Gate: In the Company of Shadows
Chapter 20
Monetary Motives
[REDACTED] BRISTOL [REDACTED] - SHADOW CO.
SITE HOTEL GAMMA, FALMART
IMPERIAL CALENDAR 687 - 18:35:53
"Havana, ooh na-na~ Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh na-na~"
The music from Angel's playlist continued to play softly from the Bluetooth speaker in the background, while the squad was gathered around a table in his room. Unlike a standard military barracks, the private lodging that Shadow Company contractors received was modern, and surprisingly, rather spacious. Though considering the quality of their work, good accommodations would be necessary in order to keep them satisfied and at peak efficiency.
A decent amount of time had passed since the living quarters were installed, allowing the Shadows stationed at Site Hotel Gamma to finally move out from the plain squad tents that they were first setup during their initial arrival in the Special Region. Now, every Shadow resided in their own air conditioned room with everything they could possibly need to live comfortably, while also being able to bring in their own personal belongings to spice it up to their individual preferences.
Bishop squad was playing poker, having a good time as they chatted and relaxed with each other, momentarily forgetting about all their worries stemming from their real world responsibilities.
"And then I asked - "Fifty dollars for casino parking? In this economy?" - It was complete bullshit I tell you!" Ronin exclaimed nearby, leaning back against the couch cushions and kicking his feet up on the coffee table, draping an arm over the back as he gazed at the flat screen TV in front of him.
Viper shook his head and chuckled at the Japanese man sitting across from him on the L shaped couch, clearly amused by his complaints, which he wasn't at all taking seriously. "You won five hundred at the blackjack tables," He reminded Ronin, pointing a finger at him as he raised a bottle of beer to his lips to take a swig. "I don't think you get to complain about parking prices."
"I made four-fifty," Ronin corrected, giving his mentor a pointed look before glancing back at the screen. "You know, because of parking expenses?"
Well at least some of them were having a good time. The ones currently playing Poker on the other hand?
Not so much…
"Bloody hell…" Bristol groaned, holding a hand up to his forehead and leaning back in his seat. He inspected the cards in his hands with a deep frown, and judging by the way that Vale had just folded earlier, his odds weren't looking too good either. "I fold…" He relented with a tired sigh, discarding his current hand.
Angel eyed him as he threw the cards down, giving a confidant and shit eating grin as his eyes flickered between him and their squad leader. "You two are basically handing me these wins!" He exclaimed, putting his own cards down before reaching to scoop in the chips from the center. "What happened to your guy's confidence? Is gambling with your lives in the field really that much easier than gambling with some chips at a table?"
"Okay then mister gambler, why don't we just replace the chips with a revolver with one in the chamber instead?" Bristol huffed out in annoyance, crossing his arms. "See how confident you are when the stakes are raised…"
"How morbid of you, Bristol," Viper commented offhandedly, glancing back at the others sitting around the table behind them. "Angel, pass me another beer will ya?" He asked, raising an empty bottle up and shaking it.
"Sure, sure," Angel chuckled softly, nonchalantly dismissing him with a wave of his hand. He leaned back, stretching out a hand to reach for the mini fridge nearby without having to get up and leave from the comfort of his seat. He pulled the handle from the side, letting the fridge open with an audible hiss, before grabbing a bottle by the neck and tossing it towards Viper's waiting hands. "As fun as Russian roulette would seem, I'd rather not be the one to explain to Oxide why my walls are painted a new shade of red, or why Bishop is down a member. Plus, knowing him, he'd probably make me clean it up all by myself too…"
"Well then you'd have your work cut out for you," Vale spoke up nearby, leaning forward with a smirk as he rested his arms on the backrest of his chair, which was turned away from the table. "Bristol's got quite a bit of brain in that head of his." He joked sarcastically at his expense.
Bristol took the comment in stride, flashy a toothy grin as he held a hand over his heart. "Of course! There's no one else in the world that could be smarter than me-"
"Says the man who likes beans on toast…" Viper cut him off, not bothering to turn around as he focused his attention on the screen in front of him. "I wonder what that Risa chick thinks about your dietary preferences?"
The Brit sputtered, before glaring at the marksman's back, hoping to burn a hole through him.
Oh, so he wants to go there, huh?
"Well excuse me! At least my preferences are of earthly origins, Mister 'I like blondes in knight armor.'"
"Oof, low blow there, Bristol," Vale said with a wince. "But he's got you there, Vipes."
Viper turned his head around just a bit, his barely restrained smirk barely visible from the corner of his lips. "Didn't we catch you starin' at that fox girl's ass back at Alnus?" He shot back easily.
"Oh my God…" Vale groaned with a facepalm, before running his hand down his face. "One time! It was one time, and also an accident! Can we please not get into this again?" He all but begged them.
The rest of the team all collectively laughed at their squad leader's embarrassed suffering, with Bristol leaning over to firmly pat his shoulder in reassurance. "It's okay Vale, we don't kink shame here." He said as Vale shrugged his hand off.
"Yeah, yeah. Very funny, guys…" Vale sighed, reaching for his drink on the table. He raised the bottle up to his lips, before pausing with it just inches away. "Say… has Risa told you anything interesting recently?"
Bristol glanced at Vale weirdly as he raised a brow up at him. The sudden question had caught him off guard, but he recovered quickly enough. "Anything Interesting? Uh… not very specific, Vale. What exactly do you mean by that?" He asked.
"I mean like anything new," Vale clarified, "She's in a completely different version of Earth, where World War Three didn't happen. The company's unexpected presence must have shaken shit up like crazy, especially considering what went down back in Japan."
"That's one way of putting it…" He said, glancing out the nearby window and spotting the star spangled banner on a flagpole waving in the wind just outside. Their little business trip to Japan did not at all go the way that he expected it to. But considering the bad hand they were dealt, the company handled it as well as they could have. After all, it could have been much worse…
Bristol pulled out his phone, before opening his text messages and scrolling through past conversations with Risa. He stopped scrolling once he found a couple of blue colored hyperlinks that stood out from the sea of white letters. Tapping on it with his thumb, his phone opened up his browser, redirecting him to several articles and news reports.
