Operation Shrouded Web III: Shattered Web
40 Years after the Great War
Londinium
The Saint's reign of terror, or perhaps the Devil's if some speculation is believed, over the skies of the East was mercifully short and only lasted a few months. As more Albion, Commonwealth and Volunteer mages poured into Russy ports and the Federation worked tirelessly to reform their own Magic Corps, it was only a matter of time before his harassment of the Allied mages would cease. However, what is peculiar is that he seemed to retire from the battlefield before suffering a decisive defeat.
The reason for this remains a mystery, but there are some compelling theories. Most scholars assume he was either transferred to help with the Empire's coming assault or that the General Staff had somehow found out about the increase in Allied magic users and arranged for him to be moved away before such a defeat could occur.
Some point to reports of casualties amongst the Letzenbourg mages, including those who still believe the tales of the Saint being the young Letzenbourg Prince. However, it is this reporter's opinion that this is nothing more than a fairy tale. Although there are reports that Prince Wilhelm suffered an illness at this time, it appears to have been nothing more than a bout of flu. As we have stated before, at this time, the young Prince was staying with Emperor Karl Josef and his family at their country estate.
Whatever his reason for leaving the front at this time, both sides had learned a great deal more about what was possible in mage craft due to the magical duels fought in the skies over the Russy border. However, ultimately, the Allies seemed to have paid for these lessons in blood. – Andrew WTN Special Correspondent.
July 20th Unified Year 1925 16:00
Balstogė Red theatre, Balstogė, Russy/Imperial disputed zone.
"Damned mask!"
Mary could barely make out the distant voice on the edge of her hearing as it reverberated through the dark haze of unconsciousness. It seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place why. Its muffled, irritated and unpleasantly arrogant tone didn't match with the voice of anyone she knew, and it was a far cry from the comforting voices of Damian or Papa, who usually visited her when she was in need.
"Stupid thing must have gotten caught on the way down!"
She became aware of a throbbing ache across her body and an intense pressure and soreness across her chest as her mind instinctively sought after the voice, using it as a lifeline to pull herself back towards consciousness. She forced herself to ignore it; something about the speaker scratched at her hindbrain, demanding her attention, and despite the growing pain, she found herself drawn towards it.
Soon, she became aware of a change in the voice, and it suddenly sounded more distant than before. Its words were unintelligible, but its tone was now sad and doleful, as though pleading with her. No…that's not right, she thought as she realised the voice had already been there when the arrogant one had begun speaking, she had simply blocked it out; it had only been background noise after all. It had only been a recording belonging to…
Panic took her and forced her back towards consciousness, and light suddenly seemed to flood through her closed eyelids. However, as she tried to force herself awake, her body flooded with fresh sensations of pain and fatigue. Her scars aching terribly while new injuries across her chest and back demanded her attention, a constant pressure on her breast making it difficult to breathe as she attempted to move.
"Sergeant Litz, would you be so kind as to fetch reinforcements to help us transport the prisoners? The rest of you, please spread out amongst the ruins and keep an eye out for Federation patrols." The arrogant voice ordered before letting out a chuckle, causing Mary to shiver as she realised its owner was directly above her. "It would be embarrassing if we were interrupted now."
Mary ceased her struggling, feeling the cold stone on her cheek as her head lolled to the side with exhaustion. She had already felt so tired before all of this; she did not know where she could find the energy to resist, yet she knew she could not give up. Not yet.
I can't fall! Not again!
She concentrated on forcing her eyes open, ignoring the ever-present pressure and soreness from above her, and a bright blur began to appear in her vision. Gradually, her eyes started to adjust and she found herself in the remains of a dusty and derelict music hall. The roof was missing, allowing the bright sunshine inside, but much of the rest of the building seemed relatively intact. Several rows of cushioned seats still stood like soldiers on parade, and the stage that loomed over her in the corner of her vision felt as though it were a general ready to inspect them. Even some of the instruments had survived whatever catastrophe had opened the theatre to the world, including a piano that sat innocently on the side of the stage as though it were waiting for its musician to come and claim it.
She tried to take a breath and summon the energy to glance around but could barely manage a strangled gasp. However, even this small effort was rewarded by a flicker of movement from the corner of her vision. She spied Colonel Drake lying on his chest amongst a gap in the chairs, wearing an angry grimace as a brown-haired woman knelt on his back, holding a pistol against his head and an arm behind his back to keep him pinned to the ground. His eyes locked with her befuddled gaze for a moment, and his expression softened, showing a mix of surprise, relief and sympathy before hardening once more.
"Don't struggle, Sioux." He called hoarsely, the act earning him extra pressure on his back and wrist as the woman moved to quieten him. "They've got us."
The pressure on her chest shifted, and reluctantly, she managed to gather enough energy to turn her head to find whatever was causing it. What greeted her was a metal flight boot sitting across her breast, one used in the gear of Imperial and Letzenbourg troops. However, what was more concerning was the pointed blade that hovered a few inches from her neck. She swallowed as her eyes followed it up its length towards its owner but winced as the sun filled her eyes, the silhouette of her attacker standing with it at his back, obscuring his features.
"Oh! You're awake!" The arrogant voice exclaimed cheerfully, tossing an oxygen mask and goggles to the ground as the silhouette leaned forward slightly, blocking the light and allowing Mary to clearly see its features for the first time. "I was beginning to worry that I might have hit you a little too hard."
It…it can't be! Mary thought, staring with dumbfounded surprise at the icy blonde-haired boy staring down at her. It was Damian! But how could that be?
His face was free of the crooked nose and scars he had suffered before joining the International Volunteers and somehow, he seemed shorter, slimmer and slightly less muscular than the pious friend she remembered. His smile, far from the gentle and comforting expression he usually wore, was contorted into a smug, self-assured grin, an expression that she would never have imagined the humble boy was even capable of. However, the worst and most shocking change was in his eyes.
Although they shared the same jade colouring, Damian's eyes had always radiated a calm serenity and were void of even the smallest hint of hostility or ill will. The eyes boring down on her now, however, radiated a storm of barely controlled chaos, as though a fiery mix of agitated emotions were bubbling just beneath the surface, fighting for supremacy. Most terrifyingly though, they showed a flicker of another emotion she knew Damian was not capable of.
Malice.
"D…Damian?" She stuttered in confusion, causing a brief echo of the same emotion in the boy's expression before his grin returned once more.
"It's not often people mistake who I am." He replied eventually, his eyes darkening further as he leaned further towards her, locking his gaze with hers. "Do I remind you of someone?"
The boy stared at her for a moment more, his cat-like grin widening as he watched her, making her shiver involuntarily. No…this wasn't Damian; it was something else. It wasn't possible for her friend to have changed so drastically, but then, who and what was he?
A whisper of memory crossed her mind. Back when they were training in the Unified Kingdom, Damian had encouraged her to join him in prayer at the chapel. Her mind had been elsewhere, however, and somehow the topic of why they had joined up with the volunteers had been broached.
"My brother walks a treacherous and painful path, I must try to turn him away from it while he can still be saved."
She had always been unsure whether Damian had been literal on the rare times he had mentioned his brother in Letzenbourg. His upbringing in the church had left him with the habit of referring to everyone as "brother" or "sister" until the instructors had drilled it out of him. Yet here, a near-perfect double stood before her, it had to have been him. Damian's real brother!
"Something terrible is going to happen to him." Another memory of Damian's soft voice forced its way into her mind. "It will be painful."
She had never imagined that the brother Damian fought for might be working for the enemy. She wondered how he had managed to hide such a thing. Mary couldn't imagine having to fight someone she cared about.
