Found Behind

The research facility’s alarms blared like a snowstorm’s gale around me as the fuel cell of my hand cannon ran dry. I was empty, alone, and bleeding out in a darkened hallway. My comrades lay dead around us as the echoes of gunfire grew dimmer from further down the Cleric’s research facility. The Cleric, that mad man, my commander, betrayed the trust imposed upon him by the Empress and used Her Majesty’s benevolence to fund his sick research and twisted experiments. Now the research specimens are running rampant while he has the Wayfinder imprisoned. If Her Majesty knew what he was doing, what he was planning for that child, would she still allow this to continue?

Out from the corner down the hall under the flickering lights, I heard the noise of bared teeth and outstretched claws. A hulking beast that was some bastardization of a wolf and bear held one of my comrades in its mouth by her neck. I reached for my friend Lev’s boot and pulled the knife he had sheathed inside. “If I am to die today, then let my final act be that of vengeance for my comrades and pride for Her Majesty’s honor!”

The monster roared as purple fire blazed from within its mouth. Its massive paws stomped with hungry fury as it rushed toward me. All those years in the academy, training to be worthy to serve in her army, to bring peace and stability to a world betrayed by the Heavens, to quell the madness the Void had unleashed. No, I cannot think like that. If I am to die, then I will do all I can to bring this demon to the afterlife with me. This will be for Lev, Vasilla, Yaroslav, Dima, and Nika. My dear Nika, please forgive me.

BAM!

An ear-shattering crack of a rifle exploded above me as the charging beast’s head jerked to the right before collapsing onto the ground. Instead of hearing the familiar sounds of my comrades' boots, however, I was met with the sight of two strangers in strange clothing, holding weapons that vaguely resembled our most advanced automatic rifles.

“Rook, corners,”

“Ten four, clear left; I got a live one on the right, wounded.” The two strangers stepped cautiously into the same space as me. The one called Rook scanned the room before turning his weapon on me. I stared down the barrel of his gun and could tell he was looking at the knife in my hand. I recognized him from the reports. Though the woman who stepped out of the doorway and into the room acted differently from Rook, I could confirm they were of the same faction.

If seen from afar, I would have expected them to be mercenaries from the jungles or the desert lands to the East. Up close, however, I would not have thought of them as soldiers, especially not of the caliber the reports described. The Rook could have passed for a recruit in my very unit, given how young he appeared, but the discipline he showed in handling his weapon is telling. Even if he was my enemy, even as I lay on the floor defenseless, he kept his finger away from the trigger as he held the muzzle at me. I wasn’t sure if it was out of respect or acceptance of my fate, but I let go of the knife in my hand as he went and secured it away from me. He slung the weapon onto his back as he immediately began inspecting the wound on my leg.

“Rook, what the hell are you doing!?” The woman, however, spoke with a stronger authority and command. Keeping her long rifle raised, she stepped over to a corner opposite me where she could maintain a line of sight and have cover in case more of those creatures came up from below. I could see the faded remains of perhaps her designated unit or faction she hails from, K.S.F. (I’m still unfamiliar with that acronym). She kept a hood over her head, so I could not see her face as she kept her gaze forward.

Meanwhile, the young man, Rook, shouldered his rifle, took off his backpack, and pulled out some bandages and a jar of green ointment. There was a patch on his shoulder that looked like a planet so similar to our own, though there was more blue (which I assumed was water) than green (which I believed represented landmasses). The whole planet was placed over a shield, with two strange-looking weapons crossed behind it. The weapons in question looked much like the one Rook had slung over his back as he took my knife and cut my pants open some more. He took a canteen from his belt and poured cold drinking water over the wound before using a cloth and bandages to stop the bleeding. “This isn’t the first time we’ve helped Imperials before, and he’s wounded Ninjara.”

“You forget what they did to Starlight in Irmaru City? Or what they try to do to us in Yue Harbor?”

“No, but we fought side by side in Nalnat against the Void.”

“Nalant? You both fought alongside the Commander Fighter?” I asked, pulling myself up, only to stop at the surge of pain coming from my leg. The adrenaline must be wearing off by now. Rook, however, eased me back against the wall as he applied the green lotion. The stinging pain was like being hit by the burning heat of fire and the shocking cold of ice. Our reports told of the healing miracles that came from the colleges of Irmaru, and this ointment was rumored to be one of the latest creations. Lucky me to be able to sample its effects firsthand.

“We did; we were there when he sacrificed himself to seal the Breachpoint.” The woman, Ninjara, said, turning her head slightly back toward me.

“Incredible; I’ve wanted to serve under him ever since I enlisted! Can you tell me what he was like- oh. You probably do not think much of him, since you follow the Wayfinder.”

