Chapter 3 "Dusted in the Desert"
It was a pathetic face, unhappy at best. Noah found no reason to smile as he took his turn with the mirror in the barracks. Last night had left him feeling so low that he was sure the ground would swallow him at any moment. The full-scale battle against an avenging Agnian colony had ended with several soldiers dead from both sides. Additionally, Noah's opponent for most of it had greatly objected to his sparing of her life upon her defeat. Making matters worse, one of his teammates on the salvage branch was still missing. It was no wonder that the despondent Kevesi struggled with his simple, morning regimen before beginning his day.
"Better hurry it up, mate!" Solon, the winged salvager called to him. "They're already gathering outside!"
"Huh?" Noah jumped in his socks. "Y-yeah, thank you." With so much weighing on his mind, he'd nearly forgotten that the commander had called for another assembly. Further deliberations would have to wait, for it was time to step into daylight and see how Colony 25 had truly fared from last night's battle.
"Please line up with your groups!" Commander Colin instructed, his voice a trifle hoarse from having shouted several orders. "Our special guest is due to arrive any minute now!"
"Special guest?" Denize wondered aloud, standing with the other salvagers.
"Must be the consul," Fonse peered behind his shoulder to her. "He's the only guest we ever get."
"Do you think he'll know we're the ones who got the upgrades?" she crept closer to him. "We didn't get 'em directly from him."
"Now's not the time to be thinking about that," he admonished her, receiving a hot-breathed huff to the back of the neck in return.
"Are we all here, though?" Denize turned around momentarily. "Did Lana ever make it back?"
"Not yet…" Yuzet whispered the answer that she didn't want to hear.
"Spark…" she reached for her temple.
"Fonse already tried her Iris again this morning," he stopped her before she could put in the call.
"Still no answer, huh?" the swordswoman dropped her arm slowly before facing forward. "She's… probably just lost somewh-"
"Consul, sir!" the commander's voice boomed over everyone's heads, freezing all side conversations mid-sentence. Indeed, the special guest had arrived, literally in the blink of an eye. Only those near the front were able to witness the eminent yet eerie entrance of the red-armored individual who'd suddenly materialized onto their plane through a penumbral portal of his own making.
"Colony 25, pride of the desert." The consul carried his arms behind his back under his cape.
"Welcome," Commander Colin saluted him, as did the soldiers, "we've been waiting for you."
"I can see that, and you know what else I can see?" The red-armored hierarch wasted no time with his agenda, laying his eyes upon the face of the Ferronis.
"Sir?" the commander raised a brow before turning to look at it, too.
"That Flame Clock…" the consul reached outward, "what a magnificent sight to behold."
"I'm… glad it pleases you, sir," his subordinate didn't quite know where this was going.
"Verily, observe how brightly it shines with the embers of life," the caped man continued to gush. "What more evidence do I need to understand that this colony has triumphed again? I offer you my sincerest congratulations."
"The credit goes to my soldiers, sir," Commander Colin eyed the ranks. "The desert has toughened them up, for sure."
"I also understand you are a silver rank colony." The consul began an excruciatingly slow march past the front of the lines of intimidated youths and back. "It would be quite the shame to let these soldiers go soft now, especially when your Flame Clock is oh so close to being full."
"Y-yes… I suppose it is," the commander stole another glance at it. "You're aware that we've subdued the enemy twice in the last four days."
"Indeed," his red-armored superior approached him again. "I do hope your momentum continues."
"Am I to infer that you wish for us to embark on a conquest?" Commander Colin became rigid as the distance between the two diminished.
"Au contraire, you must remain to defend the desert like this colony has done for ages." The consul gazed upon the Flame Clock once more like a bad habit with a satisfied sigh. "Your silver rank doubtlessly draws the enemies in like skeeters to honey. This visit has been nothing more than to rally your troops towards everlasting success."
"Thank you, sir," the commander bowed his head, sensing an end to their public colloquy. "Come what may, we won't let you down."
