Chapter 37: Hopelessness
The next day, everyone gathered on the first floor. The Hell's Fury and the Pirates sat on the bar. Chiho sat beside them while the others went for the tables. "So, what's your next move?" Chiho asked, Chris repeated the question to Anne. "I contacted Mark at midnight and told him that we will be returning today. So we'll need to get going soon" Anne said and Chris translated her response back. "I see. Then we can go back there together. We also need to return to the base, Gentaro-san deployed some of his soldiers back there to retake the forward bases" Chiho nodded. Suddenly, the radio from Anne's coat began making erratic noises, then a voice reached out. "Hello? Chiho? My radio caught your signal from back there at Saiju" It was Takumi's voice.
Anne was about to panic but Chiho gestured her that it's okay. Anne took the radio out. "Takumi, the Westerns are the ones carrying the radio. Mark gave it to them" Chiho answered. "Ah, the Americans... Yeah, sure. We're on our way there to get you. The soldiers said that you are running late and asked us to get you" Takumi said. "Are we? Sorry for that" Chiho lazily apologized. "We slept at one o'clock and woke up at four to work again. You are the Daughter of the Hero! You should be the one sleep-deprived!" Takumi sounded so pissed off. "We're working our asses here-" "Turn it off" Takumi kept scolding from the radio and Chiho told Anne to turn off the radio. Chris quickly reached for the radio. "-this is some-!" Takumi's voice was cut off as Chris pressed the button. "Whoever that was, she sure sounds so pissed off" Anne said as she hid back the radio in her coat. "I think it's those friendly ones..." Chris guessed. "Friendly ones?" Anne looked at her. "Friendly Prohorovkans" Chris sighed. "Ah. Why do you look annoyed?" Anne glared at her and Chris looked away. "May I ask why there are some Prohorovkans on your side?" She asked Chiho. "Ah. Let's just say, they are the good guys, who joined their Organization without knowing their actual goals" Chiho shrugged. Chris wasn't sure what to say. "So... they are rebelling against their own? How could you convince these people?" She asked. "Uh... They went on their own, t-their story is very confusing and complicated..." Chiho showed a frustrated look. "Is there any chance that they are aliens?" Chris asked, bringing everyone's attention. "They might be alien in disguise" Mariko said. Despite how unserious the question is, Chiho still thinks if it's true. "I wonder. Aliens don't talk right?" Chiho asked. "They do. They have mouths or if they don't, they use telepathy" Ayumi joined.
"Whatever you guys think, I don't think they're aliens. I know how the stories and fantasies describe the aliens, I don't see anything wrong with them" Mariko said. "I also get to touch Takumi's hands by accident sometimes, they are warm, like ours" She shrugged. "Dann Touchu's stories about the aliens isn't true at all! Mary Samwell's stories of aliens are much truer!" Ayumi shouted at her. "I ain't believing in the Western shit! How can you side with them against our works?!" Mariko shouted back, silencing Ayumi. Without any further conversation, the topic dropped off. "Y'all are finished? Where are the foods at? We need to get going soon, them Prohorovkans would get too suspicious if we don't move quick" Anne said to Chris. Then Chris turned to the kitchen then to the people behind her then back to Anne. "There are other customers, Anne. Alice can't serve all these people at o-" "I'm sorry for waiting!" Alice shouted as she happily appeared from the kitchen carrying a medium tray of four plates. She approached Chris' group and gave them their food. "Thanks, Alice. By the way..." Chris thanked her little sister and remembered something. Alice stayed, waiting for her to say it. "When are you going home, back to the West?" Chris asked in Tsuchiyan. Alice appeared happy about the question. "Father said that I can live here and continue my duties here at Saiju. I will stay here, I love it here!" Alice smiled. "I see" Chris was happy to hear her decision. "Hey, speak English, damn..." Anne whispered, looking uncomfortable. But Chris just smiled at her, feeling bad. "Do they know yet?" Chris asked Alice. "Yeah, we talked about it before I went here" Alice nodded. "I see" Chris also nodded. Then Alice went closer to her. "Will you stay here too, sister?" Alice eagerly waits for her answer. "Sure" Chris gave no second thought and responded a yes. Alice giggled and happily hops back towards the kitchen. "Ali-chan changed so much..." They heard Suzuka at her usual spot speak. After that, they started eating their breakfast.
