Reason to Live II

Chapter 8: A Bad Case of Déjà Vu

May 1st,
Social Welfare Agency,
0555 hrs

(Edward's P.O.V)

Today's the day. Never thought it'll arrive so soon. I have highly anticipated this day. Today, my plan will run as smooth as milk. Padanias will be hitting the SWA headquarters at 0600 hrs and will surprise the whole security guards from this strike. Meanwhile, I'll work for the agency for awhile…before they notice that everything is too late for them! While the agency's Junior operatives busy, I will volunteer myself to rescue Lorenzo from his office, killing the Padanias in the process. I am working for them, but I need to prove that I'm still working for the agency. Besides, Padania terrorists are just pawns for the game to take down the king.

Once I reach Lorenzo, the story would be different from what he'll expect. From there, I will assassinate him; rendering Section 2 immobile and useless without anyone in charge of it. Of course they'll fine a replacement sooner or later, but this will help the Padanias do their biddings without any disturbance. I have also asked a few favors to them that I wish to be accomplished; with a trade of me working for them full time. I want them to deploy their best marksman, their sniper, or their best crack-shot armed with any kind of rifle or assault rifle. Then, I want them to kill Frederick's supervisor. Yes...Hillshire! I want them to kill him; painfully, if possible. Next, with Triela shock and immobile, I want them to try and sedate and kidnap her. From there, Petrushka will do the escort. Of course, I have asked them to kill Alessandro as well, but not to harm the red-headed girl.

After the attack, Triela will be under my watchful eye. I will be extracting information from her 24/7, and I will not stop until she spoke a word about Frederick. But that wouldn't stop there. I will keep on torturing her until she's at her limit! Then, when Frederick arrives I will show my works to her and then I'll kill her! I'll kill her not instantly, but I will make sure she dies due to loss of blood. When a bullet or a sharp object hits you, red crimson colored blood will flow out where that projectile hits. But, shooting someone in the kidney is a different case. A deep, dark colored blood will flow like a river that runs through a waterfall. It won't stop unless it is bandaged by 40 minutes. If not, the victim will die due to a loss of large amount of blood. In other words, if no one comes to her rescue by 40 minutes, she will die. And soon after, Frederick will know how painful it feels to lose someone you cared for the most! Someone who has raised you, treated you, and cared for you for the past 13 years of my life! I was separated from my mother due to divorce at the age of three…there, my father stood and took care of me like what he supposed to do. And he took him away from me! For this I will took something away from him. And that something, are the ones whom he loves the most: His friends, his aides, Hillshire…but above all,

Triela…

(Frederick's P.O.V)

"Frederick, get up!"

Those sounds…that voice…am I dreaming again?

"Frederick! Butt up! Butt up!! Please!!"

Someone please shut the god-forsaken alarm…

…

Do I even have an alarm?

"FREDERICK, GET UP NOW!!"

"What? What? WHAT!? I'm not deaf, so don't shout! If there's something…" I woke up the next minute after Henrietta shouted the last words to my ears. And what a surprise I've seen when I take a look at her "…Jesus what happened to you!? Your arm's bleeding!! You're ok?"

"I got shot while trying to run over here." She replies taking deep breaths in between "It's an ambush."

"Ambush…!? What's going on?"

"The Agency's under attack by Padanias!"

This…is like my bad case of Déjà Vu…

March 1st,
Social Welfare Agency,
0610 hrs

Something like this happened a year ago. Not precisely on March, but it goes back to a month or so on April. Damn, why couldn't I forget? That day that prick by Giorgio Adriani organized a well armed, well equipped Padanias to strike us in the early morning! How come something like this have to happen once a year when I'm here!? What, am I supposed to say 'goodbye' to Triela once again? Hell no I'm going to say something like that again! Takes time, and it hurts a lot too.

"How's everyone?" I ask as I get my two Mauser C/96s 'Broom handles' from the case, along with stripper clips, ammo pouches, and magazine pouches "Are they ok?"

"They're fine. Jean is rallying with them and the rest of the operatives at the firing range."

"You've been pushed out that far!? That's close to the garage!"

"I know. That's why I ran here to get you. You're the only one in here beside some other staffs. Good thing they haven't got to your room."

"But they're heading here, right?" She nods in response "What happened to them?"

"I took care of them." Says the gun wielding 11 year old "And I got shot in arm."

