A/N: Hey guys, here's a short one. Just a little something to remind you I'm still kicking!
Enjoy!
April 21st, 2032 - MO Headquarters - New Memphis
Ranks of emerald green and gold gathered in rows dozens long, their halls of vaulted ceilings bright with their collective reflection. Magnum Opus' numbers filled vast amphitheaters, individuals ranging from minor cadets to experienced commandants gathered for what would be their newest anointment. Their old leader was gone, leaving their clan open for selective election. Leon too, whose differing colored eyes set upon a raised podium would remain directed, albeit distracted.
I'm gonna miss old Gretch. Though this does open up one thing, new rank assignments!
A lone officer stepped forward, members quieting with the exception of lone worriers in the presence of bronze clovers. Clearing his already pristine throat, he remembered he wasn't restrained by what minor cold had befallen him outside Gun Gale. A brief shiver left him shaking his head, looking at what time had passed.
Akili hasn't logged yet, is he taking a piss or something? These guys are antsy enough with everything as is!
"Uh," He started with a raised hand, "alright guys, calm your tits. Gotta get through this!"
He glanced down at his text derived notes, audiences surrounding Leon tapping feet and whispering among themselves. Polestar arrived beside him, inching himself with an eye towards the line Leon stood in.
"Don't," Leon whispered.
"It's gotta be right," Pole said.
"Line's not straight, forget it."
Pole nodded, adjusting where his heels parked with a final take.
"All hands," one said with a soft groan, "my sector's comms' station's getting hit and I'm forced to sit here. When's that cavalry showing up?"
"You want a demotion?" one asked, "keep it down."
Polestar himself had a faint shiver about himself as his gaze set on the raised podium, forcing down a smile with repeated tugs. Eyeing a struggling corner of his lip, Leon grinned briefly.
"You can drop the act," Leon said, "nobody'd blame you."
"It's composure though," Pole said, "not gonna look bad, especially when historic change's coming."
"Think you're treating a bit ideally. Nepotism's a grind."
"You said it yourself though," Pole said tensely, "if we get the proper leader in charge, we can finally strike the BD."
"Yes, but expecting that sort of result isn't fair of them." Leon looked to the currently struggling speaker, "for Pete's sake, I think this one's pissed himself already."
Polestar smiled for a moment, but otherwise kept laser-like focus on who spoke.
Whatever leads us to dethroning the swordsman, I'm for it.
"So we've all heard the news," their speaker said with a weak sigh, "Gretch's quittin' Gale. Yeah, life's got its own plans. College. Job. We wish him luck though, right?"
A considerable call of approval was made, though nothing of resounding concentration. While Leon raised a hand and voice, both would be drowned out by his peers. Sighing softly, his gaze drew downwards.
Hopefully I can rise in rank a bit, least I would know what I'm doing.
"Anyway so while we're still waiting, what's going on with you guys?"
"Should we consider more fundraisers?" one asked, "UWU's been scrapping armor to our west for some time."
"There's already discussion, no need to worry." the speaker smiled, "you can expect reinforcements by the end of the week."
"I'm not dispatching more of my tracks!" another said, "you guys have already used up half of 'em finding BD fobs!"
"Why not?" Pole asked Leon quietly.
"Cause if he gives up too many, it leaves him open for assault. You and I both know how much the Blood Demons want that."
Pole nodded, fidgeting with fingers as conversation boiled over. The speaker checked his watch again, biting his cheek as hands gripped his podium.
God, I hate talking in front of crowds. Hurry up, Akili.
"Don't worry, man. They'll be purchased off clan reserves. Uh, remember guys that there's debate as to whether we should start another fundraiser. Not boxes like yesterday."
A collective groan washed over, some officers looking to each other.
"Hey! Those new squad automatics were not cheap! Giving you all sniper rifle's worth of range almost broke the bank."
"Only because somebody thought it wise to replace our entire stock in one go." one said in a muttered tone. "We'd have more req for tanks."
