The young cautus knelt down in front of the corpse that was leaning against some ruins in front of her, a lung and a giant beside her. The gas mask and hood were still in place on the young ursus' head, but the girl's eyes underneath the mask were empty. Exactly like those of the cautus whose soul had just been torn out... Which was not completely false if one was careful.
Amiya: W-why... Why? We are both infected... So, why? Is this our destiny? To kill each other until not one of us survives?
Like his eyes, his voice had no emotion left in it. Sadness, anger, joy, everything was gone. Or more exactly, life had disappeared as she pulled off the enemy's gas mask to show the face of a child, dead, short white hair, shards of originium embedded in her skin at the face, and two glassy blue eyes that the cautus couldn't stop looking at. Not being able to bear to see the state of the rabbit, the doctor opened his mouth.
Sebastian: Amiya it's not about you-
Amiya: Shut up!
In a fit of rage the cautus looked at him gnashing her teeth before standing up angrily to slap him, rubbing his cheek the doctor looked at her his face breaking.
Amiya: You're always telling others that it's not their fault, unable to do anything else! You didn't even try to fight! I killed her and her sister! You dare to call yourself a doctor but you weren't able to save them or anyone else! All you do around you is spread death! It's my fault and yours too! Because you weren't even able to defend yourself and because I was too stupid and tried to save you! I should have let you die! I hate you!
*Scream*
A terrible scream echoed through the doctor's quarters as he jumped up from his couch covered in sweat.
Quickly he felt a pain in his chest and regaining control of his body he started his heart which had stopped due to excessive stress. His heart returned to normal thanks to the giant's control over his own heart as he calmed his breathing as best he could.
The same dream again...
The same one he'd been having every time he tried to get some shut-eye since they'd started making their way to Lungmen. Even when he was just trying to take a nap on his couch like in this case.
Tired, the good doctor sat down on the couch normally running his hand through his short hair to discover that he was covered in sweat...
Sebastian: 'Might have to take a shower now...'
The same dream, again and again... Given the repetition of these dreams, he began to think that it was not just a nightmare, but a premonition. The lung looked vaguely familiar but he could never see her face clearly, the ursus on the other hand in front of which Amiya was kneeling did not remind him of anyone.
And the more he thought that these nightmares were visions of the future, the more Sebastian sank into despair, the words of the cautus engraved with an axe in his skull resounded incessantly and harassed him...
As he held his head in his hands, tears began to flow down his cheeks.
And each time he prayed that they were only nightmares. For if Amiya's words resonated with reality he didn't know if he could survive it. He knew that she was counting on him, that need she had for him had become her reason for living in the cruel Terra. And finding himself with his reason for living hating him was not something he could get out of unscathed.
His tears stopped flowing and he pulled himself together, taking a deep breath before heading to his bathroom. Undressing and throwing on the cold water, his thoughts came back completely and his mind reformed into its usual professional and pleasant self. Cleaning all the sweat of his body he took advantage of the feeling of the water running on his skin to go out after some tens of seconds drying himself before going out once and for all of his bathroom. He looked at the new change of clothes on his bed and looked up to see that the sun was setting. It was still early afternoon, two hours at most. He started by putting on his boxers to follow with his pants and as he began to put on his shirt he began to feel a presence in his lower quarters. No heat in the air or movement, no heartbeat, no breathing and yet there she was.
Hey, at least she had learned well from him...
Sebastian: Red?
Projekt Red: Doctor...
The young, icy voice of the lupo echoed in his ears. He already knew it was her, but it was just a formality that he had spoken, and his question was not so much to know if it was her but more to ask her what she wanted from him.
Anyway, if she was just here to sleep as usual, he would have already heard her slumped on the sofa in his living room. And it was too early for her to ask him to cook for her...
Projekt red: Mom asked me to tell you that we arrive in Lungmen around 9 pm...
Sebastian: Mom... Tch.
The doctor knew who the young lupo was talking about. And every time he couldn't believe his ears. Kal'tsit may have written vile reports about the murderess, but she acted in a way that reminded Sebastian far too much of a surrogate mother. Perhaps it was the maternal instincts of the feline that were surfacing...
Or maybe she liked to play with Red like one of her children because she was too frustrated not to have one...
After all, it would have to be crazy to want children with the old lynx...
He said to himself, laughing inwardly and finishing his tie knot before putting on his oripathy monitor, which still displayed the same numbers before switching to the time it was.
Sebastian: I still have work to do...
he muttered under his breath. He walked down the stairs to the lower part of his quarters where the young lupo was waiting for him, his hood down but as more than a few inches separated them Red began to sniff the air with his nose to bring his face closer to the doctor to feel his torso and bury his head in it, startling the giant.
Sebastian: Huh Red?
Projekt Red: You smell good.
Sebastian: I just washed up, it's normal. I'm going to go, stay here if you want and do what you want.
Projekt Red: Sleep.
So soon the young woman moved her head away from the good doctor and threw herself on the couch before burying her head in a pillow this time, her wolf tail ceasing to wag completely...
Sebastian: W-well...
He took off with a light step into the corridors of Rhodes Island.
The first part of his afternoon was spent in the training room. A few exceptional recruits had joined Rhodes in the last two weeks, but a common Rhodes Island practice of fighting a more powerful opponent in a group could no longer be provided by Dobermann as usual. So the doctor was chosen as the opponent to fight their new recruit, his strength being recognized throughout the Rhodes fighters. That's why he was standing in the middle of the artificial city that was the training ground, ashes flying in the air and the smell of sulfur doing the same. His sword was in his hand and his clothes were threatening to catch fire from the embers. The only two figures he could see clearly were Dobermann and Nearl, both of whom were on the observation platform, watching the fight below. The former was there for her job, and the latter was there to treat whoever it was in case of an accident but mainly because she was worried about the health of the emerald-eyed giant.
The doctor held his sword firmly in his hand, his senses seemingly on the alert, wary of his surroundings until suddenly a voice rang through the air.
?: May the flames of the sun devour you!
Recognizing the voice and already knowing what was about to happen, the giant rolled forward as the heat quickly concentrated over his head as a meteor hit the ground shaking the concrete and buildings with that force alone. Sebastian drew his sidearm and turned his head to where he had heard the voice to realize that his attacker was hidden behind a concrete wall, but he could see that a metal beam was just above the wall so he pointed his weapon at the metal object.
*bang*
?: OUCH!
A practical thing with Lateranian weapons was that you could change the power with each shot by using more or less the originium of the weapon. He was not there to do them any favors... The bullet he had just fired ricocheted off the metal beam and hit its target, which was nevertheless under cover.
Sebastian's instincts began to scream in his back so he got up and parried a sword strike at the last moment. He could see his attacker as their swords were blocked against each other which was none other than Mr. Lineage who seemed destabilized as he realized that the attack he had just given with all his strength didn't even seem to make the doctor breathless. The black blade of the giant clashed with the silver one that the feline hid in his cane.
Silverash: Each time you surprise me a little more my friend...
Said the man in front of the doctor with a smile on his face. Maybe he was having fun in front of such a strong enemy, but the doctor was almost annoyed.
Sebastian: Tenzin doesn't hit as hard as you do. Sending him to my back is not a good idea.
The feline's eyes widened as he heard his strategy fall apart, and in a flash Sebastian deflected his sword and used one side of his weapon's guard to strike Silverash just below the ribs, Giving the giant a second that was enough for him to sneak up on the feline's back and grab him, immobilizing him as Silverash's pet eagle swooped into his master unable to deviate from the forward trajectory, with such speed and force that it could have been a lethal attack on the weakest of humans, but it merely stunned Silverash slightly.
