Chapter Forty-Three: Retribution

|...|...|...|

Tyler Island, Spring Sea.
September 21st, 2019.
1500hrs.

|...|...|...|

Rosa sat slumped in the open doorway of one of the army's trucks, feeling uneasy in spite of the lack of activity near them. In the distance, all through the day, there had been nothing but the distant sound of gunfire and explosions, though it seemed for now the fighting was not near this part of the island. The cliff they were on looked out over the nearby beach, but in the place of the soothing scent of saltwater and the sound of waves on the rocks there was nothing but the smell of smoke and the sounds of war. It made it very hard to relax and count her blessings.

Around her, the Erusean soldiers that took them in were pouring over maps, spreadsheets, and talking into their radios. The medics with them had done their best to treat everyone's wounds, leaving the three of them in better condition than when they started out. There wasn't much she knew about what was going on, and no one had bothered to explain to her the situation. All she knew from the behavior of these soldiers was that their forces had separated, mainly into factions loyal to either General Parrish and his drone project or to General Labarthe and those that opposed the drones. It seemed her country was now destroying itself from the inside out, saving Osea's military the trouble.

Though she hardly approved of General Parrish and his methods, she was not keen on the Eruseans slaughtering each other over some foolish man's thirst for power. But there wasn't much she could do at the moment, feeling powerless and left to recuperate while praying that they weren't found by anyone. Be it Osean forces or other Eruseans. Luckily for them, the area they were in was more isolated.

Tired of sitting still, and having no one for conversation at the moment, Rosa stood up and almost stumbled to her feet. She probably hadn't moved since earlier that morning, and it took a moment for her to get her balance. The fact she was tired did nothing to help this, but it was hard to get sleep out here. Moving closer to the front of the vehicle, where a handful of men were gathered around a map of the island, she hoped she'd be able to hear their conversation better and learn more about everything going on. Without an intimidating presence, at least in her current state, it was easy to go unnoticed. Or at least undisturbed.

"From what we can gather, the Radicals have set up main operations here, in the facility around the mass driver, and here–" one of the soldiers said, pointing at an area towards the south of the island, "– towards the air base the Oseans had reclaimed. Osean forces are scattered in between, but I think most of the Radicals and their drones are now concentrated in these areas."

"Right…and our own forces?" The commander of this group, the one that had ordered that Rosa and her mother as well as Henri were to be treated well and tended to immediately, had his back turned to where Rosa was listening from. She couldn't read his expression, but he sounded tired.

"We've lost contact with the forces on the eastern side of the island. It's not unreasonable to assume they were wiped out in the conflict," a different soldier replied. He pointed now to an almost central area on the island. "Our forces in the residential sectors reported that they've cleared out most of the neighborhoods."

Neighborhoods? The word caught Rosa off guard, but she didn't make a sound as the commander replied, "Good, good. At this rate, all who assisted the Radicals in their plans should be well out of the way. By now all that should be left are the researchers they left behind and a few of the soldiers we picked up, correct?"

"That's right, sir," the first soldier answered him. "I believe there were some stragglers that fled in the chaos as well, but they aren't going to get very far. It's almost a non-issue at this point."

The second soldier added, "Even if we don't pursue them, civilians in a warzone aren't going to last very long."

Rosa's blood ran cold, and in an instant her confusion was replaced by fear and anger. The latter was something she was certain she did not have the energy to have piled on top of everything, and at this point something she was used to keeping in check anyways. However, it spurred her on anyway even if it didn't boil over. It wasn't difficult to put two and two together and figure out what was going on, and it was enough to make her want to throw up.

As soon as she drew their attention to her presence, she could see the faces of the lower ranking soldiers pale as she spoke, almost demanding the attention of their superior. Her voice wavered, lacking the assertiveness from the likes of her father, but the cracks were unavoidable when she was trying to stay calm while shaking out of both terror and rage. "You're targeting civilians that remained on this island?"

"Your Highness…" the commander wasn't angry, his response nothing like what she was expecting. She gave him the opportunity to explain himself, hoping it was a misunderstanding, but things weren't that simple. "We're hardly targeting innocents here. Need I remind you of what General Parrish has done to this country?"

"What do they have to do with his actions?" It was all Rosa could do not to scoff.

"They backed his plan, is that not reason enough?" The commander didn't raise his voice, but he did allow his annoyance at her show through. He took a deep breath and tried to gain control over his emotions as he went on. "All who have remained to work and live on this island are of Belkan descent or have connections to those who are. Anyone that enabled Parrish's violence, aided in manipulating and undermining the King's rule, and all with connections to Gründer or Belka deserve a fate far worse than death for dividing our people and throwing us into this chaos. They're pests. Monsters, even."

Rosa could have sworn his response sounded rehearsed. Or parroted, perhaps from some higher ranking soldier than him. Certainly not from General Labarthe, not after his emphasis on humanity. "The only monster is the one who could look at children and bystanders and expect them to hold responsibility for the actions of others. They're Erusean citizens, their heritage doesn't change that. In what world is dragging frightened, vulnerable families out of their homes and executing them okay?"

"We are doing what we must for Erusea to survive. Destroying an infection," the commander said, squaring his shoulders. Rosa knew well enough she was escalating this situation, but she didn't care. "Killing them is a mercy. And trust me, if we didn't put a swift end to them everything would be far worse off. Belkans know nothing but hatred and violence, and so that is what we respond with. They are answering for their crimes, and while this is hardly something to celebrate it is something necessary for justice."

"You can't fix hatred and violence with more hatred and violence!" Rosa couldn't help but raise her voice. She wasn't sure if there was anyone left she was advocating for, but she was desperate to get someone to just listen and think. "If you slaughter these families, you're going to create a new need for justice. If you are constantly fighting and killing to get even, then the war is never going to end!"

"Your Highness, these are the orders I was given. It is not my position to question it, nor do I have any desire to. It's more than appropriate given the circumstances." His reply had less anger, though to Rosa it seemed obvious softening his tone was merely his attempt to get her to calm down and shut up. She knew the tactic well. "I assure you, once all of this is over, you will understand that they did not deserve to be treated like anything other than what they are: animals."

"My father may be dead, but I'm not and my authority is no less valid than his." Rosa was on the verge of seething, feeling her heart rate pick up and her fists clench. If not for the fact she was hardly a match for a man twice her size she would have happily knocked his teeth in, but as a lady and one who for once wanted to practice what she preached, she suppressed any urge for violence. "This is a war crime. When this moment is looked back on, the Erusean military will be the only ones condemned. Just as you dehumanize every Belkan for actions that aren't their own, your actions will reflect on Erusea as long as it still stands!"

There was a pause as the commander collected himself, avoiding her gaze before he finally spoke again. "With all do respect, Your Highness, you've been manipulated by them like a puppet the entirety of this war. We've weighed the costs here, we know what we're doing. We'll face our regrets and the consequences knowing we did what we had to for our people."

Before she could completely lose her temper, frustrated by how dismissive he was of her when she knew this was wrong, she noticed the commander's attention drawn to someone behind her. Vaguely aware of another person's presence, she turned to find Henri had approached, with Leo at his side, both picking up on the tension and the former already eyeing the soldier with suspicion. Rosa wasn't sure if she should feel grateful for his timing or even more upset.

