She did not really know what she was doing at that place and at that time. It was very early in the morning, the wind was cold, the sun was barely up and yet she was standing there, near the outskirts of Alnus Village, waiting for her father. Two days before, he had asked her if she had anything planned for the upcoming week. Her reply was that apart from her work for the cooperative, she did not. He then simply nodded before telling that he would work things out with Lelei and that she should prepare a small bag of things she would need on a long trip. And despite asking him several times what they were about to do or where they were about to go, he had kept her in the dark, saying that it had to stay a secret.
And so, there she was. Waiting.
In the distance, she could hear the sounds of the town waking up and of the various military vehicles coming and going on top of the hill. All those noises were widely different from what she had always heard in her forest. But after a few months, she had gotten used to them even if she enjoyed a few moments of silence from time to time.
A gust of wind passed, making her shiver despite her coat. She started to really question why she was there, but she had complete trust in her father. So she waited.
A few minutes passed until she picked up the sounds of several engines coming in her direction and a convoy of four cars appeared on the road from the village. She immediately recognized the distinctive shapes of each vehicle: two Humvees, a VBL and a P4, all bearing the standard markings for vehicles of the Task Force.
When they arrived nearby, they pulled over and turned off their engines, but only one person dismounted. And it was her father.
« Are you ready ? » he asked as he stepped towards her, not even saying hello.
It was strange to see him wearing a complete French combat uniform and carrying a rifle. It had already been a few days since he started to wear camouflaged clothes, and he had explained that, because he was helping the French military so much, he had to wear their uniform.
« Yes. What is happening, Father ? I want to know. »
« I'll tell you later. Now give me your bag and climb in the front car. »
Just like the weather, he was cold. She knew what was going to happen was serious. But he was her Father, and she knew she could trust him with her life.
When he approached her, she wrapped her arms around his torso in an emotional hug. It was clear he was not really expecting that, and he could only pat her head lightly. The embrace lasted a few seconds until a voice interrupted them.
« Look at that… This is a beautiful sight, is it not ? »
They both turned their heads in the direction from which it came only to see a mage and an apostle casually walking towards them.
« Father, what are they doing here ? I thought it was something secret ? »
She was clearly confused, and a look into his eyes showed that it was also the case for him.
« Just put your bag in the first car and wait me there. I need to talk to them. »
« Huh… Alright. » she replied, unsure.
But she still followed his instruction as she headed towards the convoy. Her Father, however, remained still, waiting for the two to arrive to him.
« The hell are you doing here ? » was the first thing he asked them, switching to a language he was more at ease with.
« What a warm welcome, replied Rory with a slight giggle. I never knew pretending to be an elf would make someone this unpleasant. »
« We came to bring help to you and your team. Even with a truck filled with explosives and a dozen rocket launchers, it will be a difficult fight. »
Lelei's emotionless voice stated the obvious, and even Anthony knew that every pair of hands was welcome. But he had other reasons that forced him to answer negatively.
« Look… I'm already taking a lot of risks just by bringing Tuka along. If LaPointe learns about all of this, I'm fucking done for. »
« Oh you shouldn't worry about that boring old man. I have made sure that he will not bother us, and I know how to be very convincing. »
As she spoke, Rory was toying with her halberd, making it spin around the axis of the handle, which was far from reassuring the Lieutenant.
« What have you done to him ? Please tell me you didn't do anything to LaPointe. »
But it was Lelei that answered.
« No. We only asked him to be allowed to accompany your squad on this mission this morning. We told him that it was on the interest of everyone as having an apostle, a mage and an elf can only increase the odds of success. »
« You should not have any trouble with your hierarchy. Can we proceed now ? I think we have a Fire Dragon to kill. »
Anthony sighed. It was a strange sigh, carrying both relief and exasperation. But he could only accept the situation as it was.
« There is space in the front Humvee. »
Lelei nodded before heading towards the vehicle while Rory was already a few meters ahead.
But then, he noticed something in the words the mage had used in her explanation, which sparked him to ask a question.
« Wait a minute… Not only did you talk to LaPointe about you two, you also told him about Tuka ? »
« Well yes and no. He agreed on the three of us coming along, but none of the things I said referred to Tuka's current situation. Your superiors are not going to punish you for anything. But had we not intervened, you would probably have suffered terrible consequences. You are a lucky man, Anthony. »
By the time she finished, they had all reached the Humvee and Anthony sighed again, his hand on the handle of the cargo area door.
