Gunshots and yelling erupted all across the hangar as the battle became fiercer. Amiya's dark arts and Talulah's fire crashed into the American's lines, and at the same time the swordswomen faced off against the soldiers, sharing out slashes left and right.
"AGHHH!" Monst3r was creating havoc among their lines, anyone who came across its path was teared apart by its claws.
The battle was going fine for them... but as the fight dragged on, the Americans started to slowly tip the balance in their favor. It didn't matter what they did, the US Army greatly surpassed them in terms of firepower and in numbers. It was only a matter of time before Amiya and her friends were overrun... but they weren't going to give up yet.
"CLANG!" Chen's sword hit a soldier, sending him crashing to the floor, immediately followed with a slash to another group of guys.
"Be careful!" exclaimed the lung. "Don't let them pass...!"
-BOOM! – At that moment, someone fired a Javelin at Monst3r, landing a direct hit. The beast howled in pain as the rocket exploded in its face, shattering part of his face and body.
Ch'en momentarily turned to look at the injured beast, and it proved to be a fatal error. Without her noticing, a soldier had grabbed a Javelin and pointed it at her.
"Sis, watch out!" Ch'en turned and saw the guy, but it was already late. He pulled the trigger and the rocket flew straight towards her. She was going to be hit... but then a blade enveloped in flames swung over her head and miraculously intercepted the rocket, slicing it in two. The subsequent explosion threw both Talulah and Ch'en to the ground.
"I owe you one." The lung thanked as she got up. "We can't keep up with them, we're outnumbered."
"That's why we need to find an exit." Said Talulah.
With that said, the team concentrated their attacks on one spot, managing to create a gap between the Army's lines. They fought their way through the hangar, bullets and shells raining upon them relentlessly.
"Keep moving! The exit is near!" Yelled Nearl.
The group pressed on the attack, giving their all. The infantry was relentless in their assault, they fired at them with everything, from rifles to RPGs... but they kept going, ignoring the shells landing all around them. The exit gates were just at some distance ahead, they almost were there... but their hopes were crushed when dozens of infantrymen came out from the sides and blocked their path. They were surrounded from all sides.
Ch'en looked around, with a defieant look on her eyes.
"*pant* Well, you got us!" She exclaimed, grabbing a hold of Chi Xiao. "But don't think that we're going down without a fight!"
Silence, utter silence. No one responded, not even a mutter... but then, the lone sound of clapping was heard across the hangar.
"*clap* *clap* * clap* You sure have some guts to say that, Ch'en..." Someone spoke from above. Amiya and the rest raised their heads... there, standing in a suspended platform, the familiar face of DiAngelo watched them with a grin on his face.
"DiAngelo..." muttered Kal'tsit.
"You know? We should stop seeing each other like this, always getting into unnecessary fights... but nonetheless I surely do welcome you to my lair... Rhodes Island."
X-X
W and her team made their way across the base as the alarms blared, nor that they cared much about it. On the halls, dozens of soldiers stood their ground, cutting their way... the team simply got rid of them with their new acquisitions, which they had "borrowed" from the armory, ranging from simple assault rifles to a bloody minigun.
RATATATATAA! –Armed with a Kriss Vector and her sword on the other, Lappland fired upon the soldiers, obliterating their lines. They continued with their path, and as they walked down the corridor, W reached for the bag she was carrying and took out a C4.
"Ok, let's put this... here." She placed the explosive onto a group of gas pipes attached to the roof
Like that, they rigged with explosives all the important facilities of the base: machine rooms, boilers, gas pipes, warehouses... nothing was spared. At the end, there was only one left to rig... the Control Room.
The team headed there, and some time later they finally sighted the door. However, there was something off... there wasn't anybody guarding it, even though it was probably the most important facility of this entire complex.
"Something doesn't add up..." Said Liskarm, holding her M4 tightly. "We've been encountering a lot of resistance up until now, but now there's nobody in sight... I have the feeling this is a trap."
"Yeah, me too..." Muttered Matt. "Jessica and Liskarm, cover our rear. The rest will go inside.
Will and Lappland took positions right of the door, while W and Matt took the left. When the mercenary gave the signal, they blew the door open and stormed the room... only to find that it was deserted.
"There's no one here. Where did they go...?" Before Will could finish his question, a voice behind them said.
"Behind you."
They slowly turned around, and when they did so they were met by the sight of Jessica and Liskarm being held at gunpoint by two US soldiers... and at their helm stood Mülhausen, with his usual blank expression. Behind them, Alfred watched in shock as this standoff unfolded. Matt shot at the agent a look full of hate.
"You..."
"Yes, me." Calmly replied the man. "I've got your friends, so drop your weapons and surrender yourselves."
"Go to hell, you bastard!" Yelled Liskarm with anger. "We all know that you'll kill them anyways, like that poor guy!"
