A New Mission (END)

I can't believe this... The Republic really captured Wilhelm?  During the post-victory meeting with Captain Joseph and his fellow Cyberitters, Rudolf could hardly believe the words spoken by Wilhelm's second-in-command. Though some small part of that may have resulted from the quick, breathless rattling of details that she forced out, as if recounting a personal trauma, Rudolf knew that more of his disbelief came from his trust in Wilhelm's capabilities. Only when she reported the crucial wrinkle of the story did Rudolf begin to believe.

"Wilhelm, he... he had the Red Reaper on the ropes, from what I saw. But Lieutenant Mathilde, she... She stopped him from dealing the final blow and incapacitated him, saving the man."

Corroborated by the NCO of Mathilde's former squad, and with Mathilde herself absent in the wake of the battle, Rudolf had no choice to but to trust Mayu's account. The room fell into silence, and the captain's face contorted into a rage worse than when Florent had vanished.

"And they got his suit, too?" Storm asked, the only one stoic enough to continue the discussion.

"I... I don't know? It was all so fast," Mayu replied.

"They already have Florent's, I'm sure of that," the captain said. "But this... this loss hurts. We can only thank Wilhelm for destroying the Red Reaper's railgun before he got captured. Otherwise, we wouldn't have even seized New Moscow. His sacrifice would be meaningless."

"Sacrifice?" Bowie asked. "You don't mean he's d-dead, do you?"

"Come on, Bowie, use your brain," Aurelia replied. "If they wanted him dead, then they wouldn't have carried him off to their base, would they? For now, he should be fine."

"...Fine isn't the word I'd use for someone made hostage by a bunch of scum," Levin said. "Those bastards probably plan to torture him: to take what he knows and use it against us. We have to save him, captain! Please..." Levin trailed off, tears in their eyes. "I'll do anything, just-"

"Enough, Levin!" The captain's loud voice stunned all others. "Even if we can find where he's been taken, the top brass may have other ideas for us, instead of doing the right thing. Once I report this... I know them too damn well. He'd be more useful to them dead than alive."

What does he... No, that can't be! "You mean that they'd rather have him as a martyr, so that we can keep forging east? Is that the idea, Captain Joseph?" Rudolf felt a rising heat in his chest.

"...Who can say?" In other words, that's exactly right. They'd have us leave a comrade for dead, one who's given everything to them. But Rudolf had other plans.

"Captain, is there any way... Any way at all, that you can hold off on telling them of Wilhelm's disappearance? At least for a few weeks... A month, maybe?"

Captain Joseph's eyes widened. "What are you suggesting, Wilder?"

"If they don't know about the incident, then at worst, those in charge of the Federation military's movements will only direct us to occupy New Moscow, yes? Just as we did in the last few conquered cities. They'll lack any means to martyr him and drum up further aggression." 

"And then, we'll have a decent amount of free-ish time... Time enough to track him down and save him!" Levin replied.

"Exactly. Of course, this assumes complete and utter compliance from everyone involved here... and an assumption that no one else could report these matters to them."

"Question, Mayu," Aurelia said. "The way you said it... Did anyone else see this all go down, besides you and Mathilde's second-in-command?"

"Maybe some, but none know for sure that Wilhelm is gone for good."

"Then maybe we can swing it, if everyone here goes with the story that we broke him loose, but that he's just... on vacation, or something."

"We can iron out the details, later," Rudolf said. "But is everyone on board with this plan?"

He looked at Storm first, who shrugged. "Sure, why not? I don't care."

"I-I think it's a good idea," Bowie said. "Wilhelm's a part of the team, so... We can't leave him!"

"You already know what I'll say," Levin replied. "I don't care how many reds I have to kill: I'm not leaving him out to dry. Not now, and not ever."

"I'm not, either... After all, he still owes me some money, and I mean to collect," Aurelia said. When asked, she gave few details on the debt and avoided Rudolf's eyes. How... bashful.

