Blutarch walked down the hallway, his bodyguards staying close. The sunlight beaming from the windows to his right were a nuisance, but manageable. Once at the door, he opened it.

“Ah, mister Blutarch! Thank Luna you’re here.” said the Lady in front of her. In the meantime, she was adjusting the stoles on her robes.

He walked over to the table. After sitting across from her, she slid to him a plate with some cake. “Want some milk?”

“Let’s just cut to the chase, Esther.” He grabbed a fork. “Boys, you may leave. Make sure you watch your backs.”

They complied.

While his bodyguards closed the doors behind him, Blutarch would observe her pour some milk into the glass cup.

After putting the pitcher down, she asked, “So what chase do you want to cut to?”

“That our plan to bring down Mister Bentley was a complete failure.”

“Ah~. That’s what you were getting at.” She reached for her fork.

“We’ve been too light on that guy.”

She was chewing a piece of her cake. “Well… he was allied with the local resistance group. Those debauchers can put up a huge fight.”

“In retrospect, my top mercs managed to put them down in record time.”

She swallowed. “That’s because they’re your top mercs.”

“Of course, forget the fact that your top infantrymen were obliterated before they could even land a hit.”

She slammed her fork against the table. “Look, the point is that there’s a high possibility that they could have something to do with it.”

“Obviously.” He cut a piece from his cake. “And who may that be?”

She rested her head on her hand. “Ugh, the ALM?”

“Oh, them.” He stuffed the piece in his mouth.

“Well, do you think so?”

  He stopped chewing. “I’m sorry?”

“Do you, think they have something to do with it?”

After swallowing, “Well, it seems likely. With the powers he has, I think it’s safe to say that they too will want a piece of the pie.”

“Let’s also not forget that they command under the shadows.”

“Obviously.”

Esther drank a bit of her milk. “So how do you expect to beat them?”

“What?”

“Since they command under the shadows, I think it’s safe to say we should come to a battle plan.”

He drank a bit of his milk before saying, “I don’t think we need to worry about that.”

“Hmm?”

“I said, there’s no need to worry.”

“What do you mean?”

“I may not know a lot about the boy, but my associates do.”

“Hmm.” She picked up her fork, “I guess I should’ve remembered that from the beginning.”

“What matters is that we get there first, by any means.”

“Okay… What are those means?”

He drank his milk, swallowing every ounce.

She sighed. “You don’t know what they are, don’t you?”

He put down the cup. “Not a single clue.”

She cut out another piece. “So… do you want me to come up with something?”

He reached for the pitcher of milk. “Please…, go on ahead.”

She let go of her fork. “First off…, the weakest need to go.”

“So Basically…”

She smiled. “Yes, because your plan was stupid.”

A train was moving rapidly over the tracks. On one of the cars, two men holding onto HMG’s, were standing through the Ring mounts on the roof. As they headed through a range of hills, one of them swore to have seen someone in the distance.

“Hey Jamie, I think I spotted…”

Shooting a look at him was the worst decision. Where blood was splotched over the roof, and his hand was sliding down.

Thwap!

Two men and two women in black latched onto the car like magnets.

“We’re under attack!”

Then through the square holes attached at the sides of the cars, assault rifles were sticking out before firing.

“Jump!” yelled one of them.

They’d hop onto the ceiling with a loud clang.

Inside though…,

Foom! Foom! Foom!

The guard put down the large bulky gun and prepared the detonator, narrowing his eyes.

Then he heard the door swipe behind him.

Rat-at-at!

He yelled through the pain.

His partner was quick to discover this. “Damn it, you son of a-!”

Rat-at-at!

The woman in black watched her comrade do the same thing before shouting. “Clear!”

Rat-at-at…!

She’d gasp before sliding to the side of the car. The bullets were racing in and banging at the walls.

“Phew.” she sighed.

Blam! Blam! Blam!

She looked outside, where Trevor was landing on the platform. He placed his hand on the digital keypad, which instantly opened the door for him once it powered off.

The guards quickly made their move. Hiding behind a seat, Trevor whipped out a little blue pistol. He aimed up once a drone was already hovering in front of him.

Tw-wch!

A bright blue orb crashed onto the drone’s long metallic body before the machine gun underneath can fire.

D-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r….!

“Aaargh!”

“Shoot, it’s turned!” the horrified guard screamed. “Kill it! Kill-!”

BLAM!

  He exited out the car a couple seconds later, the drone next to his shoulder and a large group of bodies lie around with pools of blood underneath them. The drone didn’t last long though, being ambushed by five troops the moment they entered into the next car.

“Pin him-!”

BLAM!

Two drones came in.

BLAM!

BLAM!

He hopped onto the next seat, firing each round as he hopped over each of the following.

“You’re not get-”

Slash!

He let the guard rest on his shoulder.

“Assho-”

The knife was buried deep in his chest, he could only choke softly as his eyes violently closed. Trevor released the knife after letting him rest against the wall. He then let the guard he was carrying kneel down before putting him on his back. He frowned before getting up, reloading, and exiting out the door.

In the next room, he was met with a guard trembling from head to toe.

B-beep!

Rat-at-at…!

He danced as red was appearing on his blue uniform. With that, Trevor jumped to the side.

BLAM!

It was followed by an explosion that was powerful enough to break the glass on each side. The train would come to a stop, nothing but the gentle breeze could be heard. He walked into the car, finding the sentry gun be surrounded with static before popping like a balloon, making him wince. He stood there for a little while.

Getting the cue, Pierre stood up from his cover. “How was your end Trevor?”

Trevor was loading his scattergun with more bullets, looking up to give him a depressing look.

Pierre then saw the blood that stained his white coat. “Oh, I see.”

He then looked at the bodies that littered the floor. “You know since they’ve been around for more than two decades, they would’ve fortified their supply lines a bit better.”

Trevor put his rifle away. “I agree.”

He walked over to the broken window, where countless hills stood still. “Damn war’s been going on for a while now. Do you think Marianne will get over it?”

Pierre crossed his arms. “Ugh, both countries are very persistent. So she’s going to have to get over it by force.”

“After what happened during Bloody Leaf, I don’t think she’s going to.”

“Hmm, good point.” He walked past him, hopping off of the train.

This made Trevor follow. “That home meant so much for her.”

Pierre looked at the battered car, where the faction’s respective flag hung. “I agree, it’s best that we don’t pain her like this.”

Trevor nodded.

Boom!

Boom!

“Well well, they made good use of those mines.”

Moments later, a couple trucks filled with several wooden crates sped towards their position, sliding to a stop.

“Get in!” the driver screamed.

They did, and then the driver sped off.

Trevor turned around when a large mass of white smoke burst into view.

“Do you think Marianne is doing okay?” Pierre asked.

He looked back at the front. “She’ll manage.”

“There it is!” she shouted.

“We see it Marianne!” Maribelle shouted back. “Right Haystack?”

“Yep!” he responded. “I’m glad that we got that call, though.”

Marianne blushed. “Heh, yeah, would’ve been a disorderly mishmash, right?”

The fire had spread across acre after acre. Sending an urge of tension through Marianne’s shoulders. Her chest felt stiffened to the point where she’d grab onto it to exhale. The chopper would land. In that moment, her chest ameliorated, letting her do as such. But the dismay she felt was still lurking. She and the others walked off the chopper, while a soldier was heading towards them.

“Marianne, how have you been doing?” he welcomed with a brief wave.

“Commander Metzger, can you explain why you’re here?” she said with a modest wave.

“Well, being a mercenary during World War Three, you have to put your skills out in the field from time to time, right?”

“Touché, I guess.” she shrugged. The fire in front of her kept her shoulders tensed, but she was able to ask, “So… you believe he was here?”

“I’m confident.” he answered. “We sent ten reconnaissance squads to scout the forest.”

He’d frown, kicking the grass. “But, when they called back…, they were claiming to have seen him. And they seem to be right. Follow me.”

“To where?”

“To the forest.” Realizing that she wasn’t going to lose that baffled face, he’d explain, “Hmmph, we’re not going directly into the fire of course.”

“Oh.” She held onto her arm. “Heh, alrighty then, show us the way.”

With a smirk and a nod, he began walking. “Put on gas masks then follow me.”

“Alright.” Marianne turned to the others. “Come along Haystack, Maribelle!”

“Uh, really?” Big Mac said, a hoof raised in the air.

