On The Road To Angel's Peak
It was mostly a quiet car ride for the team. Snow and Loona were in a better mood since Snow had learned how his dad had survived. Now, they were arguing over the songs that were playing through Loona's phone until Loona used the argument of 'Driver picks the music. Shotgun shuts their cakehole'.
Blitzo was just catching some Zs in the back of the van along with Millie and Moxxie. They wanted some shut-eye as well. So, following Blitzo's example, they caught up on some shut-eye for the long journey ahead.
Dex would normally be going over his inventory and remaining quiet during these car rides between places. This time, however, he had Octavia leaning her head on his shoulder while video-calling her dad to let her know she was safe.
If you notice the sunroof of Snow and Loona's van open. You will see Balthazar. With his sniper at the ready. And, focusing all around him for any potential targets that would try to attack the van filled with a Goetia demon, three imps, a hellhound, and two fallen angels, himself included. And, the hybrid. So far, nothing was coming up for the mute.
The eight of them knew it would be a long journey to Angel's Peak. It was something that they tried to push out of their minds and pass the time with other things to think about.
A tap of Balthazar's knee to Octavia. And, with the indication for the owl to turn her head to the backseat was all that was needed for Octavia's eyes to widen. Pulling her gun from beside Dex she replaced Balthazar on look-out with her binoculars. The minute she spotted almost twenty black Mercedes Benz and one Aston Martin in the distance. And, she saw they were catching up fast to Snow and Loona's 'Scrap Trap'. She jumps back down into the seats and snatches the sniper from beside Dex. Once she has the weapon in her hands. She peeks back out of the sunroof window and almost confirms what she was worried about.
"Bleep!"
A bullet narrowly missing her head told Octavia all she needed to know to open fire on the people who were coming up fast on the team's van.
"SNOW, HOLD ME STEADY! RAPHAEL'S ANGELS AT SIX O'CLOCK!"
At that shout from the owl. Snow almost puts the accelerator pedal through the floor. And, with his right arm holding the van steady. The hybrid calls back to her.
"All yours Tavia!"
Octavia smirks. Lining up her shot and remembering how Dex told her to aim away from the wind. The owl sniped the first wheel of the vehicle that was the closest to the van. The vehicle crashed and burned. And, with a scarily fast reload, Octavia had her sights set on the next car.
It wasn't all plain sailing. Despite picking off more front wheels to send the mercs flying into the sky and crashing into the dirt below them before exploding. The MP5s were soon firing bullets at Octavia. Causing Dex to drag Octavia roughly down into the van.
If Blitzo was asleep before, he was awake now. Kicking out the back window. And, with his pistol in hand. Blitz began to open fire and only managed to pick off three of the attackers when he used the bi-pod attachment on the MG42 and began to open fire on the tailing cars.
Sixteen more cars began to pile up and explode before the lead angel that was leading the charge climbed up onto the roof. holding up his pitch-black katana to block the bullets that were firing at the car he was standing upon. Blitzo calls back to the driver.
"Snow. Raphael is on top of his car!"
The king soon sees what his father-in-law has seen. Causing his eyes widen in horror. It was much, much worse. The telltale sign was when Snow saw the pitch-black katana that was blocking Dex, Octavia and Blitzo's bullets.
"Mother Bleeper."
This causes Balthazar to look in the wing mirror after Snow's shout and, sure enough, Balthazar does not like what he saw either. They were dealing with someone Balthazar knew very well. Pulling Fallen from above him on the underside of the roof. The fallen angel turns to his friend in the driver's seat and says.
"Keep driving. Hold the van steady and get everyone out of here!"
Despite wanting to protest. Snow didn't get the chance the moment Balthazar jumped out of the van and onto the roof. This caught everyone off guard when Balthazar jumped down from the moving vehicle and landed in a knelt position before the cars that were just miles away from the fallen angel.
"WHAT THE HELL DOES HE THINK HE'S DOING!?"
Blitzo shouts angrily only to be calmed down by Snow when the taller hybrid says sadly.
"Balthazar is confronting his family."