"Oh, I'm certain of it." Swiveling to face the rest of Colony 25 again, the caped hierarch received a sea of upturned, fisted salutes. With nothing more to say, the consul dematerialized right before their eyes in an understated exit. Seconds later, the soldiers released themselves from their stiff postures which they'd been holding throughout the entire visit. However, their immediate superior wasn't quite finished with the morning assembly.
"Alright, now that the consul's gone, we have business to attend," Commander Colin announced, his voice sounding even rougher since the start. "Last night's battle took a lot out of us, including roughly a third of our personnel. However, we must carry on like we've done after every battle. To this end, I need the resource crews who replenished our water supply to assist the salvage branch with cleaning up the search zone."
"Sir, we are ready!" shouted the soldier nearest to him.
"Excellent!" the commander nodded before looking down the rows for the salvagers.
"Sir," Fonse brought his line forward, "we're short a member, but we can manage."
"Very good," Commander Colin hardly sounded sympathetic. "Everyone else shall tend to their normal tasks. Also, since the bathhouse is operational again, we'll all take turns by group, starting with those who're staying behind."
"Which means we'll probably be last…" Denize grumbled to Fonse who could only shrug his shoulders.
"Alright, this concludes the assembly," the commander clapped his hands once, dismissing his troops. "Let's get this place back into shape!"
It was easier said than done for the salvage branch, even with the help of the resource crews. The battle against the avenging Agnian colony had made an almighty mess of Colony 25's doorstep to the desert. The task seemed insurmountable to Noah and company the moment their transport Levnis landed by the first junk pile. Still, they plodded onward, motivated by the promise of a well-deserved and much-needed bath upon their return to base.
The hours flew as fast as the winds with all there was to salvage. By the end of their fourth haul, everybody felt the strain seeping into their joints. Anything that remained after today's efforts would likely be taken by the ever-changing sands, including husks. So far, they'd discovered nineteen Agnians and eleven Kevesis. It was only a matter of time before one of them turned out to be a familiar face.
"Guys…" the mace-wielder's tone was low enough to instill a sinking feeling into his gathering teammates, "I found her…"
"Lana?" the swordswoman reached him first.
"Yeah…" Fonse rose gingerly with Lana's dog tag in hand. Tears had already begun forming in his eyes before he'd deactivated his Iris from the identification.
"Spark!" Denize dropped the panel which she'd been carrying to wrap her arms around him. Solon and Yuzet both fought against the tears themselves but eventually gave in, the latter removing his glasses to keep them from getting smudged. For Noah, the sight of his fallen comrade momentarily cut off his air supply. Nobody spoke for the next minute until he dropped to his knees and scooted close enough to reach her.
"Lana, I'm so sorry…" The ponytailed soldier placed a heavy hand on her cold, hardened shoulder. "Maybe if I'd actually helped you practice yesterday, you'd have been able to…" His remaining words couldn't make it out, not with his teeth now clenched from the intensifying guilt.
"H-how can she be dead?" the sole surviving girl of the group unhooked herself from Fonse. "We're… supposed to be elite."
"You still believe that only the weak perish?" Noah looked up to her, his eyes dim from both the weight of the loss and the exhaustion of her attitude.
"Snuff you," she muttered quietly, though everyone heard it.
"Death will come for us whenever it wants," he let her curse roll over him. "It doesn't matter how strong we are."
"Blame her Blade, then," the redhead tried to corral her anger. "The upgrade made it too heavy for her."
"I… I want to bring her back to the colony with us," Denize lowered herself to Noah's level while a lifeless Lana lied between them.
"We can't," Fonse joined them on the sand. "Let her be one with the desert, like our other friends who've died out here."
"You think she'll be okay, resting here?" she wondered aloud, barely able to cope.
"She wouldn't have wanted to fall anywhere else," a smile nearly poked through the sadness on his face. "This is where you and I should fall, as well."
"Hmph… yeah," the swordswoman leaned on him.
"You three have spent your whole lives at Colony 25, huh?" Noah felt their warmth blanketing Lana's husk, looking for something positive on which to focus.
"Yes," Fonse sighed heavily enough to blow a few specks off Lana's shoulder. "We're three peas from the pod."
"I admire your closeness," the swordfighter looked both of them in the eyes.
