Ancient Hunter

We moved cautiously through the ruins ever alert to danger. I gripped the hilt of my sword as Solvor carried Sheila. Sergeant Hollen and her squad weapons with at the ready, slowed at every intersection checking the corners before moving on. Suddenly Hollen halted her hands flashing signals to her squad. We hunkered down and waited. Three Orsini crossed our path not looking at their flanks. There was something odd about their gait. It was mechanical almost robotic like in those ancient pre-AI War vids. They seemed to looking for something ignoring what was going on around them. Which was strange. Before I could ask Hollen signalled for silence. At least I knew that hand signal even if I didn’t know the others. We waited until the Orsini had gone before moving out.

Sergeant Hollen led the way through the overgrowth and scattered bones. From the look of it the bones had been deliberately kicked apart. I felt my anger surge and feral growl ripped from lips. Swiftly Hollen turned and put her fingers to my lips. With her helmet on I couldn’t see the expression on her face.

“Later, Poi, later,” she whispered her voice soft.

I reined in my anger. “I’m calm,” I kept repeating to myself in a low voice. I wasn’t inside but I understood Hollen’s caution. Now wasn’t the time to vent my spleen.

“We continue our mission, revenge can wait for later,” Hollen said just as quietly.

“Right we have to get back to Professor Neilson first.”

Hollen nodded and signalled for her squad to move. We headed on my mind in a whirl nothing I knew about the Orsini was making sense here. The ones we’d spotted weren’t carrying conventional weapons all had been armed with those hollow pipes. We passed more scattered bones the urge to scram out in anger grew. I was in a constant fight to bring it under control. I really couldn’t understand why I was acting this way. I wasn’t a Valkyrie but I was sure acting like one.

The sound of intermittent firing had us picking up the pace. Hollen suddenly flashed a hand signal that had us diving to the ground. Ahead were a number of Orsini with normal weapons attacking what was what Joyce had called an Administration Building or my base of operations. Hollen gave the signal to fan out.

“Get ready to engage on my signal,” she ordered her squad. She held up a finger. “LT take the rear with Solvor.”

I opened my mouth to protest even though it was the obvious choice.

“I know you are itching to get you revenge. Your objective is to protect the civilian. Fight the Orsini another day.”

Hollen was correct I hated the thought but she was right I had to protect Sheila. My feelings felt conflicted.

Hollen passed me her Seven Double ‘M’. “For defence only.”

“I understand that,” I said. And I did I couldn’t let Sheila down.

“Good,” Hollen replied. She flicked a signal to her squad. “Go!” she shouted. “Weapons free!”

She fired her coil assault gun and so did the rest of the squad. It took the Orsini by surprise catching them in a crossfire. Instead of charging the Orsini fled taking their wounded with them. Their behaviour was so bizarre that we just let them go. They didn’t do that. They were like an ancient Japanese banzai charge attacking without faltering believing in kill or be killed.

“Make sure the dead are dead!” Hollen called out to her squad. It was one of the tricks the Orsini employed.

Pretend to be dead and at the opportune moment attack and kill the enemy. I did the same to an Orsini. He should have checked I was dead. I managed to kill him with the knife Solstrid had give me. Then I used the gun he had to kill the others. To this day I didn’t know how I managed that. I didn’t have the Valkyrie training I now had.

Hollen waved to me. “Come on out LT!”

I made my way to the plaza. Hollen’s squad and those of the defenders of the Admin Building checked the dozens of dead Orsini for life. Now and again one of the Marines would pump an inert body full of bullets. They were certainly making sure none of the Orsini would ever rise again. The echoing sound of a large explosion in the distance had me turning towards it. There was a column of smoke rising from the north. Above far into the sky was the dark outline of one of those wedge shaped Confed ships. The Confed used the ships as fire support unlike the Empire who relied on Interceptors and old fashioned artillery. In truth it was a large relief to see it there.

“Looks like one of the ships took out the last of the Orsini,” a Marine commented.

I just shrugged and looked at the Admin Building the walls were peppered with bullet holes yet remarkably the windows were unaffected.

Joyce emerged from the building with a handful of Marines. One walked up to a window and tapped it with the butt of his weapon.

“That’s sure some toughened glass?” he commented.

Joyce strode over to me it was hard to read the expression on her face. “Come inside Gwen we need to talk.”

It felt like I was the one that was going to get a good talking to.

“Freyhilda I see you found Sheila but two of my team are still missing,” Joyce said to the Marines.

“I’ll go with them,” I volunteered I’d rather be out searching than stay here and face Joyce.

“Get inside,” Joyce snapped at me. “Let the Marines do their job.”

Reluctantly I followed Joyce inside I felt almost as if I was getting told off by my mom. Inside were at least two dozen worried faces. A lot of them young like Sheila. I did feel for them. This wasn’t the sort of trauma they should be facing.

“We’re going to be safe now Professor Neilson?” an anxious young man asked fearfully.

“We’ll are safe Demeros Militia will be here soon. We have three squads of Marines guarding us.” Joyce gazed at the faces of her team. “In the meantime I want those reports. It will keep your minds occupied.” Joyce crooked a finger at me. “This way.”

She led me to my own room. She made a sharp gesture to my bed. “Sit down.”

I sat as ordered Joyce waited until I had seated myself before continuing.

“What do you think you were doing charging off like that.” She sighed. “Something I expected of Sandra. I would have thought you’d have more sense Gwen?”

“Someone had to do something,” I muttered.

“That’s what the Marines are for. And why go with only a knife? The sure stupidity of it?” Joyce took a deep breath. “You have a death wish or something. Please don’t do that to me?”

“You needed an extra weapon,” I said, it was a lame excuse.

“I need you alive and not dead,” Joyce stated. “I’ve enough to deal without you adding to it.”

“I’m sorry I just reacted it’s what the Valkyrie had trained me to do.” An even worse excuse.

“Yes I know that…” Joyce trailed off but before she could say something further one of her team interrupted.

“Professor Neilson you better come see this!” He was an earnest looking young man. With tousled mousy brown hair and an overly large nose.

“What is it Derek?” Joyce said to him

“Come see this you won’t believe it!” Derek said.

“Ok I’m coming,” Joyce said. She looked at me. “We haven’t finished our discussion Gwen.”