-''Doctor! What is going on?'' Radioed Texas.
I was suddenly tackled onto the useless, nonfunctional tactical display and I felt a sharp point trying to dig into my back. However, the body armour I wore under my clothes protected me from crude backstabbings such as these. I tackled down my assailant in return, getting the upper hand. Disarming him as I chocked him until he was subdued.
-''Doctor, respond!'' Demanded Texas through the radio.
I took the knife out of his hand and brought it to the neck of the traitorous Rhodes Island staffer that was attached to my logistics team. I released the pressure around his throat just enough for him to speak.
-It's too late! He'll be here. You failed Doctor! Fuck you!
I smacked the pommel of the knife into his head. Hearing an audible crack and his body became limp, falling unconscious, or dead.
-''Seems logistician Onek was the traitor all along.'' I said casually to no one in particular. Knowing my radio would transmit everything that it picked up to my teams.
-Everyone here evacuate the building through the main exit. You have thirty seconds, move!
Almost immediately all the personnel present obeyed my order and ran like Hell. Soon after I gave the command a large explosion was heard in the distance, on the opposite side of the inner building. I fine-tuned the radio under my chest pocket one more time. Wishing to continue to convey my tactical data while not letting my enemies know about it.
-My position is compromised, the main Reunion force is currently deploying on the field HQ.
-''Doctor we'll be the-'' was the last thing I heard before the sound muted itself. Reunion must have brought their own local wave jamming device.
Soon I was surrounded by more elite looking Reunion members. With one formidable and flamboyant looking ursian man in front of them all.
-Doctor of Rhodes Island. Greetings at last, I had expected you to look more... imposing.
-''General Retribution.'' I said, inspecting him up and down before continuing.
-You are shorter than I expected up close.
-Hah, we will see how your good humour holds after I am done with you.
I pulled a detonator from my pocket, thumb on the trigger.
-Our mole has already disabled your feeble explosives. Your trap has been untoothed.
I pushed the trigger and not so distant explosions shook the ground.
-All exits are sealed general. You are stuck here with me now.
-You are quite quick to impede me. Cutting me off from your tactical display and fleet of drones. Denying my troops the way behind to your forces. Yet I still have the prize I came here for Doctor, you.
-''I am afraid I will have to dispel you of that notion as well general.'' I said as I pulled off my mask and dropped the Doctor's coat. Revealing my katana strapped against my back and my handgun in my chest holster.
-''I am not the Doctor of Rhodes Island.'' I spoke then in my normal voice. ''I have been sent here in his place to negotiate with you.''
-And how would you negotiate with me and for what?
-Aggressively, for your life.
-Baah! This was all a waste of my time! Guards, take care of this nuisance!
My blade flew in the palm of my hand and sang as the closest Reunion member had his face cut in half! But they surrounded me quickly and would have been all over me in a blink. So I jumped, reaching the nearby landing of the second floor and hastily pulling myself up there. This ruin of a building was still sturdy but half open to the outside. There were many holes and crumbled walls which transformed it into a maze.
I cut another Reunioner as he jumped straight into my blade. He fell down, and I saw as the ones below were arming grenades! I ran and ducked into an adjacent room. The explosions boomed in the hallway and I could hear the shrapnel peppering into the walls. I rose, hurrying along the corridor. Footsteps were already heard stomping like a swarm of horses up the nearest steps.
I turned into a room with a downed wall and jumped towards Retributioner as I saw him just ten meters away! My katana ready to split his head. But I was denied as he quickly blocked with his mace. I landed onto one of his personal guards. He stumbled under me, and he met his death at the mace of Retribution himself as he was aiming for me! Yet I quickly rolled to avoid the deadly blow last second, swinging my sword onto another enemy as I jumped up my feet.
-''Dispose of this nuisance already!'' He demanded.
I briefly duelled with a Reunion sword fighter. One block, one parry, another swing deflected, yet my fourth move cut under his armpit and into his torso. Prompting him to give a pained gurgle before dying. The situation was getting too heated for my personal liking and contrary to all opinions I didn't particularly enjoyed being murdered.
