Take me down to the river-bend.
Team EXPIATIO was summoned by Berezovich Kryuger, there was tension in the air, the man looked at the girls with stern eyes, stood up after having extinguished his cigar, photos of Alchemist and Dreamer appeared on the screen behind him. Kryuger said:
" They did it. They made their move at last. Sangvis Ferri has recently started the siege of our base located in Milan, Italy. We've sent T-Dolls out on the field but they're not enough, so you're the backup. Your job, however, will not be to protect the base… I want Alchemist and Dreamer. I want you to kill them. I've been clear? I don't want failures, I demand victory. "
After receiving the orders, the girls left for Italy. The Griffin & Kryuger base in Milan had a circular shape, positioned in the center of the city, defended by two rows of walls that surrounded it, spaced about fifty meters from each other and at least ten meters high; the walls, in reinforced concrete, were defended by automated turrets and T-Dolls.
The base was called Fort Prodigium and was one of the three best on the peninsula. The commander of the fort was Lieutenant Enrico Cacciatore, nephew of a well-known war hero, Beato Cacciatore. When the helicopter landed, Enrico welcomed the six Dolls of Team EXPIATIO and made them enter the room that was the heart of all communications in the fort. There were at least thirty people in front of different computers, giving orders to the Dolls who had to protect the fort.
" You've never seen so many commanders in one facility, have you? " Enrico asked after noticing the girls' astonished looks. " We have thirty-two commanders for a total of one hundred and sixty T-Dolls just to defend Fort Prodigium. But you weren't sent to defend, were you? You have another assignment if I'm not mistaken. "
" We're here to eliminate Alchemist and Dreamer. " Makarov replied.
" I see. Do you operate without a commander? "
" Our commander is Kryuger, technically. "
" Fine. So how are you going to act? "
" Start by telling us the situation you're in. "
" Sangvis Ferri is attacking the first line of defense both from the east and from the west, the damage to the walls is still negligible but we calculate that within seven hours they will be able to breach the first line of defense if we don't repel the enemy immediately. We have no idea where Alchemist and Dreamer are and we can't send scouts. "
" We'll take care of hunting those two. "
" Okay, then I wish you the best of luck. "
Team EXPIATIO came out of Fort Prodigium and gave support to some T-Dolls who were in trouble. Thousands of Vespids marched on the battlefield along with as many Guards, Makarov gave the signal to go out and OTs-14 was the first to open fire, AA-12 arrived and raised her shields to protect OTs from a volley of bullets and then returned fire; PA-15 thought about joining the fray for a moment but then stopped, remembering what had happened at 9A-91, then stayed behind to shoot. Makarov, SCW and 9A-91 killed fewer enemies than the other Dolls but were great support.
The aim of Team EXPIATIO was not to face all the enemies, it would've been impossible to kill them all and therefore they abandoned the fort and continued on to the city, where Vespids and Guards were less and less.
When they moved away from the hotbed, the girls began the search for Alchemist and Dreamer.
" Only destroyed buildings and corpses. " SCW commented.
" Let's hope these don't come back to life, though. It would be a waste of ammunition. " Makarov said.
" They won't. I don't see the Azrael Implant on them, they're clean. " OTs-14 reassured.
AA-12 saw that among the corpses of the people there were also the bodies of some T-Dolls and then asked:
" What happened here? We are quite far from the fort. "
" They've been surrounded. " 9A-91 commented, noting how the bodies were piled up.
" The Battle of the Fifty Days. " Makarov said. " Before leaving, I inquired about Milan and I discovered that the city has recently emerged from the Battle of the Fifty Days. During this battle about eight hundred T-Dolls were used to be able to repel Sangvis Ferri. The battle wasn't successful for either side according to the documents. "
" And ... why they want Milan? " AA-12 asked.
" Because it's a very important strategic point. "
" Italy is very important. Whoever has Italy has control of the Mediterranean. " SCW said.
There was a small shack built using pieces of steel, inside there was nobody, just an empty bed with a rumpled mattress, a wardrobe with some mason's clothes and a table on which there was a computer that was turned off. OTs-14, who had entered first, turned on the PC and a blue screen appeared with completely empty folders, there were no documents or images, which was really strange. OTs-14 turned to AA-12 and noticed that the latter had been distracted by something. Makarov yelled:
" IT'S A TRAP! GET OUT! "
OTs-14 left the shack along with AA-12 quickly and suddenly that small structure exploded.
" Explosives had been placed on the walls. It's fortunate that I have noticed. "
" Fuck them ... " AA-12 asserted wiping the dust off her jacket.
" We don't know if the traps were set by Sangvis Ferri. During the Battle of the Fifty Days both sides employed different tactics to win. " Makarov commented. " Let's move. "
The girls continued their search until SCW detected an anomalous signal, encrypted communications, they were from Sangvis Ferri. SCW led the team to an old abandoned hotel. OTs-14, AA-12 and PA-15 entered first followed by the other three Dolls, the building was completely empty and yet SCW was sure the signal was coming from there.
