Chapter 19

I heard Vadim bark at someone as I was under my car. Wheeling out I spot Gertrude walking towards me with her gun. Whipping the oil and grease off my hands, she greets me. "Stefan, we've been ordered to do a patrol along the lines of advance for Patton's third army, they have reported stiff resistance and tougher than normal Neuroi and they want us to check it out." "How many of us are going?" I ask. "Just the two of us." Gertrude answers. "Well I don't mind, it'll get me away from paperwork for a couple hours." I joke while walking towards my striker. "Why is there a lot of paperwork?" Gertrude asks. "Most of it is supplies, though some are from guards asking for leave or to be transferred to another unit." I answer. "Though I have a gut feeling that we might be having a major operation sometime soon, mostly because I've have been asked to find a way to cut down on supplies." "Really? Why?" Gertrude asks as we prepare to take off. "Well most likely they're going to try to liberate Karlesland." I answer before switching on the radio. "This is Sub-Wing Commander Morrison, taking off." I then speed down the runway, Gertrude close behind.

We had done a few laps around the front to see the progress and to try and find any Neuroi. None appeared to challenge us and we received no Neuroi AAA, or flak fire. "Strange." I muttered. "It's too quiet for them to be here. Where could they have gone?" "I don't know. Maybe they chose to retreat?" Gertrude suggested. "Highly unlikely." I answered. "They are stubborn and don't give up ground easily." "Youre right. So why is it this quiet?" Gertrude restated my original question. Then the sound of radio interference was picked up by our radio's. "Let's try to find the source and take it out, it could cause some problems to the frontline units." I said abefore dropping down to about 200 meters to better locate the source of the interference.

After a few minutes of flying along the front we located to source to be somewhere in the municipality of Houffalize near the spear tip of the third army. Flying over the spear head I look down to see the men and tank witches waving up at us. I look over to the small town where they are heading and decide to get a better look. Dropping down to just above tree top level, I scan the area, looking for the black and red hexagonal pattern of a Neuroi. I spotted something I assumed was a Neuroi about 1000 meters ahead of the tank witches who were leading the way. "Gertrude fly top cover while I check below real quick." I ordered before flying over to it.

I heard the soft crunch of snow as I landed near a flak 88. The bodies of the operator were strewn about and mangled, it would cause anyone else to kneel over and empty their breakfast, but I'd seen more than my fair share, I'd somehow gotten used to it. "Brave men, but they were fools, no one can stop a Neuroi attacking force with five men." I muttered as I approached the surprisingly intact flak 88. Then the ground shock as to my left and right a light tank Neuroi broke through the ground that had hidden it and the flak 88 became Neuroified. "Shit, shit, shit, shit." I said as I scrambled to get out of the way of the three Neuroi lasers that were pointed at me. I brought my Lee Enfeild up to my shoulder, as I only brought it and my Webley, and fired a shot at the flak 88, hoping to take out the fearsome gun before it could take me out. "Stefan what's going on?" Gertrude's voice crackled over the radio. "I've been ambushed! They have two light tank Neuroi and a Neuroified flak 88!" I answered before being forced to fly down lower to advoid a shot from the flak canon. Cycling the bolt on my rifle I took aim at the tank that had appeared on my left flank and fired a shot dead center, killing it almost immediately. "One down, two to go." I said as I cycled the bolt once more. Then Gertrude strafed the flak canon with both MG's, even though I told her to bring one as it's nothing more than a scouting mission. "I told you to bring your Vicker's." She said as she flew up beside me. "Yea Yea, you can say 'I told you so' later." I answered as I took aim at the second Neuroi tank. A sudden boom of a tanks main gun surprises us as we see the tank witches arrive. "And the cavalry has arrived." I say as they make quick work of the small light tank and the flak 88. "I guess it's time to head on back to base."

Back at base we were greeted by Commander Minna upon entering the hanger. "Afternoon, Commander." I greeted her. "Good afternoon, Minna." Gertrude greeted her. "Glad your back. If you stayed out longer you might have been caught in the hail storm coming this way." Commander said while pointing behind us. Looking over my shoulder I spot the dark clouds of the storm. "I'm going out on pat-" I started to say before Gertrude yanked my collar cutting me off. "You are not going out to fly in the rain and hail." She stated while giving me the death glare. I gave off a sharp quick whistle. Gertrude and Commander Minna looked between them before the sound of nails on hardwood floor was heard as Vadim ran into the hanger. Thank god he still remembered his little bit of training that I drilled into him. The instant he stopped, he spotted Gertrude and went up to her causing her to let go of me, at that instant I started to take off until another yank of my collar pulled me back. Looking over my shoulder I spotted Gertrude giving me the death glare. "Out of your striker. Now." She ordered. I wisely chose to compile with her demand. "And don't use Vadim like that again." "Alright. I'll take him for a quick walk so we won't get caught in the rain." I answered while picking up Vadim's leash. Clipping it on I look over at the storm. "Something feels off about this storm." I mutter as I step out into the wind with Vadim.