Was she really so helpless that she couldn't make someone listen to her? That any time she raised her voice and tried to stray from a script it was met with resistance and someone always having to come to her aid? She was certain from her reflection in the humvee's windows that if looks could kill hers would be deadly. As she stifled her emotions, she instinctively put on a poker face. There clearly wasn't anything else that could be done for now.

Henri's voice broke the silence as he took up a position slightly in front of Rosa. A position where he could easily shield her if necessary. Although he was tired, and clearly still in pain, he tried to de-escalate the situation regardless. "Is there something wrong?"

Rosa didn't reply, tired of lying and not about to say she wasn't justified. The commander looked to her as if hoping she'd ask Henri to stand down, but she just stared him down with a blank expression. He seemed uncomfortable by them both staring at him, and his men were watching them all now. At last he cleared his throat and lowered his voice. "Not at all. We're going over our latest reports from our men and there was a difference of opinion about our current operation, that's all."

Although she could feel the familiar stinging of tears welling up in her eyes, unsure which of the current predicaments was the cause, she didn't back down. She bit her tongue to keep the tears at bay, but then she gave a simple order. This time she found it within her to be as forceful as she could. "Go on. Tell him what you told me about your operation, so he knows the reason for our 'difference in opinion'."

Henri looked between the two of them, and while Rosa could be certain he was already going to side with her she wanted to hear this man before her admit it. Admit that he and those above him were overseeing the murder of innocents with nothing to do with this war, admit that this was an unjust act, admit that this was violent and unnecessary. If she couldn't save these people, she could at least make sure their deaths were not unpunished. Assuming this war ever ended, but with people like this running things that didn't seem likely. They wanted peace so badly, and yet they would commit a crime like this.

The commander swallowed, obviously uncomfortable in this situation, and reluctantly he did as she said. "Our change in orders was abrupt, but with no way off this island yet…we were ordered to dispose of those with connections to Belka."

Rosa looked to Henri for his reaction. As soon as it all clicked in his head, the look on his face showed the same reaction that Rosa had. Although without all of the context, it could be seen as jumping to conclusions, it didn't seem hard for him to get the general idea. "You were ordered to do what?"

"That's right. Do I have to spell it out for you?" He took on a defensive tone, almost shouting. But looking at his face, he seemed more scared than anything else, not that that excused his actions. "All they know is how to breed chaos and hatred! At least if we die on this goddamned island we'll be taking them with us! They chose to back the Radicals, they chose to offer the technology used, and they chose to remain here while we slaughter each other around them. It's their own damn fault!"

At this, the commander took a step towards them and Henri motioned for Rosa to move away. She did this, nearly stumbling as the back of her leg bumped Leo and she realized she'd almost forgotten about him in the middle of this argument. That was when she noticed something off. The dog that usually protected her and gave everyone that threatened her warning was now cowering, with his ears flicked back at an odd angle as if he was listening for something.

As the commander attempted to justify his actions, shouting now and on the verge of tears, the two soldiers and Henri watching his breakdown in shock with the latter trying a futile attempt to make him see reason, Rosa became aware of a new sound. It was sharp, sudden, and familiar, loud enough that she could feel it in her chest. Almost as soon as she heard it, the radio atop the hood of the truck erupted into frantic cries that the Radicals were on the move. The transmission was cut off as an explosion went off, much closer to them than the ones they'd heard throughout the day.

Before anyone could react to what was going on, it seemed their spot on the cliff had been discovered and the sound she'd heard before grew to an almost deafening volume as a group of drone fighters shot by overhead, in a low enough pass that Rosa could clearly identify them from the thin, glowing line along the cockpit. As soon as it came into view, a line of smoke trailed from under its wing and one of the trucks nearby was blown straight into the air. The abrupt explosion, the heat and sound and shockwave, all caught everyone off guard. All Rosa could recall was the burst of flame, then suddenly she was on the ground with a throbbing pain in her head and overwhelming ringing in her ears.

Faintly, she was aware of only a few things. One, she must have at some point grabbed Leo, as he laid beside her, tucked under her arm. The rapid rising and falling of his chest told her he was still alive. The next was that she was shielded, for the most part, by Henri. They fell well away from the truck they'd been standing beside, likely the next target now, but without anywhere else to duck for cover Henri had simply gotten as low as he could and covered the upper part of her body with his. If any debris flew at them, Henri would be the one to take the bullet so to speak. The only other thing was the faintest rattling of gunfire and shouting of frantic orders before it all ceased.

As the shock began to dissipate, Rosa was aware of two more explosions, only because they made her instinctively shove her head to the ground and pull Leo closer to her. The gunfire was gone, the shouting had stopped, and all that remained was the smell of smoke and fuel. Once Henri had looked around, Rosa finally lifted her head, met by the sight of only a few bodies. The soldiers she'd picked a fight with. All other human life seemed gone, and the scene around her made her feel sick to her stomach.

But then one thing kicked her out of it, her nausea dissipating as complete grief and fear took its place. Before Henri could stop her, and even knowing those drones were still flying about, she sprang to her feet and took off through the mangled vehicles and scattered weapons with a single, desperate cry from her throat. "MOM!"

In the situation, in the heat of her argument and the sudden attack, she had completely lost track of her mother's whereabouts. She had been resting around the temporary camp, not that it was something you could really consider a camp, but regardless Rosa had not known exactly where she was. All she knew was that she and Henri had been together, but if Henri was with Rosa and her mother was not then she had no idea where she could be. Leo stumbled after Rosa while Henri also began a search, but after darting about the wreckage of the trucks, and running several feet to the wreckage of their plane there was a sinking realization. Aside from the few that had been shot and not been killed in the explosions caused by the drones, there were others that were not accounted for at all. No bodies. Nothing recognizable among the debris.

Not willing to accept this, she continued to scream even if it was in vain, like a child waking from a nightmare and crying out over and over, just wanting someone to come and soothe them. Over and over again, she called out for her mother, and when no answer came she fell to her knees in tears, still repeating it through her sobs. Henri didn't give up as quickly as she did, but eventually she went completely silent and he quit to return to her side. Rosa didn't move, and although she'd been crying to the point she could barely breathe she remained unmoving and without a single sound.

Henri spoke to her, trying to urge her to her feet, but she didn't even feel like she was there. It was like everything got shut out. All she could make out was an apology from him, that brought her out of her trance for a moment. "I'm…sorry, Your Highness. If I'd asked her to walk with me, to go to you…I thought for a moment we were safe, the fighting was supposed to be miles away."

Rosa couldn't answer. She wanted to, she lifted her head but she couldn't even look at him. She tried to speak, but nothing came out. And before she had the chance, it was too late.

There were no further attacks from the drone fighters, though she could still hear them, circling about like vultures. But the sound of a vehicle on the roads was approaching their position, and if they were the ones responsible for ordering the attack then Rosa and Henri would not be treated with any hospitality. It was pointless to hide but foolish to remain where they were. They would be dead before long, anyways, and at this rate she wasn't sure if she cared. Everything was so messed up, did it even matter?