I took no more time. Soon after, I open the box of 9mm Luger Parabellum; the main ammunition I needed for my weapon and stash them into the ammo pouches. I gave handful to Henrietta after I ask her if she needed more ammunition since her side-arm uses the same ammo as mine. Her main weapon, the P90 SMG is in the Armory; and listening through her, I can guess the armory is already over-run by Padanias. So for this time, I'll do something I used to do: dual wield SMG! Looking at the display, two of my good old MP40 sits there waiting to be returned into action after I use the StG 44 for so long. Like they say, treat a gun like a girl and it'll treat you fine! And again, it's not good to keep a girl waiting too long so…

…MP40s it is!

Taking it down, I click the safety 'off' and grab myself 6 extra magazines to keep me firing. Henrietta on the other hand reloads her empty magazines and checks her own P229, counting the remaining rounds and stuffing new rounds in to prepare herself. Holding the MP40 one in each hand, I took a deep breath and head towards the door; into the conflict zone.

"Henrietta, grab my keys. I don't want any scum-bags entering my room and raiding my weapons!"

Of course, I won't forget to lock my room full of weapons. Don't want to lose the StG 44 Assault Rifle or any of the rest hanging there.

My first objective is to head towards the Armory and assist Henrietta acquire her primary weapon. It isn't too far from here, and it leads into the indoor training facility. From there, we can move outside into the outdoor firing range and obstacle course to rally with the other operatives who're holding their grounds. She can't go through the armory alone earlier to get to my room due to the fact that most of the Padanias were already there giving her a pain. There seems to be quite a number of them Padanias over here, and I presume the operatives and handlers were over-run and outgunned. That's where I came to play.

Using the door, I check right and left for any hostile forces around. Clear. That's where I move in to the nearest cover which are the Roman pillars supporting the second floor of the dormitory. After Henrietta locked the doors, she pockets the key and arms herself with her side-arm and again, just like I was checks her right and left before her advance to the nearest cover. Echoes coming from gunshots can be heard outside the dormitory, and from the sound of it I can tell it is an intense firefight. Though I can say the Agency's winning due to the availability of us, cyborgs.

We advance further into the compound, being cautious as much as possible and trying not to attract too much attention. Really, our effort is almost flawless! We could see Padanias rushing into, out to, and running to the door that leads outside to reinforce they're struggle. Yeah, they're too busy running around saving they're friends from dying that they didn't notice us moving here like rats…or so we thought.

Moments later, a call of alert came from one of the brats. He's unfortunate meeting us. With a quick reaction I spun around, aim my weapons, and fire full automatic bursts at him, killing him instantly with a powerful smack to the wall! The others came in rushing to assist the deceased fellow, but are taken care of easily by Henrietta's quick, accurate shots to their chests and heads. She's designed by the Agency for heavy close-quarter combat, while I was designed as a fast-assault operative suitable for any kind of areas and terrain; the more cover's the better.

The area turns into much more of chaos and bloodshed. Both of us rush towards the armory, gunning down Padanias or Government Terrorists alike. Our guns blazing; their guns aren't. Our guns are working; they're guns lie idle on the floor. We're moving swiftly; they're dead in the floor covered in blood. I myself to tell the truth enjoy the feeling when I come up with something like this. Running with your weapons firing without care is something I am specialized to do and handle. When your ammo runs out, there's always a need to change magazines...say so the handlers. That's not in my case. I instead holster my primary weapon and switch over to the Mauser C/96s holstered under my jacket. Again, dual wield.

The sweet smell of gunpowder returns afterwards with both of us raking up kills like never before; I can say we've decorated a whole corridor with blood and bullet holes. The bodies are a bonus for the clean-up crew to take care of. We reach the Armory a moment later, taking heavy breaths and a little chuckle coming from me as I am literally enjoying this from the start. I grab myself some M67 fragmentation grenades while Henrietta acquires her P90 SMG and tuck her extra magazines and rounds. Yeah, we knew we're going out with lots of noise and blood again, and we knew this will be one easy milk run.

"You ready?" I ask eagerly after a change of magazine to the MP40s

"Ready as you are, Brother Frederick!"

March 1st,
Social Welfare Agency, Firing Range,
0630 hrs

(Edward's P.O.V)

Everything is going as planned. Padania strikes swiftly across the area, taking over the facility in less than an hour. The organization is flawless! I'm amazed on how well these people work their way around here. The agency is taken by surprise almost completely, rendering some of the operatives wounded, but still holding. Right now, we were actually waiting for Henrietta to return with Frederick; that won't happen so easy. The huge numbers deployed today is twice the number during Giorgio's attack. Not to mention, I have deployed a reasonable amount of snipers around that I asked to be stationed at the rooftops of the captured facility. I'll be amazed if they're able to make it out here on time…no, actually. If they even survive the onslaught!