This was not an eagle from the land Sebastian knew, and like the humans of this world the animals were much stronger than their otherworldly counterparts.
Letting go of the feline that fell to the ground Sebastian took his sword firmly in hand and saw a few projectiles flying at him in quick succession. He broke the poison-filled arrows one by one, far too slow and few in number to cause him any problems.
It was too easy-
Sebastian noticed a light out of the corner of his eye but it was too late, an explosion sounded on his body and the force of it sent him flying and crashing into a concrete wall, the flames of the explosion burned Sebastian across a strip from his left shoulder to under his ribs on the right. The concrete fractured in his back and Sebastian fell to his knees. At the top of the observation platform Dobermann was startled to see such a serious injury inflicted on the doctor that should not have happened during a training session, she turned to her colleague Kuranta who was there to deal with this kind of accident. A surprise and a fright that was also visible on the face of the feline below who had stood up after the attack received by his own companion
Dobermann: Nearl what are you doing?! Go help him!
The kuranta, who didn't seem as impressed as her comrade, kept her eyes on the training ground.
Nearl: It's okay. This is the doc we're talking about.
At the same time downstairs Sebastian stood up with a grunt of pain.
?: Oh my god I'm sorry senpai!
His attacker's voice echoed through the air and she stepped out of the shadows, holding her scepter of arts firmly in her hands.
Silverash: Are you alright my friend?
Sebastian: It hurts like hell but I'll be fine. Adele: Just don't put so much power into one of your attacks during a training session.
? ?: Doctor, are you sure we shouldn't call someone to treat your wound...
Sebastian: BP I thought I told you not to get out of your sniper's nest once you had one except if an opponent came at you...
His tone of voice as well as his remark startled the anura in front of him.
Blue poison: Sorry... I was just so worried when I saw you take that explosion...
Said the young woman avoiding his gaze and her cheeks taking a very slight pink tint. Sighing the giant twirled his sword in his hand and resumed a more serious posture.
Sebastian: Until I say that the exercise is over, the fight goes on so raise your weapons.
Surprised, his opponents raised their weapons one by one, then taking a slight breath the doctor raised the hand that held his sword towards his wounded shoulder. The originium of his weapon began to activate and filaments of solidified golden light were emitted from the blade, surprising all who saw the doctor's arts at work, except of course the radiant signet ring. But no sooner had the doctor begun to conjure his arts than his voice rang through the air.
Sebastian: Heal me eternal and I shall be healed, save me and I shall be saved, for you are the subject of my praise...
He said, his hand sliding along his wound, the skin and flesh returning to a previous state, as well as his shirt, which repaired itself and returned to its original state. Catching his breath, Sebastian took his sword in both hands and braced himself for battle. At the top of the observation platform an impressed Dobermann returned to her calm.
Dobermann: This is the first time I've seen his art...
Nearl: Beautiful, huh?
Dobermann: Yes... It looks a little like yours Nearl.
Nearl: It's true that they are similar. But there is a difference that we can't figure out.
Dobermann: That's strange, why is he using a formula? You don't need one...
Nearl: Sebastian has a great affinity with originium which allows him to use laterano automatic weapons without ammunition so easily, but his talent in the arts is still mediocre to be honest... So when I trained him in the arts I gave him the idea of using formulas like I did when I was younger. But I don't think he'll make any more progress than that... He can heal enough to heal pretty serious wounds, but I know that if he tried to heal a paper cut he'd pass out.
Dobermann: Huh... I would have thought that his arts would have been more about offense, or just being the effect he has when he strokes the animal parts...
Nearl: Wait, he cares for your animal parts too?
Dobermann: What do you mean you do too?
The two women looked into each other's eyes, frowning at each other, a feeling of jealousy and incomprehension coming over both of them.
*schwing* *schwing*
A strange noise interrupted the two young women's staring contest to draw their attention to the battlefield. Having understood that his enemies were at the end Sebastian had opted for one of the most singular tactics.
To take everything and to put them in their face.
So there he stood as his three opponents launched their most powerful attacks at him, Silverash creating compressed air blades that could have sliced through steel, Blue Poison launching a veritable barrage of poisoned crossbow bolts straight at the doctor, and Eyjafjalla began to levitate in the air as fireballs were generated from the tip of his scepter to crash into the doctor one after the other at a rate far greater than his usual attacks.
All of these attacks combined, however, did almost nothing to the doctor.
He continued his almost cadaverous walk straight towards his opponents despite the devastating attacks he was taking, his body being cut up, planted by crossbow bolts, charred by the arts and yet he continued to walk. Terrifying the operators in front of him.
After only three seconds of walking he was already almost in front of them, the giant drew his sword and in a gesture so fast it was impossible to avoid, tapped the top of the head of his three opponents one by one with the flat side of his blade before sheathing it and standing up.
Sebastian: There you go. You lost, that's all for today's exercise.
The two Rhodes operators under observation were stunned by Sebastian's over-the-top performance and it was the perro who broke the silence.
Dobermann: What the hell is wrong with him? He doesn't usually take so many risks during exercises...
She was worried about the doctor, more than her sanity alone would allow.
Nearl: I don't know but he's been like this all the time for the last week, acting even more reckless than usual, he's tired and nervous all the time, and when I ask him what's wrong he tells me everything is fine and tries to change the subject... I don't know enough words to say how much this idiot pisses me off...
She said her arms crossed, and her hands clenched tightly hurting but it was a pain that was nothing compared to the anger and frustration she felt inside her. Sighing, the kuranta picked up her mace that she had placed in the corner and walked to the edge of the observation platform.
Nearl: I'll go. I've got to treat this idiot...
She said with a smile on her face before jumping off the platform and landing ten meters below with a bang, the sound of the concrete cracking attracted the attention of the operators and the good doctor who all turned their eyes to the kuranta, Kazimierz's radiant signet ring began to cast its arts on the doctor whose clothes and physical condition were completely restored in no time, the gentle comforting warmth of his friend's arts passing through the doctor's body and making him bristle with a comfortable feeling, making the Rhodes Island operators marvel even more at such a miraculous sight.
?: Not some bad arts...
The last member of the operators present during the training revealed herself. A feline with a regal and charming air.
Skyfire: Excuse me Dr. Sebastian, but it would be better if you would use a little more firepower, I could have been knocked unconscious just from the one you gave me. And shooting me while I'm behind cover should be considered cheating.
Her tone of voice was the most haughty, making Sebastian cringe, her execrable personality and superiority complex being the only negative things about the young woman.
Sebastian: My shot wouldn't even faze an original slug, Miss Skyfire. And besides, I don't think attacking an enemy who reveals his position by shouting a formula is considered cheating on the battlefield.
The feline in front of him flinched slightly and her face changed to one of surprise and almost shame, before recomposing herself into her pretentious self.
Skyfire: I don't think you can lecture me doctor, you don't seem to be accustomed to the use of the arts seeing what you can do, my arts are overpowering so it doesn't surprise me that their operation is beyond your understanding.
Sebastian: Really? I thought that formulas and fields are a way to strengthen the arts of some and often the weakest casters.
He says raising an eyebrow.
Sebastian: Adele, can you cast ignition from the air instead of your staff and without saying anything?
Eyjafjalla: I-I'll try senpai!