I had made it back inside just as it started to hail on us. "That was a close one, eh, Vadim?" I asked my fox. I got a bark as a response. "I've been waiting." I heard Gertrude say as she tapped her foot. "Well I'm back and I didn't get caught out in the storm." I pointed out as I walked up to her. "But I'm all snowy because of the wind, wanna give your boyfriend a hug." I teased her while holding my arms out like I was expecting her to hug me. "Not with all the snow." She shot me down. "Also the storm seems to be messing with the radar somewhat so we have to rely on Sanya's antenna." "Well that's not good." I said. "I don't like being effectively blind." "No one does, Stefan." Gertrude shot back. "Yea, most people don't like being blinded." I agreed with her before taking out my pack of cigarettes. "Want one?" I offer to her. "No." She answers. "Suit yourself, I'm heading to the hanger to smoke." I said before leaving her.

I was leaning against my striker unit as I watched the storm get steadily closer. "Thought I'd find you here." Olivia said, breaking the silence. "Yea, usually I smoke when I need to relax or unwind after something stressful." I said. "You did meantion that you were a 'history buff' in our old world... universe... dimension." She said. "So I came to ask if it hailed on December 29, 1944?" "It didn't, And That's what's making me nervous." I explained. "I've meet many Neuroi that could control the weather around them to conceal their position from radar, both a night witches and radar installations." "That doesn't sound good." Olivia said. "Kinda why I wanted to patrol the storm. See if there is a Neuroi inside or not." I said. "Why didn't you?" Olivia asked me. "Well, it's a long story actually. Though I can simplify it to Gertrude didn't want me to go." I explained. "Your girlfriend holds that much power over you?" Olivia said before laughing. "Olivia, ever heard the saying 'happy wife, happy life, happy husband, there's no rhyme, because no one gives a damn.' It's very true in my life currently." I said. "Still, the great male witch still bows to the power of a single female witch." She laughed. "I really regret telling you." I said. "You should, you know how girls gossip." She said. "Heh." I laughed as I light another cigarette. "I do know very well how much girls gossip, especially those I end up hating." "Why would you hate girls who gossip?" Olivia asked. "I don't hate girls who gossip, just those with mean personalities." I answered.

We stood in silence for some time before we saw two shapes shambling towards us from inside the hail storm that had now engulfed the entire base. I reached for my rifle and Olivia got ready to draw her pistol. We watched as the shapes got closer and distinctly more human. As they entered the hanger we could tell that they were two guards coming in from a shift. "Anything to report?" I asked them, startling them somewhat as they didn't see us. "No, sir, everything's fine. The weather's shit, but aside from that, nothing." One answered. "Alright, dismissed." I said, dismissing them to allow them to warm up and get something warm to eat. Checking the time I spot that it's 12:17. "Well I think we should hit the sack, there is a possibility of something happening tomorrow." I said before heading towards the hall. "Yea it is kinda late." Olivia agreed.

I used my aura sense to see if either of the girls were awake, thankfully they weren't. Stepping in, I look over to the bed I share with my girlfriend and see her cuddling Vadim to her chest. "Lucky guy." I whisper under my breath before slowly closing the door and approaching the bed. I change as quickly and as silently as I could before slipping into bed. 'Sleep at last.' I thought. "Don't be so sure about that." Jarvis said breaking me away from sleep. 'What do you mean, Jarvis?' I ask him. "I'm picking up traces of Neuroi. Sanya should be able to handle it, but they might scramble someone." Jarvis explained. 'Then let me sleep. I will worry about it in the morning.' I said to him before drifting into sleep.

