Chapter 14: The Breakdown
The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.
~Martin Luther King Jr.
Looking out across the clearing, I felt my eyes being pulled back towards the only object out of the ordinary more than once now. It had been over a month now, and thus, nature had already begun to reclaim what was once a picturesque landscape. Sakido was out flying, enjoying the moment of stretching her wings as she looked out across the vast reaches of the land. A smirk stretched across my lips as I thought about it in more depth. Despite knowing her better than I knew anyone else, even Jonathon, it was easily forgotten that this land was as much an unexplored wonder to me as it was to her. The pure happiness, the awe, and serene bliss she was feeling even now was all the proof I needed.
Hell... the actual real honest to God Hell, was the only place she had ever been to before... or rather, it was all she had known up to a few months ago. The River Styx, the only oddity in the bland landscape, intermixed with the occasional rock... I would be in wonder too if I went from seeing only a few mixes of bland colors to living in a new world entirely.
The sigh I heard behind me, as well as the crunching of boots on grass and the occasional random leaf alerted me of my visitor. I glanced over and gave a nod as Jonathon stepped up beside me, before turning my attention back to the scene in front of me.
He folded his arms as he favored his right foot, leaning closer to me as he asked, "How are you doing Eric? Everything ok...?"
The tone he used dampened my mood just a little, and with a shrug, I looked over and said, "I'm doing fine... could really go for a burger though..." I lightly chuckled at the end.
"You know that isn't what I meant Eric." He paused, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. From the corner of my eye, I saw him giving me that look... the one a family member gives after learning their brother or sister has PTSD for the very first time. "A lot has happened since you went on that mission. You destroyed an entire rebel complex, traveled to a new world, got married to a real demon, traveled around this new world, and somewhere in that time you found and killed the remainder of the rebels." He gestured with one of his hands towards the landscape in front of us, "This is enough proof. How many snipers have destroyed helicopters? How many people have traveled to other worlds? How many people, have discovered other creatures that aren't human and can speak an understandable language...?"
His eyes were wide, his hand having left from the downed helicopter in the field, to hovering between us...
I turned away, eyes closed and head lowered. My thoughts were... jumbled, but calm. On one hand, I knew I should've had a breaking point way before now; I didn't consider that time in the abandoned Gaia temple a true moment of breaking down, even though it probably did substitute as one. On the other hand however, a core value of a sniper, or any survivalist, is adaptability. Adapt, survive, and overcome any and all challenges.
"I am fine, John, and that's the honest truth." I shook my head, eyes opening and looking down my body towards the ground. Truthfully, to myself, I knew I was doing better than I had before that mission. What kind of person volunteers for a suicidal mission? What kind of person does it without a second thought? Letting out a sigh as I forced myself to look up, I eyed the destroyed helicopter once more.
There was a moment of silence, before Jonathon added softly, "Do you understand how hard that is to believe?" I let the question hang there... because I knew the answer; it was hard to believe, even to myself.
"We live in an amazing world Johnny... but, look out over this field with me." He resisted for a moment, before we both stood, staring at the helicopter where it rested, grass and vegetation masking much of its metal, weeds hiding most of the armaments I had chucked around it. Even the cockpit had some kind of plant thriving from within, possibly utilizing the old corpse as fertilizer. "We have tamed our world, we live in cities made of stone, fly creations of metal, and dive deeper into the unknown than we have in any past generations."
"And yet here, without so much as a warning, I was thrust into a world where so much of reality is what you would read in a fantasy novel. Here, angels and demons supposedly fight over the world for the greater good. Many races live in near perfect harmony, forgetful of their differences, and yet, all too aware of those differences. They use wagons instead of cars, some can fly, some burrow under the ground, and some are forced to live mundane lives like how our ancestors did."
"You ask if I am ok. The answer is obvious to me however. I've been thrust into a fantasy that many dream of, yet was, until now, a mere impossibility." I paused, looking towards the sky, looking towards the rich untainted baby blue color for the speck that would be Sakido. "Somewhere along the line... I stopped trying to understand what was happening and how this was possible, and I simply accepted this was my life now. I was happy. It was a new world, and I was the first of our world given a chance to explore it. But... reality caught up to me when a rebel force appeared literally out of nowhere. I will admit, I was frightened... there is only so much a single man can do, I understand this."