"One of the things I love in Alice is she's not a picky person when it comes to the environments. Despite growing up in rich and expensive land, she still enjoys staying everywhere. You know what I mean?" Chris said to Anne. "Yeah. She's not one of those rich bastards, daughters of rich fucks who are disgusted on everything below them" Anne strongly agreed. "Yes. I had one friend who is also the daughter of a rich family. If my memory serves right, she's from the Davis family" "The Davis?!" Anne shouted as soon as Chris mentioned the name. "Those are the fucks who alarmed the fucking navy on our raid on the Belovan port!" Anne said. "Yes, I still haven't forgotten about that" Chris smiled as she scratches her head. "I was also enraged when I heard the Davis too. I remembered that bitch all of a sudden. She and her fake beauty" Chris looked a little pissed off. "Hahaha!" Anne laughed as Chris used insulting words. "Maria Davis. A beautiful name, a beautiful face. Golden hair and clear blue eyes yet bitch attitude" Chris and Anne laughed together. "Also a fucking cunt who plays with the boys. She would mess with the guys who confess their feelings to her. I remembered that one guy, he looked so innocent and cute yet full of courage... Maria baited that guy and public-shamed him of his life. She's awful" Chris said. "If I ever find her again, I will kidnap and make her our pirates' properties" Chris mischievously smiled at Anne. "Aye! We'll get that bitch cunt and start the fucking!" Anne happily shouted.
"Thank you" A young male thanked Alice as she gives him his food. "...Ma'am?" He called Alice who was not letting go of the plate as she overheard her big sister's conversation.
"It's been a while since I heard your... pirate accent or..." Chris wondered. "Cuz ya see, 'dis woman be always wit' ye, lass!" Anne suddenly changed how she speaks. "Ye influence me of how ya speak, Chris'o. And ye ne'er even born a pirate to go along wit' me, so why not right?" Anne winks then focused on her food and grabbed a bite. "Aye, Captain" Chris giggled and ate. Anne raised her head and giggled while still munching her food. As she gulps them, "I really don't give a dam' 'bout it. Do ya? Christina?" Anne asked without turning to her. "Don't call me that. I was just worried" Chris said. "Huh? Worried 'bout what? Ya worried even 'bout how I speak?" Anne sounded a little irritated. "I thought you were being forced out of your habits or something..." Chris said. "Ah. Don't worry, geez. It's fine for me to speak like this" Anne laughed. They talked for a while as they finish their dish. "Damn. Alice sure does cook good foods" Anne said as she looks at her plate. Alice, who stepped out of the kitchen after serving all the customers, approached them. "Are you two going now?" Alice asked in Tsuchiyan language. "Yeah. The Prohorovkans are waiting for us" Chris answered with the same language. "Be careful... and come back, will you?" Alice asked for a promise. "Look. I'm not sure if we can go back here whenever I want. If we broke my cover, the west will be exposed and targeted by the Prohorovkans. We must be cautious about meeting you guys here" Chris said. "I... I see..." Alice weakly smiled. "But, don't worry..." Chris stood up and pats her head. "We will go back and see you if we got the chance, alright?" She said. Alice happily nodded in response.
"You're set? Let's get going" Anne stood up and ready to leave. "You're ready to go?" Chiho asked the two. "Yes" Chris nodded and left with Anne. Alice happily hops back to the Kitchen. "Hah. Alice sure is happy about her sister. She suddenly became a different person" Mariko giggled. "Okay! Let's go!" She then stood up and catches up with Anne and Chris. "Let's go, A...Ayumi..." Chiho looked to her side to see Ayumi about to finish rushing her food. She then grunts as she almost got choked on her own food and grabbed her water and drank it all. "Ah!" She felt refreshed after washing her food down and immediately ran outside. "...Her food wasn't-" "AH!!!" Shu Fang spoke beside Chiho and she got startled. "Geez, Shu Fang... Is it me or you're becoming more mysterious and well-hidden?" Chiho placed a hand on her chest to calm her down. "...Huh?" Shu Fang was confused. On the outside, Mariko was showing off their R75 to the two Westerners, it was usually parked right next to the Inn. "Chiho and that kid with the white hair stole this hot babe from the Prohorovkans back from the Tsuchiya!" Mariko boasted. "They escaped with this beauty as they were getting shot at by a Tank!" She continued. "Tank?! You mean Landships?!" Chris was surprised. "Y-Yeah, I guess you can call it that... They have long... I think I remember hearing that those are Cannons..." Mariko said. "Yes! Those! They already had Landships?!" Chris sounded impatient. "Yeah, except, they call it Tank" Mariko nodded. Chris then translated everything Mariko said. "Savages..." Anne reacted with a straight face as she stares at the R75.
