Chapter 18: Everything wrong, part 2
[Undisclosed location]
"In position" called in the final insurgent stacking up against the wall being over looked by his squad mates. The black clad soldiers got into their places in a way that said this was far from their first rodeo moving with confidence, order and experience.
"Copy, you know the drill people. Remember not to shoot the Headhunter you twitchy trigger finger fucks." The one who spoke with a voice laced with authority.
"No promises" snickered one of the men.
"Then you can personally inform Lachlan that you undermined his whole plan." When no one said anything he continued "On my mark."
A snatch and run, with a twelve on one surprise attack, The Headhunter's allies being closely monitored and nowhere to run made this mission a welcome relief compared to their other recent activities. Even knowing the trooper inside was one of Vale's finest, she was still only human. The two men on the opposite sides of the storage container nodded to each other before pulling the sliding door up as fast as possible trusting their comrades to be ready.
A wolf with its back against the wall is not to be trifled with.
Before they could raise the sliding door past their hips a bullet ripped through the man on the right's knee causing him to drop the door all at once. That was only the first of many, the shooter peppered the wall where she predicted the others to be wounding another but not landing any fatal hits.
Four could only guess where the gunmen were as she loaded a fresh mag into her sidearm and peppered the walls. She didn't know where they were or how many there were both of which they knew about her and she only had her personal sidearm. Their objective was Mickey and they wanted him alive if the lack of returned gunfire said anything.
Fucked didn't even come close to describing this situation.
She stopped firing after finishing the mag leaving her with two remaining. She strained her ears to hear anything outside but could only hear the shallow breath intakes of her captive. Looking over to the monitor was even more disheartening. The cameras had all been destroyed or disabled.
The sniper turned of all the lights so she could peek out one of the many bullet holes, now was one of those times having faunus night vision would really come in handy. The shapes of trees and other foliage was all she could make out in the dark.
Mickey let out long groan signaling his arrival back into the real world and out of the sweet embrace of the dark peaceful nothingness. 'Your friends have come to get you, you lucky prick. That leaves to question how the Fang found this place.' She thought while picturing a certain very smug looking bartender.
Two large bright lights being turned on briefly blinded her and she found herself stumbling back as the engine of a vehicle came to life. 'Thanks for lighting up the place for me' The shadows racing past the bullet holes in the door and walls giving the locations of some poor bastards unfortunate to have such a stupid CO.
The Vehicle suddenly jumped forward and sped straight at the storage door where the Headhunter who had not given the enemy CO enough credit was sadly located. Who's the stupid CO now? The metal door caving upwards was to be expected as the large van crashed through the front.
Four was lying on her back after jumping out of the way lifted her gun to shoot the first person coming through the now agape opening with some sort of baton. The passenger door slammed open knocking the gun from her hand and sparing the almost dead man.
The passenger's weight dropping on her was enough to wind her but the man's heavy fist was defiantly going to leave a mark. The first blow was rivaled only by the second, thinking she was dazed enough to pin he attempted to roll her over. Hands grabbed his collar bringing him into a brutal head-butt only making her head pound even more and piss him off.
She used the momentum of his punch roll him to the side a bit but it was a useless play as different sets of boots filled her vision and hands worked in unison to roll her over and restrain her which with her size wasn't that hard. The electric that coursed through her veins helped a bit also, at least now she knew why the baton looked weird.
After having her nerves fried she could only numbly feel the men putting her hands into restraints before everything went dark. The darkness wasn't however the same that our friend Mickey was nicely provided, No this darkness was the effect of having nice stuffy bag shoved over your head.
The kick to her stomach was a very unpleasant experience to say the least "Sorry Sir, the bitch shot me in the shoulder."
"She's breathing; no one said we couldn't rough her up a bit." He was wearing a dark civilian hoodie with webbing that could be easily taken off at a moment's notice. Along with his comrades he was only equipped with small arms weapons, His face was covered by a black half mask. "What's the condition of the animal?"
"Conscious and doesn't look at all happy to see us."
"That's poor manners, he's our guest of honor he could at least smile" All of the Black Fist soldiers present laughed "Pack him in the van and muzzle his ass."
"Sir, team two reported watching the blonde haired Headhunter leaving the bar with a woman."
"No shit? Damn, Vale's finest really is all talk." He laughed standing over the sniper "Hear that sweet cheeks? Your partner is a bit busy but you didn't hear that from me."
"Sir we need to get moving."
