Chapter 24:
4:34 pm.
"Ma'am we can't let you leave the Basilicom"
"…"
A guard stopped Kei's footsteps.
She was about to enter the elevator to the helipad, but the 2 guards simply blocked her path with one of them having their hands raised.
They don't sound monotonous at all, the way they spoke is as though it was orders by some other. Their movements are natural as if it was a conscious effort. However, when she looks at their eyes, their pupils are dilated. Something is clearly wrong with them.
"Hrm? I'm not leaving the Basilicom. I'm here to head to the cafeteria and find something to eat. Or is that something I'm not even allowed to do as the Oracle of Lastation?" a test. She already knew that there's one person that could mess with her guards. Was this a preventive measure in case she would do something while she was away?
"Deep apologies for holding you ma'am"
"I will dock your pay for holding me up" Kei remarked as she walked past. No reaction.
She enters the elevator and presses the topmost floor. The button didn't light up. Through the reflection of the panel, she briefly looks at the camera before returning her attention to the panel. She instead presses the 5th floor, where the cafeteria is. This time the button lights up.
"…Damn, she's thorough" she whispered. She'll have to assume that everyone is going to stop her from leaving.
Did she already suspect that her brother is here? Did she already suspect that she'll be going somewhere in her absence? It's impossible to link those 2 questions together unless she can read minds. But it's the only explanation as to why they're stopping her.
"…I need to get out"
The unassuming 5th floor has a secret path towards the Goddess' quarters. The Lastation Goddess can order food anytime and a waiter would enter this path to deliver it to her. Although she prefers to cook her own meal, it was an option she uses whenever she doesn't feel like cooking.
From there, there's another secret path towards the helipad. For the same reasons, if the Lastation Goddess does not feel like flying on her own.
If she could get to Noire's floor, she can make it out.
She exits the elevator and follows the hall. She turns right and sees a pair of guards guarding the entry towards the cafeteria. She looks at their eyes, and sees they're as dilated just like the pair above.
"…" she ignores them and enters the cafeteria.
There are crowds of Basilicom workers chatting away as their shifts end. Even though it's war time, life in Lastation is the same as ever. They eat, chat, and laugh happily as if it was peace time. Maybe they're too ignorant of the horrors she's seen. She can't blame them. Maybe if Kei were to assign them under the General's thumb, they might just reconsider laughing so loudly.
But then again, Noire saved her citizens from the horrors outside of the borders.
Kei heads towards the back of the cafeteria, where a sign that says "Staff Only" is plastered onto the double doors. And standing beside those double doors are 2 guards, guarding the door to the kitchen.
"Ma'am Kei, you are not allowed to enter the staff kitchen" one of them stands before her, blocking her path.
"Is it wrong for me to inspect the kitchen?"
"No ma'a—!"
"And who are you to stop the Oracle from performing her duties? Who gave you the orders to hold the Oracle?" she sternly asks, gauging at the guard's reaction.
"Ah… ah… ah…" the guard flaps his mouth, like a fish over water, unable to answer his Oracle's questioning.
'They're definitely under the influence of something. Drugs maybe? That could explain the dilated pupils. But why can't he answer my question? He'd still be able to come up with an answer even if he's high. He can just say whatever. No, this is different'
"Ma'am Kei, you are not allowed to enter the staff kitchen" he repeats his statement.
'Should I make a scene? Or find another way? If she knows all of the passages towards Noire's floor then I'll have to force my way. However, I don't know how deep she influenced the Basilicom. Did she get the staff too? Will they sabotage my escape if I do make a scene?'
"Alright… I'll concede for now. But I'll be docking your pay"
"Yes ma'am, thank you for understanding!" the guard steps back. Still no reaction from having their salaries cut, seems that whatever is influencing them is far more important than their wages. And clearly from the looks of their faces, it seems they don't mind at all so long as Kei isn't allowed into areas they say no to.
Kei turns her back to them, and walks towards a peculiar corridor besides the entryway of the cafeteria. The moment she's in front of this corridor, she sees at the very end 2 doors side by side with 1 of them etched the letter M and the other F.
It was the toilet.
She walks towards the toilet, as a man came out of the M door. Her nose perks up a smell she knows quite well as the man walks past her. She enters the M toilet.
The moment she enters, a giant mirror greets her from the sink. Through its reflection she sees 2 men talking about something with cigarettes on hand.
"I believe it's Basilicom policy that no one should smoke in the toilet" she sternly says as she enters the 2 men's view.
