Chapter 21

The Vengeful King

Tyris entered the hot air of Dollet City, leading the way down the ramp of the emerald Valkyr. The sleek design of the airship was likened to that of a soaring dragon. The Valkyr was the successor to the aged Ragnarok fleet. Esthar's aviation technology was still unrivalled by the west. A Valkyr was capable of soaring around the Planet in less than twelve hours, their plasma cannons powerful enough to cause enemy shields to fail with enough of an onslaught.

Behind Tyris was her fellow Lieutenant, Hikaru Akechi, who was on Tyris' small list of Esthari that she was fond of – not to mention attracted to. Petite and comely, Hikaru's ethnicity was Balambi. She had olive skin, jet-black hair, thin eyebrows, and dark eyes. Hikaru was both married and a mother of three. Her husband Mitsuhide was head of the Adel Unit, though currently with General Zebalga's force.

Hikaru reluctantly commanded the power of the Jumbo Cactuar, for slavery had been forbidden among her ancestors. The demi-GF had been a difficult acquisition for the Empress, nearly twenty years ago. The evasiveness of the cactuars and their deadly needles had caused the united Kakashbaldi tribes significant losses, forcing Reina to intervene. The young Sorceress had drawn many cactuars from beneath the dunes of the aptly named Cactuar Island, and they had been ripped apart in a flurry of polearms and sickle swords, forcing the Jumbo Cactuar to show himself and fall into Reina's snare.

Tyris had heard that the Empress led General Zebalga to explore a sunken city of pyramids beneath the dunes, which was formerly the epicentre of the prehistoric Zebalgan kingdom, and fabled to have originally been the Seat of Hyne.

Beyond Hikaru was two dozen members of the Adel Unit, descending with their typical confident swagger. They were followed by Tyris' superior, Colonel Domitian. Not any way near as respected as Selena, and in his middle fifties, Domitian was bald and not much taller than Tyris. He had a wide nose, beady eyes, a handlebar moustache and persistently chapped lips. Domitian was a passable enough tactician and would fight on the frontline, but was stubborn, often pulling rank whenever faced with a difference of opinion. The Colonel had only got to his position through longevity, largely at the expense of finer officers killed in previous campaigns. Needless to say, Selena was much preferred to be Zebalga's successor.

The jade green gemstone embedded in a chain around Domitian's neck contained the Tonberry King, captured when the Empress had moved on northern Centra during her early stages of expansion. The hopelessly outnumbered tonberries had been run down by Doomtrain or incinerated by Tiamat, while the Wraiths of Zefer were kept at bay by Reina. The Tonberry King met the end of Zebalga's khopesh before being bound within magicite.

A teenage Dollet airman in green fatigues saluted Tyris before she reached the bottom of the ramp. He spoke with an unashamed Dollet drawl.

'Welcome to Dollet City, ma'am. I hope y'all had a safe flight. Is this your first visit to the capital, ma'am?'

'At ease,' Tyris said as Hikaru joined her side, not wanting the airman to reluctantly salute the hated imperialists any longer than necessary. 'And no, it isn't.'

It was her second visit after the annexation. She had spent two weeks at Sarona with Selena after the Timber campaign, and they had spent a few days in the capital after. Though this time, there would be little chance for sightseeing. They would be moving out to join the marching force the next day.

'We'll be taking the shortest route to the hotel,' Hikaru informed the airman.

'Yes, ma'am.' The airman snapped back to attention when Domitian approached, the Colonel giving the young man a scornful look.

'What are you waiting for? Escort us to our vehicle!' Domitian demanded.

Their gear put on a trolley to be rolled alongside them, they reached their vehicle – a flatbed truck, to Tyris' disbelief – at the end of the airstrip within a couple of minutes. A Dollet air force driver stood by it. He gave the mechanical welcoming spiel, forgetting to smile with his eyes. Domitian met them with own beady pair.

'We would be more than happy to show you the sights- ' the driver was saying.