"Alright funs over, we will let ourselves out. Hold down the fort while we are gone."
[Glenn, Robert A-1]
"Spooky" Auburn commented.
It was indeed spooky, these hallways made you expect something bad was about to happen. The walls were cracked and in some places were even falling apart, Collections of dirt and dust everywhere after years of disuse.
"On your toes, we don't know what happens to call this place home." I warned my men, I didn't like this place.
With my XM-13 I took point with Thomas behind me with his heavy machinegun. A few offices and bathrooms were scattered around but completely empty of any traces of life. The rooms were plain and lacked any decorations; the people who worked here at one time probably hated their jobs.
A sign read 'High seas, giving the best experience possible' with a few of the letter missing but still literate. This company wasn't made in a day, no this company was started by many sleepless nights and trial and errors, all that effort and now look at it.
We entered what probably use to be a reception area judging by all the chairs, people at one time had come here to complain about their merchandise or ask questions to decide if they wanted to purchase something. Bringing their kids who sulked the whole way here because they wanted to stay home and play not do stupid boring grown up stuff.
"Robert" Thomas's hand jolted me from my unpleasant thoughts. He only gave me nod of understanding; we've both been playing this game for far too long.
"So Peachy bet you feel like a real bitch" Oh my god please don't let her kill Auburn.
"Wasn't aware there was a fake bitch, please clarify."
"That young soldier back there, his intentions were as pure as the water we drink and you couldn't even indulge the poor boy with something as insignificant as your first name. Now look at him all fucked up and probably emotionally scarred."
"Prostate check"
"What?"
"Kinda like rain check but its prostate check, it really is way too early for you but if I put the word in I'm sure we could make it happen. Are we done or do I need to remind you that your ass is mine?" Thomas and Leon didn't even attempt to hide their laughter but still shared a cringe with the rest of the team. Leon even offered the sniper a cup of water for his burned ass saying the smoke was going to alert any nearby Grimm.
"Fuck you guys….."
Auburn had violated an unspoken rule on our team the 'Don't fuck with peach' rule. Breaking this was the worst of all taboos. With our teams usual cheer back the mission became a little more bearable, I am lucky to have these guys.
"Sir, I think you're going to wanna take a look at this." Came Leon's voice from the hallway leading deeper into the building.
"What is it? Grimm?" I called walking towards him.
"Not anymore…"
A slowly decaying body of a Grimm lay in the middle of the floor with its head detached from its host. No bullet markings or signs of a fight.
"Hunter's maybe?" asked Leon.
"Are we ever that lucky?" Deadpanned Auburn.
Can't we catch a break already? Farther into the hallway I could make out the body of another Grimm except this one was missing its forearm, the bodies decaying to fast to make a good theory other than they were done in by a bladed weapon most likely.
The White Fang were notorious for using long swords in CQB and if they were involved then things are about get very loud. "Get off your toes and get ready to engage."
"Were you trying to sound cool just now?" Auburn I love you I really do but sometimes…..leave that imagination.
I pulled up my arm to check my wrist mounted scroll to view my map of the building "Our objective is straight down this hall and to the left, we've got eight minutes until the army captain leaves us to the wolves no pun intended. Let's sprint it, Thomas lead the way you're the only one of us who has aura."
"Wouldn't want Auburn to hurt his wittle ass more than it's already getting."
"You're just pissed because you can't keep it up anymore old man."
"Alpha let's get a move on." I reminded them.
Thomas set a slow jog getting a lead on the rest of us before we followed behind him. Wasn't the smartest idea with possible enemies nearby but his aura will protect him and I'm not ready to be ravished by hundreds of beowolves. Correction I don't want to be ravished by anything.
My feat felt heavy running down the hallway but my equipment was light as with myself. The weight came from the possibility of leading my men to their deaths. We stopped at the large double doors leading into the ship bay and testing pool.
"Remember we aren't here to kill anything, just get in and get out. I don't want any heroes in here understand?" I put my hand on the door and gave them a serious face.
"Sir" Everyone but Auburn answered.
"I don't need to be a hero, I'm already a part of girls fantasy." Smarted the overconfident sniper.
Taking that as my answer I threw open the door with my good hand. The room couldn't be called a room, if it were me I would have named it a city. We came out on walkway of sorts looking down on the facility, on the right was the bay connected to the sea that emptied out on the left side to form the test pool. Pool was also a very big understament because I wouldn't be surprised if we couldn't get an Atlasesian J-S battleship in here.
"Contact."