"You fellas mind if I broadcast it on the telly?"
Viper shrugged, leaning back against the couch as he gestured towards the TV. "Go ahead, be my guest. Not like this movie's very interesting anyways…" He said, with Ronin nodding in agreement.
With their permission voiced, Bristol projected a news report from his phone, the screen changing to display a man standing behind a podium of mics, with the U.S. flag behind him as cameras flashed periodically.
"Lange is an investigative journalist who overstepped her boundaries. She was arrested and taken into custody by FBI agents in Japan without incident."
The screen changed to a news anchor in a red business dress, sitting behind her desk as she shuffled papers and looked straight at the camera, before beginning to read off a teleprompter offscreen.
"That was a spokesperson from the United States Department of Justice, on the arrest of Japanese investigative journalist Lila Lange on Friday." The anchor continued to speak as a photo of Lila appeared on screen. She was dressed in blue skinny jeans with an open black blazer over a purple button up shirt as she was being put in cuffs in the street. But what really caught them off guard though, was that the woman did not at all look Japanese - judging by her blonde hair and blue eyes.
"The arrest happened in regards to the massive leak that occurred earlier this week, where Lila Lange published an exposé on her website, revealing that U.S. President Dirrell and the head of the CIA, Director Carter have been engaged in talks with the infamous private military company known as Blackwater."
The screen then cut to the outside of the Hakone resort, the area having been cordoned off by yellow police tape and guarded by Public Security.
"According to the leaks, Blackwater was contracted by the United States to raid a hot springs resort, which the emissaries from the Special Region were staying in, along with their private security detail. Messages from the leak also show that President Dirrell, Director Carter, and a Blackwater contractor by the name of 'Goldman' were regularly in contact before Japan put a stop to the planned assault, protecting the guests from the Special Region; unfortunately, not without casualties on Japan's side, with three members of the JSDF Special Forces Group having been killed in action."
"The fuck?!" Ronin shouted incredulously as he threw his hands up. "They just aren't gonna mention the Shadows that we lost?!"
"Two unknown contractors from a different world, Ronin," Viper gently reminded him. "Doesn't fit the narrative they want to paint. Besides, I wouldn't take it to heart. After all, it's a mainstream news outlet."
"The scandal has put massive amounts of heat on the United States government, with many calling for the impeachment and arrest of President Dirrell and Director Carter."
The scene cut to an enormous crowd of people, shouting and holding up signs as they were held back by lines upon lines of police dressed head to toe in full body riot gear, gas masks, and shields. Many of them were also accompanied by similarly equipped soldiers dressed in multicam combat uniforms - most likely the Army National Guard having been called in to assist, just in case the situation escalated further into full blown riots.
The rowdy crowds stood in protest outside of the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and even the U.S. embassy in Japan; fury clearly written all over their faces.
"Angry protestors stand just outside of U.S government buildings, criticizing the officials sitting inside on the overstepping of boundaries into an allied nation's sovereignty, both through the hiring of Blackwater contractors, and the presence of FBI agents sent to arrest Lila Lange - a Japanese citizen living on Japanese soil - without the formal request of an extradition."
"Holy shit, the U.S. government is pretty fuckin' corrupt here…" Ronin commented, before feeling the deadpan stares of his teammates sitting around the room
"Really?!" Bristol gasped in faux shock. "No way…"
"Okay, yeah, I get it…"
"Many are praising Lila Lange for pulling back the covers and exposing the United States, with many more calling for her release, claiming that her arrest was illegal and unjustified. Congress has yet to comment or even come to a decision on either Lange, or President Dirrell, but one thing is clear… Tensions have risen, and Japanese trust in their American allies is now at an all time low - all because of the mysterious gate that appeared in Ginza earlier this year. And now, it's time for the weather-"
There was static as the news report abruptly ended, and the entire squad stared at the TV in silence.
Angel eventually smacked his lips, cutting through the room's silence. "Jesus Christ… It looks like their gate really stirred up the hive, didn't it?"
"Yeah… no kidding…" Vale whispered in agreement, before downing his beer and placing the empty bottle back on the table as he stood up. "Welp, it's been fun boys, but I'm gonna get going now."
Everyone turned to look at him in curiosity as he pushed his chair in. "Where ya going?" Bristol asked.
"Out, getting some air…" Vale paused at the door, hesitating for a moment. "...and taking care of something." He tacked on vaguely at the end.
"Alright, we won't pry," Viper answered casually. "Catch up with ya later?"
"Yeah, I'll see you boys later. Bristol, be a responsible adult and make sure they don't get too drunk."
"Hmmm, I'll try, LT! No guarantees though…"
Their squad leader only chuckled in response as the door clicked shut behind him. The rest of the team waited, listening as his footsteps slowly got quieter and quieter down the hall.
"Angel, grab me a pop will ya?"
The Hispanic man merely rolled his eyes at the Brit as he leaned back towards the mini-fridge again, opening it with a hiss. "First of all, we call it soda here, Bristol. And second of all, what do y'all think that was about?" He asked, handing the cold can to the man sitting across from him.
"Don't know, and I don't care," Viper said, sighing as he laid back on his part of the couch, a pillow propping his head up as he joined his hands together in his lap and closed his eyes. "Let's not dig. Let the man have his privacy - and let me have my rest."
"Sure," Angel said with an obviously forced smile. "Just as soon as you take your fuckin' boots off my couch!"
[REDACTED] VALE [REDACTED] - SHADOW CO.
SITE HOTEL GAMMA, FALMART
IMPERIAL CALENDAR 687 - 18:48:00
Vale had no idea what he was doing right now...
Well, besides ominously standing out in the middle of the hallway like some sort of psycho. Velikan would have been proud if the silent giant saw him now. Either that, or he'd also do the same in response at the other end of the corridor - like it was some sort of competition, or a challenge to show strength.
The thought of Vale challenging Graves' best killer was enough to make him chuckle to himself nervously in unease.
Great, now he was laughing to himself in the hallway... like a psycho. The Shadows in charge of monitoring the security cameras probably thought that he was crazy right now, and were probably laughing at him. Or maybe he was lucky, and they were distracted, out in the bathroom, or getting food.
