Dango's War

As soon as Pierrot finished repairing the suit, I temporarily put it on my belt. The day passed peacefully. Pierrot had also finished working on the weapons and joined us to plan our next move.

As evening fell, to celebrate the beginning of our rebellion, I decided to cook dinner myself. I looked everywhere in the vehicle. But except for Punch's mushrooms, I couldn't find anything.

Damn it, we'd already finished all the food. Maybe I could learn to hunt on the spot. How difficult could it be? The cavemen did it, so can I.

I opened the trunk to choose the most appropriate weapon for hunting.

I wonder if there are any animals around this time of year? Maybe hares, bears or deer... Or even fish sleeping in the rivers. Is there a river nearby? But I'd love some pasta with wild boar ragu. My mouth waters just thinking about it. Damn! I forgot to take the bow and arrows! Now what do I do?

My eye fell on a spear. I picked it up. Maybe I could use this. After all, what's an arrow, if not a miniature spear. I also took a knife and stuck it in my belt.

You never know when you might need it. Better to have it on you than not at all.

Smiling, I headed towards the woods hoping to find some animal.

«Where are you going, Dango?» I turn to Pierrot. «We've run out of meat and cheese. I'm going to hunt something.»

He came up to me quickly and put a hand on my back, leading me to the vehicle. «Leave it, Beatrice will take care of it. Why don't you sleep instead? You're working too hard, you need to rest.»

I shook his hand off.  «I can't let her hunt an animal. She's barely recovered, it would be like rubbing salt in the wound.»

«What did you understand? I don't want her to hunt. She'll create the food, remember? Her "powers".»

«Oh, so I have to watch her mutilate herself again?» We both turned to Punch abruptly.

… Eh? I  didn't understand, what did he say?

«Thanks, but I don't want to.»

My grip loosened, the snow crunched under the falling spear. I approached him quickly, crouched down, grabbed his shoulders tightly. «What did you say? REPEAT!»

He closed his eye, retracted his head, lowered his face and put his hands in front of him. «I said I don't want to see her mutilate herself again!... Nor...»

«Shut up, Punch!» Pierrot exclaimed, interrupting him.

I couldn't think, I couldn't force myself to.

The air around me became hot and heavy, the air that hit my face was cold and light.

I felt the acid in my stomach churn up to my throat.

I let go of Punch and slowly turned to Pierrot.

«Pierrot, what is he saying?» I could barely get a whisper out of my mouth.

«Dango, it's not like you think.»

I could hear his voice muffled.

My breath, my heartbeat, echoed in my ears.

My vision was blurred around the edges.

«D-Dango, are you okay? You're pale.» Beatrice intervened with a worried tone, touching my arm gently.

I couldn't turn to her.

I couldn't move a single muscle.

«Y-You're trembling! Pierrot, help me!»

Pierrot approached quickly and grabbed me by the shoulders. «Dango, calm down. Breathe. We didn't tell you because we didn't want to hurt you, we had to. It was for your own good.»

Beatrice tried to pull me towards her to make me look at her. «D-Dango, please listen to me! We didn't tell you because... because we knew you would spend too much money on food rather than accept the situation. I... I didn't want you to end up like me!»

Their words hit me like a ton of bricks.

I could barely stammer, «The food... Everything we've eaten... She didn't create it?»

They both looked away.

«It's not entirely true... Just the raw materials.» Pierrot managed to say.

It's my fault she had to do this...

I felt my legs give way as I took a few steps back, away from them.

My stomach contracted violently, and without being able to stop it, I vomited on the pristine snow.

As soon as I could look up, Pierrot pushed Beatrice aside with a sudden movement, their bodies fell to the ground just in time to avoid a plaser sword that cut off Beatrice's left arm, she screamed in pain, the blood stained the snow beneath her, but Pierrot had saved her life.

Behind them, three figures emerged. Their steps on the snow were slow, the glow of their weapons and red neon illuminated their advance.

As he rolled, Pierrot grabbed the spear on the ground, with a scream he immediately launched an attack on Beatrice's attacker, but was intercepted by another enemy armed with an electric spear, their weapons clashed with a burst of sparks, as the two locked in a fierce duel.

Punch, trembling, picked up a piece of wood from the fire, threw it at the enemy who had injured Bea, the blow had no effect, and Punch turned to run, but the soldier chased him, Punch clumsily tripped, fell heavily on the snow, I drew my knife, the enemy raised his sword ready to strike, but I threw the dagger managing to plant it in the shoulder of the red uniform, making him turn towards me.