“Actually,” Rook said as he began to wrap my wound with bandages, “he saved our skins more times than we expected; ours and Star- erhm, the Wayfinder. If it weren't for him, Nalnat would have lost their Fire King because of a deal they had with the Warden of Death.”

“Really!? Huh, the reports had absolutely nothing about that! And here I thought Barbarian would be on top of the intelligence gathering. But it appears that there is some form of schism happening within the ranks of the Commanders. Erhm, don’t mark down what I just said. It’s all rumors from regular grunts.”

“No, it’s true.” Ninja, with her back against the wall, turned herself over to look at me. She seemed like someone from the deserts of Irmaru, but there was an air about her that felt off. Same as Rook too; an air that they don’t belong here. “From what the Barbarian and the Artificer told us, the Cleric has decided to pursue his own interest and cares little for the Empress’ objectives. This wouldn’t be the first time he’s manipulated others for his own gain, was it?”

“You… talked with THE Barbarian and THE Artificer? What, but, how!? I’ve been trying to transfer to their command for years! And yet you just casually talked to them?”

“Hey, we don’t have time for this. Look, we’re here to stop the Cleric from his ascension to godhood and rescue my friend. Can you tell us what’s down the hall from here? Are there more of you guys stationed? What kind of security is there? And please, is it possible that we can get them to stand down?”

“I have only so many rounds left, and there’s one that I’m saving for the Cleric,” Ninja added as I looked at the young man, Rook.

“Your…friend? We don’t have any other prisoners except the Wayfinder. He’s held in the bottom level, the Cleric’s personal laboratory. Security is likely nothing at this point; the system’s gone haywire since the monsters appeared and started wrecking everything.”

“Typical. Hurry up, Rook; I’m not wasting another chance at Cleric.”

“Hey, it has to be done right, not quick.” Rook continued wrapping my leg carefully. Not at all like our superiors have taught us to do in the field, not at all like Cleric has ever done for another. And Ninjara, though there was no warmth in her eyes as she stared at me, there was no hate nor ill will at all as she held her post and watched from the corner.

“Why…why are you two here?”

“We told you to save our friend and stop the Cleric.”

“No, you misunderstand me. Why are YOU both here? I’ve read the reports on you and your group, the Earthborn, as you’ve been called. You, especially, Mister Rook, you were with the Wayfinder for years now. Yet, like the Wayfinder, you too came from another world, but you chose to follow him? Why? Why put your life at risk for him? I haven’t heard of other nations praising you for your efforts. I’ve only heard stories and cheers for the Wayfinder, not of you. Not of the Earthborn. Doesn’t that infuriate you?”

“No,” Rook said as he gently laid my bandaged leg down and collected his things.

“No?”

“No. I don’t care about the glory or the recognition. I mean, we get enough as is, and that’s fine. Hell, I suck at public w and conversation; not sure how it is that Star even calls me “a friend”. Maybe it’s my background, but some people are just better at being heroes and idols while others get work done.”

“Maybe it could be because we didn’t have the luxury of “idols” or “heroes” back home.” Ninjara chimed in as Rook held out a hand to help me to my feet. It still hurt to use the wounded leg, but the lotion and the bandages did wonders on the pain, at least I could stand partially.

“But…surely there must be some stakes for you in this? Please, I’m not trying to interrogate you. It’s just that I’ve read your files. His files also. He’s a person of interest number one for our organization. You- erhm, “Earthborn”- aren’t even on the register, to be frank.”

“Oh, we don’t get a welcome into your special club? How sad,” Ninjara joked.

“Please, I’m being serious. Why stick your neck out for the Wayfinder?” Rook took out the knife he had grabbed from me earlier and placed it back in my hand.

“I followed him because, well, at first it was just a mission I made myself. Follow Star around to get my bearings in the area, see if anyone else survived, and see if anyone was able to survive the Earth imploding. Then, well, he became someone you can trust, especially when they want you around also.”

“Wait, what imploded?”

“Yeah, you know the Void these monsters are coming from? Same place that wrecked my homeworld. So, reason one for fighting with Star is that their enemy is our enemy. Reason 2: tactically speaking, it is better to work with people who share your interests rather than paying people to fight on your side. And three, well, he saved me.” Rook’s demeanor changed drastically as their head hung downward. They took a deep breath in before continuing, “It was in Yue Harbor that I… had a bit of a breakdown. But he made me make a promise to him, and while I’m many things, I fancy myself as someone who at least tries to keep their word.”

“Oh…that’s surprising to hear,” I said as I steadied myself on my own and took a few practice steps.

“Right then; if that’s all, then let’s part ways here. Goodbye, mister…”

“Gleb,” I said to Ninjara. “Private Gleb Kunetzov. Thank you for helping me, though I must ask: why do this? Why didn’t you just leave me or shoot me?”