“Yes really, now let’s get going.”

They were confused at first, but after shrugging to each other, they were right behind them.

“Umph!” Big Mac’s body pressed downward, looking up to find Maribelle sitting on his back. “Maribelle!”

She laughed awkwardly. “We’re in a bit of a hurry, aren’t we?”

“Hmm…, ‘Ah guess.”

They heard sirens coming from the road behind them. There, he’d find three battered and rusty fire trucks screech to a stop like nails over a chalkboard. Opening the front doors, were two BLU soldiers.

“Go, get going, you have a fire to put out!” the soldier shouted, pointing his pistol at the doors next to him. “Move, move, move!”

Big Mac watched as the men and women all hurried out.

“You’re not going to slack off when a forest like that is on fire! So get going; move, move, move!”

  Big Mac was looking at the panicked look on their faces, watching them get all the equipment needed to douse it. He’d turn away to find Marianne’s shoulders still tensed. The fact that troops were scattered everywhere wasn’t helping, it seemed. It all ended when he felt a warm brush of air pressing over his ear. His heart nearly stopped at that.

“Let’s just not bring it up, okay?” Maribelle whispered.

His ears pulled back, sulking. “Alright then.”

“That’s good to hear.” she pat him on his mane. She then leaned away and sat on his back.

The walk lasted for a while. With the fire already far away from them, they could rest assure that burning alive wouldn’t be an issue.

“Here it is!”

“Oh Jesus!” Marianne gasped at what they were witnessing.

Big Mac galloped to their side, and nearly fainted at what they saw.

“Yep, we pulled him out, but it was too late.” Metzger said. “Severe Frostbite from head to toe. Don’t know how he did it…, but he did.”

He took off his helmet, shaking his head. “At this rate, it’ll drop our morale to an even new low once more damage is done.”

“So what then?” Marianne asked.

“I don’t know, but the obvious needs to be done.” he reminded them. “I mean, you all have your motives for wanting him dead, right?”

She kept staring at the multi-colored body. “Of course, but that’s the problem. How long will it take?”

Metzger was in thought.

“Only a couple days.”

They turned to find Big Mac with the sternest of looks.

“What do you mean?” Marianne asked.

“Just look at where we are. Looks like the intended route was scrapped.”

She got up, resting her chin over a hand. “Huh, now that you think about, you’re right.”

“So, it’s likely that they’ll be heading towards a major city after this.”

Metzger got up too. “And the closest one is Salt Lake.”

Big Mac added. “And if that’s the case, then we can wait for him there.”

“Only one problem.” stated Metzger. “Salt Lake is under RED control.”

“Not to mention that’s just a guess.” Maribelle said.

“Which is why we do the obvious.” He reminded them, ignoring their reactions. “We start by getting in contact with Blutarch for a little request.”

“He’s at a meeting with the Sisterhood, Haystack.” Marianne told him.

“Oh…” Wondering what next, he tapped his hoof.

“But… Let’s start from another point.” Marianne placed her hands in her pockets, eyeing the clear blue sky. “Something must’ve went wrong when they were heading north. So they’ll have to find something of value in order to go back. Thus, they’ll be going someplace specific in order to acquire it.”

“And it’ll obviously be in a major city.” Maribelle concluded.

“Exactly.” said Marianne.

“Now that question is, what exactly went wrong. More importantly, where?”

Bothered, Big Mac would ask, “But what does that have to do with actually finding them there?”

Marianne looked at him with her sternest look. “If we’re going to go behind enemy lines, in a major city mind you, we’ll have to execute this mission as efficiently as possible. We find the source, then we can fulfil the operation before RED can even lift a finger.”

“And how are we going to do that?” asked Maribelle.

“Simple, I…” she wrapped her hands behind her back. “I know someone back in another front.

She faced the frostbitten body. “Remember the body we dumped?”

  With their stomachs churning, they nodded.

“Well, no doubt she’s heading out there to poke it with a stick or something.” she laughed cheekily. “So what do you say, we roll out for some answers?”

Big Mac kicked the grass softly, facing Maribelle for a reply. Maribelle did the same. Looking back at Marianne the two would sigh and nod.

“Well alright.” she gave a thumbs up. “Let’s get going. Thanks Metzger!”

“Uh, yeah…, no problem, I guess.” He said with the most obdurate of waves, and the smallest of smiles.

After the others waved goodbye, Marianne stopped her walk to say, “Oh, and Haystack…, nice to see that you used past experiences for that strategy. You just needed to know how it was made up.”

Big Mac stopped his trotting, facing the grass below. His lips quivered, his legs felt like imitating that.

“Haystack.”

He looked up at Maribelle.

With a smile on her face, she told him. “Don’t worry, it’ll be okay.”

He faced back at Marianne, who was yards ahead of him. He took a deep breath before lifting his head up. He exhaled, and began trotting again. “’Ah guess.”

They were quiet after that. Maribelle would go on to pet his mane, something that relaxed the two during rides like this.

“Thanks.” he’d say to her.

“Don’t mention it, B-Haystack.” She smiled awkwardly. “You have a choice, you know. Good thing you’re making the right one.”

“Yep.”

She looked around the forest, seeing the blue sky past the ubiquitous trees. She’d smile. “I know it.”

Marianne’s smiled warmly at this too.

“What’s on your end, Ivan?” Lance shouted.

“I’m clear also. Find anything interesting though?”

“Blimey, I was going to ask you the same thing. Anyway, no. This is probably some old drugstore or something.”

Ivan and Jacklyn were walking down the hall, arriving to his position.

“Whaddaya…” They were in front of vast space. Which Ivan commented with…, “Wow, looks like you’re right.”

He walked out of the room they were in. Atop, he could barely make out the word ‘Pharmacy’ through the faded paint. “Ugh, looks like we stumbled upon yet another ghost town.”

“Agree.” Lance said. “I’m just surprised that this city is still standing after more than two decades.”

“Guys, you better look at this!” Jacklyn called.

They retreated back into the room. Quickly, they’d find her location.

“Did we, check this room before?” Ivan asked.

“No, it was locked.” Jacklyn had her hand rest over her agape mouth. “Didn’t know it lead me to this.”

“Bloody hell.” Lance walked over to the skeleton, squatting down for a face to face observation. “Judging by that hole, it must’ve been suicide.”

“And judging by that armband, I think he’s ALM.”

Lance looked at Ivan as if he were an alert Deer. “The, who?”

“Uh… you don’t know who they are?”

“No, huh, but I guess I have to.”

“Hmm, odd.” Ivan rummaged through each piece of paper on the desk. “Well, there’s nothing of interest on the desk. Just a bunch of blank papers and calendars. Must’ve been tough on this guy.”

“And the rest is just burned to ash.” Jacklyn said.

Ivan looked to where she was looking, where literally a pile of ash was in the corner. “Great. This makes the trek even more difficult.”

“Guys, I found something in the cabinet.” Lance announced.

“And what would that be?”

He stood up. “Must be the guy’s phone.”

“Yeah, I’m checking for… Huh, looks like there is.” Lance pressed play on the recording app.

“Grrr, damn this place.” It started. “Hmm, Double F thought that this would be the best staging area… God damn was he wrong… Ugh…, If you’re dumb enough to find this place. I want you to check on someone just ten blocks south from here. They’re residing in Lavender Court, at the Loving sky apartments. I don’t know if they’re still around though. Both Armies are practically wiping us off the map.

“Just five hours ago, BLU forces raided in one of our cells in far-east end of town. It won’t be long before they find me… Which is why I’m locking myself in… Hopefully…, hopefully they’ll know what to do… Hell, it doesn’t matter anyway… This whole campaign was a lost cause honestly. But hey…, they all seem like cool people… It’s just unfortunate that I had to join.”

They heard a loud click before it ended. Ivan leaned away, sighing. “It’s possibly another cell. Do you think we should go?”

“Of course.” said Lance. “It’s not interfering with this plan, not to mention the good stuff we could find.”

“I agree. And you Jackie?” He turned to her as he received no response.

She was looking at the phone, in mourning.

“Jackie.”

She jumped slightly. “Uh… yeah, right. I think… I think it’s best that we go there.”

“Alrighty then.” Ivan walked out of the room. “Hopefully we didn’t lose track of time.”

“Yeah.” Lance did the same.

“Jackie, let’s get going.”

