Chapter 15

We we're fighting a Neuroi that looked like a paper airplane, it was funny until it started shooting at us. Currently we were using boom and zoom tactics to advoid being hit. Then one of Perrine's shots revealed the core. "Reppuzan!" Major shouted before slashing the air with her katana and creating a wave of magical energy that split the Neuroi in two. "You did it, Sakamoto!" Yoshika cried out. "You defeated it, Major!" Perrine joined in. "Yeah." Major responded before her left engine started to cut out. "Major? Is something wrong?" Yoshika asked. "No. I'm fine." Major responded.

Back at base everyone dispersed to get some sleep. I had Barkhorn walking beside me. "Damn, I'm tired. Let me sleep in tomorrow please." I begged her while leaning on her to show how tired I was. "Yea, not happening." She said brushing me off. "Why not, I know you want to sleep in just as much as I do." I said trying to get her to allow me more sleep time. "Your right I would like to sleep in..." she started giving me hope. "But I'm a soldier of Karlesland, and as a soldier of Karlesland I must be up on time!" She said crushing all hope. "Alright, Vadim wake her in the middle of the night." I said. "Hey don't teach him to do such things or I'll wake you every time he wakes me." She responds as we reach our room. "Fine, Vadim Don't wake her up," I said before getting down close to him and whispering to him. "Wake her up at 12:01." I then climbed into bed with Barkhorn before falling asleep.

Late in the night Barkhorn woke me up to follow through with her threat, I ended up sleeping on the floor after she quite literally kicked me out of bed. "Morning Eila." I said as I walked past her. "Here, Morrison check this out." She said handing me a newspaper with a picture of me and Barkhorn kissing. I nearly spat out my coffee in surprise. Swallowing before speaking I ask. "Who took this picture?" Holding up the newspaper infront of Everyone except Barkhorn. "If no one admits to it I'll have you all running laps around the base for the rest of the day and have cold spam served for lunch and dinner." I threatened only for no one to admit they did it. Pulling the newspaper back down I read the headlines. 'Squadron leader Morrison revealed as the Neuroi hunter and Captain Barkhorn's boyfriend.' "So that's what the press is calling me... 'Neuroi Hunter'..." I say after reading the headlines. "Wait you're the Neuroi Hunter?" Erica asks. "Yea, what's so great about it?" I ask. "The Neuroi Hunter is known for taking down some of the strongest Neuroi we've ever encountered." Commander said calmly. "Yea I work hard and kill lots of Neuroi but I'm not humanities trump card." I respond knowing how everything goes. "Anyway back to how they got this picture."

In the showers later that day I heard some of the ground crew talking. "Is it really possible that squadron leader Morrison is the Neuroi Hunter? I mean it. It's not like he hasn't done anything but we haven't seen him lash out with the rumoured rage." "Yea that's true but remember that's a rumour, it's not confirmed to be true." "Stil can you believe it, he's so lucky." After a few more minutes I got tired of it. "If you guys want the facts just go to the source." I tell them. "Not possible, he's way to high up for some ground crew to talk to." One of them responded. "Well there is no ranks in the showers so you can ask now." I respond. "Wait what! You're squadron leader Morrison!" They said in shock. "Yea, I am. And yes I'm known by the press as the Neuroi Hunter or atleast was." I respond. "But anyway, I have a mission to prepare for." I then leave the shower room and get dressed.

"We shall strike the Neuroi hive with all we have and destroy it in one battle. And that wraps up our final battle plans." Commander finished her explaination of the plan. "And what if it doesn't work?" Barkhorn asks. "Then we'll have to surrender Romagna to the Neuroi and disband the 501st joint fighter wing." Commander said. Shocked gasps went out all around. "Surrender?! Disband the 501st?! That's ridiculous! Minna you just agreed to this?!" Barkhorn accused. "Of course not!" Commander said. I place a hand on Barkhorn's shoulder and stood up. "Sit down Barkhorn. You have to realize that sometimes it's better to live and fight another day, if that means surrendering Romagna then I'm going to fight harder to make sure we win this, put your anger somewhere more productive, like killing the fuckers who are trying to kill us." I say. "We have our job, and so be it I'll die before giving them an inch of our land, I'll make sure the sacrifice of millions of soldiers, sailors and airmen are not in vain!" I watch as everyone starts to agree with me to fight.

That night I made sure Barkhorn didn't try to get up early I effectively pined her in bed by holding her close throughout the night. Around the time Barkhorn would usually wake up she tried to leave bed. "No you need your sleep." I said as I pulled her back in and wrapped her up in blankets. "There, now don't struggle you're getting your sleep whether you like it or not." I then fell asleep again with her struggling beside me. When it came time to untie her I found her fast asleep. "Alright Barkhorn, time to wake up." I say while I untie her from the bundle of sheets I used. "Five more minutes..." she mumbled. "Nope. Vadim if you would." I say as Vadim crawls up and sticks his nose into the arch of her foot to no effect. "Try elsewhere Vadim." I said as I pulled out some clothes for her. I the city heard a scream come from her as Vadim had stuck his cold nose somewhere. "Morning, how was your sleep?" I ask turning around to see a very flustered Barkhorn. "You set Vadim on me." Barkhorn shouted at me. "Well get dressed and ready for a fight or I'll make Vadim stick his nose in the same place again." I threatened before returning to getting dressed.

