20. Love and War

Hera.

I had Nero back. He rested heavy around my neck and belt. The cold cross bit into my neck through my t-shirt. The guns were just as cool as I remembered them. I'd been afraid of them at a time, but then again, my fears were copious and overbearing. But he was back with me, and so was Hunter. In as much time as I had lost with both of them since the end of the war, it felt natural to be back with them. Like the familiarity of the slick curves of my chess pieces.

But enough of that. The only familiarity I crave right now is the power I held in my hand before Grace Fallow showed her repulsive existence once again. The woman that had traumatized little Abigail, lingered in the shadows of her site and hid in the shadows of the bunkers and orphanages. Fallows are infamously hard to kill, I'd know from experience, but I'd be the first woman to change that narrative.

We'd been in this place two years ago before everything had changed for all of us. The Church hadn't changed despite the growth of sky scrapers, monorails, and the sort just outside of its sanctuary. A place of stability in an ever changing city that I held in my hands.

The pews had been pushed to either side of the wooden building. My soldiers stood rank and file down the middle. The Major to my left, Hunter to my right, Sergeant Ryan at the front of the small battalion. Daniel had reduced a greater number than we had previously estimated. He was a danger to either side, but he was with us now. Whether that would conclude that he was going to fight alongside us or watch with his distant gaze was yet to be seen.

The Berserks were outside, Draco stood at the entrance of the Church, attempting to keep them subdued. Saia was alongside him, but the Berserkers weren't going to listen to someone of her size unless she showed force, which she'd uncharacteristically been unwilling to do. Kira leaned against the doorway leading to the graveyard, Daniel sat on the pew next to the archway and stared at the grave of his former best friend. The Japanese girl was sitting by his side, guarded but to attention, a soldier at heart, and a friend willing to guard a boy lost in his own thoughts.

I stepped forward and the soldiers before me snapped to attention. Most of them hadn't served in the war now, many of the experienced soldiers had stepped down from their positions after the bridges fell. Worn war dogs. But new blood eager to fight was always refreshing and welcome.

"At ease," I said. Their arms dropped. "As you all know, minor attacks have been coming from the Island. Specifically the bio warfare that took place with our food supply recently."

Hunter stepped forward. "Five platoons will be crated. Alpha, Beta, and Charlie will remain in the Gray and watch for any activity." He paused and glanced at me, I nodded for him to continue. "Delta and Epsilon will be accompanying us to the Island."

The Major spoke up now. A deep voice that wafted over the room: "We will not sugar coat it. Many of you will not come back. And many of you are younger than my own children. But remember that you are fighting for their safety, and that of your friends as well. Do them justice and fight until you cannot stand."

A young man with cornrows put his hand up. It was smacked back down by a blonde haired by next to him.

"Let him speak," Hunter said.

The boy cleared his throat and saluted before speaking, "Only eighty soldiers against the hundreds on the Island doesn't make sense, ma'am."

A few of the private first classes nodded along with that, the higher ranked soldiers remained stoic.

"That is because we will be accompanied by the Berserkers." I looked at Kira. "As well as that, Kira and the girl from the Island-"

"My name is Tohka." A carrying silence fell over the Church, the only sounds came from the Berserkers outside and the nuns double checking guns and ammo.

"As I was saying. Kira and the girl-"

"I said my name is Tohka."

"I will learn your name when you have proven your worth." I didn't look down at her. "Kira and the girl will lead a squad of snipers from Alpha. They will be positioned on designated dead buildings near the river side."

A few weary eyes drew towards Daniel. I'd always made sure to include some sort of uncertainty in their training, but Daniel's uncertainty was too great a risk for them. No matter how many speeches of confidence I give them.

"Daniel will stay with the Alpha platoon's sniper unit and stay in communication with LC2." I saluted them, and their arms snapped up. "Now, Sergeant Ryan will be the soldier to report to in the Gray after I set foot on the Island. Dismissed, and may God grant you the power of his wrath."

They turned as one and marched out. The nuns handed them what they needed, and offered short prayers for each. The Major stepped forward as well and left with the large group, he was going to get the cars and specific platoons ready. An experienced man near his end of service. I'd promised him one more battle, and he'd grudgingly accepted. I owed him a lot, and I'd make sure this night was the final for him as a man in uniform.

"Draco," I called. He stepped away from the door, he'd been in a silent argument with the largest Berserker, a good two feet larger than him. His brother was certainly a monster in his own right. "Will the Berserkers be ready in time?"

He brushed his hand back through his dreads. "To be honest, I don't know. Skull is getting a little angsty with you in charge."

"He doesn't think we'll win?"

He shook his head. "Not that. He knows we can. But he'd prefer than he's in charge. Or he gets compensation of a part of the Gray afterwards."

"So be it."

Hunter gave me a look, as well as Draco. "What do you mean so be it?" Hunter hissed.