With Balthazar
The minute the fallen angel knew the van was out of sight and he was fully surrounded by the angels and the katana-wielding archangel was now standing before him within the circle of cars. Balthazar spoke.
"Still doing Zerachiel's dirty work, Raphael?"
The pitch-black katana-wielding archangel is now seen staring down at his brother. The archangel's Colt. 45 six-shot revolver in one hand and, the blade in the other hand and, a glare the angel known as Raphael had reserved for his little brother never once left his face when he spoke in a voice as he had just gargled rusty screws and sandpaper.
"No worse than you doing that filthy heathen dirty work. Little brother."
This is what led to a stare-off between the two. At the clash of swords. Balthazar's fate shall remain unknown for now.
With The Team
As the team parked up in a random field. They began to check out the surroundings of the destination they were stopping at.
"Hey, uh, guys. You might want to see this!"
With looks between each other at Dex's call. Loona and Snow are the first ones to see over the hill what Dex had spotted. Over the hill and, just in the distance beyond them. There stood Angel's Peak. They were not too far away from their destination and, the final battle with Raphael was to come when they got there.
Deciding to leave the van and go on foot to their destination in the distance. Snow walks ahead with Loona while the others remain on guard behind the hybrid and the hound.
Later
Hunkering down for the night and, sleeping on the edge, everyone seemed to be sleeping comfortably. Except for Loona. Seeing as she couldn't get comfortable. And, turning to both the left and right side of herself and seeing no one else had awoken. Loona decided to change into a spare set of combat gear and head outside. Awaiting Loona was her husband, Dex and Moxxie in different parts of the meadow they were in.
Dex was on radio duty while Moxxie was on top of a small hill with his sniper. Snow. He was the first person Loona decided to go and see. Taking a seat next to the hybrid. Loona accepts a cigarette from her husband before sitting with one leg bent and one leg laid flat on the grass below.
"Can't sleep, babe?"
Loona nods to confirm what Snow is thinking. She took a drag from the small cancer stick before blowing out a cloud of smoke from her lips. Loona takes some time to think before she speaks lowly.
"Never thought I'd be sat here wondering when a former angel of the lord, who is confronting someone he knows miles away from us, would come back and help us push on."
Snow lets out a low chuckle after taking a toke of his smoke to answer the hound.
"I never thought I could mend my old friendship with the suicidal idiot after two years ago. But, one campaign later. Here we are."
Silence ensues after a small bout of laughter. The two were now just content with smoking their cigarettes before Loona piped up again in a low tone.
"You know something, Snow. Where the hell has the time gone?"
Eric couldn't help but agree with a nod. Interlocking his fingers with Loona's that was laid on the grass between them. He replies.
"I know what you mean, Loona. Seems only yesterday that I stopped those asshats harassing you in the streets. We went from strangers to lovers within three years of me landing in Hell."
"Do you regret any of it, Snow?"
Eric smirks gently before kissing Loona's cheek. With a fluster to her cheeks, she looks at the male smirking in her direction. Realising she'd asked the guy a stupid question. She speaks up.
"Yeah, I guess I still have some of my old insecurities festering away in me."
Eric merely smirks. With the cigarette reaching the butt and, flicking away their smokes. Loona and Snow stood at the same time and walked back to the camp. No more words were needed between the two teammates and lovers. The rest of the night would be considered peaceful for the camp.
For Balthazar. It would not be another night of peace.
The Next Morning
The trek began again for the nine members of Hell's Assault Team through the woods near their old campsite. Millie, who is seen in the middle of the pack, was the one carrying the map. She is seen relaying the instructions to the men in front of the pack. Snow had decided to march on ahead with his gun held at the ready by his side and his radio turned on for Millie's directions.
Blitzo, Loona and Moxxie were bringing up the rear. Assault rifles at the ready and checking their sides and their six o'clock for any being that tried to get the jump on them.
This just left Dex and Octavia. The couple were seen walking in between the front of the pack, where the hybrid was, and the middle of the pack where the navigation team were. Despite looking like any other couple. Holding hands and guns by their side. Dex was using Octavia for her advanced sight to get the jump on any attackers before they got to the team.