The next morning I was woken by Eila kicking in our door. "Sanya's missing!" She shouted at me as I picked myself off the floor. "Calm down, Eila. We'll find her." I said trying to calm Eila down. "I am calm!" She shouted back. "Then why are you shouting?" I asked. "I'm not shouting!" She growled at me. "Just agree with her Stefan, it's not worth the pain." Jarvis said. 'Yea I know.' I answered him. "Where did she go missing?" I asked Eila while quickly putting on a clean shirt. "And could you go inform Commander Minna, Major Hiedemarrie and Major Sakamoto." Eila then left the door way rather quickly allowing me to change rapidly. 'Jarvis, can you tell me where Sanya went missing?' I asked my Neuroi core. "No, she flew out of my radar range, so I don't know what happened." Jarvis explained. "Damn it." I said as I finished getting dressed and ran out the door, leaving behind a confused Gertrude and Erica. Passing Yoshika and Lynne I told them. "Follow me, we have a rescue mission." "For who?" Yoshika said, barely keeping up with me. "Sanya went missing last night and might have been shot down." I explained as I slid into the briefing room, spotting everyone but Gertrude and Erica there. "Good for you to finally arrive, Morrison." Major said. "I came as fast as I could. I'm not going to run around the base in my sleepwear." I said. "Anyway, do you know what happened?" Commander asked. "All I know is that Sanya never returned to base last night and we assume she has gone missing, most likely she's been shot down." I said. "You forgot to mention the Neuroi." Jarvis pipped up. 'I know, Jarvis. They would be suspicious if I knew about her chasing a Neuroi.' I answered. "We were hoping that you, Morrison, could lead a search and rescue mission." Commander said. "Along with, Heidemarie, Yoshika and Eila." "Yes ma'am!" They all answered. "Morrison, your group leaves in ten." Major said. "Everyone, dismissed!" And with that I left the room and headed back to grab my rifle and Webley before getting to the hanger.

We had gone over Sanya's route twice now and hadn't found any sign of her. 'Jarvis, I want you to lead me to her last position on radar.' I said. "Alright, take a left now." Jarvis answered. Following his directions we got to the border of the Neuroi forces and our own forces. "Split up and search, maintain radio contact and don't chase any Neuroi, we are only here to find Sanya." I ordered. The girls gave me a few strange looks before doing as they were told. I dived down to tree top level and started scanning the area for one of our resident night witches. 'Jarvis, any sign of her?' I asked. "Nothing, wait!" He said. "To our right there's her signal." Following his directions I fly right over a waiting Neuroified anti-aircraft gun which fires at me. "Woah, to close for comfort." I call out as it just barely misses me. Dodging the next shot I fire back and score another kill. "344, I believe." I say out loud only for a sudden shot to take out my right striker. "Shit!" I cried out as I lost control. "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday-" I manage to get out over the radio before another shot knocks the ear piece free from my ear.

My landing was terrible, I landed on my right side with a sickening crack. 'Status report.' I asked my Neuroi core. "Broke your right arm in two places plus dislocated your shoulder." Jarvis responded. "Best to ditch the Vickers and your striker." I slowly got to my feet after kicking off my damaged striker units and tossed away the one Vickers that had stayed in my hand after landing. 'Now to find Sanya, any idea?' I asked Jarvis. "Her signal is somewhere to our right." Jarvis answers. "Possibly in a shallow cave or a deep hole in the side of a snow bank." 'Then let's start walking.' I said before trudging through the snow with my trusted Webley ahead of me.

I came across the third place that Sanya could be hidden, approaching quietly I get near the enterance. Using my aura sense I scan the cave for her signature, she's near the back of the cave and is facing towards the front. "Sanya, it's me." I call quietly call into the cave. "Stefan?" She answers back. "Yea, I botched the rescue so far, but I can still walk you out." I said while stepping in and spotting her. "Did you sleep at all?" I asked seeing how she still held onto her Fliegerhammer. "Also ditch you Fliegerhammer for now. It'll only weigh you down and slow us on our escape." I then holstered my Webley and handed her my rifle. "I want this back after this is all over." "Stefan what happened to your arm?" She asked. "Broke it in two places and dislocated my shoulder, how was your landing?" I asked walking deeper in to stand beside her. "Just a few scrapes and bruises." She answered. "Alright, we'll move at night, so you should get some sleep while I get some firewood and maybe something for breakfast." I said before stepping back outside the cave.

