Chapter 5: Mercy

October 8, 0079

A female Federation officer with an armband indicating her as part of the Medical Corps entered Lieutenant Hazama's tent in a hurry.

"General Hazama!" She said while catching her breath and brings in, in strides, on what she came to say. "The special patient…He has awakened…And that's not all…He can speak our language…"

Upon entering the Hospital tent, Lieutenant General Hazama was greeted by the sight of a man, who has lost most of his left arm and left leg, lying on a bed and being attended by a young female nurse. Lieutenant Yanagida was with him also. The man, who coincidently has an eyepatch on his left, weakly smiled at Hazama.

"Ah, you must be the commander of this army, am I correct?"

Hazama promptly replied. "You're not mistaken. I'm Lieutenant General Hazama. Overall Commander of the Earth Federation Expeditionary Force sent here to the Special Region."

Earth Federation? Special Region? Well, it doesn't matter now… "Duran, King of the Fiefdom of Elbe. Now, just a useless cripple within enemy hands." He grimly stated.

"Sorry. We found you barely alive. By some miracle, you clung to life and our doctors managed to save you. I'm so sorry you had to lose a couple of your limbs." Hazama said, with measure of regret as his expression softened.

Duran snorted. "Don't be," he said, smirking. "Those are the wages of war, and you turned out to be the better. A win is a win, and a loss is a loss."

Hazama hardened his heart. "Since you are aware of your situation, I would like to ask some questions. Starting with, how did you come to know of our language?"

Duran gave Hazama a queered look. "I wondered about that myself, since reports say you spoke a language we are not familiar with. But when I woke up here, I suddenly understood what your people were saying, and surprisingly I could speak your language as well."

"I've heard of this, sir." Yanagida interposed. "It's called sudden genius. Sometimes an injury to the brain can cause a latent part of it to awaken and manifest ability or talent that never thought existed. Perhaps this is one case." He finished.

Hazama looked at Duran. Even in his severe condition, the man looks coherent enough in spite of an injury to his head. While Yanagida's explanation seems possible the truth might remain a mystery for a while. Right now he needs valuable information and what better way of getting it than coming from a king, who is presently a prisoner of war within their camp. And his sudden ability to understand and speak their language will make things easier if he would just cooperate.

"Your Majesty," Hazama began, become all honorific. "You mentioned Elbe as being a fiefdom. Is it part of the Empire?'

Duran raise a hand, indicating for a pause. "Before I answer any further, I wish to know. Am I the only survivor of the Allied forces?" he asked. Both Hazama and Yanagida looked at each other. After wordless conferring with each other, Hazama answered.

"No. You're not the only survivor, your Majesty. But there are very few left. They are presently under our custody. Normally, we would take prisoners of war. But since there is no existing treaty between the Empire and the Earth Federation, we may be forced to execute them on several grounds. For one, we don't have enough provisions to share with the prisoners for long; they'll become liability in the long run."

Duran remained silent for a while, dourly thinking about the fate of his compatriots although he is somewhat gladdened that there others who survived the failed assault on Alnus Hill besides him. For the sake of these few men, he'll do anything to try preserving their lives. He was ready to talk.

"General Hazama, I will do what I can to help in any way, but must implore to you. Please spare the lives of the few men remaining. Please care for them as long as you can. Until the day arrives that they may return to their homelands, to their families. I beg of you, not as a king but as fellow human being." Duran, with effort, sat up and bowed his head in humility.

"You mustn't strain yourself!" The nurse attending to him said but Duran brushed her aside.

"Please, I beg of you…" he further implored.

"I can't promise that, Your Majesty. But, as long I'm in charge, I'll see, to the best of ability, that your men are treated fairly and humanely as possible."

"General Hazama…" Yanagida thinks the General is being too hasty in his decision on this regard. Either that or he's trying to play King Duran here. Regardless, he does not openly object to what Hazama had said to the disabled king.

The ruler of Elbe, raised his head to face the victorious General. "That will do, I guess. It's a start. Ask away then. Oh, and by the way, please, do away with the 'Your Majesty' crap. I am no longer deserving of such an honor."

As ordered by the Emperor, the Empire forces set off all directions to do his will–conduct scorched earth tactics meant to hinder the advance of the invading army from another world. A village was presently being subjected to such a draconic measure as a platoon of Imperial horsemen was setting fires to the poor villager's homes. The villagers could only helpless watch as their dwellings were being razed, their live stocks being confiscated or killed, and some of their love ones being put to the sword.

"For the Federation!"