She jumped again. “Uggh! Yeah, sure, I’m going.”

Jacklyn would run over to him. She’d give her best smile.

Ivan, feeling as awkward as the others, pointed out the door. “C’mon, hopefully the infantry haven’t arrived to this position.”

And so they were off.

Ka-boom!

Boom!

The tank pushed forward, the Mounted Machine gun firing as many rounds as the soldier firing could do so. It would be followed by a dozen of soldiers on foot.

“Let’s go.” Ivan ordered, surveying the soldiers engaging the enemy.

Jacklyn was the last to leave the rubble. Looking back at the bodies behind her made her want to vomit, it would be even worse when the tank was blown to bits like a cracker. “Celestia save them.”

They jogged across the street.

“Whoa!” Jacklyn shouted as she witnessed three explosions tear at the front of a building like punching through Styrofoam. “Oh Celestia.”

“So, is that the place?” asked Lance.

Ivan was viewing a two story apartment down the road. Beside it: was a sign.

“Yep… that’s the place alright.” Ivan said after reading it. “So does anyone remember where in the apartment are they located?”  

Lance shook his head.

“According to the phone,” Jacklyn said while checking it. “It doesn’t say.”

Ivan looked at the heavily damaged apartment, before groaning. “Shoot.”

Bam!

Ivan brandished his rifle as he entered the dust filled room.

“Nothing here!” he shouted.

“Just like every room we checked, huh?” shouted Lance.

“Yep!” He then left.

The three would rendezvous at the empty kitchen residing next to the living room.

“Hmm, the civvies were pretty quick to evacuate.”

“I guess so.” Jacklyn said, looking at the bullet riddled furniture. “I hope they’re doing all right though.”

“I wouldn’t say that if I were you.” Ivan sighed. “I mean what do you expect from Idy?”

Jacklyn faced the kitchen table as she tapped her fingers.

To break the ice, Lance said, “Do you think they could be in some sort of basement?”

Ivan answered. “Probably. I think it’s best that we check the front office.”

“Yeah, we should’ve done that in the first place.”

“Uh…” Ivan was scratching his head. “Heh, heh… silly me. Well, let’s go then.”

The two exited out the door, but Jacklyn would delay such action. The bullet holes that riddled each part of the room….

Jacklyn’s eyes were tearing up a bit. She could even swore to have seen droplets of blood…

“Jackie, come on.” Ivan ordered.

She immediately nodded, and got going.

“Anything?” Ivan asked.

“Nothing here!” Jacklyn shouted. “Just… nothing!”

“Oh, what about you Lance?”

“Found this little button in the fuse box.” And then he went on to press it.

There was a sound right after. Which felt like two rocks grinding against one another. His feet were wobbling as the floor moved underneath him. But once the floor was all gone, “Whoa! Upmh!”

He landed on another floor. “Ow…! Huh?”

The man in front of him stood still, mouth open, and a pill in his hand.

“Sweet Celestia!”

The man lowered the pill. “Wait, what?”

Whack!

“Ow!”

Ivan heard her baton clanging against the wall behind the man.

“Ow… Hey, watch it Lady!”

“Um, s-sorry!” Jacklyn shrieked, running to kick the pill to the side.

Ivan was now on his two feet, and was now rubbing his eyes. “Ugh, and for lady who can shoot people in the arms and legs, she sure is a terrible thrower.”

The man in front of him now was baffled, so it seemed appropriate for Ivan to address the situation. “Ugh...! Look dude, you’re with the resistance, right?”

“Uh… First, yes.” He answered directly. “Secondly, you both aren’t-”

“Nope, we’re just wanderers.”

“Yo Ivan, what did you find?” Lance was walking down the stairs.

Upon seeing his uniform, “Aw shoot, where’s that pill!”

“Whoa, Whoa!” Lance jogged over to him, grabbing the stammering man from the arm. “Calm yourself mate!”

He was squirming frantically.

“C’mon Mate! I’m not with the red coats!”

He stopped, using that to loosen Lance’s grip. “Then why are you…”

“Consider me their little hostage.”

He was baffled again. “Uh… how?”

“Hmm?” His rifle came to mind. “Oh…, it had something to do with a little debt I owe them.”

“Uh… that doesn’t…”

“It’ll make sense soon enough.”

“Um… Okay?”

The four of them were standing still for a bit.

“So…” Jacklyn asked. “You’re the only one left?”

He groaned. “Well what do you think?”

She jolted back. “No as in… in…”

However, she was able to take out the smartphone and head to the recording app. When the recording ended…,

“So…” the man gloomed. “It’s true then?”

They nodded.

“Damn it.” He sat against the nearby couch. He leaned onto his hands. “He… He was the last contact I had.”

Jacklyn sat next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“He… told me to stay here…, and then he never called me again.”

Ivan would go on to inform him, “We found him with a s-”

Jacklyn zapped up a finger at him.

The man leaned away from his hands. “Huh?”

“We found him with a slit throat.” Jacklyn explained. “A squad of RED soldiers had the place surrounded, so even though he had enough with this cause, he was going to die like a soldier.”

He smiled. “At least he put up a fight…, right?”

She assured him. “He was the last man standing. When we came across him, he had shot ten more men with the last of his ammo before engaging in a knife fight with the last soldier.”

“Thank god.”

Ivan looked back at the entrance. He was still hearing the gunfire echo throughout. “So, with that news out…, what now?”

His relief changed to worry. “What do you mean?”

“You’re the last man in this city. So, what are you going to do now?”

He was now tapping his left foot.

“C’mon man, anything?”

“Anything but this?” Ivan complained, as the three sat underneath the nearest window.

“I’m serious Mister Ivan, sir.” said the man. “I want to do this.”

“You know, we were actually heading someplace.” He groaned. “I don’t think we have time to…”

Jacklyn gave him the same look from before. “It’ll be okay Leon. Hopefully we can find the others before the battle gets worse.”

“Yeah, I know we can.” He was now arming his rifle.

“Jackie,” Ivan whispered to her. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Jacklyn sighed. “Chapter 12, page Six-hundred and ninety: Even the littlest of contributions can make a big difference.”

Ivan made a bothered stare at her. One which Jacklyn was quick to shake off. “So where to, Leon?”

“The nearest cell is just five blocks east from here. Follow me!”

In the meantime, Lance ran alongside Ivan to whisper to him. “Just roll with it, mate. Hopefully this’ll boost her morale a bit. Besides, you have all the power you need.”

Grimacing a bit, Ivan responded with, “Hmm, I hope so.”

“Remember boys, wipe out the soldiers in the… Hey, Alice what the hell are you-Umph!”

She’d grunt the moment she tumbled onto the rooftop.

BLAM!

The first soldier she confronted was short met as she ran towards the door. Inside was hallway that lead to a pitch black hole at the end. Running towards it showed her how impossible it was to reach it. Despite that, she could see countless bullets race out of there.

“Don’t worry Thomas, I’m coming!” she screamed, firing countless rounds into the void.

Thwap!

A sharp sting struck her stomach, but it only made her stumble rather than collapse.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Click!

Thwap!

Both her pistol and her hand was gone. She held back her scream as her eyes watered. She’d take a pocket knife out of her pocket. Right before her legs were punctured like glass. She struggled to push forward after that. Blood spat out when she coughed, and then a bullet ran straight through her breast.

“Alice…”

She softly opened her eyes. With Thomas being the first she’d see.

“Wake up.” he repeated.

“Hmm?” she moaned. “We’re back at-?”

“No, we’ve got a report that they’re in this city.”

Her grogginess was wiped clean in that instant. “Really! Let’s… Whoa!”

Her rump crashed against her seat. “Ow…!”

“Ugh, calm yourself Alice.” Derek groaned, “We haven’t even landed yet.”

“Oh…, sorry.” Alice sighed.

They felt the chopper bump onto the concrete surface, so they unbuckled their seatbelts and exited the chopper. From where they were standing, they could see explosions and gunfire rattle in the distance.

“Sir, what’s the report?” asked Thomas.”

“Sir, our forces have claimed to have seen the fugitive you’re looking for… but, BLU fighters were quick to push us back.” the soldier nearby reported. “You’re going to have to find another way into their lines.”

“Heh, you do realize that we’re engaging them on every front right?” Derek told him.

“That is why we’ll be needing a little help.” Alice said, watching the fire like the others. “You’re a scout, aren’t you?”

