''Do you know why you are still alive?''
Albus could only shake his head in fear as the demon with red eyes on front of him asked the question. It did sounded like a female, but he couldn't know for sure. As ''her'' voice sounded like many golems near her. He did not even know how she learned his language so quickly and perfectly. Another of their sorcery no doubt.
He was just an imperial scout, or rather a courier meant to bring news to the emperor for the outcome of the battle. Well he personally witnessed how first wave of the vassal armies oblitared by their sun magic with mushroom clouds. And second wave just... he did not know. At first they were fine as they slowly marched in the night. They probably believed that sun magic would be useless in the night sky, then they suddenly dropped dead like flies. At first it was dozens, then hundreds and then thousands. It was terrifying thing to witness. In some way it was even worse when the first wave destroyed by the sun magic. Because at least he knew what destroyed the first wave. And to make the matters worse... Some of them rose from the dead, he personally witnessed it, he had no doubt they were facing with necromancy now. He was far away from the army and from the blackened lands where enemy destroyed it with their sun magic. But despite the night he perfectly has seen it. It was then he decided to quickly escape and report his findings for the Emperor. And for the Reinforcement Saderan armies
Unfortunately, on the road he was attacked by one of those golems on wheels with human faces on their chest. Looking at the human faces, it was so easy to assume there was a person trapped in there. He was knocked out and suddenly found himself right here. Right on the front of the Gate. Where enemy built their metal buildings with countless metal golems. With that red mist around the gate. And of course those dozens of ghosts... he heard the rumors of course, but did not want to believe it. Well he witnessed the proof now. Blue glowing armored ghosts just roamed around mindlessly, paying attention to one, as if like everyone here were beneath their notice.
But he couldn't pay attention to any of those things right now, he now could only see two demons, one of them at least had a human shape, despite that mask(?) and glowing blue thing floated around her head. The other... it was something else, it had a silver human skeleton with a skull of blue eyes and four spider legs. It also had a floating blue thing around it's skull like the other demon. Was this an undead? some sort of necromancer? it would explain the ghosts, rise of the dead from the corpses of the allied armies and perhaps those golems are animated with souls too like some mages theorized after he has seen those human faces.
He almost could believe that he was actually facing with an apostle of Hardy now, who else could command such powerful death magic? and powerful undead?
''Well you are a just carrier, a messenger, just like me, what kind of a world this would be if a courier killed another courier? nice to meet a fellow courier'' demon with red eyes told him. Despite everything, Albus tilted his head in confusion, this demon was a courier?
''I want you to witness the fate of the vassal armies, to memorize every detail. And then, when you move on? I want you to teach everyone you meet the lesson that we taught here, especially any Saderan troops you run across.
The lack of emotion and inhuman tone when she said those lines made it even more chilling
''Which is why you are still alive, I know that feeling... and then I want you give a message to your Emperor tell him exactly this: He will unconditionally surrender his empire and all of his vassals to us or... else'' He looked at her in disbelief, there is no way he would accept this. Worst he could be executed for giving this offending message.
''If I may, could I offer alternative offer?'' He found his voice saying, it seems they did not seen him threat at all as they did not even bother to bind him. So he dared to speak.
''The Courier'' looked at him in... surprise?, while other skeleton demon tilted it's head, it seemed like amusement.
''Very well, let's hear your 'alternative' as you put it'' Courier told him.
''Emperor would never accept something like this, perhaps if you-'' Demon cut him off.
''No, that is non-negotiable, other options are unacceptable for me too, go now, get out here and give our message, our 'golems' won't attack you, and stay away from the blackened lands if you want to live, we uhh cursed it with our sorcery'' She said then started to walk away from him, he still stood here, not sure what to do, She looked at him again ''What are you still waiting for? Get out of here!''
It was all Albus needed to hear, he instantly stood up and ran as quickly as he could from the cursed gate.
Courier looked at the Saderan courier as he ran away from their Base, he now would spread rumors what happened here, and how resisting them was futile. Which would demoralize them. Just like the same way when she first spread the fate of Nipton to the NCR. She learned that little trick from Vulpes, too bad he was on the wrong side.
''I still think we should have collared him, then detonate it during his talk with this so-called Emperor'' Elijah cricitized her as they walked back to the ''headquarters''. Inside of it looked like the sink of think tank, it even had a Sink Central Intelligence Unit.