« Sometimes I feel I'm not that lucky. When was the last time something happened here that did not involve me in some way ? »
This rhetorical question was the only thing he said before pulling the door open, revealing the various crates containing plastic explosives and other special equipment given to Third Recon for this special mission. But it was not it. On one of the two benches of the back area was Tuka, trying to make herself comfortable on the hard panel on which she had to sit. Meanwhile, just in front of her was another elf who was curiously looking at the blond girl that was seemingly out of place in such an environment.
When she heard the sound of the door opening, the second elven woman turned her head to see who was going to enter the vehicle. Her golden eyes quickly swept across the group, seeing first the camouflaged gear of the soldier then the long tunic of a mage and finally a black dress that forced her to look down out of respect. An action that caused the one wearing that dress to chuckle.
« Alright I'm just going to quickly introduce everyone, started the Lieutenant as he pointed towards the tan elf. Everyone, this is Yao Ha Ducy. She is going to guide us towards our objective so that we can… take care of it. Yao, this is Tuka Luna Marceau, Lelei La Lelena and Rory Mercury. But I think you two already met before. »
« I want to sincerely apologize, Your Holiness. » said Yao, not daring to raise her look.
« Do not worry about it. There was no real way you could have guessed who I really was. I cannot blame you. »
There was something strange about her voice intonation. Despite the positive meaning of her words, she seemed cold and distant. It was like she was making sure from the start there would be no friendship between them.
« It is an honor for my tribe to have an Apostle coming to its help. You can rest assured that I will not cause you any trouble. »
« Fine. Now let's get on with it. »
« There should be enough space between the crates and the front seats to put your stuff, explained Anthony as he designated the areas he was referring to with his finger. But please do not take too long setting it up. We have to move out as soon as possible. »
Lelei and Rory acknowledged the instruction and climbed aboard the Humvee before the Lieutenant closed the back door and made his way around the vehicle to sit in the front passenger seat.
He then reached for the radio of the vehicle and started to give orders in the microphone.
« Recon Three, the break is over. We are back to the objective. Move out. »
Three messages of confirmation were his reply and a few seconds later, the engines roared back to life and the convoy started to roll down the road. And it was not long until someone started to speak again.
« And I don't get an introduction ? Man if you start ignoring the best part we're not going to go very far. » launched the driver after turning the vehicle on another perpendicular road.
« You're serious ? Only Yao does not know you. » replied Anthony with a raised curious eyebrow.
« One hundred percent serious. I can tell they are all missing out on something. »
He let out yet another sigh before turning around in his seat to face the passengers, his hand on the driver's shoulder.
« Last, and really far from least, let me introduce you to our wonderful driver for this mission. Proud member of the Thirty-Sixth Infantry Regiment of the United States Army, she handles her Light Machine Gun like it weighs nothing and can defeat a swordsman with a simple knife. Standing at five feet eight and one hundred and fifty eight pounds. From Houston, Texas. Corporal Mary Jenkins. »
He had said all of that with the exaggerated tone of a sporting event speaker, causing Mary, Rory and Tuka to laugh while Lelei remained emotionless and Yao stood confused.
« Oh shit that was great. If only I could get introduced like that everywhere I go… »
But then, the Dark Elf's voice rose up just enough above the laughter so that she could be heard.
« My apologies sir, but I cannot say that I understood your words. »
« Oh sorry. Hum… Mary Jenkins, Corporal in the American army. She is going to drive us wherever we need to go. »
« Nice to meet you, added Mary when she stopped laughing. Just do not point pointy objects near me while I'm driving. Don't want to spin this thing around. »
Yao's reply was a simple but respectful nod. And if she remained silent afterwards, it was Lelei who spoke up next.
« Speaking of driving… Where exactly are we heading ? »
« For now… The river. »
Camp Alnus, Hospital, February 23rd 2017, 1830 AT
« What do you mean by "she left" ? »
« Well that this morning she was nowhere to be seen and that on her locker at the Gendarmerie, there was just a note saying that she was leaving to do something with Miss Lelena and Miss Marceau. »
George sighed and shook his head at the reply that Myuute gave him as they walked through the corridors of the hospital. That Apostle girl was just walking trouble, yet she had so much influence on the locals that not keeping her around would be stupid.