“Yes, but I’m in reserve now. So is my squad.”

She face palmed. “Ugh, who’s the head of command here?”

“That’s a good question.” he said with intrigue. “I don’t know.”

“Well, tell him or her that I’m getting you people out of reserve.” Alice ordered.

“Uh, you serious?”

“Do you want to make your family back home proud or not?”

“Uh, yeah but, shouldn’t you be doing that?”

Her toughness warred down at this. “Oh, heh, right?”

She was given the walky-talky, then she went to place the orders. “Yes sir, we want to put… what’s your squad’s number?”

“Two-fifty.”

“Scout squad Two-Fifty out of reserve.”

“Who is calling?”

“Missus Alice Wesley.”

“Alice Wesley, seriously? Um…”

“Yes, I’m getting squad two-fifty out of reserve. Also…”

“Yes ma’am?”

Her mouth creased into a smile.

Meanwhile, three soldiers were screaming in horrid agony before collapsing to the rubble filled ground. The fire that ignited was still drilling into their bones.

“Does it make sense now?” Lance asked Leon with a smug look.

“Uh…, yeah… i-it makes sense k-kind of.”

Bullets pounded against the large chunk of rubble next to them. They quickly hid.

“Come on you guys!” Ivan shouted. “Over here!”

“Go, I’ll cover you!” Lance said.

“Okay!” Leon then leaped out and charged towards their position, firing as much rounds as he could at the enemy line. Ivan would scoot back as he slid towards the car.

“Is everyone accounted for?” Jacklyn asked, pointing her shield at the other end of the vehicle.

“Hold it.” Ivan answered.

Fwo-fwo-fwo-fwo-fwo-fwo-fwo-fwo…!

Green bolts were firing through the air as the sound of Lance’s SMG was echoing across the alley. He then slid into cover also.

Shee!

Fwo-fwo-fwo-fwo-fwo-fwo-

“Grena-!”

Boom!

Jacklyn leaned towards the edge of the car, hearing nothing.

“Clear!” Leon screamed.

“Heh, Impressive.” Ivan complimented.

“Just my job of course.” Lance said, reloading his SMG.

They’d walk over to the now obliterated levee.

“So are we there yet?” Ivan asked, kneeling towards one of the bodies.

“We’re close by! Just down the street ahead!” Leon answered while pointing out into the street.

Ivan slid out the magazines from the pockets. “You sure they’re there?”

“I’m confident, mister.” Leon said, checking his rifle. “A toy soldier once said that a good soldier never leaves a fellow soldier behind.”

He looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “What?”

“Sorry, sir.” He scratched the back of his head. “I must’ve been there for months on end.”

“Ugh, apology accepted I guess.” He resumed to taking the corpse’s grenades. “Just say ‘A wise man’, okay?”

“I will.”

He stood up, walking over to a rifle that was glowing green from the ejection port.  He then dropped the magazine it had for a new one. With a minor glare, he told him, “I sure hope so.”

Jacklyn smiled. “So, we’re gonna get going right?”

“Sure.” Ivan was about to scout the street ahead when,

“But, Ivan…, what are you exactly?” asked Leon.

He stopped walking, stood still, and pulled back the cocking handle. “Let’s just say that I had a job to do, and ended up with this on my hands.”

Leon and Lance looked at each other, both possessing the same reactions of grimace. However,

“Actually, he was-”

“Shh!”

She immediately jumped at this, noticing his glare.

“Now come on, we don’t want to keep them waiting of course.” Then he kept walking.

“O-Okay sir.” Leon was quick to follow.

The others did the same, but weren’t as quick.

“Heh, what other choice do I have right?” Lance chuckled uncomfortably.

Jacklyn was gripping her baton again, doing her best not to look down.

“This way!” Ivan screamed.

They were nearly caught off guard by the gunfire headed their way.

“Shoot!” Jacklyn raised her shield in the air. She then held onto Lance’s hand, and pulled him in the direction Ivan was going.

Across the street, Ivan pushed the nearly battered door open.

Fwo-fwo-fwo-fwo-fwo…!

A quartet of soldiers running towards said door feel silent as bullets were searing through their bodies. Leon kicked the door next to him open, mowing down the squad of soldiers about to go through it. He then ordered them to follow him.

Leon broke through the window at the edge of the building. “Into the next one, now!”

Ivan stuck his rifle out the window.

Ka-Thwop!

BOOM!

Ignoring their shock, he disarmed the attached grenade launcher and hopped through the broken window. He ran into the huge hole, firing the remaining rounds into five soldiers before they can even acquire a hiding spot.

Rat-at-at-at…!

Bullets pounded against his chest as he was reloading. He kicked him back as he took out the magazine, this lead Leon to continue the job. The soldier had bullets punctured in his torso before falling back. Ivan nodded at him before bolting through the doorway. The others were right behind him.

They reached what appeared to be a massive dining area, only to be pinned down by outer forces.

“The cell’s across the street!” Leon shouted.

“Alrighty then!” Ivan screamed, blind firing over the window. “Let’s just hope-”

He stopped the moment a buzzing sound was heard. “Shoot!”

D-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r…!

Tw-tw-tw-tw-tw-tw-tw-tw-twang!

  Ivan was already aiming at the drone, blowing it to bits.

“Heh, where have you been?” Lance asked her, but flinched back when a muffled explosion could be heard. “Whoa, never mind th-Whoa!”

“Jackie, what the hell!” Ivan screamed, “I can’t see any-Hey!”

His eyes were burning, as his feet were moving uncontrollably. After hearing a loud click, he felt the floor slap him. “Ow…”

Wiping the tears from his eyes, he stood up. “Jackie, why did you drag us-”

BOOM!

It was as if an earthquake had suddenly struck the city. He was nearly knocked to the ground as he witnessed small splotches of fire appear through the white smoke. It was succeeded by screams of despair.

Through the smoke, soldiers would appear with flames crawling all over their bodies. They hopelessly banged against the damaged windows in a attempt for some help. After a while their fisting grew weaker, and so did their screams. Each of them would collapse onto the burning streets as the fire replaced the white smoke.

“Geez.” Ivan exhaled. Then he noticed that Jacklyn hadn’t said a word. She was a still as a tree, but was shivering as if it was shedding its leaves. “Uh, Jackie, you okay?”

There was no answer. The others were just as worried.

“Come on Jackie, I think it’s best that you look away from that.” Lance suggested.

She looked down, placing a hand over her eyes. “Heh, you’re right. Silly me.”

She turned around, finding Leon still on the floor, so she quickly helped him up. Seizing the opportunity, Leon asked, “How’d you know that was going to happen?”

“Um…, I saw a laser in the sky. While we were…”

Her arms were shaking.

“Jackie.”

“Uh…!”

“Whoa, Umph!” Leon fell on his rump. “Ow!”

“Oh, sorry Leon!” she pleaded, quickly grabbing onto his arm. “So, we’re here already.”

“Yep.”

Ivan and Lance flipped around, pointing their guns.

“Whoa boys, put the guns down and let’s sort this out.”

“We’ll do proposal two.” Ivan placed his gun against his hip. Lance did the same.

“Jenna!” Leon shrieked. He ran to her with open arms.

She placed her hand on his forehead. “Don’t touch me man, I’m not in the mood.”

“Aw.” His arms went limp at that.

“Anyway, come on out you guys!”

Dozens of taps against the floor could be heard. On the top balcony and right behind her; men, women, and children were lining up. All of them carrying some weapon in particular.

Leon looked baffled. “Is this-”

“Mmm Hmm? Got your text, then came up with the plan to get us all in here…, that’s all.”

Leon frowned. “Oh… I see.”

“Wait, you contacted them to come over here?” Ivan said with a raised voice.

He nodded.

“Hmm, saves us the running time.” Ivan rested his face over a hand. “So with that information out of the way, what next?”

Jenna would say something to that. “Well, I want to start by asking who in god’s name are you people?”

The point at him made him want to flinch. “Uh…”

“So, I expect for you to explain along the way.”

“Uh… Okay then?” Ivan raised an eyebrow.

“Come along then.” she led them to a door at the far right. She was the first top open it, and the last to enter.

  Ivan groaned. “Here we go again.”

“What was that, Ivan?” asked Lance.

“Nothing you should be worried about of course.” Ivan retorted.

“Fine then.” Despite his annoyed reaction, he couldn’t help but frown once he looked away.