The Imperial soldiers turned to the sounds of battle cries coming from a large group of men in strange brown clothing who seems to have appeared out of nowhere and are charging within the village to engage them.

"Attack anybody who appears to be an Imperial! Be careful not to involve any noncombatants, protect them if you can!" Colonel Kerensky called to his men, the Kerensky Corps, letting them go on ahead while directing them from behind. But the Ukrainian commander is no stranger to combat as he shot dead a charging lancer, on horseback who tried to flank him, with his service pistol.

The rest of the Corps made short work of the remainder of the Imperial soldiers, who were no match against the Federation soldiers' firearms and superior numbers, for they outnumbered the Imperials three to one. To the Imperials these men in brown wielded strange and deadly magic and fought in an unorthodox manner that left most of them bewildered, and dead; thus the notion of them being branded as soldiers of the underworld.

The village was eventually secured with no casualties on the Federation side. A soldier comes up to Colonel Kerensky, saluting him before delivering his report. "Sir, we've captured four of the Imperials. One of them seems to be their commander."

"Go job. I'll see to them later. In the meantime gather some of the men and help these folks to put out those fires."

"Sir!" The soldier snappily answered, but before he could carry out the instruction given to him, the Colonel added further to the orders.

"Also, assist and see to wounded as well." He said, referring to the villagers.

Colonel Kerensky's attention then turned to the burning houses. With no proper firefighting equipment many of these building are beyond saving. This made him feel frustrated and curses the Empire for this atrocious act, inflicted even upon the inhabitants of this world.

An old woman, a native of the village, came into view and hobbled towards the Colonel. She clings to him with shaky hands and begins to cry. Although he did not understand what she was saying he could only surmise that she was expressing gratitude for what he and his men did, saving them from the tyranny wroth by the Imperial soldiers upon their village. He suddenly began to tear up.

"Mama…"

Thoughts of his mother back in his native Ukraine flooded his thoughts as this woman greatly reminded of her. Zeon overrun his homeland during early months of the One Year War and while he would have preferred to fight in the East European front he was assigned to the Far East Asia Theater instead. He doesn't even know if his mother is alright, since the main Zeon force in Europe has completely occupied his place of birth Odessa, Ukraine.

Colonel Kerensky gently held the old woman. "It is all right now. You are now safe…"

Suddenly a man, that must be the elderly's son, who must about the Colonel's age but younger by a couple of years, took grab of her and pulled her away from him, angrily saying something to the Federation commander. He was taken aback by the odd display of anger exhibited by the man but soon noticed similar outbursts coming from some of the other village folk directed towards his men.

"What's wrong with you people? We just saved you from those Imperial bastards!"

"They're mad at us because they think we're the cause of their misfortune. So they say." The Kerensky Corps' head translator came up and explained this to the Colonel.

"But doesn't make any sense-"

A rock hit him on the brow, drawing a wound. It came from woman's adult son. Some of the other villagers followed the man's example and started picking up rocks and anything to throw at the Earth Federation soldiers. Shots were fired.

"Cease fire! Cease fire, damn it!" the Colonel ordered as he gently touched his wound.

There was a moment of silence before the sounds of crying and wailing chimed in. Three of the villagers, including a little girl, were shot, their conditions uncertain. The son of the old woman was also among those gunned as she cradles him on her lap while weeping. She turns to face Colonel Kerensky with a teary-eyed look, and was shouting at him. He saw the rest of the villagers, giving him and his men angry and accusing stares but they have resigned themselves and offered no further resistance.

The Colonel loudly cursed. He turns around. "Order to all to move out, we're leaving this place! And take the prisoners along!" he barked

"But sir, what of these people?" the head translator asked. The Colonel glared at him, he then glances back at the mourning villagers.

"We're no longer welcome here."

The four Imperial prisoners were forced to kneel while their hands were tied behind their back. They were dragged well away from the contingent which stopped some distance away from the burning village they left behind. Colonel Kerensky bends and grabs the leader of the bunch, beginning the man's interrogation.

"Tell me! Why were those villagers angry with us?"

The translator relayed what the Colonel said in the native language of the tied up prisoner. The man remained silent however. Colonel Kerensky whipped out his pistol and shot one of the bound soldiers furthest from the group, dead. The remaining two Imperial soldiers were jarred by their fellow's death, but the leader remained stoic and unbending.

"TELL ME!"

The Imperial Commander was saying something loudly at his men.

"What is he saying?" the Colonel asked the head translator.