"Mmm…" the mace-wielder started to feel self-conscious. "You were a transfer, right?"
"Right, from Colony 17," Noah glanced northward reflectively, "but I'd like to think that every soldier on Aionios has someone who cares about them."
"Even Agnian soldiers?" Fonse asked what he thought would be a tough question.
"Sure, why wouldn't they?" the pacifist acted like it was nothing. "We're all human."
"They're not human," Denize interjected, her lower lip sticking out. "They're monsters who killed my friend."
"Don't you think your victims ever had friends?" he gave her what ended up being the toughest question of their conversation yet. Silence followed while she pondered whether or not to even dignify him with a response.
"Is this why you feel bad about killing Agnians, Noah?" the redhead recalled his mate's prior qualms about the war.
"Salvage branch!" someone hollered from behind, snapping everyone to attention. Noah stood to find the Velites squad coming to relieve them from cleanup duty. "Head back home. We'll take over, now."
"Alright, thanks," the de facto team leader waved to them. "Fonse, Denize, you ready to go?"
"Not really," the sole surviving female salvager groaned, though she stood with the boys anyway. Before leaving in the transport Levnis left by the relief, however, Denize stared one last time at her fallen friend whose husk lied cozily in the sand. "Take care of her for me, will you Dannagh?"
Nothing more was said amongst the team for the rest of the night. Even during their turn at the reopened bathhouse, they kept mute from their sobering discovery. Noah relished in the warm water as it ran down his body, removing a layer of grit with it. The grief also seemed diluted by the thorough cleansing, at least for now while his normally active mind remained empty. When time was up, it was off to the barracks for the weary salvagers.
Noah's bed felt the softest that it'd ever been, or so it seemed while his skin was still warm from his first shower since the recent string of unfortunate events. Slumber would come in no time at all, though it wouldn't last for long. Nearly midnight, an explosion rocked Colony 25, rustling the sleeping soldiers awake. The ponytailed Kevesi sat up and blinked thrice, hoping that it'd been nothing more than a nightmare. However, the sight of his comrades scrambling around was a sign that something was actually amiss. Too tired to panic, Noah suited up and ran outside with his allies.
There was no assembly this time, not that it was necessary with the situation becoming clear. Several Levnises were aflame as Agnian soldiers stormed the grounds, already leaving a few Kevesi husks in their wake. It seemed inconceivable that a silver rank colony like his own could be invaded so easily, but now was not the time for gawping. Blades now equipped, the salvagers jumped into action to defend their base.
"Get the spark out of here!" Fonse led the charge and rammed the nearest Agnian with his upgraded shield.
"You monsters!" the swordswoman sliced through another one, ending them instantly. More Agnians showed up seconds later, but they were no match for her, Solon, and Yuzet. As for Noah, avoiding killing the opposition was trickier now than ever, though his teammates didn't appear to pay attention.
"That one's down…" the mace-wielder backstepped from his victim with a tentative stare on their rising motes.
"Did they hit you?" Denize swiveled to check on him since the immediate area had been cleared.
"N-no, I'm good," his response was shaky, displaying newfound hesitation.
"You lot! What're you standin' around for?!" A Kevesi soldier whom they recognized from the patrol squad sprinted to the group.
"We just dealt with these mudders," the wingman informed them. "What exactly is going on, here?"
"The enemy is attacking from the north!" the patroller pointed toward the flames. "We were all stationed to the south!"
"They got the jump on us," the ponytailed soldier muttered what everyone was thinking. "Where's the commander?"
"He's still alerting the others from the south. C'mon, we need to retake the north side!" Unwilling to deliberate any longer, the harried Kevesi rejoined the patrol squad as the cavalry began to trickle in.
"Looks like we've got no choice." Noah gripped his Blade tightly, wary that he might end up uttering these words again in the future. Leaving the Agnian husks scattered by the barracks' entrance, the salvagers followed their friends into the fray.