“Salt Lake, huh?”

“Yep, we were supposed to be heading to Washington State when something happened along the way.” Jacklyn said. “That’s how we ended up here.”

“So what happened?”

She looked to Ivan, who quickly shook his head the moment she saw him.

“Sorry, I think it’s best that we keep that to ourselves.”

“Heh, you shouldn’t be ganging up on her like that.” Jenna told her.

“Uh… why?”

“Oh no.” Leon mumbled.

“She’s not your little toy you know.”

Ivan was aghast. “Whoa, lady! Let’s not cause any trouble here!”

“Yeah, it’s best that we don’t.” Jacklyn intervened. “It was rather… personal to me.”

“Oh…, you sure?”

Jacklyn nodded furiously.

“Uh...” She was blushing. “Sorry.”

“Don’t mind her.” Leon groaned. “She’s just your typical-”

“Oh can it, Leon! At least I care about our rights!”

“Well you can’t just slander people with stuff like that.”

“Ugh, I know.”

They were quiet again, nothing but the tapping of Jacklyn’s fingers could be heard.

“She just looked worried, is all.” Jenna added in further. “And a person like me would be quick to assume, you know?”

“Heh, isn’t that the truth?” Ivan said. “Not to mention she’s new around here.”

“Oh really?” Jenna queried.

She nodded.

“I understand.” Jenna laid a hand on her shoulder. “It’s not easy, isn’t it?”

She nodded again.

“Well, who says you have to get used to war anyway?”

“Let’s just get to focusing on getting out of here, okay?” Leon inquired.

“Oh fine.” She pulled her hand away and reached for a map in her backpack.

The others would keep talking, but Jacklyn was looking away from them for a moment. The window was still displaying the flames that covered the entire area from top to bottom. Her free hand curled into a fist.

“Jackie.”

  She looked back to Ivan.

“You paying attention?” he asked.

She immediately faced floor, sighing.

“Ugh, well you should.”

“Oh, okay.” Her eyes focused on the map, while Jenna continued talking about her plan.

Through her peripherals, Jacklyn could see Ivan’s hand resting on the table. Her hand was aching to hold it, but it was too far away to reach it.

Her hand lifted up a bit, but her hesitance held it down. However, she let it slide a bit to his’. Despite not touching, she smiled nonetheless.

center]This Burden of Mine

The red beam flickered off as the fire raged through the city blocks.

“Alice, what now?” asked the scout.

“We go in obviously.” Alice answered contentedly. “Olivia, Derek, Walters, let’s go!”

“Wait, you’re going?” Thomas questioned.

She nodded. “And I need you to stay behind.”

“Uh…”

“Shouldn’t he be joining along?” asked Walters, checking his rifle for ammo. “I mean-”

“I need him to command from above.” she reached for the tablet in her purse. “Since this is our operation, we’ll need someone to be our eyes. The scouts can’t see everything, right?”

The tablet was now in his hands. “Hmm…, you have a point there.”

“Good!” With a grin, she slid her hand over his cheek. “We can totally count on you to keep the enemy on our sights!”

He was blushing when he looked down onto the tablet. “I will sweetie.”

“Come on boys, we have to go into enemy lines before they can reorganize!”

“Yes Madame!”

“Start the engines, pilot!” Alice ordered, and the pilot did as ordered.

The others wished Thomas good luck as they boarded the chopper again. All except for Olivia, who chose to stand still a bit. She faced him, making him do the same thing back.

“It’s as easy as sitting back.” she said with a calmed laugh. She’d board the chopper soon after.

Alice watched him, waving good-bye with excitement. His wave though, was filled with nervousness. The sight made Olivia frown. She only sighed before she chose to look out into the beaten city below.

Big Mac too was looking out of the chopper. Bullets were being fired, but it happened within his mind.

“You’re thinking of that again?” Maribelle groaned.

He nodded.

Her legs swung in the air as she gripped tightly onto the hilt of her katana. “You know what to do.”

“Eeyup.”

Marianne, couldn’t bear to see him. She was only able to sigh as she rested her head back. When her head leaned forward, Big Mac was still moping.

“Is that them?” asked one of her subordinates.

“Yeah, that’s them.” She witnessed the yellow pony giggle with such cheer. Big Mac was laughing too. “They seem to be having a good time, huh?”

“Yeah, just like the innocent old days.” He picked up the sniper rifle set on the couch. “Too bad those days don’t last forever.”

Her frown felt so heavy. “The snake’s head gets cut, so take aim.”

“Yes Ma’am.”

Marianne turned around, looking back at the two corpses that were lying next to the dinner table. The blood was already expanding, but that didn’t matter to them.

“Alex, when do the foals come out of school?” she groaned. “I’m curious.”

“They come out just like back in the States Ma’am.”

“Oh, good.”

“Why ask?”

“No reason.” She got a hold a large sack of coins that was on the table. She then blew into the air. “You got it?”

He answered, “Yes Ma’am. Just give me the orders.”

“Roger.” Only the sound of the clopping hooves outside was heard now. She turned away from the bodies. On the other side, a picture frame over the baby blue wall was there to greet her. It displayed a couple above two colts and a filly, smiles on each of their faces.

She felt as if she was entering into a haze.

“Ma’am?”

She shot back to the diligent Alex. “Oh, right.”

Then walked over to his position, looking down onto the happy couple. “Fire.”

Alex then pulled the Trigger.

“Marianne, this is Metzger!”

She jumped, nearly screaming also. She noticed the others were eager for her to respond, their opened eyes showed it.

“Come in, Marianne!”

She took her walky-talky out and placed it over her mouth. “What’s up?”

“I’m patching you to Commander Wulandari from ‘ze Idaho front, says that he found ‘ze two runaways!”

Big Mac’s heart felt like working overtime. He lifted his hoof a tad bit as he struggled to open his mouth. The words were coming to him. When they were at the tip of his tongue, he lunged as fast as he could.

Slap!

“Uh…” He saw that the katana’s sheath was against his hoof. Maribelle was holding onto its hilt, giving him a determined glare. With that, she shook her head.

“But…” No matter how hard he pressed forward, her hold was more powerful.

“I’m ordering you to keep an eye on them. If they stop, you pull in and pick them off one by one.”

“Uh, are you sure ma’am?”

“With a force that massive, they’re going to be watching every side aren’t they?”

“Uh, of course.”

“So get on to it!”

“Yes Madame.” There was a brief pause in the radio feed.

“So what happened?” asked Metzger.

Softly, Maribelle used the sheath to lower his hoof. Simultaneously, she was aware that his other hoof was grinding over the metal floor.

“Yeah, thank you.”

“No Problem, Mein Freund.”

She then put the walky-talky away.

“Marianne, why couldn’t we-”

She lifted her hand, making him shut up. “You don’t want to repeat what happened at the badlands, do you?”

“I… I…” He hooves loosened as his head faced them. “No, Marianne…., I don’t.”

“Thought so.” She crossed her arms and placed one leg over the other.

“Madame, we’ll be arriving to the destination in twenty-minutes.” the pilot announced.

“Oh, okay.” Marianne then loosened her stance to take out her pistols. “Alright guys, prepare your weapons.”

“Yes sir.” The other men and women in black said as they complied.

Big Mac put one hoof over the other leg, struggling to control the quivering of his lips. Even as Maribelle gave him a gentle pat on the back. It was something that even Marianne herself couldn’t avoid looking at, thanks to pity.

“Don’t cry…, please.” Maribelle begged softly. “Just-”

She was checking the ammo in their chamber when she found him in that demeanor. “And that means you too, Haystack.”

He wiped the tears from his eyes as he went for his rifle. “Y-Yes Madame.”

Maribelle could only sigh at the stammered expression he was displaying. “It’ll be okay, remember that.”

BOOM!

“Tank’s down!” Jenna screamed. “Go, go, go!”

Each and every one was now mounting their rifles over their cover. Opening fire caught the enemy off guard. They soon exited cover, pushing forward as they finished off the remaining soldiers that were in their way.

“Oh Celestia!” Jacklyn muttered as she witnessed two fighters get fatally shot during the push.

Static!

“This is Falcon Five, the enemy has us surrounded in every direction, send… Aargh!”

Jacklyn’s fear was multiplying as nothing but an endless ocean of static was heard.

“Unpin u-”

Static!

