7 August 2024

9:36 P.M Central Daylight Time (CDT)

I-40 W, Tennessee, United States

Drahoslav's face turned into a snicker, glancing the window as his swish disproportionately pulls behind his head.

"The vehicle has no fire protection, my chance to destroy it."

He looks at his allies in the vehicle.

"Cover your eyes!"

Making a handgun gesture with his right hand, a small ball of purple and white flames from a mix of two metals. Being only a twinkle like a star from other cars that could see. Directed towards its right wheels.

"Level Two command block lifted, Infernite!"

His 'star' degraded into the dark, but for only a moment, as the ball transmutes to a swift, compressed beam. Punching a hole in one of the Glowgen vehicle's tires. Causing the vehicle to burst into uncontrollable flames that engulf the entire vehicle. Spinning onto its side before exploding.

"There's our roadblock for the time being. Let's get moving before things get even worse!"

Drahoslav looks away from the subsequent crashes it'd produce, alongside a crater in the road. Slamming the gas, as some grunts came from behind the seats.

"Draho!" Zelislav drops his gun and moves his hands to free himself from the after-effects of their Hummer's shift in speed.

"Sorry, Zeli, did I hurt anything?"

"No."

"Draho's Intfernite gave us a pretty little distraction for the moment. We better well use it to get away from Nashville." Dvinaslav looked from the side of her seat to her friend and comrade.

"Can't argue with that. I'll keep on the look for law enforcement."

Hamilton's disbelief at Drahoslav being the man who caused a complex to burn, a roadblock to be erected, and destroyed a vehicle with a single hand gesture.

"How d-did you do that..?"

"I can't~."

"We don't have to hide it, they haven't seen the war," Dvinaslav interjects.

"I guess, Dvina," he replies before he directs his words back to Hamilton. "Four years of sacrifice, battles, experiences, and hardship."

"That's… Amazing, are you SAO…"

"The SAO Incident is ongoing. It was something concurrent."

"Sorry…" Hamilton plays with his fingers.

Drahoslav didn't bother with making something obvious. Paying his eyes to the road while they make a pass to the north, a turn to I-24. Towards the state of Kentucky, a state they would need to pass on their way to Denver.

"I-I'm really sorry!"

Fully aware of what Drahoslav's priorities are, gives the attention Hamilton sought, "Don't say it twice."

"I-I…" his eyes slowly starts to enter into a tear.

"He understands, much as well as I do."

He cowers back to his seat, yawning. Dragging a pillow to his head and a blanket set by Zelislav over his body, falling into a spell a few minutes later.

8 August

11:22 A.M CDT

I-24 N, Tennessee, United States

From the extensively long period since they've turned from Nashville, towards the Kentucky state line, converting the stresses of long-distance travel to Drahoslav. While remaining on the wheel for as long as he can hold, his trembling arms rocking the Hummer's wheel to uneasy teetering to the other lanes.

"Draho… You're making me nervous."

"O čom?"

"The wheel is shaking from you."

"What do you want me to do about it, Zeli?" he responds brashly.

"Let's not get over our heads, you're stressed."

"I can't talk when I'm at the fucking wheel!"

"We've been driving for two hours straight with no breaks since the interception of our radio signal!" Dvinaslav leans to her comrade at the wheel. "Whose fault would it be if we've crashed?"

"It's Gabriel and his cronies who're at fault!"

"Are you listening to me?!" Dvinaslav creates a doughnut hole, the other illuminating an area like a potent flashlight. Showing the exit for Clarksville.

"Why are you lighting up that sign! That'll create attention!"

"Town. Turn now."

"Fine, Dvina…" he grumbles while his arms brought them to the junction.

Following the flow of the crowd into Clarksville. Drahoslav yawns a bit while he waits for the light to flash green, which did after several seconds.

11:30 A.M CDT

Clarksville, Tennessee, United States

The comrades, alongside Hamilton and Roosevelt, didn't speak up or sound the alarm to any further Glowgen intrusions to exterminate their presence in the U.S. Only pestered by ambiance from outside, the reverb of their engine. Or the compressed musical sounds on the radio.

With Drahoslav the exception as he was still behind the wheel, the three people still awake turned to their phones.

"There could be Glowgen here…"

"Calm down." Roosevelt looks out the windshield. "We should stop for the night."

"I agree," Dvinaslav stares at the man, "Draho's deficiency when it came to potassium and magnesium is hitting him."

Unsure about what it meant, Roosevelt shrugs as he'd point to a hotel. Getting what he was conveying, Dvinaslav lit it for Drahoslav to notice.

"Do we have to stop?"

"We've been on the road for two hours straight. We need to take care of ourselves! Idiot!"

Drahoslav rolls his eyes, "Fine…" he rotates the car to the parking lot of the identified hotel and places it in a space to put it in park.

"I'm continuing..."

However, Dvinaslav got out. Rushing to open his door and dragged him out of his seat. Striking the back of his neck by her elbow to induce unconsciousness. Permitting Roosevelt and Zelislav to get Hamilton out of the vehicle, perform necessary check-in operations as humanly possible as they could.

~20 Minutes Later

Fortunately, they've succeeded in obtaining at least two rooms to use for the night. Relaxing from Drahoslav's tension while caring for their stuff at the same time to get things back to a relatively normal medium for tomorrow. When Drahoslav would hopefully be back to normal for tomorrow, with over a thousand kilometers to go.

On the chair, Dvinaslav and Roosevelt used a tablet in a video conference using the hotel's internet. With Jaraslav's face visible for the two to see with the thanks from technology.

"Is Stani available?" Dvinaslav asked.

"Yeah, is the guy who stayed by at that raid available."