The young caprinae although nervous at the sudden request of the doctor to practice something she was not used to, began to concentrate holding her staff firmly in her hands, the originium of her body and her scepter began to circulate and suddenly a ball of fire appeared in the air about twenty meters away, before crashing violently to the ground, creating an explosion and a ball of flame that fractured the concrete and charred the ground. Skyfire, seeing this, had a drop of sweat beading on the back of his neck.
Eyjafjalla: There you go senpai, was it good?
Sebastian: A great job kouhai, congratulations.
He says with a warm smile and looking into her eyes, bringing a little warmth to the cheeks of the young girl in front of the compliments of his elder.
Sebastian: A great job indeed...
He said, turning to Skyfire.
Sebastian: Twice the range of yours, a larger radius of action, more destructive power and a deadly silence...
The feline was already on the verge of trembling with nervousness at the sudden threatening aura the doctor possessed, but when he came within a few steps of her, leaving less than half a meter between them, her body began to heat up from the sudden proximity.
Sebastian: You may be one of the best members of the King's wand and I don't know if it's just a lack of skill or laziness, but here on Rhodes Island, it's going to take a lot more than being able to light a fire from three feet away to consider yourself superior. So stop twiddling your thumbs and start really doing your job or else you'll be able to go back to Victoria because you're costing way too much in fire alarms for what you do on the battlefield...
His tone of voice was as cold as liquid nitrogen and the aura he had was almost suffocating, Skyfire in front of him gave up any air of superiority or anything that made her look bad to make herself small in front of the doctor's intimidating presence.
Skyfire: W-well, Doctor... My apologies...
The feline went silent as a grave, put back in her place briefly by the giant and did not even dare to look him in the face. This deathly silence stopped when Silverash laughed very lightly and looked away from the giant towards him.
Silverash: By the gods my friend, allow me to laugh, it is not usual for me to see you outside of your usual nice person...
Sebastian: There is a difference between being nice and not knowing how to bang your fist on the table when necessary...
Silverash: It is true, it is true...
Sebastian: Well, now I want to congratulate you all. You have all shown yourselves to be more or less exceptional. Show yourselves as competent on the battlefields and there is no doubt that you will crush the adversity.
He says with a smile.
Sebastian: And thank you Margaret for having me-
He was stopped in his sentence when he turned his head towards the kuranta and that one, in fact right next to him, pulled on his beard with his two hands in a sharp blow.
Sebastian: Ouch, ouch, ouch! Let go of me Margaret! Let go of me, damn it!
Nearl: What did I tell you?!
Sebastian: Huh? What the hell?!
Nearl: What did I tell you about training?!
She asked as she pulled a little harder on the giant's beard, a vein appearing on the kuranta's forehead showing her growing annoyance.
Sebastian: D-don't hurt me more than on the battlefield!
Nearl: And that's exactly what you just did!
Sebastian: Ouch! Stop pulling on my beard!
Looking at the scene right in front of her Skyfire regained her zest for life.
Skyfire: Oohh... They're cute together, aren't they?
The feline turned to the other operators to see that they were not at all amused, whether it was Blue Poison, Eyjafjalla or even Silverash...
Silverash: 'My sisters, damn it, my sisters...'
After a few seconds the radiant knight let go of her friend's face and sighed, the giant rubbing his face in pain from the kuranta's angry action.
Sebastian: Margaret do you want to rip my beard off or something? You don't have to pull so hard on it...
The kuranta opened one of her eyes, her gaze chilling the poor doctor to the core.
Nearl: Tell me. I just spoke with Dobermann...
Sebastian swallowed his saliva and couldn't dodge another assault from the Kuranta, who once again began to pull at his beard.
Nearl: Do you take care of the animal parts of others besides me?
Sebastian: Ouch! Get off me, I can't answer you like this!
She released her pressure slightly but her fingers still gripped the doctor's facial hair tightly.
Sebastian: No, I'm not taking care of anyone else...
The face of the knight with an annoyed expression as adorable as a child's took on a more suspicious look when she heard the doctor's words so she started to pull on her beard harder than ever.
Nearl: Swear to me!
Sebastian: I swear it!
He said with a face full of pain.
He wasn't telling the truth...
But one of the arts that the doctor mastered even better than his healing light, his sword, or his surgery was the art of wordplay... He would be lying if he said that he didn't frequently touch the ears and tails of operators like Dobermann, Projekt Red, Provence or even Rosa and Pramanix who were the last ones to join this guilty pleasure that were the sessions of caresses of their animal parts with the doctor. Like a drug that brought an indefinable amount of pleasure that was hard to get rid of.
Nearl, however, was the only one who got a grooming session for her tail and horse ears, unlike all the others.
So he wasn't lying...
Not completely, at least...
The kuranta let go of him relieving the poor doctor who took a step back to the safety of the radiant signet ring in prevention.
Nearl: Well...
Sebastian: What? Jealous?
Nearl: Me jealous? What's next-
Sebastian's friend who had her arms crossed and her eyes closed in denial was surprised when someone who had snuck up behind her jumped on her in an act that obviously took the giant by surprise as well. Soon he could see that Nearl's assailant was in fact hugging him by surprise, as well as the appearance of the one who was taking his friend in an embrace.
For yes it was a woman behind the radiant signet ring, another kuranta for that matter, she had long dark brown hair tied in a ponytail but leaving two strands hanging in front of her face, she also had two platinum white strands in her hair, and eyes of a deep and piercing emerald green, almost as much as the good doctor. Her face was rather young, but yet gave off a certain extremely mature aura that captured the giant's attention immediately. She wore torn clothes worn by time and experience and brown leather boots that came just below the knee, as well as a very rustic archer's equipment, not using composite materials like the modern bows of Terra...
She was simply beautiful in every aspect by Sebastian's standards, perhaps one of the most beautiful women he had seen so far, or perhaps one of those who were the most to his taste so far. He stood for a second or two transfixed by the beauty in front of him as she struggled with Nearl, the knight visibly embarrassed by the embrace she was receiving judging by her pink cheeks...
Nearl: M-meteor! Let go of me!
Meteor: Oh oh Margaret I told you never to let your guard down~
The giant laughed slightly at the behavior of the two young women in front of him.
Nearl: Stop this immediately!
Meteor: Only if you say hello to me~
Nearl: H-Hello Meteor!
The older kuranta loosened her grip on the blonde and took a step back, a mischievous smile on her face as Nearl turned to her, both embarrassed and annoyed.
Nearl: Finally Meteor! Not in front of the others please!
Sebastian: The others, the others... They've all been gone for seconds...
Said the giant, drawing the attention of the two kuranta who looked behind him to see that all the operators had left, even Dobermann. But the giant's face caught Meteor's eye, the latter raised an eyebrow and seemed to analyze the doctor from top to bottom before an even bigger smile formed on her lips, as was a sparkle in her eyes as she took another step towards the doctor.
Meteor: Ara~? I don't believe we've met before~? Are you new here~?
Her tone of voice was playful, almost flirtatious, and Sebastian liked it very much. Just as Nearl was about to introduce the giant as the doctor, he started talking before she could say anything.
Sebastian: You could say that. I came here a few weeks ago. Miss Meteor, right?
Meteor: Miss? Ah ah~ It's been a long time since I've been called that... But yes, that's my name. Meteor, the archer of the woods.
She said as she moved a strand of her hair behind her back and gave the doctor another smile. Beside them Kazimierz's radiant ring pretended to cough into her hand to get the attention of both, getting a slightly annoyed look from the more mature kuranta.