What the fuck, Vale?! You're just delaying the inevitable! He mentally berated himself. Just hurry up and do what you came here to do, you asshole!
Right… hopefully the liquid courage he drank earlier would be enough to help carry him through, and quickly.
He took one last deep breath to mentally prepare himself, before bumping his knuckles against the door. Three soft knocks rang out, sounding rather deafening in the empty corridor as he waited for a response.
"Who is it?" An accented voice called from beyond the door.
"It's Vale," He responded somewhat awkwardly. The reveal appeared to have worked, as movement could be heard from inside the room moments after. A few seconds passed as he waited, before there was a click as the door unlocked, and it opened just a few inches; a familiar face appeared partially through the gap to peer out into the hall.
"Vale?" Boxer asked, to which he responded by simply nodding. A single blue eye critically looked him up and down from the dark room dimly lit up by the hallway lights. "What do you want?"
Vale rubbed the back of his neck, slightly perturbed by the German man's rather brusque and no-nonsense greeting as he stared blankly at him. "Well first, can I come in?" He asked sheepishly.
Boxer blinked at him, before abruptly slamming the door shut.
...
"Ah… well I guess I got my answer…"
Vale turned to walk away, before the sound of the door handle turning caught his attention. He looked back behind him, spotting Boxer standing in the doorway with a small smirk on his face. "I just wanted to fuck with you. Come on in." He said, gesturing inside the room.
Vale rolled his eyes as he stepped in and Boxer closed the door behind him.
He glanced around the room, noting the similarities to the others in the living quarters. The basic layout, light fixture, and the color of the walls stayed the same, but that's pretty much where the parallels ended. Boxer clearly opted for a more classic and homely clean look. A flat screen TV and bookshelves along the wall; a rug, coffee table, and couch in the center; and a study desk and his bed tucked into the corner near a window. The room was kept simple with basic necessities, not crowded or filled to the brim with stuff that made it hard to move.
Vale quietly admired the room, slightly impressed. "I like what you've done with the place. Feels very…"
"Homely?" Boxer offered, sitting back down on his couch as he lifted a mug to his lips. "Yeah, I was aiming for something like that…" He said, gesturing back towards the TV against the wall.
Vale looked over as he sat in a chair, spotting a close up video of a fireplace playing on loop, and he realized that the sound of embers were constantly cracking in the background the whole time.
"Nice, warm, and dry indoors with a cup of coffee and a good book is home to you, huh?"
"Actually, I'm drinking hot chocolate," Boxer corrected with a smirk that quickly fell from his face. "But yes, this is my ideal homely scenario. It sure as hell beats soaking in the mud and rain under gunfire…"
Vale winced as he remembered the last operation they were on together - an expression that didn't go unnoticed by Boxer. There was an awkward silence that filled the room as they sat opposite each other, the both of them having no idea what to really say.
The silence was starting to become painful, and Vale felt that he had to say something, anything.
He glanced back at the TV, spotting a German flag tapestry with a depiction of a sword in the center surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves. "You were a Kommando?" He asked, the question sounding more like a statement rather than an inquiry.
"Jawohl, Bundeswehr, KSK, 3rd Platoon." He confirmed, before going back to sip from his mug. "You?"
"Former Ranger Regiment, before fast tracking to Delta."
"Impressive," Boxer responded, sounding somewhat uninterested. "Now why are you here?"
Again, Vale was quickly reminded of Boxer's no-nonsense attitude. It was understandable though. From his perspective, Vale just chose to come into his room during his private time and bother him with stupid, half-assed, conversational ice-breakers. Vale shifted somewhat uncomfortably, leaning back into his chair as he took a deep breath.
"I uh…" He started, before briefly clearing his throat behind a fist. "I wanted to apologize."
Blue eyes immediately bore into him as Boxer searched his face intently for any hidden motives, and after what felt like an eternity of silent staring, Boxer finally cocked a brow up on his face, gesturing with his hand for his guest to continue.
Vale swallowed nervously, glancing between his feet and the man sitting opposite him. He'd been through countless near death combat scenarios, but talking to a colleague in the same company as him was difficult?
"I wanted to apologize for what happened across the gate. Back in Japan, in Hakone." He clarified, looking directly at him. "Seeing your own people get wounded in combat is never easy, especially when you think there's something that could have been done differently to save them. I can't say that I know exactly what it's like, considering that Bishop and Carnival didn't lose anyone, but you lost two guys; in one night."
Boxer frowned as Vale brought up their casualties, saying nothing as he let him continue.
"When that frag blew up right behind your second guy, I knew that things were starting to get bad. I'm ashamed to say that the only thing I could think of when I saw you attempting to treat him, was that he was a lost cause, and that he was slowing us down. I didn't really stop to consider that… if it were me in your position, with one of my own guys… I would have done the exact same-"
"Stop," Boxer quickly interrupted, holding up a hand as he cut him off.
His tongue pushed against the inside of his cheek as he contemplated his next words, glancing out of the nearby window, before turning back to Vale with a sad smile.
"You don't need to apologize to me at all, Vale." He reassured him. "Because if it were me in your position, I would have done the exact same. Ever since we got back, while I've been confined to the base and not taking any missions, I've had time to reflect… and I've decided that in that forest, you were right. You had your own squad to worry about - plus our clients, and in the heat of the moment, all I could think about was mine; all the while we were being surrounded and outgunned with no reinforcements."
He paused for a moment, letting his gaze fall into his lap with a solemn look.
"You definitely weren't the enemy PMCs shooting at us, and you definitely aren't the Japanese higher ups that pulled their Special Forces Group out and hung us out to dry. Every single Shadow that went over there ended up swimming through shit creek, in one way or another. Frankly, I'm surprised that you even felt the need to personally deliver an apology to me in the first place. It's appreciated, don't get me wrong. But it was also completely unnecessary."
…
"Well, I guess when you put it like that, it makes my reason for coming here in the first place seem a little silly." Vale chuckled awkwardly. "So… we're good?"