''We should not reveal our ability like that, a better time will come for the use of collars, we are going to be patient'' Six told him, as they checked the map of central intelligence unit provided. Thanks to the data of Eyebots, they could see a clear map now. She installed the Data in her pip-boy and a clean map appared, Thıs was going to be very useful to find her way. And this ''Koda Village'' of course.
''Plus he is more useful to us alive then dead, he will now spread rumors of our power, how we are the 'rulers of the dead' as some seems to believe it'' Courier checked her pip-boy to look if everything is installed correctly.
''I suppose you have good points... time will tell'' Elijah admitted.
''Did you really had to nuke their armies?'' She asked with amusement, her eyes looked the map of Central Intelligence Unit.
''It was the most pragmatic way deal with them while examining the effects of radiation, it was interesting, because only few hundred turned to ghouls'' Elijah said as if like commonly talking about the weather and not a battle where thousands died in most horrific ways.
''Only a few hundreds ghouls? out of 50.000 dead? isn't that too low?'' She asked, she did not know much about ghoulification. Well no one really did really, it was a bizarre process. No one was completely sure how it worked. Even the Think Tank
''I was surprised as well, I have my theories, but they are not important right now'' He simply said.
''Are they ferals?'' She asked even though they were not a threat. Holograms alone could easily deal with them
Elijah looked at her ''Most... some are still sentient...''
''Are you... going to deal with them?''
''No, why should I? I'm curios how far they will go in a whole new world, try not to kill them''
''I also managed to capture some of the non-ghoulified ones before they died to watch the effects of radiation, I hope that it will bring me closer to comprehend ghoulification. And kept them alive as much as I could with auto-docs. Some of them are still alive but barely clinging to life, had to turn off my audio receptors to not hear their annoying screams. Right now symptoms are the same as expected like vomiting, diarrhea and hair loss... regardless, I suppose you will go to the Koda Village now?''
She nodded ''I will take a Vertibird with me as well, it will be much faster, thankfully it fits through the Gate'' They restored many pre-war cars, but aircrafts were rare, right now they only had ten. and planned to construct much more. She ''borrowed'' one of the vertibirds from the Kimball, after Elijah assasinated him remotely during his speech with ARCHIMEDES II. Needless to say, neither Legion spies or NCR expected a laser from the sun to kill them all. During that chaos, it was pretty easy to steal the vertibird while holograms protected her.
''Good'' Elijah said ''You go now, and... watch yourself''
She raised an eyebrow, Elijah was not someone who openly would show his feelings like that. Even when he was flesh and blood. Still she just shrugged.
''I will, you take care of this place as well''
Just what is going here, she thought to herself. As Elijah exited the headquarters. First post-post-apocalyptic America gets invaded by romans from grognak comic book world, then we invade that world with our robots and holograms that once thought to be science fiction, now Elijah gets emotional? this is getting weirdier every passing day.
Inside of the Vertibird was exactly like she remembered, washbasin, a small foldable matress, a freezer, sierra madre vending machine, digital blue map and reloading table with workbench. It's been months since she last used this. One could live here for eternity, if you had sierra madre chips for vending machine for supllies.
''Greetings again ma'am it's been a while, recent developments are very interesting no?'' JINKS, her personal pilot asked her. JINKS was a Mr. Handy she reprogrammed to serve her as a pilot. Vertibird was installed with auto-pilot but sometimes it needed manual controls for accurate movement
'Interesting' would be understatement JINKS but yes'' She stepped inside the vertibird with ED-E and Rex, It was almost like the old days.
''I suppose you do know the way to this village? I downloaded it to the map'' She asked to the Mr. Handy.
''I do my lady, I will activate auto-pilot and will bring you there, please just get comfortable at the back''
''Thank you JINKS'' With that she sit on the matress with Rex hugging her while ED-E floated near them. JINKS meddled with controls and Vertibird took off to the air.
''Marvelous'' JINKS said in an amazed tone as he looked to the windows, flying past to the forests and green lands ''An entire new world, I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my sensors, don't you think so too ma'am?'' JINKS suddenly asked her much to her surprise
She looked at him in bewilmerent, she had never seen him act like this before... odd but interesting
''I suppose it is'' She personally did not seen anything ''marvelous'' yet, this world or wasteland, what was the difference? life still continued, entropy existed for both equally.
''Hmmm I think you don't see anything worthwhile in this land, I suppose I can't blame you, you've been through much like most wastelanders. human psyche is like that, when you live most of your life in misery, you don't see point anymore, it is a dangerous way of thinking'' JINKS spoke.