Retribution went further ahead as he let his bodyguards do his work to try to kill me. While he watched impassively at a distance at this uneven duel going on. These elites were good, damn good. Not as good as me but bunched up together from all around it was a matter of time before I was to be killed most gruesomely. So I dodged, ducked and slipped past the encirclement, managing to plunge into the building again. A large explosion swept me off my feet as somebody must have flung an explosive or used arts not far behind me. My back was peppered but luckily not shredded thanks to my body armour.
-''Hiaaaaaaaaah!'' A demented scream came out of the darkness from deeper inside the building.
Suddenly I saw an enemy coming with his sword raised, poised to cut me in half while I was still down. I blocked the sword with my arm guard and quickly grabbed and pulled hard on one of his legs with my other hand. He fell. I got up and punched his balls, soliciting a thin groan as I destroyed his descendants!
Taking up my sword I ran past him as I could hear boots coming close from where I was blown in. It was like a game of cat and mouse. I ran and hid through the maze of the derelict building. Cutting the opportunistic lone Reunion stalker and running again before they merged on my position.
The special reinforcements that I was supposed to have as backup were nowhere to be seen or heard from. And Retribution could very well have gotten away while it was a matter of time until I was finally bunched up upon and taken out of the picture.
Thus, I decided to use the one trick left up my sleeve. I went up two more floors to a certain room and fished out a special grenade belt. Having hidden it there just in case it was needed for such an occasion. I then quickly ran to another room where its inner wall to the courtyard was felled and started spinning the thing.
In quick succession I released grenade after grenade into the courtyard. All ten of them, and I was rewarded by sequential booms and screams of pain. Going back and then rushing forward I jumped from the building in the direction of Retributioner with my sword ready to swing again at him!
It made contact with his chest, and it pierced! But he just heaved lightly in pain, backing one pace before he swung his mace faster than one would expect for his size! I parried, but I was still touched by his weapon and flung back into the dirt, breathless. It seemed he thought of a few tricks as well as I noticed he also had a protective vest under his Reunion uniform.
-''How dare you! You fucking no-one! You think you have what it takes to kill ME!?'' Retributioner bellowed with indignant anger.
-You're surrounded you impudent wretch!
I chopped the head off of the praetorian guard that just addressed me.
-All I am surrounded by is fear and dead men!
That seemed to have given the Reunion forces around me some pause, but it didn't stop them from marching towards me. Oh good, If I wasn't going to be killed by being hacked to pieces by his emasculated bodyguards he would crush me himself while his underlings formed a circle around us.
He was fast for his size and his swings had enough force to sweep me off my feet if I stood my ground. That made fighting him tricky, not to mention that his elite guard weren't content to let the fight be just between me and him. They were actually lunging at me for opportunistic attacks and I had to fight multiple enemies at once!
I don't know for how long the fight went on, but my wounds kept adding up. I managed to cut down or gravely wound a few of the elites, however I could not land enough hits on Retributioner himself for my own comfort. The adrenaline was pumping hot in my blood and my muscles were straining to their apex trying to keep me a step ahead of my enemy's moves.
But I couldn't tell how much longer this would last. And Doctor's reinforcements were still nowhere to be seen. I was having doubts about my chances of survival on this one. And it sank that I couldn't rely on anyone or anything but myself to get out of this situation. A reliance that I felt wasn't going to be enough.
I was surrounded by rows of Reunion. I couldn't make an escape through them even if I wanted to this time. My only chance to overcome this trap was to fight on until the bitter end. Until they were all dead! Yet a fool's hope that would be! My gift gave me superior stamina and faster reactions, yet it could only last me so long against this army. I had no plan. Yet I had to remain alive until I thought of one.
Suddenly I felt a foot land on top of my shoulder. Then with a great force against me that almost broke me off my own feet it leapt off against Retributioner, it was Projekt Red! In midair she threw three knives that landed into his upper chest though that didn't seem to unfaze him much. However, she grabbed upon his mace and with the other stabbed his hand. He grunted in pain as I never heard him before until now. And then I started to hear even more commotion behind me.
