Chapter 7:
CATALYST
My internal clock woke me at 0700 hours. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and sat up on the edge of the bed. An inn was a definite improvement over the forest; you could get a solid night's rest without the gnawing anxiety of combat dreams.
My radio crackled to life. "GAIA 2, this is Command. Provide a SITREP."
I fitted the headset over my ears. "This is GAIA 2, Command. I've made contact with the locals. While most are human, there are non-human species—elves, beastmen, and the like. I know it's hard to believe, but it's confirmed. I imagine the other teams are reporting the same."
I could almost picture the Old Man struggling to process it.
"For the record, I've established a rapport with one local. She owes me a debt, you could say. She's an officer in what passes for a special forces unit here. If you approve, I can use this connection to engage with the local government. How copy?"
"Affirmative, GAIA 2," Colonel Tanaka's voice came through, sharp and clear. "You are authorized to engage with the local government as necessary. We may dispatch a diplomatic envoy during the next eclipse. Until then, you will serve as Yamato's de facto representative. Stay sharp, son."
The line went dead. Our relationship had always been more mentor and student than just superior and subordinate—a common dynamic in the service.
I turned to look at Brielle. She was still sleeping soundly. Not wanting to wake her, I found a pen and paper and scribbled a quick note, telling her I was going to meet my friends and to wait for me out front.
After leaving the note on the nightstand and splashing some water on my face, I put on my BDU and CRAS armor and headed for the town plaza.
Navigating to the plaza took a good half hour. The aerial recon photos were a huge help, but without GPS, I had to keep referencing the physical map. As I neared the rendezvous point, a cloaked figure rounded a corner and slammed right into me.
We both went down in a heap.
"Ouch, that hurt…" a female voice murmured.
I got to my feet and offered her a hand. "Eh?" Her gaze flicked from my outstretched hand to my face with a surprised hesitation. When I just nodded, she cautiously accepted it.
As I helped her to her feet, I noticed she had the delicate, pointed ears of an elf. Her short blond hair was held back by a flower clip, with one curious strand sticking straight up like an antenna.
"Are you okay?" I asked. "What's the rush?"
She waved her hands frantically. "It's nothing! I was just running and I didn't see you, and then..." She trailed off, nervously fidgeting with her fingers.
"Don't worry about it," I said, brushing myself off. "Just be more careful next time." As I turned to leave, I noticed she was staring at me. "What?"
"Nothing! It's just... your clothes are unusual," she said. I'd gotten a hundred versions of that comment already. I was about to say my goodbyes when I felt a soft touch on my cheek.
KAMI-FUCKING-SAMA! She'd kissed me!
With a quick wink, she darted away. "Thanks for the help, mister!" she called over her shoulder. "See ya~."
I touched my cheek with a gloved hand. Aside from my mother and sister, I'd never been kissed by a girl. A dedicated special operator didn't have much time for dating.
Shoving the thought aside, I continued on until I reached the town square. There, sitting by a fountain in the center, were two familiar faces: Cutter and Bard.
Cutter wore his old DPM combat fatigues over his green CRAS armor, his hood down. An Albia flag and an SPG patch were stitched to his sleeve. His AWM sniper rifle was slung across his back, and a G36C assault rifle rested on the bench beside him.
Bard was in a Woodland MARPAT BDU with green CRAS armor, sporting an OSA flag patch and the trident of the Sea Dragons. The demolitions expert had a Mk 18 Mod 0 CQBR with an ACOG scope resting on his lap and an M72 light anti-tank weapon strapped to his back. Unlike Cutter and me, he was bare-headed, a pair of headphones resting around his neck.
"What's the passcode for the Eagle's Nest?" Cutter asked as I approached, a cigar clamped between his teeth.
"'Bright with some clouds,'" I responded. The wrong answer would have gotten me shot.
"What took you so long, Arc?" he said, acknowledging me. He tossed a small bag my way. Inside was a piece of bread filled with vanilla cream. It looked damn good. He gestured for me to go ahead. "Thanks."
I sat down and took a bite. The bread was a bit tough, but the cream made it leagues better than any Field Deployment Ration.
Bard leaned forward with a shit-eating grin. "So, dude, where's this girl you were telling us about?"
I swallowed the mouthful and sighed. "She's waiting at the inn."
"Well, let's not keep a lady waiting," Cutter said, dropping his cigar and grinding it out with his boot. We all stood and started back toward the inn.
As we got close, a voice called my name. "Arc! Over here!" I turned to see Brielle waving, a wide smile on her face.