Numb to Henri's attempts to urge her to seek cover, no doubt certain it was the Radicals, Rosa was only roused when he finally grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet. He looked around for any kind of shelter, but he must have realized that there wasn't anywhere to go because they only made it a few steps, holding Rosa by her arm and Leo by his collar, before they were spotted. A gunshot rang out, and for a moment Rosa expected one of them to drop dead to the ground, but instead they ducked away as the bullet hit a nearby piece of metal. A warning shot for them not to move. If they tried to run now, they'd be dead in a heartbeat.

Although he was still weak, Henri continued his duty, keeping Rosa behind him and not making her an easy target as the trucks came to a halt and a group of soldiers came towards them. This time they were Eruseans, but not the ones Rosa wanted to see. They marched towards them with rifles, all surrounding one man armed with a rifle and wearing a rather pristine uniform given the conditions. The painfully familiar voice of General Parrish had a sobering effect, and she straightened up and tensed as he called out, "Long time no see, Your Highness."

Rosa's anger from before returned, knowing that not only were his drones responsible for the attack but that he himself had directly ordered it. He was forcing her people to shoot each other, bringing about all of this chaos in the first place. It all led back to him and every other politician and general seeking to keep the war going. She could barely muster the strength to say anything. "You."

"Here I was thinking once I'd gotten your father out of the way and escaped the capital I would have it made in the shade. The pilot of your transport promised me you were as good as dead, too, but I see that was a lie," Parrish said, eyes narrowed on her as he approached. He glanced down at Leo, still held onto tightly at the collar by Henri, and chose to stop where he was. A weakened dog was not much of a threat, but it was no secret the two despised each other. He looked back at Rosa. "Cockroaches really are hard to kill, aren't they? Though, unless my eyes deceive me, it looks as though at least your mother wasn't quite as fortunate as you."

"Bastard," Henri said, almost snarling the word out. She'd never seen him angry like this, never once. "You must be confident, to make yourself such an easy target in a place like this."

"Look around. Practically all of this was orchestrated by yours truly. I'm the maestro and this is our grand performance. No one so much as blinks if I don't want them to," Parrish said, holding his arms out for emphasis. It was true, he had soldiers all around him with guns pointed at every direction, even the sky and at Henri and Rosa. And in the air, he had his drones. As much as Rosa wished it wasn't true, he'd almost won. "The drones are paving the way, leading Erusea to the future. Just as I said they would. And unfortunately, Princess, you won't be around to see it."

Rosa was almost resigned to her fate at this point. Although Henri tried to keep her back, she stepped forward, the guns all pointed at her as she took a few steps towards Parrish. "After a glimpse of the world you want to make, killing me would be a mercy."

Parrish scowled at this, but Rosa simply stood before him, not giving him the satisfaction of fear no matter how scared she was. He spun and marched back to the truck, snapping to the soldiers as he went, "Kill them. Show the Princess what mercy she deserves."

Two soldiers readied themselves, preparing to fire. Rosa remained where she was, merely a few feet from them, wanting to look them in the eyes if they were going to kill her. They seemed conflicted, but she knew they wouldn't disobey. She closed her eyes, in her head repeating the lyrics to the song she loved so much, humming the tune aloud to herself without meaning to. She waited, and waited, and as she reached the end the sound of gunfire finally rang out with a sharp, echoing snarl.

Her eyes shot open as Henri grabbed her arm and yanked her to the ground, behind the still burning wreckage of the cars and put himself in front of her once again. It was then that she noticed the handgun he held, though where he'd gotten it from she had no idea. Two of the soldiers were lying on the ground, bleeding out, while those that remained took aim. Leo, she realized, had charged off towards them. She called out to him, fearing for his safety, while Henri took advantage of the distraction he provided and went for a clear shot. Even with the limited ammunition he had, he didn't miss a single shot.

By the time it was all over, Rosa was still processing what had just happened. And then Henri grabbed his side and collapsed to the ground. Leo raced to his side, seemingly unharmed, and Rosa stumbled her way over to Henri to place her hands on the wound. The red stain from his previous injury was now dark and wet again, and she wasn't sure if he had been shot in the middle of all of that or if his first wound had simply reopened. Either way, he was bleeding out and she couldn't do much to stop it.

Leo suddenly snapped his head towards Parrish's direction, the general having cowered while his men were taken out in the blink of an eye. Even with rifles on their side they'd done nothing, and the grief she felt at her countrymen dying was conflicting with her grief for her parents. Parrish showed nothing in regards to their deaths, pulling out his own sidearm and taking aim. "I'll finish you off myself, then, you worthless b–"

He was cut off as Leo charged him and lunged for his arm, throwing him off balance and prompting him to drop the gun as he tried to get the dog off of him. He stumbled back, kicking and yelling, desperate to get away as Leo became almost frighteningly relentless in his attempt to protect Rosa. She took a risk and released the pressure on Henri's wound to reach for the gun Parrish dropped, figuring the one Henri used was likely empty. As Parrish finally shoved Leo off of him, kicking him as hard as he could once he was free and sending him cowering in pain, Rosa took aim with the gun.

Terrified, she was certain her hands were shaking as she made eye contact with him. She hesitated, realizing she couldn't bring herself to shoot him. No matter what he had done, she couldn't do anything but tremble as she stared at him. Then he went for one of his fallen men's rifles.

Rosa lined up the shot and pulled the trigger.

Tyler Island, Spring Sea.
September 24th, 2019.
1400hrs.

The only thing Kathryn knew for certain was that she'd been on her feet for days now. After bailing out over the ocean, she had a pretty good feeling that Osea wouldn't be the ones to find her first. She'd been hauled out of the ocean and promptly shoved away somewhere on an Erusean ship with her wrists zip tied together. After a while they ended up on an island, where the support facility for the space elevator was, and that was when things really started to go downhill.

For a while it seemed they were going to find somewhere permanent in the area to lock her up, along with a few other Osean soldiers that had been taken prisoner during the fighting. A few days went by and in the blink of an eye the situation went from bad to worse, and the only thing she could gather for certain was that nobody knew who was on whose side anymore. Oceans and Eruseans were firing on their own people. In the confusion the Osean POWs tried to escape, but without any way to contact their allies and with the current state of things none of them made it very far.

Wandering for days, without anything but a handgun she'd grabbed off a dead Erusean soldier to defend herself, she'd finally been captured again. With at least a dozen guns pointed at her, she'd had no choice but to toss her weapon aside. So there she sat, down on her knees with her hands behind her head, holding her breath as she waited for the Eruseans to decide her fate. There wasn't anywhere for her to run, and she was out of ideas.

Kathryn cursed herself for neglecting her religion so long, now that she sat there wondering if she was finally going to die. As it stood, there wasn't any way she could fight her way out of this one. She was fatigued, starving, dehydrated, as well as outgunned. Had she not jumped at the chance to fly again, without anyone knowing who she was except the few around her, then she could be at home in Osea right now. Anonymous, dead to the world but safe and sound otherwise. Instead she was half-dead in the middle of nowhere with no one on her side, counting up her sins and her regrets. To think she and Hans had been talking about starting a family before all of this. So much for that life.