"Sir!" The woman holding Colonel Drake interjected with a hint of rebuke, seemingly reminding the boy where they were and what they were doing. "This area is contested; we should make this official and get moving."
"I suppose you're right." He said with a sigh, his grin receding slightly as he rose back to his full height, taking a moment to remove his gloves and toss them aside. He paused, continuing to stare down at her thoughtfully for a moment before the smile reappeared. "But first, I should introduce myself! I am Prince Wilhelm von Hozollern of Letzenbourg, Captain of the 1st Letzenbourg Volunteer Mage Company. Pleased to finally make your acquaintance."
Mary stared at the boy dumbfounded as he bowed dramatically, sword remaining steady by her throat as his eyes darted between her and the commander, searching for a reaction. His Cheshire grin widened once more and Mary began to believe he felt genuine enjoyment from having them in his power.
However, Mary could not bring herself to focus on that, she was far too busy processing the truth of what an awful situation she was in. This was really him! The evil Saint who had been hunting the volunteers! The one who had killed Vivi. Once more, he truly was the Prince of Letzenbourg. Did that mean Damian had been royalty, too? Why hadn't Damian told her about him? Why had he kept it hidden?
The Letzenbourg prince seemed to notice her dismay, and Mary swore she could see a glimmer of triumph enter his eyes.
"Sue, was it?" He asked, voice dripping with faux innocence as he glanced towards Colonel Drake for confirmation. The old officer said nothing. "Don't worry, I forgive you for mistaking me. It won't happen again, I'm sure."
His expression suddenly darkened, and the cruel playfulness was momentarily replaced with bitter rancour. The grin contorting into a vicious scowl and his gaze becoming distant while he focused on an empty corner of the room for a moment before finally, he whispered. "There's nobody left to confuse me with. I made sure of it this time."
No!
Mary felt her chest grow tighter as she understood the meaning of the words. She wanted to yell that he was lying, that he couldn't have done it, but something about his tone left her certain he spoke the truth. She felt tears forming unbidden in the corner of her eyes, he had killed Damian, his own brother.
"Now to business." The boy snapped abruptly, grin suddenly returning as he brought his attention back towards herself and Colonel Drake. "According to the 1907 treaty on the customs of war on land, signed and ratified by both our nations, you are hereby designated as prisoners of war and are entitled to the rights agreed to in said treaty."
He let out a great and exaggerated sigh as he turned towards the woman holding Colonel Drake, although his sword remained firmly at her throat. "There now, it's official! Even Tanya can't complain!" He let out a small chuckle before bringing his gaze down to Mary's captive commander. "We had better get moving though. Will you cooperate, Commander? Things will go much easier for you if you do."
"Colonel! You can't!" Mary interjected in a panic, earning a dark stare from Colonel Drake and a sharp pain across her breast as the boy exerted more pressure to keep her pinned. They couldn't give up now! They had to find a way to beat the Saint and return to the rest of the battalion! They had to keep fighting so they could end this war and stop the Empire from hurting anyone else!
"Quiet, Sioux. Say nothing!" Drake growled with a warning glare before looking up towards the boy standing over her. "We don't have much choice; we'll cooperate for now."
"Thank you, Colonel." The boy smiled, gesturing for the woman to allow him to his feet; the boy, however, made no effort to do the same for Mary. "We'll have to take your orbs and weapons, of course. And we reserve the right to bind your hands for our own protection."
Mary felt a stab of shame at the thought of surrender and felt her face redden with anger at her commanding officer as she watched him hand over his computation orb. The thought of being taken prisoner by the Imperials was humiliating, it spat in the face of everything she had wanted to achieve by joining the military. She would rather have gone down fighting than let everyone down like this.
"I think I'd rather take this one's orb before I let her up if it's all the same, Colonel." The boy continued, deftly moving the tip of his blade to the chain around her neck that held her orb. She felt a brief prick from the point as it slipped underneath the chain, catching her neck and then a slight scratch as he tore it loose with his blade, sending the orb tumbling out of reach into one of the dark recesses of the room. "Can't be too careful with one as powerful as this."
Mary felt shame and anger bubbling inside her as she realised her chances of resisting her captors were waning by the second. It wasn't fair! She hadn't even had the chance to fight back! She was supposed to be one of the strongest mages in the battalion, she couldn't just roll over and accept this, could she? But then, without her orb, how could she fight them?
Please, Lord, give me the strength to do something to stop this! Anything! She pleaded silently, moving her lips in prayer. Damian's cruel twin didn't seem to notice, however, he didn't even move his foot from her chest as he continued to chatter boastfully.
"If I'm honest, Colonel, I didn't expect to catch you so easily!" He continued breezily, summoning up a detection spell and consulting the readings as though they were no longer worthy of his attention. "I'm surprised a man of your experience allowed himself to be lured into an ambush so easily. And as for this one…"
He paused for a moment, turning back towards Mary with a predatory grin. "Who'd have thought the girl who destroyed half a city would go down so easily? You barely put up a fight!"
Mary felt her shame and anger grow further as the boy let out a mocking laugh. It was difficult to believe this evil little brat could be related to a boy as kind and gentle as Damian, despite their similar looks. In truth, those similar features made the scorn seem that much worse; it was as though the evil saint was wearing her friend's face to ridicule her.
Please, Lord, give me the strength to get out of this! To wipe that evil smile from this false Saint's face.
"I had to double-check the readings to be sure it was really you! How the mighty have fallen, eh? I suppose you must still be recovering from the beating she gave you last time, right?" The boy snickered, seemingly taking great pleasure in ridiculing her for her current weakness.
Mary could feel her face reddening with a mix of shame and anger. She wasn't sure who was worse, this false Saint or the Devil of the Rhine. The cruel little boy revelled in the suffering he caused and even boasted about killing poor Damian. Such behaviour was sickening, and she found her hate for him bubbling up more and more as she thought about it. The Devil, however, seemed not to care at all, as though she thought everyone was beneath her. How could the Empire spawn such awful and inhuman creatures?
"Captain Hozollern…" Commander Drake interjected, giving them both a meaningful look, although Mary could not puzzle out the meaning. However, the boy continued unperturbed, cheerfully continuing jabbing at her raw emotional wounds.
"Don't worry, Colonel, I will see to it that you're well treated. This one especially!" Mary found herself grinding her teeth at the boy's irreverent tone, something only made worse as she realised his words did not reflect his actions. Neither his sword nor his boot had moved she noted as he turned back towards her. "I want you to be in good shape when I take you to see her."
Something about his tone made her pause, and she felt a fresh knot of anxiety grow in her stomach.
"What do you mean? Take me to who?" She cried, failing to keep the panic from her voice as the boy's devious grin once again curled with cruelty.
"I'm sure you already know, and I'm certain she'll be happy to see you again."
Mary's eyes widened in realisation before she felt her heart sink at this final stab of humiliation. She would be dragged in front of the Devil, the one who had taken her father from her, powerless and unable to resist her. Was it not enough to take her friends and family from her? Prevent her from helping any of the others who would suffer like her, too? Why did these demons have to torture her? Why?
Please Lord, Please…
She felt a burning rage rising in her chest, driving back the tears that had been clouding her vision. I won't accept it! I refuse! She felt her mouth contort into a scowl as the burning feeling spread through her body and a rush of strength flowed through her muscles. She placed a palm on the ground and began pushing herself to her feet, heedless of the magically enhanced pressure bearing down on her. With her other hand, she grabbed the blade aimed at her throat, ignoring the trickle of blood running through her fingers as she pushed the weapon aside. The boy did not initially seem to notice, however, his attention instead fixed on the detection matrix of his spell as it flashed and beeped urgently at him.