« Well I sure don't want to be the officer that has to clean up the mess she just left. »
« To be honest, if I learned anything from partnering with her is that what she wishes to do is probably very important to her. »
He only gave a simple acknowledgment nod as they continued through the clean corridor. George was wearing one of the many white shirts he had with him, a neutral appearance being key to an intelligence officer. Myuute, however, was a little more on the casual side as she was off duty. And with the coming of the coldest parts of the year, she was wearing heavy jeans and a sweater, obviously modified to the characteristics of her species.
They stopped in front of a door that was similar to all the other doors in the building, and George checked the number written on a small panel next to it to the number written on one of the many pieces of paper contained within the file he was carrying.
« Alright, it's here. It will probably take some time, so if you want to go back to the village… »
« I am patient. I will wait for you here. There should be a place where I can sit down around here. »
With a small smile, she turned around and walked away, looking for a seat. George focused back on the door. As usual, he took a deep breath to get back in character and opened the door.
The room was a standard hospital room like the thousands of other hospital rooms that existed on the other side of the Gate. There were a few pieces of furniture, a window, a small television strapped on the wall and a man half laid down on the medical bed, eating his dinner with the only arm he had left. The sound of the intelligence officer entering his room made him turn his head a bit, simply to see who this uninvited guest was.
« Good evening. » said George with a neutral tone as he closed down the door.
The patient only replied with a grunt as he swallowed his mashed potatoes.
Without hurrying up, George walked towards a small chair situated in a corner of the room. After sitting down, he opened his file on a nearby table, all under the look of a man that put down his fork and his knife.
« Can I help you ? »
« Yes you can. I think we need to clarify a few elements in your file, Mister Duran. Or should I say Your Majesty King Duran the First of Elbe ? »
For a few seconds, the two men looked each other in the eyes before the King started to laugh, rising his only hand in the air.
« You got me. Now I cannot evade getting captured, can I ? I really should have chosen a fake name. »
« Well to be fair, since you got picked up from that monastery where you were getting healed up, you stayed pretty low. Too bad your friend, the king of Mudwan, saw you through a window and told us who you really are. »
Duran laughed even harder.
« Mert ? You managed to capture him ? Ah ! That will teach him to always stay behind thinking there is no danger. »
« Indeed, indeed. Now I have got to say, we looked up what we could on you and I am quite impressed. You led your first military campaign at age nineteen when the Saderan Empire sent a large amount of troops to defend its interests in a massive trade dispute. The defensive positions you had set up on the Gutrus River allowed you to defeat a larger force. You then went on to lead around twenty more successful campaigns and you developed the largest wyvern force on the continent. Quite the resume. »
« I can only say that you have really good sources. I really think this victory was more because of the incompetence of that Saderan general, but do not let anyone write this down. »
A wide smile appeared on his lips as he took a drink from his tiny Pyrex glass, remembering the nostalgic souvenir of passed battles.
« Three months ago, you left Elbe for Italica after receiving a summon order from General Faram Em Lanti. He wanted the Allied Army to reinforce his own troops to push back whoever was trying to cross the Gate. Problem is, you were late. And when you arrived, FORSO had already taken position on the hill. »
The smile faded and Duran's face became more serious. Those were clearly not his best memories.
« To be honest, one can only wonder what would have happened had we reached Alnus in time. With your power and your weapons, I can only think that the number of souls sent to Emroy's realm would have been higher. »
« According to the reports, you were heavily injured by the nearby detonation of an artillery shell. But instead of bleeding out on the battlefield, a small group of loyal soldiers managed to pick you up and transport you to this monastery near Italica, hiding your identity for your safety. Then, the Fifth Recon Team found the monastery and we evacuated both you and other patients as you needed care the nuns could not provide. »
« What is the point of you telling me all of this ? I know what I lived through. »
George little explanation clearly started to upset the King. Those were moments of his life he did not really wish to relive.
« It has been three months since Elbe got any news about you, but I am ready to put my hand in a fire that they heard about the Allied Army getting destroyed. If I did my research right, your only son should have taken over by now. According to people that have met him, he is, and I quote, "obviously power hungry" and "it is clear that he is upset about not being king yet." »
« That little brat. I loved him with all my being, and what did I get ? A man that wishes my death. »
Duran had ranted alone, but those words clearly reached George ears.
