Chapter 31: Tactical Redeployment

U-4989 did not retreat from battle.

Even as he sprinted away in the opposite direction from the insane glasses-wearing macrophage, he still considered this as a 'tactical' redeployment.

The ground shook, followed by several panels crumbling down from the ceiling. Dust and debris fell down on him, covering his fluffy grey hair. He had lost his cap hours ago, which revealed his hair stained with red cytoplasm from his enemies.

Ashen corpses littered the corridors with expressions contorted into soundless screams. Some of the dead were still burning, their membranes and organelles providing fuel for the unholy fires. He had to mind his footing to not step on the deceased or any floor panel that could collapse.

The sounds of battle echoed throughout the sinusoid capillary, which indicated he could be thrown back into the fray at any moment and at any turn.

U-4989 insisted he did not retreat from battle, but he cursed himself for not finishing off his opponent.

Technically, he could defeat the macrophage, albeit with the slimmest of margins. It was possible, but only if the macrophage somehow lost her blade, had her hands tied behind her back, and a blindfold covered her eyes. She would surely lose with such handicaps.

He shook his head to vanish such nonsense thoughts.

Again, he felt a searing pain pulsing on his right hand. Instinctively, he tightened his fingers to form a tight fist, but it only felt hollowed and weak. Dried crimson cytoplasm caked the two stubs that used to be his fingers.

Unless he gets suitable prostheses for his missing digits, he wouldn't be able to use his right hand to grip his sword. He would need to relearn how to fight with a two-handed blade all over again.

It can be done, but not now.

Neutrophils don't usually use swords. Those were typically used by NK cells during their patrols. However, during extreme times of crisis, the guardians of the world tend to upgrade their choice of weapons to match the caliber of the threat.

U-4989 didn't have much opportunity to use his sword in combat. His blade did well for him during the battle outside the liver. He wasn't counting, but he did slay a fair amount of the undead. Not too many, but not too few either.

His sword did well for him but against a macrophage?

He threw the sword away. It clanged when it hit the floor. It would only hinder him in a fight.

He took out one of his daggers from his side slings, gripping it with his still good hand. The sharp blade felt warm and comforting to his touch as if greeting him as an old friend. Instinctively, he reached out for the weapon's twin, but the pulsing pain from his missing right fingers reminded him of his handicap.

One dagger would do for now.

He looked back and realized he already gained a wide distance from the glasses-wearing macrophage. He had run and switched capillaries a couple of times. He should be safe from his insane opponent for now.

The ground shook again, followed by the sound of blaring klaxons.

"Neutrophil!"

Ahead of U-4989, he saw a squad of seven KT cells rushing towards them. He recognized them as part of the original KT battalion stationed outside of the liver when the archtraitor attacked. Like him, they were all worn and haggard, no doubt having fought the traitors nonstop.

"You're moving in the wrong direction," the leader of the squad, an MT cell with an unkempt beard, barked at him. "This lobule is secure for now. The enemy is on the other side."

"I just fought one of the archtraitor's generals," U-4989 informed them. He then pointed at the corridor behind him. "She's in lobule 4C. She cut my group down. I'm the only one left."

The MT cell furrowed his brows as he studied him. U-4989 could feel his intense gaze scrutinizing him from top to bottom.

"You are injured." The MT cell pointed at his right hand, missing three fingers. "But you're not dead. Why have you abandoned your fight?"

"A-Abandoned?!" U-4989 almost snarled at the KT squad's leader. "I… I did not abandon the fight!"

"Oh," the MT cell raised his chainblade at the wounded neutrophil. "Then why didn't you die along with the rest of your comrades?"

U-4989 narrowed his eyes. He glared daggers at the KT squad leader and the implication of his words. "Mind your own business, MT, I'm fighting this war as I see fit!"

Though neutrophils and lymphocytes were all considered part of the world's immune system, both had completely different fighting styles. The neutrophils were part of the immune system's innate response, which meant they had more patrol missions than the KT cells. They fought in smaller groups and even went solo in most cases. As for the lymphocytes, they were the specialists, the shock troops of the adaptive immune response. They fight in squads or in larger formations. They receive their orders from the Thymus HQ and would usually be sent to sectors of the world where the fighting was heaviest.

Oftentimes the two types of immune cells find themselves fighting the same enemy on the same battlefield. However, when the two types do battle side by side, the difference between their style of fighting becomes visible for everyone to see.

Thus, U-4989 couldn't help but feel insulted that an MT cell questioned his 'tactical' redeployment as a form of cowardice.

The KT squad leader stared back at the wounded neutrophil. He didn't also lower his sword. One could be forgiven for a moment if they imagine that the two might even come into blows.

Finally, the MT cell lowered his blade and made a dismissive grunt.

"You are wounded," he said to U-4898 again. "What good will you be in the front lines if you couldn't even grip a sword?"

"I still have my other hand," the wounded neutrophil raised his left hand, gripping a dagger for everyone to see. "I can still fight."

"And yet, you are not fighting."

"Do I sense a problem, Lymphocyte?" U-4898 shot back, almost growling his question.

The MT cell shook his head and proceeded to walk past him. The other KT cells followed suit, not even acknowledging his presence.

"It doesn't matter now anyway," the KT squad leader answered as he continued to advance in the direction of the insane macrophage's whereabouts. "Go visit the shrine maidens and let them check your hand. They might be able to help you."

U-4989 clenched his teeth. He knew he didn't have time for petty squabbles, but the dismissive tone of the MT cell made his cytoplasm simmer with anger.

"By the way," the KT squad leader stopped to smile a mocking smile back at him. "Perhaps you could be of any use even if not in the front lines."

The wounded neutrophil didn't take the bait. He remained silent, showing no emotions whatsoever. He did feel his left hand instinctively curling tightly on his dagger.

The sinusoidal corridor shook once again, and the lights flickered and dimmed with every quake.

"Up ahead of you, there are a bunch of platelets that might need your help."

U-4898 raised an eyebrow.

"They are lost and are crying. Apparently, they lost their leader, and they're trying to find her."

"You want me to babysit a bunch of platelets?"

The MT cell let out a shrug.

"If you're not fighting in the frontlines, you might as well help the less fortunate at the back."

Without waiting for a reply, the MT cell continued his stride, followed by his squad. The wounded neutrophil watched them break into a sprint until they disappeared into a corner.

U-4898 sighed.

"I didn't retreat," he muttered to himself before moving once again.

This time, the words rang hollow and empty to his ears.


A/N:

We finally are introduced to U-4898. I've always wanted to introduce him earlier during the battle outside of the liver, but I needed to focus solely on U-1146 and his quest to find AE-3803 and Platelet Leader. ^^

Let's see what happens in the next chapter.

Until next time!


Revision History:

- Originally published on Jan 18, 2021