Old Wounds and New Friends

It had been almost a whole week since I had read the letter received from my mentor. I still hadn't believed it. A mission so important that the Emperor himself had to authorize the change of command from the thirty first legion to my mentor. To top it all off, he won't even tell me what the mission is. Says it will be a surprise and he'll tell me when we meet the others.

Apparently he sent his underlings for a scholar at the Cult of Self who was studying under the hopes to enter the Order Mech's pre-war R&D team, as well as some big shot from the Honor Blades.

At least they should be there already, and we're close enough as is. I hope the others are alright. We are behind enemy lines after all. The Emperor damned rendezvous point is almost at the state line of Pennsylvania.

The trip has been slow and quite for the most part. I needed to part with Spirit and Marquise more than a few times to scope out enemy patrols. It was tiresome at times but I loved exploring and visit in new places. Excitement builds as I realize this it the furthest I've ever been home and we're behind enemy lines on top of that. What a spectacular wanderlust.

Reaching our rendezvous point I saw a puller of smoke and I felt my heart sink. Great. These guys were supposed to keep a low profile and they have a fire going for all to see. Well if we're caught the honor blade should be able to fight our way out for us. Looking over to Raven I see that he has no look of worry or doubt on his face so I should just trust his judgement.

Shortly after entering the forest we come across a group of four sitting around a fire cooking something in a pan. These four are easily distinguishable. The two with vailed faces that noticed us immediately were Ravens goons, the skinny child staring into a book was from the cult of self and the last one was quite odd. A female who looks to be about my age sits on her knees, polishing a blade.

Don't get me wrong, it's obvious that she's from the honor blades what with her wearing their signature kinetic absorption fiber below her breastplate. The problem is that I was under the impression that the blades disallowed women within their ranks. She must either must be the daughter of one of the warlords or a incredibly skilled fighter. Given that Raven sent for her it's likely the latter.

The bookworm looked as if he were no older than twelve, as young as I was when Raven sent me on my first mission. As annoying as the Cult of Self is, this kid must be some sort of prodigy. He was wearing a blue cloak typical of imperial scholars. It's likely that he was to prideful of his education to wear something more practical. Not that pride is a bad thing, but one should always be willing to swallow it for the sake of the Empire.

Then there was the Blade. She was fair skinned and had long black hair that was tied into the ponytail which was fairly common amongst her order. Adorned like one of the knights of ancient humanity.

Before the other two noticed our presence Raven cleared his throat and spoke allowed.

"I see you've all made it safely. I presume you await our mission with great anticipation, but I would like for us all to introduce ourselves first." He said then looking directly at me. I guess I'm first then.

"Greetings, I am Two-Twenty-Eight D of Sector Three. Born to the Cult of Sacrifice, I am the First scout of the thirty first legion and the personal student of the Nobleman Marquise Raven" I said in as neutral of a tone as could be mustered.

Looking at my new squad mates I see that the woman looks somewhat confused, the bookworm glared with barely hidden disgust and the shadows had expressionless faces as per usual. The bookworms reaction I expected. Our cults are basically polar opposites in ideology, but I expected the blade to have a much more positive reaction considering the close bonds our groups share.

Either the reactions went unnoticed by my mentor or he just didn't care as he signaled the bookworm to go next.

Standing up the lanky blonde cleared his throat and raised his glasses to once more level with his eyes. "I am Evan McClain the second. Son of the famous mechanic Evan McClain and Professor Mallory. I am the top of my class at the Phillips School for all things pre-war and the one responsible for the McClain theory of Mechanics," Standing there he had boasted with an aura of smugness suffocating the air around him. "And before you ask Nobleman, yes I did bring the device you requested." I swear, if his ego got any larger it would collapse on its own weight.

Evan finishing his introduction we all look towards the blade. A slight look of discomfort builds on her face telling me that she must not be a vocal person. That's just fine whit me. I have a feeling we will get more than enough talking from Raven and McClain.

