Chapter 4
I cover my face with my hand and wearily lean my back against the wall and then conclude in a heavy voice. — "Idiots. I would say that there is nothing worse than having a stupid ally to face your enemies with. They screwed up in so many ways, deciding too late when to fight, the one they should be fighting against and choosing the wrong people to hire. Did they seriously put their hope and trust in a bunch of medieval mercenaries?"
"You haven't heard the best part, Celestine was blessed with the gift of foresight. Imagine what a fool she is, as she still managed to make decisions like that" —Olga's last comment drove the nail into the coffin containing my faith in all good things.
By the way, yes, she had been listening with a keen interest to me telling her about life on Earth and it had paid off, she finally started to address me as "you",
There were a few minutes of silence after that, during which each of us pondered about the things we had heard. I personally am not particularly surprised by the people's stupidity, but the fact that monsters need women from other species to reproduce seemed extremely unnatural to me. It feels like someone purposefully engineered them that way, as if someone intentionally weaponized that aspect. After all, one can't deny that — it would be very convenient to have your army replenished at the expense of your enemy's own reinforcements decreasing, slowly whittling them down as this repeats itself.
As I was sitting there my ear caught the sound of someone's footsteps coming from outside the cell. Switching to my thermal vision, I run my eyes along the walls and find a group of four people making their way towards our direction. Three of the thermal silhouettes were quite normal, but the fourth was far larger than the others. About two and a half meters tall and having proportionally wider shoulders, I assume this is probably some kind of monster. — "Someone is coming our way."
"Who's coming?" — The girls immediately asked, straightening up.
"Three people and someone big." — I replied, continuing to stare at the wall. I can imagine how strange I must seem to be acting from their perspective.
"Ogre," — Chloe spoke with confidence in her voice. — "But how do you know that?"
"I can see them." — I turn to the elves and point a finger at my eye and then explain as I see the quizzical looks on their faces. — "My eyes allow me to distinguish the heat emitting from the body."
Whilst I was explaining, a rather eclectic bunch walked up to us; two ordinary gopniks (I) in leather pants and vests, each with a sword hanging from their belt and a nasty grin plastered on their unshaven faces. The 'big one' I had referred to, turned out to be a hefty potbellied scarecrow of a figure with light brown skin, small beady red angry eyes and a pair of yellowed tusks protruding from its mouth. The girls scrunched up their noses due to the foul oder, reminiscent of a sour mix of shit, coming from the creature a few meters away. The fourth one, looking like a cute bespectacled man in a cloak, stood there with an expression as if everything was beneath him. That's also the guy who came forward, stopping right in front of the cell bars, glancing at the elves with a grin. He was about to open his mouth to speak but I interrupted him.
"Harry Potter, is that you?! So it turns out I'm at Hogwarts!" — I exclaim, immediately grabbing everyone's attention. — "Hey, where's Dumbledore? Is he still dabbling in lemon slices?"
"And what happened to Ron?" — I wave my head in the ogre's direction. — "Did he eat too many of those frogs again? Uhhhh, I think you should take better care of him."
"Kin, is he crazy?" — One of the soldiers asked.
"That doesn't matter." — The bespectacled man answered, now standing in front of me. — "Welcome to the Dark Citadel, mysterious stranger. How do you like our hospitality?"
"Well, I'd grade it as a C at best." — I answer, shrugging my shoulders. — "The service is shit, there are no amenities in the room, no refrigerator or TV and no windows with a decent scenic view." — Shaking my head, I continue. — "You're not putting in much effort, only saving on company expenses and that looks quite bad for business."
"Wonderful." — The bespectacled man says while forcing a smile. — "Tell me. Would you like to improve these conditions?"
"Hmm, Maybe." — pretending to think for a second then I answer. — "And what do you suggest?"
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Olga's attentive gaze directed at me. Does she think I would join them? Like hell, but from her point of view it would be the logical choice. — "Oh, just a little. You see, when we found you, you had several interesting items on your person, some of which are probably weapons. Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out how to use them so would you be willing to clarify some of our questions?"
