“Hey Ivan, I’m going to the temple for tonight’s services.” Jacklyn said excitedly. “Wanna come?”

“No, I can’t.” Ivan admitted. “I’m going to church with my parents tonight.”

“Oh… I see.”

Ivan kept looking around at the near vacant streets, where only armored cars and police personnel were out.

“But, can you at least come for just one night? I’m confident your parents will say yes.”

He could see her pleading eyes looking up to him like that of a sad puppy’s. “… Ugh, I’ll see what I can do.”

“Yay!” she chirped, briefly hugging him.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! I said I’ll see what I can do. You know what that means, right?”

“Oh, alright.” She let go before crossing her arms in defeat. But after that brief moment, she realized something. Then began digging into her backpack. “In that case…, if you change your mind…, here!”

Ivan then took what was being handed to him. It was a flyer, a rather creative one with both Celestia and Luna in in silhouettes of their respective fur colors, their manes creating a unique pattern around the cursive font in the middle.

“Now, good sir, shall I… walk you home?” she said with a flamboyant gesture.

“You’re going to ask them yourself aren’t you?”

The pose quickly broke as she looked away blushing. “Maybe.”

He looked out into the sunset. “Well, we still got a little more time, so c’mon.”

He turned back to her. “Let’s find out.”

She smiled, the sunset making it all fit. "Okay."

His eyes were weak, but he was able to open them. He’d see his lap. “Hmm?”

He could hear humming coming from in front, as well as the sound of a guitar playing music appropriate for it. He lifted his head to find a tan woman in a green uniform filing her nails. But in that instant, her eyes would meet his’. Thus, the singing stopped. “Мой Бог!”

She dropped the book from her hand and immediately grabbed her rifle. Then she bolted out of the room in a hurry. “Виктор! Они Пробудитесьь…! Виктор!”

Both the music, and the singing that accompanied stopped. “Да, Варма?”

“What happened?”

Ivan faced Jacklyn, who in turn did the same to him. Then she pulled away with reddened cheeks. “Wh… What happened?”

“Yes Ivan.”

He saw Lance stare back at him with a stare as cold as his tone of voice. His eyes gestured to his right. “What in god’s name happened?”

  They heard the door open, where a man in the same green uniform, and a service cap with the iconic red lining on the front walked in. He sat behind the desk, a modest smile on his face.

“So you’re Viktor Yolkov?” Ivan said unsurprisingly.

“Da, my friends!” he said with mirth. “Welcome to the Soviet Consulate in good ol’ Salt Lake City, Utah, U, S of A! Варма, вы можете развязатьь руки?”

The guardswoman nodded, taking out a combat knife.

Jacklyn gasped.

“Shoot!” Ivan muttered.

“Don’t worry, she’s not going to bite.” Viktor said as he was reaching under his desk. “She’s just going to cut off the rope that’s tied around your hands.”

“Rope? Hands?” He felt them now, and tried to move them, but without success. “The Hell?”

Viktor was already mounting a rifle over the desk. “And it looks like the drug is finally wearing off. Happy to see that.”

“Wait, what drug?” Lance called.

“I cannot tell you, it’s confidential.” he assured. “Anyway, how was your sleep?”

“Umph!” Jacklyn squeaked, much like a kitten meowing for the first time. It caught Ivan’s attention, and he could see with clarity the little glare that was forming on her eyebrows. It stayed plastered on her, even after she was rubbing off the pressure on her wrists.

“Ugh, it was fine I guess. Didn’t understand… Mmph!” Then the rope on his hands was cut. He began rubbing his wrists also. “Ugh, anyway, I don’t get why you couldn’t just wake us up or something.”

“Well, we didn’t want any resistance, so we resorted to the obvious.” Viktor explained briefly.

“Touché.” He rested his hands against his lap. “So, why bring us here like this anyway?”

“You’re going to the gulags in Siberia!”

“What?” they screamed.

“Just kidding you guys, relax!” he laughed. “Is it me or is the red scare still strong in you people.”

“Uh… Grrr!” Ivan who stood up from his seat in protest, was quick to sit and simmer down once he got a good view of his hands. But after he did, he swore he heard Jacklyn growl under her breath. “Um… Continue then.”

“Thank you. So, to continue, we took you in because we want to help.” Viktor placed his legs on the desk as he watched their expected reactions. “But obviously seeing Soviet troops will immediately trigger you three to fight us, so knocking you out was the only solution.”

“Okay then, now how did you know about us then?” Lance said, standing up from his chair.

“Well, let’s just say that certain spies of ours’ have been following you around since you entered the Idaho front.”

“Uh…” Lance sat back down, unsure of what to think.

“Rumors were flying around about a man with the power to freeze, burn, and control was running around the Midwest.” He took the mug off the table. “So the KGB ordered both our consulate and the one in Saint Louis to set out and search for the culprit.”

“Grrr, this is just great.” Lance rested his face over his hand, and then stood up again. “I was supposed to die for my family, ‘cept this asshole decided to take me as his ‘hostage’ just to get knocked out by you bloody reds and…!”

“Hey don’t blame me, buddy!” Ivan snarled, standing up to face him.

“Ivan, Lance, don’t do this!” Jacklyn begged while pulling at Ivan’s arm.

“I at least tried to make it count!”

He leaned his hand over the desk. “Oh yeah, you and your rubbish speech about how I’ll die trying to head home sure did help a lot, didn’t it!”

Ivan crossed his arms. “You do realize that Salt Lake has an airport, right?”

“Sorry, but public ones don’t exist in the red zone.” Yolkov clarified. Ignoring their reactions made him say casually, “Just stating the facts.”

“See!” Lance shouted, pointing at Yolkov.

“Come on, you two. Please stop-Uuaah!” she screamed as Ivan pushed her away. Thankfully, the guardswoman was quick to catch her, only for her to squeak in panic and run away from her arms. The guardswoman watched in pity as she sat down.

He reached his arms out. “That doesn’t mean you can’t find another way!”

“Where, how?”

In a cocky manner, he answered, “Uh, disguising?”

Lance rolled his eyes. “Oh sure, the bloody TSA’s going to let an unidentified man like me on board! Yeah, the next thing you know, they’re going to let me shout ‘For Socialism’ or ‘allahu akbar’ free of charge!”

Ivan approached him. “I don’t think you know what stowing away means?”

Lance leaned away from the desk, making fists. “And I don’t think you know what the inside of your-!”

Viktor slapped his hand against his face. “Guys, guys!”

“What?” they shouted virulently at him.

“Geez, comrades.” he said after flinching at their sudden bark. “Anyway, as you westerners say, take a chill pill, and as everyone on this planet says, sit down!”

“B-”

“Do it or I’ll make the Russian Sleep Experiment a reality!”

They immediately sat down. When they did, they only shot each other hostile glances and aggressive grunts.

“Heh, god bless the red scare.” He laughed. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to play a little music.”

Ivan crossed his arms. “How? Your guitar man’s like-”

“You Americans never heard of CD’s haven’t you?” He said displaying a red CD with the iconic hammer, sickle, and star printed on it.

Ivan rolled his eyes. The others would watch as he slid the CD into the stereo. After a while, the first song played.

“Also, don’t underestimate my guitar skills.”

“Oh that was you?”

He fiddled his teeth with a toothpick nearby. “Of course. In fact, the song playing now was the song I was playing.”

Baffled, he could managed to say, “Uh… good to know?”

“Right.” He tossed the toothpick at the nearby trash bin. “Now I wanna ask you something: Are you familiar with the Battle at Svalbard?”

They nodded, but Ivan swore she heard Jacklyn growl.

“The song playing is titled, Katyusha.” He put his legs on the desk again. “And my grandfather and his comrades played this song as they stormed through the island, mowing down Celestia’s royal forces like dominoes. In only two days, the island was ours. Playing this song brought back great memories of that battle for them, there was no need to hire Japanese voice actresses and draw anime characters for it. The song was fine on its-”

“Yes, they lost and that ‘music’ was great.” Jacklyn asked, “But what does this have anything to do with what’s happening now?”

“Simple, Celestia was too brash, and that’s the perfect word I’d use for you three. Celestia was staying true to the Romanov’s ways, not knowing that her ‘enemy’ was miles ahead. Thinking that magic alone will crush us. And what was the result, only ten percent of her forces deployed were fleeing the island, without her consent, mind you.”

Her demurred expression didn’t change. “And?”

He groaned, “This is exactly what I mean by brash.”

Static!

“This is Spear Two, where the hell are they?”

The call was directed at a woman, who was armed with an assault rifle. She was steadily opening the blinds. “They said that they’d be arriving around this time… I’ll call.”