"Alright, get on your feet. Now." One of the soldiers approached her, keeping his rifle trained on her head. Kathryn obeyed the order, the act of using just her legs to stand herself up more taxing than she expected. To her surprise, they didn't tie her wrists again, instead the man barking orders at her just shoved her towards the other prisoners they were dragging through this living hell. "Get over there. Try anything and you're dead."

Pretty sure I'm dead regardless. The urge to make any smart remarks was suppressed with little difficulty. Old habits may die hard, but if there was one thing she didn't need to learn the hard way it was that giving lip to someone with a gun pointed at you was a monumentally stupid idea. Instead, she just staggered along as she was ordered, muttering under her breath, "Right…"

Now, she finally got a good look at her company. And as soon as she did, she felt her stomach drop. The only thing she'd been focused on when she was on the ground was the soldiers crowding her, being only vaguely aware that there were others being held prisoner. She had expected soldiers, instead she was greeted by the scared and weary faces of civilians. There were men and women, very few of them dressed in any sort of uniform, and shielded from the guns by their parents were children. They varied in age, but it looked as though none of them were older than ten at the most. Whatever was going on here, it couldn't be good.

Hesitantly, she stepped closer to the crowd, not looking to give her captors any reason to take their anger out on her. The handful of families were keeping close together, one in particular catching her attention. One of the few men wearing any sort of uniform, an Erusean soldier from the looks of things, carrying a child that was barely a toddler from the looks of things. In her hands she was tightly holding a stuffed bear, looking exhausted but too scared to sleep. Beside the man was a woman and another girl, perhaps seven at the most. Both of them looked just as tired. Truth be told, there wasn't a single person here that didn't look on the verge of passing out. Especially the children. Who knows how long they'd been forced through a warzone like this.

There were hushed conversations that started up, all of them speaking either a dialect of Belkan or speaking with faint accents. As soon as Kathryn heard it, she'd almost jumped out of her skin. Though the children spoke a broken form of the language, they were listening to their parents and responding to every single word. Was everyone here immigrants to the Usean continent or at the very least of Belkan heritage?

"Hey, all of you, knock it off!" one of the Erusean soldiers snapped, his patience with them clearly either wearing thin or nonexistent. "Speak a language we can all understand or shut the hell up!"

The group fell silent, the adults hastily silencing their kids, and Kathryn swallowed a knot in her throat along with her steadily building anger. As soon as they were satisfied with the response, the soldiers went about conversing with one another as though nothing had happened. As if their prisoners weren't even there. Kathryn, suspicious by their reaction, kept quiet and listened.

"Between their chattiness and the kids slowing us down we're not making good time," a different soldier said, a woman this time, her tone one of genuine fear and frustration. "We have our orders, there's nothing in there that says we have to keep dragging them with us like this."

"She's right. We were told to round them up and get rid of them," a third soldier said, lowering his voice slightly so it was harder to hear. With the distant sounds of an ongoing battle, along with the persistent ringing in Kathryn's ears, she struggled to hear perfectly but given what had previously been said she didn't doubt what she heard next. "Look, why don't we just find a nice spot, take care of them, and leave the bodies? They're practically dead weight at this point."

The first was quiet for a bit, and out of the corner of her eye Kathryn saw them glance towards her and the others. It didn't take him long to come to a decision. "Alright. You all have two minutes to get your asses in gear, then we're moving out. If we're doing this today, I want it over and done with ASAP."

If any of the civilians heard them, they kept their expressions blank. What had these people done to warrant an execution? She couldn't help but wonder, though if the soldiers' reactions to them just speaking a different language was any indication then she had a pretty good idea. But why was a complete mystery. She had a history connected to Belka, both the good and the bad and in more ways than one, but she never for a second would consider doing such a thing. While she knew that most wars in recent history had more to them than met the eye, from subtle support to outright terrorism, taking things out on innocents never solved anything.

Kathryn began a mental headcount. There weren't many civilians, just a few small families, and maybe two of them appeared to actually be military. The Erusean soldiers weren't many either, but they were still armed and in far better condition. Any attempts to escape would essentially be suicide, and with so many children…there had to be something she could do, but it seemed either way they were doomed. Had she found out her fellow captees were Osean soldiers, she would have felt better taking the chance. But on her own or with civilians the odds weren't in their favor.

The two minutes came and went in the blink of an eye, and before she knew it the Erusean soldiers were barking orders at them and telling them to move, herding them away as if they were animals. Kathryn was certain these people were as exhausted as she was, spending the last few days narrowly avoiding death just to be found and promptly executed. Although they'd have no idea about her own heritage, she couldn't imagine they would let her live. Belkan heritage or not, she was an enemy pilot.

They were walking along for a good while, trying to keep a low profile. Mostly they avoided the main roads that ran through the island, or as far as she could tell that's what they were doing. For a while, it was hard to tell which direction they were headed in. For one, it had been raining on and off, so there wasn't any sun to be seen. But even though the smell of smoke was thick all throughout the island, the farther they walked the fresher the air became. Only by a little, but the scent of the ocean was still strong enough to pick out.

It seemed they were getting closer to their destination, as the soldiers seemed in an awful hurry to get there. Along the way, Kathryn hadn't found a solution to the problem. On the off chance they got away, then what? This place had become hell on earth overnight. They wouldn't have the luxury of taking things one step at a time. Looking at everyone and the situation around them, they would be dead either way.

The girl that had been holding the stuffed bear suddenly dropped it as the man from before, the one that looked military, was shoved forward by one of the Eruseans. He quickly regained his balance, keeping a protective hold on his daughter, but she stirred when she lost her grip on her bear. Her father hesitated as she began to cry out for it, holding up the group as everyone's nerves got the better of them. It wasn't hard to see that the Eruseans were quickly losing patience.

"Shut your damn child up and keep moving!" the female soldier hissed, and a quick jerking motion of her weapon was enough to get him to cave.

"Fiona, please…" The attempt to soothe the girl and keep walking barely worked. He slowly began to move forward, his wife trying as well to get her to stop crying. Unfortunately, she had little control over it, and the fear made the tears worse.

Kathryn kept a slower pace as they began to move forward, quickly reaching down to grab the stuffed animal. She couldn't leave it, and the Eruseans weren't going to let the man take five seconds to grab the damn thing. It was a stuffed animal, and they wouldn't let him reach down to pick it up. With just a few quick strides she was back in pace with the group, tapping the man on the shoulder. He paused, turning around with his daughter still crying, and Kathryn handed him the bear. "Hurry. Take it, before they get impatient."

He couldn't manage a smile, but his gratitude showed in his eyes as he returned the toy to his daughter. She sniffled, her breathing still sharp from her uncontrollable sobbing fit, but she immediately took it back and squeezed it as tightly as she could. The man gave a relieved sigh, and quietly told Kathryn, "Thank you…"

Unfortunately, the situation wasn't left at that. The exchange meant they'd stopped walking, and two of the soldiers closed in on them. One of the male soldiers this time, the one she guessed was in charge, was practically shouting in their faces. "The hell do you morons think you're doing?! You were told to shut up and keep moving!"

