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This Chapter will be subject to future changes!
I apologize to those who have made it thus far,
but I plan to rewrite this chapter in the future
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When the messiah descended from the stars,
And sheltered us with new hopes and new dreams,
Saving our leader from the grip of death,
Fixing us from our broken seams,
He led us to a world unseen...
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In Time Immemorial:
"Thank you Yelena , for helping me get through to Patriot."
"You're welcome Kaiser Rye. He still doesn't trust you for your sudden move however."
"I'm not that surprised."
"Hmm. At least we got a new city to live in."
"Yeah. This one's a nomadic one, so we can use it to travel if we want to."
Kaiser Rye threw a body into a large pit dug by his men. He took off his bloody coat and threw it into the pit, he lit a match and threw that in too. A fire incinerated the corpses below. Yelena used her Arts to put it out concealing it under the illusion of an icy pond. In the distance, a caravan was drawing closer and closer to their location.
"Good, they're here." Kaiser Rye remarked as he fixed the buttons on his sleeves.
"That's the rest of them, correct?" Yelena asked.
"It is," He looked at the sky above and saw the sun at its peak. "What month is it?"
"It's late March. The snowy months are coming to a close."
"That's good."
"Why'd you ask?"
"Just wondering. I'm expecting something at around April or May."
"I see."
"Come on. Let's go welcome the others."
The two of them left the area and entered a small town large enough to fit their groups. When the caravan arrived, the children all joyfully skipped to their families. The two of them were welcomed with hugs and smiles. Yelena decided to help them get accustomed to their new lives in the town. The last of the supplies were being carried off the trucks and stored in one of the few available storage facilities.
Tasks were being completed with such rapid fluidity, that the place seemed like a bustling marketplace. One of Kaiser Rye's men whispered something in his ear about his wife. Inside sat a woman who was hunched over on the seat; her legs were curled up beside her womb. She was trembling in her seat, enough to make truck rattle. Kaiser Rye exhaled and opened the door.
"Talulah... I'm sorry that I had to let you go through this." He said.
He only received a fearful countenance. The happy smile and warm orbs have long been replaced by a sullen frown and bloodshot eyes. Upon seeing this, he immediately reached to comfort her.
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"The world is not so kind...'
"You've been blinded by dreams of love...'
"Even the brightest goals have the hardest obstacles...'
"Is this the future you envisioned?"
Torment. Oh, this never-ending torment. My womb felt like it was hardening by the second. I could hear my racing heart clash against the wall of my chest. My breaths came out in erratic sputters. My fingers twitched, and my eyes shuddered.
"No... please..." I whispered with parched lips.
A nagging feeling invaded my mind. But it all resulted in my trying to protect my womb. The abnormal mass growing out of my belly was trembling. My back lurched forward as I felt a sharp turn within. I let out a scream of pain, despite my efforts to stay silent.
"What a foolish girl...'
"You were born a leader,'
"yet you fell so low..."
"Please... stop..." I begged.
I couldn't endure hearing all of the negative voices in my head. It seemed to harass me out of spite. It spoke in my voice, it spoke in someone else's voice. But spirits don't exist? Why is it inside my head? Am I that ill?
"You cannot kill this snake...'
"I'm not spirit nor a ghost...'
"I live on, to guide you to a new future,'
"But you refuse to cooperate."
Cooperate? I'm already leading the Infected to a new place, albeit my absence. Kaiser Rye is currently leading them in my steed, feeding the hungry, treating the sick, leading them to a mobile city. We were progressing, no, advancing! He's wrong, he's wrong.
"No.. no..." I muttered.
The lull of a warm aura caressed my cheeks as I looked at the one person I was looking for with weary eyes. Kaiser Rye wrapped me in his arms. My face was buried against his shoulder as he patted my upper back. My hands were still clamped on my top of my womb still.
"I'm sorry that I had to drag you here," He gave me a kiss on the head hoping to console me.