"...I'm in," Mayu said. "He watched out for us, and now, it's Squad Azure's turn to help him."

Captain Joseph stared at Rudolf. "You're plotting conspiracy, openly, in front of your superior officer? Have you gone mad, Wilder?"

Rudolf smiled. "Maybe so, sir. But either way, it's your turn. What's your answer, Captain Joseph? Should we lie to protect one of our own, or tell the truth to seal his fate?" 

The captain shook his head, bit his lip, paced around the room, and finally...

"Fine, damn it! But if we're doing this, then we're doing it my way, Wilder."

"Just as I would hope, sir!"

Captain Joseph sighed. "...Then we have a new mission, now. Track down Frei, and bring him home safely, before the end of next month. If we fail to secure him by that time, then I'll report his disappearance, as planned. This... This is the best I can do. Any questions?"

Levin raised his hand. "When do we start?"

"Immediately. First, let's look into Mathilde's background for clues..."

______________________________________________________________________________________

"Commander Volkov ordered me to get you, Wil. Follow me," Mathilde said.

In Novosibirsk, the Republic military had immediately placed Wilhelm under arrest, confining him to a small, cold room. Outside of it, two men with large rifles stood, dressed in the Republic's dull reds. They did not speak to him: Wilhelm considered that perhaps they couldn't, on account of only knowing Russian. With no escape, he often busied himself with staring out of the all too narrow window, at the falling snow. 

With Mathilde's arrival, he, at last, found something else of interest.

"...And why should I do that?"

Mathilde's eyebrows furrowed. Her uniform now matched that of the Republic, adding a small, black beret atop her head. In truth, Wilhelm had resigned himself to never seeing her again. The Red Reaper... No, Volkov warned Wilhelm that he may be restrained for some time while he argued with the Republic's authorities, but claims of weeks had turned to months. Now, it was December: nearly a year from the day that they spent together, back in Berlin. Looking back at that day in the city, he could only feel a rising tide of disgust.

"This isn't up to you, Wil. If you want to live, then follow me."

Wil shook his head in disbelief, but after finishing his last set of push ups, he rose and put on a heavy, red coat with fur lining. He had no intention of dying. I've still got business to handle.

After clearing his departure with the guards, Wilhelm walked around with a spring in his step, cursing himself internally for his joy as he and Mathilde headed to an unknown destination. The halls, crafted out of a dark gray stone, brought his mood back down, and his temporary escape became yet another reminder of the prison that he found himself in. Mathilde avoided his eyes, all the while: she looked straight ahead, not even reacting as Wilhelm drew closer to the pistol on her hip. Just a little closer...

"Do you think that's a good idea, Wil?"

"...Who cares if it is, or isn't? I'm tired of this, Mathilde. Being some kind of inmate."

In the courtyard, now, Mathilde's breath puffed into the frigid air. She looked at the sky with a solemn expression, no trace of the woman from a year ago.

"If you want to leave, then do it. I won't stop you." Is this some kind of trap?  As Wilhelm looked at her in disbelief, trying to process this change, she continued.

"But you won't get anywhere before you're caught. I'm saying this for your own good: if you try running now, you're just going to get shot by one of the guards. There are too many of them." 

Looking around, Wilhelm couldn't deny that claim. But still...

"Yeah, like you give a shit about what's good for me. You stabbed me in the back."

Then, a hushed whisper. "...I didn't have any choice, Wil." Huh?

As the two passed into an unmanned hallway, Mathilde finally looked back at Wilhelm. Her stoic exterior melted away into an emotion Wilhelm was all too familiar with. Frustration.

"...I told you about my father, didn't I? When he grew ill, and my family started to struggle to make ends meet, a man came to our home in France. He claimed to be my uncle and presented me with a way to treat my father. A way to make enough money to take care of my family, while he recovered. That man... was Volkov. And he taught me everything I know. Exosuit piloting, hand to hand combat, my studies... All of it is thanks to him."