« Now that he finally sat down on the throne, he would probably not like to have power taken away from him. So even if the medical staff here lets you go and you go back to Elbe, I do not think you will make it very far. But it would sure be practical if there were an important military force ready to transport you to your castle safely, wouldn't it ? »
« But this force would not do this just because it feels like to. The generals that command it will ask for something in return. I am no fool. What do you want from me ? »
« Well, I'll be straightforward. The Task Force needs access to your territory as one of our objectives is located inside your borders. The Schwartz Woods, to be more precise. »
« Schwartz ? There are only Dark Elves there. Are you really doing that only for expensive gemstones ? »
« The nest of the Fire Dragon. »
The king's serious expression vanished out of sheer surprise.
« What ? Surely you cannot be serious ! »
« Let me be more precise. We have a very strong lead that the nest is situated near this forest. What we need is the authorization to send enough troops in the mountains to confirm that lead and kill the Fire Dragon. Of course, we are doing this mainly for our own interests. We don't want that thing to attack a supply convoy or a helicopter. But there is really nothing you would lose out of this. »
« Many were the warriors who tried to defy the beast… None succeeded. Without the intent of offending you, I doubt even your weapons would be lethal. »
« Well a simple anti-tank rocket from a simple portable launcher was able to take off its arm. We're pretty optimistic about it. »
Duran did not reply at first, deep in his thoughts. There was no way he could tell if the French were worthy of his trust on that issue. They were full of paradoxes. On one hand, they had gravely injured him, yet they had cared for him in this hospital. Who could tell if they would keep their promises if they found an agreement ? For all he knew, they could use the opportunity to take over Elbe itself. But getting rid of the Fire Dragon was a reward too big to be ignored. Nobody had prepared for the beast to wake up so early, and everybody would profit from its death.
So now, the question was completely different. Was he ready to gamble his own reign to ensure a better future to the entirety of Falmart ?
« Can I really trust that not a single of your soldiers will stay longer than necessary within my borders ? »
« You know as well as I do that if we really were interested in taking over Elbe, we would have done it without asking the permission to enter from anyone. You can trust us. »
Duran sighed and shook his head before looking directly George in the eye.
« How soon can you bring me back to my home ? »
« Well, all the paperwork for your release has already been done. I just need the main doctor to sign one last document for you to go. And he will do it as soon as we find a deal. »
« Fine then. Go kill that dragon, as long as I can return to Elbe and take back the throne that my son does not deserve. »
The intelligence expert nodded before standing up. Duran watched him pulling out a small rectangular device from his pocket and pressing the part that could light up.
A few silent seconds passed after he put the device to his ear before he started to speak.
« Ouais c'est moi… Je viens de parler avec le vieux. On a le feu vert pour le dragon et le rapatriement… Ouais… Ok… Ok, je vais récupérer le plus de truc possibles et je te ramène le dossier. »
He put the device back into his pocket and returned to his chair, starting to look at various papers from his folder.
« So what happens now ? » asked a King that was eager to know how he would return to his home.
« Now, we have quite some planning to do. »
Between Elbe and Italica sits the Gutrus River, one of the longest waterways known to man. Thanks to its wideness and natural calm nature, large cargo ships could easily transport goods from trading post to trading post up and down the stream with speed and efficiency. Day and night, the flow of trade never stopped over the flow of water. Even wars had a hard time shutting it down completely. And this time, it barely seemed like there was a war going on.
Sure, there were more guards and controls in the ports of Elbe and in the other countries upstream, but it was far from stopping anything. In fact, the port closest to Alnus had seen a surge in activity, especially with wyvern scales and rare were the ships that were not carrying a few scales in their hold.
Following the flow of water, towards the sea, was easy. What was harder was going in the other direction, with only the wind pushing on the sails. And from time to time, all the boats would stop as the wind either slowed down or changed in an unfavorable direction.
On the deck of one ship among all the others, a captain had already started to yell his orders at his crew.