Clearing her throat she began in a rather rough but still distinctly womanly voice for a female. "Greetings I am Ella Banes, daughter of Edward Banes and Victor of the two hundred and tenth Malki tournament. It is a pleasure to meat you all."

At that I felt my heart jump. Not only was she the daughter of a blade lord but a victor of the tournament. I'm one of if not the best scout in the entire empire and I only managed to rank twentieth out of one hundred and fifty. Becoming the victor of the tournament grants any man a token of the emperor so winning is a huge deal. Yeah I didn't stick around until the end of that tournament but how in the hell have I not heard of her before?

Looking at the women I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. I've done some impressive thing with my legion but even lesser lords fight in those tournaments. It was a lord that kicked me out of the running in the first place, so she must have beat him as well.

"I am N" "And I am K" Stated the spies one after another. I didn't even catch which one was which, I think N was the one on the left. Raven truly picks the oddest allies. I suppose that applies to me too though.

"Now that we're all acquainted, let's go over the mission details one more time." Raven stated. Which is annoying because he never told me anything in the fist place. "In an underground research facility ahead is a nuclear test site. We are going to infiltrate the site and detonate their bombs."

I couldn't believe what I just heard. The enemy was developing world ender bombs? And we were heading to stop them? Even sector three would not authorize this mission. This isn't a heroic sacrifice this is a group suicide.

"Twenty-Eight. You'll be the vanguard, deciding how best to break through the enemy guard and take the safest path to the inner facility. N will kill those stationed at the comms room so there is no reason to worry about a coordinated enemy." He said as if it weren't bat shit insane. A single man vanguard? If only I had half the confidence in myself as Raven apparently had in me.

"Ella you will be guarding Evan to the bombs. Once there Evan will set the explosives to detonate and we'll book it the hell out of there." He continued. Looking over to the others, they were just nodding along as if they weren't being sent to their deaths. Was there something I'm missing?

"Remember. Once your objective is completed you are to immediately retreat. Any questions?"

Well, that made more sense. We're being used as a spearhead, not an 'actual' fighting force. Using the term lightly.

"Just how many enemy's should we expect? From the sounds of it we'll be heading strait into a fortress." I prod. I usually trust Raven but this just seems a tad to much. "Also I'm not a historian or a scientist but I thought nuclear weapons were supposed to have a large blast radius. How will we escape the blast zone?"

To this the child scholar scoffed. "I was under the impression that your kind loved suicide missions."

That little nuisance. Just because my family puts the needs of the wider Empire above ourselves doesn't make us all suicidal fanatics.... Only a small fraction of our numbers are suicidal fanatics.

Before I could tell the little brat off my mentor interrupted "This will not be a suicide mission Twenty-Eight. The enemy has placed a false confidence in their distance from the front lines. Their will be no more guards than there was at the train station."

Well, that's reassuring. But it still doesn't answer the second question.

"And what of the blast radius? If this is not a suicide mission then how are we to avoid it while still detonating the bomb?"

To this the brat pipes up with his chest puffed out in pride. "That would be thanks to my ingenious designs. I have a device that will pick up radio transmissions from me and will only activate when I am far enough away for this specific frequency to stop transmitting to the device. Which should leave us ten miles outside of the blast radius."

The brat surely is proud of himself for this one but it seems he didn't think it all the way through.

"Oh? And how pray tell will this device stay hidden long enough for us to get out of the splash zone? We aren't exactly sneaking in." I prod. If I'm going to do a recklessly stupid mission it should at least have a good chance of succeeding.

"Ah and that is where my true brilliance comes into play," the child boasted "I have two other devices on me. One will disrupt their terminals making it more difficult to discover as well as a decoy device that will transmit a second signal to hide the first and it's purpose is to draw attention away from my real magnum opus."

I must say, his confidence in himself is inspiring to say the least.