"Gh…! The Ora—!" the 2 men line up and stand up straight at the sight of their boss.
"We have dedicated smoking areas. And you decided to smoke here?"
"Bu— but! Someone told us here is fine!?" one of them said.
"And who told you that? We have clear signs for everything. Which department are you two?"
"Financing"
"Then you wouldn't mind working the numbers how much HR would discipline you two right?"
"…" the both of them sweat.
"I'll need to confiscate your pack and the lighter" Kei holds out her hand.
"Ma'am, we're so sorry for inconveniencing you!" the guilty party both places their pack and a box of matches on Kei's hand.
"Go now before I decide to recommend something" they immediately ran.
After waiting for the coast to clear, she heads into one of the stalls. She taps on the pack with 2 fingers, and a cigarette pops out. With her mouth, she pinches the tipping paper and pulls the rest of the cigarette out.
She slides open the matches, takes a stick, rubs the match head with the igniter. The match lights up, a small fire starts. She gently pulls the match towards the tip of the cigarette, puffing in air as to give the tip life. Once the tip is lit, she flicks the match, killing its fire, throws the match into the toilet, before pinching the cigarette with her index and middle finger, and pulling it out of her mouth.
"Fooo~~…" smoke comes out of her mouth like a car that hasn't had its oil changed.
"…They were right. Matches does taste better" she looks up to a peculiar looking piece of plastic above her.
4:38 pm.
"Fuck! Fuck! FUCK! FUCK!"
"What the fuck happened!?"
"He shot himself! He fucking shot himself!"
"Fuck!"
The Driver curses as the weight of the situation falls on him.
However, the road doesn't let him think.
Ahead of him, he sees the tail end convoy of the retreating spec ops. And, peeking through the gaps of the houses, are crops. Also, the houses themselves are getting shorter and shorter. They're finally exiting the village.
"Hey! We might have a chance!"
"Shoot!"
"Hold that thing for a little longer!"
The driver steps onto the gas further, and switches gears. There are no obstacles between him and the convoy. The left side road is clear.
*GUHIIII!* *GUHIIII!*
"Tsk!"
The truck shakes left and right. The sound of the metal hitting something has increased its tempo. That thing is getting frustrated. The Combatant uses all his weight into clamping its fingers down.
*GUHIIIIII!* *GUHIIII!*
"Hey! I can't hold out any longer! Whatever the hell you're doing! Do it fast!" the Combatant said, now planting his feet on the ceiling and pulling as hard as he can.
"Nurse! Can you leave the Commander for a bit!? I need a favor!" the Driver said.
"I-I can!"
"Take the operator's body and dump it when I say so!"
"Ah-Mhm!"
Compa stands up and crosses over IF. She hurriedly picks up the body of the Operator and drags it towards the steel doorway.
"…" IF, given temporary relief from all the pain, looks at the dead Operator.
"Okay!" Compa shouts.
"Get ready to open the door on my signal!"
The truck reached the tailend of the convoy. The convoy is now in open road, with fields of crops on the left and the right, extending as far as the eye can see. The Driver didn't waste anytime and steps on the gas as the truck lines itself on the left side of the road.
The truck's engine's roars as it overtakes the long lines of armored trucks. The Combatant's arms are on the last of its muscle fibers. The Driver sees the leading truck of the convoy. He steps on the gas further squeezing every ounce of speed the truck has.
The moment he reaches the leading truck he overtakes it.
"Nurse! Open throw it!"
Compa opens the steel door wide. The wind the countryside wind greets her, as well as another armored truck. Without wasting time, she throws the body in front of the truck as hard as she can. The other truck swerved to the right avoiding it. But the truck behind it, couldn't and hits the dead Operator.
"Good job!" the Driver said as Compa closes the door.
"This thing is still on though!" the Combatant said.
"I know!"
The Driver quickly U-turns the truck, careful not to tip it over. Quickly shifting gears, he steps on the gass, driving back towards the stopped convoy.
"Let go when I said let go!"
"I've been wanting to!"
In no time at all, the truck reaches the convoy once more. The Driver steps up the gas at the last meter, then slams on the breaks and pulls the hand brake.
"Now!"
The Combatant lets go and the law of inertia takes over its body, flinging it towards the stopped convoy.
*GUHIIIIIIIIII!*
As it flies through the air, it sees a pack of humans besides a steel block. It smiles from ear to ear.
*GUHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!*
"WAAARGH!"
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*