Humanity's Finest
Chapter 4
It took two days and three nights for Richtofen and the other three to find the village that was recently attacked. The four were over looking the whole entire village from a vantage point, on top of a hill, behind a large sized boulder that covered their entire bodies. Only their heads were peeking out in the open; and the moon shined down on the once occupied village that was now deserted. The wooden houses that were there were either burnt to the ground or were just a pile of rubble. The thing that Takeo found strange was the lack of bodies.
"Zis seems really strange. No bodies around, but zis village is abandoned..." Richtofen said grimly. He narrowed his eyes when he saw something, or rather someone enter the village. But the night sky completely darkened this person's view, Richtofen could hardly make out a few things about the being.
It was large, muscluar and very, very hairy.
"Zat creature looks strange..." Richtofen said as he pointed at the shadowy creature that was now going out of his line of sight.
The others had barely caught sight of the creature before it vanished. Zoidius frowned, suspicion showing on his face.
"I don't like this." Zoidius said, closing his eyes in an attempt to focus on something. When he opened them again he scowled. "It's too quiet."
"Da, this reminds me of my time in Stalingrad." Nikolai slurred with a grim expression on his face. "The quietness, the seemingly abandoned-village below us... This is perfect for an ambush for unsuspecting travellers."
Everyone except for Zoidius stared at Nikolai with unexpected surprise.
"That was, very wise, Nikolai." Takeo said through gritted teeth. The Imperial soldier may have hated the drunk, but hearing wise words actually coming from the drunks mouth was indeed surprising.
"Indeed, zat vas wise." Richtofen said with raised eyebrows. "I never though ze drunk vould say something like zat."
Nikolai burped, blinking his eyes at the same time, trying to keep his vision from going blurry.
"Like what?" Richtofen and Takeo palmed their foreheads in annoyance, Nikolai had already forgotten what he just said ten seconds ago!
"Never mind." Richtofen sighed. "How vill ve get down there vithout being seen?" He rubbed his chin in thought.
"I have a suggestion." Zoidius said as an idea entered his head. The three humans stared at the black dragon, waiting and willing to hear the suggestion the dragon has. "I'll go down alone, and see what's what. If there are others down there, which I'm almost certain there is I'll return here and tell you what I've found."
Zoidius's eyes darted from one human to another as the thee muttered quietly to each other. The three then nodded and turned to Zoidius and nodded, giving him the ok. Smiling Zoidius looked down at the village and quickly yet silently snuck towards the village; using the cover of night to conceal himself, making him almost invisible to the naked eye.
Keeping himself low and out of sight Zoidius looked behind to see if anyone was watching, when he was certain that no one was there he closed his eyes for a moment, and felt his entire body get absorbed in magic. When he opened his eyes again, Zoidius looked over himself, he was now completely invisible! He smiled to himself as he ran down the hill, nothing would be able to see him like this!
ooOOoo
Dempsey and Volteer after they caught up with Terrador had finally found Cyril who was surrounded by dragons; but what they found unexpected was the cheetah's, moles and wolves were among the draconic group. They seemed incredibly angry and were shouting furiously as a group. Cyril looked like he was about to go off and freeze everyone in place any second.
Terrador stopped and looked at Dempsey with a disaproving look.
"Remember what I said Dempsey. You are under our protection, and as long as you are with one of us - you will not be harmed." The earth dragon warned. Dempsey nodded understanding what Terrador was saying completely.
Terrador turned and continued his approach to the gathered and angry group that has surrounded Cyril. Seeing the two fellow guardians approching Cyril's eyes lit up in relief, but frowned a bit when he saw Dempsey walking amongst the guardians. When Dempsey gave the ice dragon a nod, he respectfully returned it.
"Terrador, Volteer! Glad to see you both here, and you've brought the human with you." Cyril scowled when he said "human" and in responce Dempsey fixed the guardian a glare. But their presence had caught the attention of the angry group, and were snarling aggressively when they spotted the one who was the cause of their anger.