Boxer gave a small sigh as he rolled his eyes. "Yes Vale, we've been good-"
Suddenly, the two looked up as a notification tone echoed throughout the base's intercom, before a monotone female voice gave its announcement. "Lieutenant Vale, please report to - Head Administration, immediately."
"Well, it looks like duty calls..." Vale said with a sigh as he looked back down. "Jesus, it's just hit after hit, contract after contract. We don't ever catch a break around here, do we?"
"Eh, the company's making the most that it can out of people like us." Boxer said, gesturing towards his ankle, which Vale spotted with freshly white bandages wrapped around it. It was a good thing that the bullet went clean through, as his wound appeared to be healing rather nicely. Vale guesstimated that Boxer would be back up on his feet and operating normally in the field sometime within the week.
That still didn't prevent him from worrying a bit though.
"At this rate, they're gonna work us to the bone."
"Hm, you should count your blessings that you're even getting work in the first place. This whole gate situation has made the company the busiest it's ever been in years. At least, when compared to that whole fiasco with the good General. If you really wanted to laze around, you should've' joined the chair force… but I don't think you've got the brain for that sort of position."
"Yeah, yeah, fuck you." Vale shot back without any real bite.
Boxer smirked at him, before beginning to shoo him away. "Alright, now scram, make yourself scarce. I'm expecting company tonight, and you're only gonna get in the way of it."
Vale raised a brow up curiously at the man's hurried tone. He was about to ask about said company, before the sound of a hand knocking against the door could be heard. "Boxer, it's Dakota. Is it okay to come in?" Asked a muffled voice from the other side.
Vale slowly turned back to Boxer, giving him a knowing look as he stood up from his seat. "Well… looks like you'll be busy tonight, so I'll just excuse myself. Wouldn't want to keep a lady waiting now, do we?" He teased, smirking back at Boxer as the German crossed his arms over his chest and rolled his eyes.
Not wishing to waste anymore time, Vale excused himself, moving towards the door before holding it wide open. The other Shadow standing outside the door had a brief expression of surprise on her face when she noticed his presence, before it was quickly replaced with recognition.
"Vale?"
"Dakota." Vale greeted back with a curt nod, before stepping past her and back into the hallway towards the elevators.
At least he was in a better mood now.
The question now was, how long was that going to last?
PARNA
SITE HOTEL GAMMA, FALMART
IMPERIAL CALENDAR 687 - 18:40:00
Breathe…
Slowly…
In and out…
That's all that Parna had been doing as she silently kept to herself. It's the only thing that she had been doing, ever since she was taken by the mysterious men in black, who raided her master's abode in the middle of the night. Someone would need to correct that title soon, considering that she did encounter a woman within their ranks. Regardless, they appeared out of nowhere, emerging from the shadows and springing their attack before most of the guards on staff even knew what was really happening.
As a result, there were no survivors, apart from the other demi-humans that her master kept for Sir Crius.
In the past, she might have considered herself lucky that they didn't harm them, or do anything else… untoward.
But unlike the other demi-humans, who had apparently been set free and told to make their way to Alnus Hill, the soldiers took a different interest in her. Despite her best attempts at appearing clueless, they were able to read her perfectly, and discovered the tunnel system that Plutarch kept below his room to escape by himself, leaving her behind.
He'd be back for her though, right?
He wouldn't just abandon her and forget about her, right?
Right…?
Oh who was she kidding. Plutarch showed no hesitation in leaving her behind, not even bothering to glance back as he rushed away to safety. She was a strong and powerful warrior bunny, reduced to nothing more than a simple slave in a maid dress, relying on orders from people that didn't care about her to continue living. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
Maybe things would have turned out differently if she stayed with Delilah and Griine. If she didn't cut part of her ear off. If she didn't give up so easily…
I wonder how they're faring now… She silently mused to herself. Hopefully better than I…
The sound of muffled conversation brought her out of her reverie, her bunny ears twitching atop her head beneath the black bag as she tried to make out the words being spoken. Unfortunately, she couldn't make out much of what was being said, which was a surprising first for her, considering that it was never usually a problem before with her enhanced hearing.
She could always hear anyone in the next room over back at the villa, even through the walls, and it wasn't like she needed to strain her ears to pick up conversation either, as everyone spoke at a normal volume thinking that nobody was listening; however, this was clearly something different. The voices were too quiet to make out this time, almost like something was actively muffling the speaker's voice into nearly inaudible whispers.
"Think she'll talk?" one of the voices spoke up. "I think Graves is plannin' on doing the good cop - bad cop routine."
"With who?" Another asked in response. "I know Roze could pull the good cop act, but who's gonna be the bad cop?"
"...Velikan...?"
"I don't think leaving the poor helpless bunny girl in a locked room with Shadow Company's silent demon is a good idea. Plus, it wouldn't really sit right with my conscience…"
"Ha! Yeah, right. It's a little too late to be having a conscience now, especially in this line of work, dontcha think?"
"Fair one."
Oh great, they were discussing what to do with her now. Judging by the little bits and pieces she was able to pick up, they were planning on making her talk - and not in a friendly manner.
Wait, did they just mention a demon?
"Anyway, from what I remember, I think it's actually just one interrogator. Probably gonna be the new guy that just arrived on base." The first speaker continued.
"The new guy?"
"Yeah, I think his name is… Mike? Or maybe it was Mark? I don't remember exactly, but I know that it started with an M."
"Okaaay... why though? I thought we had enough people here already?"
"Well ever since Sentinel lost some of their guys back in Japan, some of the Shadows were taken from Carnival and reassigned to fill the empty spots left behind. The new guy is taking over Carnival's squad lead role."
"And Carnival 1 was okay with that…?" The second voice asked skeptically.
"Not like he had much of a choice anyways. Besides, he told me himself that it felt pretty good to have that weight taken off his shoulders. I agreed with him. Couldn't imagine leading a bunch of guys through battle and being responsible for their lives all the time."
"Yeah… I think I'm just fine where I'm at. Less responsibilities to worry about…"
"Speaking of responsibilities, Graves told me that he'd be showing up with the new guy for the interrogation sometime later tonight."