The circle of elites was being ripped apart as a white storm of swords forced herself into the fray. The nearest enemies that were poised to jump me were shot down by pinpoint accurate arrows and Texas appeared killing her way through the entrapment herself and towards Retributioner! I hadn't expected them to manage to reach me so quickly if at all but I was damn glad they did.
I joined back into the fight with them. And as I turned my attention toward Retributioner I saw Red making another move against him. Yet this time she was struck by a glancing hit from his swinging mace, propelling her onto the ground but giving Texas an opening! She swung her swords and pierced deeply up through his torso, slashing her way up to his neck! It was a bloody move that saw the life of this Reunion general leave his body. He rippled a few bloody sounds through his shredded throat before his body became limp and fell on the ground.
Confirming his death Texas quickly headed to cut down the elites that were now in disarray and dwindling by the second. In less than ten minutes the last Reunion fighter was contaminating the ground with their originum enriched blood. Now the two support teams lead by Rangers and Corne were linking up with us. They seamed to have had their own battles flushing out the Reunion from in and around the building, as they looked battered and wounded as much as we were.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
I turned my attention to finding Red for obvious reasons. She was sitting on a slab of concrete, holding onto a bloody wound, seemingly panting lightly. A Rhodes Island medic was approaching her yet stopped a few good feet away, seemingly frozen in place. Red looked up at her impassively.
-What are you waiting for? Do your duty!
The medic looked at me as if gripped by an invisible terror. My anger flared like in past times of darker days and in a moment where I didn't hold back anymore I punched her to the ground. Everyone was then looking at me shocked.
-''Leave!'' I snapped.
-Remove yourself from the battlefield and think on your weaknesses until you are fit to attend your duties without distraction! And leave your trauma bag to me!
I took the large trauma bag as the medic operator scooted away in tears and blood and I approached Projekt Red.
-Red, please let me tend to your wounds. Doctor Kal'tsit taught me advanced first aid.
She looked at me with a flicker of uncertainty before relenting. I approached her as she took off her jacket and pulled up her shirt. I couldn't help but admire just for a few moments her fine and well toned body. I focused and looked at the wound. It was below her breast line. It fortunately didn't seem like a deep one. But there could still have been a broken rib or a pierced lung under all that flesh. I disinfected the wound, applying a special antiseptic and healing gel before wrapping the wound with bandages around that level of the torso. Giving her a special long-lasting painkiller to tough the long journey back to Rhodes.
-Please don't make any sudden movements until we are back on the landship. I cannot tell if anything more important is broken inside you at the moment.
-''Can you breathe and walk Red?'' I asked sincerely for her well-being, and she looked somewhat uncomfortable to be given such attention.
-Yes, I can.
-Good. Once in the van you can lay down if you feel like it.
-''Tacet.'' She spoke to gain my attention, looking below my eye level and I followed her gaze.
I felt it before I saw it. The sting that I sensed before was now a growing pain. The other operators of the core team were then assembling besides us.
-''You're soaked in your own blood Tacet.'' Red said with concern that quickly caught the attention of Texas, Provence and Lappland.
It started to hurt like Hell. It was that hit that I barely managed to block from Retributioner's mace. The more I looked, the more I noticed that my body armour was pierced, and my inner shirt were soaked in blood. And it continued to flow steadily down into my pants and even drip on the soil beneath me from the edges of my body armour.
-I can still very much walk. Let's all go to our transports and get back home. I'll get my first aid on the road.
They looked at me with doubt, but nobody would voice anything against me. Texas, in good fashion of an exemplar leader went and helped Red, though she seemed very much able to walk. And bled no more from the wound she let me mend. We walked in the direction where our vehicles were parked three blocks away. We were about to join with the original backup team, led by the Radiant Knight and Shinning before I started to lose my balance, almost stumbling down.
-''Tacet!'' I heard a voice.
-''I am... fine...'' I said while I was trying to gasp for air. Yet I realised I was close to losing my consciousness at that point. Not from the terrible pain but from the feeling of lacking oxygen in me.
-''Grab him!'' Another voice exclaimed, which I couldn't determine in the gathering haze over my mind.
Next thing I realised was Texas holding me on my left side while Provence was on my right. Helping me carry my weight as I barely could hold my consciousness together and my feet steady even less.