"So be it. Accept his request and get them into the tunnels." I'd slaughter the entire clan myself if I have to afterwards. It wouldn't be the first time I'd have to kill fully grown Berserkers before. Draco's parents were the largest I'd faced, and it had barely taken me ten minutes. Skull was just as big as his father now, so it still wouldn't be a problem.

Anything to make sure Grace Fallow was hung from one of my building, dying and gasping for air as she watched me take her families city out of her hands.

Draco sighed and went back to his brother. They spoke for a while and eventually turned and left. Before Draco could join his people, Saia squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back. A small gesture that lasted longer than they had wanted. They separated and the Berserkers trudged down the street and deeper into my city.

"Kira."

She nodded and started out of the Church, with Dan trudging behind her. "C'mon new girl. Let's go."

"God," the Japanese girl muttered. "Is everyone here freaking rude?"

"Tell me about it," Daniel muttered.

The trio left. Daniel had picked up his aviators at a point and hung them on his collar. I doubt he remembered their meaning, but he'd seen Kira leave them on his table. By a distance, he was the softest Fallow in any of the previous generations. Saia joined them at the Church's door and they disappeared into a black electric SUV.

"Ready, LC?" Hunter asked.

We walked past the nuns and out into the Gray's warm air. "When was the last time you called me that?"

He thought for a while. "Can't remember." He fiddled with his rings. "Has a nice ring to it. Little Hera wouldn't have believed me if I told her she'd be this high ranked."

I smiled at that as the Major came onto the street with my own car. "She would have believed you after the black and white mission in the south."

He chuckled and held the door open for me. "I remember your little speech on how you're going to be the person to change the world." His chuckled turned into a laugh. "With your adorably squeaky voice."

"Do you want another set of whiskers, Mr. Fallow?" I asked.

He shook his head and smiled. "I like my face the way it is. Besides, Dan has the whole beaten up cat act."

"Well, he is the Stray." I could have said was, but he was still lost between the person he knew he was and the person he used to be. Still walking and searching between the two.

A convoy of soundless blue SUVs stopped in front of my own. Just on time, the way Kira had drilled into her. The middle SUVs windows whizzed down and Lara waved us over. "So, everything's been finalized," she was chewing on something, the slap of gum clicked in the air, "and we're going to the East Coast right now." She looked Hunter over and stuck a hand out of the window. "Don't think we've met. Lara Harrington."

He shook it. "Hunter Fallow."

"Fallow?" she said. "Like, Dan's brother Fallow?" She shook her head. "Holy shit you guys just keep popping up. But I'm sorry for your loss. I didn't know him that long but he seemed like a great guy."

Hunter nodded. "Well, when you get back from whatever you're doing, you can tell him yourself."

She straightened on the leather. "What?"

I said, "Lara. You better get going. I don't want to strain the relationship with the leaders in the East."

She looked Hunter over and nodded. She smiled and waved as the cars slowly drove away from us.

"What does she mean she's going to the east coast?" Hunter opened the door for me again and I climbed in, he followed. "What're you planning?"

"What little Abigail promised that day." I checked the desert eagles: shined and cleaned to perfection. Ammo clips strapped to my thighs. Eye contacts operating as they usually did.

He laughed to himself and adjusted the straps holding his axes as the car lurched forward. His silver eye contacts reflected the dim rainbow of light shimmering through the heavily tinted windows. The Gray was peaceful, a few people gawked at the car as we passed by them. Children clung onto parent's hands, Watchmen eyed people loitering around stores, and bots swept the streets, lights from tall apartment buildings snapped off as the moon climbed higher in the sky.

I wasn't going to let a Fallow ruin everything I'd built again.

I jammed my gun down the boy's throat and squeezed the trigger. His head popped in a grisly mess, shattering his skull and painting the white wall behind him red. It was no matter, his blood was just one of many in a line of teenagers' lining the wall, their heads clinging to their necks by skin and sinew alone. Shame really. This boy had been the most challenging, a clip of throwing knives had been strapped to his chest and he'd had a rifle as well. An excellent example of deadly precision and hard work.

I'd torn his stomach open with my nails and he'd still had the mental capacity to squeeze the rifle's trigger. That's when I'd created my own art on her walls with her own soldier's.

Hunter stood up and ripped his axe out of the chest of a broad shouldered man. His white mask was peppered with blood. "This wasn't as easy as I'd thought it would be. Delta and Epsilon have already lost twenty soldiers each."

"Tell them to join forces at the park's entrance. Scorched earth as they retreat."

"What about the Berserkers?"

"Let those fools rampage." A squeak of noise behind Hunter. He dived and rolled to my right. I lifted my left, and pressed the trigger. The gun barked in my hand and the bullet tore through the air, biting into a woman's knee cap. She'd been hiding behind the corner for a while now, I'd seen her heat signature sit there as we slaughtered her friends.