Thomas managed to make me jump with his harsh whisper. I directed my attention to where he was pointing to see a lone figure by the test pool crouched down by a computer of sorts. But there was something even more strange then the obvious lunatic in a Grimm infested sector, the lunatic was wearing our uniform.
I signaled my men to approach with caution but still very aware of our seven minutes remaining did it in a speedy manor. If he tried anything he'd be dead before he could say 'ow'.
The closer we got the easier to tell that it was defiantly our uniform and equipment. The tan hooded fatigues, the black chest piece and helmet along with the signature machete strapped to his black. There appeared to be another sheath but the blade was missing.
"Alpha."
Bravo-One or as we were informed the now Alpha-Six, we didn't accept him so off the books we still call him Bravo. Two missions with him and he had already become hated by most of the team, most notably Peach and Leon.
"Bravo, what the hell are you doing here." Leon growled at his superior.
"Alpha." He repeated completely ignoring Leon "Radio Dagger and tell them to call in the bullheads to touch down in the parking lot."
"Under whose authority?" I questioned.
"Commander Vespin."
"Why didn't he order it himself?" I pressed
"I gave you an order" he said finally turning around to expose that damn creepy metal gas mask he wore, it gave him an inhuman like quality which in his case was horrible because he already acted like a machine. "Alpha-Four, take these explosives and place them in the areas located on this map." He pointed to the computer screen that was running a simulation of sorts "We're gonna cave this room in on its self."
"May we ask why?" Auburn sneered.
Bravo simply turned away and jogged towards a room I assumed controlled the gates and pumps to divert the water where they wanted it.
"Fucking asshole" Breathed Leon, grabbing the bag of explosives and getting to work.
I checked my wrist to see that we only had five minutes remaining until the Captain threw us to the hounds….literally. "Thomas get on the horn and radio in what our Bravo said to the Captain."
"Without personally getting the order from Vespin the Bullheads aren't going to land."
"We just have to have faith that our friend is correct."
A loud whirring noise rang off the concrete walls as the ancient minor gates came to life after years of being unmaintained. The pumps started flushing water from the test pool at a steady rate most likely because only a few were still functional. This place must run on some sort of hydro power.
The minor gates screeched as the met for the first time in centuries, the sound gyrating in my ear making me cringe. Bravo ran down the stairs of the control center and towards us just as I could see Leon planting the last explosive.
Leon was making his way back across the walkway when and ear piercing high pitched screech caused all of us to grab our ears to try and defend ourselves from the attack to our senses. Leon at the corner of my eye lost his balance momentarily and fell over the side of walkway.
"LEON!" I tried to straighten myself but found my legs were to shaky to properly walk.
The only thing he could do was hold on to the rusted metal bars while his instincts told him to cover his ears. I panicked looking at his pained expression and fell to the ground trying to run.
"LEON!" I attempted to crawl as blood dripped from my ear to the floor.
One of his hands slipped leaving him dangling on the one. Our equipment that was meant to save us would sink him like a rock and kill him. I pulled myself closer using a large chuck missing out of the floor as a foothold.
Leon was going to die here like so many others had before him. He would join the restless souls that called this place home and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Over the pain I felt my blood run into a trail of my own tears mixing together.
His hand slipped "LEON!" Leon sank into the dark water feet first never to be seen again.
Or he would of if a hand didn't grab the back of his chest armor. The arm belonging to none other than our esteemed Bravo. He hefted the large soldier up before with a swinging motion threw him to our side. Even Bravo couldn't shoulder through the screech as he grabbed the railing for support.
That's when I saw it.
A tentacle the size of three busses slammed into the railing behind Bravo making the whole thing bend down towards the water. He like me attempted to run but the disorientating noise and the gravity change was too much for anyone.
Like a light in the darkness the screech finally stopped its overload on our heads and settled to a low whine. My ears were still ringing from it but I could actually move now. Bravo shook his head before sprinting the small gap between us and….running right past us.
"Did he just leave us?" deadpanned Auburn who was hitting the side of his head.
I watched as more tentacles broke through the water feeling around for a purchase "Alpha! Time to move!"
No one asked anymore questions.
[Vale, Commander Vespin]
I looked out the window reciting my speech over and over in my head that I would use to rile the people. I felt a smile tug at the corners of my lips as I thought of my old enemy Erwin. Erwin always did have this misguided notion that he was the only one good at playing games, that he was making the moves for his enemy.
"You aren't the only one willing to make sacrifices my old friend."