“Do that.”

Static!

She then made the call.

“Hello?”

“Where the hell are they?”

“What?”

“You said that they’d be arriving today!” The building in front of her was heavily protected, with towers spread on all four corners of the vast courtyard. Her body was almost trembling at the red flag that was plastered over the door, displaying the yellow hammer and sickle being surrounded by yellow stars.

“I’m as baffled as you are, ma’am.” On the other end of the line, Marianne was pouring herself a cup of coffee, “We were hoping that they’d arrive by now. Turns out-”

“Well, just keep watch. I doubt that they’ll be arriving at the embassy, anyway.”

“Of course.” She hung up.

“So what did she say?” asked Big Mac. He too was looking through the blinds, watching the red coated military vehicles, infantry, and workers walking around town. He then turned his attention towards the gate, where five brown coated guards stood guard.

“She told us to keep watch?” she poured some sugar into the coffee before mixing them with a spoon. “Of course they’d get impatient after a while.”

“As all resistance groups do.” Maribelle added, who was standing next to the door while clutching her katana. “So what do you think’s taking those two so long?”

Marianne drank a little of her coffee before letting out a gasp. “Probably conjuring up a strategy right now. No way Jacklyn would let him go head first into battle.”

“Well, you know her more than we do. So carry on.”

“Speakin’ of which, I never got to ask how Jacklyn was like.” Big Mac mentioned.

Marianne smiled. “Oh, right.”

“Yeah, I’ve been wondering myself also. I mean, knowing is half the battle.” Maribelle admitted. “So how is she like?”

“Hmm, she’s your typical goody-good girl. That’s it.” Marianne put the mug down. “I mean, what else is there to say?”

“So…, does that mean you didn’t like her?” asked Big Mac.

“What, no!” she answered with sincerity. “We were good friends since the day we met. For that matter, where the hell did you get such an idea?”

He looked away for a moment. “From… past issues.”

“Clearly Ivan wasn’t too fond of meeting Fluttershy for the first time.”

“Grr…” he nearly blew his fuse as he faced Maribelle. But seeing her worried face made him think otherwise. “Eeyup.”

“I don’t blame you, man.” Marianne contemplated. “With the world we all live in, what else could he say?”

She could see Big Mac’s head hang low, her lips were quivering. “Uh, about Jacklyn-”

He immediately looked back at her. His face was telling her to continue. So, she picked up her mug and did as told. “She was also one of those girls that didn’t mind the stench of the muck we were digging out, knowing that one day it would all be gone.”

“Oh really.”

She took another gulp of the coffee. She pulled away, feeling the warm smoke that ascended from it. “But… deep down…,”

Jacklyn felt as if her eyes would pop out of their sockets, her shoulders tensing as her legs were shaking.

“You can’t be serious!” Ivan exclaimed after standing on his two feet.

“I’m dead serious.” Viktor confirmed.

He put his hands on his head. “No, you can’t be! Grrr, why even bother, I-I shouldn’t believe a soviet anyway!”

“If you want me to prove it, then I will!” Viktor then opened his laptop. “No propaganda, and all Ideologies aside.”

He squeezed his fists as hard as he could. “Show me.”

“Thank you very much.”

As he looked to his sides, Ivan noticed that Jacklyn was shaking. Lance on the other hand was facing the floor. Thus his battle to keep his own stress at bay only intensified. “Alright then.”

He immediately turned the laptop around so that it was looking at them. On the screen at that moment were brick colored buildings. “What do you see?”

“Buildings, duh! Do you think we’re that stupid?”

With a straight-face, he answered, “Probably.”

“Huh?”

He then pressed a few buttons on the screen. The screen faded into a crisp blue background. “You see that? Those red blotches are people, armed to the teeth to get you. They’ve been waiting out there for nearly six hours now, at this point, impatience is swelling up within them.”

“So do they expect us to-”

“They were hoping that you arrived at the embassy either in disguise or charging straight towards us.”

“But that doesn’t seem to be the case, Double F.” the woman called.

“You don’t think-”

“There’s a high chance, sir.” the woman confirmed with ease. “Which is why I’ve ordered my troops to prepare for an offensive.”

“You can’t be serious, up against-”

“We have no other choice, sir. Either this, or our key to Liberation’s gone.”

“The ALM knows how the treaty operates, so we can’t expect for the motherland to avenge us once we’re wiped out.” the guardswoman added. They were shocked at her sudden speech, her modesty adding to it.

“I agree,” Viktor said to break the conversation. “our past comrades suffered a brutal beating in the West American front, and fighting resistance forces was only half of the casualties. So I doubt this would be easy too.”

“So, what do you suggest we do?” Lance asked, looking back up.

“Sit back.”

“What?” he said ominously.

He snapped the tablet back on the laptop. “If we fire first, the US will assume that this is an act of war… This may be a red zone, but it’s still US territory. So we’ll wait until they attack.”

Ivan leaned against the wall, chuckling a bit. “Heh, a bit surprising. Honestly I was expecting more on the lines of World Revolution or something.”

Viktor too laughed a bit. “Well you shouldn’t listen to those commies on the streets then. Heh, always promoting hatred and cluelessness I tell you.”

But then his cheery attitude diminished to a tiring one. “Their words are useless now, all we want is to sit back and do what we can to manage you know.”

He crossed his arms. “Surprising.”

“Do you think we Soviets wanted war?” he continued. “No one knows who fired that nuclear missile back when it all began, the only thing we do know is that Berlin is nothing but ash because of it.”

“So what gave you the bright idea to betray your allies then?”

He turned to Jacklyn. It made him feel uneasy once he found that she was clutching onto her pants. “Um…, I’m sorry?”

“Oh boy.” Ivan mumbled.

She looked up with a determined glare, but her tone of speech was the complete opposite of determined. “They trusted you, and then you all steamrolled into their land like… like-”

“You worship the Princesses, don’t you?”

Her glare was gone in an instant. “Um… H-how did you-?”

“Just a guess, she’s still not over the Romanovs’ death. So it’s only natural that her words get passed on to her followers.”

Her anger was beginning to lose ground against her ease.

“Now, about the motherland betraying our allies…, I don’t know. That was the premier, the Red Army, and parliament’s idea back then. Do you think I know all the details?”

She looked down. “I was hoping that-”

“My grandfather died holding out against them in Bangalore.” said the guardswoman, leaning down to her. “But you don’t see me asking why?”

Jacklyn’s now sudden glare was something she can handle. “But-”

“Just let it go, Jackie. They’re the only ones who can get us out of course.”

At that point, she conceded seconds later. ”Alright then.”

The Guardswoman smiled.

“Good.” Viktor smiled too. “Moving on, I know a way for you to get away scot free.”

They immediately were struck with joy. “Ah, thanks sir. I was hoping that-”

“If you’re hoping for Washington State, then you’re wrong.”

“What?” they all asked in unison, the joy wearing off.

He sighed, “It’s impossible to head to the American Green zone now. The moment they get the word that the soviets approved of this, you’re done.”

They were disappointed at the news.

“Well, I’m guessing that someone recommended that you come to me for help.”

Ivan let his arms hand limp. “Well it’s about time you got to that.”

Viktor began showing off the card by tapping it against the desk. “Well I thought there was no need, but hey, your excited faces made me bring it up. Anyway, both CH on M and the SNE consult us for travel through the Green and Yellow zones. But Civilians like you two, and the merc, that’s a no-no.”

Jacklyn squeezed the cloth over her lap a bit more. “Just get to the Celestia damn point!”

Viktor smiled. “Certainly… I know of an alternative that will get you far away from the hunt.”

Ivan rolled his eyes. “The Central Union?”

“Right on point.” He said while making finger guns.

“Why not go to California or something?” asked Jacklyn doubtfully.

“If you haven’t noticed, every airport in the red and yellow zones are run by either the Military, or each respective faction. “ He sighed. “The Central Union is the only region that’s neutral in the conflict. Though, I don’t know for how long though.”

He stood up from his chair to stretch. “But, since they’re regulations will prevent them from fighting… outside their respective arenas, not to mention that RED hasn’t even set up shop in Mexico yet…, I doubt they’d be looking for you.”

“I guess you’re right.” Ivan said.

With a saddened look, Jacklyn too admitted, “No doubt about it.”

“So head to one of their Airbases, and hopefully you’ll get to the Main lands in no time.” He then lifted his hand out towards them. “Now…, do you trust me on this?”

Ivan leaned away from the wall. “You know, I have the power to light people on fire, freeze people, and control their free will. Combine that with the fact that the KGB wanted you people to hunt us down, don’t you realize that you’re disobeying orders?”