Now that the walky-talky wasn’t sounding off, Jacklyn was urgent to ask. “Uh, Jenna shouldn’t-”

“We can’t waste any time!” Jenna said, bothered. “The enemy’s closing in on us, so there’s no time to waste!”

Jacklyn was only disappointed at the response given, but pressed forward.

“Just do as they say and we’ll be fine, got it?” Ivan mumbled to her ear.

With sadness, she nodded.

Thwap!

A fighter flew a couple feet to his left after a bullet punched through his head.

She gasped, then another fighter met the same fate just nanoseconds later. Her fingers was now clutching in between her teeth.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded weakly.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Thwap!

Blood was spewing out of the woman’s forehead. She was unable to scream once Jenna ordered them to run towards the many foxholes that were right beside them.

“Shoot!” Jenna screamed while she and the others were running towards the gunfire now in front of them.

Three bullets were impaled into a resistance fighter’s abdomen, making him collapse. Jacklyn gasped, stopping herself as if she were stepping on brakes.

“Damn it, Jackie! There’s no time!”

“Aah!” she screamed. Then she turned around to notice that it was Ivan pulling at her arm. Then she screamed again when she felt nothing underneath her.

Thud!

Although she fell face first, it wasn’t going to faze her from….

“I wouldn’t go out there if I were you.” Lance said after grabbing her from the shoulder.

“Uh…” she looked up, she could see the fiery bullets race over her from both sides. But after a couple seconds it was only coming from one. She faced down, slowly sitting against the dirt wall.

He let go, feeling faint hearted, “At least make the effort to help us here, okay?”

Though a little tentative, she nodded before taking out her shield.

“Ivan!” Leon called.

Ivan was quick to give them his attention.

“Troops will be garrisoning that building behind us!” Jenna explained. “We’re going to have to take that building or they’ll cut off any chance for us to get out of here alive.”

“So how do we do that?” Ivan asked, gesturing his hand out beyond the foxholes.

“Hmm.” She rubbed her chin a bit, until she figured it out. She reached into her pockets and got a grenade out. “Who’s up for a mini-barrage?”

After some planning…,

“Grenade!”

“Get down!”

“Take co-!”

Explosions were heard all around as the three jumped out of the foxhole. They darted towards the bricked building’s entrance.

“Open fire!” Jenna screamed.

The soldiers that were about to enter the rooms heard this. But they didn’t have the time to react to her automatic pistol fire.

“Men, women, prepare your dissent!” the squad leader ordered.

The scouts stood from their seats, holding onto their scatterguns. Alice and the others were doing the same thing.

“All units, roll out!”

“Sir, yes sir!” They jumped out into the air.

“Whoa!” Alice felt her body being yanked like a fish on a hook. And like that, she was screaming helplessly as she descended several feet towards the ground.

“Uh, Alice, Madame?” the scout holding her asked.

She stopped screaming. “Yeah?”

“We’re on the ground.”

“Oh!” she let go of his grip and dusted herself off. ”Heh, sorry about that.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Seriously Alice.” Olivia groaned. “You should’ve noticed by now.”

“Heh.”

Static!

“Alice, I’m patching you in to Squad ten. They seem to be…”

“Got it!”

Seconds later, “Anyone? This is Squad ten! We’re garrisoned at the west end of town! Our position’s being compromised as we speak!”

“This is Scout Squadron Two-Fifty! We’ll get there as fast as we can!”

“Aw, thank you Missy! We’re not doing too hot right now, your assistance will be of great help!”

“And why do you say that?”

His tone was bleak. “Well…”

“I’m falling-Aaah!” a soldier screamed as he clutched onto his chest, but it was short lived when he was fatally shot in the head.

“Let’s go!” she ordered, charging up the stairs.

Rat-at-at-at-at! Rat-at-at-at-at…!

Two soldiers using the concrete railing as cover were shot dead.

Rat-at-at… Click!

“Damn it!” Jenna muttered, letting the clip fall to the stairs. “Shoot!”

She avoided grabbing another from her pocket. Then she grabbed onto the barrel that was rearing out of the corner.

“Crap!” the soldier shouted as she struggled to hold onto the LMG, before it was taken clean off his hands.

“Oh no!” She kicked the armored soldier in the stomach.

”Imperium!”

The soldier stood in place, and this got Ivan to snatch the LMG from Jenna’s hands and toss it back to the soldier.

“What are you-”

The armored soldier turned to the hallway, and fired countless rounds.

“Amy, what the hell are you doing!” the soldier cried while two of her comrades were killed right in front of her. She quickly hid before the green bolts could reach her.

“What the hell are you?” Jenna asked him directly.

He checked his weapon for ammo. “I get that question a lot.”

“So if you’re not going to say what you are, then tell me how.”

He sighed, before answering. “I don’t want to remember.”

She only rolled her eyes.

“We surrender!”

“Huh?”

The armored soldier’s gunfire ceased.

They ran into the hall, weapons at the ready. Across the hall, they found nine soldiers exiting out of the rooms with their hands in the air.

Jenna only smiled, “That’s nice to here.”

Daintily, she turned to her walky-talky. “Alright boys and girls, fall back to the building. We have the enemy subdued!”

“Roger that!”

Static!

With a smug look on her face, she looked at Ivan. And Ivan was quick to figure it out. “Fire.”

“C’mon, let’s get going!” Lance said.

“Understood!” she placed her shield behind her back and followed him out. She witnessed the others doing the same. Only to gasp at one who was shot in the back of the head.

“C’mon, this is like Sodom and Gomora Jackie! So get going!”

She nodded.

“Whoa!” a kid screamed. He crashed onto the ground, and struggled to get up.

Jacklyn put the brakes on her run…,

“I said there’s no time!” she felt her hand being pulled away.

“Uh…” she looked back at the hindered child, just in time to watch five bullets punch through his entire back. The anguish that was running through her body would be short lived by a barrage of explosions that rocked the enemies on the other side. “Alright then.”

A line of nine corpses were sprawled across the hallway.

“Hmm, just making sure right?” Ivan laughed lightly.

“Of course.” Jenna admitted with her little smug look.

A clasp against the floor broke them from the conversation. In between them, the woman under the suit looked shaken with tears streaming from her eyes. She was struggling to form a coherent sentence, but that didn’t matter once the barrel of her weapon was pressing against her chin.

F-F-F-Fwah!

She fell back onto the floor, smoke ascending from her punctured face.

Ivan was looking at the corpses with a frown on his face.

“Huh.” Leon said. “Don’t worry buddy, we fought long enough to get used to it.”

“Oh.” was all he could say.

“Hello? Squad ten, come in!” said someone through radio chatter. “Can anyone listen to this?”

“Di-”

Olivia took the walky-talky away from her. She shook her head vigorously. “We don’t want them to find out!”

She complied. “Yep.”

“Yo Ivan!” Lance called. “We’re here!”

He turned around, a deadpanned expression on his face. “Oh nice, and Jackie?”

“Uh…” Lance turned to the stairs, the relaxed attitude changed for a worried one.

Jacklyn was already on Ivan’s sight. Her tensed shoulders was already giving away a lot.

“You okay, Jackie?” asked Jenna.

She shook her head.

Jenna sighed. “Still getting used to it right?”

She nodded.

“Well this is why we shouldn’t be helping these guys to begin with.” Ivan shrugged.

“Heh, thanks for the honesty there pal.” Leon scoffed.

“Just telling it like it is, buddy.” Ivan retorted. “Heh, anyway, you guys can wander off and do whatever you resistance fighters do. I need a little talk with these two.”

Jenna had to say something. “But-”

“Go!”

“But sir, we can’t leave you-”

“I said get the hell-!”

“You’re not going to last-”

His rifle was now pointing directly at them. “What else?”

The two briefly looked at each other before nodding at him. Leon was to say, “Nothing sir…, we’ll do as told.”

Slowly they turned around, walking past them towards the stairs. Not a second passed without his eyes grouting at them, so was the rifle.

“Lance, watch the stairs.” Ivan ordered once they were gone. “If they come back, make them piss their pants.”

Unsettled, he obeyed, and pointed his SMG down the stairs.

Jacklyn had her hands several inches away from her face. Tears were visible in her eyes.

At this, Ivan blew some air and placing his rifle over his shoulder. “Once we get out of here, we’re not getting involved with these kind of people.”

