Chapter 4: Old friends playing heroes
Sunny was making his way through the snow-filled streets, the Hospital complex was already in sight.
Walking with determined steps, Sunny took a moment to observe the hospital. It was perhaps the most important structure in this whole Siege capital. Housing and treating the casualties of war. Many recovered thanks to modern medicine and specialized healing aspects. But a large number didn't make it as well.
'...'
He watched as a human corpse was being tossed into a large bonfire near the complex. A pile of charred corpses of both Nightmare creatures and corpses was being burned in many parts of the city. It was needed to prevent diseases and other issues. But it was mostly just that they couldn't offer these people a proper burial. Evacuating them would leave less space for the rest of the refugees, and nobody wanted to live among corpses.
But it didn't mean that Sunny had to like it. The stench was reaching his ascended nostrils, making him wince.
'How... uncouth.'
"Major!" A sudden voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Turning to see who the perpetrator was, he saw an unnaturally tall and imposing man that he knew all too well... anyone would have been jealous of his stature, but if they knew his exceptionally cruel Flaw, they'd wish otherwise.
"Dorn...?"
Walking over from the hospital's entrance, Dorn made his way over to Sunny with hastened steps accompanied by a confident smile.
"Major, it's good to see you."
Following him, Belle and Samara revealed themselves from the light snowstorm and stood before him as well now. All of them seemingly in high spirits, ready to pounce on any Nightmare creature unfortunate enough to cross their sights.
Of course, Sunny saw through their facade. The battle that should have happened yesterday was long and harrowing as he vividly remembered. All of them were exhausted. Their eyes sunken with fatigue.
"Gods... You look like shit, Major."
Belle commented, grinning despite everything.
Sunny looked at the three Soldiers before him, his stern facade crumbling a little as his gaze lingered on them for an unusually long moment...
'...so they're back. That's good.' He chuckled a little.
"Dying wasn't on my list. Worry about yourself, bastard."
That produced a few chuckles among them, but Sunny was serious about that.
Turning his gaze towards the hospital, Sunny scoffed, taking a step on the snow.
"Anyways, let's meet the others. How is our Luster doing?" Of course he knew already, but it would be weird not to ask.
They followed his lead, and Belle spoke up.
"Uh... he woke up about an hour ago. He's...in quite high spirits, you see... Although it might just be the drugs."
Sunny nodded as they walked through the white corridors, which were all crowded with hospital beds. An uncountable number of maimed and injured soldiers lay on them, some awake, some mercifully unconscious. The air was filled with the sickening smell of blood, burned flesh, misery, and despair. Doctors, nurses, and a few Awakened healers were hurriedly tending to the wounded, the bags under their eyes hanging in exhaustion.
The sight of it was indescribably grim.
Keeping his face cool, Sunny projected the image of an indifferent leader. On the inside, however...
'Just how many can i get out...?'
A hand touched his shoulder, making him halt his steps. He turned to see Dorn gesturing to an isolated room. It housed a single dusty sleeping pod. Sleeping in it was none other than Quentin. His tranquil expression betrayed nothing of the horrors he was currently facing.
"Major, do you..." Samara hesitantly began but was cut off by Sunny's stern voice.
"He will make it. Trust me."
They nodded, not entirely convinced, but trusting the Devil's intuition. Sunny was plagued by his knowledge of future events, but knowing that Quentin would be fine gave him at least some solace in this hell.
Soon, they reached the small room housing Luster. Opening the door, Sunny was greeted by a familiar scene.
"Kim... Kimmy... stop it... I lost my legs, you know, not my hands! I am perfectly capable of feeding myself!"
When they entered, Luster was laid on a bed, his stumps wrapped in a regenerative bandage, while Kim was trying to push a spoonful of synthpaste porridge into his mouth The young woman's usually timid face was determined and extremely focused.
"Cap... Major! Thank the gods! Please, save me!"
Kim froze, then turned and gave Sunny an unexpectedly fierce look.
"Sir. That fool refuses to eat."
Sunny stared at them for a couple of moments and smiled.
"Luster... let the lady feed you, will you, " Sunny teased. "It's the least you could do after almost dying, playing White knight back there."
Luster's ear tips reddened as he stared at them helplessly.
"D-don't say it like that, captain!"
He looked at Kim again, grumbling to himself before reluctantly opening his mouth as he let himself be spoon-fed. Kimmy seemed pleased.
'Heh... suits you right, bastard'
Sunny smirked faintly as he summoned his trusty Shadow Chair and sat down by the bed. 'I wonder if Neph would feed me like that once im out of this hell.'
"So? Are you feeling better now?"
Luster just smiled a little, wiggling his stumps. "Don't worry about me, sir. I'm doing fine... really. I did tell you how my whole right arm was bitten off once, right? This is only a tiny bit worse... hell, if I lose my left arm as well, one day, I'll be able to brag about losing all my limbs to protect humanity. Girls can't resist a hero, you know!"
Chuckling a bit at that guy's antics, Sunny wondered...