"He said to his men, not to say anything to us barbarians, and that they should die willingly for the glory of their emperor."

That was not answer Colonel Kerensky wanted to hear. He shot another soldier down, leaving only one plus the commander. At this point the remaining soldier caved in and began to babble just so as to save his skin.

Kerensky looked to the translator. "Translate."

The translator got the gist of it, informing the Colonel of the scorched earth tactics imposed by Emperor over the communities between Alnus up to Imperial Capital. The Imperial soldiers were also ordered to incite fear and distrust among the people over the Soldiers of the Underworld, which is the Kerensky Corps and the rest of the Earth Federation Expeditionary Force are being portrayed.

The Imperial commander began to laugh as he finally spoke up. The translator paraphrased his words.

"Now no one will trust you. No one will help you with your invasion. Your forces will be put to a standstill. We wiill rise up from the ashes and when the time come we will be victorious over you barbarians. For the Emperor! For the Em-"

Colonel Kerensky finally shot the annoying man to death. He then trains the gun to the final prisoner, who cries and begs for mercy–he received no such reprieve.

"Radio Command. Tell them we're returning to base." Colonel Kerensky ordered once he rejoined with the rest of the outfit.

"Sir, I can't contact base. All I'm getting is static, sir." The radioman said.

"What does that even mean?" the Colonel groaned.

"I'm tuned in to the right frequency but as I said, sir. I hear nothing but noise, as if the base is not there."

This got Colonel Kerensky a bit worried. Regardless it is only logical to head back to base after this incident, as he'll have to file in a report.

"Keep on trying." He boarded at the back of his command vehicle. "Men, we're move out! We'll stop and set up camp as soon it gets dark!"

After the business with the summary execution, the Kerensky Corps boarded their waiting vehicles and departed the area unaware of a lone observer from a distance who watched the drama that unfolded and came to a grim conclusion.

"Hehehe…"

In another undisclosed location many miles away from Alnus, the Kuno Battalion was not faring well either in their exploration and investigation of the zone designated by the Earth Federation Expeditionary Force as the Special Region, after stumbling upon a deserted village which showed some signs of a hasty departure by its inhabitants. Two men of the group got poisoned after drinking the water from the village's well.

"Medic! Somebody get a medic here on the double! Both Daisuke and Hirohi got poisoned!"

Both of the victims were cringing on the ground while clutching their stomachs, their faces showing that they were experiencing excruciating pain.

"Hang in there you two. Help is here." One of their fellows said as the group's medic eventually came and started to administer aid.

Major Kuno shifted his attention from the scene and looked around the empty village, both his hands grasping the upturned hilt of his katana with its sheathed tip resting on the ground. He grips hard the handle of his sword as he curses of what has befallen to a couple of his men.

"Damn these curs! Resorting to such underhanded tactics. They shall pay dearly for this. This I swear!" he muttered.

After the poisoning incident he had ordered his men not touch anything suspected to be a booby trap, and to be wary of any ambushes. So far none these fears, besides the poisoned well, materialized. A soldier came before Major Kuno to convey his findings.

"Report!" the Major intoned in a commanding manner.

"There isn't a single soul in this village, sir. However, telltale signs indicate that the inhabitants of this place were made to leave against their will. Their tracks lead towards the mountains to the east."

"So they set up this village as a trap, hoping to poison as many of us as possible. How dastardly of them indeed." the Major mused.

"Shall we pursue them, Major?"

"Nay, we'll hold position here and fortify the perimeter. I will however want a small scouting group to follow and observe them. Go now, make it so."

"Sir!"

The Major could read the enemy's plan. They intend to make us wary and thus slow our progress, he thought. A somewhat simple tactic, depriving the enemy an easy road to victory by setting up hindrances like traps and barring them access to readily available resources in the field that would be of great help in their operation, both short and long term.

The people taken would probably serve as hostages or human shields–an added complication that they may be force to handle. If it were just him he would want to rescue the captives but that might be what the enemy wants them to do and set up a trap for his men. Such a conundrum Major Kuno was having.

Third Recon had passed by a settlement called Coda, having officially made first friendly contact with natives of this world, and were continuing on with their reconnaissance while there are still several daylight hours available to them.

Youji Itami took point in the three vehicle convoy with his mobile suit, the RGM-79 (G), or simply called Jim by the uninitiated. Next were Kurata, Kuwahara, and Sergent Tomita on the Lakota; while the rest followed within confines of the Bloodhound.