She rested her elbow over one hand, letting the other hand rest against her cheek.

“We should’ve been in Salt Lake by sundown.” He began pacing back and forth. “Instead, we’re stuck here helping a bunch of morons-”

“We couldn’t’ve made it by then anyway.” Lance commented.

“What?”

“Look where we are Ivan! We couldn’t make it through this area without ditching the damn car. What the hell would it look like if we did this on our own?”

He was silent.

“We’re literally on the front lines, Ivan! Do you even know what we’re dealing with?”

He sighed. “Yeah, the quicker we rush through here, the less we stealth we-”

“This was suicide from the beginning, mate!” Lance said with a raised voice. “You should be happy that we’re not Swiss cheese!”

“Hey, at least we’re not actually facing the enemy head on!” he rebutted, raising his rifle up to his hips. “Besides, your wife and kids don’t want to hear that their family died a traitor, don’t they?”

His body was in neutral, but his hands and lips were shivering. Jacklyn, seeing all this unfold, was gradually pushing away from the wall.  “Lance…, ah… are you o-”

BLAM!

BLAM!

BLAM!

“The hell?” Ivan muttered.

Rat-at-at-at-at-at-at-at-at…!

“Incoming!” a fighter screamed.

“Oh no, don’t tell me that-” Jacklyn lunged and bolted for the stairs.

“Jackie wait!” Ivan said in a panic.

“Not now!” Lance mumbled.

Ivan raced to her and got ahold of her arm. This prevented her from going down the next set of stairs, but from there she could see enough.

“Sweet Celestia!” she uttered, watching one of the fighters crash onto the wall with blood creating a great splotch over it.

Ivan fired his rifle down the stairs. The incoming soldier was clueless to the bullets heading his way. Looking at the now lifeless body, noticing its slender form alarmed him.

“Fall back guys, fall back!” Ivan pulled Jacklyn back up the stairs. Lance was providing suppressing fire as they headed to the hallway.

The resistance fighters in the hallway were firing in the opposite directions.

“Oh no.” Ivan saw a bright blade fly around next to the shadow that held it. The fighters fired relentlessly at it, but it was no use. One by one they’d be picked off, an excess amount of blood spewing out of their fatal wounds. “Hmm, looks like a rematch then.”

He dropped his rifle and took out a combat knife. By then, the last of the resistance fighters were being finished off. Once they were gone…,

Clang!

They pulled back, swinging again to make another loud one. She dropped to the ground before swinging her sword again.

Clang!

They put as much pressure as they could, but none of them would back down. This only made Ivan smile, despite being unable to see his opponent through the shadows. “Hmm, just like back at the den right?”

“The Den?” He heard her giggle menacingly. “I never fought someone like you back then.”

“Oh come on, don’t tell me the scientists made you retarded on cloudy days or something.”

“About that-”

“Cease fire!” he heard a voice call out.

His heart felt as if it stopped. He did his best to not freeze his place. With that will, he was able to ask, “Who the hell are you?”

Jacklyn screamed, but it would go from audible to muffled, in nanoseconds. Briefly turning around revealed a man in a red tuxedo. He was clutching onto a knife that was aiming at her throat. And Lance had an oddly shaped rifle pointing at his head.

“Stand down Olivia, it’s not worth it.”

She pulled her sword away from the knife, hearing it slide through the hilt. Though slowly, Ivan lowered his weapon also. Behind him, he could see Jacklyn shaking again. Now, he felt his shoulders tensing up. “Alice, is that you?”

“I’m surprised you even remember that name.” In front of him, a woman in a casual red business suit was walking through the crowd. Her auburn hair was already creating Déjà vu. “Hell, you only saw me once I think. But oh how you’ve grown.”

“Quit being cocky missy.” Ivan snarled.

“Wow, weak retort.”  Alice smirked.

Ivan rolled his eyes. “This isn’t a rap battle you know.”

“Didn’t expect it to be.” Alice placed her hand against the wall.

“So, let’s get to the point.” He lowered his knife. “Do it.”

“Huh?”

“You got me pinned down, my travel buddies hostage, all so that I can die and give you what you want.” He dropped the knife to the floor then raised his hands in the air. “So get to it.”

Alice sighed, “You really want to do this?”

Ivan twisted his hands a bit. “What choice do I have?”

Alice shook her head. “You’re coming with us.”

He was bamboozled at this statement. “What?”

“When we captured the Department of Labor, we learned a few things about how your powers work.” Alice explained. “If we kill you, all the GABE affected DNA might go with it also. Lose that, and this war will keep dragging on.”

“An-”

“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!”

She was pacing back and forth. “And now, we have a chance to finally win this war and run away!”

“Oh don’t tell me you’re going to cry.” Ivan moaned.

“I’m not!” she said bitterly. “But please, just trust me on this… you want to go home yourself?”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m already marked a dead person back home.”

“N-”

“Not exactly.”

He looked past Alice, noticing a tall wrinkled man with silver hair. But through his peripherals, he could see Jacklyn shutter. Both of them wore the same uniform, and had the same logo plastered on their sleeve.

“It’s obvious that the legion faked that whole you’re dead trope.” said he. “But since we apprehended the mayor at Fort Xavier after we learned that he had ties with them, we want to make a little proposition for you.”

“But first, who the hell are you?” Ivan asked virulently.

He closed his eyes a bit to sigh, after doing so, he opened them. “I personally knew him. Fought under him during the Third World War. The name’s Walters, by the way.”

Ivan was silent.

“So, about that proposition.”

“What do you want?”

“Join us.” said Alice.

“Or at least, let us research you. Then, if possible, we’ll let you go.” Walters added. “We'll do our best to get you back to Chicago in no time.”

“What about the Legion?”

“We say that you were killed in combat, and they’ll leave you alone.”

Ivan was still quiet, putting his hands in his pocket. For a while nothing but gunfire and explosions were heard.

“Also, what do you think that pony’s done for you? Nothing. What he and his sister was downright awful. So it’s best that you-”

“I’m not thinking about that.”

“Then what are you thinking of?’

Ivan was quiet again.

“You’re lying, aren’t you?” asked Alice.

“No…, I-I was thinking about this proposal of yours.”

“Really, so what’s your choice.”

He sighed. “Those two… what are you going to do with them?”

“We’ll bring them in, and let them return-”

“They’re going to die, aren’t they?”

He could see the distress through Jacklyn’s eyes and through her trembling body.

Alice scratched her head in irritancy. “Glad you guessed it. I wanted to be very subtle about it, but hey, it’s throwing the dice right there.”

Walters was quick to call her out. “What? But Alice, didn’t you say-”

Alice let out a grunt. “These people violated international law! This lady escaped from an area she can never leave from, not to mention she abandoned her post! And this guy-”

Ivan would answer this. “was supposed to die on said mission because he’s cannon fodder, I know.”

Lance was facing the floor, visibly shaking. Jacklyn, although restrained, was able to see this. She was already feeling the sorrow flow through her.

“The point is, she fulfilled her purpose, and now we finally put an end to all this!” she reached her hand out. “So what do you say Ivan?”

It was quiet, but it would break when Ivan had his answer. “I’m sorry Alice, but I’m not going with you. I got my own job to complete, and then we might talk.”

Jacklyn could feel her heart heating slowly upwards, her urge to resist decreasing. All the while, Lance’s shaking slowly ceased.

“Fine then” She took her pistol out, pulling back the slide.

  After the click reverberated across the hall, Olivia felt a strong strike to her left hip before hitting the wall with the force of a baseball.

“The hell?” Then words would be replaced by a blood curdling cry as she felt a blade push through her left breast.

“Umph!” It was clear to Ivan that Lance had managed to use his distraction to turn around, and punch the beige uniformed soldier’s rifle away; then catch it in midair, and shoot at the scouts down the hall, then finish the soldier off as he fell into the closest room.

Whack!

Fw-fw-fw-fwo!

Walters collapsed onto the floor, clutching into his searing stomach.

Whack!

Dereck was against the wall, his head dangling as he sat on the floor. She was panting heavily as she held onto her baton.

Ivan then reunited with the group. “Let’s go!”

“Right!” she grabbed onto Ivan’s arm and they got going.

They would reach the bottom of the stairs, discovering it empty.

“Shoot! Where the hell are-”

“Doesn’t matter, let’s go!” Ivan interrupted Lance with. Then the three immediately darted out the door and into the burning city.