Meteor: Well... I've been away for a month, and I come back when everything has been redone, when half the faces I see are new, and with news that the doctor is back and completely amnesiac...
Nearl: Indeed Meteor, a lot happened while you were away...
Meteor: I see that, I see that... Good thing you're here to report to me on what happened, right Margaret~?
Nearl: You could be a little more curious instead of relying on me...
Meteor: Then I'll start with the tough questions. Chernobog? How did it go?
Nearl: Just fine. No casualties, we got the doctor back and fought off the reunion forces before getting out of town. Unfortunately the doctor has amnesia.
Said the blonde glancing at Sebastian at the end of her sentence, in an almost mechanical voice, absorbed by her professionalism. And hearing the words of her longtime friend Meteor raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Meteor: Nobody?!
Nearl: A few injured. But that's all.
Meteor: Wow... Impressive...
Sebastian: Do you know Dr. Sebastian?
Meteor: Pretty much yes~... I was the second person to join Rhodes Island, right after that old Ace branch... So I may be among those who know him the most.
Sebastian: I've heard a lot of scary things about him... What do you think about him?
At first the kuranta was slightly surprised by his question, but then her smile returned to her lips after a second of reflection.
Meteor: It's pretty complicated. Most people only know a certain part of his life... And now even I have to admit that he was perhaps the worst person to ever walk this earth.
Hearing this the giant winced slightly but quickly recomposed himself, his mood swinging unnoticed by Meteor.
Meteor: For a while... It was through this dark reputation that everyone heard of him, but I was there before he became such a monster. And he was a good man. Terribly good. I had never seen a soul as pure as his. Every person on Rhode Island wanted to follow in his footsteps to the bright future he could have brought us, and he would have done so if not for his sudden change of personality. So that's why I stayed here. That's why I held out hope for him and probably why Ace or Scout did the same. And hearing about you all over the arch, without anyone having that fear etched on their face, seeing our dear Margaret so close to you despite her code of honor and especially that aura you give now, I recognize it, is almost the same as when we first met... So I was right to wait a little longer. So with all that, it's good to have you back in Rhodes... Dr. Sebastian...
She said with a smirk on her face as she looked at the emerald-eyed giant, who had a smile forming on his face and then suddenly burst out laughing as Nearl seemed surprised that Meteor had managed to see through the doctor's lie.
Sebastian: I hope you don't mind me using that lame acting game but my curiosity got the best of me Miss Meteor, I'm always curious about what others think of me.
Meteor: Ara ara~ No harm was done doctor...
Nearl: Did you recognize it from the beginning?
Meteor: Not really, but I could recognize your voice... I've known you for seven years but I didn't have the chance before to see you without this damned helmet unlike this old Ace branch... It must be said that in my memories you were not as imposing.
She took another step towards the doctor and raised one of her hands to grab the doctor's chin with two of her fingers and force him to look her straight in the eyes with the two pairs of emeralds intertwining.
Meteor: I had heard that you might be the most handsome man on Rhodes Island and I'm more delighted than ever to realize that for once the reality far exceeds any rumors.
She said, her smile growing bigger than ever as the same kind of smile appeared on the giant's face as her thumb lightly caressed the skin on Sebastian's cheek.
Sebastian: Me beautiful man? *Laughing* Are you seducing me Miss Meteor?
His voice as well as his laughter was as sweet as honey and so suave that it could have charmed anyone. He grabbed Meteor's hand with his own and took her fingers in his, removing them from her face but caressing them warmly.
Meteor: I don't know. Am I~?
If someone could see the emotions he could see all the intense passion that was hidden behind the emerald eyes of the two. A moment as pleasant as amusing for our dear doctor and even more for the kuranta in front of him, but the radiant knight who saw the scene from earlier did not see the thing in the same way, she what she saw was a family figure flirting with a man much younger than her and who was the person that she was closest to.
Of all the new emotions the doctor had managed to stir in the radiant knight since they had met, Nearl felt a new one. Wondering what the pressure in her chest was, the strange feeling seemed familiar because she had felt it a while before, just as Dobermann had been talking about the special attention she was getting from the doctor regarding her ears, but this time in a much more intense way, as if a part of her was being ripped away when she looked at the two. Her mind went into activation without her wanting it to and her mouth began to move to express the ideas that this part of her mind had just given her.
Nearl: Meteor... The doctor is only nineteen...
She said shaking her head left and right, a bead of sweat began to drip down the back of the giant's neck and Meteor's eyes widened in surprise and almost terror at Sebastian as she quickly removed her hand from where it was.
Meteor: O-oh... My apologies doctor for the embarrassment... I don't think we should take this any further... It was nice to see you Margaret I have things to do later!
She said before leaving quickly towards God knows where at a run leaving Sebastian as the last of the idiots.
Sebastian: How old is she?
As Nearl and Sebastian walked next to each other through the halls of Rhodes Island deciding to prolong their moment together the giant's face was more disgusted than ever.
Sebastian: ...
Nearl: Aren't you going to talk about it?
Sebastian: Talk about what? That I tried to flirt with a woman who is literally the age of my mother?
Nearl: She sure doesn't...
Sebastian: Holy shit, forty-eight years old... And she looks like she's under thirty... And I'd be lucky to live to be 50...
Nearl: Don't say that... Stay optimistic...
Sebastian: There is not much to be optimistic about...
He was right... The kuranta knew it, Sebastian seemed to age almost twice as fast as he should. Again, this kind of thing was not unknown to the world of Terra. Some species had slightly shorter life spans like the cautus or others like the sarkaz could easily live for centuries if it weren't for the fact that they killed each other. But it depended even more on the individuals... Nearl for example could live until maybe more than a hundred years, more than her species and that was already a chance thanks to the powerful biological lineage she was part of. Others were aging ten times faster than they should and so their life expectancy did not exceed ten years...
This was normal for Terra.
So no one would be shocked if Meteor's life exceeded two centuries.
Or if the doctor's life ended at forty.
Life was hard in this world, and everyone knew it.
The kuranta next to him stopped in her walk seeming to think for a second or two Sebastian stopped and turned to her after taking another step.
Sebastian: What is it, Margaret?
Nearl: I was thinking about it... Meteor looks a lot like you... So maybe she really is your mother?
...
...
Sebastian's face was drained of all color and his olive skin tone turned pale with anguish as his face contorted even more than when he was burned alive in Chernobog to better express the fear he was feeling inside. Nearl looked into his eyes as she could see Sebastian's soul leave his body, then suddenly a laugh escaped from the kuranta's mouth before a smile gradually appeared on her face. And suddenly the young woman could no longer contain her laughter and she let it consume her completely as she bent forward and had difficulty breathing because of her amusement, the tears of laughter threatening to flow from her eyes.
The melody that echoed through the halls reached Sebastian's ears and brought him out of his fear-induced coma so his attention could return to his friend. He took a second to watch her laugh and listen to her as it was pure joy to his eyes and ears, and his mind came back to its senses and he was shocked to realize what had just happened.
Nearl had just made a joke.
A few weeks ago some people would have said that she couldn't understand humor, let alone make it, which was far too close to reality as Sebastian himself had seen at Chernobog.
And then a joke came out of her mouth.