“Because Star wouldn’t have wanted that,” Rook said as Ninjara nodded her head. She then walked over to the body of Dima, took up his pistol, and checked the fuel cells in its cylinder.

“If I’m reading this right, you’ll have four shots left in this.”

“It’s actually five; the middle notch counts as a round. Uhm, you know, Her Majesty doesn’t see the Wayfinder as an enemy per se. If he had stayed out of our way, things would have gone much smoother in hindsight.”

“Yeah, for you guys. But he’s not the kind of person to sit back and let shady stuff happen to good people. Unlucky for him, however, I’m also that kind of guy.”

“So what, you’ll just follow him wherever he goes?”

“Duh, he’s my friend, so I’m his problem now,” Rook said as he took a final look down the hall from where they came. “The way behind us was pretty quiet, though we didn’t run into any retreating soldiers, sorry.”

“They died for the glory of the Empress. But, you and Ninjara; what are you Earthborn willing to die for?”

“I’m not dying until I confirm Cleric is dead,” Ninjara said as she topped off the magazine for her rifle. “He slipped away in Irmaru, and I won’t repeat that mistake.”

“When you find him down below, put a bullet in him for me while you're at it!” She gave a thumbs-up to me as I turned to Rook.

“I’m not gonna die for Star if that’s what you're wondering, but I’m gonna fight to live on with a friend. Besides, I still have to see how red Star’s face gets when he gets hammered.”

“Have you not shared a drink with him at a party?”

“He doesn’t drink alcohol, or so he tells me.”

“ He…doesn’t drink? Like, at all?” Rook shook his head as a slight smile came out from his mouth, as if he was remembering a night spent with someone you love or an evening with dear friends. I reached underneath my jacket, took out my facility ID badge, and handed it to him.

“If the Cleric is holding Starlight still in any containment unit, you should be able to use this to override any security lockdown doors in your way. Do not mistake my actions as treason against Her Majesty, but they are actions to help declaw a traitor to our nation.”

“Thank you,” Rook said as he held out his hand to me. “Barbarian and Artificer’s men should be surrounding the area looking for any survivors. Be careful out there.”

As the young stranger stood before me with his open hand, “Good luck to you both; I hope you can save your friend.”

“We will, and this time I’m going to make sure the Cleric stays down.”

“You take care of yourself, Gleb. I hope we never have to meet each other again.” Rook said, shaking my hand, then turned to stand with his comrade as they both walked down the hall, weapons raised and headed toward the Cleric’s lab. Though I was able to stand, walking proved most difficult, as the limp made it feel like I was dragging a heavy boulder with just my leg all the way to the surface to escape the facility. Turning right, I headed toward our docks by the beach.

“Alert, we have a wounded soldier! Get a medic up here for- Gleb?!”

“Yaroslav! You’re alive!” I hobbled over before falling onto my face on the beach as a group of soldiers came running over to help me up.

“Yes, I was pulled for patrol duty at the last minute. I was so worried about you! And, the others are-”, Yaro could see the news on my face. He stowed his anger for now and instead pulled me in for a hug.

“Report.” A stern, cold voice cut through the glad tidings as we turned to face a tall, slender woman in a dark red suit, whose eyes glowed with silent fury, like a fire that could never die on the coldest night of winter.

“Commander Barbarian, we’ve just rendezvoused with Private Kunetzov of the Cleric’s detachment. We were about to bring him in for treatment for his injuries and debriefing before you had arrived.” Yaro said as she turned her eyes toward me.

“Tell me plainly, Kunetzov; are there any other survivors?”

“No, ma’am. None I was able to find.”

“Is Cleric still alive?”

“I confirm I heard his voice on the intercom three hours ago; that was when the outbreak of the monsters happened. However, his current status is unconfirmed.”

“Then he’s standing in his own grave,” she said as she noticed my wound. “Take him back to Artificer’s research base for medical treatment. Keep watch outside of Cleric’s facility for more survivors. Dismissed.” She said, turning on her heel, and headed toward the door of the facility.

“Wait! Commander, two others entered the base. I can confirm from our reports that they were of the Earthborn faction; they- they came to rescue their friend Starli- erhm, the Wayfinder. They bound my wound, but didn’t demand anything of me.”

The Barbarian turned back at me, where I could see a smile on her face. “Well, I’d hate to miss an ending with poetic justice.” She ran into the darkness of the facility as my comrades lifted me to carry me away toward a boat to leave the Cleric’s failing facility behind. As I sat with Yaro, I couldn’t help but imagine Rook sharing a seat with the blonde-haired Wayfinder, sharing a drink as we would do once we got back home. I turned once more toward the facility, and before the painkillers Yaro gave me began to work their effects, I whispered one last hope toward two fellow soldiers.

“May we find each other again in friendlier times.”