Well sure, I'll tell you everything I know and even show you and then you'll get rid of me. Each of you has that clearly written on your faces, it's clear as day you lot don't have any morals.
"That's it?" — I raised an eyebrow. — "And what will I get in return?"
"You can join us." — The bespectacled man nodded to one of his escorts. Said escort then pulled out a set of keys and opened the cell door, letting their whole gang in. — "You look like you're a warrior, I've got enough of an eye to tell. With you will gain as much as fame, wealth and women you want, if you join us." — Then he points to the girls sitting on the floor next to him. — "Including these. Really, heh, but there's a queue for them so you'll have to wait your turn."
"Don't you dare advertise us as a product, you low lives!" — As Chloe tried to lunge at him, she gets a punch in the stomach and collapses onto the floor.
"What are you talking about?" — Kin turns to her and the two bandits at his direction lift her up by her chains. — "Isn't that customary for you, slave?"
"I'm not a slave!" — Chloe shouted to his face. Which only elicits a grin from him as he proceeds to roughly grabs her chin and slaps her in the face, causing her to cry out painfully.
Motherfucker. I'm definitely not joining you bastards. And I already have a pretty good idea figured out on how I'm going to be leaving your "highly cultured" society.
"Tell that to Sir Mendeville, bitch." — The asshole said while still holding Chloe shin up. — "Just wait for a bit longer, as soon as the business with my new friend has been resolved, we will refresh your memories. And your... queen, she" — he pronounced the last words with a fair amount of mockery. — "is, gonna, join, you."
Chloe grit her teeth, knowing full well that she could do nothing, all she could do was glare back at him. Olga was silent as well, boring a hole into the bespectacled man with a cold, unkind look in her eyes.
"I agree." — I say. I have no interest in seeing the ladies being abused, better to have them focus their attention on me and lead me to my equipment as soon as possible.
"Good, I can immediately spot a smart person when I see one." — Kin, the bespectacled man nods and releases Chloe. Whom directs an angry glare at me. — "You have made a wise decision. Release him."
"You really were a bastard. What else should I have expected from a human." — Chloe said as she was still hung there by the chains that the mercenaries were holding onto.
"Nothing personal." — I got up after I was released from my collar, but they left the shackles on me. — "Only business."
"Well said." — The nerd chuckled and turned to the ogre. — "My friend, won't you guard our ladies until we finish?"
"Yeah!" — The ogre grumbles.
"Then let's not waste any more time, the sooner we finish, the sooner we can start our celebration."
At those words the group of mercenaries start to grin and cast lecherous gazes at the girls, undressing them with their eyes.
As we leave the cell, I take a look at the elves while no one is paying attention to me. Olga seems clearly disappointed and is wearing a mask of indifference on her face, although it seems she also fully expected me to act the way I have. Chloe on the other hand is glaring daggers at me whilst promising me all sorts of divine retribution. Heh, I'm curious what sort of reactions they'll give me when I get back.
They throw a bag over my head as they start to lead me through the fortress corridors whilst boxing me in. The two nobodies walked behind me and leading the front was Kin and two more. The two extra's had been waiting a bit further from the cell. It did not take long to get to our destination, the path had a couple of turns which I carefully memorized by focusing on the surrounding thermal signatures. At the end of our little trek we climbed a staircase leading up to the next floor and after that we soon found ourselves in a small room lite by framed torches. Along the way, I had noticed a patrol of three and two security posts near the top and bottom of the staircase.
"Here we are." — The bespectacled man gestured to the room with his hand and then he walked to the center of the room, while our escorts placed themselves in pairs on each side of me. — "I'm very interested in what you can tell me."
My equipment lay on a table at the center of the room. I noticed the elements of the "Squad-5" medium armor set; a vest, greaves, hip plates and bracers all neatly laid out. One of the bracers had a build-in HF blade (high frequency blade) and the other a mini-computer, with a protective hinged lid, that is used to control the armor's additional functions. The whole set is meant to be worn over a military tactical suit, of which I'm currently wearing the trousers (pants), while the jacket is currently on the table in front of me. The armor's functions include an autodoc (II) function, a simulator and a quick attachment system in order to add or detach additional armor elements. The only thing missing seems to be the helmet, but my eyes are basically a replacement for it's vizor.
