Rise of Kings and Queens

Chapter 17

"Now that is impressive," said Leonie. "It's very nice to meet you, Beatrice."

"Likewise, my lady," said Beatrice.

"My lady," repeated Leonie with distaste. "Don't call me that. I'm not royalty."

"But some of us do see you as royalty," said Beatrice. "Three members of the world military leaders are actually princesses and a prince. Some of the people are starting to refer to the world military leaders as our real kings and queens."

"Now that's way too much," said Leonie. "I'm no queen."

"Maybe you should be. Your countries have done so much for my people and it's because of the world military leaders. I think you would make a great queen."

Leonie found herself blushing, and moved forward and past the women to look into the distance at the airships approaching. "Jenniflore, would you happen to know what's going on with that other airship?"

"No ma'am," answered Jenniflore. "We were thinking maybe it could be one of your squadmates. Esme and Kara have been in and out of the country for the past couple of months."

"Esme didn't mention anything that she would be returning to Haiti. Maybe it could be Kara, but considering what happened in Canada, I would assume she would head there instead."

"Aren't the airships getting way too close to each?" asked Lovelie as she pointed towards them.

"Yes they are," said Leonie as she watched them carefully.

Leonie could see people getting on the edge of the deck of the airship. She didn't recognise any of them. She couldn't tell what they were doing until she spotted the cannons. "It's an attack," said Leonie and right when she said those words, the enemy ship fired its cannons at the supply airship.

Leonie and the women could only watch as the enemy airship shot down the supply airship. The supply airship fell to the ocean. Leonie was about to give the order to send a rescue team but noticed the enemy airship wasn't retreating, it was heading towards the port.

"Girls, get all hands on deck. We're about to be in a battle," said Leonie as she walked away.

"Ms. Kaiser," called out Jenniflore. "Where are you going?"

"To put my armor on," answered Leonie, not stopping her stride.

Leonie returned to port with her world military medic armor on. She had a club on one hand as she approached her men at port. The men stood by cannons, waiting for the order to fire them. Jenniflore stood behind the men. Leonie joined her. She noticed Calixte and her friends were manning cannons.

"We fire on your order," said Jenniflore.

"Not yet," said Leonie. "Do we know who they are?"

"Probably pirates."

"They're not pirates. Pirates steal the loot, not destroy it."

"Dependency?"

"I think so," said Leonie. "I want to capture whoever their leader is. That's why I don't want to shoot their ship down."

"But ma'am," protested Jenniflore. "If we let them get any closer, they'll be able to fire upon us."

"Men," called out Leonie. "On my mark, I want you to fire at the sails of that ship. I don't want you to shoot at their deck. We're going to arrest these people."

"Yes ma'am," said the men in unison as they aimed their cannons higher.

"Ready," yelled Leonie as she raised her arm. "Fire!" she said, bringing her arm down with force. Calixte and the men fired their cannons, hitting the sails of the airship and sending everyone on the deck into disarray. They could see some of the enemy fall out of the sky and into the ocean.

Leonie and her men watched as the enemy's airship crashed into the beach. "Soldiers, follow me," yelled Leonie as she led them to the beach.

At the beach they were met by the enemy who were struggling to crawl out of the water. Leonie tried to look for whoever seemed like their leader, and spotted him. She couldn't believe who she was seeing. Lin Crespo climbed out of the wreckage in his armor.

"Remember soldiers," yelled Leonie. "I want them brought in alive."

Leonie ran right towards Lin Crespo as the soldiers followed her example and went after the other enemies. The enemies were no match for the world military soldiers and their armor.

Leonie went after Lin Crespo who saw her coming. He used his armor arm to block her attack. Lin Crespo aimed his arm-cannon at Leonie who pushed it away as he fired. The blast missed Leonie, who slammed her club on his side. He winced as she continued her attack. She gave him a furious combination as Lin tried his best to defend himself. She was about to finish him off when she was blasted away by someone else's attack.

Leonie looked up and saw some men helping Lin Crespo up. Next to Lin were two other guys with similar armors.

"Shit," said a beat up Lin Crespo. "You're supposed to be the medic. You shouldn't be this good of a fighter."

Leonie got back on her feet, glaring at Lin Crespo.

"Sir," said one of the men who helped Lin Crespo up. "We need to get you out of here."

"Fine, fine," said Lin Crespo. "You two," he said, pointing at the men with the armors similar to him. "Hold her back." Lin Crespo made his escape as the two men fired upon Leonie.

Leonie jumped out of the way from the blasts. She was having a hard time countering the enemy with them firing upon her. Finally one of the men got hit in the back by Calixte and her friends. The girls ran away while the enemy chased them.

Leonie moved in after the other enemy. He brought up his arm-cannon to fire upon Leonie, but she was too fast. She pushed his arm-cannon to the side, causing him to miss. She slammed her club hard upon his head, knocking him off balance. Leonie was worried about the girls as she heard cannon fire in the direction they went. With all of her force she slammed her club down on the enemy's head. The enemy went down with a thud.

Leonie ran as fast as she could and found Calixte and her friends standing by the brush. Beatrice was with them. The girls were out of breath.

"Are you okay?" she asked them.

"Yes," managed to answer Calixte.

"What happened to the enemy?"

The girls hesitated as they looked at each other. "He got away," answered Beatrice. "I surprised him when I arrived and he ran off."

"Great," said Leonie. "Lin Crespo got away too, and I think I killed the other armored guy. Hey, at least we're all still alive."

The girls smiled at Leonie.