"They look similar to the Hell Fury's bikes" She said. "That's true. They were riding their bikes when we met, right? The designs are close enough" Chris said, Anne nodded on her. "And they already had Landships... or Tanks, as they called them" She rubs her chin as she dives into deep thoughts. On the Inn's door, Chiho, Shu Fang and the Hell's Fury came out. "They name their tanks different. For example, BT-7..." Mariko said. "BT-7?" Chris repeated the name. "Or Бетка (Betka), or Бетушка (Betushka), or Быстр... Бы... Быстр...Быстроходный...танк! (Bystr... By... Bystr...Bystrokhodnyy tank!)" Mariko said, almost bit her tongue. "It's the lightest and fastest tank I've... or we have ride on. But they have bigger and stronger tanks" She said. "They also have planes!" She added. "Planes?! Aircraft?! Aviation?!" Chris was very surprised, then she turned to Anne and said it in English. "Say what now?! They flyin'?!" Anne was surprised as well. "And it's not magic? But the technologies?!" Anne asked. Chris nodded in response. "I still can't believe what I'm hearing right now... We're just inventing Aircraft!" Anne shouted. Chris turned to Mariko. "Have you seen one?" She asked. "Yeah. Remember that friendly Prohorovkan back at the base before? She's driving one and I shot her using a stolen weapon from them. That's how I met her. Then Chiho arrived and I agreed to go along with her" Mariko smiled at Chiho. "So, you shot her aircraft and she went down? Then she, like, surrendered?" Chris asked. "I wouldn't say she 'surrendered'. She willingly joined our side and betrays her organization" Mariko scratches her head. "Hey, let's not waste any more time..." Anne said to Chris. She nodded and said to Mariko that they need to get going.
"Sure. You guys want a ride? Chiho can drive you there" Mariko asked Chris. "Ah! No, no. We, uh, have to go somewhere here, so you go on ahead...!" Chris lied to reject her offer. "Ah, alright. Take care then..." Mariko was a little bit disappointed and rode into the R75's sidecar in silence, the others hop on as well. Chiho started the engine and revs it up as if to test if it's working, then she looked at the two. "You... sure you don't need a ride? They can just ask the soldiers to get them there..." Chiho asked one more. "We're fine, really!" Chris lightly bowed in embarrassment. "Okay. Take care then! See you there!" Chiho waved at them before she drives the R75 away. "I wish I can also talk in that language" Riko spoke up. "What do you call their language?" She asked Chris. "Tsuchiyan..." Chris replied. "Tsuchiyan, eh? It's that captured town, right?" Gabriel asked. "Yeah. It is. It's heavily fortified by them Prohorovkans, according to the President..." Anne nodded. "Come on, let's walk and talk" She started walking and they followed her. They were talking about the Tsuchiya as they walk, but they felt like someone was following them. "Is it me, or this hooded motherfucker's been following us since from the Inn?!" Gabriel whispered to Riko. Riko, tired of feeling stalked, stopped, and faced the hooded person. "Excuse me? Who might you be?" Despite her language, Riko asked the hooded person, who started giggling. "What's so funny?!" Riko clenched her fists. Chris then went into Riko's side. "Who are you?" She angrily asked the hooded person.
The hooded person then moved their head up to look at them. Then they took the hood off, revealing a girl's face and her black hair and black eyes. "So, you have been telling us lies this whole time?" She spoke in Japanese and focused on Chris. "What?!" Chris was surprised. "Hey, what is she saying?!" Riko shouted but Chris gestured her to remain quiet. "I've been spying on you since you left Shichiro's office..." She said, greatly shocking Chris. "This girl, guys...! She's one of them!" She said to them. "Fuck! Get her!" Anne shouted and Riko and Gabriel charged to capture the Prohorovkan. The girl smiled as she watches them charge. Gabriel was the nearest one to be able to lay a hand on her, however, the girl moved to her left and pushed Gabriel against Riko. The girl's push was powerful, the two fell on the ground. Seeing the two fall on to the ground, Anne unsheathes her sword and ran forward. She stood in front of the two. "Это поединок..." The girl said as she reveals her right blade. "Я тебя порежу!" She grins widely. "S-She's speaking a different language, Anne! I can't understand her!" Chris warned her. "It's alright! I just have to take her down!" Anne shouted. "Let's do this, motherfucker!" She smiled as she stares at the girl's eyes. The girl nodded and readies. Then Anne wasted any more time and rushed ahead. She thrusts her sword directly to her neck, but the girl swiftly moved her head left and nimbly slashed Anne's right leg as she moves away. Anne grunts and gritted her teeth in pain.