The Jim was something new to Itami, for it had actual legs as opposed to the caterpillar-tracked Guntank; and due to that the ride was somewhat bumpy to say the lease, even if had gyros that are meant to suppress such jerky motions within the cockpit. He had the cockpit door located at the mobile suit's chest opened while setting the Jim on auto-pilot, allowing him to the view the sights in their natural colors with his own eyes and not through the Jim's electronic optics which would have spoiled the ambiance. Itami looked towards the sky.

"The sky is so blue, not a hint of haze. No doubt this is another world, not like our Earth. So polluted and the colony drop didn't help." Itami said while smiling in admiration at the unspoiled environment around.

"There are still such places back home you now." Kurata answered, through the team's commlink. "Hokkaido for one. But yeah, unless something is really done about it sooner or later, Earth will become an uninhabitable wasteland not suitable for human existence."

Itami smirked, somewhat amazed by the young Sergeant's view. "We're doing it now, don't you know?" he answered. "The Space Colony Plan. Been out for fifty years now, and half of the human race has migrated into space. The plan was to let the planet heal eventually. Until then life will go on in space and in the nearby planets like Mars."

"But Lieutenant, with this new world, doesn't that partially solve our problem of overpopulation and the depleting of resources of Earth?" Kurata offered.

"I'm sure our government and military are thinking the same thing, Kurata. But I don't relish the idea of dumping our problems to the people of this world. It's just not right." Itami voiced.

"Changing the subject a bit, um, Lieutenant, I have a confession to make." Kurata said, sounding uncomfortable.

"What is it? I hope it's not what I think it is, for I really don't swing that way."

"What? No! That's not it! And for the record, I'm a straight guy!" Kurata went all defensive.

"Relex, Kurata, I was just pulling your leg." Itami could almost see Kurata pouting at the Lakota's wheel.

"Very funny…" the young Sergeant said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Hey, I sorry man, really! Tell me then; what were you going to confess?" Itami was sounding all interested, just as to make it up with Kurata.

"Alright, I'm going out on limb with this, reputation and all, but here goes. I'm a certified otaku just like you, sir!" Kurata breathed, feeling relieved now that it's out of his system.

"That's it?" Itami flatly answered.

"What do you mean, that's it? I just exposed myself as an otaku, since I couldn't bear to watch you openly enjoying your stuff while I keep my passions a secret like some weirdo. And all you could say is, that's it?" Kurata was at his wits.

"Hey, chill out man! I already know that you're a fellow otaku." Itami mentioned but Kurata does not seem to hear.

"And just when I was about share something interesting- Wait. What? You knew already?"

"Since we first met, remember?"

"But how?"

"Your body language that time, the slip with the lingo, it after all takes one to know one, right?"

"Wow, really? You could have said something before!"

"Nah, I'm not into privy with other people's lives, secret or otherwise. Besides, if you haven't known yet, pop over there is kinda like otaku himself."

"Hmph. While you boys are into pretty girls who wear flashy costumes, I'm more oriented with giant monster themes. The ones wherein they destroys and terrorizes cities and gets to face full might of the military." Sergeant Major Kuwahara finished, with a sense pride from himself.

"You're totally old, pops." Kurata said, sounding a bit condescending.

"What was that, Kurata, you badmouthing my kind of thing? One hundred pushups and sit-ups for you, mister, once we get back!" Kuwahara menacingly swore.

Kurata fervently apologized. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"Men and their hobbies." muttered Shino, who was listing to the chatter on the radio.

Private Second Class Rodriguez has been stealing some glances at Kurabayashi which she notices but decides to ignore. The young Filipino Private finally decided to say to her of what was on his mind.

"Say, Sarge, what do like in a man?"

"Excuse me?" Kuribayashi said, taken aback and at the same time became annoyed by that out of the blue query by the youngest member of Third Recon.

"You know," shrugging his shoulders. "In case someone would like to you know better. Perhaps have a talk over drinks. Those kind of things.

"Know your place, private! We're not on some picnic here you know. Sorry to crush your dreams but I have no time wasting on such silly dalliance coming from you. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, Sergeant, ma 'am!" Rodriguez answered. When Kuribayashi was left to her own devices once again, Rodriguez muttered something. "Bruha…"

"What was that?" she shot back, confronting the Filipino again.

"Nothing, sarge, just something I got in my throat. Bru-bru-bru-bruha!" he coughed.

Private Linguine gave Rodriquez a disapproving look and a shake of the head. "No! No! No! That is no way of treating the beauteous Sergeant Kuribayashi, Private," he said, his Italian accent very evident. "You should be more discrete in your approach and choice of words if you wish to gain her favor. Am I not correct, Sergeant?"