"Momentarily, the 501st jointfighter wing will be leaving the base to eradicate the Neuroi in operation mars. Our mission is to escort and protect the allied navy's flagship, the Yamato. Everyone, depart!" Commander said. I then booked it towards the hanger sword bouncing from my hip, my rifle slung over my back and my Webley holstered. Jumping into my strikers I felt the familiar flow of magic energy. "This is our last flight." I muttered quietly so no one else could hear me. I was the last to launch up into the sky. We flew close to the deck of the Yamato and the aircraft carrier that was sailing beside it. Pulling up I heard Barkhorn say. "So that's the Yamato." Looking forwards we could all see the Neuroi hive. "That's the Neuroi's hive." Yoshika said. "That's right. That's our final opponent." Commander said. Pulling back the bolt on both of my Vikers I get ready for battle. Then five medium class Neuroi dived out of the sky onto the lead elements of the fleet. "It's begun." Commander said as we banked to the right. "We must protect the Yamato until her Neuroification is complete." Commander ordered before we all broke apart. I flew off abit on my own to deal with three Neuroi harassing the left flank of the fleet. Upon closer inspection they looked like the stereotypical UFO that you see in movies. "This should be fun." I comment as I fly in with my Vickers chattering away taking down three before I passed throught the formation. They then followed after me. I flew straight down before pulling up just above the water, looking back I watched as five of them smashed into the water at high speed, effectively killing them. A shot over my right shoulder caused me to bank right to throw off their aim, the broad side of a heavy cruiser knocked out most of the Neuroi following me. "Watch it, I can only dodge so many shots!" I shout as I fire at the Neuroi trailing me. The remaining two go down quickly.

Then a line of Neuroi wrap around my position as I try to take a breather. "Good, now I don't need to worry about direction." I say before opening up on all the Neuroi that had snakes around me, bringing up my kill count. Then my guns run dry. "Why now." I mutter before diving down again only for them to turn to target the Yamato instead. Pulling up my rifle I fire off four quick shots scoring four kills. Then a Neuroi tried to slam into me, swinging around my rifle and using the butt as a club I destroy the Neuroi before fireing a fifth shot into a mass of Neuroi. Looking around I see that most are exhausted by the fighting. "Time to use this, I hoped to save these rounds for later." I mutter as I put a striper clip of magic infused rounds I had made back in India. "Lets rock and roll." I shout before pulling the trigger. The resounding bang and massive explosion caused the Neuroi to refocouse on me. Three shots came my way. Twisting right I dodged the first, diving down I dodge the second but the third strikes my right side causing blood to splatter out. Another of my rounds fly down range resulting in another magical explosion. Suddenly Commanders voice crackled over the radio. "Anyone who has been depleted of magic power, retreat to the aircraft carrier, Amagi." Then a fourth shot flies at me. I drop altitude to advoid it and then fire another round down range causing more damage. Looking over to the Yamato I see it start to transform into a Neuroi. "Time to fall back." I mutter before makeing my way to the Amagi. As I fall back I see the Yamato fly past me and straight to the Neuroi. It passes over Yoshika, Lynne and Perrine. "Mission complete. Everyone return to the aircraft carrier, Amagi." Commander's voice spoke over the radio. Looking around I watched as they all made their way back to the carrier, I started to make my way back until I remembered something. The Yamato runs out of power. Turning around I watch as the Yamato collides with the Neuroi core of the Neuroi hive sending out a shock wave that shakes me around. I wait for it to fire like planed only for the Yamato not to fire. "Commander! The magic engine dynamo is out of power, I'm going to recharge it!" I shout over the radio as I fly up to the Yamato. Approaching I fend off mulitiple Neuroi to get to the Yamato. Reaching a side door on the control tower I break inside and climb down to the engine, pulling out my radio at the doorway before anyone could protest. "Ugh." I mutter as I cough up some blood. "I must go on." I then continue to make my way down the hallway. "No!" Suddenly crackled over my radio which rested in my hand. "It's not over yet! It's not over. Not this war... Not myself!" Major said. Placing the radio back in my ear I listen for an opening. "I will board the Yamato and start the magic engine dynamo with my magic power!" Major said. "Major, don't bother... *cough* I'm already on board and inside. I won't last much longer, I'm losing to much blood, I can feel it seaping away, my life that is, I have enough magic power to restart the Yamato' magic engine Dynamo..." I trail off before a series of coughs ravage my body. "I'm coughing up blood and can nearly stand, I'm in no fighting shape, but I can do one thing, and that's use my power to recharge the Yamato. I'll die like a Cossack today, don't bother looking for a body it'll be long gone." I finish as I reach the room and place my hands on the core. 'Ready to die Jarvis?' I ask my core. "As ready as I'll ever be." He responds. "Three... two... one..." I say before I let the radio drop to the floor as I pour all my magically energy into the core.