They've stopped attacking us for a while, and I can understand why. We've taken out a number of them here, and I think they will suggest a flanking maneuver through the garage. Actually, I suggested flanking maneuvers by handing maps and layouts of the SWA headquarters. I should wonder how long these people will hold their ground before they notice that everything is too late for them. Right now, I can presume Lorenzo; the head of Section 2 is trapped in his office under heavy fire from Padania terrorists begging for his life! Triela is here worrying about Frederick from the start of the battle, fidgeting on her shotgun's grip as she constantly ask Hillshire if Frederick's ok before apologizing over and over for not waking Frederick up. We have no more time, however. I knew that, the rest of the handlers knew that, and I can presume Jean knew the most of it.

"Alright, listen up now." He starts with a loud voice "I want all eyes and ears. Let's push them back like what we used to do."

He devised a plan. With the number of us in here, he's thinking of separating us into groups and assigns us on different parts of the facility and clear out the opposing forces. That would work actually, but the numbers of Padanias here are too great for them to take care with the power of the current force. They'd die after spending all their ammunition at the countless numbers of goons I've asked. Without Frederick or Henrietta's help, they're basically hopeless! One minute you clear an area, the other just came rushing from behind! I've devised such a plan that there will be no gap.

"So, who's going to rescue Mr. Lorenzo?" This is it! This is where I would volunteer myself!

"I'll go!"

…that wasn't me…

"Frederick! Henrietta!"

I turn my attention towards the two figures jogging from the facility, lightly tainted in blood. Their weapons ready at their hand with the barrel of each weapon smoking. I can tell they've been firing and rolling through the area with effective attack and strikes; as well as deadly hand-to-hand combat where both dominate greatly. Triela's call disturbs me even more when I knew who it was.

Henrietta returns with Frederick!

"Very well Frederick. José and Henrietta, go with him."

Jean begun pointing out a number of operatives around and separate them into groups. The extra ammo Frederick and Henrietta brought saved the whole group from near ammo depletion. They're on the roll, and are eager to return the favor. Vincent and Camille would pair up with James and Leiko Fratello teams and move to secure the garages before moving into the main facility. Luke and Ehud Fratello team would stay with Claes and clear the firing range before proceeding into the garage and secure the area. Again, Claes will be put into combat. Abelle and Clarice Fratello team would pair up with Marco and Angelica Fratello team to try and clear the main front gate and prevent any more reinforcements, and/or any retreating Padanias escaping the agency alive. Beatrice and her handler will try to infiltrate into Section 1 office quarters and rescue possible surviving staff members kept by Padanias as hostages. While Rico and Jean himself will move into Section 2's facility and clear possible hostile and threats before moving into position with the SVD Dragunov to cover the remaining agents outside to move into the main compound to clear and root out the remaining Padania members.

"Edward, you go with Hillshire and Triela Fratello team and clear the dormitory area. Alessandro and Petrushka, you will go and secure the back exit and prevent anymore reinforcements and/or escapees. No one gets out of the Agency alive!"

…Now that isn't such a bad plan

I was lucky to be paired up with Hillshire and Triela; this softens things up for me. After my signal towards the crack-shot, I expect him to open fire and hits Hillshire first, but leaving the girl alive. Earlier, I thought of gave them the order to 'kill the man who's watching the tanned 15 year old blonde in a grey trench coat with a shotgun', but seeing things now, this will go perfectly into plan. After he's down, I'll give a good knock on her head using my 'Grease Gun' and escape with Petrushka and the Padanias. By then, I expect Petrushka to have taken care of Alessandro. Of course, the plan where Lorenzo supposed to be assassinated failed, but at least my plans go into play.

Padanias are just pawns after all…

(Triela's P.O.V)

"You got all that?" ask Jean for the last time before we head out to our designated targets.

The plan has been set, and we're ready to push back the terrorists out of the compound after we're reinforced by Henrietta and Frederick's return. They're arrival is a life saver! They managed to scour ammunitions as well before they got here, which is a plus to us. Now re-stocked and re-armed, we're eager to return to the fight. I just knew Frederick would arrive and save us, I just knew it! He's always there in the nick of time with his 'victory' grin he always has coming from his over-confidence nature, but that's just him. He's the person who always worries me when he's missing in a certain chaos; such as today. I'm happy he survived…

"Triela." Ask Frederick before we part "Are you sure you'll be ok going with…"

"Him?" I point out to Edward, clarifying "I'll be fine. Besides, Jean makes a random pick right?"