He laughed. “I’m not disobeying orders, sir. This is what they want.”

The three were left in shock. “What?”

“We already have subjects back in the motherland. And we already know the risks if we take you in.” he said. “That is why our Government wants you out of sight. Each faction is getting greedy by the second, so seeing you out of the way will surely make them give up. Not to mention that the Central Government is completely oblivious to this.”

Ivan sighed, then he grabbed onto his’. “Alright then.”

Viktor then shook his hand without hesitation. “That’s wonderful to hear. Now then…, let’s prepare to get you out of here.”

Viktor could see the disappointment in their faces.  Even before Ivan could say, “Go ahead.”

With pity, he picked up his walky-talky. “Это капитан Ельков…”

“Marianne, the men at the gate, they’re withdrawin’!” said Big Mac.

“The hell?” Marianne walked over to the blinds, confirming that he indeed was telling the truth. “Aw Shoot, don’t tell me… damn it.”

“What do we do now?” asked Big Mac.

“Nothing.” Maribelle added.

Marianne suddenly smiled slightly. “And why do you say that?”

“Because… we only came here to tell them, didn’t we?”

“Hmm, Exactly.”

“Do we go in now?” asked the woman.

“I suggest that you don’t.”

“Why not?”

“You know from whom you got the information right?”

“Of course sir, just checking.”

The guardswoman, and two others were holding onto their respective weapons.

“You know they’ll be firing the moment they find us here.” Lance said as he now held onto his sniper rifle.

“It’s the only choice we have.” said Viktor. ‘It’s a risk that you must take in order to get out of here without causing an even bigger problem.”

“Hmm, just checking.”

“Alright then.”

Meanwhile, the guardswoman was handing Jacklyn her shield and baton. “Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Hmm?” She immediately paid attention.

“Why do you fight for those two?”

She was confident enough to declare, “I believe in peace, Madame. Something that the princesses’ value more than we do.”

“So have you been to Equestria at some point?”

Her confidence dwindled, but through her weakness she managed to form a smile. “Um… no, but I hope I will, someday.”

While struggling to stay composed, she was able to catch her radiant smile. “Interesting, and hey, did you know that Viktor here also went to Equestria?”

She was beaming. “Really?”

“Mmm Hmm.”

“I’d rather not talk about it though.” he said solemnly. “Mostly because it’s confidential.”

Her excitement too, dwindled. “Oh.”

Then there was silence.

Viktor, again, broke the silence as he handed Ivan his weapon. “Hmmph, before we go, I suggest that once you leave, you head straight to Galveston. There you will find it easier travel to occupied Mexico.”

Ivan was checking for ammo. “How?”

Viktor laughed. “I said it was easy, wasn’t it?”

Ivan was dissuaded. “It’s going to take more than that to-Hey!”

Viktor took a hold of his hand, then an awkward staring contest was applied. “Now you see?”

Ivan slipped his hand away. “I do.”

Viktor sighed, but after a couple seconds, he smiled. “Anyway, I wish you all the best of luck... Hopefully, you’ll find better opportunity beyond these borders.”

Ivan sighed again, pulling back the charge. “Hopefully.”

“Good luck.” The guardswoman patted Jacklyn on the shoulder.

“Yeah.” she said with disappointment.

Viktor immediately opened the double doors.

“The target’s in sight! I repeat, the target’s in sight!”

“Shoot!” Marianne ran to the rifle.

“She ain’t lying, Marianne.” Big Mac said as his eyes narrowed. “I see him crystal clear.”

“That’s good.”

Big Mac took the rifle in his hooves.

“Just open fire, don’t worry about aiming!” she slightly opened the window.

“Eeyup!” He pulled back the charge.

“Now go!”

He nodded, ramming the barrel through the slim opening.

They heard glass shatter as they walked over the grand courtyard.

“Just keep walking.” Viktor mumbled to them.

Jacklyn hunched over. Looking through the top of his shield, she could see the barrel from where she stood.

“Marianne.” Maribelle whispered.

“Yeah?”

“I’m hearing movement outside.”

“What do you mean?” she walked to the door before looking through the peephole.

In that brief moment, Big Mac’s Irises turned to a shade of purple. All he could see was Ivan’s head fall perfectly in line with his sight.

Jacklyn stopped walking.

“Um, Madame, what’s the matter?” Viktor asked.

“Shoot.” Ivan muttered.

Knowing that they were inches behind them, she immediately grabbed onto his arm.

“Hey, what are you-Whoa!” he felt pulled to the side. His eyes would turn to pinpricks as he could see the window. He then witnessed the rifle fire one powerful shot towards him.

Twang!

The bullet clashing against her shield wasn’t loud enough to muffle the screech of pain coming from behind. She was nearly left in shambles as she witnessed Ivan fall back to the ground like a ragdoll. “Ivan!”

“God Bless America!” they'd hear.

Then a hailstorm of bullets were raining down on them. Viktor and his comrades immediately returned fire. Except the guardswoman; who was busy pulling Ivan back behind one of the two towers.

“Aarrgh! Damn it!” Big Mac muttered as a bullet deflected off his head, forcing him to fall back behind cover.

Bam!

“The hell?”

Slowly, Ivan opened his eyes to Jacklyn once again.

He’d mutter, “Huh, never heard them shout something like that.”

“Oh thank Celestia!” she shrieked, rubbing her head against his’. “Thank Celestia that you’re-!”

“Alright, Alright, Alright!” He pushed Jacklyn with caution. “Just let me get some space!”

“Sorry.” She said with discomfiture. As he was getting his weapon, she noticed that the guardswoman was looking down on her with a hint of vitriol. “Um…”

“I’ll let it slide.” She then looked back at the raining bullets behind her.

“Oh…” Jacklyn looked down to the asphalt. “Okay.”

Static!

“Варма, они с вами?”

“Да товарищ, они со мной!” the Guardswoman answered her walky-talky with one hand, and blind-fired her rifle around the towel with the other.

Ivan heard him let out a breath of relief. “Хорошо, теперь получить мальчика на линии, пожалуйста!”

“Да!” She then handed the walky-talky over to Ivan. “It’s for you!”

“Hello?” he called.

“You okay?” Viktor asked.

“Yeah, so…”

“That’s wonderful to hear! I knew that you’d be able to handle it!” He said with relief. “Anyway, we’re all pinned down! The enemy also has us surrounded from all sides!”

Ivan’s head rested against the tower’s concrete. “Grrr, damn, no doubt they’ll be bringing in the big guns later!”

“Not unless…” There was a brief pause. “Какие...? Черт возьми!”

“What? What?”

“The enemy was prepared for RED’s army also. They’re currently engaging the enemy throughout the city.”

“Damn it.” Ivan muttered. “Perfect timing, am I right?”

“I agree… Which is why, to quote Princess Leia, you’re our only hope.”

“Who the hell’s Princess Leia?”

“You don’t know who’s… Forget it, forget it, anyway…,”

The scout held onto his bloody wound, feeling as if his bowels wanted to fall out like water from a dam. Once on the floor, he tumbled down the stairs. The last thing he saw was the little perpetrator wipe away the stains from her sword with a handkerchief.

“Hey what happened? Answer me!” said someone through one of the corpses’ walky-talkies.

On the other side, Thomas shook in fear. “C’mon guys, answer me!”

He used the computer to gain access to the surveillance cameras in the apartment. He then found the corpses of said scouts that lined the hallway. “God damn it!”

He saw the little blond girl walk up to one of the bodies, and rummage through it.  His hands curled into a fist. “That little…, that little-”

“Hey Thomas?”

His eyes widened, as he did his best to hold back his scream.

“You better go running to your mommy, or else she won’t hear your cries for help.”

His mouth was agape as he witnessed her drop the walky-talky. Then he saw her take out a pistol and point it at him. With the flash, he immediately flinched. He then lowered his arms to find the screen in front of him full of static. With a mixture of despair and dismay, he sat down on his chair to take a breather.

The other men in the command room were visibly in panic. But one of them was able to overcome it, just to tell him, “We’ll take it from here, sir. Y-You may leave.”

He looked down shame, so it would take the help of a guard in order to leave the command room. Upon exiting, he simply ignored the door closing behind him. He’d mumble. “Idiot.”

“Mister Wesley, your wife is on the line.”

He was rubbing her eyes. “Grrr, alright, put her on.”

He later entered an office reserved for him. Once he entered, a hologram appeared with Alice herself being projected. “Thomas?”

“Yes sweetie,”

“Wh-”

“First off, shouldn’t you be in bed?” Thomas said with haste and assertiveness. “I mean that jab was pretty serious and-”

“Don’t worry, I’m not letting a hit like that get me down.”