The north side of Colony 25 was alight with activity while Agnian Levnises towered over their Kevesi counterparts which they'd reduced to smoldering wrecks. Perhaps it was karma that the invaders had struck a blow this deep through the element of surprise after Noah's team had used the same tactic on their victims four nights ago. Although this Agnian force had come from the north, he couldn't help but wonder if this was the same colony that'd attacked from the south yesterday. With assistance from the patrollers, however, the frontline gradually receded back into the desert.
"Had we really left this zone unprotected?" Fonse stared incredulously at Dannagh Desert's normally quieter half where the fight raged on.
"Some commander we've got," the swordswoman carped beside him.
"Lay the blame later," the redhead advised. "For now, let's defend!"
"We have to stay together, this time," her fellow swordfighter added, not wishing to lose another teammate.
"Agreed," the healer pointed outward with his staff, "and I see the perfect mark for a group like us."
"Just three Agnians?" Fonse squinted into the distance, unaided by the darkness. "Right, I suppose we outnumber them…"
"They are so dead…" Denize ran ahead which prompted everyone else to follow. Like before, Noah brought up the rear to keep an eye out for flankers. Before they could reach their targets, however, a bolt of ether struck his ankle, downing him instantly.
"Guys, we've got company!" Noah clamored to his fellow salvagers, but they'd already scurried ahead without noticing. Swallowing the pain and rolling to his side, he discovered that the offending shot was actually a ring sword now jutting out of the sand. His pupils dilated, for he knew only one soldier who would wield such a unique Blade. "It's you."
Approaching the wrangled Kevesi was the agile Agnian with whom he'd tangled last night, a suitable confirmation that this was indeed the same opposing colony. Mindful of her leg which he'd previously maimed, Noah remained seated while his challenger calmly retrieved the weapon that'd nearly done the same to his ankle. Neither soldier spoke for the next moment, his eyes straining to find hers through her helmet.
"Get up," the Agnian ordered sternly, to which he complied after ensuring that it was just the two of them.
"You've been healed since we last fought," the observant Kevesi aptly noted by her standing before him.
"You should've finished me off last time," she stepped closer, "because now I'm going to make sure one of us dies tonight."
"Is that why you singled me out, by yourself?" he asked the first of many questions swirling in his mind. "What about your teammates?"
"They're busy paying you Kevesis back," the Agnian lowered her head momentarily. "If we succeed with this raid, then that's all well and good. We get to live another rotten day. If we fail, then… make my death quick."
"Say what?" Noah couldn't comprehend what she was implying as her ring swords flashed back to life. Whatever her motivation was, she sought another round with the ponytailed Kevesi, slicing the air relentlessly until he finally swung back. With their weapons locked, he took the opportunity to make out her eyes again, this time with a much closer view. In that instant, he felt the strange desire to pull her mask off, but he wasn't about to risk losing an arm to try.
"You weren't this weak, before," she slowly pushed him backwards. "Where's your strength that cut me down?"
"I don't want to fight you!" he shouted loud enough for anyone else to hear, though their fight remained private for now.
"Now I know you've lost it," his opponent took another swing at him.
"I don't want to fight anyone, ever!" Noah dodged nimbly, his legs conditioned for the sand.
"But we're supposed to fight," she planted her feet where he'd been standing. "It's what we do!"
"Says who?" he maintained the distance between them, no longer interested in crossing Blades.
"I don't sparkin' know!" The agitated Agnian continued to attack, although her focus was fading with each swing. "We just… fight… to stay alive or die trying."
"Everybody says that, and it's nonsense!" By this point, even the pacifist was beginning to struggle to keep a leveled head.
"You're the one who doesn't make sense!" her voice rasped with stress. "Why wouldn't you kill me? I want you to kill me!"
"Why, though?" he slammed the air with his empty fist. "And why me of all people?"
"I…" she paused to decide whether to answer or to keep attacking, eventually picking the former. "I just… have this feeling… that you're the one to do it."
"Well, that seems unfair to me, huh?" an incredulous smile carved itself on his gritty face. "I never had a say in this arrangement."
"Why do you keep leaving yourself open?" the Agnian ignored his small attempt at lightening the mood.
"You don't really wish to fight, either." Noah finally stopped retreating, aware of how exhausted his opponent had become. "You could easily hit me right now."