Turning to Raven I had to ask "And why is it we aren't sneaking in? Surely it would be more effective." He was the type to put himself I'm harms way. I think he is addicted to the danger, but even this is a bit much for him.

He gave me his trademark smile as if I had asked exactly what he wanted me too. Honestly it was kind of posing me off. I'd like to think that I'm tolerant of his behaviors but the spymaster telling me to go on a blitz seek and destroy mission when stealth is an option is absurd.

"We had already tried seven months ago. There are cameras and motion sensors all over the facility. Stealth simply isn't an option."

Oh, well that makes more sense.

"That's all the questions I have. If no one else needs anything then I'd like to get this over with quickly." I said with nerves already beginning do erode my resolve.

"Are you ok to go on this mission with your arm, if not I can take your role and you can wait outside with a rife to cover our retreat in K's place" Raven said with what almost sounded like genuine concern.

He should know me better. "Dr. Mihir, will no doubt give me an ear full but I'll be fine. Just a bit of shock and awe right?" The answer seemed to satisfy Raven as he looked to the others.

"Let's get this show on the road." With that I grab my drake and pistol. They will no doubt come in to play but I'll use my combat knife to handle any guard caught on their lonesome. We may have someone to kill the cameras but the guards still have ears.

Looking over to the other two I saw Ella sheathed her sword and drew a rather nice looking revolver out, and the child was fiddling with his devices. He then grabbed an ear piece and put it in, handing one to the girl and tossing one to the rest of us. Nice, that will make my job easier.

Leaving our horses we began to walk towards an open cave. It wasn't uncommon for simple cave entrances to delve deeper into a greater facility. But if this was an important test site then this was likely a forgotten back door. As the vanguard and resident scout I get to go first. How exciting.

"When you get in, let your eyes adjust first. No flashlights, no lighters."

Stepping into the cave I walk until the outside light is nothing more than a soft glow. My eyes adjusting it's clear to see there has been humans hands in the making of this cavern. The ceiling a comfortable five feet taller than my head and a width enough for four people to walk side to side. This continued for at least three miles on a steady decline.

After walking for about twenty minutes the cavern starts to end and a human sized rectangle appears. A door. Perfect.

Reaching the door I jiggle the handle to see of its locked. And just my luck it is. Well, there's always the tried and true sector three method of death in with locked doors. Rearing back I lift my foot and drive it into the door as hard and as close to the lock as I can.

With that the door busts open and the lock flies off behind me. Easy. Looking inside it was rather a stark contrast from the cave without. The end of the cavern leading into a relatively clean facility. Standing still and focusing on the sounds around me the echo of my destruction fading into nothing. There are no thumping of boots nor the pitter patter of bare foot on tile.

Not trusting in the lack of a guard or two I continue to wait. There has to be something there. A minute passes and I hear my allies coming up behind me. Raising my arm I signal go them to stop. Despite any looks of protest they may give I continue to wait.

They say patience is always rewarded and rewarded I was, as the ever so firing shuffling of cloths made themselves known at the second corridor to the right. I knew there was someone there. And they had been ever so patient. Unfortunately for them, mine was more so.

Reaching my knife I silently signal that there is a guard ahead and to let me take point. Pulling my boots off I prepare to make a silent dash down the hall. We will be discovered soon enough, but I intend to make sure it doesn't happen just yet. Soaring down the hall I ensure my footsteps are as quite as possible but as I reach the halfway point between the first and second corridor the guard appears to finally notice the sound.

As the man turned the corner a noticeable look of shock adorned his face. Perhaps he thought his ill planned ambush would work? I don't know, but he was obviously caught of guard as there was no issue for me to close the distance before he even had his gun properly aimed at me. Plunging my knife into him a new scarlet smile was born onto the side of his throat and the first of many obstacles was dealt with.