I wake on a floor made of a Neuroi shell. Looking up I see two Neuroi cores. "Damn it, how am I still alive?" I question. "You can thank the nest Morrison." Jarvis says to me. "So this is the human's famous 'Neuroi Hunter'. He doesn't seem like much after all." the second core says. "And just who the hell are you?" I question while standing up and watching them shift into a humanoid form. "I'm the core you call Jarvis. It's good that we can finally meet face to face aside from communicating to you in form of thought." Jarvis said as he walked up beside me and helped me up. "And that fucker?" I say pointing at the other humanoid Neuroi. "I'm known as The Hive." It introduced itself. "And you are now a battery for me to make magic shields and more Neuroi to kill your witch friends." "Like I'd let you do that." I responded before a screen popped up to my left. "Care to see how they fare against my army." It said gesturing to the screen. "It will surprise you how badly they are doing." "I know how this ends so please don't try to bother with me like that. I know that you're trying to demoralize me but you won't do that if I know how this fight ends." I say while stepping towards the Neuroi hive core. "Now take this." I said as I swung my fist into what I thought was it's face. I was knocked back a few steps before it regained its balance. "That was a strong punch but I can hit harder." I said before lashing back at me only for me to grab ahold of it's wrist and flip it over my back and slam it intoxicating the ground. "You may be stronger but I'm more skilled in combat." I say as I rain punches into its face. The marks become dents which then get deeper and deeper. It was slow going to try to break through its face and crush the core. Then Jarvis stopped me. "Morrison, if you kill him, we all die, he has to be kill from the outside for us to escape alive even then we could die, you see your body has been relying on my to keep it going for too long, if I die then you die from organ failure." "So if I kill him before someone destroys his physical body we both die, so how can we both live while killing him." I ask. "If you use your magic to keep me alive I will keep you alive but it'll cost you." Jarvis explains. "It'll cost me what?" I ask. "It'll cost you you're magic, chances are you won't be able to use magic again, ever." Jarvis explains. "I'll sacrafice my magic to stay alive, maybe I can use it again with effort." I say before getting off the Neuroi. And watching the screen. It has no sound but I can see actions. I watch as Yoshika dodges Neuroi passes trying to get to Major's sword. Suddenly I feel like I'm weakening. "What's this?" I ask as I continue to watch the screen. "You're drying up. Soon you won't be able to beat him and only I will." Jarvis answers. "If it comes to you verses him, kill him, show no mercy Jarvis." I say before I start to feel weaker again. Looking over to the screen I watch as Yoshika gripes the sword and pulls at first it does nothing until she pumps magic energy into it, she flies up above the core before diving down onto it. I watch as she smashes through a shield that was put up and smash the Neuroi core with it. "Time to die!" I shout as I spin around and with Jarvis smash my fist straight into the Neuroi's face. "Morrison, now!" Jarvis says before I let all my magic flow to him. I feel unconsciousness claim me again as I feel me body fall, I feel someone grasp my hand before I lose all consciousness.

I felt my eyes crack open to see a bright light. "Am I finally dead?" I wonder outloud as I place my hand infrom of my eyes to cover the light. "No, you're still alive, we caught you before you splashed into the water. Apparently you're magic is gone." I heard Commander say. "So, I'm still alive." I chuckle. "No, you're dead or atleast to the public you are." Barkhorn said. "Thank god! No more reporters hounding me!" I exclaim as I shoot upon bed only to realize that I'm not wearing much aside from my boxers. "Sorry Commander." I apologize as she and Erica look away. "Anyway, what do you plan to do?" Commander asks. "Think you could get a meeting with officers and the report of my death." I ask before Erica hands me the paper announcing my death. "What do you have planned Morrison?" Barkhorn asks as I read over the paper. "So I was promoted to wing commander huh? Barkhorn get my uniform I've got a meeting with the high command." I order. "Yes, Sir." She salutes before leaving.

"We are sad to inform you that Wing Commander Morrison has officially passed away." I listened as Commander announced that to the allied high command. "We already knew that, you said it was something important that you needed all commanders to be here." I heard an officer say. "Damn right it's important!" I shout as I kick open the doors. "Have you so little faith in me that you can't see that I'm still fucking alive and kicking!" I shout at them before lifting up the paper announcing my death. "Now who's bright idea was this!?" I asked. "Because it gives me the perfect reason to retire in peace as of now." I say as I turn and leave with Barkhorn waiting outside. "There now I don't need to worry about anything right now." I say as I hand her a slip of paper. "You can reach me at this phone number." "This is Yoshika's phone number?" Barkhorn says. "Yup I'm moving into a small house beside Yoshika's, I'll be doing farming there." I say while we walk away. In the background I could hear Commander and Erica laughing and the officers shouting about who's fault it is that they lost a powerful witch. 'Hey Jarvis you still there?' I ask him. "Yep still alive aswell." Jarvis answers. 'That's good, that's good.' I answer.

Weeks later I found myself being greeted by a happy Yoshika and her family. "How you've been Yoshika?" I asked. "Great, the paper recently announced that you had retired after operarion mars and the high command had said you were dead instead." She exclaimed in her usually happy tone. "That's fine, as long as no reporter comes here I'll be fine." I say as we start our walk to our new lives.