Shino could not believe this. "Alright, the next guy who says something stupid, or try to hit on me, will get a bullet on knee." She draws her pistol out, brandishing it. "I'm deadly serious!"

"Woah! Woah! Easy there, Sergeant!"

"Watch where you're pointing that thing!"

The Papua New Guinean, Private Morgan, who was manning the 20mm above, chucked, exposing his perfect pearly whites. "Definitely, not going to be a boring patrol."

"Knock it off Kuribayashi! And that goes for the rest of you back there!" Sergeant Major Kuwahara scolded over the comm. Kuribayashi could be heard whining on why she was being reprimanded as well, when she is the one being harassed.

Itami grinned to himself. Kuribayashi hasn't changed one bit, he amusingly thought. Maybe a bit more aggressive than usual but he senses the girl has good heart in all that gung-ho temperament of hers. She ought to loosen up sometimes, he mused.

A whiff from the wind caught Itami's attention. Something was burning. He did not have to look far for the reason, for he saw a huge column of black smoke billowing from a forest a couple of miles to their side.

"Pops, do you see what I'm seeing?" Itami said over the comm.

Kuwahara responded. "We see it. What are your orders, Commander?"

"Let's have a closer look, but stay frosty everyone." Itami cautioned.

"Roger that!" the old Sergeant Major replied.

Itami sat back in the cockpit but left the hatch open. He then had the Jim's camera zoom in to have a better look at the situation up ahead.

"I see something, over by the tree line. About a klick or so…" Itami's eyes went wide in awe at what he saw on the monitor. "I can't believe it."

"What is it? What do you see?" Kuwahara asked.

"It's a dragon." Itami mumbled.

"You mean it's the Empire, they're here?" Kurata said.

"No. It's not a dragon rider." Itami replied. "This one's bigger. Much. Much bigger…"

Third Recon halted in its tracks some distance away from the burning forest and the wheeling dragon. Apparently it is this creature that is responsible for the razing the forest, using its destructive fiery breath. It seems to have not detected them yet, but more likely it's ignoring them for now since they're practically in the open and the dragon would have seen them in the air even from a far. They prepared themselves for the worst however, should it come to that.

Kurata looked up at Itami who stood out of the Jim's opening by the chest. "Is it normal for a fire breathing dragons to be burning forests down for no good reason, Lieutenant?"

"No they don't" Itmai said, sounding like an expert on the subject. He has switched to binos to observe the flying beast's behavior. "Not if something pissed it off. Or maybe..."

A loud menacing roar suddenly came from the dragon, causing everybody in Third Recon to jump with a start, bearing their weapons at the ready towards the thing. The dragon was now looking at them. But for Itami he thought the monster's eyes were looking directly at him, and him only. He felt a cold chill go down his spine because of that.

"Did that dragon just give me the evil stare?" Itami quaked.

Kuribayashi snickered. "Oooh! It must be love at first sight."

"Ha ha ha. Very funny, Kuribiyashi-chan." Itami said, going along with joke. Though the overall situation is no laughing matter, Itami thought.

"It must think the Jim is threat. Get ready, everyone!" Kurakawa warned. "Especially you Itami! We will be needing that Jim of yours!" he added.

The dragon roared again but then suddenly flew away from the burning forest and away from Third Recon.

"It's skedaddling? But why?" Kurata asked.

"Maybe the mobile suit scared it off, aye, Lieutenant?" Morgan offered.

"I don't know. Something is not right here." Itami contemplated.

"Lieutenant Itamy!" Linguine called out. "If I remembered correctly, the elder back at Coda village mentioned of a settlement, Koun I believe he said, right about here in these parts."

"Shit!" It finally dawned on Itami. The dragon must have attacked that settlement. He looks at were the fire is at its strongest.

"I know what you're thinking, son, but it's not a good idea to go down. Not with that blaze." Kuwahara advised Itami.

The Lieutenant of Third Recon silently cursed. By the time the fires die out it would be too late. He then notices the fortuitous appearance of thunderclouds overhead–right above the fires–a forthcoming sign of heavy rains to come as a flash of lightning illuminated the sky.

"We'll wait then." he said.

"Am I…going to die? Here?"

Tuka Luna Marceau, an elf of the elven community of Kuon, stood in lamentation within the bottom of the village's well, after being toss in by her father–who is believed to have been killed by the flame dragon that attacked their village. She does not know how long she has been down here but she's all wet and cold due to the well's water.