I didn't need another Cleo currently. She pleaded for her life and parents as she clutched her destroyed knee cap. Her eyes were a soft brown, not a soldier's brown. A civilian's brown. This woman wasn't a soldier. She'd held her rifle awkwardly, she'd crouched uncomfortably, and she'd exposed herself unprofessionally. She had the same look in her eyes I used to wake up to as a child, staring back at me in the grimy mirror of the orphanage's bathroom.

Hunter threw his axe and put her out of her misery. He pulled his arm back and the axe sung through the air and clipped into his palm. "Civilians as soldiers. Just like the war, huh?"

I turned my back to the woman and started towards the elevator at the end of the corridor. "Let's go."

His boots squelched on entrails and blood as he stepped next to me. "You're getting sick of it too, right?"

We paused and slapped our back to the wall as a group of four men with guns rushed out of the elevator. Two throws, two bullets, and they were down. We stepped over their bodies and into the elevator. The stairwell was a mass of body heat. Even though God himself granted us strength to kill all of those who do not believe in his soldier's power, I am not an idiot. She wanted us directly. She wanted a confrontation instead of a tactical take down.

Delta and Epsilon had already worn down many of their own soldiers, and the Berserks would continue fighting until their bodies gave in from bullet wounds. The Island was going to fall tonight. The smell of smoke, acrid and acidic in my throat, glided through the air. It was burning. They'd received the message. Burn everything to the ground as you retreat. This cancer of an Island would finally be shed off of the Gray. A new beginning for the country.

I'll name this day after mother.

Hunter shut the elevator's door and pressed the upper most button. He leaned against the back wall next to me and folded his strong arms. "You didn't answer my question."

"We do what we have to do." I ejected the empty clips and slammed in new ones. "Remember what the recruitment officers told us?"

"This war won't be your final battle," he said in a mockingly nasally voice. "Poor bastard had his head popped off of his shoulder a week in."

"And we made a promise to Nero."

He tensed at that. "Yeah." He fiddled with his rings. "What do you think he'd say about us right now?"

One, two, three, four, five…the circular silver buttons lit as we climbed.

"He'd sing a song and smoke a cigarette." I leaned back as well. "Get our minds off of what we've left behind and what's ahead of us."

"We can't predict the future or go back to the past," he muttered, reciting Nero's go to phrase.

"But if I could, I'd be a billionaire for figuring out time travel," I finished with a smile. "And we will all live in a big house, eat cheese, and play chess the whole day."

Hunter waved at the elevator's small cabin. "We're missing the cheese and chess. But we're almost there." He nudged me. "Because someone did become a billionaire."

"I don't have the big house on the hill." I smirked, not an aggressive smirk, a warm smirk reserved for him alone.

"You know, I always preferred a smaller house." He wiped his axes on his trousers, a habit he'd picked up a long time ago even though the axes snagged the cloth and tore them. "Growing up in a big house on a hill isn't that great."

I knew where this was going. "Hunter-"

"Hera. I saw the people in the stairwell. I know she wants to talk to you directly. Grace isn't a fool, she knows what she's doing. And if things go wrong up there…"

"They will," I said, short and concise.

"Just listen to me for once," he said. "Even when they do, are you just going to work yourself into a coffin? Alone?"

"Hunter. This isn't the time."

"I just…remember the trenches? When the war was coming to an end and you said yes to me then?"

"Things are different now. I'm leading the Gray into a new era." And soon the entire country. "I'm not the same girl who flinched at every explosion."

He sighed, it came out muffled behind the mask, and he looked up at the white ceiling of the elevator. "Okay. Okay." A pause. Fifty one, fifty two, fifty three. "I'll still have your back then. No matter how far you push me away."

I flinched at that.

The elevator came to a soft stop and a ding clicked the air. The doors glided open, Hunter tapped my shoulder twice and jerked his head to the right corridor just outside the elevator. He'd stay in the shadows and watch. I stepped out after him. The corridor to my left was empty, bar a few hideous attempts at art hanging from the walls. Magnus' hanging body the largest canvas.

I walked down the dark corridor. The lights weren't on here, the only sound coming from the slap of my boots on concrete and my long breaths. Years. I'd been waiting years to slaughter her. I'd thought she'd died in the chaos of the war. But I shouldn't have underestimated a Fallow.

I kicked the heavy black door open. She sat in a large black chair, a chess board in front of her; white pieces her side, black on mine. She smiled a smile that put little Abigail into a screaming rage in my ears.

"Why, hello, Abigail." She poured herself a glass of liquor, moon treated. "Why don't you join me for a game?"

I brought the desert eagles up. For all the years of heartache and calling my mother and father's names. For the years of clinging onto my sister's mottled and burnt blankets. For the years in the war when I felt like putting a gun in my mouth and seeing my family again. The golden and silver bullets lying dormant in my guns carried that hate and pain.

The only way to kill a Fallow out right? A head shot. And my contacts showed me the exact way to do it.

I shot her, and little Abigail smiled.