"Right…" But sure as hell I can tell his face disapprove it "…random pick, huh…"

"Aw, c'mon! Are you jealous or something?" I ask teasingly

"No, I'm not!"

"Well, then get to it!" Ringing my arm around him with the M1897 shotgun still on my hand, I kiss him gently in the lips for a while before I part "Stay safe, alright?"

"I will. You too…"

The moment of truth arrives soon after. As Jean yells out 'covering fire', we scramble from our position. Frederick and Henrietta, along with Jean and Rico stayed behind for a while giving heavy fire towards any other incoming threat as we move away and head for our objective. It's been some time now since Frederick dual-wields MP40s like he used to. Last time I saw it was during his first missions at the agency. That is last year. Right now, I have to stay focus and keep my eyes open for any possible targets. But somehow…I don't feel right answering I'll be fine working with Edward. There's something really different from him today...very different. He's very much well equipped this morning when the attack starts. He's already heading out of his room before the explosions in the indoor simulation. Heck, he's already outside with two of his M3 'Grease Gun' ready at both hands, grenades tuck into his belt, his M1911A1 shined and holstered, and his Thompson holstered to his back! Not to mention he knewit came from the indoor simulation facility even before Jean ordered us to rally outside and told us where the first explosion came from.

Then again, I should wonder who planted the charge in the facility when we have patrols and guards walking around. After Giorgio's, and Pia and Arnester's attempt to attack the agency, security has risen with night shifts and patrols walking around the agency. Of course, they're already known we're government assassins; they've been warned to keep their mouth shut or we will hunt them down. It's a good thing since we know we wouldn't be hunting them down.

But this time, the case is different. Someone inside the Agency planned that. Someone inside the Agency is working with the Padanias. Someone inside the Agency has organized the attack in the early morning. And that someone could be from the numerous amounts of security guards. But I don't think that's possible…almost all of the security guards here were killed in the first wave, so if it isn't them then…who?

My attention quickly catches a glimpse of Edward behind me, grinning devilishly that sends chills down to my spine. I do somehow have suspicion on him, but I'm not sure. Frederick did mentioned that 'Yankee boy' has been acting up quite strange; almost like he's infected with some kind of disease or mutation what so ever. Well, that is just Frederick's over imagination after playing and watching too much alien themed movies and games, but for this time I somehow have the feeling he's right.

"NOW!"

Edward's words rung in my head a few moments after a figure popped up ahead of us from cover and fires bursts of rounds from an automated AK-74 that knocks Hillshire off the ground trailing in blood. My eyes widened at the scene as I witness Hillshire, my handler fell to the ground with his suit covered in crimson colored liquid. Tears starts rolling out of my eyes as the third most important person in my life (first being God, second being Frederick; always put God first) falls down with a thud on the ground. Blinded with rage, vengeance, and sadness, I return his favor with a couple shots of buckshot from my shotgun before I felt something hard and metallic rammed to the back of my head with force.

It was then I notice that everything is too late for me as everything went black…

(Frederick's P.O.V)

March 1st,
Social Welfare Agency,
0700 hrs

The aftermath of the battle is costly for both sides; mostly on the Padanias. We lost a huge number of our security guards from the first strike; most of them came from the Military or the Carabinieri. Not much of them were left in the area. Most of them died in the first strike because it came without warning. The rest died holding their ground and getting over-run. Marco and Angelica, along with Abelle and Clarice found 4 bodies of our security guards, lying dead by the front gate after what we think a drive shoot out and left the main gate unguarded. Some organization this is…it's too organized, the Padanias know the area inside out! Beatrice and her handler found quite a dozen of bodies of our people from Section one. Good thing Fermi and Elenora able to hold their ground for a while until Beatrice arrived and rescue them. I managed to rescue Lorenzo from his hell trap with the help of Henrietta and José and get the hell out of dodge from the room. The plan is a success! Reports were coming into our intercom stating that areas mentioned were cleared and reinforcements have stopped coming with Padanias retreating. The Marco and Angelica Fratello team along with Germain and Odilla managed to rack up body count as they drive through the main gate like rats scurrying away from water. Not much of them were left when they ran for the main gate. It's a total slaughter; a massacre for them.

