A/N: Hello everyone! Chapter two here. This and chapter one are more history, about how Ella and Aldo got to France. So here it is! Thanks, guys :)
Ella had to wait another six months. The Devil's Brigade began in Norway, taking out key points and officers vital to the Germans' occupation easily. They moved on to Italy's mountains in November 1943 in an attempt to push the Germans' winter lines back and allow the rest of the Allied army to reach and retake Rome. On the assault on the mountain called La Defensa, they needed everyone they had, so Colonel Frederick finally took Ella off of reserve and put her on the front, next to Aldo. It was December and the snow covered the mountain, but every breath of freezing air that Ella took into her lungs made her heart beat faster, her scope eye sharper, her trigger finger faster. The assault was estimated to take five days, and consisted of the 1st regiment (containing Ella and Aldo) going in directly to the German line, while the 2nd regiment set up machine guns to hold the Germans from gaining ground.
The mountain La Defensa was taken in three hours.
The two regiments were making their way towards the other side of the mountain when their Lieutenant Colonel MacWilliam was shot down. Colonel Frederick halted the assault to call for reinforcements and supplies, and Ella huddled by Aldo to wait.
"I told you, girl. Yer' on the front for our most important assault yet."
She elbowed her best friend. "Shush, you. And thanks. You know, for keeping me going."
"I had to. Yer' the brains, I'm the braun. we need each other."
"Dunno where I'd be without you."
"You too, El."
"Whiskey!" someone called from closer to camp. "Come on, Brigade!"
"Oh, thank the Lord," Ella sighed. "Let's go, before it's gone."
By the end of the second day, the hills behind La Defensa were taken. Ella had come out wounded, but just a little - a bullet had grazed her upper arm, and she hadn't even noticed until they were relieved by the 142nd infantry. There were casualties - of course there were. But they had made a major step forward for the Allies and retaking Italy. The Brigade headed towards their next assignment in Anzio.
Once they had come down from the mountains, they set up camp and had a few days to recuperate. "Sergeant Raine," Colonel Frederick called as Aldo passed with his face freshly shaven - except for his moustache. "Fetch Private Demski and report back to me in my tent."
"Yes, sir," he replied, and double-timed it back to the tent he shared with Ella. He was the only one that was ever allowed to bunk with Ella - mostly because he refused to let any of the other men near her. She was lying on her back, her hands folded over her chest and her legs crossed, eyes closed. Aldo looked down at her for a moment before waking her. Peace showed on her face, a rare thing nowadays. For the past year her brows had been creased, her eyes determined, her lips set in a hard line (though Aldo had watched her grow into one beautiful woman). She was finally relaxed, something Aldo hadn't seen in a long time. And even though she looked relaxed now, when she woke up and was unleashed onto the world to fight, Aldo knew she would thrive on each vindictive kill she made.
"El, the Colonel wants to see us," Aldo murmured, nudging her. She scrunched up her face before stretching and sitting up.
"What for? He tell you?"
"Nope, just told me to fetch you."
Pulling on her wool coat and her boots, Ella stood up. "Well, I doubt it's anything bad. We survived La Defensa, right?"
"From what I heard, he didn't sound mad. Let's get goin'."
They jogged to the Colonel's tent and Aldo rapped on one of the poles that held up the fabric. "Sergeant Raine and Private Demski, sir."
"Come in."
There were two men in the tent, one marked with the four stars of a General. Ella and Aldo snapped to attention, their eyes straight ahead.
"At ease, soldiers. This is General Alexander. He has control of the fate of the First Service, but he has additional plans for you. First of all, however, I would like to present you, Aldo Raine, with the rank of First Lieutenant." He brought one hand from behind his back and revealed a silver stripe pin. Aldo saluted again, and the Colonel saluted back.
"Thank you, sir. It's an honor."
The Colonel nodded. "Secondly, I would like to award you, Ella Demski, with the rank of Corporal. Keep in mind that we usually reserve this rank for those who had been in service more than a year, but in this particular case, we felt a little leniency was necessary." In his other hand was a patch with two gold, pointed stripes.
Ella, her eyes wide, snapped off a salute. "Thank you, sir. Permission to speak freely, sir?"
"Permission granted."
"I never expected to rank up. Thank you for keeping faith in me, sir. I don't know where I'd be without the Brigade."
"You've done remarkably well, Demski. You earned it." He saluted back to her. She had seriously never thought she'd be promoted, just because she was a woman. Now 20 years old, she had thought she'd just finish the war as a Private, be told to keep quiet about her position and her role in combat, and go back to the states to bum around some more, maybe take up moonshining with Aldo. Now, she had something that she could call herself. And it was something she wanted with all her heart.
"Now, General Alexander, I believe you wanted to brief them?"
The General stood up and addressed the newly ranked soldiers. "I will speak bluntly to you two. We have decided to use guerilla tactics against the Nazis to help end this war. I heard you two were the best to go to."
A devilish smile crossed Aldo's face. "Yes sir, you heard right."
"Then you are my man. Lieutenant Raine, you will put together a team of eight soldiers, including Corporal Demski and a Sergeant of my choosing as your right hand...men, so to speak." Ella heard his hesitation. No matter - this was probably the first time he had addressed a woman as such. "We need this war to end soon. You'll be coming with me to England, selecting your soldiers from our suggested files, and shipping out to France. I chose you for a reason. You have the special forces training necessary to fit this particular type of warfare, and frankly, you are one sick bastard."
"I want you to kill as many Godforsaken Nazis as you can."
Aldo's chest puffed up. The same smile that Aldo was wearing had appeared on Ella. Aldo looked at her, the once-upon-a-time the girl that had just cocked her head when he had told her he had killed a man, now the woman that had become like his sister, and would gladly kill alongside him. "When do we leave, sir?"
A/N: So, there it is. I think this'll be updated about every three days or so. Chapter three might be up before then. Thank you for reading! -Alex