Frewood was surprisingly easy to find, just hard to carry back to the cave with only one working arm. "Here." I said handing her our breakfast/lunch, which was just some rabbit meat with melted snow. "Eat up while you can, we leave once the sun goes down." I said. "Stefan? Can I ask you something?" Sanya asked. "Sure, shoot." I answered. "What's it like to feel love for someone else?" She asked. "That's... a really good question, that I don't know the answer to. But I can explain the theory behind it." I answered. "It usually starts with a warm fuzzy feeling in the pit of your gut before you start stuttering and fumbling your words around the person, the stuttering and fumbling don't always happen but are common enough to be considered signs, you'll also be around them more and more often, and evolves into worry for their well being, sometimes they will return the feelings, sometimes not. Does that answer your question?" "Not really." Sanya answers. "You better get some more sleep." I said. "We leave in about 6 hours and 45 minutes." She mummered something before using my left shoulder as a pillow.

The hoot of an owl was all that I could hear aside from the soft crunching of snow, I couldn't see more than 50 meters ahead of me because of the darkness mixed with the tightly packed trees. "Sanya, you still with me?" I whispered to her. "Yes." She answered just as quietly. "Just checking that I didn't lose you." I said before continuing on our way. The sudden screach of a Neuroi caused us to freeze in our tracks. 'Please don't let it spot us.' I repeated in my head. "It's heading away from here." Jarvis said. "It's not coming back, it must be a patrol." 'Thank god.' I said. "Stefan, who said that?" Sanya asked. "Said what?" I asked. "'It's heading away from here. It's not coming back, it must be a patrol.'" She perfectly quoted Jarvis. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit." Jarvis panicked. 'Calm down.' I said. "That would be my Neuroi core, Jarvis. He's a bit jumpy after the couple assassination attempts." I explained to Sanya as we continued ahead. "We should reach the frontlines by mid day tomorrow if we continue this pace." I said as we stopped for a breather. I noticed Sanya shivering in the cold, I was aswell because of the -40C we were walking in without shoes, socks, warm clothes and long pants for both of us. "We should keep going. Otherwise we could freeze." I said before we continued.

We could see a group of men milling about doing their duties for the afternoon. Stumbling up to the watchman I leaned up against the tree beside his foxhole. "Wing Commander Morrison and Flying Officer Litvyak, reporting in after being shot down." I said before Sanya fell against my right arm shivering, luckily the cold had dulled the pain to the point it wasn't noticeable. "Holy shit, how are you alive!? Medic! Get over here!" The man yelled as he made a beeline to a tent. I saw a man with a Red Cross walk out and spot us shivering in the cold. "I need two stretchers!" He hollered. "Make it one!" I hollered at him. "I'm fine walking. We are going to need a ride up to St. Trond base!" "You are not going anywhere until I give you the right!" He Hollered back.

I ended up in the back of the Jeep sitting with my broken arm in a sling. We had been on the road for about 5 hours now and had reached the enterance to the base. "Wing Commander Morrison and Flying Officer Litvyak reporting in." I said to the guard. "Sir!" He said as he raised the barrier. "What do you think they've done while we've been on our vacation?" I asked Sanya. "I don't know, and we were not on vacation." Sanya answered before sneezing. "Catching a cold?" I asked. "Yea, how are you not?" She answered. "I'm-" I cut myself off before saying Canadian as the driver had no clue about the whole from another world thing. "Farawaylander." I finished looking over the sunset.

The sun was about halfway down when we hopped out of the Jeep. "They're right over there." I said pointing over to the group as they all stood in a half circle around something. Walking up I tap Lynne on the shoulder and ask. "What's going on?" "It's Stefan's and Sanya's funeral." Lynne explained. "Never thought I would be around to see my own funeral. What about you Sanya?" I ask Sanya. Everyone turned around at that and saw us. "Sanya!" Eila cried before tackling her to the ground. "I was so worried." Eila trailed off into a multitude of questions. Gertrude nearly tackled me but I held up my hand to stop her. "I've already broken enough bones, don't want to add more to the list." I said. "Wait you broke bones!? As in multiple!?" Gertrude freaked out. "Yea. Broke my right arm in two places and dislocated my shoulder. They popped it back it the hospital after warming us up." I answered. "It's good to have you back." Gertrude said before hugging me gently. "It's good to be back." I answered returning the hug. "Though I would think I still have the next five days off to spend time in Paris." I said. "You do, I never got around to notifying the high command of your death. They would have known once the workload had gone down enough to allow me some time to breath." Commanded answered. "Good, I'm in no condition to forceibly kick down another door." I joke before looking over to Sanya and Eila who still hadn't gotten off the ground. "How long before they admit to their true feelings?" I asked Gertrude. "I'd say they will be dating by the time we are back." Gertrude answers. "Same." I say.