The rattling chills on my spine slowly died down. The pain in my womb dissipated; my child stopped squirming inside. My breaths came out more smoothly. I'm assuming that he was using his Arts to heal my ailments.
"Feeling better?" He asked as we broke free from our embrace.
"Yeah," I sighed as I pulled him close to me again.
"Come on. I have already prepared a new place to stay."
I looked at him in the eye. "Really?"
"Yeah."
He pulled my hood over my head, cupped my cheeks, and held my hand while I extended my legs out of the truck. My legs felt incredibly sore, and when I stepped on the ground, my balance faltered. A chilly breeze hit me with such force, that I was being pushed back. The smell of fresh air invaded my nose. The sun's glare hurt my eyes causing to me wince.
But Kaiser Rye held onto my hand. My legs felt tired as my womb made it incredibly awkward to walk. He guided me past the curious eyes of the Infected, the suspicious glances of the soldiers, and the incessant chatter from both.
"Oh my! Is that Mrs. Talulah?"
"It's Talulah! What happened to her?"
"Wait, why's the 'Kaiser' helping her? Are they married?"
"They have to be, they're not any of our races!"
"She doesn't look so good though. Look out how she's walking."
"She's not breathing well either. That's not good."
Never have I felt more vulnerable. They expressed their worries and thoughts in the most unruly manner. It seems like they lost hope in me. Amidst the turmoil, Kaiser Rye still grasped my hand. He pulled my hood covering my eyes and whispered:
"Don't mind them. Just keep moving. Don't let go."
Don't let go...
A smile curled up on my face as I held his hand close to my body. And soon, all of chatter disappeared, and all of the faces vanished from my sight. Kaiser Rye pulled the sheets closer to my face, before he hugged me. I wrapped my arms around him as I savored the warmth between us.
"I'll take care of things here," He whispered. "Sleep tight."
But we're still in the light of day, and before I knew it, he closed the door behind him...
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When Kaiser Rye walked back out into the daylight, he was welcomed by the curious glances of the Infected, although most of them returned to their tasks. He just shook his head and chuckled, as if he didn't receive any attention at all.
A march with heavy boots approached him from behind. The clanks of bulky armor were followed by light -almost silent- footsteps of small feet. Patriot advanced towards Kaiser Rye in full battle attire, shield and all, with a few of his Guerrillas. A single soldier was being held by his arms, his head was drooping down.
"Welcome Patriot," Kaiser Rye greeted. "Here to pay me?"
"Absolutely not," The Wendigo responded with hostile voice.
He ordered his Guerrillas to throw the soldier down on the hard, cold ground. The Ursus soldier spat out some blood, and struggled to lift himself up. Patriot turned around and exhaled.
"You forgot one," He stated. "Now hang him."
His Guerrillas moved to obey their order, but Kaiser Rye let out his hand.
"This guy is of better use alive," He stated.
"This is Ursus scum we're dealing with!" One Guerrilla replied.
"You're the ones that are scum!"
The men were appalled by the Ursus soldier's sudden words; his spit stained the Draco's boots. Kaiser Rye deadpanned and crouched down to look the soldier in the eye. He grabbed the him by the collar and lifted him up. The look in the soldier's eyes expressed fear and bravery. He clamped his hands onto the Draco's arm trying to break free, but Kaiser Rye retained his grip. He eyed the small badge stuck to his shirt, and he immediately knew the soldier's rank.
"Stay out of an adult's conversation Private," He stated. "You'll live longer."
"I am an adult you Infected filth!" The soldier spat.
"You don't look like one kid. You look like you just came out of boot camp."
"I will not be disrespected by-"
"I'm not interested in hearing your comebacks. Why are you here?"
"Following orders!" The soldier kicked his legs hoping to break free, but to no avail.
"Who's orders?"
"My lieutenant's!"
"What was his order?"
"Why should I tell you?!"
Kaiser Rye slammed the soldier on the ground, planted his foot on his chest, and pulled out a firearm. He aimed it at the soldier's head and watched him squirm beneath him.