"Anne!" Chris shouted as she saw her hurt. She unsheathes her blade and quickly ran to her side. "This is a duel..." The girl spreads her arms, looking quite annoyed. "So, she was asking you for a duel..." Chris said. "A fucking duel, huh?!" Anne was hyped. "Leave it to me, Chris! I will make sure to take her down!" She said. "Be careful, Anne..." Riko said as she helps Gabriel up. "That push alone shows how powerful she is... It's unnatural!" Gabriel said. Anne was getting anxious about hearing their words, but put those aside and still bravely faced the girl. "C'mon, Chris. I ain't turning down anyone's challenge" Anne said. Having no choice, Chris lowered her sword and moved to the side. "Don't disturb us..." The girl said as she swings her right arm as intimidation. People are starting to notice them, despite that, they continued. "I can aim to your knee this time and make you unable to stand" The girl said. "Anne, she said something about your knee, don't let her hit your knee anymore or you wouldn't be able to fight properly!" Chris warned her. "Yeah! I know that!" Anne nodded. Then she made a stance and slowly made her way near the girl. "Haa!" Anne throws a slashing attack and the girl avoided it. Anne continues her attack by thrusting her sword, the girl sways her sword away. "Hey... why don't we just group up against her?!" Riko asked as she pulled out a 1911 pistol. She held the pistol with her right hand and aimed at the girl.
Gabriel then pulled out hers and also aimed at the girl. "Careful with your guns!" Chris warned. "We know how to use these..." Riko said. Anne was throwing her attacks when the girl notices their guns pointed. "Anne! Move it!" Riko shouted. Anne quickly moved away, leaving the girl open for their gunfire. Before the two could pull the trigger, the girl took out two PPS-43 and aimed at both of them. "Where did those come from?!" Seeing a machine gun, Riko felt overwhelmed. "Don't you even try!" Anne ran on the girl's side. Chris ran to her other side, surrounding her completely. "Filthy people... Do you even know what a fair fight is?" The girl gave a disgusted look. "Your powers are already unfair to begin with!" Chris shouted. The girl glanced at her. "Did you see me use it against her?" She asked without leaving her eyes on the two. "What did she said, Chris?" Anne asked. "About fair fight..." Chris responded. "Fair fight?! A military-trained against punks?! Where's a fair fight there, you fucking cunt!" Riko shouted at the girl. People are starting to come and few soldiers went running from their left. "Hey! Hold it right there!" One of them shouted. "Tch...!" The girl looked at them. "Now!" Riko shouted and they both fired at the girl. The girl struggled and opened fire. Riko and Gabriel ran and separated themselves. "Kh...!" The girl couldn't stay her fingers on the triggers and had to teleport away. "The bastard's gone!" Anne shouted. "Fucking coward!" Riko shouted. "Drop your weapons!" The soldiers unsheathed their soldiers and watched them carefully. "We just drove a fucking spy out of your home!" Anne shouted. "Shh!" Chris scolded her and walked in front of the soldiers.
"We are the people sent by the West! Calm yourselves!" Chris shouted. "The West?!" The lead soldier said. Then they lowered their swords. "Who was that person then?" He asked. "A Prohorovkan spy..." Chris replied. "A spy?!" The soldiers were surprised. "Yes... She was tailing us for a while..." Chris nodded. "That's not good! Where did she go?!" The soldier asked. "Somewhere..." Chris shrugged. "We have to inform Gentaro-sama!" He shouted and they ran off. "What did they say?" Anne asked. "They asked who the girl is, they went off to alert their... I think their master or something" Chris shrugged. "The fuck are we gonna do?! That girl's gonna end our whole career!" Riko shouted.