"Father, you're not really dead, are you?" she croaked, her throat felt dry in spite of all the moisture around her.

She had been crying but all the tears in her eyes have all dried up a long time ago. The pain of losing everyone, the village, her father was unbearably still there however. There is no longer any reason for her to live, she just wished death would come and claim her as well.

Tuka started, breaking out of her grief as she thought she felt the ground shake under her feet. She looked at the water's surface; there was nothing for a couple of moments until it rippled and began to increase in intensity along with a growing sound of something large and heavy lumbering above ground.

"The dragon…It finally came back to finish me off…" She shivered not just from the dampness but from the rising fear inside her. The fearing dying, dying a horrible death, the fear of dying alone.

"No, I don't want die…Oh, please father, save me…save me…save me…." It became a litany for Tuka, repeating the same phrase over and over, almost like a prayer. She thought she could hear voices, voices of the departed, of her best friend Yuno, of her father. They've come to pick her up, she thought; a reunion she most definitely welcomes. For the first since the nightmare began, Tuka felt a peaceful resignation wash over, embraces it with open arms as she peers to the heavens at the end of an upraised tunnel.

"Yuno…Father…I'm ready-" Something greeting the elfmaid from above and there was blackness afterwards.

"It's a person!"

Itami said in shock, his torch definitely outlining a figure half submerged in the well's water. The bucket he threw down, in the hopes of drawing out something to drink, lay floating next to the unconscious individual who happens to be a woman. Noticing this, Kuribayashi, who is with Itami, fumed at her CO.

"You bonked her! Didn't you?"

Itami was indignant. "How should I know somebody is down here? She didn't even make a peep!"

"Sergeant Kurokawa, everyone! Come, quick! We got a possible live one here!" said Shino, ignoring the Lieutenant.

Itami handed his flashlight to Kuribayashi. "I'm going to hoist her up using the Jim!"

He had the mobile suit go on all fours above the well and then used the cockpit's hoist cable to lower himself down into the shaft until he reached the bottom where the girl lay. Itami gently went to work, strapping her to a shared harness he wore, allowing her to be safely carried.

"She's so light…" Itami whispered when she cradled her. "Delicate pointy ears, fine features, she definitely is-"

"Hey, what's taking so long down there, Lieutenant? I hope you're not doing anything perverted to her? Kuribayshi hollered.

"I wouldn't dream of it, Kuribayashi-chan." Itami answered back. Of course he would but this is not the time, place, or occasion for such a thing, it just would be in bad taste even for him. Besides, he cannot imagine what she must have gone through.

The girl stirred and mumbled something which Itami didn't understand on their way up. Elven, most likely he thought. Her eyes weakly fluttered as she strained to look at his face.

"It's alright, you're safe now," he said to her softly. She seems to say something and smiles before going unconscious again.

"Lieutenant! Do you know what she is?" Kurata excitedly proclaiming, unable to hold his excitement.

"Of course I do. She's an elf." Itami said, as he plodded to find a spot to sit and drain his soggy boots.

"Not just an elf. But a real, living, breathing, pointy-eared, long-haired blonde beauty of an elf, which any dedicated otaku dreams of meeting, and we have one right before us!" Kurata was raving at this point to the irritation of Kuribayashi.

"Knock it off, Kurata! She's not a freak show!"

"Diwata."

"Eh, what was that?" Morgon asked, hearing Rodriguez's mutter.

"It's what we call 'elves' from where I come from. Thought the term fits more with fairies but looking at her, she definitely looks like a fairy to me."

Linguine shakes his in lament. "Poor girl, to be only survivor from all of this…How tragic." he sniffed.

"If could excuse me gentlemen, I would like to work with the patient, in private. Shino, if you may?" Sergeant Mari Kurokawa gave Kuribayashi a sign, referring to the captive audience, before attending to the unconscious elf.

"You heard the doc. Scram, before I beat you all with a stick!" Kuribayashi glowered, shaking her fist with emphasis. The men reluctantly complied lest they get feel her wrath.

Sergeant Major Kuwahara came to stand where Itami sat, who was vainly trying to dry his boots. "So what now, son?"

"Well, we can't continue with our reconnaissance. Not with her with us." Itami pointed at the elf with his boot. He saw that she was being cared for by Third Recon's field medic, Kurokawa.

"No. I guess not." Kuwahara agreed. "So I ask you again, what now?"

"You're testing me, aren't you, old man?" Itami suspiciously asked the older officer. Kuwahara grunted.