He smiled admirably. “That’s nice, so what about the others.”

“We’re all back at HQ and doing fine. We managed to actually capture some of the local resistance fighters and are taking them into custody.”

He held onto both his hands. “Heh, still pretty impressive of you despite your injuries.”

“Thanks sweetie.”

“So why you’re calling?”

With a shrug and gentle touch of the cheek, she answered, “Just wanted to call, see if you were alright.”

“Oh…, okay.” Despite their distance, they still gazed into each other’s eyes. And all they could hope was that one of them would break the…

“Uh, sir.” the advisor suggested, “We’ve been assigned to help garrison the building.”

“Oh.” He shook his head to shake off the euphoria. “Sorry ma’am. Okay, goodbye sweetie!”

Alice laughed gleefully. “Goodbye!”

And then the hologram shut off. But all Thomas could do was sigh.

“Is everything all right, sir?” the advisor asked.

“Yes sir.” He smiled awkwardly.

But she managed to see through the mask. “I suggest that you put your worries to the side for now, Thomas.”

“Right.” He nodded without a change in demeanor. Until the sirens began sounding off. “What the hell?”

Alice, quickly held onto her breast, the sting finally collapsing onto her arm.

“Madame, I told you that this wasn’t a good idea.” said the medic beside her.

“At least the wound’s healing, right?”

“Uh…” He was now scratching the back of his head. “Right.”

Then they heard the door open. “Missus Wesley, the children have woken up.”

Alice didn’t even glance at the person advising her. “Got it, I’ll be there in a sec.”

“Yes ma’am.” He bowed his head slightly before going away.

She rested her hand against the wall, still clutching onto her breast.

“You okay ma’am.”

“Yeah, now let’s go.”

“Mmm Hmm.” the medic nodded.

The three had exited the room to investigate the scene.

"Maribelle, who were you talking to?" asked Marianne.

"Thomas." she answered directly.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, but he's probably cowering in a corner somewhere." she said cockily.

"No doubt about it." Marianne laughed.

Then in the midst of the newly formed silence, Maribelle peeked down the stairs for a bit before saying, “Guys, we have to go!”

“Why?” Big Mac asked, nauseous at the bodies beneath him.

“More reinforcements will be arriving, and in droves too.”

“I agree.” Marianne said, looking down at the bodies. “Fighting these guys will only serve as an advantage for the enemy.”

However, Big Mac had to object. “But won’t we be able to keep the enemy at…”

“The Soviets may be outnumbered, but they’re not outclassed.” Maribelle interrupted swiftly.

“But Maribelle, even standing here will let him get away! We shouldn’t-” He stopped mid-sentence and stomped his hoof against the floor in frustration. Then he was galloping back inside.

“Big Mac, get back here!” She was ignored. “Big Mac!”

Marianne would catch her once she began to charge towards the door.

“Grrr, hey! Let go of me!” She kicked and squirmed too, but the only answer she got was Marianne shaking her head. “Grrr…! C’mon Big Mac, we have to get out of here! They’ll have us surrounded, and we won’t be able to… to… You know already!”

He was unwilling to give up, he kept searching for Ivan and put up with the bullets heading his way. His irises were that shade of purple again as he lined up the sight. “C’mon, C’mon… what the hell?”

The courtyard was opening up like a door of an ancient tomb.

“Please Big Mac, we can’t stay here!”

Exiting the darkness coming from that opening like an ATV, was an armored vehicle. “It can’t be.”

The cannon fired one round at point blank.

BOOM!

“Aaargh!”

“Big Mac!” Maribelle screamed. She chose to kick the startled Marianne as hard as she could and succeeded.

“Umph, hey, Maribelle!” Unfazed, she went after her, but stopped once in front.

“C’mon Big Mac, wake up!” she screamed as she shook the unconscious Big Mac.

“Shoot.” Marianne ran inside.

“Please, please, Big Mac! Wake-!” She felt Marianne’s hand on her shoulder, so she turned around to reveal her teary and distraught face.

“Step aside.” She ordered directly.

And she did, watching Marianne grab ahold of Big Mac’s foreleg and let it rest over her shoulder. “C’mon, let’s go!”

Maribelle eyes shut closed after she heard a loud punch above her, looking up to find a hole in the wall with countless cracks connected to it. It gave her more reason to leave the place.

“Damn!” Ivan muttered. He could see an explosion in each building past the front gate. “Impressive!”

“The BMP-Four,” Viktor informed. “One of our Empire’s finest, just recently it fired a multi-burst round of five heat-seeking cannon shells from its-”

He rolled his eyes. “Can you just get the next step?”

“Ugh, fine.” Viktor sighed. “We just got permission from the mayoral command to exit embassy grounds. Once we’re out, you’re hiding from sight. We don’t want RED to know that you’re with us.”

“Got it!”

“Alright, now get going!”

“Yes! C’mon you guys!” Ivan immediately ran to the BMP, and so did the others.

“Attention, we’re evacuating from the area, it’s too dangerous!” Marianne called, managing with Big Mac on her back. “Hello?”

She hung up. “Damn, that bad, huh?”

Then she got another message from her walky-talky. “Marianne, attack on the University is already in progress.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Perfect, remember the strategy.”

“As always.”

“Grrr, that came out of nowhere.” The woman said with a hoarse voice, all while she struggled to pick herself up. She was already holding onto the doorway as she said this, before collapsing to the floor. “Well…, I only got… one shot at this.”

Next to her was a Rocket Launcher, and Old-Glory. Dimly, ignoring the countless bodies beside her, and the wounds that were plaguing her; she walked up to the massive opening that replaced the wall in front of her. All while placing Old-Glory over her like a cape.

“This is Double F, I heard an explosion, do you copy?” said the man on the radio. “Hello?”

Reaching the edge, she found a clear shot of the BMP. Despite collapsing again, she took aim. “Death… to the… to the Empire… God Bless… Amer-”

Sharp burns were being struck through her torso. Her strength was reduced to nothing, which lead to the unexpected.

BOOM!

The shooter hid behind the doorway as the debris flew. He then took another look into the room once nothing else could be heard. He then got out his walky-talky. “Капитан, это Шен. Здание ясно!”

“Отлично! Теперь отступать и перегруппироваться.”

“да товарищ капитан.”

Below on the first floor, Viktor was already aiming his rifle out the window as he put his walky-talky away.

“We got that out of the way, now what?” Ivan asked him.

“We head east.” Viktor said. “There are various national parks in that area, you’ll be offered more opportunity to hide from the authorities there.”

Ivan groaned. “Oh great, more traversing into the wild.”

“Well in a world like this, what other choice is there.” Lance commented as he checked his rifle for ammo.

“Fine.” Ivan sighed. “So since we’re going to that again, where are we now?”

He pointed at the mountains that struggled to hide behind the countless buildings. “Not that far away.”

“Oh good.”

“Are you sure?”

They turned to find Jacklyn staring back at them, visibly gripping onto her baton.

“Are you sure this will get us out of here?”

“Jackie…” Feeling Viktor’s hand on his shoulder, he stopped and let him speak.

“I-”

She felt a hand on her shoulder.

“That’s up to you, Madame.”

She found the guardswoman beside her, with that gentile smile of hers’. With that, she only nodded, and loosened the grip on her baton.

“Right.” Viktor said. Then he stood up and announced, “Ладно товарищи, мы идем на восток! Так что давайте выйти!”

The soldiers nodded, and followed him out of the building. Doing so, gave Ivan the opportunity to tell Jacklyn, “Hey Jackie, are you okay?”

She eased the stress by lowering her head onto her hand. “I’m fine, Ivan. I just needed to get it off my chest, that’s all.”

She then stood up, picking up the pace in her run. “Well, let’s get a move on.”

“Jackie, I-” Another hand touched his shoulder, this time it was Lance’s.

“We’ll discuss this once we get out of here.”

He nodded reluctantly. “Whatever you say dude.”

“Is there anything else you want to talk about, Ada?” asked Celestia.

She stopped in her tracks, and then started to tap her feet for a little moment. “Hmm, not really. We’re just yards away from your ride, you know. But since you brought that up, what do you want to talk about?”

Celestia briefly stared at her guards that were lined up on her left. The waves in the distant weren’t enough to distract her to what she was seeing. After a while, she leaned over to Ada. With a low voice, she said, “You see my guards?”

She turned to the golden armored ponies. “Yes I do.”

“You see their eyes?”

She could decipher their demeanor in an instant. “They’re scared, aren’t they?”

Celestia then turned to the soldiers on their right. Looking past their green uniforms to have a look at their eyes. “Your men and women look like soulless machines to them, don’t they?”