'Neph lost countless of limbs already... I don't think she'd be impressed if I bragged about that.' He smirked 'Although I've got a few revelations that might impress her, heh.'
He turned back to Luster.
"Well... don't worry too much. There are not a lot of great healers here in Falcon Scott, and all of them are terribly busy. Once you get to Eastern Antarctica and from there back to NQSC, though, the government will pull out all the stops. You'll be as good as new in no time."
Despite his intention to comfort the young man, Luster's smile suddenly dimmed. Looking away, he remained silent for a few seconds, then said quietly:
"Ah, yes. Certainly, sir. Once I'm back in NQSC..."
Sunny gave him a stern look.
"Throw these stupid thoughts out of your head. You did more than enough. Very few people deserve to go home more than you... so, enjoy the cruise, and then make sure to get better and relax during an extended vacation. That's an order."
He paused, then added seriously:
"That goes for the rest of you as well. I want all of you to board the earliest possible ship before everything goes to shit."
They all paused, looking at him incredulously. All sharing one thought,'What did he just say...?'.
After a long silence, Samara found the courage to speak up.
"You... you want us all to... abandon Falcon Scott and save ourselves, Major?"
Nodding, his expression was stern. He wasn't ready to lose them again. He could at least save some of them should shit hit the fan.
Dorn spoke up, his voice filled with confusion and slight indignation.
"Major... forgive me, but why should we abandon Falcon Scott? What about the refugees? With all due respect, we can't just..."
"It doesn't matter." Sunny gritted his teeth, his brows furrowed. "I know some things I shouldn't. Come tomorrow, and Saint Tyris will lose her battle against the Winter Beast. With nothing stopping it, you're all just gonna die uselessly. There's no shame in saving oneself against an unbeatable opponent."
Their eyes widened in horror at the revelation. They all knew what this meant. Stay and die fighting, or flee now and survive, leaving the remaining 20 million civilians behind.
Kim lowered her head, taking Luster's hand in her own. Luster didn't fare any better at the devastating news.
Sunny continued, "Either tomorrow, or the day after, the news will come out, and everyone will panic, scrambling to get on board the overcrowded vessels." He lifted his head, giving his cohort a grim look. "Now is the best chance to retreat while you still can. As I've said, there's no shame in retreating from an impossible battle."
Everyone had their heads hung low. The grim atmosphere pressing a suffocating weight down on them.
Luster spoke up, betraying worry.
"But captain, what about you?"
Sunny shrugged him off.
"I'll stay. I'm just a shadow, you know? I could run off anytime if I wanted to." He paused for a moment, eyebrows furrowed in determination. "But i won't let Falcon Scott fall... not on my watch. I'll find a way."
His cohort lifted their head again, partly surprised to see their captain show such a character. It was as if he changed so much in such a short time span.
Dorn nodded seriously.
"Good. Then I will stand by your side as well, Major."
Belle chimed in, a sarcastic smile on his face.
"Well, now I can't miss out, can i?"
Sunny stared at them with a deadpan expression. 'These fools... they're still the same.'
He turned to Dorn, scowling.
"What are you, some secret legacys's bastard? Stop it with the honor and duty crap.."
Dorn just shrugged with a smirk.
"Sorry, Major. We won't let you play tragic hero without us."
Belle just laughed at that.
Meanwhile, in his head, he had a vivid flashback pulling him into his thoughts...
The members of his cohort were standing close to each other, bits of ice covering their hair. Their luminous Memories had grown dim and weak, and their lips were blue.
Their eyes, however… were much more calm than his own.
Sunny studied their faces for a few moments, trying to come up with a solid thought.
Eventually, he simply whispered:
"...I'm sorry."
Sunny remained motionless, watching.
He watched them slowly grow still.
And then, he watched as the spark of life was gradually extinguished inside them. Samara was first, and then Dorn. Belle was the last to go as they held eachother in their embrace.
His facade now cracked a little... returning to watch them in disbelief and a hint of sorrow, he turned to Samara, hoping that she saw reason.
Noticing his hopeful gaze, Samara smiled apologetically.
"Forgive me, captain. I can't tuck my tail in and run now. Can i? It's not as if i didn't know I could possibly die here."
Hearing her words, his face dropped a little. He ran a hand down his face in frustration.
'Fuck... now I really have to figure something out.' He sighed loudly.
"Kimmy. You will take care of Luster. You two will be on a damn ship come morning. No objections."
He roughly sat up, dismissing his loyal chair. His face scrunched up, not bothering to hide his frustrations anymore, he stormed out of the medical room with hastened steps.
'Fools, all of you!'
The commotion drew some attention, but seeing his rank and recognizing him as the Devil of Antarctica, everyone quickly averted their gazes.
Soon, his boots were scrunching the snow rhythmically beneath him once more. The cold winds and crisp air helped soothe his mind, but the frustration at his stubborn subordinates didn't go away fully.
"Ugh... Dammit. Where's the old man." He mumbled under his breath, walking through the dimly lit streets towards the underground barracks he knew all to well.
The blizzard was picking up, slowly but surely. The clock was ticking mercilessly.