Defending The City of Toul (5)

Despite the gunner's constant kill, the enemy keeps on appearing from the alley. Conrad who see this then summon his minigun, while also call Yuri to help the gunner. But just after two burst, he and Yuri suddenly stop, and just fall down. Gwen and Feli who's already inside soon followed.

"Fuck. Time's up."

"Miss Gwen?!" Seeing this, captain Iskandar run toward Gwen, to check on her.

But before he can touch her, Gwen stop him. "Don't touch us captain Iskandar!!"

"But.."

"It's alright. This is a spell's backlash."

Gwen then began to explain her's, Conrad's, Yuri's and Feli's condition. This is the cost of using the Inner strengthening spell. When the user deactivate the spell, or no longer able to use it, the backlash will cause the user's body to have a massive muscle and nerve spasm, that even touching them will cause severe pain. That's why Gwen stoped captain Iskandar, before he can touch her.

"We'll be fine, the pain will be gone in less than an hour."

The gunner took immediate action, and summon a M4. He then go toward Conrad and Yuri to drag them inside. Seeing this, the vicount's two guards also move in to help.

But then.. "Guah!" "Gah!"

The vicount's two guards has been shot. Luckily, none of them were lethal.

"McKenna! Cover fire while I move them!" The gunner then ask one of the flight crew to back him up while he try to move Conrad, Yuri, and the vicount's two guards.

"Roger!" The flight crew then mount the minigun and began covering the gunner.

'brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt'

The gunner on the other hand grab the vicount's two guards, and then drag them inside. When he done, he run back outside to grab Conrad and Yuri. But when he try to do so, Conrad's large build is making him hard to drag.

Realizing the gunner is unable to move him, Conrad then made a decision. "It's alright man. Go. Leave this to me."

The gunner stop for a moment. He look toward Conrad, and then gave him his M4. Conrad thanks the gunner for giving him the M4, while the gunner left him behind.

"This is it huh." Conrad can see a large number of uruk-kai comming out from multiple alley. "One. Last. Dance." He then summon his own M4 and began to shoot.

'bang' "gah." 'bang' 'bang' 'bang' "ergh."

Because of the backlash, each time Conrad shoot, he felt like his muscle is being torn apart.

But then.. "Argh!"

Conrad felt someone grabs and pulled him toward the Osprey. When he look up, he realize it was the gunner.

"What are you doing!"

"I never said I'd leave you. Besides, that's my favorite gun." The gunner grins at Conrad, while drags him toward the Osprey.

"You cheeky fucker." Conrad smile back at the gunner, and then began to shoot the two M4 to cover their retreat.

'bang' 'bang' 'bang'

When the gunner and Conrad is on the door ramp, the gunner then shout at his partners. "Close the ramp! Take off NOW!"

The flight crew then push the button to close the ramp door, while the pilot then pull his joystick, taking off the airplane.

"Alright! We clear!" But after the gunner said that, he felt something on his neck. When he touch his neck, he felt warm. And when he check his hand, his hand is covered by blood. Realizing that he's been hit, he began to coughing out blood, while his legs gave up, making him fall down on his knee.

"Fuck! Gunner's been hit!!" One of the flight crew saw this, and head toward the gunner.

The flight crew then check on the gunner's injuries. "One bolt hit his neck! He's losing lot of blood!!"

"Captain Iskandar, I heard you have medical expertise, please check that gunner." Captain Iskandar nod at Gwen's request and then head toward the gunner. But it is already too late.

When captain Iskandar checks on the gunner, he's already at death's door. The bolt pierced through the gunner's neck, slicing his carotid artery. Unfortunately, captain Iskandar can't use any healing spell, and Gwen that can is currently unable to cast any spell. He look at the flight crew, and then shake his head. "We lost him."

"NONONONO! You can't do this to me Noah! Don't make me tell your wife that I lost you!" The flight crew keeps on trying to stop the bleeding.

With his last dying breath, the gunner Noah, took out a letter on his left breast pocket, and pass it to the flight crew that try to revive him. He then say. "Tell my wife and girls 'cough', they'll be alright. I'll always 'cough', watch over them."

He then gave out a peaceful smile, close his eyes, and then blew out his last breath.

Seeing the gunner no longer breating, captain Iskandar try to stop the flight crew. At first, the flight crew still refuse to give up. But she later understand that her team mate is already gone. She look at the bloodied letter Noah gave her. It was his death letter, and it's refered to his wife.

The pilot who heard the commotion, then ask about the gunner. "What his status!?"

The flight crew then answer with a heavy tone. "He's dead. Noah is dead."

The pilot close his eyes in frustration, and then called in the news. "Krisna Control, this is OSV-17. Evac mission is a succes. All Toul citizens are safe."

"Copy that OSV-17. Great job!"

"... We also have one KIA, Noah Latom."

"... Copy that OSV-17. We'll send a team to bring him home."

"Roger...."

Vicount Jamal, who can only watch from the sideline then approach Noah. He then grab his hand, and say his thanks. "There is no word that can express my gratitude for you, Noah Latom. Even though you're not a soldier of Krisna, you gave your live to save the people of Krisna. I promise, I will definitely help your decendant in every way I can. May Kratos, the god of death guides you to peace in the afterlife."

On the way back toward Krisna, except for the pilot answering a radio call, no one say a word.