"What the Hell?" He whispered as the colour drained from his face before quickly turning back to her with a look of horror.
"I refuse!"
July 20th Unified Year 1925 16:00
Streets of Berlun
Captain Wilibald Koenig frowned thoughtfully as he stared out of the window of the borrowed staff car, watching the buildings pass by the window as it carried him back towards the train station. It had been a strange visit back to the capital and General Staff offices, one that had left him feeling curiously uneasy considering he had been brought up in this city.
Although his family had long since moved out to the country, he'd been looking forward to seeing his old home town, especially since he'd heard the battalion had returned from the front and was enjoying some well-deserved rest. The thought of catching up with his old squad mates and revisiting some of his old haunts had seemed like a godsend after so long dealing with the fanatical Letzenbourg trainees. Even the simple act of giving a report to the Imperial staff officers seemed a pleasant undertaking after months of fighting off the worst impulses of the zealous Letzenbourg leadership.
However, he hadn't been able to shake the feeling that he was being treated like an outsider since being summoned to give his report. True, they had been professional and courteous, Imperial officers always were, but his superiors in personnel seemed far more cautious around him than he had anticipated. At first, he had thought it was simply because they were rear-echelon staff rather than the front-line officers he had interacted with before his injury. However, he'd met up with some of the officers he'd served with back in the East, and they too seemed to keep him at arm's length.
Even as he met up with the members of the 203rd at the officer's club, he felt as though he no longer fit in. They were happy to see him, of course, and it had been a genuine pleasure catching up with them all again; however, after a few swapped stories it soon became apparent that they had all grown and changed during their battles in the south and east. He'd been left behind and was no longer one of them.
"Is that the Brannonborg gate?" An excited voice exclaimed excitedly at his side, breaking him from his downhearted ruminations. At least someone is happy to be here, he thought before letting out a sigh and tearing his gaze from the shifting cityscape, absently rubbing his wrist where the stump joined his prosthetic hand. I never thought I'd be so happy to be heading back to Letzenbourg.
He'd been forced to bring the young Haussmann boy along as his adjutant for this visit. He'd had a devil of a time keeping him and the other "mascots" out of trouble. Every time General Van Blyandt decreed a new batch of militia was adequately trained and ready for deployment, Koenig would find at least one of them trying to stow away amongst their gear. Young Haussmann had been one of the worst offenders. He still had a burning desire to fight at the front to avenge his father.
For the sake of his safety, and what he felt he owed a fallen comrade, he'd made sure to do what he could to keep him out of trouble. Making him his assistant so that he could keep an eye on him seemed like the best way to do it. Although he had to admit, he would have much preferred the secretary offered to him by Van Blyandt. She certainly would have made for more interesting company.
"It was when we passed it on the way in." He replied, doing his best to hide a smile. In truth, the boy's excitement about leaving Letzenbourg had been oddly refreshing and had been one of the few to truly lighten up the visit home. His childish enthusiasm and sense of adventure was infectious and helped chase away some of the blues Koenig had experienced while he was here. Even before they had left Letzenbourg, Koenig had struggled not to smile at how Haussmann had proudly proclaimed to the other mascots that he "had been chosen for a special mission," and the several looks of undisguised envy he'd earned for his boast.
"That was the other side!" The boy protested defensively, doing a terrible job of hiding the embarrassment from his face. "It looks different from here!"
Koenig suppressed a chuckle and shook his head. He would have never have guessed when he joined the military that he'd have ended up looking after kids, and he certainly wouldn't have expected he would enjoy it. It was very different from anything he'd done before his transfer to Letzenbourg; not even his experience working with Prince Wilhelm or soon-to-be Lieutenant Colonel Degurechaff had helped him with young Hausmann and the other mascots, even though some were older than either of them.
Perhaps that was one of the reasons it had been so strange when Hausmann and the Lieutenant Colonel had been stood next to one another, it showed how little the girl had in common with normal children.
He'd just finished giving his report about the Letzenbourg recruitment when he heard the news about his former commander's impending promotion. He might have been an outsider in the Imperial General Staff office nowadays, but news travelled fast and there was always someone around eager to spread gossip. Since he hadn't had the opportunity to pay his respects to either the Major or Visha at the officer's club, it had seemed like an ideal excuse to drop in and deliver his congratulations. Besides, he'd promised young Haussmann the chance to finally meet one of his heroes while they were in the city.
It hadn't taken long to find her office, and Koenig had found himself feeling a little embarrassed when Visha had pulled him into a friendly hug when they had entered the anteroom that guarded the Commander's sanctum. After briefly catching up and the introduction of his own little assistant, the latter earning a bright smile from the young woman as he tried his best to give a smart salute, she took them through so they could congratulate the newly minted Lieutenant Colonel.
"Ma'am, you have some visitors." Visha had called as they entered what was probably the most spartan office in the entire General Staff.
Aside from her new rank, the Lieutenant Colonel hadn't changed at all, at least not physically. Despite being a few years younger than her, little Haussmann was already taller and certainly much brawnier. Although how much of that was due to him drilling with the Letzenbourg troops, he could not say. Lieutenant Colonel Degurechaff, however, looked as slender and as delicate as ever, something that never seemed to surprise both friend and foe alike whenever they crossed her.
What had been different, though, was the Commander's demeanour.
In the past, he'd have thought it completely impossible to take the young ace unaware. Although the girl often appeared singularly focused on whatever task was at hand, she had always been hyper-aware of her surroundings. The battalion had often joked it was easier to sense danger by looking at the Major than the enemy, she seemed to know what they would do before they did. However, when he had entered her office, she had seemed strangely distracted, staring out of the window without even sensing their approach. It had taken extra prompting from Visha for her to notice they were there at all.
"I can't believe I got to meet the Argent!" The young Haussmann boy said wistfully, shaking Koenig from his memories. "The others won't believe me when I tell them!"
Again, Koenig allowed himself a smile as the boy's enthusiasm chased away some of his disquiet. His young ward had been suitably impressed by his former commander, despite the girl's initial distraction. Neither had he been put off that he was already taller than his hero, having only the courage to shyly request an autograph after an incredibly stiff salute and introduction.
"Is she always like that?" The boy continued, his face contorting in confusion slightly as he tried to find the right words. "I thought she'd be… different somehow."
Koenig raised an eyebrow in surprise. Had the boy sensed something off with the Colonel too? Their interaction had been a little odd.
Initially, the Lieutenant Colonel had just been confused about the boy's presence, which was probably understandable under the circumstances. However, after Koenig had quietly revealed to her that he was the son of the prince's former second-in-command, she had returned to her normal self and began treating him as she would any other child. She'd even gone as far as to commend his hard work in training, although Koenig had been privately reprimanded for allowing him to join once the boy was out of earshot. What could he have seen that would give him the same unease about the Lieutenant Colonel that he'd felt? They'd never met before today. He couldn't have noticed anything unusual about her behaviour, could he?
"What do you mean?" He asked cautiously, careful not to let anything show in his voice. He didn't want to inadvertently put words in his mouth by showing too much of his own feelings.
"She was so serious! It was like talking to my mother!" He blurted out quickly, as though he had been desperate to share his thoughts. "Not like the movies at all!"