Outside the Saijun borders, the girl teleported into. She was shot by Riko and Gabriel on her intestines and can barely walk and even teleport far. She sat on one knee to control both of the pain from her power and from her wounds. "How embarrassing..." She whispered to herself as she moves her hand away from her wounds. Her hand is completely covered with her own blood. "Ukgh..." She groaned as she puts her hand back. "Gotta walk..." She said to herself as she stands up carefully. She looked around to make sure no one sees her before she proceeds to walk. As she walks, she took her radio. "Shichiro...Ты там?" She asked something over the radio... No response. "Я облажался..." She whined. After walking for ten minutes, she heard hooves of the horses coming near. She stopped and her eyes widen in terror. She turned back and saw a huge group of horsemen coming her way. The leading horseman was carrying the banner of the Saiju, which confirms her fear. "That's her!" The leading horseman shouted. "Иди... сюда!" She weakly shouted. The horsemen fired their bows on her, she was on the shoulder, one on her right leg leading her to fall on her knees. They stopped firing once they saw her completely incapacitated. She was about to fall, but she caught herself by holding on the ground with her left hand. She slowly raised her right hand and let out her blade. She then waits for them to get close. The leading horseman raised his sword, ready to swing at her.
Her visions are starting to get blurry and she can no longer feel her arm, which fell down without her even realizing it. They finally reached her and the horseman swings his sword against the girl. On a split second, she realized that she can't move anymore and took the attack. She was hit by her neck and was sent into the air due to the speed of the horse. She flew in about a second, blood spurting everywhere, before falling to the ground, she rolled and ended up facing the sky. She saw the clear blue skies in a split second before losing consciousness. "She's dead!" One of them shouted. They all surrounded the girl to confirm that she was the spy. Her eyes were still staring at the skies, the scene saddened the soldiers a little. "...We can't leave her body here, let's also get her into the village for confirmation" The leading soldier said as he went down from his horse and crouched near the girl. He then closed her eyes and carefully carried her body on his horse. With that, they came back to the Saiju. The Westerners are asked to wait at the gates, at there, the soldiers let them look at the girl. Chris confirmed that it was her and the soldiers went further inside. "So we shot her, I saw two wounds on her stomach..." Riko said. "Why do you sound so sad?" Anne asked. "Ah nothing... Well, looking at that girl. Without that horrible Organization, she could have become a cute girl, being chased or serenaded at " She responded. "Kind words coming from a punk of a notorious gang" Anne smiled. "I had a better life before, so it can't be helped" Riko sighed. "Better life? Mind telling us? We're gonna walk anyway, and it's a long fucking walk. And we're team anyway" Anne said. "...Yeah, I guess it's worth telling..." Riko nodded. "Walk... why are we walking..." Gabriel looked very annoyed.
Once they left Saiju, Riko started telling her story. "I had loving parents back then... My father was Tsuchiyan and my mother is native in Valkyrie. I was the only daughter of my family and they really, really loved me. They will do everything I wanted to keep me happy. But then I was influenced by some punks at the streets... I became a delinquent and I started to saw my parents' love as a nuisance on becoming the toughest punk in our area. I grew up as a rebellious child. When the time comes that I can finally handle my own, I immediately ran away from home, behind me was my mother crying and my father begging me to stay. At that time, I didn't even listen nor did I feel any emotion, I just want to get away from their embrace, for my reputation!" Riko sounded very pained. "I lived my life on the streets, joining some stupid gangs and robbing people for living. Then one time I faced Alex, she was our rival gang on the money. She saw what I can do and invited me to join the Hell's Fury..." She said. "Huh... Lucky for you, your parents might be still alive back at the West and go back at them" Anne said, they all looked at her. "As you guys know, my parents died when the war happened... Ever since then, I never knew what it's like to be loved again and I grew up craving for it..." Anne said. "Anne..." Chris remembered something. The scene where Chris get to talk to her parents. "Take care of Annabelle..." She clearly remembers Anne's mother's last words. The words she accepted into her life. "...Revive the piracy" Anne's father's last words, in which she promised to do. Chris remembered everything yet she continues to hide it from Anne.