Seeing an impending attack Dempsey quickly unslung his M14, took off the safety and aimed the rifle at the group in one swift motion.
"Don't you dare try it! This thing has twenty rounds in it, unless you want to be a corpse I'd change you're attitude." Dempsey warned with a threatening glare.
"Dempsey!" Terrador growled in disaprovement at the humans disbehavour. "You do not need to give these people any more reason to act against you. Calm yourself."
Dempsey's gut begged him to pull the trigger on the group in front of him. But it took every inch of his willpower to stop himself, he maybe a murderer, a soldier but he wasn't brainless. He lowered his weapon slightly as he looked up at the guardian.
"What should I do then? Ask them to kindly stop being aggressive towards me? You do realise there is a slim chance they'll actually do what I tell 'em right?" Dempsey questioned, Terrador growled impatently at the human but turned to face the angered group.
"This human is under our protection." Terrador began, eyeing everyone as he spoke. "He is not to be harmed. Anyone who touches him will be punished, severally!"
Everyone nodded...reluntantly...and ceased their aggressive behavour towards Dempsey. Sighing Dempsey got straight to the point and approched Cyril the crowd made a path for him to get through. He heard a few whispers and growls coming from different directions but paid them no mind.
"Cyril, I know what's happening to the villages that are allied with this city, and I also know what's happening to the scouts." Dempsey shouldered his rifle as Cyril's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh yeah, I was told. And I'm goin' after the pricks who did it." Looking back at the crowd who has gone silent when he spoke, he saw the shocked expressions of their faces.
"I need you're help." Dempsey continued turning his head to look at the ice guardian. "What do you know of the attackers?" He asked, leaning in.
Cyril looked at Volteer who whistled innocently to himself as he pretended to act like he didn't do anything. He frowned' and sighed mentally to himself.
Motioning the marine to follow him, the ice guardian regrouped with the other guardians and walked towards the market.
"There is much for us to discuss." Cyril began his tone grim. "Before I was caught off guard by those monsterous people behind us." Dempsey looked over his shoulder and saw that the crowd was dispersing. "I caught word that one of our scout groups has returned from a village that survived an attack two weeks ago."
Dempsey, Terrador and Volteer listened carefully as Cyril continued.
"I was on my way to meet them, but when those brutes appeared I have lost track of them." Cyril sighed as the four neared the market place; "This is where I saw them last."
Dempsey scanned the surrounding area and growled in frustration, this would take a while.
"Well, standing here doing nothing won't find them." Dempsey said a frown forming on his face. He turned to look at the guardians. "Cyril how long were you 'occupied'?"
"Far, far too long for my liking." Cyril snorted as he raised his head, which caused Dempsey to sigh.
Dempsey rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Ok, that actually doesn't give me an answer." Turning he looked around the market. "They couldn't have gone far though. I think splitting up would be logical here."
Dempsey looked over his shoulder. "We'll meet back here in two hours' hope you'll find 'em."
ooOOoo
Spyro turned his head when he heard someone yawn tiredly. His brows arched in surprise when a dragon who looked similar to his age, with dark blue scales and a white underbelly got on his feet. The dragon blinked, and looked around the cage he was trapped in before he sighed in disappointment. When he looked in Spyro's direction his eyes widened so far that his eyes looked like they were about to pop out. Before the dragon could say anything Spyro silently told him to "Be quiet" and beckoned him to his side. Instantly, yet slowly the dragon walked towards the purple dragon his eyes full of surprise and admiration.
"Listen," Spyro began his voice quiet. "See those three over there?" He pointed at the humans across from them with his paw, Spyro looked at the dragon to see his reaction and found he was growling. "They are not the enemy. They were captured as well, and were taken in here just moments ago."
"How do you know that?" The dragon whispered, the tone of his voice full of suspicion. "For all we know they could have been sent in here to discover more villages for them to pillage!"