"Well, as I once said, I'm just following orders." He turned to his subordinates. "Kill the hostages, I'll take care of the rest."
The soldiers did as told and prepared their weapons, Mülhausen pulling out his weapon as well. They were about to be killed, but at that moment...
BANG! BANG! BANG! – Before anyone could react, Alfred suddenly pulled out a revolver and fired at the soldiers holding Jessica and Liskarm. They fell dead to the ground. Alfred was about to shoot at Mülhausen as well, but the agent was quicker and fired, the boy's body rocked as several shots landed on his chest.
"ALFRED!" Shouted Will. "You f*cking...!"
"DIE!" As his gun was out of ammo, Mülhausen tossed it aside and took out his dagger. Without skipping a second, he charged at Will and knocked him to the ground, his rifle ended up sliding to the side. The other were about to go and help him, but out of nowhere a dozen of infantrymen irrupted into the Control Room; a gunfight ensued.
Returning to Will and Mülhausen, the two were having a hard struggle. The agent tried to stab his opponent in the neck, but miraculously Will gathered enough strength to push his dagger away from him.
"Ugh!" Using his free arm, the boy punched Mülhausen with his fist, his blow was so hard that he broke his nose.
With a grunt, Mülhausen stood up and stepped back, holding his bleeding nose. Before he could recover, Will stood up and immediately afterwards punched him several times, but suddenly the agent gave him a kick in the stomach and threw him against the control board.
Mülhausen then walked towards him, and with the dagger, he lowered it to stick it in his head.
"Oh shit...!" Will rolled his head just in time to avoid the blade aimed at his head, grazing his hair by mere millimeters. The boy threw himself at Mülhausen, and grabbing him by the shoulders, smashed his head against his, making an audible sound. That bought him enough time to get back on his feet and take a fighting stance.
"You're such a headache, young boy..." muttered Mülhausen. "But do not worry, because today you won't be getting out of here alive!"
"Then bring it on!" Exclaimed Will, and then the two charged at each other.
Upon making contact, the agent threw a kick aimed at his head, but Will bent and his leg passed over his head. He took the opportunity and punched his arm, making him drop his dagger. Mülhausen looked at him with irritation, and in response he grabbed his arm and made a hold. Will screamed in pain as he tightened his hold, but then he swung his leg under his and managed to knock him to the ground. The agent was forced to release his grip as he fell, but on the last moment he placed his arm and stopped his fall.
With a grunt, Mülhausen pushed Will against the wall, and then he started to punch him in the face repeatedly. Gathering his last strengths, Will made a last-ditch attack and smashed his leg against the agent's crotch. The guy yelled and stepped back, all while holding his balls in sheer pain.
Will tried to walk forward, but his legs finally gave up and he tripped to the floor.
"You f*cking piece of shit..." The man cursed. "I'm going to kill you..."
The agent kneeled down and picked up his dagger, he was prepared to deliver the finishing blow. He turned to his defeated rival and slowly started to walk towards him, with dagger in hand, but at that moment he heard movement behind him...
BANG! – A bullet pierced his abdomen, copious amounts of blood started to pour from his wound. Mülhausen slowly turned around, and there he saw Matt, holding a smoking gun.
"This is for Edward." And then he pulled the trigger. The agent's body rocked as his shots pierced him. He fell to the floor, all of his abdomen and chest was splashed with blood.
"Yo... You..." He extended his arm towards him... But never managed to get to there. His vision became blurry, and with that he died.
"I finally avenged you, my dear friend. I'm now at peace...Wait, Alfred!", Matt ran towards his friend and kneeled before him. The blonde gave him a sad look.
"Matt... *cough*" He coughed some blood. "I'm sorry for... dying so soon... *cough* But at least I did the right thing..."
"Alfred..."
He let out a small chuckle. "You know? I wonder... what would have happened had I asked Violet out...? *cough* I now regret not having the courage to... do it..." He looked at Matt. "Please... make sure the portal is destroyed *cough*... It will only cause... more pain and destruction for Terra's... inhabitants..."
"I swear it, Alfred. We will make sure it is destroyed."
"I'm glad... *cough*... Farewell, Matt. It has been a pleasure to hang out with you..." His breath became slower... until it ceased.
Will, who had recovered from the previous fight, approached Matt from behind. He looked at Alfred's body for a bit, and then he closed the dead's eyes.
"Rest in peace, Dr. Alfred..." He muttered.
While this emotive scene was taking place, W and the rest were dealing with the remaining soldiers. Once they finished, the sarkaz turned to the two boys, a sad expression appeared on her face.
"I'm sorry for him... He really helped us a lot..."
"Yeah." Sighed Lappland as she reloaded the Kriss Vector. "But we still have to get to Amiya and the rest."
"Yes, they might be in biggg trouble." Said W. "We should hurry and get to the Main Hangar..."
"Okay then." Said Matt as he stood up. "Let's go."