Domitian cut him off. 'You think I want to spend a second longer in this shithole than I have to? Get in the driver's seat, kid! Stop wasting my time!'

The driver was expressionless. 'Yes, sir,' he said evenly, before climbing back into the vehicle.

Tyris, her fellow officers, and the Adels let themselves into the back of the flatbed. Domitian had insisted on an open display of power, as opposed to safely travelling in a closed, armoured vehicle. They could have taken the scenic route by the ocean side if they wished. Despite being in a Province of the Empire, Tyris and Hikaru knew they were horrible exposed. Three Esthari officers - three GF bearers - riding in the same open top vehicle. Domitian was unworried due to the sheer number of Esthari soldiers still within the city limits, believing the modern Dollet people to be weak and cowardly, with little desire for conflict.

But SeeD or the Children of Sarona would strike at them the first chance they got; the former known to be working with the latter. Dollet had been absolved into the Empire without resistance, and its military had been cut, the remainder used as a collaborating security force while Esthar concentrated on more volatile parts of the Empire.

The Children of Sarona had been formed by the former head of Dollet's military, Shawn Argus, who had been pensioned off into a forced early retirement. Argus vowed to regain the glory of Dollet's millennia as a superpower, which was still within living memory for the elderly. He had ignited a fervour, promising to liberate Dollet and regain enough power so that they would never again to be used as a tool of foreign imperialists. Argus had gathered a considerable following among many of his former soldiers, in addition to the old left-wing and the more radical members of the younger generation. There had been many 'terrorist' acts committed against Esthari convoys, warships, and patrols – perhaps with a higher frequency than in Timber.

Tyris was half expecting to be rushed by hundreds of the Children when they reached the central square. The hovering flatbed passed through one of Dollet's main streets. The citizens kept their eyes downcast on the pavement to their sides. They passed the large residence of what Tyris remembered was a famous artist on their right, since inherited by a grandson.

'To think these hicks used to be a superpower,' one of the Adels commented. 'Empress Adel wouldn't push west until they overthrew Jadis.'

'It must irk them to have been so easily subjugated,' a female Adel said. 'Galbadia embarrassed them twenty years ago, as well. If it wasn't for SeeD, they would have been annexed back then, too.'

'Stay on your guard,' Tyris warned.

She scanned each window, every face that they passed, each rooftop. As did Hikaru. They were all shielded from sniper fire, but she was keeping an eye out for spotters, or anyone speaking on phones or unseen communications devices.

Domitian laughed arrogantly. 'Why, Pandemona? Let these hillbillies try something! What is it they say around here? "All ranch and no cattle!"' The Colonel's impression of a Dollet drawl was pretty cringeworthy, but he laughed even harder.

'It's all hat and no cattle, sir,' an Adel corrected.

'Shut up!' he snapped. 'Either way, for any of us the CSA manage to kill, Governor Septimus will put a hundred of them to death in turn!'

'If Septimus knows where to find them. We shouldn't get complacent, sir,' Tyris advised.

'That's enough, Lieutenant!'

As they approached a small bridge, the driver pressed a button for some wheels to drop seamlessly down below the hovering vehicle. They softly touched down, roughly riding on the old paving. The bridge was part of the Shining Bomber, the largest bar and casino in the commercial district. Tyris had been there before. The patrons had told her that the bridge led to the landlord's private games room, where only the finest poker and Triple Triad players were ever invited. Tyris could see the now elderly landlord, Daryl, smoking in the doorway to that room. He had owned the Bomber for over forty years.

They reached the central square, and it was absent any obvious threats. The impressive statue of Siren was atop the fountain in the middle of the plaza, full of gil coins. The flatbed maneuvered around it and stopped outside the largest five-star hotel in Dollet.