"The movies?" Koenig began, frowning with confusion but quickly caught himself. Of course, the boy could have only known about the Lieutenant Colonel from stories and the White Silver propaganda films. The 203rd were unofficially banned from mentioning their commander's forced foray into the film industry and the sickly-sweet act she had played at the time. Anyone who had spent any time around her soon found that the real Argent was nothing like her propaganda counterpart. However, young Haussmann would have only known the fictitious version, it must have come as quite a surprise to see how severe she could be.
"I thought she'd be gentler..." The boy continued, his voice drifting off slightly, and Koenig couldn't help but notice a slight blush on his cheeks. It seemed that his young ward had developed a little crush on his hero, or at least the ideal of her. He wondered if he should let Prince Wilhelm know he might have competition.
"I suppose war toughens everyone up, even heroes." He replied although he found himself struggling to believe his own words. It wasn't until he started working with young Haussmann and mascots that he realised how unusual his former commander really was. He'd always assumed her upbringing in the orphanage and early entry to the military had forced her to mature earlier than most. While serving with her, he had barely given any thought to the fact she was still a child. Now he was able to look at her from the outside, the whole thing seemed wrong. Not only that she was a child, but she had never acted like one at all.
"Is the prince like that too?" Haussmann replied, his expression contorting in a strange mix of curiosity and regret. The boy had told him time and again that he wanted to serve the prince, just as his father had. He'd made no secret of his disappointment that the little royal was away at the front during their visit. However, Koenig also suspected he harboured more than a little guilt for running away from the school the prince had so generously paid for him to attend. "Serious like the Argent, I mean?"
"Not quite like the commander, no." Koenig answered a little uncertainly. The prince was another child who didn't quite fit the mould once you thought about it. Although he was far less strict than Colonel Degurechaff, he didn't act much like Haussmann or the other children he'd interacted with either. When he was fighting, he adopted a serious and sombre aspect as he pleaded for peace, and he seemed wise beyond his years in several respects. However, otherwise, he was generally a cheerful young man to be around. In theory, it should have made him seem more like a child but after spending time around young Haussmann, something didn't quite sit right with him about the prince anymore; something about his eyes gave him away. Maybe it's just how geniuses are, they get old before their time.
"I wish I could have met him too." Haussmann continued wistfully, looking back out of the window before continuing in almost a whisper. "I don't think Father would like him fighting out there alone."
"I don't think you need to worry about that too much." Willibald replied, tousling the boy's hair playfully to reassure him. He'd long since learned the boy only mentioned his father when his thoughts were turning darker, it was better to break him out of it sooner than later. "The prince is probably the best fighter I know. He won't go down easily."
"Better than the Argent?" The boy turned and gave him an eager and inquisitive look. Koenig couldn't help but smile at how easily the boy could be distracted from his melancholy.
"Difficult to say for sure." The man replied, smiling now that he had captured the boy's attention. "But he's beaten her before."
"No, it can't be!" The boy replied incredulously, causing Willibald's smile to widen further. "No one has ever beaten White Silver! Not even the Saint!"
"Oh no?" He tried to force an innocent expression onto his face as a smile began to form at the corners of his mouth. "I suppose you don't want to hear about it then?"
July 20th Unified Year 1925 16:20
Lieutenant Colonel Tanya von Degurechaff's Temporary office, General Staff offices, Berlun
"What the Hell!?" Tanya wailed in frustration as she buried her head in her arms, disrupting the fresh piles of paperwork that now festooned her desk. "It wasn't supposed to be like this! I'd won! What happened? Where did I go wrong?"
For the second time in this lifetime, Tanya had found that a promotion could be a poisoned chalice rather than the true prize it should be and it both baffled and infuriated her. All the experiences of the Salaryman's life told her that such a thing shouldn't be possible, at least not for someone who approached life as professionally and rationally as she did. Yet impossibly, success was only leading her into further danger! It was like she was living some cruel joke.
She let out a sigh before reaching for the phone, knowing she would only need to wait a moment before the voice of her loyal adjutant would appear on the other end of the line.
"Lieutenant, could you make a fresh pot of coffee, please?" She ordered, doing her best to keep the despair from her voice. "Make some for yourself too, it looks like we'll be putting in some overtime."
She let out another self-pitying groan as she replaced the receiver and wondered exactly what she should have done differently. After all, every decision she had ever made in this life was made with survival, as well as a healthy amount of spite for Being X, in mind. Was it really just poor luck that kept landing her back in the most perilous positions possible?
She had long foreseen a war happening and had joined the military early to avoid being drafted in later life. Drafted soldiers seldom had the chance for promotion after all, and she had hoped to work her way towards a safe posting. For Tanya, the reasoning had been no different from the Salaryman finding a job in a prosperous company and making himself invaluable before a market crash. The Salaryman had always believed that the most logical way to deal with a problem was swiftly and directly, and Tanya held that lesson to her heart during her new life.
She had hoped the fighting would break out a little later in her career, of course, procuring a safer position would have been far easier if she'd had more time to establish herself before this mess erupted. But who could have guessed that the Legadonians could be so unfathomably stupid? Regardless, she had always been certain that with enough time and effort, she would make herself invaluable to the organisation, leaving the higher-ups with no choice but to keep her away from the worst of the danger.
That was why also why she had worked so hard to gain a place in the prestigious Imperial War College. Education had been invaluable for the Salaryman's career progression; even now, the lessons he had learned at the Chicago School of economics aided Tanya greatly in her day-to-day life. It stood to reason that further education would do the same in her new life, particularly with her previous life's knowledge helping her studies. Most importantly though, a War College Education was necessary for the prize she wanted the most; the one that should have guaranteed her a safer position.
A position as a General Staff officer.
As a career soldier, Tanya knew there was always going to be a significant element of risk to her life and wellbeing. However, the Imperial Military was a vast organisation and not every part was exposed to the same amount of danger. Positions in the regional armies were the most dangerous, of course; even those soldiers guarding the border of their ally Ildoa were at least theoretically in danger of attack at any moment. And since it was often foolishly expected that senior officers would lead from the front in these theatres, even a position in the regional staff offices was hardly what she'd consider safe.
Neither was a position within the Grand Army. True, in times of peace, its officers were usually stationed safely in the Empire's heartlands and enjoyed the best the Vaterland had to offer at the taxpayers' expense. However, the trade-off was that the moment there was the possibility of hostilities, they were immediately mobilised to where the war was hottest. Just as she had been when she first served on the Rhine.
The Imperial General Staff, however, had a completely different remit from the rest of the military and aside from specialists like the instructor unit and her own 203rd battalion, very few "fighting" troops under their direct command. The General Staff was tasked with not only managing the needs of current conflicts, but planning the nation's entire defence strategy. It created "What if" scenarios and countermeasures in case the Empire ever required such unlikely contingencies. They made logistics plans and performed theoretical research to further the science of warfare, they were problem solvers, innovators and organisers that kept the Imperial army moving from the side-lines. Tanya felt she had an awful lot in common with these sorts of people.
Most importantly, aside from the occasional inspection at the front, they were based in the capital, far away from any potential fighting, so that they could continue their good work without interruption. Or at least they were supposed to be.
So how did I get stuck leading a taskforce for an attack against the commies' main force?
Tanya let out a long sigh, her breath causing the page of the research paper that had caused her this problem to flip. It didn't make sense; she'd worked hard to show her superiors she was the ideal candidate for rear line duties. Much like with her idea to use mages as a fast reaction force, she had meticulously plotted out every angle of the Kampfgruppe proposal, including the best ways a commander could assemble such a force. Anyone should be able to do it!