Though they had worked out any problems that tried to befall them. Dex would still wonder if he was even doing anything right as Octavia's boyfriend. He still felt inadequate after finding out that Paimon, Octavia's grandfather, had lined up some suitors for the Goetia demon princess of Greed.
Despite constant reassurances from Octavia that she only had eyes for the soldier of Hell. Dex still had that niggling feeling within his heart. The feeling that told him he should turn tail and leave for another part of Hell to become a soldier of fortune for the highest bidder.
Deep down. He didn't want to hurt the young adult currently holding his hand. But, at the same time, with what his jobs usually entail for him. He would not be able to give Octavia the life she wanted if he continued being Snow's informant.
Once the seven reached a forked road in the path they were taking. Something was wrong. This is shown when Snow halts the team and asks Millie to bring the map to him. And, just as he thought. There was no fork in the road shown on the map Millie was carrying.
"Stay frosty guys. Something is off with the path we have taken."
The minute they took defensive positions. Dex noticed Moxxie was nowhere to be seen when he turned to see the mute was not behind him.
"SIR! MOX HAS GONE!"
Snow had no time to react before Millie and Blitzo, minus Loona, were the next to be caught in a trap and dragged away at dangerously fast speeds while screaming for help.
The next to go was Snow who, when he tried fighting their assailants. They knocked him out cold in front of Loona. and, just like that, I.M.P. and Snow were nowhere to be seen. This leaves Loona, Octavia and Dex to stand back to back. And, it was the chance for Octavia to put into practice the combat training Dex had taught her back in Hell when they fought off the angels in the mall.
"Stay back to back and don't let each other out of your sights. We could be dealing with at least six enemies. Or, if Loona's hearings are correct, just the one."
Dex says with his pistol at the ready. Loona had her husband's Cerberus set to full auto while Octavia had her Luger held in front of her. This moment of the three together causes Loona to say.
"Whoever planned this. They know what they are doing by dividing us!"
Dex nods at Loona's statement. Gunfire soon follows with the unknown entity or entities opening fire on the three that are left. Octavia gets a headshot off with her first three shots. Loona managed to down at least six before making a run for it with Dex and Octavia.
No matter how many times they ducked, dodged, bobbed and weaved. A bullet was bound to hit one of them. Unfortunately for the two females. Dex had his right ankle smashed to smithereens by a stray 50. Cal bullet from their assailant, or assailants. Causing him to crash to the floor with a shout of.
"AARGH, BLEEP!"
That was enough to cause the women to stop in their tracks. With support from Loona in a fireman's lift. Dex is being carried on the sprinting Hell hound's shoulders while Octavia is seen shooting anyone who tried following behind.
Out Of The Woods
Almost sprinting off a cliff's edge was not on Loona's list of things to do today. But, neither was carrying her stepsister's boyfriend on her shoulders while under heavy fire. But, here they were.
Two females, and the male who had passed out from the pain of his shattered ankle, were staring down the barrels of at least, twenty, loaded guns. All directly pointed at them and ready to open fire.
With a look behind her. Octavia looks at Loona before saying.
"Loo, we need to jump!"
The hound has no time to look at the owl like she is crazy because before she knew it. The assailants had opened fire. And, just as she had said. Octavia, with her arms wrapped around the hound, jumped off of the edge and into the water below.
The angels wanted to go after their targets but, the lead angel shook his head as if to say. 'They didn't make it. Let's go deal with the other heathens.' Leading to the assailants giving up on the three that had taken the plunge into the river below.
The River Below
If the angels had stayed, however, they would have seen that Loona and Octavia had risen from the depths. And they were, now, gasping for air while the currents took over them in the rapidly moving waters.
"Loona! Dexter!"
"OCTAVIA!"
That was all that was needed for the hell hound to keep a hold of a struggling Octavia and reassure her by saying.
"Don't worry sis, I gotcha!"
That would be the last thing Loona would say. Despite being strong swimmers. Loona, Octavia and, a Loona-supported Dex, would soon find themselves going over a huge waterfall with sharp rocks waiting to impale them at the bottom.
"End of the line!"
Two screams were soon heard after Loona's shout before going quiet at the bottom with a huge splash from the two females and males going over the falls.