Looking down on the corpse as it desperately trying to cling to its fleeting life I spot something rather peculiar. Flashbangs. Due to the semi-rare nature of the device the only ones I've ever used are the ones that I 'borrowed' from the enemies. This will come in handy.

Before I can head down the hallway a spy appears behind me. He points towards himself then in the direction of the hallway the corpse came from. The comms room must be that way. Nodding to him I head down the left corridor instead. In most facilities the communications room was separate from the rest of the important rooms. Being isolated made it less likely for uninformed attackers to find it. Lucky for me Raven already probed the place.

"Second hallway on the left, hold at the intersection and await further instructions." I spoke allowed to the piece of machinery in my ear. Ella and Evan needed to be close, but out of the way.

"Copy," came the curt response.

I've always hated earpieces, while it did allow me easy communication it took away from my main tools as a scout. As Useful as eyesight is, sometimes having your ears open is better than mere eyesight. Eyesight doesn't tell you when someone is rounding a corner nor when something unsavory is prowling behind you. The mission called for communications I guess. Though I don't truly understand why. Once this devolves into two sided bloodshed it will no longer be needed. The little brat was probably just trying to optimize his chance of survival, not that I could truly fault that.

Continuing down the hallway my still bare feet gave off a melodic patter. After passing the fifth hallway the thumping melody was interrupted by the clicking of what I assume to be dress shoes coming from the right hall just ahead. Coming to a stop just a few paces from the corner I grew excited. Dress shoes mean that this was likely a scientist. There's a good chance he can just tell me where I need to go.

Giving a silent thanks to the mistress of luck I await my oblivious prey. As the sound was rounding the corner I lunged, seeing my prey I forced my hand over their mouth and placed the edge of my blade to their neck. The one I snagged was cute blonde woman wearing glasses and donning a white lab coat.

Behind the woman's glasses her blue eyes became pinpricks as an aura of pure terror suffocated the area around her. She began to struggle in shear panic only stopping when I push the knife closer to her neck.

"Hello. I assume you know why I'm here right?"

At this the woman began to nod as vigorously as my grasp would allow for. The woman looked at me as if all the evil in the world has manifested into a physical form and was standing before her. An overreaction if you ask me, but it's an overreaction that works in my favor.

"This can go one of two ways. Either you tell me exactly what I want to know or I torcher you to death. And considering I'm an escapee from Hades prison camp I know my fair share of methods."

As soon as those words left my mouth the fear radiating from the girl amplified. Tears began to well in her eyes. A great sinking feeling made itself known in my stomach. I hated doing this. Seeing others afraid and in pain made me feel terrible. Of course I couldn't show this on my face. As distasteful as I found it, I needed her to be afraid of me.

"I'm going to let go now, and once I do you are going to calmly and quietly tell me what I want to know. Do you understand?"

She began to nod once more still afraid, but slower and more calm this time. Slowly moving my hand I instead push my hand to her chest, pressing her into the wall so she doesn't get any bright ideas.

For a few seconds there was nothing. No screaming, no information, nothing other than the two of us staring into each other. After a few seconds go by she began to speak.

"ThelabsareinthedetectionIjustcamefromhreehallwaysdownandtotherightthebombsarejusttwohallwaysdownfromthatandthereareabouttwentytgaurdtherepleasedon'tkillme." The girl babbled tears beginning to stream down her face.

As I looked at her the sinking feeling began to leave and was immediately replaced with anger. Yes, this was the expected outcome, but this woman had betrayed her nation. She offered the lives of untold numbers just to spare herself from pain. I have suffered hell and back just to preserve the locations of allied encampments, yet this coward would willingly surrender her friends for a petty desire to go unharmed. I hated causing unneeded pain, but in this moment I wanted this woman to suffer.

Suppressing my intense hatred for this craven coward I spin her around and put my arm around her throat and begin to suffocate her. She struggled against me with all her might, but compared to mine there wasn't much of a challenge. As much as I wanted to kill her, the live capture of a nuclear scientist would probably be much more appreciated by the higher ups. Slowly but surely the struggling slowed as the consensus faded from her.