“It’s all a part of being in the army, Princess. We take away their laziness, but not their humanity.” she explained. “Don’t tell me you want to sugarcoat their-”

“No, no.” she interrupted quietly. “I’m just pointing out what my mares and stallions see in them, that’s all.”

“I guess the magic inside them wore off when the war broke out, huh?”

Celestia softly kicked the floor underneath her. “I can’t deny it, the war… no, both wars really taught me a lot. But that doesn’t mean my war is over.”

Ada smiled a bit. “That war’s lasted for more than a century, Celestia. I swear, you should’ve been over it by now. Not to mention your army looks as if it really needs an up-”

She looked back at her sleek golden chariot with determination. “I won’t be, I will only be happy once they dissolve.”

“Even if your sister comes back?” she asked.

Celestia was quiet, unwilling to answer. Instead, she trotted down the rows. But she then felt her foreleg be stopped by a hand. She could hear the guards from both sides be up in arms.

“Princess, it’s okay.” she said calmly. “It’s not a question you should answer now, anyway.”

Celestia sighed. “Oh, I understand.”

She took the opportunity to free herself once the President’s grip loosened. “See you next time then.”

“Alright.” she said with a wave.

With a little smile, she turned away and headed for the chariot. Once she was on the armored ponies carrying it took off into the air, along with the rest of the guard. Ada then looked out into the sea, finding the Equestrian battleships lining in front of them. Each of them bearing the iconic sun above the moon on the hull.

“Madame President, we have to go.” advised one of the secret servicemen.

“Alright then.” she gave one brief look at the departing chariot before walking in the other direction. She’d mumble, “After all, we sacrifice in war, don’t we?”

“What was that, Madame?”

She turned to her subordinate to give off a sheepish laugh. “Oh nothing.”

The agents looked at each other for a bit before shrugging it off.

In the air, Celestia looked down upon the massive aircraft carrier. Seeing its fighter jets spread across the top deck. The smile faltered when she saw them, it broke even more when the ships the humans possessed were looming into her sight.

“Is something the matter, your majesty?” asked one of the guards carrying the chariot.

She sighed. “Humans are a real marvel when you get to know them more, you know.”

The guard felt as if his wings were numbing. “Um… Well, I certainly don’t see it. They’re lucky that we…”

Her warm smile was being put together again. “It’s okay to admit it my little pony.”

“Yeah.”

The guard beside him acknowledged that he was no longer going to speak. So he decided to ask his own question. “Princess, aren’t you a tad bit worried about the power the human race possesses? We already know what they’d do to achieve more. Not to mention outnumber us popu-”

Her warm smile remained despite that question. “Not to sound rude, but didn’t your teacher taught you that humans are no different from us?”

He was blushing, giving a little chuckle alongside it. “Heh, right. But that doesn’t answer my question!”

“Well you won’t be getting one!” she said with wit.

The two guards fell silent at this, and chose to stay like that since their values are too precious to lose.

Alice walked down the hallway, clutching onto her tablet. When she entered the hallway adjacent to it, she noticed someone familiar in a bright red suit. She immediately picked up speed to confront him.

Surprised, she’d ask him, “Redmond! What are you doing here?”

“Morning Alice.” Redmond greeted with a lift of the hand. “I came here to see in the interrogation of these little children. It’s surprising that you were able to capture those kids with ease. And with grave injuries too.”

“Hmm,” Flattered, she answered with a hand resting under her chin, “That’s just how I roll.”

His mood didn’t lighten up though. “Also, I had a talk with the rest of the High Command about the ALM. We’ve agreed that they might be aiding the fugitives in one way or another.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You serious?”

“Well, you found him with the local resistance.”

She scratched the back of her head. “And the ALM trains resistance-”

“Missus Wesley.” a guard called for after exiting the room, “He’s ready.”

She nodded. "Okay.”

“You know what to do, right?” Redmond asked concernedly.

“Of course, Redmond.” she said, masking her frown with a determined look. “Also his hands are restrained to the table anyway, so there’s no worry.”

“Got it.”

With a smile, she calmly entered the bright room and closed the door behind her.

“The city was abandoned years ago, so don’t pull off the excuse that you were caught in the crossfire.” Alice told him once her hand left the knob, but got no response. When she leaned forward, she noticed the tiny pool of tears on the table. She then placed her hand over her other hand. “Listen, if you help me, I’ll let you go. You and your friends will no longer stay in a place like that, okay?”

The boy still didn’t answer.

“Just trust me, we’ll make sure your life isn’t a living hell. So what do you say?”

The boy still didn’t answer, but made a slow but unwilling nod instead.

She smiled before giving him a pat on the head. “Alrighty then.”

He took out a small photo from her pocket, which depicted a young adult with his hands in the air. The little boy slowly raised his head in the air to take a good look at it.

“Was he with you?” she asked directly.

The little boy didn’t say a word, which got her to repeat the question. But even then, he wasn’t answering. She rested her head over her hand. Then she stuck into her pocket to take out a blue armband, before placing it on the table. She flipped it over to reveal the red cog underneath the white bird. “At least you should be familiar with this, aren’t you?”

The little boy turned his hands into fists. This put Alice on guard immediately. Then there was a knock on the door.

“Alice, C-Thirty’s coming in.” Redmond announced via speaker.

“Alright then.”

The door opened. The moment the boy saw the small silhouette of a girl and the sword, was the moment he began to pull back hopelessly and desperately.

“Shoot. That’s not going to work.” Redmond concluded. “Olivia, get-”

“Calm down kid!” Olivia said after slamming the door behind her and storming towards the frightened boy. “I’m not gonna slit your throat or anything!”

The boy didn’t listen, desperately trying to pry his hands from the chains attached to the table. But immediately stopped when he heard the loud shank coming from her sword sliding out of its sheath.

“Listen kid, we need your help!” she yelled. “This lady told you that if you cooperate, you’d be let go! So quit your squirming and tell us what we need to know!”

Alice was unable to fathom what was happening. “Uh… Olivia….”

She slammed the blunt part of the blade against the table. “So tell us, where the hell-!”

“Olivia!” Alice shouted.

“Yeah?”

“He’s passed out.” she revealed.

Blushing, she had to ask, “H-How?”

“The moment you took out your sword.” Alice lifted the boys head. “Your sword skills back at the front practically broke him.”

Olivia looked rather disappointed. “Of course it did. When we found him, do you really think that he’s going to fight back after seeing his friend’s chest punctured?”

She sighed. “Of course not.”

They were quiet for a bit before Alice contacted Redmond via the speaker on the wall. “Redmond, what now?”

“Tell Olivia to report back to my office!” Redmond ordered. “I wanna have a little word with her!”

“Hmm, as you wish sir.” she leaned away to find Olivia staring at the unconscious body. She could tell by the way she held tightly at the hilt how she felt.

“Alice,” she was able to say. “Do you ever wonder what makes me different from them?”

Alice was silent, crossing her arms as she walked to the wall across from where she stood. There, she pressed a button that let the boy’s hands free. “Sometimes, why ask?”

“Because…,” she softly spun the sword around by twisting the pommel with her hands. “It pains me to do so myself.”

“And do you know why?”

She stopped spinning her sword and put it away in its sheath.

Alice then decided to take a guess. “Is unintentionally knocking out the suspect one of them?”

She stretched her little arms before dusting off whatever there was to dust on her dress. “Something along those lines.”

Bullets and green bolts were countlessly rushing towards the busted personnel carriers and trees that lined passed the wall the men and woman in black were hiding behind.

“Danny, the resistance forces have taken the frat houses across the street!” informed one of them after running up to his superior.

“Hmm, that should even the score!” he said optimistically.

“So what now?”

He looked up at the countless bullets and bolts flying above them. “We take the building’s here of course! But it won’t be easy until the cavalry arrives.”

“Do you think they’ll make it in time?” the subordinate asked with a hint of panic. “I mean, the pony was knocked out by the commies’…!”

“Don’t worry, the three of them can manage on their own!”

“You think so?”  asked the subordinate.

“Obviously!” The two looked to the direction where the voice came from. In front of them, was Marianne, her legs shaking as she struggled to place Big Mac on the sidewalk. “Hey guys, little help?”

Both of them ran up to her, and did as suggested.

“Please do something!” Maribelle begged as they placed him down. Her hands clutching each other as tears were struggling to leave her eyes.

“Well what do you think we’ll do?” Marianne chuckled as he took out a syringe.

“Uh…” she could only step back as he looked down to the ground with embarrassment. Then gestured for them to proceed.

The needle pierced through the skin with ease before the vaccine was gushed in. “Don’t worry Maribelle, Haystack’s not going anywhere.”

