
"Now that we saved everyone, what are we supposed to do?" China suddenly asks. I look up at the old nation with a frown.
"What do you mean, Kitay4? We go find their leader and kill them of course! Since we didn't get the chance to see that woman who called herself Domitor," Russia smiles innocently as he says that, an ominous aura emitting from him. China immediately leans a bit away from him.
"That's not what I meant, stupid," he says. "I meant what to do with the bases we discovered on the map and with the one here in the Netherlands?" he then clarifies. "Also, there are still some unanswered questions. Like, how did they know Germanium was our weak point? How did they figure out to kidnap the Netherlands too? It's thanks to that that we couldn't find the kidnapped nations. No people other than us countries know most of that information," China adds.
"Good question," Canada says.
"What map?" Belgium asks, still eating waffles.
"While we were searching for you missing nations, we investigated two abandoned Black October bases," England is suddenly there, standing right behind me. I look over my shoulder to see most of the people who were sitting at the table are bringing their chairs over to participate in our conversation.
"Careful," Netherlands says as Denmark bumps with the leg of his chair against one of the sofas. Denmark chuckles nervously under the glare before very carefully putting down his chair in the circle that's now been formed in the middle of Netherland's living room.
"Abandoned? Why were they abandoned?" America questions.
"We can't say for sure," Finland replies. "But when we were investigating them, it looked like they left in a hurry. We searched one in East Germany and one in North-West Russia. In the base in East Germany, we found a bundle of papers and that was about all. On the papers was a long list of the cargo, it helped us prepare for the attack on the base you were held in. And on the last page was a list of names and addresses of some nations, including most of the abducted nations," Finland explains.
"Ah, could that be the list you were talking about?" Germany looks at America.
"If it's the one Canada mentioned on the phone right before I was taken too, it is," America replies, looking at the other nation, sitting right beside him. After that, we decide to all share the information we each have acquired. We're surprised when the abductees reveal their theory about the reason why they were abducted. But if I have to be honest, it makes a lot of sense. If that woman had succeeded, she could have had control over a lot of things without even having to lift a finger.
When we reveal the map to them, we all agree on the fact that we should take down Black October and make sure nothing like this ever happens again. And for that, we first are going to go back to the base we just rescued the others from and then we're going to the other dots that are located in the ports around the world. According to the Netherlands, the local police have investigated the base in Oranje, where they were held. And it should be empty of any more Black October. So now it is our job to go and see if we can find any other clues.
1 German = Finland, Italy
2 German = Austria
3 French = equivalent of bloody hell
4 Russian = China