Sebastian realizing that he had just been deceived let escape a light laugh before starting to walk towards his friend who was too occupied by his mad laughter to notice that the giant approached him. She got up too late, feeling the dark aura that the good doctor was emitting, but unfortunately she didn't put herself on guard fast enough and her two horse ears were grabbed by Sebastian who pinched them between his fingers and pulled on them.
Nearl: Ouch! Stop it!
Sebastian: That's for laughing at me! You see it hurts!
Nearl: Stop it~! It hurts but at the same time it's nice~! But damn it hurts! Ouch~!
The kuranta's face was in the middle between pain and pleasure so the doctor let go and took a step backwards while Nearl rubbed her ears in pain... Then she smiled.
Nearl was changing. Every day that God did. Sebastian was there to notice the changes as were Nightingale and Shining. Every day the soft, calm warmth that was inside her, radiating out and making itself felt like the sun and the feeling it gave her, was changing into a much more intense warmth. That soft warmth that made her feel like she was standing still in the morning sun was beginning to turn into a flame of passion and burning emotions, feelings that had been forgotten for a long time, too long. Anger, intense joy, passion, fear... Love... These emotions that had disappeared from the kuranta when she became the radiant knight of Kazimierz reappeared one after the other to slowly rebuild the human she was. Slowly, it was as if the icon that she was was coming back to life. That sweet ray of sunlight, turned into a flame of life.
Sebastian was there every day to see this. And he loved it.
The two walked next to each other through the corridors of Rhodes Island sharing their usual discussions. Right next to the doctor Nearl began to smile much more than she should as she walked the large blonde tail on her back that swayed from left to right began to get closer and closer to Sebastian until she got behind the giant's back and curled around him, as if the animal part of the young woman had a mind of her own and wanted to wrap itself around the giant's body, unbeknownst to him and the kuranta.
Just this kind of moment made her wish to stay by Sebastian's side forever...
Sebastian: *Bail*
The doctor almost dropped his jaw while yawning one of his hands in front of his mouth and the other in the pocket of his pants, then with the hand that he had out he scratched the back of his head in a gesture of tiredness. Even though his abilities were far beyond the rest of the humans the lack of sleep was still felt throughout his body. As he made his way through the civilian parts of Rhodes Island, he was able to pass many ursus students in the hallways, some greeting him respectfully and others moving out of his way out of fear. He would much rather be respected than feared, but he didn't have time to worry about such things. There was always more work to be done.
Looking out of one of the observation bays he passed by, Sebastian could see the sunset in the distance. His work day should have just ended, but paradoxically this time it was just beginning...
Sebastian: 19:37...
He said, muttering into his beard as he analyzed the position of the sun in the sky. This gave him time to finish what he had to do here and go to the briefing. Perfect.
He was taken out of his thoughts when he felt someone hit his chest, not destabilized one millimeter Sebastian turned his head towards his poor victim to see a young girl ursus with gray hair who almost fell backwards because of the shock.
Absinthe: Excuse me, I wasn't looking where I was going - Doctor?
He immediately recognized the young woman when she looked up at him and a smile appeared on her lips.
Sebastian: Zoya, what a pleasure to see you-
He was cut off when the young woman suddenly embraced him, the doctor's face changed to a peculiar mixture of embarrassment and surprise.
Sebastian: Z-zoya?!
Absinthe: I would have liked to see you more often, doctor...
Struggling, he realized that it would be useless and let his arms fall on the shoulders of the young ursus.
Sebastian: Zoya... We last saw each other only three days ago...
Abandoning the bear hug she had on the doctor, the young woman took a step backwards, her face revealing some anger, but the expression on her face was so adorable that the good doctor had trouble taking her seriously. The young ursus liked to be rather clingy towards the good doctor, but the latter was far from refusing the company, because Absinthe's sweetness and her calmness was a pleasant break from all her work which was also stressful.
Absinthe: So what? Natalya has the chance to see you every day.
Sebastian: Natalya is my assistant, it is normal for her to see me often... And there's nothing to stop you from coming to my office if you have so many problems.
Despite the voice of the girl who was naturally icy he could determine a certain ounce of anger in her sentence or almost jealousy.
Of course he was not as dense as the basic protagonist. He could easily feel that she had an interest in him, as Rosa did, and above all he could easily observe the jealousy that was instilled between the two women towards him.
Sebastian: What have you done to your clothes, Zoya?
The young woman looked at herself, or at least at what was not blocked by the two mountains on her chest, and gasped
Abisnthe casu
Absinthe: 'Zoya you told yourself that today was the only day you should avoid it!' O-oh that? My old clothes needed mending. Miss Bibeak and Mrs. Orchid are working on it so they lent me some clothes in the meantime...
Again the slightest different frequency in his voice Sebastian managed to interpret, a little panic could be heard this time.
Sebastian: I see... And I thought Orchid was on leave with her husband... Although knowing her she would manage to work at the same time...
The giant muttered in his beard.
Absinthe: You think I'm hideous...?
She said looking at herself, her facial expression was more depreciative than ever. Hearing this Sebastian was slightly startled, all his attention directed to the young woman.
Sebastian: Zoya, what are you talking about, I was going to tell you that you were as cute as ever...
She barely had time to raise her head when the doctor's hand came above it to caress her hair, but most of all, her bear ears, caressing them with the tip of his thumb, earning a slight moan of pleasure from the ursus and chasing away any bad mood.
Taking his hand away after a while the doctor put it back in his pocket and smiled at the young woman.
Absinthe: You are truly an angel...
As soon as Sebastian heard the young woman's voice his cheeks turned bright red and his eyes opened wide, he looked to his left embarrassed and trying to hide his blush awkwardly.
Sebastian: I'm missing the halo for the moment...
His sentence ended with a laugh as embarrassed as he was.
He was far from being dense, but he was also far from being immune to the compliments or the come-ons he could get. After all, he was just a man, with his weaknesses.
Sebastian: I have an announcement to make to your group, can you take me to your dormitory?
Absinthe: Sure, doctor. Let's go.
She had barely finished her sentence when she took the doctor's hand in hers and pulled him through the corridors of Rhodes Island, surprising the good doctor.
Leto: Hey Sonya?
Sonya: Hm?
Leto: Did you hear about the doctor's age?
The golden glow of the setting sun bathed the dormitory of the students while all were present. Istina was reading on top of one of the room's three bunk beds as usual, Zima was in the bottom bunk, a flask of vodka she'd snatched from who knows where in her hand as she took a sip of the strong alcohol. Leto was with Gummy, both sitting in front of their dorm room table, the former helping the latter write letters to her family. Rosa the last member of the group present was sitting in front of a desk dealing with various paperwork she had taken from the doctor's office, a smile drawn on her lips as her activity subconsciously reminded her of when she was the student council president. A rather pleasant feeling that brought her back to something before the hell of Chernobog.
Zima: How old is he?
Leto: He's like super young by the looks of it.
Zima: So what? He's 35 instead of 40?
Said the young woman with a slight mocking laugh. If most of the people who met the giant could see a certain affection for him, Zima was not one of them, on the contrary her dislike for the doctor was well known.
Istina: According to the rumor that the operator Blaze is spreading, Dr. Sebastian is nineteen years old...
She turned another page of her book and could hear the ursus in the bed downstairs choking on his alcoholic drink.
Zima: Excuse me?! *cough* *cough* But how is that possible?! *cough* Nat, you're with him all the time, tell me that's not true!
The white-coated ursus turned to Zima who was calming her lungs and airways burned by alcohol.
Rosa: Well... He told me himself that the rumor was true.