On the lower floors there was the boiler room, the girls searched the room and in the end Makarov found a door camouflaged in the wall, this opened automatically emitting an electric sound; OTs-14 first went down the flight of stairs that led down to a rectangular room in which there were seven guards protecting a door. OTs-14 and AA-12 fired first and eliminated five targets while the last two were destroyed by PA-15. They opened the metal door and then a Dreamer hologram appeared.
" I was hoping you got here sooner, OTs-14, and you brought your friends too. I'm glad you got here unscathed and I'm glad to see that you're working so hard to stop us, it means that you consider us a worthy threat to you and to mankind as well. "
" No more bullshit, Dreamer. " OTs-14 said. " Come out and get killed. "
" You're really overbearing, my friend, and most of all you're numb. I'm at a numerical disadvantage, facing you would be like suicide. However, I'd like to show you something interesting… something you might really like. "
" I'm not going to listen to you. "
" You don't have to listen to me, you have to see. We managed, a few days ago, to hack the Griffin & Kryuger server and we got something really curious. Operation Black Hawk. Do you know it? "
Hearing that name OTs-14 froze but was ready to pull the trigger and shoot at that hologram to silence it, but she was aware that it would be useless. AA-12, seeing the nervous expression of OTs-14 worried and asked for explanations, to which Groza herself replied:
" Lucy's death ... it happened during that operation. Tch! But as I said… I'm not going to listen to you, Dreamer! "
" Maybe you've suffered some brain breakdown and didn't realize it. I already said you have to see. "
A digital screen appeared next to Dreamer, a video was played on it, it was a camera shot, Lucy Manning could be clearly seen inside a bunker giving orders to the T-Dolls. Everything seemed to be okay, OTs -14 remembered the girl's words, like Makarov, but then something strange happened, something unexpected. Lucy asked where OTs-14 had gone. That question was new. Groza didn't remember it and like Makarov, she immediately thought the audio had been retouched. But then here is the sound of the door opening. The heavy shifting of the steel door. Lucy turned and suddenly OTs-14 appeared, aimed the rifle at the girl and without hesitation fired. The video stopped.
" No ... " OTs-14, shocked, wide-eyed, couldn't stand up. The rifle fell from her hands and she backed away, tears came out of her eyes, and she backed up to meet the steel wall and dropped to the ground. " Was it me? I killed ... Lucy? I ... killed ... her? "
Makarov turned, took the pistol, released the safety and pulled the trigger. Luckily AA-12 was quick enough to grab Makarov's arm and prevent OTs-14 from being injured. SCW, seeing the scene, stood between AA-12 and Makarov preventing the two from starting a fight while OTs-14 began to cry.
" What the fuck is your problem, Makarov?! " AA-12 exclaimed.
" She killed a human, you've all seen her. Groza has betrayed Griffin & Kryuger, she must be destroyed before she allies with Sangvis Ferri. "
" But she's your friend! You can't really think of such a thing! "
" She WAS my friend… and I'm not surprised that you defend her, AA-12, after all you've been seduced by her and so I've no problem thinking you too are a threat. "
" Please ... this is not the time to divide. " SCW was trying to restore order.
9A-91 meanwhile noticed that Dreamer had an alarming grin on her face, it was clear that she was planning something terrible.
" Why are you smiling? "
" Why? Because I just won. I'm nothing but a bait, Alchemist is who you should worry about. After all… she's attacking the fort right now and your friends don't even know it. But I don't think you should leave, leaving me here would mean giving me the freedom to send reinforcements. What could you do, then? "
" I ... I don't know ... " OTs-14 was in panic, no longer reasoning.
" Makarov, take the rest of the team and go. Groza and I will take care of Dreamer. " AA-12 said.
" Okay, I'll stick to your plan ... for now. Farewell, Groza. " Makarov left with SCW, PA-15 and 9A-91.
Dreamer's hologram disappeared. AA-12 helped OTs-14 get back on her feet and reassured her:
" I promise you it will all work out, Groza, trust me. "
" How can you trust me after what you saw? I can't trust myself anymore either. What I did… Lucy's blood… is on my hands… how can I continue to stay alive… after what I've done? "
" Groza ... please ... trust me, I'm sure there is an explanation for what happened. You're not a killer, you have not yet arrived in front of the curve of the river you must be able to fulfill your desire and free yourself from this limbo, let me give you a hand. I'll fight to the end for you. "
A door opened. Dreamer came out and with a malicious smile commented:
" What's up, Judas? Now can you remember what you did to your beloved girlfriend? You're not so different from us, you too hate humans but you know how to hide it very well, but now you will no longer have to fear being alone. Join us, join Sangvis Ferri and you will no longer have to hide your hatred for mankind. "
" Dreamer! " AA-12 fired but the enemy was able to dodge the bullets thanks to her incredible speed.
" AA-12 ... I'm not here for you. You could leave and I would let you live. "
" You must be crazy if you really believe that I will go away. I will protect Groza with all of myself! "
" Eh, eh ... do you really want to face me? As you wish, AA-12, I will give you death! "
Dreamer snapped her fingers and from the same door she had left before, ten Brutes, Humanoids armed with long combat knives came out; the girls surrounded AA-12 and OTs-14; Dreamer stood in the back and, laughing, ordered:
" Kill them! "