Chapter 11: Weapon Testing
Reaching over and slapping my fist against Jonathon's arm, I kept my gaze locked on the open field with a slight grin stretched across my lips as he turned and gave me a questioning look. I gave him my attention while nodding towards the wide plains, "Mind if we stop for a moment, I want to let Sakido practice her marksmanship while we have time."
Jonathon's eyes showed interest as he inquired, "If she can fly and has magic, why does she need to know how to shoot?" He paused briefly, before he stated, "Besides, the guns are all much too small for her to properly use."
My gaze drifted back towards the plain, but also towards the Humvee that was cruising along beside us abreast a few meters away. My gaze was eyeing the large fifty bouncing up top with every bump in the road, its belt fed box shining with brass munitions. I grinned all the wider as I said, "That statement isn't valid, she has used my pistols before. Besides, not all of our weapons are too small."
Curious to my reasoning, his gaze followed my own.
When he turned back towards me, he looked incredulous. I spoke before he could offer up an argument, "The weapon stash we already picked up was just one of several I have made across Fragaria; the ammo she uses will easily be compensated for. And," I held up a hand just as his mouth opened, "You can't tell me there wouldn't be tactical advantages to having an airborne and highly agile weapons capable individual flying air support. Her flight is nearly silent, her fur is a natural camouflage at night, has superb night vision sight, and has strength to carry heavier weapons than we can as humans."
My argument was solid, the facts laid out perfectly, and yet my friend still sat across from me with a skeptical glare. I kept my gaze firm as he shook his head, and said softly over the roar of the BTR, "You just want her to shoot the big guns..."
My shoulders raised in a half-hearted shrug as I shamelessly admitted, "There was that."
The lull in conversation stretched on again as Jonathon thought it over. I knew I won him over the moment he smiled. He shook his head as a chuckle rumbled from his throat, his hand already fumbling with his radio.
Leaning back and looking up in the distant sky, I could barely see Sakido's black wings stretched out wide and keeping her afloat on the thermals. Even now I could feel her exhilaration at flying so high, with even a dose of freedom wandering between her thoughts. If I concentrated hard enough, I could almost see the vast shades of green and browns for miles around from her vantage point. I loved that she was enjoying her flight so much, but here on the ground; I enjoyed it even more.
The BTR lurched as it began to slow down, the bumps in the road becoming much gentler as the massive vehicle began hitting them at less than fifty MPH. The Humvee kept ahead by a dozen or so feet, but it too began to slow down.
A brief mental feed of our two vehicles slowly coming to a stop was all I needed to gain Sakido's undivided attention. I could feel her probing questions fighting to surface, but I gave just the bare minimum to sate her curiosity. I have an opportunity for you.
Just as the vehicles came to a stop, Jonathon jumped down from the BTR and strode towards the Humvee. I followed suite at a much more languid pace, my interest being more into watching my mate use my world's weapons.
...
The incredible noise created by the heavy LMG weapon firing not too far away was intense, but seeing the smile stretched across Sakido's muzzle was well worth it. The weapon was held seemingly comfortably, although awkwardly, to her shoulder while bullets streaked down the make-shift range while spent shells spat out the side and to the ground. Her eyes shined with joy and her thoughts were revolving mainly around the sensation of the weapons power.
"So, you hooked up with a real life demon...? How did that happen?"
Looking to my side at Jonathon, I noticed his eyes were still lingering on Sakido. There was a bit of humor in his gaze, but there was essentially only professionalism.
The smile that I had maintained fell to a more neutral one, and I gave a shrug as I gave him a fair bit of my attention. I kept a close eye as I tried to gauge his reaction while I spoke, "She may be a demon, but she has been much more understanding than any other creature I have spoken with here. As for how it happened, well it was a gradual progression." I chuckled as I closed my eyes for a moment while leaning against the Humvee; memories of our earlier days playing through my mind's eye. Whether Sakido was aware of those memories or not, I wasn't sure. "In our earlier days, there were a few... hiccups, you can call them. Times we were ready to kill the other and what not, but it was then that we learned a very important fact. We could feel the others pain."
When Jonathon was back in my sight, I saw the clearly skeptical façade breaking through his stoic demeanor. His head dipped towards where my demoness stood, "She feels pain when you do?"
"Yes and no." I lifted my hand and shook it to either side, "It used to be, if I got hit or hurt in general, she would feel it as well in the exact same spot on her body. But over time and through some," My gut clenched as I felt a wave of anger course through my body, "unconventional means, we have learned how to block the other from feeling our pain. I can be stabbed or shot now and keep her from feeling the pain for the most part."
The sound of gunfire ceased, and I looked over and saw Sakido looking towards me with concern and barely concealed anger. I cursed under my breath as I lifted a hand and gave a comforting smile. Just retelling our past.