"We should have just offed them in the woods!" the other snapped, sending a glare this way. "We're not safe out in the open like this, and I'm not dying side-by-side with Belkan dogs! First the crying, then you go back for a damned stuffed animal? God, it's like you want to die!"

"Look, we're dead either way, it isn't like we have anything to lose," the father retorted, though he kept his voice low and covered his daughter's ears with his hand as she buried her head in his shoulder with a death grip on the bear. She did that the moment the soldiers approached.

Kathryn stepped between them, not about to let her actions be taken out on them. "Would you guys take it easy? She's just a kid. Can't you see that she's terrified? Don't you have even a shred of humanity towards them?"

"You don't seem to understand what's going on here, Osean," the first man – a sergeant from the rank on his shoulder – said. "So allow me to get you up to speed. Belkans have done nothing but destroy everything they touch, including their own goddamned country. They deserve nothing from us, let alone any humanity. Children or not."

"They have nothing to do with this war." Kathryn could feel her throat tighten, and she wanted nothing more than to deck the man in front of her but she'd be dead before her fist even made contact. "Executing families and children won't solve anything. You bastards are just bloodthirsty cowards that can't accept you allowed this war to happen."

Almost as soon as the words were out of her mouth, Kathryn felt herself knocked off balance. The Erusean soldier had slammed his fist against the side of her mouth, causing her to stumble backwards. All things considered, especially given the man was at least twice her size, she took the cheap shot rather well. Or at least she thought she did, up until the shock wore off and the throbbing pain hit her. The taste of blood soon followed, the metallic taste making her almost feel sick. She spat it out, not that it did much to help.

To her surprise he didn't try to hit her again, allowing her to straighten up and glare at him. The look in his eyes was more fear than rage, but that wasn't to say he wasn't pissed at her. So much for not getting smart. "Let me remind you of the position you're in. I'm not your friend, no matter my views on this war, and you're going to die just like your Belkan buddies here. You would be wise not to take a stand for them after all they've done."

Kathryn said nothing in response, seeing as how she'd already gone too far. It wasn't intentional, though looking back she could have controlled herself more. Not that this situation deserved a calm reaction of any kind. She maintained eye contact with the soldier, though, trying her best not to be intimidated by him. She wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of that.

After a few seconds of a staredown, he took a breath and backed away from her, calling out as he did, "Get moving, all of you. Now!"

As they continued their march towards an inevitable end, the family she'd put herself in front of kept looking back at her, until eventually the man gestured for her to keep pace with them. Both he and his wife were looking over their shoulders at her expectantly, so she picked up her pace slightly. A few short strides brought her towards them, and as soon as she was in earshot the wife was almost in tears as she quietly said, "Thank you, so much…really."

Kathryn was caught off guard by that. It wasn't as if she'd helped them much, she just returned the bear to their daughter. But it would be incredibly rude to refuse their gratitude, not when they were this sincere. For a second she couldn't answer, then finally she found the words. "I'm sorry I can't do more. This whole situation seems…really messed up…"

There was a different word she would have liked to use, but she glanced at their older daughter who was curiously watching her and she reminded herself to watch what she said. Kids would pick up anything, something she learned quickly when Chopper and Samantha's daughter had started talking. Not that it really made much of a difference here, but she wasn't ready to give up on them that fast.

"That punch should have been for me," the man said, and he sounded genuine. Before Kathryn could have reassured him that it was her fault and only hers, he went on. "It looks like you're bleeding. Are you hurt badly?"

"Oh. It's nothing. I've had worse injuries," Kathryn said, lifting her fingers to her mouth to check on the swelling. It still hurt and it was still bleeding, but it wasn't serious. He probably could have knocked her teeth out if he had really wanted, given the size and strength difference it wouldn't have been difficult. "Are any of y'all injured at all?"

"Barely. All things considered, it's a miracle we've made it this far without them going ahead and finishing us off," the man answered, keeping his voice low. He glanced over at the Eruseans before he continued. "But…anyways, we do owe you thanks for stepping in like that. My name is Georg Fitzgerald. This is my wife, Adelaide, and our daughters, Cynthia and Fiona."

"Georg. Right, thank you. I'm Kathryn. Kathryn Hamilton," she introduced herself, going over their names in her head. Georg was a Belkan name, but his surname wasn't. She guessed they either picked a name that sounded Usean to fit in or one of them wasn't a full-blooded Belkan. Either way, Kathryn didn't think it was appropriate to pry into that, not when she had plenty of other questions to ask. "Would you mind telling me what's going on here? What happened to push them to execute civilians?"

Georg and Adelaide exchanged a look, and for a moment Kathryn thought he wasn't going to answer. Until quietly, barely loud enough for her to hear, he answered. "The truth is, much of this is my fault. Had I not been foolish enough to take up the position offered to me, then perhaps things never would have come to this."

"Georg…" Adelaide reached out to touch his shoulder.

"How could any of this be your fault?" Kathryn asked him. She found it hard to believe one person could do all of this.

"Well, you're no doubt aware of Erusea implementing the use of drones, correct?" Georg asked, and Kathryn nodded. He didn't seem completely willing to go on, but judging from the guilt in his eyes he wouldn't let himself keep it bottled up either. "It was technology that I helped create, alongside a team sent to the EASA to research and refine it. With my technology, the drones performed better than they expected, up to and including the ability to adapt and fake a friendly IFF signal. By the time I realized the program was leading us down a dark path, it was all too late. Our forces split, those in favor of the drones sent me and my family to die and those against it are seeing to it that everyone of Belkan descent pays for my crimes…the other researchers and their families that remained on the island…my family…no one has been spared."

Kathryn was quiet for a long time, processing the information. Those within the Erusean military that opposed the drones, instead of taking it out on the soldiers and politicians that headed the project, were taking their hatred out on those that didn't deserve it. All because a handful of technologies happened to be brought in by Belkans. Meanwhile, those in support of the drones turned their backs on them the moment they stepped out of line? Whatever was going on right now within Erusea's military was enough to make someone sick. These people were screwed by both sides, and yet they were the ones that had to pay the price.

"You seemed very willing to tell me all of that," she said after a few seconds, not having expected that kind of info to be dumped on her. She was grateful for it, even if it just added to the stress and anger. "Do you also know why the Eruseans have turned on each other? Why is everything so chaotic here?"

"You didn't know about the satellites?" Georg asked her.

"I was taken prisoner maybe a week or so ago, so…there's very little going on that I know," Kathryn explained, figuring she could spare the details. She knew of an operation Osea had planned involving their destruction, but beyond that it was a mystery. "If it's something to do with that, then am I to assume Erusea's satellites were taken out, correct?"

"Not just theirs. Erusea had launched a similar operation, simultaneously," Georg explained, though she didn't expect him to have all of the details. "And from my understanding, the debris from military satellites has taken out countless others. That's all I could gather before they threw me and my family out here to die."