She said, twisting a strand of her hair around her finger as she stared into space.
Rosa: Looking at him it seems crazy that he is the same age as me...
A slight tinge of pink made its way to the girl's cheeks. Of course the discovery of Sebastian's age was a shock to many of the members of Rhodes Island. Some couldn't understand how someone so young could lead them, but it was more of a shock to the women of Rhodes Island. Some had lost all interest in the giant and others developed an interest.
Leto: Nat?
Zima: Forget it, she's thinking about the doc, we won't get her back for an hour...
Gummy: But why is she always thinking about Mr. Sebastian?
Leto: You'll understand when you're older Lada...
Gummy: Like the noises Sonya makes at night-
The youngest ursus of the group was stopped in her sentence by Leto who put a hand over her mouth.
Leto: E-exactly...
Zima: Cheers.
She said before bringing her flask to her mouth again under the gaze of all the other students. The bear ears on top of Istina's head perked up when she heard a noise in the hallway.
Istina: Sonya, put that away, someone is coming.
So soon the brown bear screwed the cap back on the flask and hid it under her pillow. The door to their dormitory opened and a young ursus woman, whom the girls recognized as Absinthe, entered the room, followed closely by Dr. Sebastian, who had to bend down to get through the door. Seeing the giant's face Istina closed her book with a bookmark and Rosa left her paperwork on her desk as her eyes lit up when she saw the man.
Sebastian: Hi girls. Rosa.
He said with a smile. Looking at the students and giving a nod in greeting to the polar bear.
Gummy: Hello doctor!
Leto: Hello!
Istina: Hello doctor Sebastian.
Rosa: Oh Sebastian, how nice to see you.
The last bear of the group just raised her hand to greet him without even looking at him.
Sebastian: Me too Natalya.
He said smiling to his assistant before turning back to the rest.
Sebastian: I won't bother you for long. I was just here to tell you some good news and some bad news. First of all, as per your application, you will be resuming classes, and since all six of you applied at the same time you will be in the same group. And secondly, since we are still understaffed, I will be teaching your classes.
The ursus students were startled to learn that the doctor was now going to put on the hat of a teacher in addition to all the other hats he had on.
Zima: I see two bad news.
The doctor sighed with fatigue.
Sebastian: You have every right to hate me Sonya and I wouldn't blame you for that, but at least try to be a little more passionate about your studies. Unless you want to spend the rest of your life tending to a steam boiler deep in the structure of a mobile city?
The ursus sighed and stood up, walking over to the doctor she stopped right in front of him, the tension escalating in the eyes of both.
Zima: You know, you can go very far even without studying... Like making it to the top of a pharmaceutical company by calling yourself a doctor. Because I may not be educated enough by your standards doc, but I know that a doctorate is eight years of study. So are you going to admit that you lied to everyone about being a doctor, or are you going to make me believe that you went to medical school at eleven?
The tension was at its peak and Zima's voice wasn't doing a great job of hiding her hostility, but at the same time she didn't really feel like hiding either. Sebastian clicked his tongue and closed his eyes, calming his anger.
Sebastian: Natalya. What's hanging right above the couch? The one on the right wall when you walk into my office.
Rosa: Your doctorate in neurology from the Victoria Medical Academy...
Sebastian: The one I got in one year instead of eight because of my talent. So you see, if you want to be someone important, you'll still have to show your talent, or start working. And right now you haven't done either.
Hearing this, the young ursus in front of him gritted her teeth and looked at the good doctor.
Zima: I've been thinking about that, doctor, but how do you manage to run a bar in the operator's area when you're not old enough to drink?
The giant crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow as Zima smirked, thinking he was hitting it hard with his argument.
Sebastian: Sonya. Your breath still smells of vodka.
She flinched slightly but kept her facade.
Zima: Do you have any proof?
Slowly the doctor walked over to Istina's and Zima's bunk bed and once he was close enough he removed the student's pillow to take the flask of vodka and present it to everyone else who was watching. The giant approached the sweating ursus and tapped him lightly on the forehead with the glass flask and sighed.
Sebastian: Please don't lecture me about this.
Trying to get over the pain Zima rubbed her forehead which had just been hit by the bottle, then surprised she caught the object on the fly in extremis.
Sebastian: Keep it. And don't lecture me again. Or steal from the bar's storeroom again.
Zima: You... Don't take it from me...?
Sebastian: I think you're mature enough that I can let you have it without too much trouble.
The other ursus looked at him surprised, but the doctor wasn't going to lecture him about a flask of vodka at seventeen... Considering what he had done to fourteen...
But hey...
This was not the time to dwell on his horrible past.
Sebastian: Well, on another note, in about an hour we should arrive in Lungmen, since you have Rhodes Island privileges you can of course go out in the city but be careful not to attract too much trouble. And if you ever have a problem, do you have my number?
Absinthe: No...
Rosa: Of course.
The gray haired ursus looked at her white haired rival and sparks flew between the eyes of both.
Sebastian: Good. Call me and I'll be there as soon as I can. On that note. Bye girls. Work calls.
Istina: Good luck with your work doctor.
Leto/Gummy: Bye!
Zima: Goodbye...
Rosa: Goodbye doctor, I hope we will see each other again soon.
Sebastian: Me too Nat-
He was cut off by Absinthe who hugged him once again, hard enough to make his bones crack.
Absinthe: Come back safe, doctor...
Sebastian's cheeks became abundantly red as he was once again embarrassed by the young ursus. And that without suspecting the cloud of sparks and aggressiveness that flew between Rosa and Absinthe's eyes. After a few seconds of this tension between the two rivals, Absinthe broke the embrace she had with the doctor, letting him leave their quarters. Once the giant had passed the door, the two were still looking into each other's eyes.
Absinthe: Give me Sebastian's phone number.
Rosa: I would rather die.
Gummy: Rosalind, why are the girls always like that?
Leto: Once again... You'll understand later Lada.
Zima: The doctor is not so bad after all...
The most boisterous ursus of the group, who hadn't said a word since the giant gave her his flask, finally began to speak, her cheeks slightly pink. Hearing this and especially the tone in which Zima had just spoken, the two rivals turned to the third.
Rosa/Absinthe: Not you either...
The doctor arrived just in front of the door that led to the briefing room, and without wasting a second he opened that door to enter the room.
Sebastian: Am I late?
Kal'tsit: Right on time. Now that everyone's here we can get started.
The doctor moved closer to the holographic table where Kal'tsit and Amiya were, all around him the operators who would be present for the mission were sitting on the bleachers of the room in the dark. Mostly the backup teams, but he could also see some of the more experienced operators like Exusiai, Andreanna and W who were all sitting behind him next to each other. It almost seemed like a joke... But the three snipers were getting along very well with each other...
Amiya: We'll be arriving at the Lungmen docks in a few minutes, once we're docked everyone goes to the deployment bay the operators will have to be equipped of course. From there the operators will have to escort me Kal'tsit and the doctor to the LGD HQ. The meeting forces may already be in the city so we'll have to be extra careful, plus there is a disaster coming to the area. Air traffic and much of the communications will be cut off.
W: Like in Chernobog...
Sebastian: This time the meeting cannot count on the surprise effect. Also, it is unlikely that all the leaders will show up to the party as they did last time.
Kal'tsit: Even so, we can't afford to underestimate them... Even less now...
Sebastian: What do you mean even less now?
Kal'tsit: Amiya tells him...