« Hey ! Put the anchor down and put the sail down. Krik, go put on the stop signals. Rals, Trebor, stay on the lookout for other ships. If you want a break, you better hurry up, people. »
A single common sound of acknowledgement came back to him as all crewmembers, human or not, started running around, doing what they had to. Even if they were still, many other boats were still moving around them and banners of bright colors were deployed all around the hull to signal the lack of movement.
A young man, the newest recruit of the ship, came running from his observation post situated at the opposite of the command post.
« Captain ! Something is moving on the shore. Starboard. Looks like some kind of convoy but without horses. »
« Are the carts green ? »
« Yes, Captain. Some are also tan. »
« Then it's just the Forso… Don't worry about them, boy. They never go close to the river. »
The young stood confused next to his captain as they looked at the distant vehicles that were slowly getting closer.
« Forso ? What is it ? »
This was his first time away from his small fishing village, and most of the world was still unknown to him. The Captain was not surprised to hear the question.
« You already heard about the Men in Green in your village ? »
« Huh… Yes, Sir. »
« Well it's them. Forso is apparently the name they give themselves. Some also say they are also named Nayto. »
« And what are they doing here ? Are they on patrol ? »
« Yeah… I have only seen them a few times, but each time they were just riding along the river. They are more interested in Sadera than in everything on the shores of the Gutrus. Now go back to your post, you're not getting payed to get lessons from me. »
« Huh… Absolutely, Captain. »
The boy ran back towards his observation platform, and the Captain continued watching the green carts. It was at that moment that he noticed how some of those were really long, maybe half the length of his ship. He had never seen them before and deep down, he felt like something was going to happen.
The green and tan boxes continued on their way and only stopped when they reached the shore. The smallest ones stayed on the side while the larger ones slowly maneuvered to put their backs inches away from the water. And because the boat was close enough to clearly see and hear all of this happening, all crew members had stopped their operations to watch curiously. Slowly, the back parts of those large vehicles started to open like birds deploying their wings. It created several platforms, and men climbed on them to deploy smaller flaps on the sides.
And it was not long until the sailors started asking questions
« What are they doing ? »
« How is everything moving ? »
« Is it a weapon ? »
« Maybe something they will put in the water… »
Then, the platforms started gliding backwards into the water, the men that were on them holding on as the even platforms became heavy slopes. The first true surprise came when those large pieces of thick metal started to float without issue. They had almost all seen the land vehicles from far away, but no one had ever seen them doing anything in the water. Some started to expect that they would just slowly glide away with the current. But then…
« They are moving ! »
« Impossible ! »
Without sail nor oar, the platforms started to dance on the waters, the men standing on them doing precise gestures to communicate with the other platforms as they glided towards their intended positions. Without anyone being able to comment, they moved to form a line before carefully coming together to create one long platform. And it was only when this new creation headed back towards the shore that the Captain finally understood everything.
« It's a ferry ! » he almost yelled, catching the attention of almost all of his crew.
« What do you mean ? » asked his second in command, a little confused.
« They are going to put their carts on that boat, and it is going to get them to the other side of the river. At least it's what I think is going to happen. »
And it was not long until he was proven right. The barge stopped along the shore and, while some men were putting down some flaps to create a smoother transition between the ground and the platform, four of the parked vehicles slowly started to roll towards it. They were careful in their manoeuvers, a man using long bright sticks and precise gestures to guide the carts on the platform. And when all four stopped on it, the barge simply started to glide away towards the other shore.
All the other boats in the vicinity had stopped because of the lack of wind, meaning that all the crews were watching them. And it seemed that one of the men inside those vehicles noticed as he popped his head out of the roof of one of them and started waving at the various spectators. Some waved back with smiles while others shook their heads and spoke their minds.
« They are taunting us ! »
« They should pay for that insult ! »
« If only we could reach them ! »
But soon enough the second in command pointed out a detail that the Captain had forgotten because of what was happening.
« They are heading straight to Elbe ! Are they not neutral in the conflict ? We should tell that to the authorities ! »
« With what ? Look at them. By the time we reach Pepru and warn the Elbians, they will be miles away inland. And remember, those are the guys that destroyed everything at Alnus. Blocking their way is only going to get this ship torn apart and I don't want to lose my business. »
« But… Sir ! This is an invasion ! We could be rewarded for helping out. »
« Well if you want to do that, then fine. But there are a lot of chances you will end up like Jemas. Probably worse. »
There was no need to point who the Captain was referring to as the deformed face of the injured veteran was known to everyone on the ship. And it was not only his body that was scared, as sudden loud noises would cause him to panic, convinced that he was back on the muddy slopes of Alnus Hill.
