Chapter 32:

5:15 pm.

"What… the… fuck…?"

No signal.

All the General sees the No Signal labels plastered onto the screen. Multiple of them popping up as the second goes by. His earpiece can only output static. The War Room is silent once again. No one says a word; everybody holds their breath.

Adam quietly looks up at the projected screen. A dot is flying across the mainland at almost Mach 2 speed.

At this point, Adam could only laugh. Just laugh and laugh and laugh. How long has he laughed at all? It's been a while for him. How long has he laughed from the bottom of his heart? It was a long time ago. Truly a long time ago.

The rest of the War Room just goes silent. Letting the man who was just made a fool laugh it all out. As if that's the only reconciliation against the results.

In the end, what was all this fighting for?

"Sir, we can't contact the Oracle" one of his operators said.

"Pffft! So what? The Oracle just left us here!? Oh man, just one thing after the other! HAHAHAHA!"

Adam laughs again. It's a really funny situation. Can't kill that Thing. Can't capture or kill a single human girl. And now, they're left here without an Oracle to guide them. If it isn't funny, Adam doesn't know what is.

"Haaaa… Oh man, I haven't laughed so hard in a while…" he smiles. No one says a response.

"What? Why don't you guys laugh too?" he looks around. They all just stare back at him. Adam knows what those stares meant.

"Tch, you guys are no fun"

With a click of his tongue, Adam walks out of the War Room.

Outside, the remnants of the Land of Purple Progress greet his eyes as the sky above slowly loses its blue hue. Wind from the sea blows through, as though trying to comfort him. He turns to his left and walks towards the intersection. A couple of soldiers who are guarding the war room salutes to him as he walks.

He stops at the corner of the sidewalk and pulls out a small box. With 2 taps of his fingers, a stick pops out. He pinches the stick with his teeth and pulls it out. As he does so, he puts the box in his pocket, and takes out a lighter.

*CLICK!* *CLICK!* *CLICK!*

"*inhale*… foooo…"

Smoke comes out of his mouth as he blows. He looks up mindlessly, his eyes following the smoke rise towards the sky.

"…"

Two fronts. Both lost. That was the reality that The General is facing. And another front slowly cooking up to be a threat so long as he leaves it there. Who knows what that thing is planning next. And the threat of IF launching Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. Too many fronts, that even with less than 5,000 special forces at his command, can he even win?

If that thing decides to change course, it'll wreak havoc on Lastation again. If those things from the village decide to charge towards Lastation, it'll be a bloodbath. And for sure, IFs plan is going to ruin Lastation.

And without the Oracle giving him the overview idea, he's practically blind.

"Planeptune… now Lowee, now Lastation…"

Maybe this is the price of their sins? The price of waging war on a friendly country. The curse from innocents whose blood has been spilled.

The price of the rage against the world.

"General Adam" his trance was broken by a soldier that suddenly called out his name. He looks to the side and sees a Private.

"What is it, Private?" the Private salutes.

"Sir, you have guests"

"Guests?" the Private side steps revealing the guests.

"Wait… you're—!"

5:57 pm.

"Is this it?" the Driver asked as he pushed some branches away.

"Yeah… it is…" IF answered as she fights her tired body. Compa helps her stay up.

Under some mold, trees, branches, and leaves, is a steel door covered in green moss.

"This looks like it's been abandoned for years" the Combatant said, noticing how thick the moss on the steel door is.

"Just a disguise, the edges haven't rusted yet. It's new" the Driver pointed out, as he wipes some of it off. And indeed, the steel looks brand new with no visible signs of rust.

Once they found the door's handle, the Driver gives the torch to the Combatant. The door is angled towards the ground, meaning this secret supply spot that their Commander mentioned is underground. The Driver puts his foot on the ground and lowers himself towards the grabs the handle with both hands.

"…?" he easily turns it and lifts it up.

"So much for taking form huh" the Combatant snickered to which the Driver ignored.

They're greeted by a flat ramp leading towards the underground. His Commander did mention that there's a couple of bikes they can use so a ramp is fitting more so than stairs.

"Should we check if they already know about this place?" the Combatant asks.

"Good call. For all we know this might just be a trap. Commander, how many rooms are there?"

"Just a bathroom. This base is supposed to be a supply point after all"

"Alright. Hey, take point" the Driver said as he pulls out his P226.

The descent down wasn't as deep as their lighting suggests, it's around a fifteen foot descent. It didn't take long for them to see the Jeep Bug that their Commander mentioned. IF started guiding Compa towards the side, as the two able fighters walks past the Jeep towards some shelves they see behind the vehicle.

*ZING!*

"Wooooooo~" the Combatant whistled his surprise.

IF turned on the lights, revealing the secrets of this supply point.

The entire base is small. Lined up at the front are 2 Yamaha XTZ 125s. Behind them are four sets of shelves filled with boxes, cans, bottles, and weapons. Weapons ranging from knives to sidearms, to primary weapons, to explosives. And lastly, at the far back, is a simple living area. A table with 4 chairs, a counter with a stove and sink. At the very corner of the base, a door leading to the bathroom.

IF sits on the chair as Compa gets ready to redress her wounds. The two completes their sweep of the base and found nothing of particular. With tired legs and spirit, they takes their chairs behind the Commander and sat down.

"Haaaa~ rest at last…" the Combatant groans.

"Hahaha… you and me both man" the Driver lightly laughs.

"You two can rest for a bit, we'll be going out again soon" IF said as she takes off her clothes, revealing all the rushed patch up work her friend did on her.

"Iffy!" Compa instantly says her name in protest.

"Commander, the Nurse is right. You're not fit to fight let alone make the plan happen, let's rest for now and continue our fighting tomorrow" the Driver said.

"And besides Commander, if we fight now then we're surely going to be wiped out. With the situation as bad as it is, it's best that we reroute our plan" the Combatant also joins in.

"…" IF just stays quiet.

"…Fine. Let's plan for tomorrow. Do another sweep of this place first before you two settle down"

"Aye aye~" the Driver forces himself to stand up.

9:32 pm.

Compa wakes up.

*CRMP!*

"…?"

The sound of something crunching and tearing rippled to her eardrums. The lights are still on, so she inadvertently looks.

A piece of paper was beside her.

With the words:

I'm sorry, Compa

Beta Read: TMCraze, Microsoft Editor