(During Issue 8: Will leaves with dormouse)
"Finally Sunday! Yet I don't understand why we should meet here." Nigel says in a husky and raspy voice as he slams his body and arms on the diner table.
"Hey." Eric scolds. "Don't you just slump like that to the table. We're in a dine-in."
After the last six days of training, the boys rest on the last day of the weekend to rest their throats out, yet Eric and Ray travel to Heatherfield to meet Nigel at Golden, the famous fancy restaurant at Heatherfield as yesterday, Grantaire assigns a new assignment for them.
"Don't you tell me what to do Eric! Because I really am tired! After community service at the museum, then training, then homework!" Nigel yells but in a hoarse voice.
"What's wrong with your voice Nigel lately?" Ray asks. "Last time you your body's temperature was at all time high, and now you can't even bare any voice at all. Did another explosion occur in your throat as well?"
"No! I was shouting the trainees all throughout." Nigel replies. "Lucky for you two, you have each other's backs at the 'Heights' while I do all training myself without Grantaire's support!"
"Well at least you have all the space for yourself in the 'Calluna' and handle around seventy men." Eric annoying replies. "Me and Ray even have to train under the harsh snow—Achoo!" Eric suddenly covers his hand over his mouth and sneezes. "And even our hundred men can't even fit inside the barn alone.
"Well at least you have to train some new recruits who respect you!" Nigel points to Eric. "I on the other hand do not. Most of my trainees are even rude to me, especially that Gruul who even challenged me!"
"Now, now, now, there's no need to fight and boast on whoever has the unfortunate setup—" Ray calms them down but stops as he blows his nose with a handkerchief in his pocket. "We really do need layers of jackets next time." He says to himself.
Eric sighs as he calms down. "Anyway, Grantaire said something yesterday to me yesterday on how Gruul pissed you off or something? What was it that ticked you off?" Eric asks Nigel.
"Umm…T-That was nothing…" Nigel stutters.
"Your heig—" Ray replies teasingly.
"Don't you dare say it!" Nigel yells.
"Number seven?" says a waitress by the side of her table as they look at her. She then glances on the receipt on her hand and holds the tray with their food on the other.
"Yes, that's us. Thanks—Achoo!" Eric replies but sneezes suddenly.
The waitress rechecks their number then places their order on their table. She takes their table number stand and rushes over back to the counter to serve the other diners.
"Wasn't she the waitress who has the hots for you Eric?" Ray whispers as he takes his meal from the tray. "She doesn't seem polite like last time. You shouldn't have sneezed Eric."
"Or maybe she's too busy serving the people here." Eric annoyingly replies as he takes his meal off the tray and sees a long line of people before the counter. "Besides we aren't here for the waitresses aren't we? Since our meal is on the table I think we should get this meeting started." Eric says as he takes a bite from his burger.
"So Grantaire met you yesterday and what is it about this time? More trainees? Because I have enough." Nigel asks frustratingly as he takes a bite on a french fry.
"He's actually asking us if we could provide some help on rescuing important rebels from 'Dungeon Rock' he says. I'm assuming it's a Meridianite prison." Eric says. "He explains most of the imprisoned rebels are officers to the Rebellion Army, once freed they can solidify their army again. Yet again, it's not a requirement for us."
"I decline." Ray refuses quickly.
"I too as well!" Nigel raises his hand slightly.
"That was a fast response." Eric annoyingly replies.
"I know we wanted to help them but aren't training the rebels enough?" Ray complains. "They're actually taking too much from us, honestly."
"Yeah I agree with Ray here." Nigel replies. "Can't they use their men to raid the prison? And what about the other legionates instead of using the same old us?"
"I too actually agree with the both of you." Eric replies. "But I also heard the news from Grantaire that the Jolras' Corps is too exhausted from the previous fight, while Caleb's tries to ward off the soldiers who tried to invade Grendal and the other legionates of the universe are still with Commander Lamarcus, who is now more than forty miles from Meridian and still fighting the betrayed Imperials."
"Too bad were the only alienated legionates of Meridian if it weren't for those portals!" Ray sarcastically cries annoyingly as he munches his burger. "Is there anyone else who could fill the role for us?"
"There is actually." Eric says as he comes up with a plan. "With the amount of time we can actually use our trained trainees to fill up the roles. It's some sort of practice run so they can be ready when some kind of battle commence. What do you guys think?"
Nigel and Ray look at each other and considers for a while as they eat their food from the plate. "Eric don't you think it's too somehow 'advanced' or difficult for them?" Nigel comments.
"Yeah, it's been a week since and we don't have much time left to fill the necessary gaps needed for them to be full-trained." Ray adds. "And when is this 'raid' scheduled? If its next week then it couldn't be enough, and if it were a Sunday, I'm not even reconsidering"
"Surprisingly, he didn't specify the date." Eric replies. "But he said the raid should ensue within a month starting yesterday and it also depends on the number of volunteers and the planning."
