I clenched my fists as I walked forward, “You dare to take my wife?”
One of the wolf people came closer, “We told you we would come, we are early, since you killed my brother.”
I cracked my knuckles, “Oh, get over it. He tried to murder me first.” I beckoned him closer, “Come get some if you dare.” He charged at me with his sword primed, I heard Megan screech behind me. I dodged aside from the incoming sword, and gave the wolf person an uppercut, then I punched him in has face. While he was distracted, I pushed myself against him and swung to his back. I grabbed his tail and yanked it.
He screamed in pain, it is their most sensitive part. Then I put my knee in his back and pushed him back. You could hear bones snap. He still tried to swing his sword my way. I blocked his arm and headbutted him, then I grabbed his neck and snapped it. He fell dead to the ground, I picked up the sword.
Megan stared at me, “Holy shit, I can see you are from the Doom Corps.”
I raised my hand towards Megan, “Not now, Megan, stay back.” I walked over to the remaining nine wolf people. “Do you still dare to take me one on one?”
All the wolf people yelled while charging at me, “Show no honor or mercy, take his life!”
I smiled, “Alright then, playtime is over.” The first wolf person swung his sword at me, I blocked it, I grabbed his neck and lifted him up, and swung his body to stop another incoming sword, blood splattered everywhere. Then I pushed my sword through the wolf person I was holding, it came out the other end. I charged forward through the screaming wolf people. Everyone who tried to slash me, hit their dead friend, still splattering blood all over the place.
As I turned around, I threw the corpse on the ground. A wounded wolf person swung his sword at me, I used my sword to block his blow and throw his sword away, then I slit his throat. “Three down, seven to go.”
I looked at the disoriented group of seven wolf people. I threw my sword into the air, picked up the other one and threw it with pinpoint accuracy through one of the wolf people’s brain. His brain matter splattered all over the place, including blood and gore. “Six to go.”
One of them charged at me, I caught my sword and swung aside, then I cut my sword through his face, two times. Another wolf person charged at me, I kicked him aside while I saw a spear fly at my, I leaned backwards, and it flew over me. As I got up, I swung my sword upwards through the wolf person who had been holding his face to stop the bleeding. Something new happened, one of them shot magic of some kind at me.
I raised my sword and managed to deflect it. Good to know, it can be deflected. Accidentally, the magic beam hit another wolf person, right in his groin. The wolf person that I had kicked aside came back, throwing magic balls at me. I dodged them until I saw an opening and threw my sword at his heart, it hit, and blood covered the wolf person behind him. “That's five down, five to go.”
One of the magic balls hit my left arm and a huge gaping wound appeared as my blood splattered around. I ran over to the wolf person shooting magic at me, dodging the others that tried to stop my advance. I jumped over a sword and double kicked the one shooting magic. With a swift movement, I jumped up and walked over to wolf person still trying to get up. I smashed my boot on his face a few times as blood flew everywhere. I drew his spear as I saw the others come for me, I threw it, and it soared through the air with massive speed. It hit two of them, right through their left eyes.
The last two looked at each other, not sure what to do. I walked over, they were clearly shaking in their boots. I grabbed their heads and bonked them together, over and over. With a lot of force as brain matter, blood and gore started flying everywhere, including on me. As they were clearly dead, I threw them to the ground. “And, that is ten down. With no weapons of my own, might I add.”
I walked over to Megan, she stared at me. “Holy fuck Steve. You are a, fucking murder machine.”
I smiled, “Only when I need to be, and they took my wife. Megan, I will be back for that scoop.”
She handed me the pie. “You are going to need this for when you get your wife back.”
“Thanks, Megan. Bob?”
“Yes?”
“We are going home to get geared up, get some information, a layout if possible, and then we’ll travel to another reality to get Lory back.”
Megan looked at me, “I already feel sorry for the people who took her.”
I walked away, “Believe me, they will be sorry.” Bob and I got in the car and we drove home. Bob was not lying, there were dead agents, dead wolf people, and numerous living agents wiping the memories of the bystanders and securing the site.
I parked the car, and walked into my house, the door was open. I put the pie in the fridge. F sat at the table, he looked at me, “What happened to you?”
“Oh, you know, they send ten of them to kill me.”
F blinked a couple of times, “And you won, without weapons?”
“Yes, F, will you ever learn? You should not underestimate me when I am angry. They have mean magic, though.”
F sighed, “Yes, our agents learned that. We have made a prototype to open a portal to their reality. However, they have blocked it with some kind of jammer. You need to go out there and destroy it. We have located the building that they have hidden their jammer in, it is most likely guarded. Are you ready?”