"Nothing of the sort." he said while grinning.

"Yeah, right. If it were up to me, I would have her taken care of by her own kind, or at least by someone familiar with elves. I may love reading about them or watching them on TV, but I'm no real expert on their biology and stuff. Best thing we could do is drop her off back at Coda."

"Then it's settled then. We head back to Coda. You're doing the right thing here, Youji."

"Yeah, I guess so." Itami said, feeling smug. "You don't happen to have an extra pair of boots with you, do you?"

As promised the Kerensky Corps set up camp in the early hours before dusk, and estimate that would be back in base, in Alnus, if they push forth for an entire day tomorrow.

Entirely composed of Russians and of other ethnic groups in the former Russian Federation, they still remember to have a good time, no matter where or what the circumstances are. Many of there were conducting folk dances around a large bonfire, accompanied by singing and the playing of native musical instruments which they brought along. As for their commander, Colonel Kerensky, the Ukrainian officer was by himself, drinking vodka in one corner and has ordered not be disturbed unless necessary. He was drinking to forget.

"Dam dos Empier varvar! Making da locals tu go agenst as. Butt uh niids dem! Wee niid no locals tu defeet da Empier!" He gulps down another shot but then realizes his bottle was now empty. "Sambadee get me anader batle!" he calls out.

Sounds of crass whistling and catcalling coming from the campfire area broke the pitiful stupor the Colonel was having. Not much, but enough to shift away his attention from the bottle. Peering groggily, he spies the source of the commotion. A dark-haired girl, in her early teens, strutted casually into the main camp of the Kerensky Corps. What made the men woo over her was the black outfit she wore which reminisces that of the bygone Victorian age but more provocative, more gothic. And that the fact she was caring a big ass, wicked purple axe over her shoulders with ease, did not seem to bother the men gathering around her. Many were drunk or were on their way there.

"Greetings to you gentlemen. It is a pleasure to be an acquaintance to you all this evening." said the girl, surprisingly in a language they could understand.

This startling development brought out some amazed stares and gasps from the men. Drunken but curious, Colonel Kerensky hobbled toward the strange girl who was smirking haughtily.

"Who are u litel gerl? Wat are u dooing hir all alone? Wer are yor perents? End wer deed u leern ower language?" the drunken Colonel slurred, his legs seeming ready to give way.

"My name?" she started, acting all cutesy innocent at first and then her expression turns all darkly. "I am Rory Mercury. As to my parents, they have long passed away from this world. A very sad tale I tell you but I neither have the time nor the inclination of sharing it with any of you. The reason, you'll learn very soon. "

Colonel Kerensky was beginning not to like this girl, her attitude, her snickering smile. Something is off here and he ould not put his finger on what it is. The girl named Rory continued on speaking.

"How did I learn to speak your tongue? It was quite easy really. I just skulked within the shadows and listened to how you all spoke. Every word that came from your mouths I absorbed. In turn they give me new insight, and before you know it I've learned a new language."

The intoxicated Colonel shook his head in confusion. "Wait, U sed skulk in da shadows? How u get pass da sentrees?"

"Oh, you mean the men I met before coming before you? I'm afraid they have gone ahead you, having become initial offerings to the Lord I serve–Emroy, the God of Darkness, War, Death, Violence, and Insanity!"

With a quick motion, Rory drew her halberd in a wide circular arc around her, which sliced anyone within its deadly path to death, including Colonel Kerensky!

"But don't worry, you will all soon join them, for Emroy commends your deeds and wishes to savor each and every one of you." She wickedly smiled while the blood of her victims began to splatter on her person, giving her a horrific, sinister, and bloody look.

"W-What is she?"

"Some kind of monster?"

"She just killed, Colonel Kerensky!"

"Not only him, but a lot of our comrades!"

"So much blood…"

The remaining soldiers of the Kerensky Corps were shocked beyond measure over the extreme display of violence, that some literally peed and crapped in their pants. Others were too paralyzed to move, falsely hoping that they would not be targeted by this inhuman girl but were horribly mistaken. She slashed and sliced left and right with no regards to anyone, girlishly giggling all the way. Some of the soldier have finally recovered from the initial shock and made a grab for their weapons.

"Eat lead, you little bitch!"

They open fired, regardless whether they're actually hitting the girl or their fellow soldiers out of panic. Several fell to friendly fire. Rory was fast, so fast in her movements that she could almost out run the spray of bullets. Almost. Eventually the men could predict her actions and compensate.

"Concentrate your fire!"