"Tonight? Why so soon?"
"Rumor says that things are speeding up around here. Something to do with the raid that Disciple went on just the other night. Don't be surprised if things get busier soon. But uh… you didn't hear this from me, got it?"
"Yep, yep."
And with that, the conversation ended, leaving her to sit in silence, alone with her thoughts once more. She was a prisoner now to these shadowy strangers - simply a slave under a different name. She wasn't sure what was going to happen to her now, but she was too tired to be frightened now. Not anymore, not after everything that she's been through. Maybe tonight would be the night that her story ended; hopefully quickly.
The thought shouldn't have been as appealing to her as it currently was…
She sighed softly to herself with a small smile as her eyes drifted shut, trying to catch a little bit of rest for whatever came next. She hadn't really gotten any proper sleep after being abruptly taken captive, but she definitely needed it. Her throat was sore from screaming in protest, and her tears had long since dried on her face.
"Sir!" Both voices spoke up again in sync, causing her to slowly look up towards their direction. Not that she could see anything in the first place. The bag was still covering her head after all.
"At ease, gents," A new voice spoke up casually. "How's our girl?"
"She's been a good bunny. Sitting silent in there. Hasn't said a peep since she's sat down. No requests, nothing."
"Hm, we'll see how quickly that changes. Alright, get in there and do your thing."
"Yes, sir."
The sound of a door unlocking could be heard, before it opened, allowing the owner of the new voice to step in. Her ears twitched when she heard the door creak, before it slowly swung back, locking as it shut once more. She could feel an intense gaze on her as footsteps echoed loudly in the room every time they made contact against the cold floor. After what seemed like forever, the footsteps finally came to a stop right beside her, and she could sense the presence of someone looming over her.
Her heart was racing as nothing happened for a moment, causing a mix of emotions to swell within her chest; the most prevalent ones specifically being fear and anxiousness.
The bag was gently pulled from her head, exposing her to the room's for the first time since her capture. She blinked rapidly, her eyes doing their best to reduce the headache-inducing glare from the room's bright light, as the figure made their way around the table.
She took note of the blurry silhouette in front of her, before a sense of foreboding overtook her.
The man standing in front of her was also very tall like the others, but his skin was a deep and rich dark brown; akin to something like a tree. And he was built like a tree too, judging by the way his muscles flexed as he leaned forward against the table. His upper arms were decorated by some sort of scars that healed over into bumps - most likely purposeful, judging by the uniformed placement of them all. It reminded her of when her people would decorate themselves with tribal markings for a ceremony, or before going into battle.
If her assumptions were correct, then his scars were probably a cultural tradition of some sort for his tribe.
The man in front of her cleared his throat, finally drawing her attention as her gaze trailed up his arms and to his face. Or rather, his lack thereof. Instead, what greeted her was a shiny metallic skull attached to a black mask, with the lower jaw having been painted on. Through the skull's empty eye holes, she spotted two brown eyes staring into hers.
She stilled, freezing in fear at the man's critical look. She wanted to hide behind her hands. To turn away and hide herself from those piercing dark eyes, but there was no use - especially with nowhere to run as she was chained to a table in the middle of the room. All that she could do was stare blankly in response, but his unnerving stare made it increasingly difficult to keep it up.
"What's your name?" The man finally spoke up, his voice coming out gruff and commanding; like he was a battle hardened veteran.
She swallowed the lump in her throat before answering him. "Parna." She answered, before turning slightly to the side to let out a small, dry cough.
"Would you like something to drink, Parna?"
The question was enough to make her pause, catching her off guard as she looked curiously up at him. His eyes remained locked with hers, his expression not once being readable on account of the scary skull mask peering down at her. Sure, the offer was nice, and very enticing, but this man was working with her captors. She had no idea what his true intentions were.
Then again, if they wanted to kill her or do something else equally horrid, they'd have done so already…
"N-No… I-I mean… maybe…?" She stuttered nervously, afraid of what might happen. She flinched, shutting her eyes as the man in front of her moved. After a second, the harm or verbal assault that she was expecting never came, causing her to cautiously open her eyes again. Her interrogator simply tilted his head, though there was something else in his eyes behind the mask as he watched her make a fool of herself. She cleared her throat to hide her embarrassment as she let out another small cough. "Yes… please…"
The man in front of her simply blinked, before turning to his right and nodding at a long glass mirror installed into the wall nearby. The act confused her, but it at least allowed her to look at her reflection nearby.
Her clothing was streaked in dirt and her own eyes looked back at her tiredly and hopelessly.
Actually, it was probably best that she ignored her reflection...
"Alright Parna, some water will be here shortly for you," She turned back to the table, spotting her interrogator calmly pulling his chair back and sitting down in front of her. "In the meantime, why don't you start by telling me what it is exactly that you did for Plutarch Imbrex?" He asked, watching her intently as he waited for an answer.
"Well…" Parna began quietly. "I was a servant for Plutarch, acting as a maid for his villa. I did simple chores like cook, clean, and maintain the villa for my master-"
"So you were a slave?" Her interrogator spoke up, cutting her off. There was a new look that appeared in his eyes at the mention of her occupation, one that made her feel slightly uncomfortable.
"I… I was…" She confirmed hesitantly. "But, I wasn't always one. When the Empire invaded our lands years ago, former Queen Tyuule had all of the warrior bunny tribes band together to fight back against them. I remember fighting back against waves upon waves of Imperial foot soldiers, who were easily overwhelmed in every battle by the small forces of our tribes."
"Your people sound like quite the fierce warriors."
"They are. One warrior bunny could match five trained Imperial soldiers with ease!" She said with a small smile as she reminisced, before it slowly fell from her face. "Unfortunately, the Empire had more soldiers than we did, and simply responded to the problem by throwing more bodies at us. It was an uneven and unfair fight, and the warrior bunnies eventually lost. Now our kind has been scattered throughout the world, making ends meet by becoming mercenaries, prostitutes, or in my case, servants."
The man in front of her eyed the maid dress she wore, before looking up at her bunny ears. She could see his eyes narrow at the upper half missing from her left ear.