The hotel had been commandeered by the armed forces for the coming invasion. They all exited the vehicle and ascended the steps, the automatic glass doors parting before Domitian. Entering the classy lobby, the Adels broke off to a predetermined reception desk on the right. The officers went left, and only needed to give their ranks, name and service number to a clerk. They were quickly given key cards and directions to their rooms, circumventing what would have normally been a tedious check-in process, the porters already taking their baggage ahead of them.

Tyris would be sharing a twin-room with Hikaru, complete with room service and a wet bar on the house. She figured she would shower and see if Hikaru wanted to join her in the gym, perhaps even for spa and massage session afterward. Not that she was getting her hopes up. Hikaru was content in her marriage and would never commit adultery - still a blasphemy among her people even if same sex relations were now accepted. But Hikaru would have no interest in socialising with the members of the Adel Unit, instead taking full advantage of a luxurious evening before joining the campaign.

Tyris would have to settle for a pent-up Adel member, as she would not be going downtown. Preferably female. She was attracted to men, but it was hard for Tyris to be intimate with any man without thinking of General Zebalga. As a result, her relations with men had remained scant, and her last had ended in tragedy.

She took her time in the shower, trying the various settings, thinking she would make full use of the jets in the jacuzzi-style hot tub later. With a bottle of the free sparkling wine. Tyris returned to the room wearing just her towel, some of the water dropping from her and onto the plush carpet. Hikaru had removed her boots, her feet up as she flicked through the TV channels.

'Fancy hitting the gym?' Tyris asked.

'Definitely! I'm dying for some exercise!'

'And a massage, after?'

'We might as well.' Hikaru smirked at her. 'They'll provide other services in the parlour, you know. And it's all complimentary! I'm sure you'll be satisfied!'

Two hours after first light, Nida was veiled under a sheet matching the colour of the plateau. He was patiently watching the hotel through his sniper scope. He had an excellent view down into the entire city, his scope fixed on the central square. He could see beyond the Siren statue through the glass doors of the hotel, just shy of a thousand metres away. Well within range of his big rifle.

Seifer and Rhodry were in the cavern behind him, the mouth-watering smell of smoked bacon and the pleasant aroma of coffee carrying over the wind. Fujin was looking through a spare sniper scope, although he had no need of a spotter. Nida had eaten an MRE at first light, and Siren could saturate his stomach for as long as necessary.

Eventually, he saw a dozen close-knit members of the Adel Unit, identified by their dark grey armour as they boldly swaggered toward the hotel doors. They mostly wielded stubby eastern gunblades. Behind them were three officers. Two female, one male. He identified Lieutenant Akechi first, as they shared the same ethnicity. She was reputed to be a strict - but fair - up and coming officer. The wife of Mitsuhide, commander of the Adel Unit. Just behind her was presumably Tyris Almasy, marked by the lightning blue magicite on a choker. She was taller than Akechi and just as attractive, with highlighted brown her. The bodysuits of both officers accentuated their figures.

Fujin softly whispered her daughter's name at her first sight of Tyris for over twelve years. Nida had never met Tyris in her childhood. Fujin refrained from informing Seifer, knowing Nida could not afford a distraction.

Instead, Nida said into his mouthpiece, 'I have Domitian in my sights.'

The bald, lecherous Colonel was at the rear. Domitian looked to be in a good mood that morning, a cigar at the side of his mouth, his undesirable features softened. No doubt he had enjoyed the company of a whore or two in his room. Including anything else the lavish hotel had to officer.

He slowed his breathing, intending to fire before the doors opened, as the rounds would take time to reach their target. Normally, the inconsistent breeze from the ocean would make conditions unfavourable for sniping, especially from a great distance. But Seifer's idea had been for Pandemonium to aid the bullet's flight path and for Siren to imbue it with enough power to break down Domitian's shield. However, the Colonel himself was only a secondary target. It was his magicite Nida was aiming for.

The time had come. Tyris and Akechi were already descending the steps, the Adels arrayed in two parallel lines between the steps and the flatbed. Nida calmly fired three times, each pull of the trigger firm and measured. The great weapon was not repressed but it was unlikely the shots would be heard over the bustle of morning activity in the city. Without having to adjust for windage or other factors, Nida needed to only aim at the Colonel and fire.