Once more, she knew it would work! She had pilfered the concept from the Salaryman's knowledge of the wars of the other world. She had added a little of her own flair, of course, having mages provide the core of the unit had been entirely her own idea; nobody could accuse her of plagiarism. But the principle was much the same otherwise. In a sense, she'd created a blueprint that any half-way capable officer could follow and get decent results. Surely that proved she was more valuable conducting similar research and planning in the rear?
"Why do I have to be the one to test it?" She complained quietly to herself, lamenting her poor fortune. "There must be hundreds of battle-hungry fools willing to fight in the vanguard. Why do I need to be thrown to the wolves?"
General Zettour had seemed to be under the impression she would be keen to prove the theory herself, stating that: "she must be itching to get back into the action." That had caused her almost as much alarm as the prospect of returning to the front lines itself. Had she somehow given her superior the impression that she was as war-hungry as her subordinates? Impossible! True, she had made sure to project the image of a professional soldier, including an appropriate amount of counterfeit battle fervour, but she was certain she had shown an appropriate restraint in front of her superiors. Compared to a war-crazed person like Wilhelm, she probably seemed less aggressive than Mahatma Gandhi! So how had her superiors gotten such a misguided impression of her?
Being X is involved somehow! She complained inwardly, although she could not yet think of any way he might have done it. The timing of his visit had been too perfect however, the petty little false deity couldn't resist an attempt to mock her. It must be him, I'm sure of it!
"Fine! I'll just have to succeed again!" She declared defiantly, lifting her head back up from the desk and picking up one of the muster rolls she had been sent to help her put together her Kampfgruppe. Although in truth, she was still having a fairly difficult time even mustering up her enthusiasm for the task.
The 203rd will be at the core of the taskforce, of course. She thought, feeling slightly better about her chances knowing she'd still have her veterans by her side. If the General Staff wanted her back at the front, she was determined to keep her elites safely between her and the enemy. They were by far her best chance for continued survival. Weiss will need a promotion too. I can't run both a Kampfgruppe and a battalion at the same time, even if I still fly with them, I can't worry myself with the day-to-day stuff while commanding the task force. I'll recommend an immediate promotion to Major.
She'd probably have to take Visha away from the battalion too, she realised. The girl was too capable of an assistant and Tanya would need her. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't think of robbing her deputy of a capable mage and adjutant. It was bad form to pilfer members of an organisation as you were climbing the ladder, and it could cause major disruption for your old team. However, Visha's administrative talents would be invaluable for Tanya as she set up her new command. Sorry Weiss, you'll have to find yourself a new adjutant, as well as suitable replacements for her and myself in first company.
That was his problem, however, one she was certain he could easily deal with. She had bigger fish to fry, namely, that their job was not a raid or support mission this time. The 203rd were experts at ranging ahead of enemy forces, targeting their weaknesses and generally causing problems for them behind the lines. However, mages lost almost all their advantages when it came to taking and holding territory. Indeed, on the ground, robbed of their manoeuvrability, they were essentially just tougher infantrymen. General Rudersdorf wanted the Kampfgruppe to make a breakthrough and immediately begin exploiting it. She would need ground forces to achieve that, but the muster rolls didn't look promising on that front.
Looks like the only infantry units they're willing to give me are made up of reservists and fresh recruits. They have some veteran officers and NCOs promoted after injuries on the Rhine, but this is hardly a job for untested troops and green officers. Tanya frowned as she scanned the lists sent to her by the personnel department. Despite the assurances from the generals that the very best would be made available to her, she was finding the opposite to be true. It seemed that the officers across the eastern front were reluctant to part with even a fraction of their more experienced troops and Personnel was trying to fob her off whatever dregs they could find to cover for them.
I suppose I'd do the same in their position, veteran troopers are getting harder to come by these days. She conceded with a sigh, placing the roster to one side to go over again later. There had to be better soldiers available somewhere, she would have to go see the personnel people herself and pressure them to be less stingy with what they were sharing with her.
Regardless, an infantry battalion isn't worth much if we can't punch through in the first place. We'll need tanks and artillery. She mused as she rummaged through another pile of paper sent to her by General Zettour's underlings at the Service Corps. Things were looking a little more positive on that front, although only a fraction.
As far as tanks were concerned, she'd been offered an entire company for her Kampfgruppe; additionally, it was made up of tank corps veterans who had seen combat both on the Rhine and in the East. It's Captain, one Elmer Ahrens, seemed a little gung-ho for Tanya's liking, at least according to the reports she'd been given, but apparently, an aggressive streak was a desired trait amongst tank commanders, so that was to be expected. Additionally, his impressive list of commendations showed he knew his stuff, he could probably be trusted to act without too much supervision as long as he could keep his blood lust under control.
The problem was the tanks themselves, the entire Battalion was only made up of light armour that had been scraped together from the survivors of other units. Although she appreciated the speed in which these would be able to achieve, they neither had enough firepower or armour for the initial breakthrough. They would either suffer heavy losses or both Tanya's mages and the artillery would be bogged down supporting them as they made their assault. Both were unacceptable, it would slow the assault down too much and offer the enemy too much time to regroup and counterattack.
The problem was, there wasn't much else available. The Empire was stretched thin at the moment; they still hadn't recovered from their matériel losses on the Rhine and they'd had just fought another campaign to repulse the invading commies. Armour was at a premium right now, and most of it was rightly being sent to replace the losses suffered in the other tank units. To get anything more, she'd likely have to fight her colleagues in the panzer corps, and she didn't relish the idea of starting an interdepartmental spat.
As for the Artillery, she again had a choice of decent sounding officers to work with; a Captain Rolf Maybert sounded especially promising. He had a reputation of being as much of an engineer as an artilleryman and had received praise for finding ways to improve both the speed and accuracy of his big guns, especially during mass barrages. Tanya could appreciate a gunner that made extra effort not to cause friendly fire. Unfortunately, he'd also gained a reputation of carelessly burning through his supply of shells. Still, he seemed a decent pick if she could keep him in line. If worst came to worst, she'd just keep half the munition stock secret from him. He couldn't fire what he didn't know about.
The problem again was the hardware itself. Although the weapons were more than formidable, due to the Interior lines Strategy, Imperial artillery was usually moved around the rail network to wherever it was required. They had some towed artillery, the majority still horse-drawn, but most of it simply wasn't designed to be moved very far. The rest of the Kampfgruppe would quickly outrun their artillery support, leaving them worryingly vulnerable. Tanya would at least like to keep them close enough to provide counter-battery fire. As much as she hated to admit it, when it came to artillery, the Reds could bring an impressive amount of firepower to bare. It was better to keep their guns silent whenever they could.
What she really needed was some self-propelled guns, but unfortunately, the Empire had only just started to experiment with them, and the Panzer corps only had a handful in stock. Not nearly enough to replace an artillery battalion. It seemed both she and the artillery were stuck, or at least confined to the average speed of an overworked draught horse.
She let out another deep sigh as she leaned back in her chair and pondered her options while staring at a crack in the ceiling. After a short while, a familiar knock signalled that Visha was at the door, and the girl entered with a tray of coffee and treats in hand. Tanya barely noticed, however; not even the pleasant smell of her favourite beverage could rouse her from her poor mood.
"How are things going, Ma'am?" The girl questioned with a polite smile as she cleared a small space for Tanya's cup and the plate of biscuits she had procured.