Bea, meanwhile, staggered on the snow, barely dodging the electric batons, sweat ran down her forehead, slowly her arm began to regenerate «Bea, tqake it!» Punch threw a short sword from the trunk, she caught it miraculously, being hit. Although in difficulty, she was now able to parry the attacks, defending herself more effectively.

I tried to follow the enemy's movements, but my body betrayed me. The nausea, the wound on my hand, the sleep and hunger were wearing me down. Suddenly, Punch, with a desperate cry, launched himself onto the back of the enemy I was facing, grabbed the stuck dagger and stabbed him multiple times, the soldier tried to shake him off, I blocked his arms, leaving Punch to finish the job.

Finally, the red uniform collapsed lifelessly to the ground. Panting, I said, «Take his plaser sword and go help Bea!»

Punch nodded, grabbed the weapon and ran towards Beatrice, I rushed to the trunk, grabbed everything I could: gauntlets, poleaxe, shield arm. I equipped myself quickly, but before I could return to the action, the two enemies knocked down Pierrot and Bea.

Deep, metallic sounds echoed through the air. Military vehicles appeared from the sky.

«Rejoice! The hero has come to save the day!»

«General Scares…» I muttered, recognizing the voice of propaganda.

I rushed towards Pierrot, the red suit prepared to finish him off, with a well-placed dropkick I threw him to the ground, I got up quickly, threw the axe at the other enemy, but the one with the electric spear hit my arm, I felt the blow, missed the throw, but the axe managed to reach him anyway, tearing his calf, he knelt, Beatrice and Punch took advantage of it to get away.

I tried to keep my opponent at bay with Pierrot, «Go with Bea!»I blocked a blow with my shield arm, «I'm not leaving you here!» he replied with a thrust of his spear, «Don't be a pain in the ass! Run! Protect her!»

He hesitated for just a moment, then turned and ran towards Bea, grabbed her by the wrist, and dragged her away, she struggled, screaming my name. A dull thud, the military vehicles landed, the troops disembarked. The vehicles' headlights illuminated the battlefield.

Together with the remaining red suit, I tried to hold back the troops that were joining in, but I couldn't, the wounds were accumulating, my vision was starting to blur, the noises were muffled, everything seemed to slow down, my head wouldn't stop spinning, I could taste blood in my mouth.

I could barely hear the 0 Liwan driving away. I felt relieved, I took courage, and continued to hold out as long as possible.

Seeing them escape, some troops tried to return to the vehicles, I took three small spheres from my jacket pocket and threw them in the direction of the vehicles, they activated, emitting an energy discharge that temporarily immobilized their vehicles.

However, this action allowed an enemy to throw me to the ground and point the electric spear at me.

«Stop!» a commanding voice exclaimed. At his command, no one moved. General Scares advanced calmly, accompanied by a red suit.

«Pick him up.»

Two soldiers grabbed me roughly, pulling me to my feet.

Scares stopped a few steps away from me. «You know, boy, in 24 hours you've caused me more trouble than anyone else. I want to know your name, so it can be engraved in the chronicles of my victories!»

The soldiers present responded in chorus with an «Ahu!»

«I'm nothing more than a humble warrior who has chosen the thief as his second class.» I replied with a smile from which blood flowed at the sides.

«Give him a punch.»

«Ouch!» The soldiers punched me at the same time.

«Don't make me angry, boy. Tell me who you are and why you keep getting in my way!» he exclaimed, agitated.

Having caught my breath, I shook off the soldiers' grip. I fell to the ground. I grabbed the weapon. Everyone went on the defensive. Scares nodded and they put away their weapons.

Stumbling, I got up, supporting myself on the poleaxe. «Gentlemen, and lady…» I added, bowing slightly to the red suit behind Scares, «I'm just... someone who dreamed too much, in a world where dreams are sold... For you it may have been 24 difficult hours, but for 22 years life has been stuffing me with shit... I haven't been able to write my own story, but at least in the end, I want to be selfish, I want to write my own death.»

Scares started laughing, a clap rose from his gloved hands. «Aha! Even though it's not what I wanted to hear, I like your answer, boy! I'll remember this phrase with pleasure when I narrate your defeat!»

He drew his schiavona, I gripped the poleaxe.

At his cry of «En garde!» we both threw ourselves into a duel.