Forr Pirate Base
"May I join you guys?" Sandy asked them.
"Sure, Lass. Pull up a crate." Freddy replied, pointing over at an empty crate labelled 'High Explosive'.
John, Mia, Freddy, and Maggie were all sitting on various crates, eating their field ration lunches. They had been busy since dawn in various parts of the battlefield, prepping different 'surprises' for their unwelcod guest. They had miners co in and join them as well, preparing so things that made John and Freddy break down giggling, like they were a couple of middle schoolers planning pranks. Except that so of these pranks had high explosives attached to them.
Last night, John and Mia continued to kiss for a while, but he didn't take it further. He did get her to close her eyes and just 'feel' the mont, which was a win in his book. It cald her down enough that she soon fell asleep on his chest, which in turn let him fall asleep with soone in his arms.
"Thank you," Sandy said, pulling up the crate.
"Everything going well with your team?" John asked her.
"Yes. The miners are blasting the last one in a few minutes. We will go back in afterwards to clean up the ss, and then it is just the finishing work."
"Yeah. The Old Man seems to know a thing or two about planning. We are supposed to go get things wired up in a couple of hours there. Final touches will be in the morning." Maggie said, munching on so square of protein that John had traded her for. It tasted like orc- pork, so he took her fake salmon instead.
They continued to share bits about what they were doing, though John and Mia didn't have much to add. He felt like he was just a Lego brick factory, and she and a couple of other people were just loading them onto flatbeds. He did want to question so of the OSHA regulations they were breaking; that old song from so of the videos his daughter, Vicky, would send him ca to mind.
Ti to do so sketchy shit, do dah, do dah. Hope I can get away with it, oh da do dah day. Seriously, two Indychs, holding a third one up, while I am balanced on the third one's forks. What could go wrong?
He felt like he was going to be up for a Darwin award, that's what.
"John. Mia." Sandy said to him after they had finished their al and were heading back to work. "I just wanted to thank you two for coming to my rescue. That woman... that woman... *sob*."
"It's okay. She is dead now." John said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. She flinched from his touch, so he pulled back.
"I know exactly how cruel that dezgra was, Sandy. I was under her foot for five years. If you want to talk, I have so ti." Mia said, standing next to John.
"I... I would like that," she replied, tears streaming down her face.
When Mia looked at him questioningly, he just nodded. The two won moved off to the side of the cave to chat, leaving John alone. He pushed thoughts of Sandy and that pirate bitch out of his mind, focusing back on his work in the tunnel.
God damn it, I am not a pirate. I don't yearn for the mines!
Star League Cache
Main Hanger
"This is unacceptable! How dare you negotiate the literal battle for the fate of Blackstone without informing ?!" The governor bellowed at Jas.
Jas just shrugged at him, already having heard similar lines pass through the man's lips twice during this conversation. "Because it is my job. Now, according to my sources, if we fight with tenacity and account ourselves well, these 'Wolves' will probably let the people live and allow you to keep running things here. They have no desire to actually govern the people; they just want to be the ones in charge. If things go well, you will just be reporting to a Kahn or one of his magistrates instead of the King. If you try and fuck around and change this 'bargain' we struck, there is a very real possibility they invade Blackstone City itself and start burning buildings down, if they don't just shell it from orbit."
"Your source? Who is this mysterious source you keep ntioning?"
"One of the forr pirates from Ryan's Rebels. She was captured by them so years back and has been more than willing to share with us what she knows of these people. Honestly, if it wasn't for her, we would probably have a whole regint about to drop down on us already. With her help, we bought a day, got to choose the field of battle, and it will most likely be sothing closer to a company-sized unit attacking."
"And you trust this woman?"
Jas looked thoughtful for a mont. "No, I don't. However, John does, and that is good enough for ." He chuckled, "Didn't you read fantasy books when you were a kid? You should never bet against a wizard. It wouldn't surprise if he takes another ch down with a sword."
"What? A wizard? Swords? What wizard uses a damn sword? Never mind that, have you lost your damn mind?"
"Maybe. But I suspect co tomorrow, it won't matter any longer. Learn to be flexible, governor, and you may continue to rule this place for years to co. Now, excuse , I have so more things to move before I have my afternoon nap. Need my beauty rest, you know."
With that, Jas left the man standing there, his mouth agape. He really didn't have any more ti to waste on pacifying the politician; their battle plan depended entirely on the planning phase of the operation. He chuckled a bit. These clanners didn't allow people to retire, and he had no intention of pushing a broom around in his twilight years just to earn his al rations for the day.
Unknown to the pair of them, soone had been listening in on their conversation, a concerned expression on her face. She turned back to the control room behind her, a plan forming in her mind. She wasn't sure she had ti to implent it, but she wasn't considered a prodigy just because she was book-smart.
Forr Pirate Base
Night had fallen, and the preparations for the battle were complete as they could be, the final touches needing to be done at the last minute. The majority of the added helpers had already departed, leaving only the chwarriors and a few volunteers to handle the last-minute work.
They had stoked a large bonfire near the Grottenburg and were sitting around it, eating a al and drinking. Jas had brought a couple of small kegs of beer with him and allowed everyone to partake. At the Old Man's request, John had provided them with more balls of Substance X earlier in the day so the old people could keep going, and most were still riding the effects of the balls. John was just thankful they would have enough ti to rest, as the battle didn't technically start until noon.
Their way of warfare is quite odd, but I can appreciate it. Still, so crafty commanders in the Innersphere are going to abuse the hell out of it once they find out.