The door behind him suddenly opened, and another man in black stepped in with a clear bottle of water in hand, before placing it on the table and walking back out. Her interrogator waited for the door to click shut again, before he continued his line of questioning.
"You must have fought hard," He said, gesturing towards her missing ear as he picked up the water. He unscrewed the cap on the bottle, before handing it to her over the table. "Did you lose it in combat?"
Parna frowned as she looked back down at the bottle in her hand, the water sloshing around inside as she absentmindedly shook it.
"No…" She sighed, disappointment leaking from her voice. "I… I intentionally cut it off myself."
The man in front of her tilted his head again as he watched her sip a little bit of water. "You… intentionally… cut off a piece of yourself? God damn, I'll admit, that's rather hard. What for?"
"It's how warrior bunnies denote themselves as slaves-"
Parna was cut off as the chair in front of her screeched back, and a gloved fist slammed down against the surface of the table, nearly denting it as it vibrated in place. The unexpected noise startled the bunny girl, causing her to yelp as she fearfully leaned back into her seat; spilling some of the bottled water onto herself, the table, and the floor below. She clutched the bottle tightly to her chest as she looked up with wide eyes, watching as the man in front of her stood up from his seat and glared back down at her intensely - his posture stiff and tense.
Though she obviously couldn't see the rest of his face, his eyes did more than enough to convey his barely restrained anger.
That and the reaction he just had...
"You willingly cut off a part of yourself to become a slave on purpose?!" He snapped in disbelief, leaning forward and gripping the edge of the table with both hands. She could see the veins bulging in his arms as he held the table tightly. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"But… I... what?" She asked in confusion.
"Your ears are a part of you, aren't they?" Parna silently answered him with a meek nod of confirmation. "They're part of your people's culture! A sign of your heritage as a fierce warrior, and you just start cutting it off like it's some sort of disease?!"
"T-There was nothing else that I could do!" She shouted out in defense, uncaring of any possible consequences from talking back to her captors. "The Empire destroyed the warrior bunny tribes, took the land we called home, and scattered the rest of my kind!"
She tried desperately to keep the emotion out of her voice, but considering the topic that the 'conversation' had steered to, it seemed to be impossible now.
"Bullshit!" He shouted in response. "You lost yourself and your way - just because life got a little hard?! Oh boo-hoo, cry me a fuckin' river! I wonder what your ancestors would say if they saw where you are right now?"
"My ancestors…?" Parna asked slowly, his words sinking in and registering within her mind before she shot him a harsh glare. "Don't you dare bring up my ancestors. Who are you to speak for them, when you have absolutely no idea about the hardships they've gone through?!" She screamed angrily, her fists pounding against the cold metal of the table, causing the bottle of water to tumble off and spill against the floor. "There's only so many places to go for a weak demi-human woman in this world! We were forced out because we weren't strong enough! Because we were weak! When Queen Tyuule surrendered, we lost not just our freedom, but also our hope! All at the hands of a greedy Empire! Don't you get it?! My people lost!"
Her eyes began welling up with tears as she let out every emotion that she had been repressing. She buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking as she sobbed into her palms and finally broke down for the first time in years. She knew deep down that the man in front of her was right, but to hear the truth from someone else for the first time in such a blunt way stung much worse.
That night at the campfire, when she cut off her ear, that was the last choice she'd make as a free woman. That night she abandoned her friends, her family, and her people. She was completely and utterly alone in this world.
Just like Queen Tyuule…
She ended up becoming just like her, and she hated it.
"It's not fair!" She shouted with a raspy voice.
"Well life usually isn't, Parna. Sorry about that." He responded without a single ounce of tact as he pulled his chair back in and sat back down. At least it was better than be treated like a child. She much preferred being on equal ground, rather than being spoken down to condescendingly. "And to be fair, life hasn't exactly been kind to my people either."
"Y-Your people…?" She hiccupped in between sniffles, before peeking out from behind her fingers with one eye. "A-Are you a dark elf?"
"A dark elf, huh? Nah…" The man chuckled and turned away. He was quiet for a few moments as he stared at a blank wall nearby, obviously not really looking at anything in particular as he got lost in thought. After a few minutes, he started speaking again. "There is absolutely way too much history that requires way too much context for me to explain it to you in one sitting in a cold interrogation room sitting on uncomfy metal chairs. But just know that your people aren't the only ones who've had to endure so much bullshit that the world has thrown at you."
She brought an arm up to wipe her runny nose with the sleeve of her dress. Somewhat disgusting, but she couldn't care less about dirtying the stupid uniform right now. Plus, she'd been through much worse before.
This wasn't anything new.
Or was it?
She stayed silent for a few moments, reflecting on what just happened. She just loudly argued with one of her captors, one of the most intimidating men she had ever seen in her entire life, and they didn't forcefully put her in her place or remind her of her current status? In fact, said captor even made an effort to sympathize with her. A rather poor attempt, but still an attempt nonetheless.
Who were these people in black? Were they actually soldiers?
"Are you a warrior too?" She asked, now eyeing the bumps that covered his upper arms.
"Yeah," He began, glancing down at his arms alongside her. "And these marks on my arms and chest? Traditional scarring to honor my heritage.
"To honor your heritage?"
"Mhm, I've gone everywhere in the world. From cutting my teeth in the lowest of slums, to drinking expensive wine at lavish parties on the top floor of high-rises. But throughout all that, I never forgot about my roots… about where me and my ancestors originated from."
"I've never heard or seen of a tribe doing this before," She said, unconsciously reaching a hand out to run it up and down his arm, feeling the surface of his skin as he let it happen. "If you don't mind me asking, where are you from?"
"Me? Well I'm an American living in the United States back on my side of the gate, but my family's history can be traced all the way back to a continent called Africa." He explained with pride. "I never really lived my culture's traditional tribal life myself, but I'm very much proud of it, and I believe representing it on my body is the perfect way to show my respect to it."
"Showing respect, huh…?" She quietly muttered to herself, trying to comprehend his thought process. The man in front of her, despite not having lived the life of his ancestors, decided to pay respects to them by proudly displaying tribal markings. He wasn't at all ashamed to represent his people, no matter where he was.