Wilhelm could do nothing but look at her, in silence.

"But there are always strings attached, aren't there? I was only meant to spy for the Republic, but when Project Cyberitter came into play, the demands grew steeper and steeper from those who pull Volkov's strings. Manipulate battles to reduce Republic casualties... Secure a traitor so that they can study the chips in our brains... And, if necessary, out myself to save Volkov."

"Wait, so... You really were behind Florent's defection?"

Mathilde laughed, but there was no smile on her face. "Of course... Anyway, there were benefits for you too, you know? Volkov could've killed all of us back in Warsaw, but he didn't because I was there. You're only alive because of me, Wil... Not that I expect any thanks."

That's why she said... And even in Minsk, she was...

"My father's illness hasn't gotten any better, and now that I've been outed, the Republic relocated my family here. There's no way out of this life, for me... Not anymore."

The two walked further, until they reached an elevator. Mathilde scanned her keycard and selected the lowest possible floor, and the two descended in silence. Wilhelm struggled to process what everything she said meant, how much of it was even true. But eventually, he came to an opinion that surprised even himself.

"...There's always a choice, Mathilde. If you want a way out, then you just have to find it."

"A nice platitude, but we live in the real world. Sometimes, there are no happy endings."

"Maybe, but... You won't know that until you fight for one." Wilhelm paused for a moment, then remembered something. "I never did tell you what you meant to me, did I?"

Mathilde smiled, with a pained expression. "And now, it's too late. Just like I said."

"No, it isn't," Wilhelm said, turning to her. "It's only too late if you decide to give up. And, well... You know me, right?" He got closer, his face next to hers. "I've never been one to give up."

For just a moment, their lips intertwined.

Then, the elevator door began to open, each hastily acting as if nothing happened. But as Mathilde walked out, she spoke to Wilhelm one last time before their meeting.

"...If you're still willing to fight, then so am I. Next time... I won't stop you, Wil."

________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the underground chamber, Wilhelm saw lines upon lines of metal men: lower quality exosuits than his cybersuit, but still much more advanced than the Republic's standard fare. Scientists circled around the laboratory. The only non-scientist figures lay directly ahead: two men, both familiar to Wilhelm.

"So, you were here after all, Florent," Wilhelm said.

Florent greeted him with an easygoing smile. "So I was. Feels good to be on the right side, now. I have to thank Mathilde for making that happen."

Wilhelm suppressed his rising anger. "So... You're fighting as an exosuit pilot on the Republic's side, now? Is it thanks to you that all these... things, are being made?"

"Pretty much. They took the chip out of my brain," Florent said, pointing to his temple. "All these guys are just like those cybersuits that we all used, in terms of how they operate. Apparently, I'll be getting one of the better ones pretty soon. Ain't that right, Commander?"

Volkov smiled. "Indeed. And now, we're welcoming two more of your former friends to my battalion. Mathilde, of course, and you, Wilhelm Frei. Unless you have any objections?"

"You want me to fight under you? Against my country and people?" Wilhelm asked.

"As an enemy pilot, your choices are few. This, or death," Volkov replied, his mirth fading.

"...Then the choice is obvious," Wilhelm said. "You really trust me enough to let me do this?"

"No, not at all. But I find you interesting, Frei. Your death would be... wasteful," Volkov said. "For now, Mathilde will keep a close watch on you. To ensure your loyalty, of course."

Fine by me. All I have to do is wait for a chance to blow his brains out. 

"So? What's my first mission, Volkov?"

The reaper of men smiled. "For now, simply defending Novosibirsk as we raise an army of Cyberitters like you. After that? ...You may see your old friends, sooner than you might like."

Wilhelm's blood ran cold, but he forced himself to stay calm. "...Whatever you say, sir." As Volkov gave him a tour around the chamber, only one thought ran through Wilhelm's mind.

Watch your back, Volkov... One day, I'll finish what I started.