"What was his order?" He asked again as he cocked the gun.
The soldier didn't see any alternative, so he squealed.
"Assist the current army squadron in the area in preserving the peace and order of the tundra, defend any existing army garrisons, and eliminate the Infected threat by use of force and coercion."
Kaiser Rye removed his foot off the soldier's chest, much to his surprise, and he decided to reload his gun. The soldier painfully lifted himself off the ground; Kaiser Rye stopped the Guerrilla soldiers from interfering. He ordered them to stand back, although he wasn't their captain.
"Were you in the battle that happened here weeks before?" The Draco asked he put his gun back in its holster.
The soldier didn't respond; he tried his best to stand on his damaged legs.
"You must have seen a lot haven't you Private?" Kaiser Rye stated.
"Why are you talking to me like this?" The soldier questioned.
"I was once a brave soldier like you. I was a Starshina, or Sergeant-Major."
"So you're a traitor then! You've betrayed the army!" The soldier spat.
The Draco kicked him in the shin causing him to collapse on the ground. He kicked him again, flipping him onto his back. He kicked him in the jaw; a wad of saliva and blood was expelled from his mouth. Then he stepped on the soldier's head.
"I was once a proud solder like you," Kaiser Rye proclaimed. "Almost too proud.'
"I've fought hard, I've trained, I've climbed the ranks of army.'
"I thought that I was helping this world achieve a greater peace.'
"But I've seen what the army has done.'
"I've seen how the army makes widows.'
"I've seen how warfare makes orphans.'
"But we've always been taught to follow orders.'
"We've been taught to believe that everything the empire has done was right.'
"We were just boys back then.'
"But boys have to grow up.'
"Otherwise, they become mindless beasts.'
"Do you remember your 'Oath of Enlistment' Private?"
The Private struggled to speak as his head was being crushed by the weight of the Draco's foot. Blood escaped his mouth as the Draco kept on pressing him for a response.
"Do you?"
The Private opened his mouth.
"I, Gennady Lebedev, son of this empire, take this solemn oath. I pledge:'
"-to fight for the army with all of my mi-"
"Wrong," Kaiser Rye interrupted. "I'll recite it for you:'
"I, Kaiser Rye, son of this empire, take this solemn oath. I pledge,'
"-to fight for the greater good of the people,'
"-to help those who suffer from tyranny,'
"-to preserve the peace of our nation,'
"-to always be faithful to Emperor and his gracious empire,'
"-to respect the soldiers fighting with me,'
"-to follow the orders of my superiors,'
"-to honor the heroes who've died before me.'
"I shall not betray my loyalty to the empire and its people.'
"I shall carry out my duty to the best of my ability,'
"-and only thus, am I a dignified soldier of Ursus."
Kaiser Rye removed his foot from the soldier, who gasped for air, and he ripped his badge straight off of his bloody uniform. He dropped it on the ground, and crushed it. He pressed his foot on top of it and turned it, burying the badge deep into the ground. The Private watched in horror as the only symbol of his honor was destroyed. Then the Draco removed his foot, picked the soldier up and tossed him aside.
"True soldiers fight for what they believe in," He stated. "Not some emperor they don't see."
The Private's limbs shook as he slowly tried to get up. The Guerrillas argued with Kaiser Rye as to why he didn't kill him; he told them to leave. Then he approached the soldier, spun him around and kicked him away.
"Go," He ordered.
"You're not going to kill me?" The soldier questioned as he struggled to stand back up.
"What's the point in killing you?"
"W- what are you going to do?!" He stuttered.
"Letting you go," Kaiser Rye equipped his gun in his hand again.
The soldier was too stunned to move.
"If you don't go on three," The Draco said.
"One!" He cocked the gun.
"Two!" He aimed.