Unlike her, who decided that cutting off a piece of herself to become a slave was the only way to go.
Her ancestors would be so disappointed in her right now.
Delilah would be so disappointed in her now…
Parna immediately shook her head to get rid of those memories. "You've mentioned your ancestors a lot…" She noted with a thoughtful look. "Are they really that important in your culture?"
"Of course. The old folks pass down their knowledge and wisdom to a new generation, and their spirits stick close by, guiding us in life until eventually our time comes, and we join them." He answered, sounding melancholic.
"You believe they watch over us?"
"I know they do." He answered simply. "Tell me Parna, when you were fighting the Imperial army during the war, what is it that you were fighting for?"
"For our lands…" She said slowly. "To keep the Empire from taking our territory and our homes-"
"No," He cut her off, raising a hand to stop her. "I asked what it was that you were fighting for."
"I… I don't understand-"
"When you were out kicking ass in battle against endless waves of Imperial soldiers, what gave you the strength to keep fighting? When you were going through your worst days as a slave, what gave you the strength to keep going? What is it that made you decide that it was still worth living in this shithole of a world?" He asked calmly, brown eyes burning into hers as he waited for an answer.
That was a good question. Everyone fought for something, and at the end of the day, in a world where no one cared about how she truly felt, she could only fight for her own values.
Her ideals, her principles, her people.
"...I fought to protect the ones that mattered to me, because it was right - and if I died on the battlefield, then at least I would have died with honor as a warrior doing something good." She averted her eyes, opting to stare at the bottle of water that had long since emptied on the floor nearby. "The gods and apostles protected me from on high - maybe my ancestor's spirits too after what I've heard from you - and that's why I'm still here. But I'll never understand… Why me?"
The man in front of her shrugged casually. "Don't know. Maybe they believe that you can do more in this world. Maybe they believe that you still have a chance to unleash that warrior resting dormant inside you. Maybe they believe that you can still fight for what matters…"
"What are you getting at?" She whispered with a frown, picking idly at the edge of her skirt.
"This world of yours is a fucked up mess, and when the Empire invaded the gate at Alnus Hill, they fucked shit up over on that side as well. Standard Imperial army activities like killing, raping, pillaging. I'm sure I don't need to tell you all about it." He explained in a calm tone. "But the Empire fucked up big time by taking slaves."
"Yes, they tend to do that. In fact, I'm fairly certain that most kingdoms, when at war with another, will take slaves from the local populace and indoctrinate them."
The man in front of her heaved a heavy sigh, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. "Parna, slavery was abolished across both gates about a century and a half ago. Owning another living, breathing, sentient being is illegal and immoral. Basic freedom is part of our human rights, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Countless families were separated or destroyed when the Empire invaded, and a lot of people are out for blood."
"What does this have to do with me?"
"Shadow Company has been contracted to take the fight to the Empire on their land here in this world, maybe working alongside the JSDF - the men in green as you know them - every once in a while. The JSDF is an official military with a government body directing their every move, and the public eye critically scrutinizing them every step of the way." He said with a chuckle as if their problems were amusing to him. "Shadow Company doesn't have such problems, seeing as it's an internationally registered private company. We don't answer to governments unless they're paying us. But right now, we're being paid to put a stop to one Crius Odoacer Centumalus."
Parna head snapped back up as she looked at him with wide eyes. "You want to kill one of the most well known and well connected slave traders in the world?" She asked in disbelief.
"We're not gonna kill him," He gently reassured her. "The company just wants to talk to him."
"Talk? But... w-what..." She stuttered, before letting out a deep sigh. "What could you possibly talk to him about?"
"Crius has got slaves from the other side of the gate at Alnus, and if Japan doesn't start getting their citizens back, there will be hell to pay - not just for the Empire, but for everyone in this world as well." He leaned forward, clasping his hands together as they rested on the surface of the table. "This could be your first real chance at redeeming yourself, Parna. At striking back against the evil Empire that ruined your peoples way of life. And what better way to start than by fucking up one of the most vile sources of trading that fuels their entire economy."
"But why do you need me?" She asked skeptically. "I haven't held a weapon in so long. I fail to see what I can do to help. I have nothing of value to offer to your Shadow Company."
"That's where you're wrong. Your old master, Plutarch Imbrex is a bookkeeper for Crius. If we can get our hands on him, then we'll be able to get our hands on Crius himself. I was told that back at the villa the other night, you knew about a tunnel system that Plutarch used to escape from the company's grasp. We just need to know where that tunnel leads, and then...? We can go after him."
She paused for a moment, lips pursing into a thin line as she stared emotionlessly at the top of the table and thought deeply about it. She was worthless, weak, and hopeless for so many years after having given up after the war. But now, she was just being handed a possible solution that wasn't death, and on a silver platter no less. Would this really be possible?
After so long, would she finally be able to be a strong warrior again…?
"Please, Parna," The man said patiently, resting a hand on top of hers and rubbing a thumb against the cold metal cuffs, causing her to blush a little. "You could be the key in abolishing this horrible way of life. Just imagine, historical textbooks, crediting a demi-human - a warrior bunny girl - for the rescue of so many innocent lives. You'd be redeemed by your kin and accepted back with open arms. Maybe you'd even be crowned as a better queen for your people…"
Parna remained quiet, biting hard on her lower lip before closing her eyes and giving a soft sigh.
"Maybe…" She said softly, her voice sounding far away even though she was sitting right in front of him; probably a result of all the screaming from earlier. Hopefully they'd be able to get her another water. She took a moment to collect her thoughts before continuing, "But… how do I know that I can believe your words?"
The man in front of her let go of her hand, briefly causing her to miss the warmth provided by them. "You can't. You'll just have to trust me…"
Parna stared back at him, trying to search for any sign of deceit in his eyes. But with the skull mask on his face, it was quite hard to get a read on any of his emotions. She blinked slowly at him, before looking back at the mirror nearby.
A hopeless girl stared back at her.