After a moment's hesitation, she nodded and returned to her firing position. Jonathon spoke up when the gunfire returned, "I take it there is some painful memories there." He gave a moment of silence, before asking, "I can understand the two of you built a bond, but wouldn't you have taken an Angel more than a demon? Aside from the weird hair coloration and pointed ears, they look just like us."
Looking towards the two angels he was referring to, I saw they sat huddled against the side of the BTR. Two soldiers stood on either end of the BTR as an over watch of the two angels. The male was huddled into the tires with a fearful look as his eyes remained riveted on his rivaling specie, but it was the female that held my attention. She was looking towards Jonathon and I with a defiant glare.
"Some of them are somewhat attractive, but you see that one there. Because of her kind, the warriors, is why I would never consider it. They are thoughtless in who they attack, and why." Her gaze shifted towards me and we locked gazes. I felt a snarl fight to be released from my lips, yet I fought it as I continued, "Besides, Sakido is mine, and I am hers..."
"Yes, but why?"
"Because I brought her back from the dead?" His reaction was immediately to give me a concerned look, and I headed it off as I thought about what I said, "Remember magic is a very real and tangible thing here, Johnny. The magic that brought her back from the dead is from their gods, and it only happened because she was recently killed."
"I understand your time here was strenuous, my friend... but are you sure you didn't hit your head or something?"
Feeling a grin tug at my lips, I said, "Actually, I did... several times. And then it was struck by rebels a few times too." The incredulous expression only brought a laugh from me, and I reached a hand out and clasped his shoulder tightly and said, "The gods in this world exist, Jonathon, and they are very much real. Angels, demons... there are even spirits that act as demigods! This world very much has physical deities we can not only see, but interact with. You need to learn to accept the facts already... this is a different reality than what we are used to, yes, but that doesn't mean the possibilities and facts aren't there."
The blast of wind that hit Jonathon and I without warning was a bit surprising, but when Jonathon and I looked over, we saw Sakido gliding around while maintaining a bead on the lone tree. Her bursts of fire faltered her flight, but she maintained precision as she fired on the hapless bark. I looked back to Jonathon with a smug grin that needed no words spoken. His response was wordless as well, though a smile did finally break through…
"I take it she passes?" I smirked.
"Alright, you made your point. Fine, she can help us," Jonathon relented.
"But you can't!" came a new voice. Turning to the source, they saw it had come from one of the Angels.
"Why not?" Jonathon asked flatly.
"She is a demon! They only destroy… They are Syndels spawn, they only cause destruction!" His eyes were wide as he struggled against his bonds, the warrior beside him seeming almost confused by his sudden attitude change. There was a brief exchange in angelic before the second angel began to glare daggers at us as well.
I frowned at that, before walking towards the angels, transforming along the way. "And what am I? I helped you, and just so you know, it was Sakido who told me to let you go when I could have easily left you with those other demons," I said and I could see the shock in their eyes.
I stopped several feet in front of them and dropped to one knee, holding up a hand and pointing a finger accusingly at the angel that could understand what I said, "Your kind are the ones that attack unprovoked for no reason." I jerked a finger in the sky where I knew Sakido was struggling to reload the weapon, "She has been going out of her way to avoid angels, or hurting them. I couldn't have cared less what those other demons would have done with or to you, but she, a demon, told me to save your sorry ass."
The angels however were a bit too busy being surprised at what they had seen. "W-what ARE you?" The wind angel asked.
Despite trying to control my slowly flaring anger, my muzzle curled into a snarl while I all but growled out, "Use your imagination."
"Eric?"
Pulling back and getting up to my feet, I glanced over at one of my oldest friends and found the barely contained concern in his eyes striking me deeper than any blow. His stance even showed he was prepared for a possible attack…
From me?
Offering neither explanation nor word, I turned and walked away from the angels. All was silent for a few moments, my destination leading to a small grove of trees in the far distance.
My back was buffeted by a gust of wind that signaled Sakido's landing.
"Eric," she said softly, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Don't…"
Sighing as I felt her concern through our link, I let out a small burst of flame through my muzzle before willing myself back to human form. I'm gonna go for a walk," I told Jonathan, before turning to Sakido. "Care to join me?"
She smiled slightly and nodded before we both left. None of the soldiers tried to stop us.
(Jonathon's POV)
I sighed as I watched Eric leave. His abrupt change in attitude and outright hostility towards the angels spoke many levels about what he felt towards them, and a quick glance at them showed why he had reacted so negatively. The warrior looked disgusted compared to the utter fearful look that was the green ones expression. Eric had gone through a lot from what he told me so far, and if these angels were really acting this way towards him after what he did just to save them, then I could relate. Never thought I would see the day Eric would lose his cool so fast like that. Him and Sakido must be pretty damn close if he reacted that quickly and… dare I say harshly in her defense. What happened in the past year…?
"Shit sure turned for the worst pretty fast," I grumbled to myself as I turned back towards the retreating form of both Eric and Sakido. Some of my men were watching along with me as they walked away, but a few were looking away awkwardly; mainly the scientists.