"It was only through the grit I had from living in our world, plus this bond Sakido and I share, that we not only somehow survived, but overcame the threat and safeguarded this world. Even now, we stand here, a land not yet fully explored. This is exactly what humanity craves... the chance to explore what nobody else has, to learn and live. I am literally living the dream..."
"So... yes, it is hard to believe, especially after everything I've been through, but I am doing ok. I'm doing better than I have in a very long time. Your concern is noted... and appreciated, my friend." I looked towards him, his eyes drifting towards the field once more. I nodded as I reached a hand over and grasped his shoulder gently, but firmly. I followed his gaze to the field before finally adding, "Look where you are, truly understand what it is you are seeing, and find your own peace. It might sound cheesy... but it is the truth. This world is as new to you as it is to me, Sakido, or even the angels..."
"Wasn't the answer I was expecting... but I will try to see it as you do."
Silence fell once more between us.
"So," I asked, "Are you ok?"
The road went from bumpy to teeth shattering in a split second, a muffled but loud explosion sounding from somewhere under the hood. My hand shot up and latched onto the frame of the door as I shot my gaze to the driver. His expression was utterly terrified as he wrestled the wheel to the side.
"Keep on the fucking road!" Came a shout from the back seat, one of the two men crashing somewhere as our ride swerved uncontrollably.
Shooting my hand out, I grabbed onto the steering wheel and locked my arm in place to keep us going straight instead of this swerving nonsense. There was a moment of calm, and then the driver slammed his foot down on the break.
The first thought through my head was the multi ton combat vehicle traveling behind us, but that was knocked out of mind when something solid thwacked the back of my head. Stars flashed into sight as I growled, closed my eyes to try and block out the pain, while I looked to the side and shouted, "Brakes! Use the damn brakes!"
There was a moment I experienced vertigo as he didn't just use them, but smashed his foot to the pedal. My hold on the steering wheel vanished as I instinctively threw my hand towards the dash, only for it to prove unnecessary. Rocks clinked around as everything shifted forward.
I felt a stab of fear run through my veins like ice as I thought of the BTR trailing us, and I tensed up, ready for an impact...
...that never came.
Thank God, they probably backed off beforehand...
I let out a sigh, before opening my eyes and finding the driver still staring out the window with wide eyes as he gripped the wheel with a white-knuckled grip.
Anger pooled in my gut as I forced the door open, and gingerly stepped out. I felt sick as I stood on slightly shaky legs...
'Eric, what is the matter? Why are you hurt?' Sakido's voice cut through the anger like a lance of lightning, and bringing with it a sense of worry and comfort.
Stepping away from Humvee, I looked back and saw the BTR had indeed hung back, and it was just finishing its approach when I stepped out. Further behind it I saw a twisted chunk of rubber on the side of the mountainous road, as well as a cloud of dust.
The hell...?
I turned and shut the passenger door, a bit harder than I meant, but it did the job. Two of the other three men clambered out of the back, one of them spitting out a string of curses at the driver.
'Everything is fine Darlin', just some rough driving is all.'
I looked at the passenger front tire, or rather what was left of it. There was a dent in the rim that pushed in where the rubber would've formed a seal.
'The driver hit a mighty big pebble it looks like.'
'I thought you took the seat at the front of the vehicle? Did you not see it coming?'
I chuckled a bit, dropping and shaking my head after looking at the twisted steel. "God damn... must've been a big rock..."
'Yeah... No, I was snoozing.'
'Why were you 'snoozing' Eric? It is the middle of the day.' I could almost feel the chastisement from her tone.
"What the hell happened!?" Came Jonathon's voice as he jogged over, his eyes scanning all of us and the vehicle.
'There is something strangely therapeutic about being in a car and not driving. Almost how you always start nodding off when I start rubbing your ears.'
There was n further response after, so I turned my attention back to my current area. "Damn rookie musta hit a damned pothole or something! One moment we are fine, the next he is swerving all over the place like he's never driven before!"
Turning towards the guy that had spoken, I noted he was still fixing the armored vest as he glared at the driver.