Leon smiled softly to this, fingers grasping what weaponry he imagined was arriving. Polestar shifted slightly, his twin side-arms shining in their nylon holsters as eyes darted.
Not sure why anyone thought this was a good idea. Blood Demons play a different game, not this. One ambush and our gunner's gone.
"He's coming!"
Their speaker perked up, back straightening with a small jump as marching boots were heard.
"Oh, um okay guys! Stand at the ready, ceremony's underway!"
Not even a second after this announcement, their Major briskly stepped down. Double doors swung open behind the crowd whose Bright green uniforms shined with sun kissed gold. A section of guards two men wide marched in exquisite dress, their weapons consisting of [FN-FAL] battle rifles, whose grips consisted of a rich wood of silver hue. Shouldering these with an almost synchronized swing, all twelve filed through in a somewhat rushed manner. Far behind them, an unseen figure stepped forward.
Tall, slender, and openly proud. With hair dyed a neon green and face fresh with shopped youth, Akili strode forth. His gait was stiff, gloved hands docked to the seams of his pants, but his eyes gleamed nonetheless. Staring strictly ahead, he would pay no heed to neighboring crowds, whose whistling and addressing left only a shiver in his lightly clenched hands.
His security split directions upon reaching positions, rifles planting beside them as they stood at relatively straight formation in protection. Akili took to the stage, faced with hundreds of his clan's highest ranked officials. A cold grew down his twin star studded shoulders, these representatives serving as stand-ins for Magnum Opus' quarter million members both player and NPC. Officers whose shoulders adorned birds stepped beside him, smiling to their crowd while sparing glances to their appointee.
"Excited?" one colonel asked.
"Like I'm ready to puke," Akili shuddered behind his smile, "sorry it took me long, guys."
"Happens. More sorry for last week's drama, that stuff's unfair."
"Gretch decided to go there," Akili said, "can't say I blame him."
"Guys," one colonel spoke aloud to their crowd, "I can't say just how happy I am to have Akili with us today. While we were all getting messy with D-ten, Akili was the one to figure out their boss's location."
Akili smiled as this awe drew warmth from their followers, air leaving his stomach as his patrons gushed over this accomplishment.
"The backbone of D-Ten was broken with one move! I myself received a message from their clan's leader, we're done playing easy."
Laughter broke out, even from Akili's peers. Polestar joined in this, though was first to quiet.
"It's one thing to talk trash, it's another to back it. Without their financial backing, their members got nothing." the colonel pointed towards the back of their hall, "with momentum this high, we'll break that edge lord's clan too!"
Leon clapped loudly to this, spurring Polestar to contribute with his own.
"As the largest clan in Gun Gale, we're all but a few steps from winning this theater. For the first time in over two years, it'll be Magnum, not Blood Demon that gets a chance to shine. I'd advise all of you to stock up these coming days, cause this map's about to reset!"
Their uproar was immense, drowning out what passing thoughts drifted through Akili's mind. Brushing back his hair, the anointed was unwilling to make eye contact. Dismissing themselves with a pat on his back, Opus's generals too stepped back with beaming expressions. Conversation boomed, folding in as Akili wiped his sweating face, eyes shutting momentarily.
"H-Hey everyone." Akili said, "sorry, just choking back here. Love the game, and you guys only make it better."
He nodded as they made mild noises of approval, his nails nearly digging into their podium. Eyes shook as he gathered words, heart pounding with unseen haste.
"I gotta say, I didn't think I'd make it this far. Never did that well in sports, you know? Was always so shy," Akili forced shakiness out of his voice, "ooo, this sure beats chess club. So tell me, whose ready to fight the BD?"
A roar from hundreds washed over him, his shivers harshening as a smile grew on his lips.
"Thank god headphones aren't a thing here," Akili laughed, "and thank god for smooth transitions."