Marianne’s assertion made her less tense.

“He’s just… just…” The last of the vaccine had entered his bloodstream. “I don’t know to be honest.”

He was racing down the massive trail, ignoring the mud that was pressing into his hooves. Even the warm rain falling onto his fur. The trail felt endless to him, but he didn’t care. It wasn’t going to stop him. His tears were mixing in perfectly with the rain, but again, it didn’t matter to him. He could see Maribelle several miles in front of him, but he ran past her nonetheless. When he reached her, he could see her gripping onto the hilt of her katana.

Then he felt a sharp sting sear into his leg. There was no use in screaming.

His eyes shot open, and he let out a heavy gasp. The brightness that he first saw soon faded out to find Marianne and one of her subordinates looking onto him. “Umph!”

He looked down to find Maribelle hugging him as tightly as possible. He could feel the tears fall into his fur. “Ah, hey!”

The two knocks on his head came from Marianne. It was obvious that she wasn’t too happy. “God damn it, man! We told you not to go back!”

He didn’t need to look at Maribelle’s face to see her worry. Instead, he chose to rest his head over her pretty little head. “Yep.”

Marianne let half her hand touch half her face, then raised her voice as she faced the others. “Let’s just take the buildings for the resistance and keep searching, got it?”

“Yes sir!” the subordinates chanted. While Big Mac nodded.

He felt Maribelle pull away. He looked down to find her rubbing her tears from her eyes. “You okay?”

“Mmm Hmm.” She nodded, putting on a little smile as well. “Now let’s go kick ass.”

He smiled also. “Yep!”

Marianne was checking her revolvers for ammo when she heard their conversation. A little hint of heartbreak could be felt within her.

The entire platoon kept running for minutes on end. The three lane street was purely empty, devoid of cars, civilians, etc.

“Товарищ младший сержант, вы найдете что-нибудь?” Viktor shouted to the soldier on the ring mount of the vehicle.

The soldier was looking through the binoculars for a little while more before pulling away. “Нет, товарищ капитан! Ничего вообще!”

Viktor leaned his head back a bit. “Хм, это облегчение!”

“Looks like we’ll be out of here in no time!” Lance declared a bit leisurely.

“Good.” Ivan said with a deadpanned expression. “Because someone here going to hyperventilate or something if we keep going.”

He eyed the profusely panting Jacklyn, who had an arm wrapped over his shoulder. “S-Sorry! Sorry.”

“Don’t get too excited my friends!” Viktor butted in. “We were given permission to leave the area, not to leave town! Which is why-”

He lifted a hand in the air. “Стоп!”

Every soldier beside them stopped jogging. Gripping tightly onto their rifles, they stood like soldiers in a parade.

Ivan and the others were in no doubt shocked. But one of them was in denial.

“Wh-What are you doing?” asked Lance.

“This is as far as we can take you.” Viktor told them. “Go any further and each faction will consider this a cause for concern.”

He grabbed onto his shoulder. “But aren’t there any loopholes or something you can work with?”

Viktor slapped his hand away. “Listen my friend! Those have been our orders since the first day the Treaty was put into effect! Not to mention that hiding the two of you is already a crime here in the states!”

He turned away to kick the asphalt. “You can’t be serious!”

He knelt down in anguish, later feeling Viktor’s hand on his shoulder. “It’s going to be all right, sir. Just have faith in these young ones, and you’ll be all right.”

Lance looked at the two, who in turn looked back at him with worried eyes. “But what if they’re incompetent little-!”

“Only if you are incompetent as them!”

Lance found that the guardswoman was the one who said that. He knew she meant every word she said.

“Um…” Ivan uttered before finally being able to say, “So what do you say then?”

Lance looked back down onto the asphalt. His eyes rested a bit before standing up.

“And can we be the final say?”

They all searched aimlessly for whoever said that. All the while managing to find a massive platoon of red coated soldiers surround them from all sides.

“Damn it.” Viktor muttered.

“Umph! Ow!” Ivan screamed, rubbing the back of his neck afterwards. “The Hell?”

He turned his head around, seeing that a man in a red tuxedo was pointing a gun at him. With his arms trembling, he too would ask, “What the hell?”

Tack! Tack!

On the ground in between them was a tranquilizer dart.

“Impossible!” the man uttered fearfully. “It should’ve… don’t tell me it… it-”

“State your name, sir!” Viktor called onto him.

Despite the quaking of his arms, and seeing that Viktor’s rifle was pointing directly at him, he aimed for him nonetheless.

“Shoot me and I’ll cut the snake’s head clean off!” he threatened, and seeing that he received no response from said threat, he went on to say, “Now state your name!”

He took a large gulp as he put the gun at his side. “Thomas Wesley, sir.”

Ivan immediately recognized that name. “Hey, aren’t you Alice’s f-”

“No, we’re not!” he yelled back to him. “I’ve been married to-!”

He lifted an eyebrow at his reaction. “I was going to say if you were her familiar.”

“Oh…” but the embarrassment turned to question, “Hey, what do familiars have to do with-!”

Ivan groaned. “Familiars, apprentice, I don’t know, same thing! Must be the Pizazzium or something.”

“Ugh.” Thomas sighed too. “Anyway, what the hell are you doing with the Soviets?”

Ivan was about to speak, but Viktor had it covered. “Haven’t you heard, Mister Wesley? Under Article Fifteen, Corporations and Nations shall not intervene in the affairs of each other unless it is to assist with aid or special projects.”

He immediately grew spiteful at that statement. “That’s why I want you to hand him over to me!”

“And if we were to decline?” He composedly suggested.

“Urm…,” He was ready to point the gun back at Ivan, resisting the fear that burdened him.

Deadpanned, Viktor would respond with, “You’re not going to get far once you have it pointed at his face right?”

“Well sir, we got a war to end! And everyone has their reason for wanting that day to come.” he said callously.

“Ugh,” Viktor took out a smartphone, and played a recording.

”If we kill you, all the GABE affected DNA might go with it also. Lose that, and this war will keep dragging on.”

He wanted to deny the information right there, but the voice was too much for him to ignore. He lowered the gun, planting his face over his head. “What are your demands?”

“How do I know this? The Starfox commandos we combatted were brought in. We investigated them and figured out that all of it was gone… You may be an interesting subject, but that doesn’t mean we’ll be taking risks.”

“I see. So why not use the GABE that’s lying around?”

“They’re called gene altering body enhancers for a reason, Ivan.” she groaned. “You drank possibly one of the most powerful that were ever created, and withstood! Those poor people drank far more just to lose it all!”

“Hmm, never knew that.” Disappointed, Thomas leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

Ivan was in shock. “You mean she never told you?”

He laughed a bit. “Well, do you think she’s going to talk after you stabbed her with a sword?”

“Ugh.” Ivan placed his head over the counter with a tired expression. “Touché.”

  He was bothered immediately. “Aren’t you a bit remorseful about that!”

“I am.” He admitted. “But, a somewhat wise guy told me that being a soldier is almost like being a doctor in a way. You know what doctors shouldn’t do with their patients, Wesley?”

It was a coincidence to everyone hearing this that they too were in a hospital. They all looked around to find several nurses tending to the recently wounded. Some with wounds that threatened their lives more than the other wounded person. Acknowledging the atmosphere, he only clenched his fit.

“Not to mention that I barely even know you.” Ivan added. “If I recall correctly, you were some sort of… eh… bargaining chip, to the local resistance or something”

He leaned away from the counter with his eyes widened. “Shoot!”

Thomas was facing the carpet floor. “Well, looks like you do remember then.”

Ivan sighed, ignoring the confused people around him. “I guess I do. So My, My, My. You’re now an official worker for RED now. Impressive.”

Thomas scratched the back of his head, blushing. “Well, I guess crossing paths wasn’t on my ‘to do’ list. So what have you been doing?”

“Eh, Nothing much.” Ivan said casually, but warily. “I’ve been ratted out by your rivals, and now I’m on the run.”

“Hmm.”

Everyone else was waiting for something else to be said. So, Thomas would be the one to take initiative. “So where do you plan on going?”

“That’s none of your business.” Ivan answered straightforwardly.

Thomas was disappointed to hear this. “I see. So why don’t you want to cooperate?”

“If you can see clearly,” he began while gesturing to Jacklyn and Lance; who were sitting right next to him. “I got some people to take with.”

He understood easily as to where they come from. “Makes sense, but you do realize that you either make it or lose it all, right?”

Ivan laughed a bit. “Dude, there’s hardly anything to lose in this world. When you die, you die. That’s about it.”

Thomas frowned. “Well, I’m sure everyone here’s likely going to disagree to that statement, but I won’t force it on you.”