Well would you look at that ''I did not know you were a philosopher JINKS'' she said with some amusement.
''I'm not my lady, I'm merely relaying my thoughts for you'' JINKS said and both of them fell silent, Courier was in deep thought now. Just when did JINKS had morals? it was ironic how robots had more morals than humans nowadays.
''We have arrived, where would you want me to land this vertibird?'' JINKS asked after a few minutes, well that was quick.
''Land it far enough to be not noticed by the locals, and also-''
''I'm afraid that is no longer possible my lady'' JINKS cut her off
Great...
''A METAL DRAGON! EVERYONE RUN SAVE YOURSELVES!
Lelei was reading and memorizing her magic book before hearing a VERY loud scream and noise, she quickly exited the house and ran outside, then looked at the direction of that noise as people around her panicked and ran around like headless chichkens. When she looked at the sky, her jaw dropped open.
There was a metal creature, but Lelei could tell it was not a living being... It was a huge black thing and had rotating metals like small windmills around it's 'wings'. It looked like some sort of mechanism, Lelei had no idea how was it possible for something so large could fly, she could detect no magic either, she wanted to learn it.
She knew she should escape and try to run away like people around her, it was the smart thing to do and yet... it looked so marvelous she couldn't do anything. She was just frozen in her place.
Then as if like sensing her thoughts 'metal creature' suddenly began to land to the ground right next to the village. It landed in mere seconds small windmills stopped rotating.
This was definitely not how she wanted to make an entrance, she should have warned JINKS about this, she felt stupid now. Courier preferred espionage for this.
Oh well it happened, no use crying for spilled milk, she exited the vertibird and her companions followed her. As soon as she opened the door, she saw a few dozen people in primitive clothes looking at her in amazement and fear. Front of the group was a short girl with blue hair
She slowly walked towards them, hoping that they would calm down, they would be much more cooperative when they realize she was not a threat after all. Still their expressions did not change expect for that girl, when Courier slowly walked to them they took a step back.
My helmet, she realized, they don't know this is just a helmet.
She took of her elite riot gear helmet to show she was a human, despite her unnatural pale skin and hair, they calmed down a little more. Seeing an opportunity, she quicky started to talk.
''You have nothing to fear from me...'' She began speaking in their language ''I'm simply here to scout far lands for my... kingdom'' it was technically true.
''How does that work?'' The girl with blue hair(how was that even possible?) asked as she pointed to her vertibird.
Courier smiled, it was type of smile she used to deceive people ''I will explain later all right?'' she said with a gentle tone. Six was impressed with the girl's courage, or rather lack of fear.
''What in the name of the gods is happening in here!?'' a man yelled among the crowd and came near the girl, checking her in worry, Six looked at the man, he looked old with huge white beard on his face, he had the most ridiculous hat she had ever seen in her life. Including his robes
Yup this must be one of the mages I'm supposed to capture.
5 DAYS LATER AFTER THE SECOND BATTLE OF ALNUS HILL
Count Marcus has arrived on the front of the Emperor, in the council room, his children was here as well, he kneeled as he reported the recent news
''My lord, vassal armies has been oblitared by the enemy, though we have yet to learn the exact details from our couriers and scouts''
Despite everything Emperor Molt smirked, now vassals would be no longer a threat to him, all while the enemy's attention hopefully would be diverted to them, while giving his empire plenty time to prepare. All while gaining intel at the capabilities of the enemy, multiple birds with one stone. He now just had to wait for the couriers.
Normally he would hear the news alone before calling the council, but since these monsters were unreasonable, the council will have no choice but to support him. Because there is no reason with the monsters you can only fight with them.
A messenger arrived to the throne room ''My lord a courier has arrived, he says he have urgent news for all of us''
Molt nodded to him and then the courier has arrived, his face looked like he has seen a ghost. And his clothes were more fitting for a beggar than a proud courier of the Empire with his ragged clothes
He kneeled front of the Emperor and Council
''M-My lord, I-I'm Imperial Courier Almus, I'm here to report my findings'' he said in a shaky tone.
Emperor ignored the tone and bidded him to continue
''I personally witnessed how first wave of vassal armies destoyed by sun magic of the golems, the lucky ones died quickly as their bodies completely vaporized while others were poisoned and rotted, second wave decided to move in night no doubt hoping that their magic would be useless without the sun, but-'' he said as the shaky tone returned ''they just... dropped dead, then some of them rose from the dead, I personally witnessed it, our suspicions were proven correct, we are facing with necromancy of most foul''
With that whole room erupted to chaos: some demanded more details, while others just screamed to take fight to the enemy. His children were silent though he has seen a smirk on the face of Zorzal, while Pina and Diabo looked thoughtful.