-''Gah.'' I grunted, even talking was becoming a difficult thing to accomplish.
-''It's going to be fine. Just stay with us.'' Texas spoke to me.
-''Stay awake Tacet! Talk with us!'' Begged Provence as I looked at her face, distinguishing her more hazily than prior.
I gave a growl as I saw Shinning and Nearl approaching fast. I couldn't say why. Perhaps my mental barriers gave way from reason and paranoia arose in its stead. With the last moment of clear sight that I had I noticed the four lupo operators around me perk their ears up from my growl, scrutinizing the approaching backup more sharply. And they seemed to tighten their hands on their weapons just a little more.
My consciousness started going on and off, and I couldn't hold my line of thought anymore. I heard different voices here and there, but I could still somewhat recognise the four lupo's distinct voices most of the time besides me. I was taken somewhere. I felt movement. I woke back up to see the ceiling of a van.
I was laid down, and I could feel my head laying on top of a heavenly fluff. I realised it was Provence's tail. She was besides me and on my left was another medic tending to my wounds. Behind was Projekt Red, looking down and studying me.
-He lost quite a lot of blood and I suspect one of his lungs is pierced.
-''How bad?'' Provence asked.
-Should've been worse actually, but it seems he is pulling through. Though I wouldn't chance to guess. He needs a blood infusion, or he could still die by exsanguination.
-''Hey! Tacet!'' Provence beamed up as she noticed me awakening.
-Don't worry, we got you cared for! Texas is rushing us as quickly as a Penguin Logistics deliverer can go back to Rhodes Island!
She was beautiful when she was worried like that I thought.
-''How do you feel?'' Asked the medic besides me, a young vulpo looking doctor.
-''Freezing.'' I answered with a weak voice evident even to me.
-''Can't we do anything more?'' Provence snapped her attention and worry back to the doctor.
-''We already covered him with a thermal blanket.'' Said the medic.
Provence was in thought for a moment. She then seamed to have come to a decision. She pulled her tail from beneath my head and slithered it under the thermal blanket and onto my chest. It was so comfortable and warm. I couldn't help but grasp it with the little force I had in my hands.
-''T-Tacet! Please don't squeeze!'' She said a little flushed at the sensation but determined to endure it for my sake.
-''Pro-vence.'' I managed to utter weakly before losing even the words I wanted to speak.
Her gaze came back onto mine expectantly, but I was slowly sinking. She moved her lips, and I couldn't hear her anymore. Soon all went dark and silent around me.
Dim lights like that of two moons above a cloud in the deepest of nights flashed here and there in the void. Far heard voices echoed, but I couldn't understand any.
-Am I dying?
-No my friend. Not if I can convince you otherwise.
-What happened this time?
-You took on a great challenge to overcome for the sake of those close to you.
-And I failed?
-You succeeded. Though you walk on Death's edge once more.
-Feels like ages since I've seen you Joshua.
-It is good to see you too.
-I feel... strange.
-It is normal, you are still adjusting to your new life.
-It feels too queer, bizarre even sometimes.
-You have been through a lot in your short life. But I believe you will find your peace my friend.
-How Joshua?
-What is the last thing you remember?
-I... remember the soft touch of her tail's fur in my grasp.
-How does it make you feel?
-Warm... flush with life.
-There is your way.
A light was growing rapidly out of nowhere, engulfing me in it! I awoke in a bed in one of Rhodes Island's medical wards. I took my time gathering my wits and my memories. Going through everything that happened. In the end I pushed the button to signal the nurse on duty and a feline looking boy greeted me.
-Hey, it's good to see you back with us.
-Thanks, mind if I can get my personal device? I'll be bored out of my mind soon.
-Of course, just a moment. Here you go.
-Thanks a lot, that's all I needed.
-No problem. Buzz us anytime you need anything.
I looked on my PDA and checked the date. It was the same day only late in the day. A new notification was on wait.
-Private Message: To main personnel of Core Squad. Debriefing scheduled at 21:30 in Doctor's office.
Huh. They probably wouldn't expect me if I dropped in. I had twenty-four minutes to spare. I checked my wounds, and they all seamed sealed enough though a damn still too painful. They probably pumped enough blood in me to walk straight as well by now. So I carefully unplugged all the tubes that were stitched in me and got up to look for a fresh pair of clothes.