Silence returned between the two as the barge finished its crossing and the four vehicles unloaded on the Elbian shore and rode away, out of their sight. The platform then casually crossed back the river before breaking into the initial number of small platforms.
« So what do we do now, Captain ? » asked the second in command as the platforms were loaded back on the large carriages.
« Now… We just go back to work and pray all the gods that this war is not going to drag itself over here and sink us all. »
The night had fallen on Alnus, and most of the hill had become silent. But if you were near the hospital, maybe you could have heard some music coming from one of the benches surrounding the building. On that bench was sitting a young woman, cigarette in her mouth and parts of her body still covered by many bandages. Next to her was a mobile phone that was playing a mix of orchestral music and electric guitars.
It had been half a year since she had been captured in the tight corridors of the Franklin D. Roosevelt subway station. Half a year since she was separated from her parents and her boyfriend by the wave of people trying to flee the battle raging above ground. Six long months during which she held unto the hope of seeing them again one day to remain sane. Six months where music was her only way of escaping her fate.
And it feels right this time.
On his crash course with the big time.
Pay no mind to the distant thunder.
New day fills his head with wonder, boy.
At first, she thought she would be quickly rescued. But despite telling that again and again to all the others that had been captured with her, time passed, the group of prisoners was split up and she ended up in the grasp of the man she never wanted to see again. And as months went by in the dirty cell among the other slaves, she had started to accept that maybe she was on her own, that there was nobody outside to help her. And just when she started to think about escaping by herself, fate came back violently through the door under the disguise of an earthquake that lead to her rescue by soldiers of a country she had almost forgot she was a citizen of.
Says it feels right this time.
Turned it 'round and found the right line.
"Good day to be alive, sir.
Good day to be alive," he says.
During the helicopter ride back to Alnus, emotions had flooded her mind. She thought that she would be able to return to a normal life, that she would heal her mind along her boyfriend and her parents. In fact, one of her first requests was to get a phone to call her family. She should have known from the start that something was fishy when it was denied from her the first time. On the third day, she refused to go through medical examinations if she was not given an explanation.
Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel,
Was just a freight train coming your way.
Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel,
Was just a freight train coming your way.
As she blew out a small cloud of cigarette smoke, she could only reflect at how well the chorus reflected her situation. Her time as a slave was the tunnel, her liberation was the light…
And the hard news was the train.
Her father, her mother and her boyfriend had all been killed in the cold white corridors of the Franklin D. Roosevelt subway station. The only family she had left were grandparents too old to even be able to take care of themselves and some cousins she had only met once when she was very young. In short, she was alone. Alone in the middle of two worlds that were both too big for her.
That's why, even if she had never smoked before, she used nicotine as a tool to escape.
Don't it feel right like this?
All the pieces fall to his wish.
"Sucker for that quick reward, boy.
Sucker for that quick reward," they say.
Suddenly, she noticed movement in a nearby bush. At first, she just thought it was a small animal playing around in the leaves, but then a shadow quickly dived out in front of her. A tall, bunny eared shadow.
« Are you Emilie ? » asked the shadow in French with a heavy accent. There was not much light, but after a few short seconds she started to see what was the shadow.
It was a bunny woman like several she had seen in Zorzal's group of slaves. Over her brown fur, she was wearing light traditional clothes and many pieces of crude jewelry, while her face was covered by tribal paintings. She was definitively sticking out of the background of the modern military hospital.
« Yes… Yes I am. Even though I sometime wish I wasn't. » replied Emilie, taking in another breath of tobacco smoke.
« Fine, coldly replied the rabbit woman. I can help you with that. »
Emilie quickly shifted her look towards the phone to pause the music, and when she looked back at the bunny, she had pulled a large carved knife from behind her back.
« What are you doing ? »
« I have nothing against you, but I must kill you. I am so sorry. »
The cold tip of the blade softly touched Emilie's throat as she reflected on the situation. What would the consequences of her death be ? There was not anyone that would grieve for her and she would not have to endure the pressure. The only downside was that the knife looked big and painful.