The gothic-clad girl quivered as she was riddle with bullets before she dropped to the ground, unmoving.

"Is she dead?"

The answer became apparent when her fallen body suddenly flipped back upright. The metal slugs the filled her petite frame began popping out her and fell at her feet. To the awe of the men surrounding her, the many wounds she received were rapidly closing until they healed nicely, leaving the girl's dress worse for wear but otherwise the girl herself was unscathed. Rory twisted her head sideways, taking out the kinks.

"Now that really hurt." she said huskily with an evil gleam in her eyes. And the screaming and tearing of flesh continued.

The lone surviving member of the Kerensky Corps stumbled on his back and backpedaled away from the menacing black-clad girl who was glowering over him.

"You. You're the one that killed that little girl back at the village, aren't you? Using this?" She showed the man the standard issue bullpup assault rifle that the Federation military uses, which she held in her free hand, easily hefting it as if it weighted nothing. Her fingers were all in the right places, including on the trigger of the weapon.

"I didn't mean to! I wasn't even aiming at her, I swear! It was an accident!" the lone soldier blurred.

"In war and violence, there are no accidents, only the ends justified by the means. You killed them because you thought to protect yourselves. Oh, but I'm not criticizing you or anything. It's just that you're actions have brought the attention of Emroy himself, and he has entrusted me, his Apostle, to deliver you to him."

Rory examined the foreign weapon in her more closely, almost forgetting about the quivering man at her feet. She then gets to pull its trigger. Fortunately the rifle was pointed up when it went into full auto no thanks to the girl's tinkering, sending the gun's rounds into the air. She was shocked but amazed as well.

"What force it gave. The reverberating feel it excluded. It's just so exhilarating!" She shivered with dark delight. Rory then pointed the gun at the lone soldier, causing him to cower. "Truly, a perfect weapon for killing!"

"No! Please!" the soldier begged.

She pulled the trigger. Nothing happens. "Oh? What happened? Doesn't work anymore? Oh, well, a pity." She tosses the rifle aside, not realizing it is empty. Her dark eyes brightened as she kneels before the cringing man.

"Rejoice! For I see this happening as sign from Emroy himself. Your death has been put on reprieve it seems, temporarily that is though." Rory wickedly smiled at him. "A perfect opportunity, for I've been meaning to ask you this, since you're the only one left." She turns to look at the man's dead comrades then back at him.

"I would like to know more about you, and your fellows, from whence you cam. You so call Soldiers of the Underworld that I've been greatly heard about lately. Tell me all I need to hear, and might give a good word about you to my lord. Mmm?"

In spite of the horrible ordeal he was going through, the surviving soldier of the Kerensky Corps somehow had the will to tell the girl called Rory of all he could divulge, big or small, delaying the evitable. Rory got to learn about the Earth Federation Forces, of their reasons being here, and of what they are cable of. The whole affair between the two lasted the whole night until the breaking of dawn,

Rory was handling her wicked purple halberd in anticipation, to perform the final sacrificial offering to her dark deity over the lone Federation soldier, who knelt, woefully wailing for his life to be spared.

"Oh, God please! I don't want to die!"

"Who is this God you speak? What is his name?" she asked.

Puzzled but still retaining some of his wit, he answered the girl. "From where I come from, our God has no name. He is simply, God, Almighty but merciful and compassionate."

"Interesting. And you have been praying to this God, with no name, of yours in the hopes your life would spared from my God, Emroy?"

"I…don't know. I just want to live…"

She knelt and grasps the man by the chin. "Grow a pair, won't you!" she hissed, her whimsical nature replaced a feeling of scone towards the wretched man. "At least face your ultimate fate with dignity, it's more than you deserve for killing that girl."

The man suddenly stopped whimpering. "You're right. How could go back and face my parents. Me, a child killer. Better I be forgotten and rather be remembered for who I was." He bleakly faced the goth clad, axe-wielding girl in resignation.

"Kill me. Make it quick, and be done with it…" he finishes, bowing his head and waiting for his fate.

Something spark within Rory, something she though she lost a long time ago, when the man spoke the way he did. Parents, she did have them before, didn't she? But why was the thought of it affecting her so much right now. And to remember who she was before she became an Apostle to agod. These feelings were becoming painful for her to bear that it made her scream outright, startling the soldier out of his listless state.

To the horror of the man, he saw the girl, now with hate filled eyes directed at him, raise her halberd high into the air with both hands, as the heavy blade glinted from the first rays of the morning sun the broke out from the horizon. It then made its final descent towards him…