In addition, also carelessly strewn on the table are a KR-45 assault rifle and the good old USAS-12, along with 4 of each corresponding 6 mm magazines. A sturdy metal case hiking backpack was hung from the side of the table, with clear signs that they failed in their attempts to open it. No surprise there, the thing is magnetically sealed and no fucking way anyone is breaking it open unless they go at it with a diamond coated circular saw or the better option being a high-frequency knife.
Not bad, if I do say so myself. The only things that bother me are that I didn't have a shotgun with me at the time of my death, and that I lost my rifle. Not to mention the suit used to look cooler. I get the feeling like someone was sent to collect me and the remaining equipment, then put it back together before sending me here. Well that's something worth mulling over, but for now….
"You know, I changed my mind." — I said.
"What?" — The four-eyes seems surprised and out of the corner of my eyes I notice the other suckers have strained expressions.
"I'm saying that all of you here are stupid fuckers." — I smile, looking into his face. — "And Mommy told me not to get involved with bad company."
Having snapped my bindings, chain links start to fall down and before they hit the floor, I kick one of the mercenaries to the other end of the room. As his body crashes into the wall, leaving a blood splatter from his back and head on it, I had already pulled out a dagger, from the belt of the merc standing next to me, and sent it flying at Kin. He didn't have enough time to react, let alone dodge, and fell to the floor as he tried to clasp his hands over his bleeding throat. Then I snap the neck of the one I took the dagger from, taking exactly a second for it all.
During all of this the two remaining mercs manage to draw their swords. I skillfully step back dodging an all too slow blow, then step forward and hit him in the hip with my fist, popping his joint out. As the merc is forced to fall forward, I elbow him in the head, taking him out. Having witnessed my quick reprisal, my remaining opponent tries to make a run for it. But I catch up to him in a single leap, catching him by the scruff of his neck, slam him into the ground and violently stomp my foot into his head. Bursting it open like a balloon, blood, brains and skull fragments splattering from under my shoe.
That was too easy. They didn't even have the time to properly make sense the of situation. That being said I'm now certain that both my strength and reaction speed are much better than what they should be. Though I won't be doing any complaining about it, especially not in the current circumstances. I take a couple of seconds to look at the mess at my feet, then look up at the table.
It's time I get to work.
A little later.
"Upset that he decided to join the Dogs?" — Olga asked her ward. The Queen had not been all that surprised by the man's choice. Afterall who would willingly act against an entire army, especially if they were given the option to join them instead?
"For a moment I thought he was different. Not like the other scum." — The young Chloe's mind had been a mess ever since Kin's reminder of her past that had been filled with nothing but pain, suffering and humiliation. Which in turn had lowered the already grim mood to an even lower one. — "And that… that... traitor!" — Although how could someone betray them if they had never been on her same side? Even if she understood that fact, for some reason she couldn't get rid of the feeling that she had been stabbed in the back by someone she hadn't expected it from.
"Chloe. You're still such a naïve child." — Her mentor said with a bitter smile. — "You continue to believe in fairy tales."
"Shut up, females!" — The ogre that was left behind to guard them growled from behind the bars.
"Go to hell, bastard!" — Chloe growled back.
"What?" — The giant didn't like her response and clung to the cell bars, showering the girls with its fetid (III) breath. — "The only reason you have to open your mouth is to swallow dick, female! I will…"
No one would ever know what exactly the ogre 'would' do, as his sentence was abruptly interrupted by a pair of hands that smoothly appeared from behind him and snapped his head sideways. The quick movement crushing the ogre's cervical spine (IV). As the now dead ogre sank trough his knees onto the ground, the two women could see someone they did not expect to see again.
The same stranger, whom Chloe had been inwardly cursing at, now stood in front of their locked cell. Looking cheerfully at them, with his strange glowing eyes, and placing his foot atop the ogre's carcass. — "Miss me?"