Amiya: Doctor... All our battle reports and recordings will be sent to LGD as announced in our collaboration... Which means we have to keep as many cards as possible up our sleeve...
Sebastian: Wait... Is it just us here?
He says, looking around them.
Kal'tsit: That's right... That is, you will not be able to count on Ace, Blaze, Nearl, Rosmontis or Specter...
The whole room, including the doctor, had a six foot long face when they heard what Kal'tsit had just said. That was bad news... But it wasn't the last.
Kal'tsit: And that includes you, Doctor... Your sudden ability to fight is a secret... You will not be allowed to fight.
That was the last nail in the coffin of the operators' morals, the lack of high-powered reinforcements was already problematic, but some kept the faith, thinking the doctor unstoppable their only key piece had just been shot. But on the giant's side his morals also took a dive.
Amiya: You didn't even try to fight!
Sebastian gasped and a drop of sweat ran down his forehead as he remembered his nightmare looking back at him.
Kal'tsit: Doctor...?
Noticing the giant's mood swing for half a second, the feline called out to Sebastian, the barest trace of concern present in the lynx's voice.
Sebastian: Excuse me, I was out for a second. So our total manpower?
Kal'tsit: Reserve teams A1 to A6, Dobermann, Andreanna, W, Exusiai, two new recruits from Blacksteel, operators Liskarm and Franka.
Sebastian: I've already read their files, are they already in Lungmen?
Kal'tsit: Yes, they were their last stop before Rhodes Island, but under the circumstances we told them to stay put.
Amiya: I made an agreement with Penguin Logistics, two of their members will join us as well, Lappland and Texas.
Sebastian: Texas? Like the one I saw in Chernobog?
Amiya: It's the same person, doctor.
Exusiai: Hey, she didn't tell me she met you in Chernobog... She doesn't talk much, though...
Kal'tsit: Miss Exusiai, I appreciate you showing that you are listening to what we are saying, but it would be better if you raised your hand if you want to speak instead of interrupting us.
Kal'tsit's legendary authoritative tone of voice startled Exusiai and nearly scared the poor angel to death.
Exusiai: S-s-sorry m-madam K-kal'tsit!
The sanktah's reaction did not escape earning a barely controlled laugh from W and Andreanna who were sitting next to her.
Kal'tsit: These are all our people. Doctor you will of course be in command on the battlefield with Amiya at your side. I will not be with you after the meeting with Mr. Wei.
Sebastian: Noted.
Kal'tsit: Well, everyone can leave, except you Doctor.
All the operators including the leader of Rhodes Island left the room, leaving only the giant and the feline, the man rather worried about what would be said.
Once the last operator left and the door was closed the giant began to speak.
Sebastian: A problem?
The feline didn't answer right away, instead she looked for something under the holographic table and pulled out a dark metallic object that she placed on the table in front of the doctor. The doctor frowned at the object and recognized it after a few seconds. It was a helmet made of black metal with tinted bulletproof glass, the one he had found in his closet when he returned from Chernobog-
Wait...
The giant said to himself. He'd locked the door to his quarters since he'd last left after his attempted nap, and the helmet was still in his closet, so how had Kal'tsit gotten it, did she have a key to his door-
Kal'tsit: You have to wear this.
Sebastian: Is this a joke?
Kal'tsit: Do I look like I'm joking?
Sebastian: No.
Kal'tsit: We have to keep your face anonymous.
Sebastian: I went on live face time with the biggest TV station in Columbia... Not to mention the story we let those reporters we saved do in Chernobog where I didn't have my helmet on either.
Kal'tsit: Shut up and put the helmet on.
Sebastian: No.
Kal'tsit: Doctor... Put the helmet on...
Sebastian: I said no.
Kal'tsit: It wasn't a question...
Sebastian: You can go and get a brush, old man.
Kal'tsit: Excuse me?
She said as a vein appeared on her forehead and spine.
Sebastian: I said, you can go get your hair brushed, old man.
The dust began to rise on the feline's back.
Kal'tsit: Will you put on that helmet and stop pissing me off before I beat the shit out of you...
Sebastian: You want to fight ? Come here you sexually frustrated old lynx!
Kal'tsit: Enough! I'll rip your face off you little fucker!
Mont3r: *Scream*
Goddammit this was going to go on for a long time...
Fifteen minutes later after the meeting ended, all the operators assigned to the Lungmen mission could be seen in the landing bay of Rhodes Island. Everyone was making final preparations before leaving for combat for the operators, but a good number of civilians and non-combat personnel were also present, some civilians wanting to visit the city, others reuniting with their families, and a dozen trucks were waiting in the bay, all ready to leave once the big gate was opened. Analyzing her rings with insistence, Amiya felt the presence of two people she knew well. She turned her head toward the entrance to the operator bay and stopped thinking immediately when she saw the doctor standing next to Kal'tsit. Soon the attention of the other members of Rhodes Island turned to the good doctor and they all froze like statues but mostly because of his appearance...
Doctor coat
His two meters of muscles were now camouflaged under this long gray coat, and his beautiful face was also hidden by the hood of the coat and the thick metal helmet that did not allow to see anything of the doctor. He was still two meters high and a little more than a meter wide, but his attire now made him even more menacing, not to mention the imperceptible sinister aura he gave off. Slowly the doctor took his hands out of his pockets and lowered the hood to remove the helmet under Kal'tsit's angry gaze, once he removed the helmet he took a deep breath and shook his head left and right.
Sebastian: But why do I have to wear this crap? It's not even ventilated! It's hot, it stinks, I can't see and it's useless!
Kal'tsit: Have you finished, Doctor? Because you were complaining less when you had a poisoned arrow in your aorta.
Sebastian: Yeah, but then I didn't have to put on a stupid helmet...
Kal'tsit: Put on the helmet or else...
Sebastian: Or what? You'll cut my pay? I'm still not. You gonna fire me? I'm the legal owner of Rhodes Island.
Kal'tsit: Or I'll close your bar.
As soon as the feline finished her sentence, the doctor put the helmet and hood back on and shoved his hands back into his pockets, so quickly that the action seemed timeless. The wind generated by the action moved a lock of Kal'tsit's hair as the feline wore a satisfied expression. But no smile of course...
Kal'tsit: Good boy...
Hearing this the doctor under his helmet snarled heavily in anger, two red glows showing behind the black glass of the casquez, as the more animal parts of the giant's mind surfaced.
Kal'tsit: What my little dog is growling at his master?
She said, the mockery being heard in the tone of voice of the feline.
Sebastian: Stay in a room with me for thirty minutes and I'll show you who is the master and who is the dog...
Sparks flew between the eyes of the two as the animosity rose again.
Andreanna: Don't do that you're crazy!
W: One, yes. Two, hey doc! What you and Kal do in bed is your own business!
The sarkaz started to laugh out loud, Exusiai and Andreanna who were right next to her had their faces change colors, both of them threw themselves at the mercenary and blocked her mouth so she would stop laughing or saying anything else. It was at this point, when all the other operators were miserably pretending not to have heard anything, that the two doctors realized how misleading the way they were talking was. Having had enough, Sebastian clicked his tongue and sighed.
Sebastian: With her rather die...
He said as he walked towards the rest of the operators while Kal'tsit stayed behind. When she heard the doctor's words, she felt something deep inside her. A pain in her chest... Like a stab wound... But nothing could explain this sudden pain, and other symptoms would have shown up with this chest pain if something was really wrong with her body... that was what the lynx thought, shaking these thoughts out of her head as useless she started walking towards the door of the departure bay.