« After all… Why not ? I don't want it to hurt, though. »
The surprised caused by those few words forced the bunny to make a step back.
« Well I know how to kill, that is for sure. But killing without it hurting… I cannot say if I have this skill or not. »
One hand let go of the knife to scratch behind her ear, causing Emilie to have a light giggle. Whoever this rabbit woman was, she was caring enough to acknowledge her request without winning anything out of it. Something that reminded her of someone she had met before.
« You look like a nice person. You remind me of Tyuule. »
The sole mention of that name was enough to freeze the woman in place. Her eyes had widened and her ears had become straight like sticks.
« Who did you say ? »
The voice was not soft anymore. It was tense, full of anger, full of hate.
« Tyuul… »
Emilie could not finish her word as the hand reached for her throat and violently pushed her against the wall, partially choking her. The situation had changed of tone very quickly and Emilie was not truly able to process what had happened until a yell came from the nearby door.
« Hey ! What is going on ? »
By reflex, the rabbit woman turned her head towards whoever had said that. And when she saw a young siren and a man, the latter pointing a gun at her, she immediately let go of her initial target and dashed towards them. If they were trying to put themselves between her and her target, then they would have to be disposed of.
The distance was not very long, meaning that by the time he could react, she was already close enough to hit him with her blade. But he still had the time to fire one shot.
Pain exploded in one of her thighs, causing her to lose her balance. But with her momentum, the dagger still managed to slice through the clean white shirt and a huge part of the skin that was underneath. In fact, everything happened so quickly that they both fell down and dropped their weapons at the same time while the Siren looked, frozen in place by a fear she had not felt for a long time.
Even if she was on the ground, she could still move. Not without difficulty, she reached for the gun that had landed only a few centimeters from her and stood up. She was as careful as she could in the handling of this unfamiliar weapon, but at least she roughly knew how to hold it and how to point it at people to make them back off. And that was she did, aiming the weapon directly at the Siren to cover her retreat.
But there was only one way she could go. Inside the hospital itself. Staying out in the open would be way too dangerous if she could not move fast, so she started to make her way inside, using her unhurt leg and the wall to keep herself balanced, before diving into the first room with an unlocked door she encountered.
However, a firearm going off always attracts attention, and it was not long until guards arrived on the scene only to find a terrified woman sitting on a bench and a Siren trying to prevent an intelligence officer from bleeding out on the ground with only a simple handkerchief.
« Sir, we have a hostage situation at the hospital. » said an aide as he entered LaPointe's office.
This early in the night, the General was still working hard. On top of that, with the new developments concerning the Fire Dragon, many things needed to be planned.
« What ? »
« A Warrior Bunny assaulted several people outside the hospital. She managed to injure one of them before getting shot and now she locked herself inside a room with a patient. She is armed with a pistol. »
« Dammit. Is the hospital on lockdown ? And who is that patient she locked herself with ? »
« The building is completely surrounded and the remaining patients and medical staff are being evacuated as we speak. For the patient, it is an old man named Duran, Sir. »
LaPointe could not help but hit his desk with his fist before reaching for his landline phone.
« Merde. For now, keep things contained. » he ordered to his assistant.
« Yes, Sir. »
And as the man closed the door behind him, the General brought the phone to his ear and pressed a button on the base. The voice on the other side of the line did not have the time to confirm the line was clear, but the General launched his order.
« I want to be put in contact with Satory immediately. »
Hello and thanks for reading the twenty-eight chapter of Gate : Opération Marteau de Justice.
I have to say, this chapter is mostly about setting up what's coming up next in the story, but there are also a few elements I decided to modify. Obviously, there was no way I was going to keep the "one man wanting to go alone and not fearing consequences". I think I found a good compromise so that it makes sense while not breaking the pace of the story. And if you picked up on a few hints, you should see what is going to happen next.
If you have not checked it out yet, I started a new story based on Darling in the FranXX. And not only is the story completely original, I also made pretty big changes to the universe to get it to make more sense. So if you want to give it a shot, look at my profile for Discoveries. Concerning the writing schedulde, as I wrote in the writer notes of Discoveries, I will alternate one chapter for each story. So, the next chapter that I will write and post will be the third chapter of Discoveries.
Anyway, thanks a lot again for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter.