Chapter 87: Maximum Resistance Part 1
Before Chapter 87 I would like to wish you guys a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2016.
Well that's just great, I've died again. Still at least I saw it coming, though it doesn't alter the fact that I had to embrace it at the hands of Nobunaga. Although I soon realise I can be revived, what does concern me deeply, is is it practical?
After all, no doubt Nobunaga is still in the area along with numerous troops patrolling it though on the bright side I don't feel any pain on my body whatsoever, or even any blood. Another thing I notice is that I'm thinking right now, hang on I didn't think that people have the ability to think when they're dead, but then again I'm not exactly sure about what happens to that person when said person dies. I've been meaning to ask my heavenly goddess Noire that question, though unfortunately I keep forgetting to.
I guess the main thing I want to know is, is where am I? I open my eyes and take a look around only to see plenty of trees, grass and daylight. Hmmm this is the same area as the one where I fought Nobunaga, I'm sure of it and yet I see neither him nor his troops.
"Are you alright Black? I've managed to drop off a supply of perk a colas in bottles by your side, as well as a few weapons and some more of that special healing cream." Uni informs me.
Hearing Uni's voice in my mind confirms that I've been revived and this confirmation pleases me, but I know I'm not out of the woods yet, as there is still Nobunaga to deal with, though at least I'm given another chance to defeat him, and this time I am at full strength.
"Thank you ever so much, yeah I'm great though I am deeply upset by Oichi's loss, I'm ever so sorry and I'm deeply annoyed with myself for failing to protect her, I just wish I could have given her another perk a cola after reviving her. Do you know where Nobunaga is as well as the Wei officers? How are they faring against the rest of Nobunaga's squad?" I ask with much sadness as I pick up the stuff that Uni has left by my side.
It bothers me so much, as I knew how much she had suffered and how much she would have wanted to have fought for us. And yet I have let her down, and I have failed to prevent her death from happening.
Then there is also the fact that she was my hope in helping to break the brain washing. I guess I am to eventually turn on Lastation against my own free will, and be forced to fight against my friends, my allies, my family and the nations that I love so much and I'd give my life for. It's really sad and as much as I hate to admit it, it makes me question what is the point in carrying on, when the end of my own free will is imminent? No, I must make the most of it and I should carry on for as long as I can. I need to keep my morale high, though it is easier said than done.
"You shouldn't feel bad for it Black, you did the best you could under very difficult circumstances, and you have at least managed to free her and defeat Noh, as well as significantly wound Nobunaga and as for the perk a colas, well it would be way too suspicious to have all of these drinks on you even if they were disguised as a regular drink.
Then there is also the fact that you had to rely on weapons from the guards, as well as fight against opponents with superior weapons, due to the conditions that they have set up. Besides which you will be pleased to hear that Oichi has actually faked her death, and led him to a false security hoping that she can be rescued, so that she can fulfil her desire to find Nagamasa and Katsuie, help you with your brainwashing as well as to serve Lastation, so she can exact vengeance against Team Rocket and Neptune for what they have done to her. The thing is she is still lying there in serious pain playing dead, though it should be safe to see her.
As for Nobunaga, well he is currently fighting the Wei officers as well as White who although they have managed to defeat the rest of Nobunaga's squad, the fight has taken its toll on them and they are significantly wounded.
I can only hope that they manage to defeat him for if they don't, then he'll probably check up to see you two and when he finds that you two are not there, he's sure to declare war on Lastation and then we'll be forced to fight a war on two fronts, which I think will be ever so difficult considering the current circumstances. It's too bad it wouldn't be practical for you and Oichi to assist, as when he sees you he'll no doubt report it to Team Rocket and that will be an act of war.
I'm pretty sure these wonderful readers will wonder why we have revived you then, well it's because we have learned from radio traffic that while there has been nothing about declaring war on us or anything about the Pokémon battle, we have learned that the supplies will be making their trip earlier than originally planned, and although we have informed the troops and they're beginning to attack, we'll need you two to assist them as no doubt the two of you will be such a morale boost.
Intelligence has also indicated that Team Rocket are planning an attack on Lastation tomorrow. We cannot allow this to happen if we are to avoid the war on the two fronts, especially with how Leanbox is attempting another invasion which I need to attend to the moment it starts." Uni informs me as well as making me feel better about myself from what she says.
"Whew that's a relief, it will definitely be good for the Loweeans here to see someone like herself, and with luck the brainwashing can be broken and I won't be forced to turn against you guys. I do agree about what you say with regards Nobunaga and I do hope that our allies can finish him off, for if they don't then Lastation will be invaded for sure.
The thing is I am deeply concerned about trying to get to Viridian Forest from here, as well as making sure that our presence along with the conclusion that we are now against Team Rocket doesn't get reported, especially with how Nobunaga will be able to report that we are supposed to be dead, and that we were supposed to kill them yet neither one of us have due to our deaths. At least he hasn't reported our deaths yet for some reason though unless he is defeated, it will be inevitable that he will, and it's a shame that the pair of us helping out is out of the question.
It doesn't look good on them with how they threaten us with warfare and yet they are planning on invading us tomorrow. I just hope they fail and we succeed, it's a real shame we have been in these terrible predicaments for quite a while. It would be nice to be able to take the fight against them for once.
The thing is I'm also concerned about how Leanbox may invade before Nobunaga dies, meaning I won't have the appropriate confirmation." I reply to her with a mixture of emotions due to the various aspects of this situation.
"I agree. The good news is that if you head to the east you'll eventually reach the western side of the forest. The bad news is it is a lot of area to cover especially if you are to avoid the numerous patrols, who all have radios in the area you two are to go through. I just hope that Nobunaga can get defeated soon because then it won't matter if you two get spotted, because as far as they're concerned they have won the Pokémon battle and our team has died, although the thing is you'll need a disguise if you are to convince them that you are one of them.
Even if you are forced to attack them assuming Nobunaga is dead, at least they'll believe that you're a Team Rocket grunt who has defected, and that Oichi has defected by her own free will due to the weak brainwashing, and as far as the Pokémon battle is concerned, they should believe that Oichi is the sole survivor who has defected due to being free with Noh and Nobunaga.
And as for Leanbox it is a shame but I am still hopeful about it, I mean they haven't managed to do much damage in any of their invasions, though I am required to use the surveillance to help ensure this, which unfortunately means you are on your own until I can resume this. I wish something can be done to rectify this.
Another thing that I wish for is the usage of the EMP, as although we have the means to use it and the usage would mean that they can't use their radios to report, we have to assume that they already know of the Pokémon battle between 5 warriors from Lastation and 5 warriors from Team Rocket. If they are to find that none of their radios work, then they'll no doubt assume that this is our doing." Uni informs me calmly though I can tell how concerned she is from some of the stuff she has to say.
"Thanks and yeah I agree about getting a disguise, I just hope Nobunaga falls because it would be sad if we're forced to fight Team Rocket in Lastation, and it's a big shame that there is nothing we can do about him. I also hope that until then both myself and Oichi can avoid detection, though ideally he needs to be dead before any real fighting starts between our forces and theirs. We need our troops alive if we are to take the centre checkpoint of Viridian Forest, if the supplies are to be captured by us.
As for the surveillance don't worry about it, I mean the surveillance you do provide is amazing and it is still an advantage to be able to watch over the neighbouring areas without the enemy knowing, as well as to provide the communication known as mind talk, which can only be heard by a select few and cannot be intercepted at all. I'm sure the work you do has helped to save countless lives.
As for the EMP the same thing applies I mean it is a very useful weapon, but at the end of the day it's more important that they do not know that we are attacking them unofficially. Besides while it's important to have a technological advantage, it's more important to ensure that our advantages are kept secret if possible. Lastation's technology is second to none, and I'm sure that over time it'll get even better than before, and you do have a lot of impressive and useful stuff as well as being able to utilise it to your advantage. I'm certain we'll succeed with what we have as we have always done it.
OK I'll get sorted out and then find Oichi, best of luck in repelling Leanbox." I say to Uni via mind talk, trying to sound as positive as possible.
"Thanks and I completely agree with you, and I also wish you the best of luck as well. I'll be there to help you with the patrols as well as to inform you on updates regarding Nobunaga, at least until the time Leanbox attacks us today. The thing is unfortunately if he does die, then the Wei officers won't be able to help you, but the thing is that once his death is confirmed, then I am absolutely confident that you two will be fine in your mission and even if not, then I know you'll do your best in bleeding the Team Rocket troops dry, to hinder their invasion." She informs me, speaking in a similar way to myself.
With this said, I then thank Uni for the help as well as informing me that Oichi is alive, before taking a drink from each of the various perk a colas, only to then arm myself with the weapons, taking the supplies and heading out to find Oichi's position.
As I head out various thoughts race through my mind, I am ever so relieved to hear that Oichi is not dead, and so at least she'll be able to continue fighting for us, as well as to hopefully find out where Nagamasa and Katsuie are, furthermore she should be able to help me eliminate my brain washing, so I won't be turned tomorrow and I'll be able to find out what really happened in that nightmare of mine.
But even so I realise that I'm assuming that it's the case, even if it is a logical educated guess. There's no guarantee that Oichi will solve it, and if she can't then what else can I do in terms of finding out what really happened? I don't think I can do anything else, and I don't see how I can either. I suppose all I can do is remain hopeful that I won't lose my mind tonight to the enemy.
I soon realise however that even though the lady of Azai is alive, she is no doubt in serious pain and it must be hard for her to suffer in silence, to not give the game away for her sake. But even then it must take an immense toll on her already suffering body, and I would have thought that having to conceal her immeasurable pain would harm her body, that is already critical to such an extent where she would die anyway. I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like for her, which is why I rush as fast as I can so her suffering, her torture; her torment can end as soon as possible by healing her.
As I do so, I can't begin to think that although we managed to defeat Noh, it was at such a cost on both of our health; in fact it proved too much for us when we tried to fight Nobunaga. It is a shame that the both of us have fallen by him, although it is fortunate that my quick revive has saved me, while Oichi faking her death has saved hers. It is a great pity that it wouldn't be practical for the both of us to finish the job in defeating Nobunaga, who should be wounded now.
I can only hope that they win, I'd like to think that they would win because of how powerful they are, as well as how they outnumber him, but sadly that does not reassure me because Nobunaga will have a better weapon which is bound to give him an edge. It's hard to say and while I know that my allies from Wei will do their best against him, it is a pity that our chances in fighting the Team Rocket grunts without causing a war between them and Lastation, will all depend on whether the Wei officers manage to slay Nobunaga in time or not.
I definitely feel that this situation is very awkward just like with the brain washing, as both me and Uni have already said that if we're both spotted, they'll be sure to inform the superiors, but Nobunaga will mention that he killed Oichi, meaning that they'll know we've broken their deal and so war is declared. But on the other hand if we don't do so, then those supplies will make it to Viridian City. Even if we avoided detection, there is still the matter of getting there while the fighting is going on.
Then there is also the matter of how long will Uni's support through her surveillance lasts, before she is forced to deal with Leanbox. Furthermore who's to say that Nobunaga won't fall until after Leanbox has invaded, meaning I won't know for sure. Then again what choice do I have? The thing is there is also the matter of would it make a difference regarding war being declared, if Team Rocket are trying to plan an invasion tomorrow? I also wonder with the possibility of Lastation fighting Leanbox and Team Rocket on two fronts officially, and with all the stresses of doing such a thing it makes me wonder if it will make a difference if I'm brainwashed or not?
With all of this going on and the bad stuff and awkward situations refusing to end, it makes me feel like there's no point in carrying on, that it's just better if we're to quit and give in. No, I cannot give in, not to Team Rocket, not to the situation, and certainly not to Neptune who's tyranny cannot be allowed to succeed unpunished and unchallenged. For the sake of my friends, my family and for our nations, I cannot let them down. I must continue fighting for their sakes and for that of Gameindustri.
At least there is hope, I'm sure that Nobunaga will fall and I will get confirmation from Uni, allowing us to fight Team Rocket once again without fear of declaration of war. I'm sure that Oichi will be able to cure my brainwashing, allowing me to fight for everything that I stand for and love for a while yet and I'm sure that we'll be able to stop Team Rocket's plans of invading Lastation, and what's more I'm sure that somehow, some time, some way, Lowee will be liberated even if it's one area at a time and that with its liberation, we can then liberate Leanbox as well as Planeptune.
I just have to continue doing what I do best, which is to continue fighting in any way I can to ensure the survival of Lastation, Lowee and the rest of Gameindustri. And so it is then that with these thoughts going through my mind, that I then do my best to focus on what I need to do now, rather than constantly worrying about the various concerns from these situations that stresses me and my friends. The thing is that by the time I've finished thinking about them, I have finally reached Oichi.
She's still lying there, covered in blood and I sense that she must be in an unbelievable amount of pain. In fact were it not for Uni or my HUD telling me the opposite, I'd definitely be convinced that she has died, especially with how pale she is as well as from the lack of breathing. Although it brings me such grief to see her like this, I am pleased that she is able to fool Nobunaga into thinking he has killed her. Still I intend to restore her health and get rid of her pain.
"Oichi, it's alright you can wake up now. I'll take care of your pain." I say to her quietly.
She then begins to smile as best as she could before opening her brown eyes. She then attempts to get up, but I motion for her to stay lying down. I then get to work by applying the cream on her cuts, her wounds and her injuries, and I do so in the order of where it hurts her the most. As I heal her with the cream, it makes me feel ever so uncomfortable to have seen her lying on the floor soaked in her own blood, full of cuts and wounds all over her body, but at least it's better than having to kill her to break the brainwashing, as the current situation just involves using the cream to heal her wounds.
Although I have seen the effects before, it still amazes me to see the positive effects of this healing cream, as the wounds disappear along with her blood and her cuts rather quickly. Her body is in a better shape in a matter of seconds, and her body language even shows that the pain she feels is reducing and reducing, making her smile even more. Even her clothes heal and looks good as new without any cuts or tears or holes.
"Wow this is amazing, the pain is going, the wounds are disappearing, and you even managed to make my clothes appear as good as new. Thank you ever so much." She speaks quietly in her own native tongue, as well as in her own distinctive warm caring voice.
I can tell from her body language how much she appreciates this, and how she wishes to repay my kindness. Now it is the matter of giving her the drinks, and it intrigues me to find that every time she has a drink from each one of them, she belches due to its effects. Though she notices them all having different flavours, it is nice to see that she likes the taste of all the different ones, and I notice how her favourite seems to be the quick revive due to the fish, as well as how even though for some annoying reason I don't know of her country of origin, I knew her country have a good amount of fish in their diet.
"Although it pains me to say this I would like to thank you for taking down my brother, no Nobunaga." She replies to me, I can sense the various conflicting emotions as even though he has been brainwashed heavily, he is still her brother none the less.
"I'm sorry to say Oichi, but unfortunately I wasn't able to kill him although currently he is fighting the rest of my squad, and it's for the best that we let them deal with him." I say to her quietly sounding quite upset.
"You're right and it's alright, I mean we didn't have the best health to take him on, not after dealing with Noh although at least we have managed to take her down, and that is one less evil sadist to worry about." The Azai lady reassures me.
"Yeah thanks Oichi." I reply with a smile.
"You're welcome. So what's the nightmare that's been bothering you?" She asks me, eager to help me.
"I'd love to tell you but unfortunately I need you to come with me, to help capture a checkpoint in the forest." I reply to her, wishing I could tell her but I know we need to get to Viridian Forest to capture that checkpoint.
"Sure thing, it will be my pleasure. Lead the way." She says to me with a smile.
I then give her a few weapons which consist of two Nambu pistols and a Type 100 submachine gun, leaving myself with a Nambu Pistol and an Arisaka with a bayonet, before we then head out.
We rush as quickly as we can which thanks to the perk a colas is very fast. It's not long before we see a dead Team Rocket grunt with which his clothes I will use for my disguise. It doesn't take long for me to get changed while Oichi moves on ahead, to look for any enemy patrols that may be heading our way. As soon as I'm changed I then catch up to her.
"OK Oichi, I propose that if we can we just avoid the enemy patrols, that is until I can get confirmation regarding Nobunaga dying. If we do get spotted however, we are to tell them that you are the sole survivor of that Pokémon battle, and that I am a Team Rocket grunt, but as soon as they try and get confirmation, we are to eliminate everyone in the group with the radio people taking priority. They must not know that you are supposed be dead, and that we have breached the rules of the contest." I suggest to her while speaking quietly.
"That's a good idea and I highly agree, lead the way. I can only hope that my brother can be defeated in battle by our allies of Wei." She speaks quietly like I do.
With the idea and tactics agreed, we then head on out with Uni as my guide, hoping that it will last long enough so that I can hear the confirmation, meaning that we can get to the checkpoint that needs capturing much sooner. Unfortunately it's not long before we are informed of a patrol heading our way, as we rush through the trees in this dense forest.
We respond appropriately by climbing up the trees, doing our best to conceal ourselves amongst the leaves, hoping that the enemy doesn't notice us. Ideally we could do without having to wait for the enemy to come past us, but unfortunately stealth is required if we are to avoid detection by the enemy.
Eventually we see the enemy troops and there appears to be a dozen of them armed with various weapons from Nambus to Arisakas to Type 100s, but there is of course one who's armed with a radio. I keep my eye on him but keep still, as the slightest movement will no doubt alert them.
As I see them move past slowly and cautiously, I then notice that one of them looks up into the trees… and then at us.
"Hey it's Oichi and one of our guys as well. How are you guys doing, and how did the Pokémon battle go?" The grunt asks with much enthusiasm.
"I'm doing great thank you, you'll be pleased to hear that we have won the Pokémon battle although I am the sole survivor." Oichi replies and I can tell that her friendliness is fake, as she knows of the crimes that Team Rocket has committed.
I notice the grunts not being any of the wiser as they talk to Oichi, which relieves me quite a bit although I know we're not out of the forest yet.
"In that case, it's best that I inform our superiors and for you to come patrol with us." The person with the radio says as he gets ready to radio his boss.
We knew this event would take place, and the first thing that happens afterwards is that Oichi fires her submachine gun at the guy with the radio, before he can even use it. This action shocks the others, and rather than trying to attack us, they then run away as fast as they can screaming as loud as possible, in hopes that they can alert their friends that Oichi has defected. The group then splits up and run off in two different directions, forcing us to do the same.
I manage to kill 5 of them with my rifle as they try to evade me and find their allies, but then there is one who's a fair distance away, and I have no time to reload my rifle even with the perk a colas. I therefore jump down and switch to my pistol, as well as rushing towards him in hopes I can gain ground quick enough, so I can take him down in his tracks.
After a fair amount of running, I manage to get within range and I shoot him in the back with one shot knocking him over. Unfortunately I then hear Uni say that my final shot has alerted the other guards, although Oichi has managed to defeat the members of the group before they can report to their allies.
What does concern me is how she also says that Nobunaga is still fighting the others, and yet the others are quite close to dying; this is not looking good at all. Still if I keep doing the best I can, I'm sure I'll be able to prevent them from discovering that we've breached the rules, and I'm sure that Nobunaga will be defeated soon.
Just as I figured I then see that a guard with a radio has spotted the soldier I just shot, and so he tries to call for help. Even if he may not know that the guard was trying to warn about Oichi, and give them the chance to inform their superiors where Nobunaga will claim her death, and therefore suggest foul play, I cannot take any chances and so I quickly shoot him in the head. This action alerts a few riflemen, and so I then shoot the lot of them as well. I quickly hide amongst the trees while lying prone, before mind talking to Uni while I reload my pistol and my rifle.
"Are there any more enemies in the area who are alerted to my presence?" I ask Uni.
"Negative but there are still plenty more of them patrolling the area, unfortunately the fighting between our forces and theirs in Viridian Forest is picking up, and despite our allies best efforts, I'm concerned that they may not be able to take the checkpoint in time. A lot of them are pinned down in various areas throughout the forest, and it's unfortunate that even now Nobunaga is still fighting against the Wei officers, with no end in sight." She informs me sounding quite concerned.
"Thanks Uni, and don't worry I'm sure it will eventually end in our favour. I'll wait for Oichi and then advance some more, perhaps try a new tactic so that we can get to the action quicker." I reply to her via mind talk, trying to stay positive despite the bleakness of the situation.
Uni agrees and in fact she praises my idea, and it's not long before I see her come running towards me, and so I stand up from my hiding place to greet her, only for us to then brisk walk as Uni then informs us of an enemy patrol heading our way.
Rather than try and hide we just approach them casually, hoping that it will be practical for us to attack them when they walk past us. Unfortunately it is not to be as as soon as we're spotted, while one of them greets us, another one immediately gets on the radio to report that they have seen Oichi.
Ah well I guess it is not to be, Oichi immediately starts firing at the radio man before firing at the squad, while I try and pick off enemy grunts with my Arisaka, especially one who I happen to see hiding behind the tree using his radio. The problem is, is that due to how loud he was amidst the gunfire, I heard him say that Oichi is fighting the Team Rocket forces.
This concerns me greatly as no doubt the superiors will try and contact Nobunaga, meaning he'll respond and they'll suspect foul play as Oichi was supposed to be dead (not to mention she was in immense pain and full of blood and all sorts of wounds before "supposedly dying"), as well as how we were supposed to fight to the death against the enemy team and yet we didn't. Well we were forced to flee being as how he'd immediately suspect foul play if we just revived ourselves and fought him again, and even if we stayed dead Oichi would have died, and I probably would never get to be revived again.
I had hoped that Nobunaga would be defeated before they discover that we broke their rules, but I guess it is not to be and it is so sad that I have seen this for myself, from what the radio person has said even though I've shot him pretty soon afterwards. I guess all we can do is carry on even if we are to assume the worst, that Team Rocket is now at war with Lastation and there will be a war on two fronts, which is not an ideal position. Although I've noticed these grunts having inferior weapons to that of Lastation, I'm sure they have more advanced ones in the other cities which I can only imagine is due to the difficulty level like it is in the games, though it is interesting how instead of it being Pokémon it's grunts armed with guns instead.
It is then I hear Uni speak to me via mind talk and I can only guess it's to confirm what I have seen.
"Just to let you know that I have just seen Nobunaga…"