"Green troops, paper-thin armour and guns that don't move." Tanya replied glumly, absently grabbing one of the treats and taking a bite. She frowned as an odd taste hit her mouth and turned a questioning gaze to her adjutant.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, I could only get the ersatz Linzer tortes today." She replied with an apologetic and slightly nervous smile. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Unless you can instantly train troops into veterans, make some medium or heavy tanks appear out of nowhere or know how to strap an engine to a howitzer, I somehow doubt it." Tanya replied, aware that she sounded a little petulant but not really caring for the moment. She was feeling put upon and as far as she was concerned, she was entitled to complain every now and then.
"Well, I don't know about training or engines." The girl began in reply, sounding a little sheepish as she poured coffee for them both. "But I know they're sending a bunch of medium tanks to the southern continent for General von Romel. I thought it strange because you always said he wanted more fuel, not vehicles to drain it."
Tanya levelled another questioning stare at her assistant, causing the older girl to shift uneasily.
"Some of Colonel von Rerugen's reports are still being sent here." She confessed awkwardly, not daring to meet Tanya's stony gaze. "I may have accidentally skimmed it before realising it wasn't for you."
Tanya nodded thoughtfully, choosing to forgive Visha's admission of accidentally prying into confidential information. As her adjutant, it was given that she would see some of her reports, and if one of Rerugen's underlings hadn't got the memo that she was no longer assisting him, it was hardly her fault. She would inform the Colonel of the breach, of course, but in the meantime, it had provided her with a useful bit of information.
"Interesting. If we can lay our hands on some extra fuel, perhaps we could make a trade." Tanya mused aloud, feeling a little better now that she could see some way to improve her situation. "I'm sure General von Romel will be appreciative."
"Should I arrange a meeting with someone in the Service Corps?" The girl replied, seeming relieved as Tanya's humour improved. This is why she makes a good assistant, she's always considerate of my mood.
"Yes, thank you. And Personnel as well please." Tanya replied, taking a sip of her coffee, feeling another sigh building in her chest as she thought about the final hurdle she needed to overcome. "It's a start at least but what I really need is a few more decent mages. Look at these."
Tanya reached for another paper and passed it to her loyal subaltern. Fully expecting her to have the same poor opinion of these new mages as she did. She was aware of the necessity of accelerated training, but there were limits to how much you could rush things. These new mage recruits weren't just green, they were seeds that had barely sprouted! That the Empire was considering sending people like this to the front at all was worrying, to say the least.
"Fifty flight hours!" Visha cried with undisguised shock. "We had to do almost double that before we were even allowed to hold a gun!"
Tanya nodded in agreement. As far as these men went, they really would be better off used as tougher infantrymen. There was no way that they could be anywhere near as manoeuvrable as even a novice mage, in her opinion. There was certainly no way they could keep up with her and the 203rd.
"But why do you need them?" Visha replied, leaning over to take a look at what little of the roster Tanya had put together so far. "You already have an extra company you haven't taken into account."
Tanya blinked at her with confusion, wondering what on earth she could be talking about. She only had command of the 203rd and although it was an augmented battalion, she wouldn't count that as having an extra company in this context. It worked best as it was and she wasn't about to split it without good reason. Perhaps all the free time I've given Visha has made her brain go soft.
"Prince Wilhelm and the Letzenbourg mages." The girl explained, sensing the confusion in her commander. "The prince never put in the official paperwork for their transfer, so officially you're still his commander. At least on paper."
Tanya's eyes widened for a moment before a smile started to reach her face. How like Wilhelm to forget about the paperwork. He probably thought someone would just do it for him; such were the drawbacks of a spoilt upbringing. Still, his mistake would benefit everyone. He wanted to be at the front after all, and she needed veterans she could trust. Who better than the company that had already spent so much time attached to them?
Who'd have thought the day would come when I'd actually trust Wilhelm? War truly does make for strange bedfellows. She thought to herself, shaking her head with a smile. I heard he should be back from the front soon. I can't believe it! I might actually be pleased to see him!
July 20th Unified Year 1925 16:20
Balstogė Red theatre, Balstogė, Russy/Imperial disputed zone.
"What the Hell?" Wilhelm whispered to himself as he watched the sudden erratic readings flash across his detection matrix. It didn't make sense! It was the girl's power signature, he was certain of that, but he'd taken away her orb, she shouldn't have been able to manifest any mana at all! However, according to these readings she was both building and releasing her magical power at an alarming rate! Moreover, it looked as though the readings were coming from all around him rather than below the heel of his boot, as though her power was somehow infusing the air, perhaps even being generated by it. He'd never seen anything like it.
A spark of electricity out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and he could feel a sudden build-up of static in the air. A rush of panic washed over him, causing him to tighten his grip on his sword as his gaze darted back down towards the girl, hoping to find some explanation for this trickery. However, he soon found the blood draining from his face as two sickening yellow irises stared up back him, burning with unnatural energies and pure hatred.
"I refuse!" The girl snarled, her voice distorting unnaturally amongst the static.
Instinctively, he began to pull away, recoiling at the sight as cold terror filled his chest. This power was unmistakably that of the monster, the evil creature that had so often threatened to unmake him. The same power he'd seen utilised by both his doppelganger and the girl when she'd fought Tanya in Moscau and Tiegenhoff. The unnatural influence of the malicious creator that now only wished to bring destruction on his world.
Every fibre of his being demanded he flee immediately, his innate fear of the monstrous God almost forcing his body to move without any prompting from his conscious mind. However, he managed to catch himself before the instinct took hold. The sliver of rationality that remained unaffected by the gut-wrenching terror reminded him that he was still in control. He still had her pinned under his boot, he still had his sword at her throat and, despite his earlier boasting about taking the girl to Tanya, he would not hesitate to kill her if the monster forced him too.
He hastily summoned up as much mana as he could, enhancing his strength to drive his heel further down onto the girl's chest while sending the rest to his sword, causing it to glow red as it acted like a lightning rod for the torrent of energies that was building between them. He ignored the growing heat, however, and plunged the blade down towards her throat, forcing all the strength he had behind the killing blow. However, the blade stubbornly refused to move.
His eyes travelled down the length of the weapon and a second wave of alarm washed over him as he saw the girl's gloved hand gripped tightly around the bottom of the hot glowing blade, a small trickle of blood evaporating into a red mist from the heat the only sign it had affected her at all. He began to push harder, forcing his weight behind it as he willed the edge to slide through her fingers and the point to pierce her neck and finish her for good. However, to his horror, he felt the weapon start to move back towards him.
He heard the girl let out a low growl as he realised she was now also pushing herself up from the ground, despite the extra strength and heavy boot he used to keep her pinned. Impossible! It can't be! He thought, refusing to believe his eyes as he realised he was quickly losing ground.
He let out a yell of his own as he grasped the sword handle firmly with both hands, bringing all his remaining strength and weight down on the girl in an attempt to break through. The power between them continued to grow and electricity now coursed between them. Will found himself letting out a small hiss of pain as a bolt struck his cheek, burning the skin in an instant, but did his best to ignore it, fearing what might happen if he allowed himself to be distracted for even a moment.
The stalemate could not last long however, and finally he felt the girl's grip begin to slip for the briefest of moments. A surge of relief filled his chest as the blade inched ever closer to the girl's jugular; closer and closer it came until the point landed on her neck and a small trickle of blood began to leak from the pinprick left by the sword.
"You won't take me monster!" He snarled under his breath, his eyes fixated on the point of his blade as the last of the girl's resistance began to wane and the weapon began to cut into her carotid artery.