Mia had once again started serving everyone, seemingly more comfortable acting as a servant than as a participant in the conversation. So John found himself leaning back in a folding chair, his feet near the fire, with a beer that never seed to empty in his hand, while enjoying the conversations around him.
Freddy and Maggie had disappeared a few minutes ago, and John had a sneaky suspicion about what they were up to. She hadn't left the man's side since they left the Guards facility, confirming to him that she was indeed in love with that old coot. Birds nest for a beard or not. In fact, most of the chWarriors and the remaining guards were paired up or in a throuple. He wasn't sure where Sandy had gone, though Mia said she felt better when she returned to the tunnel that afternoon. John just hoped she was doing okay.
He was the only one who was actually alone right now, though Mia did keep checking in with him, so he wasn't exactly lonely. He was good with that; it let him order his thoughts. Though those continued to wander as well, back to Lucy and Rei. They didn't have a way to communicate, even his Pelican couldn't break through the mineral deposits' interference at this distance. He would have flown back to visit, but they didn't want the clans to have a chance to see it until it was too late. It was their ace in the hole.
He closed his eye, daydreaming of what world he wanted to bring them to if he got that option. When he got that option. Currently, he didn't really have anywhere safe to bring them, other than maybe High School DXD. Devils or not, that world at least seed to run sowhat normally. Everywhere else was pretty much at war or a collapsed society. The Great Cleric was also an option, though he wasn't sure what a pair of forr chwarriors and a child would do in a dieval society.
Maybe one of the other doors will have a good option. Wait, can I even bring Mia? Stop it! Stop counting your chickens before they hatch; you still have to get out of this alive.
"John, got a minute?" Jas said, sitting down beside him.
"For you, I'll give you five." John quipped, opening his eye. Trix was beside him, the silver-haired woman's face a little flushed from the booze. Honestly, other than Freddy, all the chwarriors were in incredible shape considering their ages. dical science in this world seed to be able to slow so of the aging process to a point, though not as much as Infinite Frontiers. Apparently, it wasn't uncommon for humans to live over two hundred years in that world.
God damn it! Focus man. You're still recovering from the other night's mana exhaustion!
"Hah! Well, I won't need that long. We are having another drink, then heading to bed. I just wanted to thank you again for everything you have done recently. If it wasn't for you, we would have been killed already. At least now, we have a chance to go out on our own terms. Here, take this." The man said, handing him an envelope.
"What is this?" John asked, distracted for a mont from the man's fatalistic comnt.
"You're final orders. When we win, hand it back to , but if I go down tomorrow, open that and follow them to the letter. I trust you can do that, Son." Jas said, his tone turning deadly serious. The only thing ruining the gravitas of the mont was the fact that they were both holding Red Solo cups full of beer. His had mysteriously been filled again without his knowledge.
"Jas, what are you planning?"
"I am planning to win. But, as any good commander should, I am putting contingency plans in place. No plan lasts once contact with the enemy is made, but that doesn't an you shouldn't have a few back-ups in your pocket. Rember that, Lad, and you will do well wherever you end up next." He patted John on the shoulder, then barked a laugh. "Now, drink up. I think it is ti for the show to start."
"Huh? Show?" John said, stuffing the letter into his pocket. He didn't have the ntal faculties to follow Jas' logic completely right then, and he didn't want to lose his buzz with a detoxify spell.
Right then, two fireballs went off to the side of their bonfire, and a couple of spotlights lit up the area. Freddy was standing on top of an armoured car, his sax in hand. Beside him was Maggie, with an electric guitar, and another two people he recognized from the tech crew, one with a drum set and the other with a bass.
"Welco, everyone! Are you ready to make so noise!?!" Freddy called out, and the drunken rabble cheered. He laughed and continued. "Tonight's performance is in honour of you, the Blackstone Guards, and in tribute to The Disposables! May our warriors and their chs rest in peace, and our enemies rest in pieces!"
Freddy started to sing, capturing the entire crowd's attention. It was a mix of different genres, most of which John had no clue about, but it sounded good. Most things did when he had a buzz going. He was contentedly minding his own business, wondering how the technology in this silly plastic cup was continually refilling it, when he was disturbed once again.
"Known for his soulful voice, our next song will be sung by none other than John "Wizard" Wayne. Co on up to the stage, my man!"
John blinked, taking a few monts to realize that Freddy had once again called him to sing. He tried to move his legs, but they didn’t seem to want to respond properly.
"Again? God damn it, Freddy." He shouted at the man, causing everyone to laugh around him. He sighed and placed a hand on his head. "Detoxify!"
Magic washed through him, his mind instantly defogged as the alcohol was removed from his system. Now stone sober, he stood up and walked up to the stage to the cheers of the rest of the drunks. He snagged the microphone from Freddy and put it on his head. "Why do I let you rope into these things?"
"Because behind that cold exterior, you secretly like to have fun."
"Fine. You get two songs. Sothing fast, then we will play them sothing slow. You guys know Fortunate Son? And True?"
"Jesus man, how do you only know ancient music? Didn't anything I sang stick with you throughout the years?"
"Can't beat the classics. That new shit you play ain't got no soul." John teased the bearded man, then turned to Freddy's sotis girlfriend and the rest of the band. "Now, play in before I regret sobering up."
Maggie laughed at the look on Freddy's face, then nodded to the rest of the band. She strumd a few notes, then the drumr started the beat. The music picked up, and John turned back to the crowd.
"So folks are born, made to wave the flag..."
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