But we found our joy short…

"HILLSHIRE!!"

I saw him lie there in the grass, covered in blood. He's coughing and spitting out blood all over in his usual suit. No sign of Edward or Triela either. I'm getting worried, and I knew something wrong is up. I don't feel right letting her go with Edward in the first place, and I should've complained! Why couldn't I!? Lifting Hillshire up right, I rip open his suit and use the force I have to try stop the bleeding while José calls for help through his intercom and Henrietta stands guard. My head is filled with questions on what's going on here. I didn't know where's Edward and Triela…I just hope nothing bad happens to Triela! If Edward let a single drop of blood or a strain of hair loose on her, I'll make sure I'll clobber him for good! And so I ask him…

"Where's Triela?"

"S…she…" coughing badly, Hillshire points towards the east exit; the back exit where Alessandro and Petrushka stands guard "Edward…defected…kidnapped…Triela…go!"

I was furious. Nothing else can describe it. Following light blood marks on the floor, I hurriedly rush myself while loading a new magazine into both of my MP40s ready at my hand. I ask José to take care of Hillshire while I go after Edward; that son-of-a-bitch! And it wasn't long after I figured that most of the Padanias rushes towards the east exit! I encounter numerous Padania extremists running with their weapon, chuckling for what they think is their success. I took care of them on the dash and left the bodies lie there for the clean up crew to take care of. They don't even stand a chance against me! It was until the last man falls that I finally found who I was looking for, walking away in the distance with Triela carried by the shoulder by Petrushka…

Edward…

"EDWARD!!" I shout to him, drawing his attention. I turn to my right and notice Alessandro bathed in blood. He's still alive; I can see his heavy breathings

"WHY!? WHY DID YOU…!"

He didn't answer a single word. Instead, he lifts his side-arm, the Colt M1911A1 .45 pistol I gave to him. I didn't move because I thought he wouldn't fire any shots before it was too late for me to notice. He pulls the trigger three times; three .45 ACP bullets flies in the air and hits me in the chest, knocking me down towards the floor as blood starts leaking out and pain starts growing. Breathing heavily, I look up to him; still with his pistol aimed at me. Drawing one of my Mauser C/96 side-arm quickly, I try firing five rounds at him while struggling to aim from the hazy vision I start to have from the earlier shock and lost of blood. Four of the rounds missed, one only managed to scratch his forehead. He returns the favor soon after by firing four rounds at me. One missed, two other hits me in the chest close to my right arm, while the other hits me on my arm and cause me to drop the side-arm.

I can see his smile and his devilish grin in his face. And I figured out what has been going on. Edward is gone. He's no more. He's not here. He has been gone since; this isn't the Edward I knew. This is someone else. The usual laughter we had with each other, is it just mere memories now? Edward is already dead way back when Sylvia died that day. This is the person who killed Sylvia. This is the person who's trying to kill me. This person; is John Michael…

"If you're still alive from the impact of 7 rounds of .45 ACP," He said holding his empty pistol "…then come after me and rescue your 'Princess'. I'll be at an empty warehouse near the Coliseum square. Be there, or you won't see her again! That's your choice…"

With that he left in a black van, along with Petrushka, Triela, and the remaining fanatics. It's funny how it felt like after being shot by your own pistol and by your close aid. I don't know what to do…whether I should cry, or whether I should be furious at this situation. What am I supposed to do? I lost Triela and Edward at the same time. Thenfigured out that he's the one who devised the entire plan!

Even though it's a tiny world, I wonder why my hands are too big
Even though it's a boundless world, I wonder why my hands are too small

Why can't I do something right…?

The thought of it disperse into my mind as voices and footsteps drew closer and closer towards me before everything slowly turns dark and fade away…

Author's Note:

Alright, another chapter done! Now we're closing in to the ending! Not too far now…this project MUST BE FINISHED BY THEN!! MUAHAHAHA!! I'M ON A ROLL!! Anyways, credits fall on the authors whom I use their Original Fratellos (Colonel Marksman, The Oddity, and Psygirl…did I miss anyone? Credits goes to them for creating such wonderful characters! Kanpaii! –This is referencing– ). Lastly, the last quote Frederick put up. It is a quote from a song from Welcome to the NHK 'Modokashii Sekaii no ue de'. Roughly translated it. Anyways, just a few more chapters to go!

ENJOY!!

Please R&R if you're willing, and if you have time. Give a little suggestion, flames are welcome.