"Five hallways down. Meet up with me, I have a live capture and there are twenty guard ahead. I'll need backup."

"Two-Twenty-Eight I didn't authorize any captures. Did this one catch your eye?" My mentor replied to me in a somewhat mocking tone. Wait? Was he on cams? How in the emperor's name did he know?

"Very funny, the opportunity merely presented itself so I took it. I figured the capture of the egg head would make me look good." I said in a tone that probably sounded a little to defensive. "Besides I never took you to be the type to punch a gift horse in the mouth."

"You know, I thought that the blood raven and the immoral scout of the thirty first would be a bit more professional." A feminine voice cut in. It was also strange. I've heard the nickname blood raven before, but immortal scout? Nor only is that a stupid nickname but I don't even know where it came from. It must be tall tells from a legion wide game of telephone. It's not entirely uncommon for such things to happen.

Just as I was about to ask them to hurry up I heard metal clanking on tiled floor. There the were. The woman was covered head to toe in strengthened steel and the boy was running along trying to keep pace. The boy will need to keep behind a pace since he's the VIP, the capture can be abandoned or killed if need be.

"Follow my lead, when we get to the labs Evan, you will hide behind a corner with the hostage and I'll use this flashbang to disorient the enemy's then pick a few of them off with my drake. After that Ella you can clean the rest" I said to the two of them Evan catching his breath and Ella simply nodding.

After receiving confirmation from the both of them I lift the unconscious woman over my shoulder. The sudden weight sought to remind me that, yes, my shoulder was still broken. Leading the two in the directions I was given I decide to stop two halls ahead.

"The labs should be just ahead and to the right. Let me go first, don't move in until you hear gunshots." I tell tell Ella as I lay the captive on the ground. "Egghead, once the deed is done, I'll come get you and the prisoner, don't move." With that said and done I begin to walk towards the lab, making sure my footing is silent.

Reaching the second hallway, drake in hand I listen for movement. There was an ever so slight shuffling of clothes. The sound so minute that I could tell this was a guard. There were likely more standing still as an ever vigilant statue. Pulling out the flashbang I scavenged earlier I pull the pin and toss it around the corner.

With that a storm of boots and voices went into a panicked frenzy and I knew where they all were. With the sight of sound I foresaw two grunts coming to round the corner right before the white light blinded the rest with is deafening cousin following immediately after. Knowing that two were coming my way I crouch and level my drake to where their chests should be.

Seconds later the two rounded the corner, one firing just above my head and the other trying to get sight of me. Aiming first for the one who was actively looking for me I pull the trigger and a scornful light landed itself in his chest painting a revolting portrait of red onto the wall behind him. Immediately following I fire upon the second soldier.
In an instant the most competent of my foes were slain.

Rounding the corner with my gun drawn I spot the rest of my opponents and immediately throw myself behind cover once more as a hell storm of weapons fire upon me. Something hit me in the leg before I could get to cover and I fell rather hard. Seems the device wasn't quite as effective as I had hoped. For a moment I thought I had died until I heard metal clank against tile once more.

Watching the blade girl charge the enemy headlong sent a bout of inspiration through me and I stood once more biting back the pain. Looking around the corner what made itself immediately apparent was that she had slew eight of the poor bastards and was on her way to the ninth and tenth. Aiming my gun I fire at one of the men aiming at my ally.

After firing I heard a blood curtailing scream as the man dropped his gun and fell to the floor covering his face with red hands. Well, I guess the shot didn't fully connect and he was unfortunate enough to catch just enough pellets to not kill him. Hearing the man cry out in pain I considered shooting him once more to kill him but that thought was quickly cut short by a bullet hitting my lower left arm. Quickly making my way back behind cover I realize that there's to many of them in this condensed area, I can't really do anything.