As soon as Domitian walked onto the top of the steps, the first imbued bullet did exactly as was hoped. There was a stutter of electrical activity as his projectile shield failed, making his eyes go wide with alarm. Domitian was exposed for the second bullet, which followed shortly after, before he could command the Tonberry King to erect his own protection sphere. There was a bright flash of jade green as his slave crystal was destroyed. The third round also met it mark, shearing the top of Domitian's head off. The Colonel hit the top of the steps in a fountain of blood.

'All targets met,' Nida reported quietly. 'Kill confirmed.'

Nida carefully lowered his crosshairs downward. Although Domitian's death had been desirable, Akechi he would spare. He would not be able to hit the Jumbo Cactuar's magicite now, and if he killed the Lieutenant, her GF would just be given to another Esthari. Both officers had already taken cover behind the flatbed. All the Adels were all in motion and had followed the Lieutenants, the bulk of the vehicle veiling them all.

But they had a bigger problem now, as the Tonberry King was free, materialised in front of Domitian's body. The demi-GF was a broad, green giant with a round head and a slightly pointed snout. It had vengeance in its yellow eyes as it rapidly bounded down the steps, a spinning golden crown revolving above its head like a halo. There was a small lantern in its left hand and a great knife in its right, the blade longer than a greatsword.

Some purple plasma rays dissipated against a misty green barrier. A few of the Adels rushed to meet it, the first gutted with the great knife and tossed across the square like a kid throwing an action figure. With rapid thrusts, the Tonberry King ripped through the entrails of another and beheaded a third.

'The Tonberry King's attacking them! Tyris is there! Come and look!' Nida said.

Seifer bolted from the cavern. Nida barely had time to throw back his camouflage before Seifer snatched the rifle from him and looked through the scope.

'Where is she?' he demanded.

'Behind the flatbed!'

Nida raised his own set of binoculars, focusing back on the square. Seven of the Adels still stood. They backed away from the GFs at different directions while uselessly firing plasma. But whether this was out of fear or command from their officers, Nida could not determine.

'There she is!' Seifer said excitedly.

Tyris emerged from behind the flatbed, surrounded by electricity. A broad bolt of lightning struck the ground between her and the Tonberry King. Ramuh appeared. He had the appearance of a decrepit, elderly man with a golden robe and an open cowl, holding a silver staff. Ramuh's head was bald, and a snowy beard flowed down to his waist. The lightning GF did not speak, but Nida knew GFs could communicate telepathically.

Then Ramuh was obscured by the towering Jumbo Cactuar, itself a giant green creature, but a gherkin shade and triple the size of the Tonberry King. It made Ramuh look the size of an infant. The Jumbo Cactuar took the iconic, sidelong pose of its species, balancing on its front leg. Ramuh pointed his staff at the Tonberry King and a trident of pale, blue lightning hit it square in the chest. Then the King was gone, the trace of a jade green mist leaving the plaza in the direction of Nida's group, toward the old bridge.

'Damn, Tyris was badass!' Seifer commented. Behind them, Rhodry, also with binoculars, just grunted. 'Looks like Tonberry King's free. Nice shooting, Fly Boy!'

Once the GFs had been recalled, many Esthari soldiers poured into the central square, along with some green-uniformed Dollet ones. Tyris and Akechi barked orders and a path was cleared for the flatbed craft. Once the officers and the remaining Adels were aboard, the vehicle departed the square.

'Tyris,' Fujin whispered again, as the vehicle was obscured by buildings.

She had remained immobile the entire time, a spare sniper scope held to her solitary eye, still beneath the camouflage blanket. Seifer cautiously placed a gloved hand on her shoulder. Rhodry remained silent, his binoculars now held at his side. Their mission was accomplished. They needed to make a move themselves, to get ahead of the advancing land force.