---Doctor's office, 21:29---
I opened the door and was greeted with surprise from those present.
-''Whoa! He's alive!'' Exclaimed Lappland half jokingly.
-''Tacet!'' Provence beamed up.
-''You shouldn't be here operator Tacet.'' Declared Kal'tsit who was besides the Doctor.
-''With respect I must digress doctor Kal'tsit.'' I retorted as I pulled out my device with the meeting notification on the screen.
-''Are you sure you're feeling well enough to go through it?'' Asked Doctor with his usual sincere concern.
-I am my good Doctor, unless you planned to cut me out of this debriefing.
-No one planned to do that. We just didn't expect for you to recuperate this fast. Yet now that you are here we can commence the debriefing.
I took the last spare seat and waited for the certain accusations against me. In the room there was the pack, Texas, Lappland, Provence and Projekt Red. Along with the Doctor and Kal'tsit by his side.
-''As you all probably figured by now this was a delicate operation that just happened.'' Started the Doctor.
-We knew we had a Reunion spy amongst us, and we knew vital intel was being leaked. Thus began a carefully thought plan by me and doctor Kal'tsit to put in motion.
-Through Tacet that posed as me, we managed to lure out both the traitor amidst us and the Reunion leader known as Retributioner. Though things could have gone better we have nevertheless succeeded.
-''For how long has Tacet been acting as you Doctor?'' Asked Texas.
-Fourteen days.
-He posed as you all this time while you were guiding us from the shadows then.
-Oh no, you misunderstand Texas. He has been handling all my duties. Including being in command and control of all the missions during this time. While me and doctor Kal'tsit were solving other problems from the shadows.
All the lupos in the room seamed surprised at this revelation though I didn't particularly care for it.
-''Wait, that means he also had complete access to all our files then!'' Exclaimed Lappland.
At that remark all the gazes of the lupos seamed to shift on me. Yes, here came the inevitable accusations of abusing my post. Better try my best to dispel them.
-''I had access, yes. But I didn't use it to any of your files.'' I spoke sure and to the point.
-''And we are just supposed to take your word for it?'' Asked Lappland.
-''Operator Tacet is telling the truth. We strictly monitor who accesses any file in our database. He has not accessed any of your files nor anyone's.'' Said Kal'tsit, dispelling any doubts left.
-Huh, I bet you were tempted to dig in though.
-I was, but then I gave it no more mind. Bigger fish to fry and all that besides a mountain of boring paperwork to go through.
-''Operator Tacet has respected all of your privacy, that you can be assured of.'' Affirmed the Doctor.
After having both Kal'tsit's and Doctor's backup I could read a sort of genuine respect growing in the lupo's eyes. It felt strange for some reason.
-''However, your conduct after the end of the mission was left being wanted, operator Tacet.'' Kal'tsit spoke, changing her tone as she continued.
-You broke the jaw of a fellow doctor just because she was in shock.
-She refused to aid a fellow operator who was badly wounded. She was found lacking and for that I relieved her of her duty. And then I went to personally treat operator Red myself!
I uttered with probably a little too much force in my words. As Projekt Red for her part seamed to be a little embarrassed at my words.
-''I personally thank you for picking up that task. But that was not the right way to proceed.'' Kal'tsit said further.
-Well, perhaps next time you can deploy actual combat doctors that won't put our lives in danger with their inabilities doctor Kal'tsit. That is all I have to say.
-Very well, your point is more than valid operator Tacet.
-''However, all of you nearly caused an incident at the end of the mission.'' Continued Kal'tsit as she then addressed the four lupos.
Remembering back I could probably surmise what this incident was about. But there were too many blank spots in my memory to form something concrete.
-All of you refused to hand over Tacet to operator Shinning to be treated. Even you Red.
The lupos suddenly looked tense, including Projekt Red.
-And because of it you nearly clashed with operator Nearl who had explicit orders from me.
-Yet you still refused to let Tacet be taken and treated by the most skilled medic on the battlefield that day. Why was that?