Sebastian: Dobermann, are all the teams ready?
The perro, who was sitting on a crate and changing the worst of her electric whip, looked up at the giant.
Dobermann: More than ever, doctor.
Sebastian: Good. Amiya?
Even under this mask the cautus could feel the concern that the giant felt towards her.
He may have been wearing that damn helmet, but his doctor was still the same.
Amiya: I am ready. Let's not wait any longer.
As huge metallic noises rang out and the whole of Rhodes Island shook, the normal overhead lights cut out to make way for red alarms, bathing the bay in a dark atmosphere as the speaker system went on.
PRTS: Attention all Rhodes Island personnel, docking with Lungmen underway, the arch may be shaken.
There were a few more seconds of shaking, then nothing.
PRTS: Docking complete.
The normal lights came back on as all the operators gathered in front of the door. Amiya at the head of the line, Kal'tsit and Sebastian right behind her, the operators at their backs.
Slowly, the door lowered, allowing more light into the docking bay which blinded most of the operators except the doctor through the tinted glass of his helmet. When they regained their sight, the members of Rhodes Island could see the countless skyscrapers of Lungmen, bathed in colored lights during the night in an absolutely breathtaking view.
At least that's how it would have been.
If there wasn't an army of photographers, paparazzi, journalists and cameramen in front of them who were already starting to take pictures, as soon as the ramp finished descending.
The doctor gritted his teeth.
Sebastian: this was not planned...
The situation was going to be even more complicated than expected...
And the meeting hadn't even started yet...
- to Chernobog-
Disgusting...
The only feeling the draco felt as she walked through the corridors of the Duke of Chernobog's palace was disgust. The disgust when his noble stone walls that others would have found fabulous, but that she found hideous. Everything here was hideous, the decoration, the architecture, the layout, the memories...
Arriving in one of the halls of this palace she was about to go up one of the white marble stairs but she stopped right in front of the staircase. She looked carefully at this particular place of the staircase without being able to explain why. Then suddenly, as if an echo from the past, she saw a little girl on the staircase in front of her as she stood still. The little girl had ashen gray eyes and hair, her hair reaching her shoulders and in the middle of which were two black horns on the sides of the draco's head judging by the dragon's tail on her back. She descended the steps one by one, a carefree smile on her lips. Considering her size and appearance the little girl was maybe six, seven years old maximum...
Suddenly the child's foot slipped on one of the steps and she fell down the stairs, rolling down the steps she let out a cry of fear and pain before falling heavily against the hard stone floor below with a crash. Slowly and painfully the little girl sat up on her buttocks and clutched her knee which was badly scratched and with a bruise beginning to form. Rivers of tears streamed down the girl's cheeks from her fall, and breathing heavily she began to scream.
Talulah: YURI! HELP!
Returning to her cries, it wasn't long before a boy came near her with a rush of wind. He was a child too. But big, terribly big for his age. Six years old and already a meter fifty. The metallic sound of his black armor could be heard as he ran and had his sword in his hand thinking that the girl was being attacked.
Yuri: I'm here Tal!
The young boy looked left and right spotting no enemy and immediately sheathed his sword walking quickly towards the girl on the ground, the boy's facial expression completely mortified at the draco's sobs.
Talulah: I-I fell!
She managed to say between two sobs and pointing to the stairs. Understanding the boy went to his knees and examined the wound of the girl. Understanding that most of the pain and hurt came from the intense stress of the fall, the young boy placed two of his fingers on particular points of the draco's body and quickly her mind and heart rate calmed down as well as the pain.
Yuri: Are you feeling better Tal?
He asked with a soft voice but still hiding a hint of concern. The draco in front of him looked at him and threw herself into his arms, crying a little more.
Talulah: Thank you Yuri...
The young boy continued the embrace and rubbed his hand on the girl's back to calm her down a little more. Then after a minute or two they separated and the boy asked a question.
Yuri: What happened?
Talulah: I slipped and fell down the stairs...
Yuri: Thank God you're okay, you could have killed yourself... Did you run down the stairs again?
Talulah: Yes...
Yuri: I told you not to do it!
Talulah: Stop worrying about me all the time! I'm the oldest!
The young boy raised his fist and lightly tapped the top of the girl's head pointing out his own stupidity.
Yuri: I wouldn't have to act like I was your big brother if you were a little less of a pain in the neck!
Talulah: You call me a pain in the neck when you go to the battlefield every day!
She said while tapping the boy's skull in the same way but this time he didn't flinch unlike her.
Yuri: *sigh* Come... I'll carry you and bring you to the maids, they must be in the kitchen at this time, and I'll ask them to prepare us a good hot chocolate to comfort you...
Hearing what the boy in front of her just said the draco had again a beautiful smile adoring her lips.
Talulah: Yeah! You're the best Yuri!
The boy took her in his arms and lifted her bridal style as if her weight was that of a feather.
Yuri: Of course I'm the best!
He said with a smile before he started walking.
Talulah: Hey Yuri...
The young voice of the dragoness was heard with a rather low volume, as the little girl tugged at the boy's armor to get his attention.
Yuri: Yeah?
Talulah: We'll be together forever right?
The boy looked at her for half a second and smiled.
Yuri: Of course! I would never leave you!
Talulah: Promise?
Yuri: Promise!
He said, his smile more magnificent than ever, his emerald eyes camouflaged by his eyelids that were closed to add to the carefree feeling of his smile.
If only...
If only he had never left her...
Frostnova: Talulah?
None of this would have ever happened...
Frostnova: Talulah?
Her escape from the palace, her infection, Alina, the meeting...
Frostnova: Talulah!
Breaking out of the bubble she was in, the draco turned to the cautus behind her as the echoes of the past disappeared.
Talulah: The white donkey?
Immediately the leader of the meeting regretted what she had just said. The words had just slipped out of her mouth. The white donkey... This was the new nickname that some members of the meeting gave to the yeti princess behind her back. Even her adoptive father did it on occasion...
The cautus had a vein that appeared on the forehead because of his anger and closed his eyes to calm his anger.
Frostnova: You are crying.
She said without even looking at her and suddenly the draco realized that she had tears flowing like rivers down her cheeks.
Frostnova: Are you okay?
Talulah: Don't ask unnecessary questions Yelena.
It didn't take a degree to figure out that she didn't want to talk about it.
Frostnova: Are you sure who you sent for Lungmen?
Talulah: Crownslayer will know how to accomplish the part that W was supposed to do... That bitch...
Frostnova: And Irina?
Talulah: Who?
Frostnova: ... Skullshatterer...
Talulah: Oh. She'll be the key to the plan, her sister has the key. Without the key we can't do anything. Besides, I can't blame her for wanting to save her sister.
Frostnova: And father? He wasn't in the original plan...
Talulah: Rhodes Island has proven to be resourceful. It will take something to tip the balance in our favor if they show up in Lungmen. Neither they nor anyone else will expect the guerrillas to invade Lungmen...
During the day at Rhodes Island.
Warfarin: Hey Kal?
Kal'tsit: Mh?
Warfarin: Doc is 19, right?
Kal'tsit: Yes.
Warfarin: So does that mean he was 16 when you got married?
Feeling something tap on her shoulder, the vampire sarkaz turned to see Mont3r behind her.
Kal'tsit: Warfarin. Do you really want to finish that sentence?
Warfarin: N-no...
Kal'tsit: Fine.
