The Desperate Gambit

For a moment, Ranskye's world crumbled. He couldn't believe that Zero whom he had reprogrammed could turn against him in time like this. He almost trusted the cyborg. Refusing to believe, the young Bellato called,

"Unit 0x, are you…certain with…that? Is…your circuit…breaks?"

UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:

Analyzing…

Primary Target: Ranskye of Bellato

Increased Heart Beat

Decreasing Voice Tone

Analysis: a. Uncertainity and fear

b. Deception

Appropriate Response…

Zero commanded, "I order you to drop your weapon or she died…I won't repeat myself, Bellato!" Clytemnestra struggled very hard, but the Accretian Warror won't budge. It nudged her gently to remind who the boss is. Ranskye shouted,

"How could you return to the original program? I thought I had rewritten all of them…" Had Zero a human, it might laughed. The cyborg answered,

"Your inquisitiveness is amazing, Bellato! You are rewriting the program, but not all of them. The Imperial Doctrine still intact inside my database. No more back talk, Bellato!" Suddenly, the Cora pulled herself and screamed,

"Destroy him, Ranskye! Destroy the abomination! Never mind of me! Save yourself! I would gladly…" Her sentences were cut as Zero choked her slightly. The creature of steel taunted,

" Logically, you won't kill her just for saving yourself…or would you?" The ranger was unsure,

"Time is short, Bellato…" Ranskye was confused; he was unable to decide. He couldn't sacrifice her. Then some thought popped,

What is he thinking? She was a Cora…his sworn enemy! Why should he care of her? He lifted his composite bow level to the eyes. Zero was agitated to see such gesture,

Yet, the previous events were replayed inside the ranger's mind. In his eyes, Clytemnestra wasn't his enemy; she is his friends now…and he can't kill a friend. He lowered his bow with a defeated look.

Clytemnestra shocked to see Ranskye's attitude. Then he spoke,

"I can't do this…I won't harm you, Cly…" The Cora's countenance fell down. Suddenly, the ranger pushed down by…the white-armored Destroyer. Cly shouted desperately,

"Ran!" As for Zero, it noticed its kinds appeared one-by-one,

UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:

Analyzing situations…

Recognizing Energy Signature…

Friendly present: 12

Well-Armed…according to the Imperial Standard

Primary Subject: Accretia Destroyer…searching

Result: GungnirT11

Rank: Centurion

Secondary Subject: Accretia Gladius…searching

Result: InvictusR46

Third Subject: Accretia Scientist…searching

Result: Unidentified…confidential…

"Well done, Unit0X," Gungnir complimented, "We thought you had gone rogue," Recognizing its rank and the register number, Zero replied,

"This is a diversionary tactic, Centurion T11. I simply pretend to be hacked and then join them…"

"Excellent tactic, I must say," Exvion chimed, "And you also bring the best specimen…" The Destroyer quickly said,

"Stay your hand, Unit E47! We shall taking care the prisoners according to the Imperial Code," Then Gruud, Tri-Edge, Shadx and lastly, Brutez joined them. The Mercenary still held the blood-drenched mace. It asked,

"How is the mission, Centurio?" Gungnir answered,

"The mission is accomplished 100%. Not only we retrieved Unit0X, we also caught its fellow survivors. Surely, the Tribune would be pleased with this…" Gruud took the ranger from the ground, while Clytemnestra was taken by Tri-Edge and one of Brutez's drones. Ran struggled, though he knew that he was no match for the Accretians. Defiant to the end, he inquired,

"What are you going to do with us?" The high-ranked Accretians turned to him. It was Gungnir who answered,

"You will be interrogated extensively about everything…your cooperation is expected,"

Cly spat, "What if we won't cooperate?" Brutez interjected,

"Then our scientists will find a way to make you cooperate. They have their ways…am I right, Unit E47?" The Scientist cyborg just nodded. Ranskye had heard the reputation of Accretian Scientists; they were the earnest student of knowledge but without any human ethics. Their inhuman acts sometimes were so unspeakable, even in the Accretian society. To this, Gungnir ordered,

"Enough! Take them! We will go to the extraction point…" Gruud and Tri-Edge immediately herded the Bellato and the Cora away from the destroyed settlement.

From the secluded place, Maya, Nelysa and Brood watched everything. Noticing the other Chandra twitched, the Hidden Soldier grabbed Maya's arm, asking,

"Where are you going?" Maya pulled her arm, as she answered curtly,

"Is it oblivious? I want to save Ranskye!" The younger Chandra warned,

"Too dangerous! They were outnumbered us…the best thing is to return to our camp and consult Major!"

Maya tried to protest, "But they will…" Brood interjected,

"Our camp is nearby; this won't take a time, Ma'am!" Eventually, the Chandra relented. Few hours later, everything was silent. To this, Brood said,

"Coast is clear…let's go!" The Bellatos immediately scram from their hideout…only to confront Volturi and Elmyra. The Hidden Soldier instinctively lifted his weapons, while Maya and Nelysa took defensive stance. Instead, the Inquisitor commented,

"Well…I know there must be some rats here after the rest gone,"

Brood snarled, "You are the same; your kin was taken by the Accretians but you didn't do anything to help her…" Volturi licked his lips,

"She wasn't my concern…my objective is to destroy infidels like you!"

"You are welcome to try then!" The Black Knight glanced to the female Cora. Lifting her staff and make gestures, she eventually shouted,

"Paimon, come forth!" On the ground, there was the Holy Alliance sigil and the red-armored warrior with a huge broadsword came out from the ground. To this, Maya whispered,

"Summoner…" Even so, the Paimon won't attack them until ordered to do so. Volturi nodded,

"This is so easy…" Suddenly, someone replied scathingly,

"Easy to crush your head…" Everyone turned to the direction, and saw Zephyr pointing his staff to the Inquisitor. Novem, Vernitz and Armbold also followed and they were holding their weapons.