After a deep sigh, I just stared at him for a second,“Let me get freshened up, then I will need my tuxedo, and my gear.” I walked to the bathroom, knowing F will get my gear ready, he used to be my handler after all.
Once I had freshened up, Bob walked over to me, “Is Lory going to be okay?”
“Of course, she is, they didn’t want to kill her, they just wanted her back. Now, they will have to deal with my fury.” I put on the protective suit. This time, I don’t wear it for love, this time, I am wearing it for war. One man, against an army. Not my first time, hopefully my last. Then I walked into my living room and F had indeed parked my gear. “Thanks, Frank.”
He smiled, “You usually don’t use my name.”
“Take it as a sign of gratitude.” I put on my utility belts, for my ankles, my arms, and around my waist. Then I put on a bandolier, it is crossed like an X, it can hold a lot of ammo, and some weapons. Then I picked up a handgun, this one is called Sugar. I put it in my left ankle belt. Next up is another handgun. This one went into my right ankle belt, it is called the Smooth Shooter. When I get floored, I tend out to bring out this one. It has a fast fire rate, it is also accurate.
Then I picked up my favorite handgun, it is called Honor’s Call. This one had been handed to me by the President of the United States. Right before I left for my mission to assassinate the dictator. Despite being the best in every fighting style, all kinds of weapon usage, the best response rate. 100% tests, I was still a newbie back then. Action, and many near-death experiences, have made me the man I am today.
I put it on the right side of my utility belt. Then, I had Infinity, my fourth handgun. This one got named for the massive size of its magazine. Being able to load 28 bullets into a handgun, made for less reloading and more killing. Then I picked up my shotgun, a different one. This is my standard shotgun, the Brutalizer. It has a low spread, and a good focus. Being able to shoot from farther away, but at close range, this thing is not only going to take your head off but also a big part of your upper body.
I attached it to the back of my bandolier. Then I picked up my rocket launcher, it had been modified to be as light as possible, still, very deadly if fired in small spaces. This one is called the Catastrophe. Mostly used in very dangerous situations, but good to have as a backup. It does not hold many rockets and reloading takes long. However, if something like a tank or a helicopter comes your way, a shotgun is not going to take it down. It is also the reason I am only taking two rockets with me, and two already loaded. Since if I need to fire it, I would rather not sit there reloading a rocket launcher for twenty seconds. The rocket launcher went on my back as well. It took up quite some space, along with the specialized bandolier to hold two rockets. This thing has saved me on multiple occasions.
Then I picked up my rifle, this one can be used to pick off enemies from faraway. While not a sniper rifle, it still had a decent range, and it deals a lot of damage. This one is called the Eternal Rest, since getting hit by it, usually involves a lot of dying. I also put it on my back, which is now completely occupied. Then I loaded up some daggers, a few grenades, three medical kits, they had the basics to wrap up a wound. I picked up a small portable burner, it is a nifty device the order created. Did you get shot? Burn the wound, and find out later if the bullet is still in there.
As for weapons, I am not done yet, we still had two machine guns, my Uzi’s. These are my Shooting Stars, need to enter a room full of bad guys? Just run in blasting with these. They will not know what hit them, modified to improve the accuracy and reduce spread damage. Making it easy to focus on the targets at hand. My last gun I usually picked up before going on a mission, my modified magnum, it is called the Last Chance. If you see me pull this gun, you better run. These things pack some heat, it can only hold three bullets, sadly, reloading it is difficult, typically I keep it loaded. It is three times as powerful as the known magnums. Let me say, I shot somebody with this once, he exploded.
If you shoot someone point-blank on his head, it is not like in the movies. Their head will explode and blood will fly everywhere. I put it on my utility belt on the backside. F looked at me as he put his hands on his waist, “It has been a long time since I have seen you gear up, it is always a sight to behold with how much care you handle your weapons, and with how much pride. They have been with you since the beginning, some of them longer, some of them shorter. But you never change guns.”
I let out a grin, “I am ready for war.”
F opened up a suitcase, he pulled out a silver looking gun, it had some kind of energy tube in it. He offered it to me. I took the gun, “What kind is it?”
F smiled, “It is a new device we have been working on, it shoots energy beams.”
“What? Like the magic those Wolf people use? That is nifty. How does it work? Just point and shoot?”
F nodded, “It automatically recharges. This is a prototype, we have not sanctioned it for use in the order yet.”
I weighed the gun in my hand, then I aimed it at the wall. “Well, it is mine now, it needs a name. It uses magic, it is a bit of a sci-fi gun. You will be my Proton Gun.”