While others clapped and whooped, but Leon slowed his applause.
That's an odd way to word it.
"See, we've got lots to do to fix what's wrong with Gun Gale." Akili lifted a finger, "so many of these clans around us are simply fan-bases for old players. They fill our battlefields with cancerous builds, pining after live-streamers."
A rumbling boo and hiss rippled through, hitting its peers with a biting warmth.
"Magnum Opus, however, keeps it fresh." Akili smiled, "we beat the fan-boys down, thanks especially to Gale's newest updates." he leaned forward, "I'd love to see the swordsman try his garbage tier tactics now."
His applause only grew, voices cursing He who would not be named. Polestar couldn't hold his grin back from this. Shutting his eyes, the seventeen year old warmed with what only he could observe.
"Oh, there you are, Ryu!"
Curly pink hair was first to appear, a delicate face dotted with freckles smiling to Pole.
"Lis," Pole greeted with a soft bow. "What brings you here?"
"I can't take it anymore," she frowned, "he doesn't care about me. It's all about him."
"I know how it feels," Pole said, "Lis, I can make you the number one you're meant to be."
Her expression glowed, blushing as he presented a hand.
"He's a fool to let you sit there, don't stay. Be with someone who cares."
She embraced with soft clutches, eye contact long in this world only Pole knew.
"You do."
"It's gonna happen," Akili's voice broke through, tearing Pole back to reality. "BD's gonna be crushed the second it starts. This is my first order of the day, go and do what you need."
The crowd relaxed, smiles held as their commanding officer sighed with relief.
"Cause your wallet," his smile darkened, "is dry."
Silence, elation crashing as eyes fixed on their speaker. Smiling broadly, Akili stepped out from his podium, even his security breaking focus.
"For those of you who helped me, and you know who you are...thank you." Akili looked down with a high chin, menu opened with his left. "it's been a long road, but it's done. You will be compensated."
Akili's fellow commanders stared with wrinkled brows, this one voice silencing hundreds. Raising his chin and finger, a brief squeak of laughter broke out from him.
"To the rest of you? Take a chill pill, this day will pass. Mean time? Checkmate."
And with a swipe of his hand, Akili blew the dusts of Magnum's pride away. Logged off, their halls turned a chilling quiet in his removal, its commanders frozen as they inspected logistics, of what resources they held. It was then their faces turned a pale hue, requisition gained both in game and out absent from virtual coffers. Subordinates looked to superior, a verbal pathogen spread by a single whisper.
"It's gone."
These words were repeated, louder and with a miscegenation of panic and rage. Leon's eyes darted back and forth as officers turned to each other with swollen eyes, their cries held back only by a desire for confirmation.
"He took it! Our req's gone! The money!"
"Someone call the police!"
"My donations!"
He looked to Magnum's highest ranked officials, but they too had devolved to disputes between each other. Looking to a shaking Polestar, Leon was quick to tap his shoulder, pointing outside.
"We gotta go."
"Why?" Polestar asked with watering eyes. "Why would Akili do that?"
"I don't know," Leon said in a low tone, "but I've seen this play before. It doesn't end well. Let's go."
"Wait," Pole waved both hands, "I'm so confused."
"Can explain later, but unless you wanna end up on their witch hunt we better go."
"But Leon, they need us!"
"They do," Leon motioned, "but we can't help them in their current state. Trust me on this, man. We have to go."
Polestar's gut sank, his fantasy drifting away as Magnum's economic situation flared up, Men shouted at each other, pointing and yelling as others secluded to their inner circles. Their social monuments fell in on themselves, the halls flashing with lonely retreats. Looking upon it all with tearful eyes, Pole bowed his head to Leon, and followed.
A/N: When a game's largest clan is struck, where will it fall?
Hey guys, thanks again for sticking with my work. Just as a reminder, this is your last chance to submit an OC before the roster is sealed! Send em' either via Private Message or through review.
See you all soon!