"And to think you grew on a family with very loving parents, I am very fucking jealous..." Anne said. "You were given such blessings and you wasted it... Not that I'm blaming you, alright?" She said. "My parents loved me but we were hated by people. They loved me but they were too busy to take full attention to me" She added. "You were right. I made a horrible choice..." Riko clenched her fists. "So, what does that have to do with the girl before, then?" Anne asked. "Ah... well, recently, we were tasked to get something from one of our hideouts. The route included our street. Feeling so home, I quietly visited my home... They were there, just sitting on a couch together because of god knows why...!" Riko's voice started to shake. "Probably waiting for me, or the fucking death to embrace them" She said while holding her tears. "It's like they have given up on their lives... They became so thin, the house hasn't changed... They noticed my presence and they turned around..." She said. "C'mon, it's alright to cry..." Anne said as she saw how hard she was holding back. With her words, she finally teared up. "Goddamn it..." She looked away. "They... smiled, they were very happy... Then I realized that my mother was holding my picture... I peeked and my mother said 'You were so cute back then' and then she looked back at me and said 'You would have become a sweet girl, being chased around by the boys. Only if we were careful enough'... They even blamed themselves..." She said. "I ran away in tears, people are looking at me as I run crying..." She stopped tearing up and faced the ground. Silence built around them.
After a while, Riko spoke. "I decided... that once we get back to the West... I will... live with them again" She said. "Y-You're what?! That means you're quitting the Hell's Fury!" Gabriel shouted. "Heh. So be it. I'm tired of running away, I just want to end it all and hug my parents..." Riko shook her head. "How about Alex? She will be on us..." Gabriel said. "'Us'? Don't tell me you're going with me, Gab" Riko looked at her. "Well..." Gabriel decided to tell her story. "I had loving parents too, but they died in an accident... The government didn't help much due to being a normal family without higher social status... I was forced to live on the streets. Same goes for Riko, Alex found me and invited me into the Hell's Fury..." She said. "It was not our will to join the crime life, we were influenced, I had no choice... If I were to take down her offer, I would die rotting in the streets, died of starvation..." She added. "Heh, wow... What coincidence...That mark guy also talked to me about bad people, due to his Organization..." Anne said. "Turns out he's a close friend to Shichiro and he was stuck in his killings! He's just another honest folk stuck in a murderous organization" She added. "So, that night. He asked me what I think of bad people. He first gave his own opinion. He said that they are those who are living in a disarrayed life and had to do bad things to live. You both just proved his point there" She said. "Wow..." Riko was amazed. "What is your answer, Anne?" Chris asked. "I answered 'They are the people who love seeing others suffer'" Anne responded. "I guess I will go with Mark's idea" Chris giggled. "Hah, yeah. That's what I believed until I heard his. I still doubted though, until these two came in to prove that he was right" Anne giggled along. "Hm... yeah" Riko nodded. "I would have been an entirely different person if things didn't turn out this way... I would feel like, I will be so clingy to my parents, and very girlish... I used to be girlish, yes..." Riko blushed and looked away.
"And about Alex, Gab. Prohorovka will attack the West soon enough anyway, I doubt that they will keep us on their side" Riko said. "And how if they didn't?" Gabriel asked. "I will ask the Daughter of the Hero for protection" Riko responded. "Huh..." Gabriel looked ahead. They still can't see the Trupriv clearly, showing that it will be quite a walk. "If they fight us, they will bomb our whole place. Your parents might die, so that's not good to wish for" Gabriel said. "Hm..." Riko sighed and looked away. "Whatever... Whatever happens, I'm quitting. Be it that they go after our heads, I'm quitting. For my parents, this is the only thing I can do for them" She said. "Huh... I can't believe that a person is greatly changing before my very eyes. What a day..." Anne said. "And you, Gab. Don't trouble yourself. Stay at the Hell's Fury..." Riko said to Gabriel. "No! I'm also... I want to go with you..." She responded. "Damn... You guys ain't showing a bit of consideration... Is it really that easy to leave your mates? Especially that your gang is very well-known. If some other gang knew that the Hell's Fury is losing members, the whole gang will be humiliated for, like, disloyalty, no strong bonds. Then some opportunistic fucks will take the chance to mow your gang down. Alex and her loyal pawns will REALLY gonna get you, pal" Anne said. "Not unless I had talked to that Hero's daughter... I'm gonna ask you a favor, Turner" Riko looked at Chris. "If the time comes, I want you to translate everything I have to tell her" She said. "Sure thing" Chris nodded with a smile. Riko was happy that she agreed. "Thank you..." She thanked her. "I, heh... I honestly didn't think that we will become this close. I thought of this as just a stupid idea of the Prez. I also became annoyed that we will be sided with another band of criminals we haven't been in contact with" She giggled.