"I see." Kathryn wasn't sure what to think. She didn't know if death was the worst fate out here, given that information. They were stranded, and in this mess it was likely her own allies would shoot her or anyone else first and ask questions later. But, knowing what was happening, she had to try to get them out of this mess. If she had the opportunity, she needed to take it, not only for their sakes but for any other civilians still being rounded up out there. "Georg, I know you and your family have no reason to trust me, but I need to ask something of you."

She knew it was abrupt, but given that the Erusean soldiers were once again demanding everyone pick up the pace she guessed they didn't have much time left. By now, the scent of the ocean was stronger than that of the smoke, and the sound of waves was growing louder and louder. Georg was hesitant at first, he and Adelaide exchanging concerned looks, but he must have realized the same thing Kathryn had.

Still, she needed him on her side if the time came. In hopes of setting aside any lingering concerns or doubts, she fell back on the only thing she could think of. Using her admittedly limited Belkan vocabulary, courtesy of a very unusual childhood, she tried to set their minds at ease. "I am not your enemy."

For a moment it startled him, and she'd made sure it was only loud enough for them to hear. It looked as though a million thoughts were running through his head, but at last he gave a slow nod as concern and curiosity got the better of him. "Go on. Please."

"If there's an opportunity to free ourselves, I'm going to take it," Kathryn told him, trying to keep it brief. "I won't ask you to help me, but if I'm able to and you're still standing…protect your family and the others. It won't end here."

There was no reply from him, simply another nod. That was fine, she understood it was sudden and a lot to ask, but their time was running out. She could feel her heartbeat quicken as she tried to rack her brain for any possible solution. Her chances were few and the window to seize them would be closing quickly as they arrived at their destination.

The ground beneath them was now sandy and flat, a small beach on the island soaked from the rainstorms. They were not completely out in the open, the area being surrounded by cliffs on most sides. As soon as Kathryn and Georg had finished their conversation, they arrived at a slope down to the water that the Eruseans ordered them to march down, and once they leveled out they were all lined up. After that, everyone was forced down to their knees to await their execution.

"First two to go are the defectors. Let's show them what their lack of loyalty gets them," barked their sergeant, motioning for the other man and the female soldier to pull them aside first. Without any questions they followed through, all while he stayed back to guard the civilians.

As Georg and the other 'defector' were pulled away from their families and lined up at the corner of the beach, everyone else too scared to move or cry out, Kathryn was working to calm her nerves. The sergeant was directly behind her, and while his rifle was at the ready his attention was on his subordinates and their first two victims. She glanced over towards where they had forced Georg's youngest daughter to remain, having practically pried her out of her father's arms. Her gaze remained fixed on the stuffed bear in her lap, scared even if she didn't fully understand what was going on.

Any doubts or fear in Kathryn's mind disappeared and she steeled herself for what had to be done. Certain she only had a few seconds and well aware she was not in a very good position to do this, she took the chance as soon as the sergeant was distracted with giving them the order to fire. Quickly maneuvering her body and legs, with every ounce of strength she had she made an attempt to sweep his legs out from under him.

It caused him to stumble, not completely fall, but it gave her the chance she needed to spring to her feet. Although hand-to-hand combat was never her forte she didn't have much of a choice, and with him taken by surprise and clumsily lifting his rifle to shoot her it gave her an opportunity. First grabbing ahold of his wrist and slamming the rifle back against his face, turning the barrel away from her and easily yanking it out of his hands as he stumbled back from the impact, cursing as he did. She didn't give him the chance to think or shout before she slammed the gun against his head to knock him to the ground.

All of it happened in the blink of an eye, the gun already in Kathryn's hands before the other two Eruseans even realized what was happening. As they began to turn around and fire on her, she had already taken aim. In all of her career, she had almost never had a face to put to her enemy, and that was the only thing that kept her sane and comfortable in her career. But now there was a man and woman in front of her, and it was either them or innocent people. There wasn't any mercy she could show, no negotiation to be done.

The thought of her own family in this position and what she would do to protect them kept her from losing her cool. Calming her nerves and swallowing the already building grip, she lined up the shot and fired. The soldiers fell to the ground, likely dead before they even hit the sand, and all she could hope was that it was fast. To be willing to do something like this, you had to be in a very bad place. As for their sergeant, she wondered if it was worth the extra weight just to have him face a more merciful judgment.

Lowering the weapon, she was met by Georg and the other defector, staring at her in shock and awe. The look quickly turned to relief, and they instantly ran for their families once they were certain their captors were no more, their children and wives crying through tears of joy that the other civilians all joined in on.

Kathryn allowed herself to feel a moment of that same relief, but this would be a short-lived celebration. They were still a long way from safety. Getting free was only half the battle, and she wasn't looking forward to facing whoever was waiting for them.

1700hrs.

"Gunfire. Again." Bandog's announcement was almost instant as the sound of rapid gunfire broke the silence of the recent lull in combat, then quickly ceased.

While normally Avril didn't appreciate people pointing out the obvious, being aware of everything going on around them was the only way she and Bandog had even made it this far. Any signs of aircraft and they kept themselves out of sight, any other vehicle and gunshots near them would send them in a different direction, and any time Sarge picked up a scent or signaled something to Bandog in any way they would adjust their course. Nowhere was safe, and they needed to have their guard up at all times.

"I heard 'em, too. Do they sound close?" Avril slowed her pace, not that her leg allowed for much speed and mobility. With the last few months preventing her leg from healing properly combined with everything that had happened over the past few days, along with the cold rain and afternoon heat and humidity, it was a miracle she could walk at all.

"Close than the ones we've been hearing, but it's hard to say," Bandog replied with a sigh, adjusting his hold on his weapon. He kept an eye on Sarge, who was more focused than Avril had ever seen her once she was put to work. She'd reacted to the sound, but barely hesitated. "With the wind and the rain, it could be coming from anywhere."

Avril had a feeling there was no point in asking. Too many things to consider for any certainty. "Guess we'll just have to keep going and hope for the best, then."

Bandog didn't answer, but she was aware of him watching as she attempted to pick up her previous pace with a painful amount of effort. Practically hauling her leg along, she almost stumbled off balance and barely stopped herself from falling to the ground. She heard Bandog jump to her side just in case, then almost exasperated he asked, "Are you sure you don't need another break?"

Although she didn't want to admit it, that probably would have been for the best. Not that the two of them liked having to rely on the other, but Avril had needed Bandog's aid to keep walking just like he needed her to be able to watch his back. Whenever she stumbled and had been too stubborn to rest, Bandog agreed to offer the support she needed to keep moving. As fatigued as she was, she felt like a burden on Bandog and was certain he was feeling the effects of aimless wandering and sleeping at most maybe 30 minutes to an hour each night. They may both be in the same boat, but Avril was certain she'd be indebted to him for the rest of her life at this rate.

"We need to keep moving, right?" Avril's question was rhetorical, so she didn't mind him not answering as she straightened herself up and repositioned her weapon in her arms. "I'll be fine, just relax already."

"You know, if you need me to help you again you could just ask," Bandog said as the two of them slowly began moving again, Avril doing her best to collect herself. "Pushing yourself until you fall over isn't going to do either of us any good."