A blinding light suddenly filled the room and a pressure unlike anything he had ever experienced struck him hard in the chest, sending him tumbling backwards in an instant. His sword was ripped from his grip by the mysterious force but he did not hear it clatter along the floor as he was sent flying across the room. For a moment, he seemed to float in the air and the theatre fell silent as even the sound was swallowed white light. Will found himself fearing he was back in the void, being annihilated by the monstrous God for his transgression against His agent. He should have known it was too risky, too dangerous to defy such a cruel and malicious God.
The notion was quickly shattered, along with a row of chairs as he smashed heavily through the stalls of the theatre, sending dust and debris in every direction as the light suddenly gave way, leaving the world suddenly seeming grey and devoid of colour by comparison. A curse left his lips as pain erupted across his back from the impact and a second set of expletives followed as his head connected with one of the steps that had once led the audience towards the exits.
He groaned with pain and disorientation, blinking as his vision gradually returned after the blinding assault and sudden blow to the head and he reluctantly began raising himself up on his elbows, conscious of the danger he might be in. However he immediately froze in place, the sight of the girl's hateful glare pinning him to the ground as she slowly got to her feet.
The sickening glow was no longer confined to just her eyes and an unearthly aura seemed to emanate from her entire body. She still held his sword in her right hand, gripping it tightly by the blade, heedless of any pain it might have caused her. She seemed not to even realise it was there at all as the intense glare continued to bore down on him, robbing him of both movement and the possibility of rational thought.
Will watched as flickers of electricity framed her as she took a heavy step forward towards him; her boot step seeming to echo around the auditorium, causing him to shiver involuntarily as the sound reached his ears. A low visceral growl emerged from her throat, the sound distorted by the torrent of static and mana surrounding her and Will let out an involuntary whimper as he recognised the true threat marching towards him.
Mana overload! Without an orb she can't control it! He realised as electricity danced around her, still sparking off the glowing sword like a lightning rod. He hastily glanced around for an escape. She would self-destruct any moment now and with so much energy going haywire it would easily obliterate this entire building, perhaps even the entire block! However, the only obvious route out was the hole they'd made in the roof upon their first entry, to get out that way he would need to get past the Monster's puppet. Will wasn't sure he was capable of that anymore.
"The… Lord is… my Shepherd…." He heard the girl murmur in a stupor, taking deep and heavy breaths as she continued to stagger towards him, her eyes fixing him with that hateful stare. "He… restores my soul… and guides me… in the paths of righteous…ness for his namesake."
Will scrabbled backwards up the stairs as she closed, hands bushing past something metallic as he desperately tried to free his pistol from its holster before she was upon him. Time seemed to freeze again as she spoke her prayer and the air around them almost seemed to stutter as she spoke. However, it was the cold emotionless delivery of her prayer that unnerved him the most. Unlike the words of his doppelganger, it felt as though she had no understanding of what she was saying and was instead just repeating a mantra as she closed to do her bloody work.
He began to swear under his breath as his pistol refused to leave its holster but paused as the girl halted at the foot of the steps, looking down, suddenly distracted by something at her feet. For the first time she seemed to realise that she still carried his sword and stared at it for a moment as if studying the craftsmanship before leaning down towards whatever she had seen on the ground. Carefully she placed the weapon on the floor and instead reached for the unseen object.
Will took the moment of respite and finally managed to free the errant pistol, hastily bringing it up and aiming directly at the girl's skull, hoping he could finish her before she could get back to her feet. If he killed her now, he might be able to stop the overload, if he was lucky.
Clunk
Will felt the breath caught in his throat as he recognised the sound of the pistol jamming. Perhaps it had been affected by the cold at high altitude, or perhaps he had neglected some part of the maintenance that Christina had shown him. He had always counted on her to look after his things in the past.
Either way, it had failed him. He was doomed.
The girl stood back up slowly, her breathing returning to normal as she rose. A chain with a pendant was now wrapped around the bloodied fingers of her right hand while in the left her rifle had appeared, both miraculously found amongst the rubble. My spare orb! He realised as his hand instinctively shot back towards his pocket. It must have fallen out when I was struggling with that damned pistol! But even that can't save us now, can it? It's too late! Her mana is completely out of control! We'll all die!
However, as the girl's hand closed on the orb, Will could see the electricity surrounding her begin to calm and dissipate. The unearthly aura around her remained, however, but after a few moments of staring at the trinket, the power seemed to become contained and focused, as though her eyes had become lenses for her overflowing power.
Surely even a type 97 can't take that much! It has to be the monster!
The girl's hateful gaze shot back towards him, as though he had somehow heard his thoughts, but this time it was a glimmer of something at her shoulder that caught his petrified attention. As if to prove his suspicions, a familiar figure began to emerge from the dust and smog, along with a grin that he had long since learned to both fear and loathe.
"Ludwig!" He whispered, the quiver barely leaving his throat. The ghost of the former Letzenbourg ruler made no move to reply however, instead simply watching on with a widening smile as the girl took another step closer and raised her rifle.
"I will fear no Evil; for you are with me…." The girl continued, speaking in a trance as the spectre of Ludwig placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, urging her on. All the while Will could see power forming at the end of the girl's weapon. It would unmake him, just as the monster had always threatened. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you."
A furious barrage of gunshot struck the girl's side, cutting her prayer short as her shield ignited with a rain of flashing lights. Ludwig vanished, as though exorcised by the sudden attack, and the girl staggered sideways as though the evil spirit had been helping her steady herself.
"My Prince! Run!" Will heard Sophia yell as she charged forward, firing as she went and Will felt a sliver of relief reach his chest. Perhaps they could still make it out of this mess, if they regrouped with the rest of the company, they could at least make a fighting retreat. He might have failed to kill or capture the girl and her commander but they could still make it out of this alive.
However, as they locked eyes with one another, he felt the feeling quickly flee, only to be replaced by a cold empty horror as she realised what she intended. The mixed look of worry and determination on her face told him that she didn't intend to leave with him; she was going to attack her to allow him time to escape.
No! I can't lose her! His mind raced as he watched her continue her assault, still frozen with panic. He wanted to yell for her to stop, plead with her to escape with or without him, however, before the words could leave his mouth the monster's puppet regained her footing, letting out a roar as she brought her rifle round on Sophia. The ball of unnatural energy, still glowed ominously by the barrel of the girl's rifle, flickering with anticipation as Sophia charged forwards pistol in both hands, and before Will could shout a warning, the girl fired.
Again, both Will's sight and hearing was robbed from him as a huge beam of energy left the girl's weapon, swallowing everything in its path and leaving the air still and lifeless in its wake, while Will's face burned in the sudden blast of heat. He lifted an arm to shield himself, cursing through gritted teeth and in an instant, the theatre wall evaporated, leaving a hole and melting brickwork where it had once been.
Miraculously, Sophia managed to dodge at the last second, suffering no damage aside from a slight singing of her flight suit as the monster girl hefted her weapon around, forcing the beam to follow. The wood and fabric of the stage burst into flames, assaulted by the heat, and within moments, an inferno engulfed the remainder of the building.
Sophia dipped downwards and began closing on the girl, bringing her pistol up to her face. However, the monster's possessed puppet moved quickly and instinctively bought the butt of her rifle upward, smashing apart Sophia's shield and catching the older girl in the side before she could fire. There was a sickening crack as it connected with her ribs causing the woman let out a gargled cry of pain, and Will felt a sympathetic twinge in his side, long experience telling him they were likely broken.
The blow sent Sophia tumbling backwards, crashing violently into the burning remains of the stage while the monster girl let out another enraged scream as she bought her weapon around for a killing blow. The sight finally snapped Will from his fearful petrification as his heart wrenched with the horrible realisation of what was about to happen.