He could see that the girl next to him was upset by that statement, but nonetheless she still had her body close to Ivan’s. It even looked as if she wanted to lean her head a bit closer too. This saddened him to ask. “But don’t you want this war to end? With your powers, we can finally put this war to end! You don’t have to die in research, you can just sign up with us and…!”

“The boy’s friends here will be executed if he surrenders!” Viktor called out to him. “Article Ten, All deserters, civilians, criminals, etc who leave their respective zone and/or post without consent of their superior or superiors will be given the death penalty for violating said code.”

He was once again looking down at the carpet floor. “Oh…, right. You seem to know the treaty fairly well there.”

“That’s why we’re not going back there!” exclaimed Jacklyn.

He lifted his head back up to find that the girl was who said that.

Jacklyn then went on to say, “I don’t regret ever leaving Chicago, sir. That place was nothing but a crap-hole from beginning to end!”

“And I don’t regret leaving my post either!” said Lance. Then Thomas quickly paid attention to him. “Your organization sent me to die, ‘cept that’s not going to happen ya hear?”

Thomas let out a small grunt. “You know we’ll come after you, right?”

“Obviously!” Lance said. “And if you do-!”

He smiled. “The first place we’ll check is the Central Union?”

The trio’s confidence quickly drained out their hearts as they stood still. It was enough to blow their cover.

Emitting a death stare from his face, Viktor would ask, “And what makes you believe-”

“Their neutrality in the conflict is slowly fading ever since their war with Mexico ended in victory for them.” Thomas explained with malice. “Once we set up shop there, we’ll be conducting full on investigations to find you three.”

“Of course.” Ivan mumbled.

“And you might be thinking, won’t BLU be high on our tail?” He briefly glanced at the war poster beside him, depicting nurses and medics, stand proudly in a line. ”Well, with Alice’s diplomacy, that doesn’t seem likely. So, say your prayers buddy.”

“That won’t happen!” Viktor proclaimed.

“Don’t you get it, you commie twat!” Lance shouted. “These bastards virtually have us surrounded! We can’t go anywhere without them waiting outside our door and-!”

“Sir!” Everyone in the area quickly jumped at his sudden shout. It left the place silent for a while as Viktor turned to look at the three with a straight face. “You have to trust me!”

Ivan glanced down a bit, and he noticed that Viktor’s left hand was pointing downwards as he banged it against his leg.

“You have to believe in yourselves!” He added. “You’re never going to get far if you keep doubting yourselves like that!”

This got Ivan to smile a bit. Jacklyn on the other hand, held softly onto her chest to take a deep breath. Lance wasn’t any better since he only rolled his eyes at the statement.

Because of this, Thomas was forced to loosen the act with a fatigued groan. “Ugh, look…, all I want is this war to end. Everyone wants this war to end!”

Again, it was all a near deafening silence.

“Earlier, you just said that there’s hardly anything to lose in this world.” He stated. “But, since you have nothing to lose, then you have a lot to gain.”

Ivan was still glaring at him.

“Do you want a world where your mother doesn’t have to mourn her friend’s death all the time?”

It felt as if his heart was wanting to stop. But, holding his fists firmly quickly got him to regain his composure. “Who the hell is she, anyway?”

Thomas was surprised at this statement. But not as surprised as Jacklyn. Although extremely hesitant, she attempted to reach for his hands. At the same time she had to manage with not wanting to cry right then and there.

“Товарищ капитан!” one Soviet called out as he entered the hallway.

Viktor turned to face the worried soldier. “Да, что это товарищ сержант?”

BOOM!

The floor was shaking, making everyone in the area nearly lose their balance. The sirens were blaring in every direction. A nurse nearby quickly picked up the wounded soldier she was tending too and hauled him out of the area. The others did the same with one thing in common: panic.

“Дерьмо!” Viktor muttered in annoyance. Then turned his attention to his troops. “Ладно, товарищи, давайте проводить линию!”

“Да!” they shouted.

“C’mon you three, get going!” Viktor ordered after facing the three. “If you get out of here in time, they won’t be able to look for you!”

  Thomas leaned away from the wall and grabbed the tranquilizer gun on his holster. Then he felt his jaw be battered by someone’s foot. Then he witnessed his sight go black and his body go numb.

Jacklyn’s legs were shaking as she saw blood and teeth plop out of his mouth. His body would slide through the wall before slumping onto the floor.

“Go!” Viktor yelled as he lowered his leg.

Jacklyn was unable to move.

“C’mon Jackie, there’s no use in wasting time!” So Ivan had to pitch in.

Although they were running down the hall, Jacklyn could get a last look of Thomas’s body. She could see Viktor shake his head at him before he ran in the opposite direction. He turned back to Ivan. Even though she was unable to see his face, she could see how he felt now.

They entered the elevator and watched it close as if nothing was happening.  Everyone leaned against their own side of the room.

Jacklyn looked back at Ivan, he was staring down at his feet with a cold glare. His fists weren’t fading away, so all she can do was tell him, “Ivan, you know your mom-”

“It doesn’t matter, Jackie!” he fiercely interrupted. “Understand?”

Jacklyn didn’t answer, but after a little hesitance, decided to lean away from her side. She walked towards him, and set a hand on his shoulder.

Slap!

She jumped back and hit the wall. Her eyes were quickly watering.

“Ivan, there’s no excuse for that!” Lance called out.

“Grrr!” He crossed his arms.

“Hmph!” Lance turned to Jacklyn. “Are you all right?”

Jacklyn just kept staring at Ivan with her gloomy expression. “Oh Ivan.”

Lance sighed once again. “What’s up with you two?”

The elevator opened up rather quickly to a skirmish happening on the left side. Ivan immediately focused his attention on that. “Damn, they must’ve surrounded the place!”

Lance chose to do the same. “That must be the case!”

Ivan smiled a bit after checking his rifle for ammo. “Well, let’s do the classic push!”

“Right!”

“C’mon Jackie, your shield will be useful!” He said as he looked back at the saddened Jacklyn.

She looked up to his confident face. She gripped her baton before nodding.

“Atta girl!” he said with a smile.

While running down the hall, Jacklyn still retained her gloom nonetheless. ”Please Ivan.”

She wiped the tear about to trickle from her eyes.

A loud scream snapped her from the gloom. To her left, he’d see a soldier lie on the floor with blood gushing from his stomach.

“Medic!” he screamed.

“I’m coming!” a woman in a long lab coat cried out, running through the bullet storm to reach him. But the bullets were too quick for her to run through.

“Clara!” one of the soldiers screamed in horror.

“Medic down! I repeat, Medic down!” another called.

Ivan sighed. “Ugh, Idiot.”

Thwap!

“Ow!” Ivan’s torso violently jerked back as he felt a bullet deflect off his chest. He managed to quickly change directions towards a nearby pillar. Only to crash against it like a clumsy schoolgirl. “Ow~.”

“You okay Ivan?” Jacklyn asked after placing her shield next to the pillar.

“Grrr, I’m fi-!” He stopped the moment he saw her worried face. His temper immediately simmered down. “Hmm, I’m all right.”

She smiled tenderly. “I’m glad.”

Lance meanwhile, used the now extended shield to look through his scope. He pulled at the trigger to charge up. Outside he could see that the adversaries wore black coats and had weapons that were the same color. They used the trees and nearby vehicle wreckage as cover. But when he spotted a toll booth located far away. He noticed something peculiar, and that peculiar thing had a rifle pointed directly at him.

“Blimey!”

Kchrrrug!

He ducked down, and listened to the bullet whisking above him.

“What happened?” asked Ivan.

“You’re not going to believe this!” Lance cried out while lowering the rifle.

“What, what?”

He began to explain.

Big Mac was near shaken as he curled up into a little ball. However, he did muster up the courage to look up and see where the bullet had hit. He didn’t need to look hard however, because he noticed that one of the support beams that held the roof above him was cut in two. Moreover, the stump was literally oozing smoke. His irises would reduce to tiny dots at the sight.

However, he shook his head and quickly lifted himself up to snipe down his targets. “Shoot!”

“I’ll say.” Maribelle, who was beside him, said with surprise.

“Grrr, I have to take that…!” Big Mac yelled. He attempted to lift himself back up. Only for Maribelle to stop him. “Huh?”

She shook her head. “Please, Big Mac. Not again.”

His mouth turned to a frown. So, she solemnly pat her head. “Of course not, sweetie.”

She wanted to cry again.

Static!

“Big Mac, Maribelle, this is Marianne!”

  With hesitance, he turned to his walky-talky. “What is it?”

“Ivan,” Lance asked concernedly. “What’s with those eyes?”