"I told you, don't get in my head!" she extended a ring sword toward his chest.
"I'm only saying what I'm feeling." Even with the weapon less than a hair from his heart, the pacifist didn't waver. He was determined to deescalate their confrontation, in spite of the larger situation around them.
"Okay, y'know what? You're right! I don't want to fight… but I don't want to live, either." At wit's end, the desperate Agnian put away her dual Blade and stepped within arm's length of the person whom she'd chosen to take her life. "So, please, just… just do it."
"I refuse." For the third time tonight, Noah focused on her eyes, finally with a view close enough to see them through the visor of her helmet. Unwittingly, he reached out for it, but she leaned away before he could grab ahold.
"Spark… I'll get someone else to do it, then," she turned to leave, long out of patience.
"No, wait!" he quickly tackled her into the sand to prevent her from walking into a crossfire.
"Get off me!" Her elbow dug into his ribs, though she was otherwise trapped.
"Well done, catching that one!" a new voice sounded from above, putting an end to their thrashing around.
"Huh?" Noah looked up to see a member of the patrol squad pointing a sharpshooter at his adversary's head.
"We've resecured the colony," the intervener informed him. "I'll help you take the Agnian to the others we've captured."
"Captured?" the ponytailed soldier climbed to his knee but kept a hand on her back.
"Didn't you get the memo through your Iris?" the patroller raised a brow. "The consul ordered us to round up the remaining enemies."
"What for?" Noah glanced around, realizing that all the fighting had ceased.
"No clue, but we do as he says," the other Kevesi motioned for both of them to stand. Aware of the attention on himself, Noah swallowed hard and picked up his Blade while his compatriot took control of the situation. "Let's go! Start walkin', Agnian scum!" It was a long hike towards the colony during which the swordfighter hoped that she wouldn't do anything rash.
"Bowan! Moraine! Lennick!" Any thoughts that the Agnian might've had about stirring up trouble were dashed upon the sight of her allies, the three other captures. They'd all removed or lost their headgear, but she chose to leave hers on. "You're still alive!"
"Mio!" one of them immediately recognized her voice.
"Mio…" the pacifist whispered to himself. Twice now he'd heard her name, and this time he was sure not to forget it.
"Noah, there you are!" someone called out to him from behind. Stopping his marching of his inadvertent capture, he turned to find Fonse rushing towards him with the other salvagers in tow.
"Huh? Guys?" Noah reconvened with them, Mio no longer in his view for now.
"We were… starting to get w-worried about you…" the mace-wielder was nearly out of breath.
"Do you need any healing?" Yuzet caught up to them next.
"No, thanks. I wasn't hit." The ponytailed soldier had forgotten about his ankle until it sent a dull, throbbing reminder up his leg. "Actually, now that you mention it…"
"I'm on it," the healer already had his staff out for the deed.
"Do any of you know what's going on?" Noah stared at the blank faces of his teammates as they lifted their sights over his shoulder. Turning around to see what'd caught their attention, he observed the consul standing beside the commander atop the damaged Ferronis' balcony. Seconds later, the former dematerialized before reappearing on the ground with wisps of residual, purple matter blowing off his pretentious cape.
"Well done, Colony 25!" The red-armored boss clapped delightedly on his way to the conglomeration of battle-worn soldiers. Kevesis and Agnians alike were in awe of his presence while he scanned the scene which he'd allegedly ordered. "Is this our quarry?"
"Consul, sir!" one Kevesi squad leader spoke with a salute. "These are all the Agnians we could gather! Not everybody got the message in ti-"
"At ease, soldier," the consul waved them off before alternating glances between the dead and the living. "Let us savor what has not been wasted."
"Savor?" the pacifist repeated under his breath. The words of the consul sounded uncomfortably baleful to his ears, especially after another deadly night of war. The vengeful Agnian colony appeared to have been dusted in the desert but for these four remaining soldiers in custody, including Mio. Noah resumed his focus on her, still bewildered by this girl who'd wanted him of all people to take her life. As crazy as it seemed, he felt the growing urge to protect her from his own people, and he'd yet to see her face.