Turning towards the two angels with a mix of distrust and disappointment, I made my way closer. The warrior was the only one to turn and look at my approach. Despite that fact, I asked with forced calmness, "So angel… tell me why you hate Demons so much, apart from being so different. And don't skimp on any details…"
…
In an empty clearing in the normally densely packed forest of the Southern Woods, a pair of fire demons and an earth demon came to a stop in front of a single female water demon. Before the Fire demon could utter a single word, the demoness across from him sneered and laughed briefly, before stating, "Damn, did you lose a fight against a lightning storm? You look like crap!"
The earth demon growled threateningly as the bird-like fire demon snapped his beak in frustration before saying loudly, "It was no lightning storm, it-"
"Oh, did you three lose to some angels?" She laughed condescendingly while throwing her head back in amusement.
"It wasn't an angel either Lazuli, it was-"
"It was what!? Spit it out already!"
"We would if you would stop interrupting!"
The earth demon stepped forward, his cold green eyes glaring resentfully at the smaller water demon before saying, "It was someone we had thought dead." He frowned as he paused, purposefully making the bothersome water demoness wait impatiently. Just before she spoke, he interrupted, "Sakido is still alive… and she recruited the aid of a fire demon. One none of us have ever seen before."
"It would seem that archer finally missed," the earth demon interrupted with a snicker, "Before we forget… Sakido and that fire demon… they rescued the two angels we captured. And the median man... he is just like the one you described." This caused another beak snap from the original fire demon.
The earth demon reached a hand down to rub at his thigh as he spoke, "Weapons that shout of thunder and shoot flames. Arrow heads that move faster than light and burn to touch. There are more of them… and they have more thunder sticks."
"That fire demon," the original fire demon began, "He seemed to know how to use those thunder sticks. He must be allied with the median man that overpowered you." The trio of demons all shared a laugh at that.
Lazuli growled angrily before dousing the demon in icy cold water. They all ceased their laughter and tensed for a fight, though Lazuli seemed to dismiss them as a threat by looking to the side and growling out, "Nonetheless, that demon can be easily put down, and I WILL do that myself. Sakido is the real threat though… if you see her alone, kill her. She must not be allowed to interfere."
…
"Where in the hell did those two go? It's been an hour… we need to get moving soon." I mumbled to myself in aggravation. I had reached the grove of trees minutes prior and still had yet to find sight or tale of the two I was searching for. Sakido had left with Eric earlier during his tantrum, and when they had left to go on a walk, I had expected them to take twenty, thirty minutes tops. An hour wasn't enough to make me worried with how skilled those two were; rather it was more than a nuisance.
Bringing my hands to either side of my mouth and inhaling deeply, I was going to shout loudly for the two of them. A yelp somewhere to my right cut me off however just as I started, and I let out a very unbecoming squeak leave my throat as I turned my head towards the direction the sound had come from. I frowned as I turned and made my way in that direction.
Pushing past brambles and bushes that were in my way, I stepped over a log and then around a thick tree. I felt a bit of anger creep into my bones as stray thorns pricked me on my arms as I went. There was a rustle of fabric, and in my mind's eye I could see Eric laughing quietly as he tried to keep just out of sight, just how he had during evasion technical training back in boot camp.
Pushing past a particularly thick overhanging branch, I stopped just five feet from Eric and Sakido. Heat pooled towards my cheeks while I witnessed what was happening just in front of me on the ground. Eric was draped over and down Sakido's middle, with his demon muzzle connected to hers in a passionate exchange of oral fluids. It was only when the female of the two moaned that I released the branch I had been holding a death grip on. The branches leaves slapped my cheeks, almost in a scolding fashion for intruding on this moment, and i was distracted briefly as I stumbled back.
There was a moment of silence, and when I opened my eyes again, I found two pairs of embarrassed eyes gazing back at me. The lower gaze held a hidden fire that the upper one didn't. I averted my gaze finally and stammered out, "Y-You two have been gone for a w-while. The convoy is ready to leave soon…"
"Good God Johnny… get out of here. We will be out in a few minutes…"
...
Jonathon just nodded and quickly turned around and left.
"...well...I guess it's a good thing he came when he did," Eric groaned slightly.
"How so?" Sakido asked; her cheeks still a little red.
"Well...a bit longer and we would have…" Eric trailed off as both of them blushed furiously at the idea of him walking in on them doing that. Of course, both of them were a bit annoyed still.
"...let's just go…" Sakido sighed as they made their way back to the convoy.
A.N.: This chapter was worked on and Edited by both me and Timeless Dreamer Neo, and I must point out this fact; without his help, despite the full 12 hours difference between where we both live, this chapter wouldn't have been done quite as well, or nearly as soon. Drop by and give his story a look while you are here at the end of my story, Trust me, you won't be disappointed!