After a while, Gabriel started to whine and lowkey blaming Chris for turning Chiho and Mariko's offer down. "Did you guys heard the news before? Once we're ready, All states will arm themselves and the President will unite them all and name us all under the title 'The Great Alliance'. We will be the TGA!" Anne brought up a topic. "The fucking great alliance, baby! Alex thought of something that will make the government rely on us during the war. Information trade, for example" Riko said. "Yeah, mow down the president's pride and make him rely on you" Anne laughed. The topic didn't make it long, they walked for a few minutes in silence. With their long patience, they finally entered the Tsuchiyan borders. "We're getting there..." Anne sighed. "Goddamn it, Chris... Someday, I'll make you swim longer than this" She said to Chris. "Please no..." Chris sighed. "That's them, right?! Oh my gosh..." Gabriel is sweating and her eyes are unsteady. She felt her body pump a bit of energy for the last few distances. "Longest fucking walk in my life, thanks Chris" She said. Chris just looked away. However, as she looks away, she saw a tank with a 152mm Howitzer cannon in a large turret. It was a KV-2, aimed at the Trupriv. Chris stopped walking, as she does, her eyes then moved to the soldiers around it. Large counts, with Five T-34-85 and a SU-100. "Huh? What's wrong Ch-" Anne and the group turned back to her and suddenly they heard a loud fire, as they turn to the source of the sound, the main building of the Trupriv exploded.
Like the earth just had a quake, they were shaken by the explosion. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Are they attacking?!" Anne looked very nervous. The enemy soldiers then shouted their war cry and charged. "Holy shit! They're about to fight!" Riko said as they watch them charge. The SU-100 started firing at Trupriv as well. "Wh-What should we do?!" Gabriel panicked. "We should head back! I'm not risking myself meeting with those Prohorovkans, not when we were found out. We have to make sure!" Riko said. "But the spy died! They even showed us her face, right?! There's no way they would find out!" Chris argued. "They have radios, Turner! They might have been listening the whole time!" Riko said back. Then they turned to Anne to wait for her decision. "Wait, shit..." Anne tries to calm herself and think things through. She looked at the conflict, the Saijun soldiers and some Northern warriors are being shot by the guns of the enemy soldiers. The tanks from the distance are firing High-Explosive rounds, sending many friendly soldiers to their death. They were outnumbered and at a disadvantage on weapons. However, some are able to arm themselves with guns from the armory or pick the ones on the ground. Some of them are just firing wildly, some of them are using their iron sights. She saw Chiho, Ayumi, and Shu Fang fighting alongside them. Then she looked at the tanks from the distances, the T-34s are mercilessly firing at Trupriv. Their machineguns flash rapidly as they mow every soldier down. Anne was very anxious to approach the raging Prohorovkans, but, "That spy must have been alone the whole time, I don't think radios work that far!" Anne sided with Chris. "Damn it, you don't know that!" Riko shouted. "Then hold on!" Anne shouted back and took her radio out. "What are you doing?" Riko asked. "Gonna make sure if they know or not!" Anne responded. She turns the radio on and moved it near her mouth. "Hello? Mark?" She called out.
"Anne?" Mark replied. They became uneasy when he spoke. "Where are you right now? We're retaking Betty" He said. "A-Ah! We're actually about to enter the base when you guys shot them" Anne responded. "Is that so? Go around the base, our tanks are firing so be careful. It would be safe if you approach us far from our line of fire" Mark said. "Roger that! We can actually see you from here" Anne said then waved her left up hand up. "What the fuck are you doing?!" Riko became even more nervous. "Yeah, We can see you. Go ahead, we will be watching for you" He said then his radio went off. "See? They don't know yet!" Anne laughed. Riko and Gabriel looked at each other. "Screw it, let's just go" Riko took a deep breath and walked. They all then marched past the scorching base and the sounds of battle. After a while, they are now walking the field between the base and the tanks, they are anxious as the tanks are facing them and could fire at them anytime. "We're fucking marching towards our death..." Riko whispered. Suddenly, multiple Yak-3 flew past them, they were frightened by the roars of their engines. One of them dived and strafed at Trupriv. As they look, it was destructive when their ammo hits the ground, showing that they are also equipped with High-Explosive shells. "Look at that..." Riko said, they stopped and was looking back. Anne's radio emitted noise. "Hey, keep going" Mark spoke from the radio. They then walked again. "They are really tearing the place apart..." Anne whispered. "Look what they can do, Riko! Don't ever think about them having a war with us again!" Gabriel angrily whispered. "W-What? That's a possibility. It's good to know earlier than later" Riko whispered back. "I'd rather have me expecting them than being surprised" She added. "Still! You're pushing that possibility!" Gabriel said. "You believe in such things?! It's not like I have influences nor I'm responsible for the fate of this world!" Riko said.