"Hey, Brielle," I said, walking over. "Sleep well?"
"I'm fine, Arc!" she chirped brightly. Her eyes went past my shoulder. "So, who are your friends?"
Before I could answer, Cutter stepped forward. "You must be the young lady Arc told us about."
"Yes?"
"Captain Marcus Thorne," he said, introducing himself by his real name, Cutter. "Leader of this little band of merry men. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Brielle eyed him curiously, her gaze lingering on the strange digital camouflage of his uniform. "I am Brielle Vance, Captain of the Musketeers of the Knights of the Azure Cross. A pleasure to meet you as well, Captain Cutter." She gave him the same sweet smile she'd given me, but the man, who was likely in his mid-thirties, seemed entirely unfazed.
Wait a second. Her last name finally registered in my brain.
"Your last name… it's Vance?" Bard asked, his voice full of surprise.
"Yes?" she said, confused by his sudden intensity.
"Do you… do you know a Daniel Vance?" he pressed. I exchanged a confused look with Cutter. I'd never seen Bard act like this with a stranger.
Brielle's eyes widened in shock. "That's my great-grandfather. How do you know him?"
"My great-grandfather was an OSC Marine named Jacob Vance," Bard said, his tone firm but shaken. "His twin brother, Daniel, went missing in action in Veridia during Operation Leviathan. Does that… does that mean we’re related?"
I was floored. This was going to be one hell of a report for Colonel Tanaka.
To our collective shock, Brielle burst into tears. "Brielle? Are you okay?" I asked gently.
Wiping at her eyes, she forced a watery smile. "I'm okay, Arc." She looked at Bard. "It seems… I still have family." Her smile was suddenly full of joy. "I don't even know you, but I'm calling you my brother from now on, okay?" Bard just nodded, but I could see a flush rising in his cheeks that was nearly as pink as her hair.
"Okay, everyone," Brielle said, turning toward the path ahead. "Let's go on an adventure!" She started walking, a new purpose in her stride.
"Alright, boys, let's move out!" Cutter said, following her lead. "We're burning daylight."
As I started to follow, I realized Bard had sunk to his knees, looking like a kid who'd lost his favorite toy. "Bard, you alright?"
"How can I be okay?!" he wailed. "This is the first time a girl this cute has ever brother-zoned me!"
I sighed. "Well, maybe if you hadn't asked, she wouldn't have."
He shot to his feet and grabbed my collar. "Fuck you! You're so cruel, Haru! I hate you! I hate you so much!" he screamed, shaking me by my collar, flecks of spittle flying from his mouth. His outburst drew stares from the few people nearby. Great. He'd used my real name. Again.
With another sigh, I grabbed him by his vest and started pulling him along.
"Hey! Let go of me!" he yelped, struggling uselessly.
"Shut the fuck up!" I snapped, picking up my pace to catch up to Brielle and Cutter, a faint trail from Bard's dramatic tears marking the dusty street behind us.
About thirty minutes later, we had left the town gate behind, following a dirt road that snaked through a vast, green grassland. A soft breeze caressed our skin.
"Whoa, the sky is so blue! This really is another world," Bard exclaimed, his earlier melodrama forgotten as he stared up in awe. I stayed quiet, simply taking in the pristine landscape. A world unscarred by our technology. I hoped it would stay that way.
Cutter moved up to match Brielle's pace. "So, where are we headed, Miss Vance?"
"We're on our way to Aethelgard, the capital of Valoria," she replied. "And please, just call me Brielle, Captain Cutter." She offered him another one of her charming smiles. Her smile faded as she added, "But to get there, we must pass through a forest. And it's no ordinary forest." She paused, gesturing ahead. "They call it the Gloomwood."
"Gloomwood?" Bard and I asked in unison.
"The forest is teeming with dangerous monsters and beasts. Many adventurers have died trying to cross it," Brielle explained. "Fortunately, most of the monsters are D- to A-class threats. There are no S-class threats, and most things only attack if provoked."
"At least the name is direct," Cutter added grimly.
I looked at the forest on the horizon. The name was fitting. It made the woods I'd landed in look like a city park; the trees were twisted into menacing shapes, and the very air around it felt heavy. "Is there another route to the capital?" I asked. Better safe than sorry.
"There is," she confirmed. "But it's a journey of over two weeks, instead of three days through the forest. So, which will it be?"
"What are we waiting for? Let's get in there and kick some ass!" Bard exclaimed, cracking his knuckles.
"You think a few overgrown critters can get the drop on me?" Cutter said with a smirk.
I just nodded and smiled at Brielle.
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