The soldier bolted away as fast as his twisted feet can carry him. Kaiser Rye unloaded the magazine of the gun and reloaded it. He holstered it and turned away. He moved past the astonished glances of the Guerrillas and ignored their opposing cries. They threatened to inform Patriot of his actions; the Draco dared them to. When he walked into the city, he was greeted by an old Feline and a young Sankta.
"Bravo, Kaiser Rye, for acquiring this city."
"Lucas, Haley, nice seeing you here," He welcomed. "I haven't seen you two in a while."
"I didn't think that you'd manage to secure a nomadic city," Haley, the Sankta, remarked. She tossed a canteen to him, he took a drink and he held it loosely within his fingers.
"Even you have little faith in me."
Lucas lit a cigarette for him, but he gave it to Haley instead, who gladly took a puff. He exchanged a few words him regarding the next moves for the Reunion and the other Infected. When Lucas left, he turned to speak to Haley, but he ushered her to a more isolated area in the city.
"Haley, I need to ask you something," He said.
"What is it?" The Sankta replied through a ring of smoke.
"I need you to help me with Talulah for-"
"A threesome?"
"Ew, gross," The Draco grimaced at her remark.
"Says the guy who bangs her every month," Haley showed a wry smile.
"What?"
"Nothing. What'd you need help with?"
"I need your help, when this happens," He dropped the canteen in hand and stomped on it. All of the leftover water in it dampened his boot as Haley looked at him puzzled.
"Can you just say it?"
"When Talulah gives birth."
"Okay. But why me?"
"So I don't suffer from a broken ribcage and a burnt ass."
The two of them shared a few laughs, a few inquisitive remarks; after a few more minutes of spewing nonsense and making deals, the Sankta agreed, and then they returned to business. The Draco's head was fogged by possible events in the future. A mix of worry and glee blossomed within him, but he tried not to let it show.
"Kaiser Rye, I forgot to tell you something!" Lucas walked up to him from behind.
"What is it?" Kaiser Rye asked.
"It's best if we talk about this alone."
Lucas pushed him away from his destination and decided to speak to him in one of the city's many alleys. He opened his coat and handed him a peculiar object: it resembled the handle of a saber, but without the blade. Dirt and grime tarnished the appearance of it, but when Kaiser Rye wiped it off, it was still in pristine condition. His eyes widened at the sight.
"Where'd you get this?!" He questioned.
"Lower your voice," Lucas shushed. "I know that you've encountered the Imperial Guard many weeks before-"
"Yeah. Were you there?"
"No, but I did find this when I searched the area."
The Draco fiddled with it in his hands before he handed it back to the Feline. But Lucas handed it back to him. Kaiser Rye attached it to his belt. The Feline started walking away.
"Keep it," He said. "As a souvenir."
Before Kaiser Rye can respond, Lucas was gone. He held the hilt of the Imperial Guard's saber in his hand and turned to the alley.
"I don't want this shit," He uttered.
He tossed his souvenir behind him, and with it, the memory of the encounter...
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"Hey! Come here! Look!"
"What's that?!"
"It looks like our radar picked up another city!"
"What? I thought that the only cities here are Lungmen and Chernobog!"
"There was that one city, but it was annexed by the Reunion."
"Can you try to contact it?"
"Already did, but, there's no way to contact it."
"What do you mean that there's no way to contact it!"
"We can't send a signal there! And it's still moving!"
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"And after all these years... it's still standing... how?"
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(A/N): Two things! & Archive File #4
WARNING!!! NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE GRAPHIC AND ABSURD!
GRAPHIC AND ABSURD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - (Don't tell me I didn't warn ya!)
Next thing is the hardest part - Choosing a character name!!!!
I will not be accepting more Name Submissions! - (SORRY!)
- Special thanks to those who have submitted their name(s) I will be choosing one in the upcoming weeks.
- If I don't choose your name, don't be disheartened by it! I will still allow you to leave your mark in this story!
And here is another my OC, Kaiser Rye's operator file!
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UPDATE: Archive File 4 was scrapped