''WE HAVE TO FIGHT WITH THESE HERETICS! HOW DARE THEY DEFILE HARDY'S GIFTS OF LIFE AND FLARE'S SUN!'' Cicero screamed
''HOW CAN WE FIGHT THEM WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING ABOUT THEM!? THEY ALREADY DESTROYED OUR FIRST ARMY AND VASSALS! WE SHOULD SEND MORE SCOUTS FIRST TO LEARN THEIR CAPABILITES! Marquess shot back to the Cicero
''ENOUGH!'' he shouted to silence the council. As council fell silent
''We will fight with them but Marquess is right we need to learn more about them first, normally I would offer scorched earth tactics to slow down the enemy, but since we are fighting against the undead who doesn't need to eat, drink or perhaps even breathe, that tactic would be useless if not idiotic. But rest assured we will win, how can we not? Gods will help us against these heretics who dared to use the sun and the life itself for themselves, they only belong to the Gods, they will pay both for their heresy and their attack, but like I said, we are going to learn more about them first'' Molt announced to everyone in the room.
''Actually.. my lord... I may have already learned more about them'' Almus said with a fearful look.
''Is that so? why didn't you told us sooner? never mind, just tell us what do you know about them''
''I- when I decided to go back to the empire to report my findings, I was attacked by a golem and knocked out, then... then I after I woke up I found myself on front of the gate, with the ghosts and red mist, but worst of all... enemy leader'' Almus said and fell silent to let the implications sink in.
Everyone's attention on the room focused on him once more, a drop of pin could be heard in the silence. Almus looked uncomfortable with attention, but he continued''
''Their leader... or leaders perhaps, one I think was human woman who wore a helmet with red eyes , other looked like... a metal silver skeleton with spider legs, the woman told me... she demanded me...'' He struggled the words ''She told me to give a message just for you, her demand was: Emperor will unconditionally surrender his empire and all of his vassals to us or... else'' He finished.
Once again council erupted to chaos. But this time Emperor quickly shouted to prevent it escalate
''Coward! how can you let yourself get captured and let them make demands by those savage heretics!?'' Zorzal shouted ''You're disgrace to our Empire you should be executed for -''
''Be quiet Zorzal! I promise they will pay for their offence to us, but we have to keep our heads clean'' Emperor Molt said with an annoyed tone to his moronic son.
''My lord!'' Zorzal said ''Let me make make war against that whore, I promise I will bring her in here chains like I did with warrior bunnies!'' Zorzal eagerly asked, of course those who know him knew he had other intentions with their necromancer leader as well. Pina, Count Marcus and Diabo looked disgusted, but said nothing.
''No Zorzal, this is too dangerous, you will do nothing'' Molt answered back to his small-brained son.
Zorzal looked furious but said nothing and fell silent.
Emperor looked at the courier ''You are dismissed courier Almus'' he said, Almus looked delighted for not being executed, and quickly excused himself from the room.
''I will teach that heretic whore meaning of respect'' Zorzal quietly murmured with pure rage.
''Father, heretics occupy the Alnus Hill! if we have to learn more about the enemy, you can always just send me!'' Pina suddenly respectfully asked to her father.
Her father raised an eyebrow ''Are you sure about this Pina? this won't be about playing soldiers like you do with your 'knights', you will sent to scout against a true foe, while I know you are smart, I don't want you to risk yourself'' He voiced his concern for his daughter.
Pina let out a gasp for his offence, but still continued
''Yes father I'm sure, I promise you won't regret this'' She said with confidence.
Emperor Molt thought for a minute
''Very Well Pina you may go, watch yourself''
Zorzal looked even more furious for sending a weakling like Pina to a mission while ordering him to sit back like if he is a coward, but didn't dared to say anything.
''With this I conclude the council, everyone is dismissed'' Emperor announced, as members stood up fron their chairs and went their ways.
''Father, these heretics... I have a bad feeling about this'' Diabo suddenly broke his silence.
''What!? do you want to give up already brother? we have the gods on our side'' Zorzal accused him.
''I just have a bad feeling that is all...'' Diabo answered him and looked out the window, as if to agree with his point, ominously. The moon suddenly disappeared behind clouds.