Looking past him, I saw a few wagons stopped before the cloud of dust, some of the drivers having already dismounted their posts and looking at the same rock I had; one man even had a sledge or something similar. I could already guess at what he was getting ready to do. I turned away from the sight and looked up the path to observe what lay ahead. The road wasn't narrow, but it wasn't excessively wide, thus if we changed the tire right here, we would be having a constant nearby visitor from any passing wagons.
I kept looking even as I heard Johnny muttering cusses under his breath...
My eyes landed on a small side road, possibly a road that led down to an old ranch or trail, but it would serve our purpose fairly well. Clearing my throat, I turned my head slightly to the side and called out, "We won't be changing the tire of that rim anytime soon. I say, we drive for another hundred feet so we can get it off this pass, and then we worry about changing the tire." Looking back, I saw Johnathon standing up and looking towards me, "We can maintain an actual perimeter while the tire is changed, and we won't have to worry about others getting too close."
He looked over towards where I was holding my hand. He nodded before he patted the still complaining man, "You take the wheel, Eric will guide you. Try not to drive off the cliff."
After some gripping from the men, they began to move. I shook my head as I moved over and hopped into the passenger seat. Closing the door just as the indicated man got into the driver seat, I pointed out the windshield and said, "Roughly a hundred feet down the road there appears to be an old rancher trail, you see it?"
"Yeah, I see it." The Humvee rumbled to life.
After the others got in, we were on the way again, going slowly as to avoid damaging anything important.
"God damn, you really fucked up this thing!" I looked over, watching as the driver wrestled with the steering wheel a bit. "Feels like the wheel bearings took a hit, hope nothing broke down there."
Letting out a sigh, I pulled my hand out from under my arm, before holding it out, palm up. I looked at my fingers, pulling them up like I was cupping a ball. I glanced over at the driver, who was looking over at me in curiosity. "Even if something broke, I might be able to help fabricate a... well, temporary weld." I felt the magic in my blood surge, and heat blossomed from my palm, and a small blaze surged to life, the magical flames dancing in an invisible breeze.
"Sir?" Came the hesitant response from the back seat. I glanced at my shoulder and looked at the man... William from his nametag. I nodded for him to continue, "Is there a chance you could teach others, like us, to do that?"
There was some mummering in agreement from the others within the vehicle, and that actually got me wondering; Can I teach others how to use magic...?
I looked at my palm, feeling the power deep within my veins. It was sedate compared to when I was in my demon form, but I could feel it coursing through my body. It almost felt like saline injected through an IV line, a cool sensation running through my veins that shouldn't be there.
'I don't see why not. If Magic doesn't exist on your world, I don't understand how you learned to use magic from ours. But if you were able to Learn, I don't see why others from your world would be unable to as well.' Sakido's voice suddenly filtered into my mind.
My mind churned from the thought, before I questioned; did my magic stem from my connection with Sakido?
Shaking my head, I would worry about that thought at a later date. For now, I looked at the road, before gesturing towards the turnoff, "Don't miss our turn." He muttered a curse word beneath his breath as he took the turn, and I looked back at William and spoke to the entire crew, "I don't know how I can teach it, but I wouldn't see the harm in trying. It wasn't immediate, it took me time to learn how to harness magic myself. If anything, I have a few theories myself on how I gained the ability to use magic, but for now it will have to wait."
The side road was actually bigger than I had expected, but that would just mean a better position for which to change the tire. Without needing any prompting, the driver pulled off to the side of the road where the ground was packed firmer, and left room in the back for the BTR to pull in and remain close as well. I nodded as he threw the vehicle in park, and I hopped out and walked around the door and towards the damaged wheel.
The sound of clanking came from the back of the humvee, and from around the back the spare tire came rolling out, as well as a large floor jack.
Once it was clear I wouldn't be needed, I turned and headed towards the BTR, but froze when I saw movement from the corner of my eye. I felt a chill run down my spine, but I made a show of raising my hand and looking at it supposedly intently, though I was instead looking from the corner of my eye towards the disturbance.