“W-Walters?” Alice choked up, looking at the blur that was the grey ceiling.

“Yeah?” He too choked out. He was struggling to get back up while the burning holes that were over his body made it a difficult climb.

"Well, there goes our bargaining chip." Alice laughed through the pain, only for a violent cough to instantly kill it off. “At least… Thomas wasn’t here.”

Walters deadpanned through his pain. "Ugh, why say that she's a viable... asset... I-If she's gonna die, anyway."

Alice smile a bit. “What I wanna know is... You don’t want her to die… d-don’t you?”

He was silent.

“Just needed you to be on board… that’s all.”

“This is command, what’s your situation?” asked the man on the other end of Walters’s walky-talky.

Alice smiled a bit clutching onto the bottom pocket on her suit. “Yep.”

Marianne sat quietly on the chopper, the sun was already a dim orange. She was able to see it without blinding herself.

Roxanne was pacing back and forth. Next to her: was the body. She scratched her head, unsure of what to do next.

“I might be able to help.”

Her squad drew out their guns. A couple yards down the forest, they noticed a women in a purple coat standing on a green hill with arms in the air. Behind her: were men and women in black.

“Shoot! Take cover!”

“Roxanne, I’m not here to fight you!” she shouted before they can even pull the trigger.

Roxanne was quite impressed by this. “Huh, so you come to-”

“And I’m not surrendering!” Marianne said assertively.

“Oh.” Roxanne’s confidence was dwindling. “I see. You know I was hoping-”

“That’s never going to happen. We both did a lot of damage that day, but just like you, we’re not giving up.” She was smiling too.

“Speaking of which, where is your boss?”

“Doing a supply run.” Marianne answered. “Anyway, we’re looking for someone and we need answers!”

Roxanne hoped that her shock wasn’t being released. “Continue!”

“About three days ago, someone escaped from Fort Xavier in South Dakota! We expected him to drive north to Washington State, but instead we ended up finding traces of his presence in the Idaho front!” Roxanne could see her eyelids slanting downwards. “And don’t expect me to believe that he never crossed through here… or ignored your help!”

“That’s absurd! He could’ve never-”

She placed her hands behind her back, kicking her foot back and forth. “Huh… So what’s one of the elements called again?”

In defeat, she confessed. “And you want to know where they’ll be heading next, right?”

She nodded.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t know!”

“What?” Marianne said.

“They never told us where they’ll be heading!” she explained. “They left this morning, but never told us anything about that!”

Marianne dropped her hands to slap them against her hips. “So that’s how it’s going to be right?”

Roxanne gripped onto her rifle. “That’s not-!”

“Let’s make a deal! You show me some clues as to where they’ve went, and I’ll help you dispose of the body!”

She looked down onto the body, which was still showing no signs of decay.

“You know the US Army put you in check with that body! If they find that it’s gone, burned, etc, the HUE’s going to be in more-”

“I know, I know!” she sighed. “Deal! Let me go back and see if I can-”

“And I’m going with you!”

Roxanne bit her lip, making a fist with one of her hands.

She stuffed her hands into her pockets. “You can already guess what’ll happen if you don’t.”

Admitting defeat again, she ordered, “Stand down you guys! I don’t want another one!”

They all obeyed.

Marianne smiled, before turning around and putting two fingers into her mouth. A loud whistle came next. In the hills far from them, Roxanne and her Militiamen would find a tan pony galloping towards them. A little girl riding her back.

Roxanne only sighed while the others stood in surprise. She’d go on to mutter, “I can only imagine what brought him here.”

“Hello there.” she said with her hand reaching out to his hoof.

In silence, he let her grab a hold of his hoof and shake it.

Roxanne briefly looked up to see Maribelle, but she quickly hid behind his mane. She laughed a little. “C’mon, let’s get going.”

Marianne’s gloom was heavier than ever.

“Marianne?”

“Yes?”

“Salt Lake, right?”

“Yep, you were right Haystack. You seem to have a keen eye there.” Marianne remarked. She took out a card, displaying their next location. “I’m just worried about what they’ll be doing there.”

“Which is why I recommend that we ambush them before they can even enter!” Maribelle suggested. “If we attack them from the outside, they won’t be able to fight back! Let’s also not forget that the soviets can’t do anything about it unless they want to start another world war in the process!”

“Agree.” Marianne said. “But keep in mind how he managed to get himself out of said strategy.”

Maribelle sighed. “Right. That’s why it’s only an ambush.”

Marianne looked uneasy by this.

“The guy’s too stubborn to die. That’s why we must make it quick.”

“But there are a couple of problems to that. One, how will they be heading in? We take a big risk if we get the wrong person. Two-”

“Fine, what do you plan?” Maribelle asked modestly.

“We get someone else to do the job for us.”

“But Marianne!” Haystack objected. “If they take him, then that means-”

“Who said anything about telling them?”

Knowing the dainty grin on her face, he backed down. “Oh, I get it.”

A man’s head was against the tabletop, bleeding from the mouth. His breathing was slow, but healthy. The people on the other side of the window could tell that he was out cold.

“Don’t you think she was a bit rough on him?” Leila asked Roxanne with worry.

“Of course, but what other option did we have?” She stood up from her seat and walked out the door.

Eventually they were outside, stars were illuminating above. While a crescent moon was visible in the east. Leila and Will were deep in though during that walk, but not for long.

Will would say, “Bu-”

Only for Roxanne to interrupt him. “Go send squad five to dump the Celestianist bodies around the body. We’ll tell the authorities that she must’ve been raped before a bullet was put in her head. We managed to intercept them, but we were too late.”

Will sighed. “You know they’ll just ignore us, right?”

“Yeah.” Leila put her hands over her hips. “To them, we’re all just bad people. Surely they’ll find a way to-”

She lifted a finger. “That’s the Parliament's problem. They’re not recognized by the treaty, but we don’t exist.”

Will raised his voice. “But Roxanne-!”

“Why are you here then?”

Will and Leila looked away in pity.

“Do you hate her?” asked Leila.

“Do…”

“I’m asking you first.” she said with courage.

Roxanne looked up towards the sky. “No…, I’m just mad at her. That’s all.”

“So do you hate the system or something?”

She then faced the moon, staring at it for the time being as she conjured up an answer. After a while, her answer would be, “I shouldn’t…, but I do.”

The three sat calmly against tree in the middle of an open field. Well, it would’ve been if broken military vehicles weren’t everywhere. They were clearly exhausted from the walking. However, none of them spoke for a while ever since they left the warring city. Until…,

“Ivan, remember when I said that I’m not cool with all this?” asked Lance.

“Yeah.” Ivan answered.

“I’m still not.”

“Who would’ve thought?” He lied down on the cold soil.

“So don’t go pulling another jab at me like that. Because I swear I’ll-”

“Your family was told where you’ll be heading.”

Jacklyn, curled into a ball, hugged her legs with more force. She couldn’t stand hearing his fear coming out of his sniffled, but she had no choice.

“I… I-”

“So don’t mess this up. You couldn’t die a noble death, so don’t die a cowardly one.”

He looked down at the near black void that enveloped the ground. “Yeah, I won’t.”

“I can tell that none of you wanted to be here to begin with, but that isn’t gonna stop me from getting you guys out of here.” Ivan sat up for a moment, to grab his assault rifle and place it beside him. “Now, forget any of this ever happened, and get some sleep. We wake up early in the morning to journey our way to there, got it?”

They were silent.

“Are you people okay?"

They didn't say a word.

"Oh, well you'll get over it once we get there..., good night."

No one said anything after that. They only did as he suggested. They were already feeling the cool soil underneath them as the night dragged on. The two wondered the same thing at the moment, but the regret that was mixed with it made it difficult to let go. Even as their eyes weakened, and even after they were shut.

“Double F, this is Leon and Jenna.” Jenna called via her phone. “They fell for the fake skeleton, sir.”

“Perfect. Did you get any intel from them?”

“Yes sir, we managed to get something crucial.”

“And what’s that?”

“They’ll be heading to Salt Lake.”

There was a brief pause. “Ah, I’ll get the Utah branch to deal with that. So return to base for some R and R.”

“Yes sir.”

“Also, pat Leon on the back. His acting was stellar with that recording.”

“I will.” Then she hanged up with a cheery smile on her face. Next Chapter: Chapter 10 Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 51 Minutes