The lupos avoided answering her question. So I intervened.
-You can probably guess why doctor Kal'tsit. I told them to be weary of them.
-''You told them that? Why would you?'' Asked Kal'tsit in a grave and perplexed tone.
-I was to take Retributioner down with Nearl and her backup team. Yet I was left trapped and alone with them nowhere in sight except for when the battle ended.
-If it weren't for the pack that was the Core Team I would have died doctor Kal'tsit!
-Your plan would have quite failed, and I would have been the one to pay with my life.
-I had good reasons to suspect that another possible traitor had meddled with our plans or possibly even more.
-''You distrusted Nearl, the Radiant Knight?'' Shot Kal'tsit point blankly.
-I did. And with my last breath before I passed out I told them to be weary as I saw them approach me.
-I couldn't have trusted anyone with my dying life at that point but the operators of the pack.
-''Your deduction was very cautious bordering on paranoia.'' Said Kal'tsit.
-''Yet still.'' Kal'tsit continued as she addressed the group of four lupos again.
-What inspired you all to hold onto Tacet so fiercely? Each of you were willing to battle the Radiant Knight to the death, she told me that much.
Again silence and all the lupos gave off an embarrassed and insecure vibe. Finally, Texas took the word.
-He won our trust, that's it doctor Kal'tsit.
Kal'tsit frowned, yet she wouldn't push the subject any more.
-''From now on I would like to avoid such incidents and let clear heads prevail. Traitor or none in our midst.'' Finished Kal'tsit, and they all nodded to placate her.
-''We must praise Tacet for his quick thinking though. Disabling the tactical map and the drone control took away the enemy's ability to reign control of our resources, doctor Kal'tsit.'' Spoke the Doctor trying to improve the mood in the room.
-''I agree. However, I doubt the tactical benefit of trapping himself inside with the enemy, that wasn't part of our plan. What was your reasoning operator Tacet?'' Asked Kal'tsit.
-I didn't want Reunion to have a clear line to ambush my operators from behind.
-I had to shield my teams of one possible danger to them while entrapping the Reunion force inside the compound with me.
-''Which put you in mortal danger.'' Added Kal'tsit.
-I was expecting your reinforcements that were supposed to have come on time. Even so I more than had enough cover with the maze of the building itself to buy time, I relied on that.
-''An objective deduction, I agree.'' Said Kal'tsit before addressing all of us.
-But I will expect a written report by tomorrow night from each of you to the Doctor.
-''It seems we covered the most important parts of the operation.'' The Doctor spoke.
-''Indeed, all fits in with our current reports.'' Concluded doctor Kal'tsit.
-There is one more thing I have to add. Operator Tacet, Rhodes Island offers you the position of commander, likewise of that of the Doctor.
-''I refuse.'' I answered simply and blatantly.
Now that really caught everyone's surprise, both promotion and definitive rejection in quick succession.
-May I know the reason?
-I wouldn't be paid enough for that. I only have to look at our good and overworked Doctor to realise I am right.
-There would be a large cash salary that comes with it.
-Not enough for the amount of work and responsibility that is asked for.
-What if I give you an offer you can't refuse?
-Then I would get mighty disrespectful.
-What if I give you an ultimatum?
-Then I'd resign and apply for Rhine Labs or Penguin Logistics. Either way you won't force your burdens on me.
-''Emperor is actually hiring.'' Texas chimed in.
-Doctor Kal'tsit, Tacet, please! This discussion is becoming inconsiderate. Let us calm down.
-Very well operator Tacet. You may continue your normal work as an operator under the Doctor's retinue.
-Thank you doctor Kal'tsit.
-''So, Tacet...'' trailed Lappland with a grin.
''Ah shit, here we go again.'' I thought.
-''Read my file if you want to know.'' I said as I raised myself from the seat.
-''I didn't even ask yet! And your file is classified!'' She said partly annoyed, her smug look brushed off.
-''I know.'' I replied then as I had a smug look on.
-''Need to go back to the infirmary Tacet?'' Asked the Doctor.
-Going to get a drink. You can find me at our usual spot if you want to share one my good Doctor.
I left the room and the meeting probably soon concluded after that.