She didn't want to be that girl anymore…
"Do you have a map?"
She obviously couldn't see it with his mask on, but she swore she could almost hear the smirk that appeared on her interrogator's face. He reached behind him a moment later, before pulling out some sort of black tablet. She looked on in confusion as a light seemed to turn on from behind the glass panel, and a picture of a map was displayed on it.
"Where do the tunnels lead?" He asked seriously. "Where is Plutarch Imbrex?"
She tapped a finger twice on the surface, causing the display to zoom in, catching her by surprise before she shook her head. "There… the League Principality. The kingdom is one of many that are heavily reliant on their slave trade, having one of the largest markets throughout the region. Ever since the vassal states were decimated at the gates, the armies have been severely weakened, and in a state of complete disarray; that doesn't mean they won't go down without a fight though. There'll be resistance."
"Oh we're counting on it…" He said vaguely, before standing up from his seat and taking the tablet with him. "The company thanks you for your cooperation, miss. I'll speak to my Commander about placing you in a living quarters with a soft bed and all the necessary living utilities to live comfortably during your time here." He gave her a small nod, before turning to walk towards the door at the other end of the room.
"Wait!" Parna called out, causing him to pause in front of the door. "I-I haven't spoken to another warrior in so long. What's your name, if you don't mind me asking?"
Her question made him chuckle as he shook his head in the doorway.
"You can call me, Mace…"
[REDACTED] VALE [REDACTED] - SHADOW CO.
SITE HOTEL GAMMA, FALMART
IMPERIAL CALENDAR 687 - 19:25:00
"Sir, I apologize if I'm overstepping boundaries here, and I don't mean to question your judgment, but… League Principality is not at all Imperial territory. We'll be encroaching on the sovereignty of an independent kingdom - if they find out that our Shadows are moving through their lands, it could be seen as an act of aggression."
Graves looked back at him, staring blankly over the rim of his whiskey glass as he sat in his comfortable office chair. Vale was currently sitting in one of the leather chairs positioned in front of his desk, having a private discussion with the Commander.
"So?" Graves finally asked after lowering his glass and raising a brow up at his subordinate, letting out a small chuckle. "Of course it'll be seen as an act of aggression. That's kinda' Shadow Company's main motif at this point. Besides, that's never stopped us before, has it?"
"Well, no... but, is this really a wise decision, sir?"
"Seriously, Lieutenant?" Graves asked, giving him a toothy grin as he leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms out to his sides. "C'mon, who's gonna stop us? The weakened vassal states? The Empire? Japan-?"
"Japan might very well be a problem. This escalation to a blunt force response is pretty unprecedented for the company. The whole region on this side of the gate is gonna feel this thump."
"All the more better, Vale." Graves said cryptically, keeping an easy smile on his face. "Tell me, do you know why Shadow Company uses the rook chess piece in our logo?"
Vale raised a brow up at him, before glancing away as he tried racking his brain. After about five seconds of hard thinking, nothing came up, causing Vale to shake his head in response. "Uh... no, sir. I can't say that I know."
"It's because it's symbolic. It represents the company's brute force response and its ability to operate in its own unique way. Just like the rook in chess. See the parallels?"
"Now that you mention it, yeah, I do."
"Also, Japan? A problem?" Graves scoffed. "Don't make me laugh. Do you really think that they're gonna have the balls to stand up to us? They've got their own set of problems to deal with. They'll be too focused on that to worry about tacking us on to the list as well."
"Alright, alright…" Vale conceded, reaching for his untouched glass resting on a coaster on the desk. "Was just making sure that this didn't blow up in our faces…"
"Hey, you're the one who asked about getting involved further in this. I mean, I was gonna assign Bishop to this anyways, but that's besides the point."
Vale was about to put the drink up to his lips, before pausing with it just inches away. "Wait a second… you were gonna assign my squad to future operations in the region?"
"Well yeah, of course." Graves answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You and your boys have quickly proven yourselves as reliable, time and time again. From bloody butchers in the sandbox to brilliant bishops in another world. You've gotten in my good graces, which ain't exactly an easy thing to do for most in the company."
"Oh, well… Thank you, sir. It's an honor to fight by your side."
Graves scrunched his nose as he cringed. "Jesus Christ, knock that sappy shit off, Vale - before I take you out of my top ten list."
Vale gave a hearty laugh of amusement at his Commander's reaction. "I guess I'll have to be more careful then. Top twenty-five don't sound as appealing. Best to shoot for the stars and beyond." He joked back.
"Shooting for the stars and beyond, huh?" Graves asked, popping the cork off the nearby whiskey bottle and pouring to refill his glass. "Hm, a bit cheesy, but I like that attitude of yours, Vale. You're gonna go far with it."
Vale smiled at the compliment, offering a quick, "Thank you, sir." Before raising his glass up and shaking it slightly, the ice cubes clinking as they sloshed around. "How about a toast then?"
Graves grinned at the suggestion, before holding his glass up over his desk. "To good health, and even better wealth!"
"Hear, hear!"
The two glasses made contact, before being downed by the two men. Conversation and laughter continued in the room, muffled to the outside world as everyone on base focused on enjoying their moments of dull downtime for the rest of the night. The calm before the storm, some might call it.
They'd be half right.
A storm was indeed brewing, but Shadow Company weren't at all the poor victims to be seeking shelter from it…
Author's Notes:
As much as I loved Shadow Company's portrayal and return to form in the MW2 reboot, I also kind of disliked it. Infinity Ward made an effort to humanize the contractors this time around by having them show a bit of personality. The signature "Yep-Yeps!", questioning of orders, and simple conversation between guys that clearly know and have worked with each other in the past made them feel like real people that existed outside of the lives of the main protagonists of Task Force 141.
But then a lot of that humanization never got time to be focused on or developed further before the expected betrayal, which I believe they should have held off until they eventually focus on MW3
Despite their shadowy political motives, at the end of the day, Shadow Company is still a professional PMC made up of ex-special forces and ex-special operations looking to make a pretty penny. I hope I've conveyed that naturally enough with the dude bro activities of gambling and chilling together over drinks during casual downtime.