Ivan was completely still for a bit, but he shook his head and resumed his calm stance. “Nothing, nothing. Now let’s get going!”

Lance was easily annoyed. “Ivan, tell-”

By then, he was already vaulting over her shield like a hurdle.

“Ivan!” Jacklyn screamed but then muttered, “Damn it.”

Lance groaned. “Ugh, c’mon Jackie!”

“Right!” She closed the shield and followed along.

Ivan was already hiding under the long window along with the other soldiers.

“Aaargh!”

“Aay!!”

The two soldiers beside Ivan fell back with bloody holes on their helmets.

“Crap!” Ivan muttered, but his mood ascended a bit when he saw the dead soldier’s canteen slide over to him. “Oh good.”

He twisted off the cap and drank, his eyes widening at the flavor.

“Uh Ivan, is anything wrong?” asked Lance.

He pulled away from the drink. “If you don’t want to get drunk, then don’t drink this.”

Jacklyn looked away from the dead soldier upon hearing what he said.

“Then why are you drinking that then?” Lance asked suspiciously.

He then drank the last of the alcohol and tossed it aside. “You’ll see.”

“Ivan…” Jacklyn attempted to say.

“Now on the count of three, we go!”

Jacklyn gripped her baton as tightly as she could.

Lance let out a defeated outbreath. “Alright then.”

“Ready?” he said determinedly. “One,”

Lance switched to his Sub-Machine Gun.

“Two,”

Jacklyn too let out an outbreath, and focused on their next move.

“Three!” Ivan shouted, standing up with his rifle in hand.

“Hello Ivan.”

Marianne had her hand over her hip with a smug look on her face. Ivan slowly lowered his rifle as his face reddened. The shock was enough to completely ignore the fact that her men and women were already surrounding them from every angle.

Marianne then lost the smile to talk business. “Been a while since the Den, huh?”

He was looking at her radiant purple coat, the feeling of not being able to look at her being too heavy to lift. Through his peripherals however, he could see another familiar face trot past the men and women in black. Then to reunite with them within their circle.

Big Mac could see the casual stare he had.

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

Marianne nodded slightly. Then she held onto each hand to say the following. “Please Ivan, I don’t want any trouble. Just surrender, and we’ll get this ordeal over with, okay?”

She could see the tight grip he had on that rifle. Ivan on the other hand, could see her grip on her revolver. “I can’t.”

Marianne shut her eyes and took in a deep breath. “Why not?”

Concerned, he’d bring up, “You know she can hear you, right?”

Marianne leaned to the right. There, she found Jacklyn, who was near shaken as she took up a defensive stance. Marianne then lifted her free hand and let out a little wave. “Hey Jackie, come here!”

Despite the heavy shade that enveloped her, she could still see that she was shaking her head hastily. Marianne groaned. “Ugh, I’m not going to bite!”

Jacklyn took two steps back. This provoked Marianne to head into plan C.

Ivan decided to help. “Jackie-”

She lifted her hand again and snapped her fingers together. In seconds, both Jacklyn and Lance were now standing beside them. Ivan could feel two of her subordinates standing right behind him.

“Damn it.” Ivan muttered.

“Don’t shoot, okay?” Marianne suggested, and her subordinates complied.

Jacklyn was looking down onto the grass. Tears were once again falling from her eyes. Marianne could see this.

“Can you put the baton away for now?”

She ignored her.

Instead of repeating the same thing, Marianne gently reached for it.

Whack!

“Ow!” She flinched her hand back, and tried to shake off the sting. “Damn it, Jackie!”

Marianne yelled, still waving her hand. “I’m not going t-Grrr!”

“You okay, Marianne?” Big Mac asked, laying a hoof on her back.

“Yeah,” she grunted, “Felt as if it was going to break though.”

“Whoa, Jackie, what are you…”

Big Mac looked back to the trio, finding that Jacklyn had already stood in front of Ivan. She still retained her defensive stance. He decided to take his turn. “Ma’am, please. We’re not going to hurt you.”

She kept still nonetheless. Big Mac was easily offset because of this.

Meanwhile, Marianne took a deep breath before beginning. “Fine, fine. Anyway, it’s best that we just get it over with.”

Jacklyn’s froze up in panic. “Uh…”

“Men?”

“G’ah!” Ivan could feel two barrels poke him at the throat.

Jacklyn quickly turned her head towards him. “Ivan!”

With a saddened frown, she lifted her hand.

“Marianne!” Big Mac shouted.

She was visibly irritated. “What!”

Ivan, Jacklyn, as well as the others were taken aback.

Although he could feel his legs shutter, he managed to say, “Can I… Can I talk to him?”

Her angry eyes were fading slowly. In defeat, she let out another deep breath. Her hand didn’t fall down though. “Go ahead.”

“Thanks.” Big Mac said politely. Then, without hesitating, he looked towards him. “Hmm, it’s been a long while since we talked.”

“Actually, it’s only been four days.”

His calm attitude quickly changed for a frustrated one. “Grrr! Can’t you just be glad that we finally got to talk?”

Ivan sighed. “Ugh, just get to the point!”

“Well…,”

“No, you know what, I’ll get to the point!” he interrupted cruelly. “What the hell happened? Weren’t you supposed to be at home by now?”

Big Mac was quickly on the defensive. However, not in the aggressive manner, “I… I have something I need to do!”

“Hmm, is that it?”

Big Mac kicked the ground back and forth.

Ivan raised his voice. “I said, is that it?”

“Um….” He felt a hand touch his mane. Then he felt Maribelle whisper in her ear. “Just say it. It’ll be alright.”

“Huh, you’re such a doormat! You know that?”

He ground his hooves against the grass. “Don’t mess with me, Ivan!”

Ivan rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t if you hadn’t tried to shoot me dead!”

Big Mac grit his teeth. “But…, back at the prison cell…, you told me-”

“Ugh.” Ivan closed his eyes a bit. “You don’t see who’s in front of me?”

Big Mac could see Jacklyn’s widened eyes look down on him. Her pupils were dilating as her body shook. Looking at it further only made his eyes water. He immediately turned to the grass. “I see. So you too-”

“Have something to do? Yes.” Ivan finished.

“Hmm, well then.” He formed a smile. “Looks like I’m the one who beat you to it then.”

Ivan kept standing still. “Yes, yes you did.”

“I’m-”

Ivan opened his eyes upon hearing his sniffles.

“I’m sorry this had to end this way though.”

“Don’t be.” he reminded him.

He wiped the tear from his eyes, smiling a bit. While simultaneously feeling his mane being petted by Maribelle’s hand. “Hmm…, alright Marianne. Let’s get this over with.”

Jacklyn shuttered under her shield, her eyes were closing as they watered.

“The Typical two, huh?” Marianne nodded before lifting her hand up even further. “Alright boys, aim!”

Ivan looked down upon Jacklyn. He could see her tremble, but he had to look lower than her head.

“And…”

He immediately eyed Marianne to shout. “Actually, Wait! Marianne!”

Her eyes opened, and her hand stopped moving. “What is it now?”

His cheeks reddened at Marianne’s saddened face. “Uh…”

“Speak up or I’ll shoot anyway!” she advised him coldly.

“Um, Okay.” After a few blinks, he was back to his composure. “Marianne,”

Will could hear the rain descend outside as he walked up the stairs. It seemed a bit fitting for him.

“Will, was it?”

“Yes Ivan?” He asked.

He seemed reluctant to ask, but he could see that his courage was being mustered up. “When you said that you were from Montreal yesterday…, how were you able to leave?”

With open arms, he answered, “Oh, simple. I took a flight to the American Green Zone and snuck my way in here.”

“Oh…, and were you being chased by the Government?”

He shook his head. “Well, yeah. But, there was a secret program that helped the drafted leave the country. And that’s my story.”

Ivan was nodding. “Okay then.”

Will was already up on the second floor when he asked himself. “Why would he ask that?”

Marianne was shaking, her eyes nearly cold and dead. She was breathing heavily as she struggled to maintain her balance.

“So, what’s the meaning of that?” Ivan asked.

Marianne didn’t answer, instead she felt her arm losing strength with every second.

“Marianne, are you okay?” asked Big Mac.

Ivan closed his eyes. “I’m sorry, Marianne.”

He lunged his hand at Jacklyn’s belt. Then proceeded to duck.

On the verge of tears, Marianne quickly swung her hand. “Fire!”

Rat-at-at-at-at!

“Aaargh!”

“Umph!”

“Huh?” Upon hearing the unexpected voices, she looked up. Only to find that In the air now, was a smoke bomb.

BOOM! Next Chapter: Chapter 11 Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 58 Minutes