"Enough with the lecture, do you think I don't know that?" Avril said, almost snapping but she had been better about keeping her temper in check. It wasn't Bandog's fault they were out here, and her hurt pride wasn't an excuse to lash out. Still, she was just tired of it all. Her pain, being separated from the ones she cared about and unable to go home. "I didn't ask for any of this, y'know."

Bandog hesitated, and for a moment she was almost worried she'd been too harsh, but eventually she felt him grab her wrist and pull her arm over his shoulders. Although his help was sudden, it allowed her to take weight off her injured leg just as it had every other time. The relief was minimal, but she'd take what she could get. It slowed them down, but not nearly as much as stopping to rest would have. At least this way they weren't easy targets.

"Like I said, you could just ask me to help you," Bandog said as soon as she was situated and they could keep moving. "It may not be the easiest thing to do, but being so stubborn is just going to make everything a lot worse."

"Yeah, like you're one to talk," Avril said with a short, dry laugh that earned her a tired glare. A few moments of silence passed by, but there was one question she couldn't help but ask. "Why do you care so much, anyways? I've done nothing but slow us down. You could leave me behind, and hell, I wouldn't blame you. You used to bark orders and send us to solitary over next to nothing, and now you're dragging me through a battlefield as my crutch. Pretty big 180, if you ask me."

"Yeah, well, I didn't ask you," Bandog retorted, though it was lacking in any real annoyance. If he was angry, he didn't have the energy to let it show. Avril expected him to avoid the question entirely after that, but to her surprise he spoke again. "Look, the 444th was hell for me, too. Biggest middle finger in my entire career, and you clowns didn't make it any easier. It was either you or me, whether I was a prisoner or not. Shitty way to be, I know, I'll own my mistakes. But believe it or not, for the most part I don't hate any of you, definitely not enough to want you dead."

It was Avril's turn to not know what to say. He'd made their lives hell, but after all of this…he wasn't actually a bad guy, just not someone that made it easy to forgive. He could have left her for dead on that base, but he didn't. He could have let McKinsey get away with much worse, but he sided with them.

Part of her wondered if that's what Trigger, Húxiān, and even Tabloid the rest of the LRSSG saw. Someone making do with the hand they'd been dealt that was loyal enough not to leave someone behind. She hated to compare herself to Count, but they were both bitter over the circumstances and took that out on others, even if the chip on her shoulder wasn't nearly as bad. Her trust issues ran deep, something she picked up from her grandfather without even realizing it, but Bandog had done his best to keep most of them alive. And now she owed him for carrying her through this mess.

Swallowing whatever was left of her pride, she tried her best to apologize. "Sorry. I guess I just…didn't think about that."

"Forget about it, it's nothing," Bandog answered, and she guessed that was the closest thing to forgiveness she was going to get out of him. Or maybe he genuinely didn't think it was something that needed forgiveness. His tone suddenly teasing, he said, "You've gotten too soft, Mead. Looks like the Scrap Queen isn't a match for a good sob story."

"Oh, shut up, before I take my apology back," Avril said, but even she couldn't help but smile a bit to lighten the conversation. "It's the sleep deprivation. Give me a full eight hours and I'll be back to my senses."

"Uh-huh, sure you will," Bandog said, heavy on the sarcasm.

While they'd been talking, their walk had led them to what looked like either an old facility or a full on scrap yard, it was hard to tell which. Lined up and piled on top of each other were various old, abandoned space shuttles from the looks of things. Although they were on the other side of one of the many roads that ran throughout the island, the size of them was still impressive. Hard to believe that before the space elevator this was the best way to reach the stars. They paused for a moment to gawk, but standing in place made Avril feel vulnerable, even if there wasn't any sign of aircraft overhead or enemies around them.

They didn't linger very long before Bandog suggested they move on, Sarge still leading the way in front of them. Avril had no idea how long they continued walking, but it felt like ages. The sky was beginning to darken, something only worsened by the cloud cover and lingering smoke from all over the island, and although the temperature didn't shift much the air was a bit more bearable. The nights and early mornings got crisp and chilly, especially with the rain, something Avril could tolerate better than the heat.

Eventually, their walk led them past a crash site. While downed aircraft wouldn't have been an unusual sight under these conditions, the plane in question wasn't military. The emblem on the tail was something Avril could barely make out, but it had an Erusean rose on it. Something she recognized from the drone she saw the day the war began.

"What the hell is a civilian plane doing all the way out here?" Avril couldn't help but ask aloud, finding the sight unsettling. There didn't look to be any signs of survivors from it, but she wasn't about to go up and search the thing.

"No idea. I've got a bad feeling about this, though," Bandog said, taking a few steps forward with Avril in tow. He seemed to tense as he noticed Sarge beginning to hone in on something, before she took off barking towards the plane. "Sarge!"

He looked to Avril, likely making sure she could keep up a faster pace after the dog, and she just nodded before the two of them did their best to hurry across the road and follow her as she darted through the scattered trees on the opposite side of the road and around the downed aircraft. Following her lead, they ended up on a cliff, and were greeted by what had caught her attention.

The wreckage of various other vehicles was scattered about, blown up beyond repair and almost beyond any recognition. The bodies of a few soldiers lay dead in the grass, all of them Erusean, their weapons laying beside them. They had been shot, not killed in an explosion, though two other bodies found near some of the scrapped vehicles looked to have suffered that fate instead.

Sarge's barking was louder and more constant now as they pinpointed her location. An open space near the edge of the cliff, looking out at the ocean. She stood snarling and barking, waiting for Bandog to arrive and give her instruction. That was when they discovered another dog, not snarling or barking but still standing his ground. Avril could tell from one look he was someone's pet, not an MWD.

A few feet behind him, a young woman sat beside what looked like another body, with a rifle and an empty handgun dropped within arm's reach. If she saw them, she made no indication, keeping one hand in her lap and the other on the chest of the man lying next to her. Avril and Bandog exchanged a look before they moved closer to her, alert and cautious even though the girl looked too fragile and innocent to harm them.

Blonde hair that had at one point been carefully pulled into a braid crown was now greasy, coming undone in some places with strands sticking out and frizzing up in others. The dress she had on had been white at some point, but was singed and covered in dark stains, now beige with no signs it was ever pristine other than the delicate embroidered patterns on it. This kid was rich, no doubt about it. So how had she ended up out here?

The figure next to her was in worse condition than she was. What used to be a simple but fashionable suit was torn and covered in dirt and his own blood. The injury on his side looked awful, but didn't appear to still be an open wound. No doubt if he was still alive then it wasn't by much. Even in the fading light he looked as white as a sheet. Avril didn't want to think about what must have happened to them, but it wasn't hard to guess.

The girl's dog retreated to her side as Bandog moved to approach Sarge, ordering her to stand down. She did as she was told, falling into step beside him as he moved towards the girl and the dog. Only as they approached the body beside her, Sarge examining the man's injuries while Bandog checked for a pulse, did she finally move. Barely lifting her head and glancing over at Bandog as he moved to examine the man's injuries. He looked up at her when he was done before he stood and took a step back, weapon at his side.

"He's still alive. Barely, but there's a pulse," Bandog said, whether to Avril or the girl he didn't know. He stared down at the girl, a look that was a mix of confusion and concern on his face as he asked her, almost sternly, "You cauterized the wound?"