"Don't twitch a muscle, Cora!" The wizard warned, "Or I love to reduce you into a bloody pulp,"

"Zephyrus…Flame of Freedom," Volturi muttered unpleasantly, "You really taking a risk, by threatening me before the summoned Paimon," Zephyr countered,

"The lapdog won't bite, as long as you take its master by the leash…your entourage is hesitant," he continued, "It is an honor for me to remember by the Inquisitor…"

The Black Knight hissed, "You, like the rest of your people are the reproach to DECEM. I made everyone prominent to be my particular interests. Probably, I would take your head off someday…"

"Then why should I let it happen?" Before the wizard acted, another voice shouted,

"Stay at where you are! If not, I will start to shoot indiscriminately!" From the smoke, Penthesilea and Atalanta appeared; they pointed the weapons toward the foes. Brood turned his rifle toward the incoming Cora Huntress. Novem commented,

"Now who will shoot who? You shot us first; you will kill your friends first…" Penthesilea barked,

"Do you think I care of this scumbag?" Volture looks offended, yet she continued,

"I simply kill all of you here, and then save Clytemnestra…" Vernitz mocked,

"Go on, and you will die like the rest of us…" Atalanta's hands were twitching to let the arrow off. For a moment, they were locked in a Mexican standoff. Nobody likes to draw the first blood. Frustrated, Maya blew off,

"Could we forget this thing for a moment? Ran and…the Cora were under the Accretian's grasp! We have to rescue them!" Zephyr replied,

"Yes, after I finish them all…"

Penthesilea added, "Be my guest then!" Not for long, a melodious voice called,

"What is going on here?" The warring parties turned around and saw…Teiresias with Alcyone and Almasyr. Everyone responded differently. Volturi gritted his teeth, while Zephyr was speechless and Novem looks displeased. The Dark Priest continued,

"And I heard the familiar voices around here…is that you, Zephyr? And Novem?" Slightly lowering his combat staff, the wizard replied,

"It seems you are alright, Teiresias…" The Mental Smith joined,

"We are fine, thank you…" she stopped, " Your eyes…"

Teiresias explained, "I lose my sight, but I don't regret it. DECEM grants me understanding beyond the mere sight. It was the blessing that we were survived during the disastrous night," Novem didn't answer as she caressed the scar on her right cheek. Zephyr said,

"It was my fault then…I wish," The Cora stopped him,

"Nobody is blamed here. We're in the battle…" Volturi quickly stopped,

"Sorry for interrupting here, but we're on the battle!" Then Teiresias said sternly,

"You are right! ISIS, came forth!" Instantly, the female avatar with a wheeled machine appeared behind the Dark Priest. The Bellatos quickly take their position, as they knew when a Cora summoned ISIS that would mean fight to death! However, Maya pleaded,

"Stop this! We might be enemies, but we have to help our friends from the Accretian's clutches! Please stop this!" Teiresias glanced,

"Why are you pleading to us, your enemies?" The Chandra said,

"Because your kind was with my friend…I thought it was easy to reason with you, than with the tin-cans," Volturi added, as he glanced to Almasyr

"Yes, it seems your girlfriend was taken by the Accretian…"

Almasyr shocked, "Clytemnestra? Why don't you help her?" Volturi gave an excuse,

"Those abominations were too many; not to mention that they brought a Warder with them!" The Warrior looks distraught. Then Zephyr spoke,

"Look, it seems we have the same objective here! You want to help your friends, and so are we! Probably, it was better to have a ceasefire here until we can help our respective peoples," The Black Knight mocked,

"Ridiculous, why should we trust you?" The wizard hissed,

"I don't talk with you! I talk with Priestess Teiresias! You know that it is better to save the lives than taking it! If you want to kill us here, that's fine! But you know well that it won't work to face the Accretians head-on, especially with the Warder!" The Dark Priest was silent, and she turned to the warrior,

"It is up to you, Leader…" Penthesilea added,

"I simply follow the leader!"

Almasyr was confused; with their strengths they could save Clytemnestra. However, that was uncertain.` Braving the risks, he asked,

"Do you promise to not attacking us, while attempting to save Clytemnestra? Do you promise with your honor?" Zephyr answered,

"I promise with my honor! That I won't attack you during the ceasefire!"

"That will be enough! Priestess! Penthesilea! Alcyone! Atalanta!" Instantly, the rest lowered their guards. To this, Volturi moaned,

"You must be losing your mind to make a ceasefire with our sworn enemies!" The Warrior retaliated,

"Our objective is simply to save Clytemnestra! Our war can be continued in other place…" he said, "If you don't like it, go as you like!" He turned to the Bellatos,

"I will endure this just for Cly's sake. Tell me where the Accretians are going…" Brood glanced to his superiors, who merely nodded. He explained,

"They are going to West…they say that there is an extraction point then…"

"Thanks! You hear it, Penthesilea?" The Stealer nodded,

"I will track them immediately…" With that, the Corites withdrew. Teiresias simply gave a sidelong glance toward Zephyr and Novem. Not for long, Maya asked,

"Now what?" The wizard simply said,

"Now follow them and help your friend…"

Author's Note: For a moment, the hostilities between the Corites and the Bellateans were set aside. Ranskye and Clytemnestra were betrayed by Zero or is that so? Just wait the attempt of free them on the next chapter, "The Deadly Game That Ever Played"