Spyro concidered those words for the longest time but his train of thought was interuppted when three jailers barged through the door; nearly everyone in the room was startled and jumped up in surprise. Spyro looked at the humans across from him and was releaved to see that no one had taken notice of them, yet. Spyro narrowed his eyes when he noticed something familar about them.
"Did one of those humans call our jailers 'Apes'?" Spyro whispered mostly to himself than anyone. Looking around himself Spyro could easily tell these people feared these jailers of theirs. Even the mightist dragon and dragonesses coward before them, what on earth could have caused them to break?
One of the ape jailers who's left eye was covered by a cloth like eyepatch stood in front of the cages, his one good eye staring at everyone who had either stood at attention or had coward behind the ones in front. His gaze finally ended on the humans, and he gave them the most evil smile Spyro had ever seen' his teeth were rotten and black and his tounge was a deep blue. Leaving siliva on his rotten teeth when he licked them.
"Bring them with us. We shall see how they fair." The ape pointed at the humans which caused everyone in the room to stare at them in surprise. Those who were near them took a few steps away; mainly out of fear than for their safety.
"Miller, Polonsky you two ready for this?" Roebuck asked them quietly as a small looking ape holding a massive looking key-ring that was full of keys approched them.
"Sarge, we are always ready." Polonsky mumbled cracking his knuckles with confidence. The ape picked a rusty looking key out of the others, and placed it in the lock hole. Twisting it around the cage door opened' Miller, Polonsky and Roebuck willingly walked towards the opened entrance.
Looking at Miller, Roebuck slowly nodded his head, which signalled both him and Polonsky to begin the attack.
"Now!" Shouted Polonsky with a determined glare.
Miller was the first one out of the cage, knocking the ape to the ground Miller grabbed it by it's chest fur and began punching the ape in the face while it was caught of guard. Polonsky and Roebuck leapt over their comrade and took on their own opponents who had now drawn... pistols!
"Shit!" Miller looked up when he heard Polonsky shout out in surprise, only to see his friends running to cover with haste. His eyes nearly popped out of his sockets when he saw the apes holding pistols, the M1911 .Colt. Gritting his teeth Miller punched the ape he was on top of one last time before he bashed its head on the ground. When blood began to seep across the floor signifying that the ape was dead; he grimly searched the apes possession quickly and drew a hidden weapon. It was another .Colt, and it was fully loaded!
Smirking Miller quickly rolled away when the apes trained and fired their pistols at him forcing himself behind a wooden crate. It wouldn't hold against the metal bullets that was whistling over his head, but it would offer him some protection from the bullets. Hearing the weapons of the enemy 'click' signalling that their weapons needed reloading, Miller quickly got on his feet and aimed his .Colt at the apes.
Time seemed to slow down for everyone who was watching the event with shocked eyes. When Miller pulled the trigger the bullet's that exited the barrel of the weapon had easily found their mark, killing the two apes instantly with a shot to the forehead. Knowing that the tables have turned and the odds against him, the third and final ape attempted to flee; but Miller wasn't going to let that happen.
He took aim and rapidly fired the .Colt at the ape until it clicked, signifying that he needed to reload. He growled in frustration however as the last ape escaped him. But he was relieved that no one (except for the apes) were hurt.
"Roebuck, Polonsky get you're asses out here. We got prisoners that need rescuin' or would you rather I do all the work?" Miller called out to them with a cocky smirk.
Polonsky and Roebuck slowly came out of hiding and grabbed the pistols the dead apes had' and searched for any magazines, the prisoners merely watched as one human laughed happily and tossed something to the other two. They saw something drop out of the weapon and onto the floor, as they placed the strange object inside the weapons.
"Alright," Miller announced, a massive grin on his face. "Who wants to get out of this god-forsaken place?"
ooOOoo
"So you don't know the location of the scouts that had recently returned to this marvelous city?" Volteer quickly asked one of the many moles that was on the city walls.