She numbly lifted her head, glancing over at Avril then back to Bandog before she answered. Her voice was just above a whisper, cracking in every possible way as she managed to answer, almost trembling. "I…I didn't know what else to do…"

But even in such a state, Avril recognized her voice. The same one the prison guards used to blast on the radio, riling the other prisoners up in a chorus of 'burn Osea to the ground!'. A woman that could make even the enemy soldiers hate their own country while her own people happily took up arms at her beseeching. But surely there was no way such a girl could be reduced to this state.

Bandog glanced at Avril before he continued, obviously neither of them were sure what was going on or how to handle the situation. "No, that's quick thinking, however…"

"Just how long have you two been out here?" Avril asked as Bandog trailed off, already picking up on where he was going. Cauterization was a last resort, obviously one the two of them had to resort to. It may have stopped the bleeding, but it increased the risk of infection.

The girl looked over at her, looking scared out of her mind but too tired to do anything about it. Every answer seemed to be forced out. "About…three days…"

"You've been out here like this for three days?" Bandog asked again, and the girl nodded. He looked over at Avril, walking towards her to avoid the girl overhearing. "He's not in good shape, Mead. The bleeding has stopped, but if she used any of this scrap metal…if the blood loss didn't kill him, an infection will. That, and if he was shot then that bullet's still in there somewhere, I'm sure."

Avril glanced over Bandog's shoulder at the girl, watching them out of the corner of her eye like some caged animal waiting to die. It was a pitiful sight, and if Avril's hunch about her identity was right then not at all one befitting a princess. At the moment, there wasn't much they could do for either one of them. It wasn't like they were any better off.

She sighed, looking back at the wreckage of the plane and trying to think of any kind of solution. "Gimme a hand searching this plane. If she survived, surely the supplies are still salvageable."

"Right…"

Although foolish to poke around the place unguarded, the last thing Avril wanted was to stumble through this thing with a bad leg. Besides, it would speed the search along. They'd been out here running quite literally on empty, surviving on very little water and no food at all. Hunger was almost as painful as her leg. Almost. And if that girl had been out here for three days without water, dehydration was probably the main reason for her weakness.

Between moving debris around and digging into every accessible nook and cranny, the two of them didn't make out with much. A box from the cockpit and a crate with some bottled water, basic snack foods, and a few canned foods. Nothing that would need cooking, but enough to keep them going. They'd need to ration all of this out, but for now Avril was more concerned about what she'd found in the cockpit.

As Avril knelt down and opened the box, beginning to sort through everything stored in it, Bandog grabbed two bottles of water and made his way back to the girl. He opened one of them for her, holding it out to her. "Here. You need to drink something."

"Thank you…" the girl muttered, reaching up to grab it. She barely managed to take the first sip, pausing briefly and staring at the bottle. But after that the severity of her dehydration must have hit her, because she proceeded to take quick gulps of it.

"Sarge. Hey, c'mere, girl," Bandog called as he crouched down with the other bottle, glancing every so often at the man on the ground, likely checking to make sure he was still breathing.

Once Sarge came to his side, he cupped his hand and poured the water into his hand, letting her take quick and small laps from it. In no time he'd gone through half the bottle, never once taking a drink of his own, and by now the girl's dog was eyeing them, having taken a few steps towards them. Bandog repeated the process he'd done with Sarge, holding out his hand to the strange dog. His voice was encouraging, soft almost. "You're probably thirsty too, aren't you? Come on. No one's going to hurt you."

"Pfft. Who knew you were a real dog whisperer? Here I was thinking it was just Sarge that had you wrapped around her finger," Avril said as the dog caved and drank the water Bandog offered to him. Bandog shot her a look, but both of them were too focused on their own tasks to reply. And Avril's suddenly paid off when a radio caught her eye. "Hey, check it out!"

"What is it?" Bandog looked her way now, his eyes moving down to the object in her hand.

"This is an air-to-ground tactical radio! Damn…" After fiddling with it for a few seconds, establishing that it would actually be of use, she strained to lift herself back to her feet. Regardless, this gave her a bit of hope. "And it still works!"

"That's great and all, but what good does it do us?" Bandog asked her as she limped back towards him and the girl. "It's not like we have anyone on our side up there."

"Trigger and the others aren't going to give up on us like that. Besides, the thing's still handy to have around," Avril said, handing the radio off to him as he stood up. He took it, giving her a doubtful look. "Look, a little faith never hurt anyone. Don't sell them off like that."

Bandog sighed, heading back towards the boxes with the radio in hand. "Guess you're right…in the meantime, I'm gonna see what I can do about food."

"Yeah, sounds good." Avril watched him go before she slowly made her way to the cliff's edge, checking up on their 'patient', for lack of a better word. His breath was shallow, but he was barely hanging in there. She looked over at the girl, approaching her and placing a hand on her shoulder. The girl tensed the second she did. "Relax, I'm not gonna hurt you."

She was quiet for a long time, then very quietly she asked. "Why are you helping me?"

Avril hadn't expected the question. Truthfully, without the full story, Avril couldn't condemn her. She didn't like Erusea all that much, but she wasn't the biggest fan of her own country either. Maybe Tabloid had rubbed off on her, but those in power weren't above using pawns. It was still just a hunch, but…Avril had a pretty good idea who this girl was. And her being a puppet wasn't the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard.

Crouching down beside her, happy for an excuse to take the weight off of her leg, she quietly told her. "You see…I used to listen to your broadcasts, Your Royal Highness."

The moment the girl registered her words she closed her eyes and turned her head away from Avril, as if she was preparing herself for the end. Avril wasn't sure how to calm her, and obviously whatever had happened to land her here must have really screwed her up. Not that she could blame her, she was young and sheltered. Even so, they meant her no harm.

Sarge's sudden barking startled everyone, sending Avril straight to her feet, readying her weapon as Bandog did the same. Staying put without an order to do otherwise, Sarge's lip curled back farther than Avril had ever seen from her, revealing rows of teeth that could break bone as a small group made a cautious approach from the trees. Squinting, Avril made out two with Erusean uniforms and one in Osean flight gear, the flag on their shoulder the first thing she looked for.

But close behind the soldiers were men and women varying in heights, unarmed, in civilian clothing, and some of them very obviously children. Sarge eased up slightly, taking a step forward and obviously catching some familiar scent. The Osean with the group suddenly stopped, holding up both of her arms and her weapon as those following came to a halt, a familiar voice sounding out as she said, "Hey, hey, we're on your side!"

"I don't believe this…" Bandog muttered, lowering his weapon and sharply calling Sarge back. "Major Hamilton?! How the–"

"I could ask you two the same thing…but, you have no idea how happy I am to see some friendly faces." The pilot Avril met during the operations hunting down the Alicorn looked quite a mess, as did the people trailing after her. "Please tell me the rest of the LRSSG is with you…these people need help."

Avril and Bandog glanced at each other, and the major's expression fell as she began to catch on. They could address all of that later, but right now only one thing was on Avril's mind as she took a good look at everyone around her.

"Just what the hell happened here?"