"Shit," I cursed softly. I flicked my hand, and turned, inconspicuously looking at the demon briefly as I turned towards Jonathon, "Yo, Tango nine O'clock. Low bush, avain demon."
His eyes locked on mine, and he nodded as the rest of his men suddenly tensed up. The man changing the tire began to get up, but a forceful hand on his shoulder from Jonathon stopped his ascent. Jonathon looked at the man and spoke lowly, "The sooner you finish switching that tire out, the sooner we gain our maneuverability." I stepped away as he began to speak with the others.
Leaning against the side of the BTR, I looked around the edge of it at the demon. It stayed nearly the same, in the same location, but its eyes were constantly moving. A pattern began to appear the more I watched it. Its eyes were darting around, possibly noting all positions of the soldiers, but when it wasn't doing that, its eyes kept returning towards the same location.
What are you looking at...? I wondered to myself.
Pushing myself away from the BTR, I strolled towards the rear of the APC (Armored Personnel Carrier- Can change to armored vehicle for simplicity, or just use 'BTR'. Let me know your thoughts... it feels lazy always using 'BTR'), and as I got closer, I heard voices; more specifically the voices of the angels.
It can't be... are demons hunting angels for a reason?
"Eric? What do you mean?"
Cursing beneath my breath, I let out a soft sigh as I shook my head. I had foolishly forgot to hide my thoughts... this was her flight time.
Sorry Darlin, didn't mean to disturb you. Well... to answer your question, we've spotted a lone demon. I think it is eyeballing the angels.
"What? Are there more? Do you need me to come back?"
I couldn't help the smile that pulled at my lips. As far as we know, The demon is solo, but that isn't a guarantee. As for you coming back... As much as I would love to see that lovely posterior, I think it would be best if you hold off.
There was a low growl through our link... a non aggressive one at that.
Walking around the corner, I found both the angels... one even had a handgun and was looking down the barrel. Why they had a gun, I had no idea.
"Hey," the female... I couldn't remember her name at the moment, looked up from the barrel, "That isn't a good idea unless you want to end up dead." The translator spoke, and a brief moment later the other bristled. "Good, we understand each other. Now, I need you to walk over here, slowly."
"Is something wrong Mr. Elexion?"
Shit... they remember my name, but I can't remember theirs'...
"There is a problem, yes, but no danger yet, that's why I need you to step this way, slowly."
He spoke softly in angelic, and they then both slowly made their way towards me.
Once they were both behind the vehicle and out of sight of the rogue demon, I gestured for them to stay there as I stepped away, meeting Johnathon as he came to me. Once I stopped, he spoke in a soft tone, "Hey, I know this might be a bit risky, but what if you go talk to it... if you use your... other form, maybe we can deescalate this before it escalates?"
I smiled softly, nodding my head as I responded, "Sounds smart, and not entirely reckless." I started unbuttoning the shirt starting at my neck. "If anything happens, let me handle it... I don't need a bullet in the back. If more arrive... I may need the backup, after I'm no longer downrange."
Once my shirt was off, I hung it on a protruding section of metal, then twisted my neck to get a kink out of the muscles. There was a slight crack, and I grinned as I felt myself shifting. It almost felt like changing clothes, with a hot towel wrapped around your entire body...
"Wow," I looked down at Johnathon, "That was... creepy, and disgusting somehow."
Chuckling, I stepped around him as I rolled my shoulders, "Maybe, but worth it..."
Coming around the cover of the heavy vehicle, I looked directly at the rogues last location, and the moment my body fully left cover, his eyes snapped over towards me, before his eyes widened. Now that I was giving him my full attention, I was able to easily gauge his actual physique. Short, frail with light muscle mass, and feathers a fiery red in patches but primarily muddy brown. Already I pinned him for being agile, and possibly another fire demon.
"State your business, Brother..." I grimaced as I looked to him.
He clicked his beak, his features hardening as he growled out, "Your angels should be with a demon camp, hand them over now and I won't tell Shade of your ignorance."
"This is safer transportation. How about you tell me who you are, or I will tell Shade of your transgression myself." It was involuntary at this point, but I felt my fur bristle along my neck and arms as I stared back at him.