After waiting for a few moments I had realized that all of the gunfire stopped. Peering around the corner the hall was painted with corpses and the girl was adorned a new set of sickeningly red armor.

"You alright?" I asked.

"How about yourself?" She asked in return. He bloodied armor giving off an eerie glow underneath the illuminated lights of the facility. Rather than give an answer I nod and begin to limp back to the kid. Without even turning around I hear the little fuck.

"Is it safe to move up yet?" He asked. This kid. I told him to stay put, and what does he do? He walks straight towards all the gunfire. I suppose it doesn't matter.

"Where's the girl?" I asked in a demanding tone.

The child seemed to pale at this question as if he completely forgot about her existence. He even gave me a look of fear as if I was going to strike him for disobedience. I may find the kid obnoxious due to his general upbringing but I wouldn't wish ill upon him. He did remind me of myself when I was young after all. Always so eager to prove myself to the adults, doing stupid and chaotic things in the whimsical hopes of growing up sooner.

"Relax, I'm not gonna gut you because you lost a prisoner. It doesn't really matter, taking the prisoner was just a side benefit, not the main objective. Let's just move on to the bombs." With that said the boy visibly relaxed. It was kind of cute, what little restraint he had over his emotions. I could tell he was trying his best to be brave, it was adorable how hard he was trying.

Limping down the hall making sure to check my ammunition before the next engagement I realize that I only have nine shots left for my drake and only two magazines for my side arm. The pain screaming at me, blood flowing down my leg and the numbness in my arm made it all to apparent that I wasn't going to make it out of here alive.

Making our way to the bombs the boy makes a dash for the device getting straight to work. Leaning on a wall to support myself I take aim my drake down the hall. The guards shouldn't know we're here but it was better safe than sorry.

"It's done, now we just need to get out of here." The excitement in they young boys voice was clear as day. His first big mission. One that would likely go down in history and possibly finish this eternal war and he succeeded with little issue. The kid was breaming with pride. That will only make this next part harder.

"You two are going without me." I tell them. The looks I received was terrible. I couldn't tell what Ella was thinking what with her helmet and all but the kid looked mad. It was like I took his favorite book and burned it in front of him.

"YOU DANN CULTIST!" The child wailed "Always looking to sacrifice yourselves, and not thinking of how it affects others."
He looked as if I had betrayed him. Like we knew each other for more than just a day. Obviously this kid knew someone else from my sector. Best guess is that one of his friends died or something. Child mortalities weren't entirely uncommon in sector three.

"Grow up. I chastised him, "Look at me kid. I cant even stand properly. How do you expect me to escape?" I could see his anger shift as he tried to maintain it. He did as children do. In his heart he knew he was wrong but his mind refused to accept it. This kid would hate me to my dying breath and likely beyond that.

"I will stand guard here as you two escape." I lied. Truth is, I could already hear the siren calls of sleep beckoning me and my body grew colder by the second. I've lost to much blood and I don't have much longer. But the kid didn't need to know that. Even if he's technically enlisted he should be spared whatever can be spared.

Ella looked at me and nodded grabbing the red faced kid by the hand and forcing him out of the room. With the two of them gone I limp my way over to one of the bombs and lay my back onto it holding my gun as steadily as is possible.

I fought my own death as valiantly as possible trying to stay awake to the end. As the seconds went by both my arms and eyelids grew heavy and ever harder to force them up. Seconds began to feel like hours in this struggle against death. As my breath weakened and my body won the fight against my mind my eyes began to close and I thought of all I've done in this life.

Growing up in the breeding factories and the stories my adoptive clutch mother would tell us. My first brush with death at the claws of a mole bear. When I first enlisted into the army and when Marquise first discovered my talent and took me as a disciple.

The good and the bad all flashed before me as death came to claim my soul. As my eyes began to close for the final time a small electric hum made itself known and the world was devoured by a brilliant light.