Dempsey turned his gaze between Volteer and the moles, and sighed out of boredom.
A mole wearing armour made of iron and holding a spear shook his head. "Sorry guardian, but we are tasked with guarding the walls, not patrol the city."
"This is a waste of time." Dempsey muttered under his breath.
The mole looked at Dempsey with an unimpressed look. "Do you have something to say?" He looked Dempsey over which made the human raise an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I got something to say. In which direction did these scouts go?" He paused, and then frowned. "And stopping looking at me like that, it's creepin' me the hell out!"
The mole shrugged, causing Dempsey to sigh in frustration. "Dude, these people really need to pay attention." Dempsey said to Volteer as he pinched his nose bridge. "These people ain't goin' to help us here. Let's head towards the middle of the city."
"Hmm, I still think we should ask the moles guarding the wall." The elder dragon snorted.
"If there's anyone who seen these scouts of yours they'll be on the ground." Dempsey stretched his arms and yawned. "Might as well check it out, the more people we talk too the faster we find 'em."
Dempsey yelled out in surprise when Volteer grabbed him by the waist, spreading his wings Volteer took off towards the centre of the city.
"A little warning goes a long way ya' know!" Dempsey complained.
"I'm still angry, no, no that simply won't do. I'm still angered, yes that sounds right, by the fact that you betrayed us those months ago Dempsey. Be thankful I haven't dropped you in midair, yet."
"Ok!" Dempsey replied in defeat. "I guess I had that comin', but still! You could have warned me."
Although Dempsey couldn't see it, he was sure the electric dragon had a massive grin on his face, he was certian of it. Minutes later both human and dragon landed on the ground with a loud 'thud', making everyone who were near the two take a few steps back in surprise.
Volteer set Dempsey to the ground, who was holding himself for comfort as he shook uncontrollably. And Volteer who was looking at him was trying to stop himself from laughing.
"Dude, that was NOT cool!" Dempsey complained glaring at the yellow dragon as his teeth clattered against each other.
"I thought it was funny." Volteer replied bitting his bottom lip in an attempt to hold back the laughter that was willing to burst of his mouth. "And you're reaction was priceless!"
"Holding me upside down by my foot, was not funny!" Dempsey growled at the guardian. "And I was scared! Of course I would frickin' react like that!"
Sighing Dempsey went through his pockets until he found a Syrette. Pulling off the lid Dempsey stuck the needle into the side of his neck wincing as he felt a small yet sharp pain run throughout his entire neck.
"Dempsey!" Volteer shouted out, alarmed at what he was doing to himself. "What are you doing!"
"Keeping myself from losing my mind. Thank's to Richtofen; I have to apply this into my system. Stop's some 'Side Effects' as the doc calls them, from taking over my mind." He explained; pulling the Syrette out of his neck he placed the empty needle inside his pocket; he'll need to keep it later on so Richtofen can supply him with more.
"Remember when I 'betrayed' you in the temple months ago?"
Volteer nodded, sitting down and listening eagerly as if Dempsey was a teacher.
"Well, one of those reasons was the side effects. Lame excuse I know. And I know you'll never forgive me for that, but they were my way home. Knowing that there was a way for me to get back and try to change things in the past. It seemed to much to pass, plus you and the others were threatening my team so I sided with them. You know' support?"
Volteer nodded but something was bugging him.
"If that is true, then... why didn't you it explain to us? We would have understood their intentions."
There was a pause. Blinking a few times, as if he was deep in thought, Dempsey suddenly face-palmed himself in the forehead.
"Oh shit! I'm such an idiot. That never occoured to me..." He cursed. "I'm an idiot, I'm an idiot, I'm an idiot!" He repeated over and over and over.
Volteer gave Dempsey an amused look before getting up again, now that he knew the reason he turned on them' he felt a bit happier. He understood, survival with those he knew, in his position he would have done the same thing. But Dempsey was right about one thing, something that made Volteer grin happily.
He was an idiot.