resolve

With the coast clear, William dashed out of his mech’s neck, holding a pickaxe.

He ran around the head of the now laying down Nomad with his team behind him.

“This side is half down already! I am going to break through the wall. When I do, get him out of there” William said as he swung the pickaxe at the already damaged cockpit.

Within a few good swings the metal gave out, detaching a small plate from the cockpit’s wall

Kaya rushed first with Anya close behind. By the time Anya managed to get Louis out of his rig, Kaya already attached an oxygen mask, blood infusion, and checked everywhere on him for injuries.

“Shit! He has no pulse starting Electrical Cardioversion!” Kaya said as she attached a small machine that resembled a gel like mat on Louis’s chest. The machine had many buttons William could not decipher but he did understand it let Kaya control how much electricity goes where.

“Anya! Find me where the hell did Louis bleed all of this!” kaya said while tossing her bandages.

“Captain. Wait outside. You look like you are going to faint, and I can’t be in two places at once.” Kaya continued in the same breath while doing her best to restart Louis’s heart.

“Kaya… He has no injuries.” Anya said while using medical scissors to cut Louis’s jeans and shirt.

“He has no injuries.” She repeated with fear. “ I… think he was sweating blood, but the most amount of blood seems to drip from the eyes and ears …”

William stepped out of the Nomad’s cockpit, feeling like he was going fall apart.

His heart raced and hands shook while a chill ran over his arms and shoulders.

‘This is not over yet. I can have an existential crisis when I am at the hospital, right now …The team comes first, and they need a captain.’ the captain thought while looking at the streetlights of Paris slowly lighting up.

“Are you ok?” the crazy fellow said with a calm voice.

“I don’t know, we will see in a moment” William admitted without looking at the man.

“Sorry about all of this. You caught me on a bad day” the injured, but evidently in fighting shape, man said to William. “It’s ok! You actually saved our asses. What’s your name by the way?” William said as he scanned the man up and down trying to rein his emotions in to place.

The man was taller than William, and William was not a small fellow. He was also fatter, with a big belly and a round face adorned with a thick mustache.

His hair was brown, his cheeks were badly shaved, and his hair was shortly trimmed.

But his eyes; they were covered in blood. As if he was crying blood a moment ago.

His nose and ears were covered in dried blood as well as patches of his hair.

He was bruised all over yet still standing there with a worried expression.

‘Is… Is he more worried about me in this situation?’ William managed to think.

“Oscar” the weird man said. “What happened to your friend?”

“These purple-eyed Hivemind bastards fried up his nervous system.” William said with a grim expression.

William suddenly realized what had happened, he felt so foolish that he had to explain it to someone else before he could figure it out himself, but there it was.

“I don’t remember purple ones.” Oscar said with a confused expression.

“You burned them first.” William tried to offer an explanation.

“Damn. I barely remember the fight; I woke up not long ago from a hit to the head.” Oscar said placing a hand on his ribs, something that confused William so much he forgot his own worries for a moment and started to worry about the man in front of him.

“Captain” Anya said, stepping out of the cockpit.

William was almost scared to look.

He turned his face towards Anya only to see her shaking her head left to right.

Her face looked crestfallen, washing the blood with a damp rag.

“I will safeguard the body in Undying. It has a designated spot near the cooling system for … grim situations like this .” Anya said walking up to Ward and placing her hand on his shoulder.

William nodded his head.

He wanted to approach the body, say something, anything. But his legs would not allow it.

“When we get home, I will take care of his burial and funeral. I will also inform his family and-“ William started to say only to be interrupted by a short hug from Anya “now is a good time to say any last things. For his spirit and yours.” She said.

“No. his spirit is not there, that is just his body. When he will have a proper grave, then I can tell him what I need to.” William found himself saying.

After an awkward silence Anya started to speak.

“How about our crazy friend?” Anya said while looking at Oscar. “You look like you’ve been through hell.”

“I did. Sorry about my entrance” Oscar said still holding his ribs.

“Do not apologize. You fought like a bogatyr! We should thank you.” Anya said while Kaya got out of the Cockpit.

She had a sad expression, only to see Oscar’s face and get immediately angry. “You! Sit down! you have two different kinds of brain damage.”

Oscar sat on a large rock without protesting much.

“How are you still standing? Your rib is broken, your ankle is swollen, and you are bruised and burned all over. What happened?”

By the time Oscar told them all of what he went through, Kaya finished addressing his wounds while William started to pass around crackers, cheese and peanut butter.

The team also shared with Oscar tales of Louis in between his anecdotes, exchanging stories to learn more about one another.

“So, the blue one is intentionally creating more fallen?” William concluded. ”We kill him, we cut the head of the snake?”

“I hope that plan counts me in!” Oscar said with determination. “I’m not done with him yet.”

“Understandable. you are driving that tiny rust bucket over there?” William took an attempt at humor.

“That there is Chestnut! And I owe this rust bucket my life.” Oscar said with a small smile.

“So, what is the plan?” Kaya asked looking almost impatient.

“Anya me and Oscar are going to do everything we can to kill the Majesty. With him gone the rest will be far less organized.” William said with a Grimace.

“You, Kaya, have the job of giving us time.” Ward continued

“Between your reserved jellyfish and your Mech’s Still operational Cascade you have the best chance of taking a horde of small creatures. If you need support one of us will join to help you.”

“I will not disappoint you captain, tonight they burn” Kaya said with an alarming intensity.

“Good. Because you are our last hope.“ Ward said While standing up.

“Everyone, get ready we leave in fifteen minutes”