"He isn't, and it would be for the best concerning his condition. Although he is getting a little better from avoiding consistent conflict altogether."

"I see… Do you have enough money from the loan to sustain the home?"

"It's quite expensive, but I'm going to start working so I can supplement and help the humble guys pay the interest."

"Got it!"

"What else is goin' on yonder," Roosevelt said.

From the screen, Jaraslav tilts his head. Next to him, Dvinaslav tilts her head. From a distance, Zelislav tilts his head. On the bed, Hamilton tilts his head.

"What did you just say?"

"Over there."

"Oh…" Jaraslav intakes air with a pogged expression. Before cracking open a smile, "Oh! Oh! Oh! That must be a unique regional word. Sorry, I forget that! Find humor through the flaws. Is there anything that I can do to help?"

Zelislav immediately said something, "Jara! Can you see what's the cause of the interception of our radio?"

"That… When I heard about some journalists losing assess to the Internet within an area around Marion, Illinois. Is it on the way there?"

"Our determined direction towards Denver goes through the state. If the interstate passes through correctly, we would pass through Marion." Roosevelt explains.

"That's like two hundred and fifty kilometres away from where we are!"

"Google Maps suggest when I used satellite, that there's a walled complex containing a powerful communications tower. I can't disable it this far away. But frying the components inside would require replacement. From the size of that thing, it would take months. As such, equally as effective."

Dvinaslav clears her throat again, yawning while the appearance of her eyes, altered by her FLIC, and the condensed nature of her hair for the same reason. "We'll figure something out. Better to piss Glowgen off some more than to do it silently!"

"That's the Dvinaslav I've known for over six years! Do what you can. If anything new develops, I will send it directly by urgent demand."

She nods, before making a wave to the camera. Ending the call before preparing to jump in bed. The majority of the covers masking her lower body while she hunches into a comfortable position to fall asleep.

9 August

10:13 A.M CDT

A Cafe in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

A man's arrival to a sleepy cafe right next to a streetcar station, a high tech laptop in his right hand while a phone in another. Calling about someone else, it seemed desperate, harsh, and needed immediate address. But the calm man's voice reassured the short-haired blond guy in glasses to sit down.

Soon, the imposing man with blue eyes, blond hair, and fabulous two bangs pass over the sitting person, "Good timing, Critter. This has been a thorn on our side for a little bit."

"Which is, Gabriel?"

"Those kids plus two traitors." He'd pop his pinky finger. "They've obliterated our cybersecurity at the armory in Charlotte."

Critter's face immediately declines at the news. "Seriously? They attacked the facility's networks and beat the firewall installed. Why didn't you tell me earlier!"

"I wasn't aware. When I get back to San Deigo, an investigation is in effect."

"Oklahoma City isn't a target. So we're safe, what do you want to drink?"

"A standard coffee would do."

Critter nods, rising from his seat, allowing Gabriel time to check on Critter's laptop. Being the property of Glowgen, his position when it came to matters allowed him to check on his work. Checking over the record of video conferences he's been in and calls. The name "Lussier" currently ongoing. Scanning through the transcript starting from the beginning;

Lussier: Greetings, Critter.

Critter: Who are you? Why do you have my exclusive address?

Lussier: It doesn't matter. But I am on you and your boss' side in the situation in the U.S.

Critter: Should you be trusted? I'm not sure when CTO Miller gets a hold of it.

Lussier: I have a deal I would like to make with him. Can you hook me up to him?

Critter: Convince me why I should.

Lussier: Very well.

Lussier posts a detailed plan about the Project S.A.O warp gate and a threat assessment regarding the comrades. As well as presenting their military credentials in American military terms. Showing them as WO in general terms.

Critter: All five of them are considered Warrant Officers?

Lussier: But, they're paid like if they're at E-7. But that isn't a reflection of their abilities. What they're capable of far exceeds it. They're smart, they had training, and know the rulebook to war. Play dump, Glowgen pays.

Critter: I see, what's the deal you want to talk to him about.

Lussier: Help against those staff sergeants as my boss calls them, in exchange for something I need help with something myself.

Critter: We'll see, I speak to him whenever I can.

Pushing the device towards himself as he gets to thinking. Happening yesterday, it brought the conclusion to get this settled before Critter completes getting their drinks. Typing another reply;

Critter: I agree to meet with you.

Seconds later, a reply came in;

Lussier: Really? Wonderful! Are you Gabriel?

Critter: Yes, I'm using Critter's laptop.

Critter attaches a saved picture from the camera, confirming it was Gabriel who was using the computer.

Lussier: Head to Japan in two days, head to this address.

He posts the address to his residence.

Critter: Thank you.

By the time Critter returns fully, he sets their beverages on the table, staring at his boss intriguingly.

"What happened?"

"I'm going to meet the guy you were going to tell me about."

"Oh! Always taking every opportunity to silence our opponents."

"Glowgen knows me that I'm like this."

Critter nods and sits next to Gabriel, sprinkling two packs of Splenda into his coffee. A third Splenda pack rested next to Gabriel's coffee, but he raised his hand to refuse its usage.

"Trying to avoid substitutes," he said.

"Going on a diet?"

"I'm not a fan of sugar replacements."

"I see… Cheers!" After shifting the cup to spread the Splenda, Critter picks his cup to Gabriel's as if he wanted to do it like if he was drinking something alcoholic.

Just to play nice, Gabriel follows along. Contact made between the two's cup before their hot drinks began to be drunk and enjoyed.

Translations:

O čom: About what

A/N: Starting next chapter, the chapters will get shorter, however, will be able to be published more frequently. After a few, a few will be composited into a bigger chapter and revised if needed, so it's advised to reread to keep up with how things transpire.