His beak clicked once more, his eyes turned and looked past me towards the rest of the Convoy, and then turned back to me, a smile stretching across his beak. "I work closely with Mr. Shades group, and I've never seen you before. Two strange angels, a new and unknown Demon working closely with strange Medians... and ignoring the Generals own commands. You're either very bold, or very stupid."
This isn't working.
Immediately, it was clear I needed to act. If he left, reinforcements would be back sooner than if he were to go missing for a short period of time.
I lunged forward just as his beak opened, my hand extended outwards as I twisted. My hand smashed into his chest just below his neck, my fingers closing just a fraction too slow as he reacted by flinching back. I felt skin tear, blood flashing from his neck as he twisted, leg flashing out towards me in a quick jab. The air left my lungs as he not only kicked, but propelled himself away from me like a springboard. It wasn't painful, but I was effectively staggered, and off balance.
"You bastard, I will see that you pay for that!" He growled out, one hand to his neck, before he turned and dashed away in a flash of red and brown.
I stumbled back, standing upright and forcing myself to breath in, one hand to the back of my head as I ignored the urge to gasp as best as I could.
There was a thundering of footsteps from behind me, and soon several men appeared next to me, weapons raised and gazes outwards, scanning for the hostile that had already effectively vanished.
John appeared next to me, a hand dashing out and lightly slapping the back of my head, "Bad dog! You were supposed to catch the bird, not scare it away!"
I growled at him as a few of the men snickered, though briefly. I looked over at him and said, "I'll make you pay for that later. For now, we need to prepare. I'm unsure of numbers, but he was just a scout working with a much larger operation." Letting out a breath, I turned and stalked back towards the Humvee and added, "From what I can guess, there are many more demons here than I had anticipated. They have a military structure of some sort, and for some reason, they are indeed gathering angels, but for what reason, I do not know."
"That's all the intel you were able to gather?" Johnny asked, his bright eyes shining with worry.
"Yeah, I don't have any exact numbers, but I heard a name of importance, and then something about a General. Says he works closely with the lead group, So I wasn't going to bullshit my way out of that, not to mention he started out with hostilities... from what I heard you can't sweet talk a demon. Hell, I had to threaten Sakido with a grenade when I first met her just to make sure she didn't just outright kill me..." I rambled off, starting to think of that fateful day.
"Really, You and Sakido hit it off great. You'll have to tell me all about it when we are done with this."
Shaking my head, I looked down at my claw and saw a bit of blood on one of the nails. Frowning, I shook it off, before stalking off to hunt for a rag or something.
Sakido, do you know anything about a demon General?
I leaned into the Humvee, looked around briefly, but didn't see anything that I could use.
"The last Demon that I know was a General was Iron Claw, my information may be outdated. Was that the demon you spoke with?"
Pushing myself away from the Humvee, I walked a short distance away before igniting my fire, feeling the usual comfort of the heat as the blood started to steam free from the body.
Not that I'm aware of, this demon was small, and acted like he was going to report an act of insubordination to a superior rather than handle this problem himself.
"...I'm coming back."
My fur bristled at the thought of Sakido getting noticed, targeted, and subsequently hurt. I looked back at the men just as the busted tire fell to the gravel with a solid and hollow 'thunk'.
No. If this 'general' shows up, and you used to be an Elite in Hell, the chances of this demon not knowing who you are, is slim...
"if you are hurt, I feel pain too. If I am not going to be there, then I demand you leave the area as well."
"Hey, Eric, targets spotted incoming, maybe half a mile out, looks like three or four total." I looked over as Johnathon spoke to me, a rifle in his arms and ready.
I nodded my head, and asked, "Do you have a sniper, or ammunition for mine?"
"Already checked, we do not. If you need to, modify something, use scope and bipod from your rifle, try to adjust something we currently have."
Sorry Sakido, but they won't have seen me down in hell. If it's any consolation, I will be a human for this fight. If you must, be nearby.
"Grr, I will not be ordered around, Eric, I am coming there, regardless! I will not allow my mate to risk his own life, while I hide away like... like... a damsel in distress!"
I had to hold up a finger as Johnathon tried to speak to me, but I needed my attention on this at this direct moment. You know that is not-
"I will be there in five minutes, no more."