"Within a month? That's a quite a long period to train them." Ray thinks. "Couldn't we just consider and asses the training of the men before the time comes?"
"So like if the men are properly well-trained, then we could reconsider them to enlist in the raid." Nigel says. "And if they are not and they still need more time to practice, then we decline?"
"That's right." Ray says. "But I don't know what should we do on our part? Should we watch them or something?"
"We could actually lead all throughout the rescue." Eric explains. "If you want we could do a surprise raid. Do you know the 1980's movie—I forgot the title—but it's about an embassy siege where the special air service took out the terrorists?"
"No clue." Ray replies.
"Was it 'Dares Who Wins?" Nigel replies.
"Yap." Eric replies and snaps his fingers as he recalls. "That's the movie."
"Sorry for being left out by how you two could relate to such an old film, but could you explain further?" Ray annoyingly replies.
"I think what Eric's trying to explain is, we're going to use a short number of men than an army to siege the dungeon." Nigel explains.
"And after the assessment of each of the men, we could take the most capable men from our groups who could join the rescue mission." Eric explains. "At least thirty to fifty men is what we needed."
Ray thinks and considers. "Seems fine to me, unless Grantaire also considers our proposal" He then looks to Eric keenly.
"I think our plan is reasonable. For the next coming weeks we train then assess the most capable men for them to join the raid." Eric thinks. "I'll just have to say what we have discussed here to him when he comes up to me."
"Yet I still don't understand why within a month is the raid which is later of next year's January." Nigel suddenly says as he thinks it over.
"Maybe they need the time to celebrate Christmas and the New Year." Ray jokes.
"They are?" Nigel suddenly ponders and chuckles.
"Sure they do!" Ray exclaims. "Once Elyon becomes queen, she could declare the holiday herself!" he jokes once more as the three of them laugh and chuckle merrily as they finished their food after the next few minutes.
Suddenly, they hear loud thumps of knocks on the adjacent exterior window beside them. "It's Miss Rudolph!" Nigel exclaims as they notice the worried and anxious look on Galgheita's face. She points through the glass and gestures that she will come inside, then proceeds to enter the restaurant.
"Mayday, looks like Nigel's going to the Principal's office." Ray teasingly jokes.
"Principal in her office in this peaceful late afternoon Sunday?" Eric replies.
"Oh quiet you two!" Nigel says as he covers his head. "I hate seeing teachers in public!"
"Atlas, Nigel." She calls as she arrives to their table. She pants heavily like she comes from a tiring run. "Thank the gods I have found you! We have an emergency! A word from Grantaire!"
"Slow down ma'am you're making a commotion." Nigel politely says. "Do you need water?"
"Sorry, there's no time, but I just got word from Grantaire back at my home, there's an incoming wave of a hundred Meridianites coming here right now lead by a mysterious person named 'Raven'." Miss Rudolph says. "The problem is he doesn't know which portal they will enter to here."
"How many times should we take care of this kind of situation?" Ray complains as they all look at each other with doubts and confusion look written on their facial gestures. "How many portals do we have left unclosed by the Guardians?"
Eric quickly shoves out a small piece of paper from the right cheek of his bag pack. He opens it as it scribbles down a list of the portals. "According to what I have listed, the portals left active are Elyon's House, Clearview Crossing, Shell Cave, The bookshop, Futerdome, Abandoned Carnival, The Observatory and Nigel's own home. Only eight left active and unclosed."
"It's still a large number to deduce." Ray examines. "We can't make it in time to cross to all these locations."
"Is there any clue that Grantaire told you? Even a slight detail perhaps?" Eric asks.
"Well he told me that there a echoing and vibrating deafening noises and yells above the floor as you enter the portal but that was all he said." Miss Rudolph explains.
"I would bet that it would be in my bedroom." Nigel says with certainty. "I bet my mother is arguing again with my brother."
"Is that even a defening noise for you, Nigel?" Ray asks.
"Well could be." Nigel says.
"Nigel, Miss Rudolph" Eric calls out them as he sees a hidden flyer on the tray and reads. "Where and what time is Karmilla's concert?" he asks as he hands out the flyer to Nigel. Both Miss Rudolph and Nigel reads the info on the piece of paper.
"Karmilla? Her concert is starting now until night and at the—Futerdome."Nigel's eyes widen in realization.
Ray takes the flyer and reads. "So the noises were the merry screams and yells of rock music?"
"And since its above floor, it's on the basement level where they will enter." Eric continues. "I think we should better get going now." He says as they stand up to their seats.
"Seems like the flyer has saved Eric's theory once again." Ray teasingly says as the four of them exit the store.
"Hoping if I'm right." Eric replies.
Meanwhile back inside, a mysterious hooded figure behind the legionates' table, also stands up and sternly looks at them through the glass as they leave for Futerdome. The dark-green hooded jacket figure stops before their table and watches and recalls what he has heard and eavesdropped.
'What are you hiding, Nigel?" the green hooded figure says to itself as he too exits and follows on his way to Futerdome.