"No!" He yelled in a panic, scrambling to his feet and rushing forwards as the monster girl prepared to fire a second beam of energy at his faithful second. Adrenaline took him, he had no weapon to fight but the thought of losing anyone else he cared for drove him onwards anyway and he crashed into the girl just as she pulled the trigger, sending her shot wide and cutting another gash in the building, causing more of it to come crumbling down.
The monster girl was stronger than him however, and kept her footing as Will tried to tackle her. She turned on him with another snarl, smashing a fist into his face and sending him toppling onto the floor again before bringing her bayonet tipped rifle around and stabbing it down at him. He rolled to one side in an effort to dodge the blow but the girl was faster than him as well as stronger and the blade bit deep, impaling itself in his shoulder.
He yelped in pain as the blade bit through the bone but as the cry left his lips a second shriek filled the air, one that was both familiar and sent a spike of horror through his soul. Despite the monster girl standing over him, he instinctively looked for the source of the scream, fear filling him as he turned in time to see the burning wreckage fall on top of his deputy, burying her in fire and rubble.
"Sophia! No!" He cried as she disappeared into the flames, feeling dizzy and numb as he watched another one of his most trusted and precious people taken from him by the monster. He felt as though his heart had stopped beating and found himself unable to catch his breath as watched the burning walls fall on top of her. However, the horror was not yet over and he soon realised he could still hear her muffled screams beneath the rubble, becoming more frantic and tortured as the blaze grew ever brighter. "Please no!"
Automatically, he began to reach towards her, tears forming at the corners of his eyes as the wails became more pained and panicked. Part of him wanted to cover his ears as each scream tore through his heart like a serrated blade but another desperately to rush over and dig her out. However, the blade in his shoulder kept him in place as the girl growled at him like a rabid animal above him.
"You killed them! My Friends! My comrades!" The girl snarled bringing her boot down on his thigh with enough enhanced strength to shatter the bone in an instant. A white-hot pain shot through his body as his femur snapped under the pressure, almost causing him to black out. However, the screaming kept him conscious and drove him to continue desperately reaching towards the flames in the hopes of saving his friend. The monster's puppet seemed irritated by this however and kicked him in the face with her other foot, forcing him to look into her hate filled yellow eyes.
"You killed them! Vivi and Damian! And so many more! You're no saint! You deserve to die for your crimes! Your sins!" She continued plunging her bayonet down once again, this time impaling his outstretched arm. "You're no better than she is! Another monster that derives pleasure from the pain you inflict on others!"
Will gave no reply; he had none to give as he stared up at her shaking fearfully. His mind was blank, filled only with a mixture of terror and grief as the sounds of Sophia's tortured howls assaulted his ears. He could barely understand the girl's enraged accusations, his head was filled with the echoes of fire and screams.
"Don't you have anything to say?!" The girl demanded angrily, causing Will to flinch away from her. "Or are you a coward as well?"
"P…please….S…Sophia!" He whimpered in reply, unable to utter anything more as he looked back towards the burning rubble through his tears. By now the sounds of the older girl's struggle had all but faded away but Will still held a sliver of hope that she could be saved. His death was now certain but maybe the monster girl would spare the older girl. Even if she ended up despising him for the injuries he had caused her, like Christina, he still wanted her to live. "…Please."
The girl paused for a moment, following his gaze, looking between Will and the rubble. Her expression seemed to soften, if only for a fraction for a second before contorting in anger and frustration again. With another roar she ripped the bayonet from his arm, sending another wave of pain through his already battered body before levelling the rifle at him again, readying herself to fire.
"Sioux!" A voice coughed through the smoke, although Will barely noticed, he was shaking fearfully with eyes closed expecting the inevitable. "Sioux! The remainder of the enemy company are on their way back, we need to leave!"
Will waited for the shot, eyes still closed but tears running down his face as he finally heard Sophia fall silent. He wasn't sure how much time passed but it felt like an eternity as he waited for the girl to pull the trigger and send his soul to the monster.
"He wouldn't want this, not even for a wretched creature like you." She said eventually, kicking him hard in the side and forcing him onto his front. His eyes widened again in pain as he felt something inside him snap and he mewled in pain again before turning back to his tormenter. The girl glowered at him for a moment more, staring at him with undisguised contempt before slowly lowering her weapon and began walking away.
"I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing it for him! I owe him that much." She said as she strode way into the heat and smoke, sounding as though she were talking as much to herself as she was him. She looked as though she would disappear into the smog but she paused mid-step, seemingly unaffected by the fire that surrounded them, and glared back at him once more, her voice turning dark. "But you can tell her that I will stop her. I will make sure she can't hurt anyone else again."
The girl rushed off out of sight leaving Will alone with his sorrow and the sound of flames, still dizzy and sick with pain and unsure of what had happened. His gaze drifted back towards the smouldering rubble and another stab of grief filled his chest as he saw the spectre of Ludwig once again, this time standing amongst the blaze, still smiling gently.
"So…Sophia…." He whispered, ignoring the apparition, the tears still pouring from his face as he dragged himself towards the flames. "Please… don't leave me."
Author's notes
Hello everyone and thank you for reading, reviewing, following and favouriting.
As usual, it seems I have to apologise for taking so long to update again. I had hoped to get into a rhythm of updating monthly, however, unfortunately I've spent almost every week since Christmas Ill in one form or the other, which has obviously slowed me down a bit. This has been a little annoying because I've been itching to write parts of this chapter for a while now. That said, overall, I'm really pleased with how this chapter has turned out, although I would completely understand if you readers were less so after the punishment I've inflicted on poor Will.
In the first section, since it'd Mary's point of view, I wanted to make Will seem really smug about his achievement so that he would be antagonising her without even trying. In this case I think it fits him quite well and if things had turned out differently, I could envision him endlessly boasting to Tanya about being the one to bring in Mary. However, I did feel like I needed to walk a line a little on him being an annoying little a-hole because he still needs to be somewhat sympathetic by the end.
Also shout out to my beta reader Vickers for suggesting Wilhelm call Mary: Sue instead of Sioux. I am annoyed I didn't think of it but at least I got it in my story first!
I almost cut the second section but I really wanted an excuse to check in with Koenig and Haussmann Jr and this was the best way I could think to do it and as a bonus, it allowed me to have Koenig realise how weird Tanya (and Will) are. In all the media, everyone seems to forget that Tanya is only a child and that they get sucked in to her way of thinking. Since my Koening is now outside of her and interacting with normal children (or at least normal for war orphans I suppose), it would make sense that he would start to view everything differently. Or at least that's what I think.
Third part with Tanya was kinda fun to write tbf. I've done some table top war gaming in the past and to me it felt like Tanya building her own little army (which brings to mind the image of her painting and assembling little model soldiers which s kinda cute). It also let me have a moment where she can genuinely be happy at the prospect of seeing Wilhelm before…
RIP Sophia, I did you dirty after I chickened out killing off your sister. And poor Wilhelm, if the beating from Mary wasn't rough enough (I've heard that a broken femur is one of the most painful broken bones you can have), seeing his sister/friend go the way she did made me feel rather cruel. I half expect a bit of backlash tbf.
It needed to be done for the story however, so I will carry on.
Finally I would like to dedicate this chapter to the memory of Prince Frederik of Luxembourg, who apparently died a few days ago. Considering my story primarily features a young prince of my alternate universe version of his country, it only seemed right to pay my respects in some way.
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and thank you all again for reading.
Xanen (AKA Lord Solus)