After checking it out more, I put it on the final spot on my utility belt. I am completely decked out now. Then I started loading up ammunition loads of ammunition. The whole bandolier got filled up. Then I put on ammo belts, ammo for the smaller guns, not a minigun ammo belt. Those were only for specific missions. I put the ammo belts around the upper part of my left and right leg.
“Alright, now where is this building you were talking about?” He handed me a map, and a GPS. “Good, is the car ready?” F sighed.
“What is the problem?”
“The car is ready.”
“Then what is the problem?”
“They are expensive, and you never bring her back in one piece.”
I chuckled, “Don’t count on it.” We walked outside, and I saw my mission car, she had been through a lot, she had been repaired many times, it even got a blown up a few times. However, the Order always fixed her up for me. They have a debt to pay to me. I saved the world two times, and I did many other things for them. It is a black, sleek modern Chevrolet. This car has those awesome doors that open upwards.
I walked over and put my hand on the door, a scanner appeared, then it talked, “Identity confirmed, spec-op agency, man at arms, Steve.”
I got into the car and put the GPS in its dock. I stroke my hand over the wheel. It has been a long time since I sat here. I closed the door, it was time to save Lory. I had to take the highway, F saluted as I left, I saluted back. If you think driving with this many guns is uncomfortable, or even practical, then you are right. But after years of doing so, I have gotten used to it. It is important to buckle up, my car rides never end well.
I made my way to the building that F mentioned, on the highway, a portal opened up behind me, a gigantic one. Then some kind of green tank came out, not one of ours. It even had some kind of tube that seemed to be able to shoot magic balls. I honked my horn, and it made a blaring sound as a message got announced from a loud external speaker. “This is the Doom corps, if you are near me, then get the hell out of dodge, things are heating up.”
Numerous cars went aside, I just created a huge traffic jam, but the way had been cleared in no time. I pushed a few buttons in the car while unbuckling myself, the tank fired at me. I swung aside with my car, then I slowed down to end up next to the tank. After pushing the final button, the car drove on its own. Then I opened the door, thank god it opened upward.
I jumped out of the car and grabbed onto the tank, slowly I climbed and opened the hatch. A sword came out, I swayed aside and pulled out my magnum. I pointed it down and saw at least four wolf people. I shot my magnum, and it boomed as it echoed throughout the tank. It shot through one of the wolf people, into the head, and it came out of its foot, blood and gore splattered over everyone.
While they were blinded, I jumped back to my car and looked at the tank driving off the highway, it landed with an intense loud thud that kept ringing, the earth shook. I sighed, “I already got blood in my car.” More portals opened up behind me and I saw motor riders, they all had black helmets.
Bob looked at me, he had jumped into the car before I left home. “What is it, Bob?”
“There are people firing at us.”
“Yes, and the tank did not bother you?”
“Not that much.”
I grunted as I pulled out a handgun and leaned out while firing at the motor, instead of the armored people. I hit a tire and the motor flew aside while hitting one of his friends. Bullets flew my way and I quickly hid in my car. As I heard them reloading, I turned around and kept on firing, I hit more tires, and they flew upside down, one of them landed on the car, unfortunately, the person who was trying to kill me, did not die.
I saw a head appear in the open car door, he tried stabbing me with a dagger. I leaned away and pulled out my shotgun. Then, I smiled, “Say hi to the birdie.” I fired the shotgun, right in his face. His helmet shattered and pieces of his skull flew around. Then the dead wolf person slid off the car and landed with a loud thud on the highway, getting launched away by the force.
Bob looked at me, “I like this version of you.”
“I am busy, Bob!” As I looked around, it seemed calm, except for the wake of destruction and death I left behind. My phone rang, I picked it up, as my car was driving.
“S reporting here, what do you want to know F?”
“I want to know what the fuck is going on, we are getting messages from all over the place that a tank has been sighted falling off the highway.”
“Oh, yeah, they sent a tank to kill me.”
“You derailed it?”
“Yep, with a single bullet. I am closing in. I apologize for the mess, they however, are throwing everything they got at me.”
“It is alright, S, you need to stop the emperor and save Lory. There is something I need to tell you, if you fire the Proton Gun at the reality portal from our side, it should disconnect them to us. Meaning, they cannot travel back to us. Get in there, get Lory back and seal the portals.”
“I got it, one second.” I looked out of the car window and a massive portal opened up. A huge energy beam erupted from it and the whole highway I was on started exploding. My car flew through the air. While doing that, I buckled up and pulled on the headrest, some kind of protective shield came out of it and I pulled it over me as I grabbed Bob. This all happened in a few seconds.
The car landed with a loud thud and everything shook. I am so glad I asked F to invest in that. He always said, no, it is never going to work. I grabbed the phone, it had been flung around, but it worked. “S here, F, fuck you, that shield thing worked perfectly. Moreover, I think the highway is gone.”
“S!?” “What happened?”
“I think they shot a gigantic laser at me.” Slowly I crawled out of the car. Bob shook his fur. I sighed, “I think I need to walk the rest of the way.” Portals started opening in front of me. I already had cuts and bruises, I think a piece of skull has been embedded into my left leg. “F?”
“Yes?”
“I have some shit to attend to.”
“Alright, S, this reality is counting on you to complete this mission.”
“Alright, for Lory, and our world. One final mission F, this is it, after this I am done.”
“S?”
“Yes?”
“You always say that, and good luck, may god be with you.” I hung up the phone and saw wolf people come out of the portals.
I drew my Uzi’s, “Bob?”
“Yes?”
“Get on my shoulder.”
“But I am fucking huge.”
“Really? Just follow me but stay close to me, I don’t want you to get harmed.” I started running forward, they started firing magic at me. I slid over the ground and fired bullets towards them. Wolf people started falling down as bullets sprayed everywhere, blood, gore, and brain matter flew everywhere. As one of the wolf people, ran my way, I put my left Uzi back, and grabbed a grenade. At the same time, I reloaded my right Uzi. As the wolf person swung their sword at me, I dodged aside, pulled the pin out of the grenade, and jammed it in his mouth.
I picked him up, and threw him to a group of seven wolf people firing magic at me. A massive explosion rocked the ground. All seven of them, did not expect their friend to blow up. This street had just been turned into a bloodbath. As I looked around, the other wolf people started retreating. After making sure both of my Uzi’s were reloaded, I put them back. Something caught my eye, a small magic beam came my way, I jumped away while picking up Bob and rolled away behind a building. “Thanks, Steve.”
“Don’t mention it. Can you see where they are firing from, Bob?”
He peeked around the corner, “Yes, I think from the building you need to go to. They are on the roof.”
“Thanks Bob.”
I grabbed my rifle and removed a scope from one of the bandolier pouches. In a few seconds, it had been attached. I turned around the corner and looked where Bob had told me to look, and lo and behold, nine of them stood ready to fire. Their hands glowed. In a rapid succession, I shot six bullets, all of them perfect headshots. Then I leaned back and started reloading. When I looked again, they were hiding behind a piece of metal. I aimed the gun higher, and at a wall. “Just, like playing pool.”
I fired the rifle, and it hit the wall behind one of the wolf people, the bullet ricocheted into the back of his head. The others started panicking and ran over to their friend, two shots later, they lay dead next to their friend. I leaned back and reloaded. “Bob, lookout.”
He turned around the corner. “They are dragging the bodies away, I think they are ordering them to stay off the roof. Perhaps, they have learned the error of their mistake by pissing you off?”
I chuckled, “I fear not, we better get into that building and teach them a lesson.”
After making sure all my guns were properly loaded, and removing the scope, I got up. I looked around the corner, and the roof seemed to be clear. Then I started running towards the normal-looking house. When I got closer, I saw at least twenty wolf people making some kind of energy wall to block the door. They started firing at me with their magic beams. I slid over the floor and landed behind a car. Magic hit the car and flew beside me. Bob looked at me, “What is your plan, Steve?”
I smiled, “It is time for an explosive entrance.” I grabbed my rocket launcher, I did the proper checks. For many reasons, I don’t want this thing going off in my face. I stood up as I let the rocket launcher lean on my shoulder. A magic beam hit my right leg, but the suit did indeed make sure my leg did not split apart. It did hurt, though. Then I fired a rocket. They stopped firing and looked at each other, they knew they were fucked. The rocket hit the energy wall and a massive explosion occurred. As I looked, everyone had been splattered into tiny pieces.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Quickly, I ran over to the entrance. On the inside, it did not look like a normal house. Giant vents, metal walls, no decorations. A wolf person jumped at me from behind, I blocked their sword with my right arm and blood gushed out as a small cut appeared in my suit.
In a reflex, I pulled out a dagger and slit his throat. Blood sprayed over me. I kicked in the vent, knowing I will probably need it. Then I heard a bullet soar through the air, it hit my shoulder. Even though this suit is made to stop the incoming bullets, it still went through, some kind of magnum. I turned around to look at a female wolf. “You must be the one that killed J, that is his gun.”
She walked closer, the gun ready to fire. Blue, flowing hair neatly coiffured to reveal a craggy, warm face. Lidded red eyes, set dreadfully within her sockets. “What are you doing here, Steve?”
“You know why I am here, you took my wife.”
“Yes, my sister.”
I gasped, “Then you know why I need to get her back. She does not want to be there. She wants to be with me. What is your name?”
“My name is Valentine.”
“Alright, then why did you kill J?”
“I didn’t, I got this gun for helping in the raid. I disagree with the plan to rule the human reality.”
“Alright, me neither.” I heard another wolf person come closer. “Valentine?”
“Yes?”
“If you fire that gun again, I will kill you.”
She nodded, knowing I probably could take her, “What is your plan?”
“My plan is to get Lory back, kill the emperor and seal the portals to our home.” The wolf person ran into the room, Valentine turned around and fired a bullet, straight through his head. She showed me her blue tail while she lowered her gun. It seemed like a greeting, I stretched my hand and she shook it. “We should get into that vent.”
Valentine nodded and jumped in with ease. I heard a march of wolf people come our way. I climbed into the vent backwards. Valentine called out, “Come on, there will be over fifty wolf people there soon.”
“I know.” She came my way and I pulled out a magnum. Indeed, numerous wolf people stormed in. I pulled a grenade and put the pin in my mouth. I aimed the magnum, I fired it at one of the wolf people. Blood splattered all over the place. I pulled the grenade out of my mouth and threw it into the room. “Get back Valentine.” We crawled through the vent and a gigantic explosion rocked us, fire chasing us from the blow. We got launched out of the vent into a small room.
Valentine looked at me, “Is it normal for you to blow shit up?”
“Yes, blowing stuff up is always the fix.”
Bob crawled out of my suit. “Damn, Steve, why are you so rough.”
Valentine looked at Bob, “What in god’s name is that?”
I sighed, “That is Bob, he is also helping me save Lory.”
Valentine looked at me, “Why do you call her that?”
I smiled, “Just my pet name for her. Did she tell you anything about me?”
I got up, “Nothing at all, she remembers nothing from her past. I am going on, you can either stay back, or help me. If you come with me, I am going to brutally slaughter many of your kin for taking my wife.”
Valentine sighed, “They have become something else than they used to stand for. When Lorraine vanished, our dad, took over the Fairy Kingdom, with force. Now, he is hell-bent on hunting down other realities. That is when he stumbled on a trace of where Lorraine could be.”
I nodded, “I understand. If possible, I’ll keep your dad alive. However, death is what I serve.” I walked over to a door and I kicked in the door. A wolf person jumped at me, I swayed aside, and he landed on the ground. I put my boot on his back, then I pulled out my shotgun and put it against his head. “Where is the reality jammer!?”
“Fuck you!”
I cleared my throat and almost pulled the trigger. “I will ask one last time, where is the reality jammer?”
“It is in the basement.”
I looked at Valentine, “I think he is telling the truth. Science things go on downstairs.”
I nodded, then I pulled the trigger. His head got blown up into smithereens. Valentine’s fur got covered in blood and gore. She looked at me in shock, “Was that truly necessary?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you mind being covered in blood?”
Bob shook his fur, “I am getting used to it already.” He started cleaning himself, again.
I started walking, “When I made that threat, I was not kidding.” We started walking through the metal hallways, looking for stairs that went to the basement. I looked at Valentine, “Give me the gun.”
She looked at me with a suspicious look on her face. Yet, she complied. I pulled out Infinity and handed it to her with some ammunition. Then I put J’s magnum in the place where I had Infinity. “I want that back after this is done.”
Valentine nodded, “Thank you, this gun is better?”
I nodded, “It has more ammo.”
She reviewed it, “I have been working in the human research lab. Your machines are, strange.”
We almost turned a corner, I put up my hand and Valentine stopped. I heard footsteps, four of them. I kneeled and pulled my magnum. As this wolf person turned the corner, I fired and his head blew off, decorating the wall behind him with brain matter.
Valentine screamed, “Behind us!” I turned around and saw at least a dozen wolf people come towards us. Valentine started firing. I pulled out my rifle, I started firing, Valentine stopped firing and looked at me. One headshot after the other. The wolf people never got the chance to fire off one magic beam.
Valentine stared at me, “Holy shit, we pissed off the wrong dude.”
I looked at her, “You only realize that now? Kind of late, don’t ya think?”
We continued walking, and soon we found a stairway down. Valentine stopped me, “The machine needs to be handled gently. I can turn it off, if we let the energy loop and-”
I stopped her. “I've got it.”
She nodded, “Alright, if you are certain.” We walked down, the guards stood there. I held up my hands, they looked at each other. As they did, I drew two daggers and threw them into their throats. They grabbed their wounds and fell down. Bob ran over and pulled out one of the daggers for me. He brought it to me, “Thanks Bob.” Then he brought me the other one. Someone opened the door.
Bob jumped against the wall, he used the wall to launch himself at the throat of this wolf person. Valentine looked at me, she raised her gun towards the door as another wolf person ran in, she fired, it hit his eye, it did the trick. I sighed, “This is how you do it.”
Another wolf person ran in, I pulled out a handgun and shot him, right between the eyes, without looking.
After Bob made sure he had killed his prey, I looked into the room and saw some scientists. I pulled my rifle and shot them down, decorating machines and buttons with their blood, gore, and even more brain matter. Valentine looked at me, “These were not fighters.”
“No, but they would have slowed me down.” There stood a gigantic contraption in the middle of the room. “Is that it?”
“Yes, it allows us to use portals, but it blocks foreign ones.”
“Can you make an energy shield of some kind?”
“Yes, why?”
“Alright, get ready then, if I say now, you have about one second.” Valentine started gathering blue energy in her hands. I pulled out my rocket launcher. Valentine looked very concerned. I smiled, “No worries, if you do your part, all three of us won’t die, so, no pressure.” She nodded with confidence.
I sat down on one knee, and let the rocket launcher lean on my shoulder. Then I fired, “Now!” Valentine made a magic shield. The explosion rocked the room, I could see it around me. The shield started to crack and Valentine grunted in pain. I put my hand on her back, “Come on, you can do it.”
She yelled and sent out more energy, until the explosion stopped. She fell forward, I caught her. Eventually, she got up, panting. Valentine looked at me, “If you wanted to kill me, that thing could do the trick. I might be one of the most skilled warriors, but damn the firepower in that thing. I am completely drained.”
“Well, it worked. See, violence is the answer.” I pulled out my phone, I called F. “S, how are things going?”
“Good, come to the building, I am sure it is mostly clear. The reality jammer is destroyed. I am in the basement with Bob and Valentine. Meet me here, S out,” I hung up.
Valentine sat down against the metal wall, a lot of this room had just been destroyed. I reloaded the rocket launcher. Then I pulled the jacket off and looked at where I had been shot by Valentine. There is no exit wound. I pulled out a dagger and I bit down on the handle. Valentine just stared at me. Then I put my finger in the wound, blood started spurting out. After digging around for a while, I found the bullet and managed to get it out.
I let it fall to the floor, out of the med kit, I grabbed some alcohol and poured it over the wound. Then I used the burner. Valentine was seemingly very unhappy about what I did next. Subsequently, I put on my jacket. There were a few skull pieces embedded in my legs. I pulled them out and checked if the wounds needed to be closed. Those were fine, I had a big cut on my arm, which I also tended to by burning it. Thereafter, I sat down, waiting for F.
Valentine looked at me, “You are insane, what does Lorraine see in you?”
I smiled, “I am actually a very normal man, just, very skilled in combat. Your sister, did you see her?”
Valentine sighed, “Only in the distance.”
Soon F walked into the room and I got up. He looked at Valentine. All I had to say was, “Turncoat.”
He nodded, “Alright then.” Valentine got up and walked towards him, she showed her tail and stretched her hand. F looked at me expecting an answer.
“That is a greeting.”
He nodded and took her hand, “You may call me F.”
She smiled, “My name is Valentine.”
“You are going to help us get Lorraine back?”
F nodded, “Yes, do you know her?”
“Yes, I am her sister.”
F looked at me, “You look a bit banged up.”
I shrugged, “Getting shot by a giant laser may do that to you.”
Valentine gasped, “They used the forbidden cannon?”
“If that is a giant laser that blew up the highway, then yes.”
Valentine started pacing back and forth. “It can destroy the earth, this must have been a warning shot. With the cooldown, the need to charge to maximum power, I estimate we have around three hours before they blow up Earth.”
I looked at Valentine, “Where is the power source?”
“Under the palace, where they are most likely also holding Lorraine.”
“Alright, then I can combine my objectives, Lory being number one, but she needs to have a world to go back to.”
F started up a drone, then he pointed a gun at the wall and shot it. A portal opened up. “I looked at F, there is no time for a layout. We go in guns blazing.”
F looked at me, “That is not the protocol.”
“F?”
“Yes?”
“Did I follow protocol when I saved the world twice?”
“No.”
“So?”
F sighed, “Fine, go in guns blazing, it is what you do best anyway. X has agreed to follow your instincts. We are all counting on you, Lorraine, the most.”
I nodded, “Take care of Bob. I don’t want to lose him.” I looked at Bob, “Take care of F.” Bob sat down next to him, and he started purring.
I walked over to the portal, Valentine walked towards me. “I am coming with you.”
“Alright, just, don’t die on me.”
She smiled, “No worries.”
I stepped through the portal, Valentine following me. I was immediately met by an enchanting world. The air is uncomfortably humid and hot, causing me to burst out in sweat immediately. It’s certainly not a pleasant world to live in, though some beings seem to manage. Despite the uncomfortable atmosphere, I don’t feel a sense of dread or danger. This world is certainly not benign, but it’s a danger I can handle.
Fairly nearby, I heard growls and grunts of creatures almost disappointingly similar to those I know from the wolf people. They seem to have taken notice of my presence, better safe than sorry, so I am keeping a good distance. Just in case they decided to come closer, I drew my handgun.
Valentine looked at me, “Is something wrong?”
“Not yet, how can you live in this weather with all that fur?”
Valentine shrugged, “It works for cold, and this weather.”
When I looked around, I saw trees, ones I did not recognize. The portal had brought us close to the palace. I started walking forward over the sand road that will lead me there. The grass moved as if it were dancing. We came closer to the giant palace. It looked more like a castle. In front of them were houses, shoddy houses. They must be filled with poor people. I looked at the castle. Six thick, round towers are scattered in a seemingly random pattern, but have been built for an ideal defense and are connected by huge, thin walls made of white stone. Grand windows are scattered here and there across the walls in an asymmetric pattern, along with symmetric crenelations for archers and artillery. A regular gate with hefty wooden doors and a moat protects those in need from the treacherous lands outside. But it’s not the only way in, but it’ll be your best shot if you wish to conquer this castle with an army.
Small buildings, houses and other structures populate the grounds outside the castle walls, homes for the poorest of the poor. This castle has been improved and improved over the ages, some parts of the castle are clearly newer than others, the inhabitants are determined to keep their castle as modern as possible. One of the towers had some kind of cannon sticking out. As we walked through the village, I drew my rocket launcher. Valentine looked at me go on one knee and put on my shoulder.
The wolf people around me looked at me, but they did not seem to be a threat, they did move back and started hiding their children in their houses.
I fired the rocket launcher after the children were safely hidden in their homes, the rocket flew towards the wooden gate. It exploded into tiny pieces, rubble falling down onto the water. A massive hole had just been created in the castle. I looked at Valentine, “I found a way in.”
She sighed, “I guess, explosions are not always a bad thing after all.”
We started walking towards the castle and used the rubble to get to the hole. We saw many wolf people stand here. I drew my Proton Gun. They, however, did nothing. I lowered my gun. “They have been ordered to stand down.”
“Valentine?”
“Yes?”
“Take this gun and bring down the power source. If any of them stand in your way, you know what to do.”
One of the wolf people called out, “Traitor,” as he drew a spear. Valentine pointed and fired the gun a few times. Blood splattered over his mates and the wolf person fell down. I looked at her, “You've got this.”
She nodded, “Go, get my sister.” Valentine ran off, I ran towards the throne room.
As I got to the throne room, I had no time to pay attention to details. It is a huge fucking room, with a throne in the middle, with a wolf person on it. On the side of the room stood a cage, with Lory in. She got up immediately, “Steve!?”
“Hello Lory, I came here to save you.” The wolf on the throne got up, he was wearing royal clothing, and a cape. Brown, frizzy hair tied in a ponytail reveals a craggy, cheerful face. Hooded black eyes, set elegantly within his sockets.
“Steve, you murdered hundreds of my kin. You blew up my base, you infiltrated my castle. You sowed doubt into my warriors, they fear to take up arms against you. I blew you up with a laser, you don’t die, I send a tank, you destroy it, I send fifty men, and you blow them up.”
“Look, I don’t know who you are, we can end this, right here. Just give up, let Lory go, and I will leave you alone.”
He drew a sword, “Do you really think, I would let a despicable human take my daughter? Humans murdered my parents.”
I grunted, “Your daughter has nothing to do with that.”
The king walked towards me, “I know, but she married one. She is even pregnant.”
I bit on my lip, “If you force my hand, I will kill you. Maybe you should listen to both of your daughters.”
Lory gasped, “What!?”
“I met your sister, she is helping me.”
The king growled softly, “Is she now?”
“Yes.”
I walked over to a weapon stand and drew a sword. Then I walked over to Lory. “Hey there, I will be fine.”
She nodded, “Thank you for saving me.”
“No worries.” I turned around and the wolf king, I guess, had put his cape on the ground. He has a brown tail with blue streaks in it. I chuckled, “Blue blood for a royal king.”
He charged at me, I swayed aside and tripped him. He fell on the ground, but he quickly got up. I twirled the sword around, “Did you know? I have had extensive training with swords.” He launched at me and swung his sword down. We started trading blows. The castle began to shake violently.
The wolf king chuckled, “Do you feel that, the castle is going to launch its cannon, blowing up your Earth.” We kept on trading blows. Then I leaned backwards and saw his sword fly over me. With a swift movement, I made a deep cut on his left leg. He yelped in pain as blood gushed out.
We kept on trading blows and the castle began to shake even more. The wolf king started laughing maniacally. “While you are here fighting me, I told the crew to draw in energy from everything, fuck protocols! That thing is going to fire in a few minutes! You are never going to beat me, and save Earth in time. All living things on earth will die.”
I just smiled at him as I swayed aside, I bumped into him, using his body weight, to maneuver myself behind him. Before he knew what had happened, I had grabbed his tail and yanked it. Then I readied my sword as I heard Lory gasp. I cut off his tail, blood started spewing everywhere. He fell on the ground. I threw the sword aside as the castle stopped shaking. “Your daughter disabled the cannon, and I took you down. You lose.” I walked over to Lory’s cage, I used my handgun to smash the lock.
She jumped in my arms. I heard a scraping sound as if someone had picked up a sword, I was already standing ready to turn around and fire my gun, before I could do so, I heard a gunshot. As I looked behind me, the wolf king fell down on the floor, dead. He wanted to stab me in the back, after I let him live, I was going to kill him, but Lory seemed more important. Valentine stood there with a smoking gun.
She smiled at me, “I’ve got your back.” She ran over towards us. “Lorraine? My name is Valentine, I am your sister.”
Lory smiled at her, “It is a pleasure to meet you.” They showed each other, their tail. Valentine used a device to open a portal. “Go, you won’t be welcome here.”
After a few moments of consideration, I spoke up,“Valentine, come with us.”
“Really?”
Lory nodded, “Yes, that world is a lot of fun.” She smiled and the three of us stepped through the portal. Ending up in the basement. Valentine drew my Proton gun and shot it at the portal. Energy flickered and then some kind of seal appeared on it.
I looked at Valentine, “There is no going home anymore.”
She smiled, “I don’t think I am welcome there anyway.”
F ran over to me, “By the gods, you’ve done it Steve,” he bowed. “The president has already taken care of it, go home, you are safe.
“We will do that, can you arrange a house near us for Valentine?” F nodded. “Thanks for that,” I took Lory’s hand, “We should go home.”
The next day, I woke up, tired from what had transpired. Valentine would be staying with us for a while. I got up and walked over to the bathroom. Lory and Bob were still sleeping. I freshened up while looking at my wounds. “Nothing too severe.”
I put on sweatpants, I cannot walk around in my underwear anymore. I went to the kitchen. Valentine already sat there, wearing a nightgown. She seemed to be messing around with her tail. “Valentine?”
“Oh, good morning, I am trying to get used to this type of clothing.”
I chuckled, “You will get used to it. How are you doing?”
“Considering I killed my father, pretty well.”
“Do you want tea, or coffee?”
“Some coffee would be nice.”
I picked up a newspaper while I made a cup of coffee. The front page said, a soldier from Doom Corps came out of retirement, to save you! The article went on about how beings from another world invaded our world. And how this soldier stopped them. I sighed, “People are never going to shut up about this.” The doorbell rang. I opened it up and Megan stood there.
She held up the newspaper! “You did it.”
I gestured to her, “Come inside, Megan.”
She looked at Valentine, “Who is that?” Valentine got up and walked over to her, showing her tail.
Megan stretched her hand. “The name is Megan.”
Valentine smiled, “My name is Valentine, Lorraine’s sister.”
Megan nodded, “I see the resemblance.”
Lory walked in while yawning. “Oh, we have a visitor.”
Megan ran over to her, “It is good to see you are safe. Ten of those wolf people came over to my clinic, Steve toke them out, unarmed.”
I sighed, “Sit down, Megan. We are hungry.” I grabbed the pie out of the fridge. However, the doorbell rang again. This time it was Riley, we made the necessary introductions. Then I sat down and spoke up, “Today we celebrate, and eat pie for breakfast.”
I gave everyone a slice. We all sat at the table, eating chocolate pie. It seems like things are finally going to calm down. Lory is safe, her sister is now here. The wolf people cannot come back. It is time, for some peace.