Finally, they arrived. Mark and his soldiers surrounds them. "Hey..." Anne laughed, sounding very uneasy. "It's good to see you again, Annabelle!" Mark looked happy but very suspicious of them. "Yeah... We're very happy too..." Anne said in a lower voice. "Say, Anne... I wonder why your country is willing to serve us..." Mark asked as he slowly walks around them. He stopped and looked at burning Trupriv. "While the fellow humans who share the same world as you are being slaughtered by some weird people who assume that they came from other worlds... It's very sad" He said. "What are you trying to say?!" Riko shouted. Mark turned around and looked at her. "What I'm trying to say is, why did you lie to us?" Mark said. They were surprised by his response. Then suddenly, the soldiers moved. The soldier near Gabriel grabbed her by arm. "What are you-!" He punched her intestine and kicked her right leg, making her fall. "What the-!" The other soldiers moved in to seize them as well. Anne was hit on her head by the stock of the soldier's rifle, Chris was grabbed by both arms and was pushed hard to the ground, Riko struggled hard, causing two soldiers to take her down. Riko still resisted them, a soldier has to hit her by her back to make her stop. She was hit four times before she behaved. "You're one hell of a woman..." Mark sighed. "Yeah, I'll fucking kill you!" Riko shouted. "Shichiro finally accepted and trusted you, why waste it? Do you have any idea how much power you have wasted that your country should have? Your country will be the strongest and the world will bow before you!" Mark said. "Trusted?!" Anne laughed. "You sent a spy to stalk us and you said that we were trusted?" She asked. Mark ignored her, he walked in front of her and looked down.
"Just a funny thing though..." Mark looked amused. "Your country relied on lowlifes like you on such important operations. Are your leader that dumb enough?" He asked. They were already exposed, they didn't know what to say. "Now, what to do with you?" Mark stood up and think. "Would you rather stand against a wall and shoot you, or beheading you with an axe?" Mark gave them a choice. "I'd rather behead YOU with an axe!" Riko shouted. "Behead it is, then..." Mark chuckled, the soldiers grabbed them and made them kneel in line. "Damn it, man! Next time, stay quiet!" Anne shouted. "There will be no next time..." Mark said. "Screw you!" Anne looked at him and shouted. Then Mark raised his right hand on the air and spawned an axe. They were somehow amazed. "Now, I'll go with you first, Annabelle..." He said as he rests the blade of the axe on her nape. Its sharpness and the cold steel sent chills to Anne. "You're... not gonna actually kill us, right?" Anne slowly looked up to him. "What are you talking about?" Mark smiled at her. "Anne..." Chris whimpered. "Be strong, Chris. We will never let these assholes just kill us like this..." Anne said. "You don't have any chance, your fate is bounded. You are destined to be killed like this" Mark said as he raised the axe up. "Kh...!" Anne's guts disappeared and looked very afraid, she started to shake. "I would look down if I were you..." Mark said. "Anne...!" Chris called out. "Goddamn it!" Anne was startled by Chris' shout and panicked. She shook her head and looked at her friends, they looked very mad and worried.
"It'll be fine!" Anne said to them. "Face...DOWN...!" Mark shouted. Anne had no choice but to face the ground and close her eyes and wait for him to land the axe. "Goodbye..." Mark said in a low voice and swings the axe down. In a split second, Anne looked up to remember where she died, in a very small time, she saw a figure fly up from Trupriv. Something flashed white. Then all of the sudden, one of the tanks behind them blew up, sending most of them flying, some were wounded, some are just unconscious.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Keetrix
Keetrix Eyy this lazy author is busy with their games, giving no time for their novels, sorry xD
I was also lost with what's going on, which led me to long pause on continuing this chapter T^T
Sozz for any mistakes ^^
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