Chapter 47 - Ramparts to Ruins: Course Correction

In the crucible of leadership, the true mettle of a general is tested not in the ease of decisions but tough choices. It's through Hephaestus's forge of adversity that leaders shape the destiny of nations, making decisions that echo through the corridors of time – General Hephaestion of ancient GreeceOperation Menu: Phase Dinner (D+10.5 hours)Bloody red ichor dripped from the ceiling, causing Captain Estelle Thornewood and Captain Neusilber's footwear to adhere to the floor with each step. The sticky, squelching sound echoed down the hallway as their boots were pulled from the glue-like surface.Estelle sheathed her punch daggers, their blades stained with the evidence of the gruesome encounter. Meanwhile, Neusilber nonchalantly plucked a quill from his olive-green uniform and tossed it to the floor, adding to the macabre parts that lay strewn across the floor."Any more wonder weapons I should be aware of before proceeding any further?" Estelle inquired, noticing a quill caught in the fabric of her dress."I'm not entirely sure how many Quillodons Dr. Nemo has released," Neusilber replied. "The Gorgers are too large to fit in the hallways.""Comforting to know," Estelle remarked dryly, tossing the quill over her shoulder.Pushing a tooth the size of her hand aside with her foot, Estelle detected scratching sounds emanating from the air ducts. Nonetheless, she turned back towards Captain Neusilber."What can you tell me about this Dr. Nemo that doesn't violate Red's Operational Security Protocols?" Estelle askeded, checking the door on the far side of the room.Neusilber remained silent, opening the door with little resistance. Estelle rushed over to T.C., lying on the floor, and checked for a pulse by his neck, which was still present."Smell his breath," Bee recommended."You're being un-sarcastically helpful," Estelle thought, moving closer to T.C.'s face.Checking his breath, he smelled like sour apple."Class-3 paralytic, specifically XyloCalm XR which incidentally smells like sour apples. T.C. must be transported to a medical professional, preferably a skilled healer, as delayed treatment may result in a cessation of cardiac function," Bee said."Is he one of yours?" Neusilber asked as he checked the window.Estelle activated her Witch Sight, and she saw greenish liquid coursing through T.C.'s blood vessels. Most of the paralytic was concentrated around his neck."Looks like a 25cc dose," Bee thought. "At that amount it might permanently shut down his nervous system. How was this even permitted by Upper Management?""T.C. is my second in command," Estelle muttered."He needs to get to a healer!" Bee exclaimed."If this is work done by Dr. Nemo, we can take him to the infirmary," Neusilber suggested."No offense, but I've had enough of Team Red's quacks," Estelle replied."No offense, pfft," Bee snapped back.Estelle extended her middle and index fingers. She punched his heart and other energy points on his body. She sat him up and positioned his arm over her shoulder. Estelle next picked him up and threw him over her shoulder."Not very many people have access to that fighting style, nor choose to study it," Neusilber observed, holding out his hand to stop her from entering. "Careful, this is Dr. Nemo's office. Who knows what surprises she had in store for him."Estelle carried T.C. to the next door. Neusilber pulled his sword and bashed the door open with his boot. On the other side, a portal with swirling purple colors was centered in the office. Desks, chairs, and furniture were pushed to the side to make space for the portal. Estelle gently laid T.C. on the table and sniffed the air. She followed the trace scent of perfumed lavender and honeysuckle from D.T. Jones, the aftershave from Webb, and the aroma of lemony hand sanitizer from one other person."Let's go; there's no time to waste," Neusilber urged, but Estelle halted him with a raised hand.She crept closer to the portal and sniffed it. No scents were detected at the edge of the portal."It's a faux portal," Estelle remarked, carefully examining its boundary. "I can rectify it, but I'll need something exceptionally sharp—capable of precision down to the subatomic level—to trim away extra subatomic particles.""The infirmary has a sonic scalpel, but the thing weights a half ton," Captain Neusilber said.Estelle grumbled.While tapping her foot Bee said, "My grandfather's scalpel, it's sharp enough to slice reality itself."She active her Witch Sight, delved into her pocket and retrieved the case. Estelle positioned the blade between the portal barrier and commenced running it along the edge."Why are you bothering to assist? Have your sentiments toward me shifted?" Estelle asked Bee."No, I still harbor resentment towards you, but my disdain towards Dr. Nemo exceeds my feelings towards you. Moreover, if you were to pursue him, the probability of successfully seizing this base seems doubtful," Bee replied.Estelle continued slicing through the portal, and a secondary one began to manifest. After cutting away a mere 0.001 nanometer, the aperture underwent a chromatic shift, transforming into a swirl of greenish-black hues."I was recently compelled to undergo subatomic management level-two; the system incessantly beeped until I made the selection," Estelle explained, removing the second half of the portal."Why didn't your mute notifications until a better option became available?" he asked.Additional sections of the portal fell away, fading with a sizzling sound."Because you were not present to remind me," Estelle replied in a huff.Neusilber chuckled. After the final cuts were made, the portal glowed a bright neon green. Estelle packed the scalpel away, deactivated her Witch Sight, and picked T.C. back up. She stood before the portal, one foot almost inside. Estelle hesitated."What's wrong?" asked Captain Neusilber."I must confess, there's no telling where and when we might come out. In a sense, if I step through, I would be moving two pieces off the chessboard entirely," Estelle said softly."Tick-tock, Little One, victory or your friend, what's more important?" Bee said."Violence of action, Captain Thornewood. Whatever you decide, it's your choice to make, not anyone's decision," Neusilber said. "Not the Azure Council, not the Blood Circle, and not whatever team Gold calls their leadership this season. Stand by your actions and own the consequences.""Golden Clowns," Estelle said with a half-smile and stepped through.Neusilber followed behind her. Estelle's vision blurred as the world became a swirl of colors. After taking another step, she found herself standing on a flat plateau with scrub brush all around. The sky was night black. Checking her map, she was at the northernmost edge of Fort Carré's territorial boundary. Then Estelle noticed the timestamp on her map: Operation Menu: Phase Dinner (D+23.4 hours).The portal that she had stepped through had disappeared. One-way trip, Estelle surmised."I lost over ten hours; someone is going to pay for this," Estelle said as the hair stood on the back of her neck.Neusilber appeared behind her. In the distance, she noticed that Jones, Webb, and an older man wearing a lab coat were waiting 50 meters away. Estelle placed T.C. on the ground. Towards the south, a helicopter thundered. Red and white lights blinked in the sky as it flew closer.Estelle:> Clear the channel…emergency EVAC on TC, time now!Heather:> If I do it will send out a beacon to anyone with Witch Sight that says, 'SHOOT ME'!Estelle:> TC was injected with 25cc's of XyloCalm XRHeather:> That will cause permanent damage, initiating Meat Wagon extraction protocol!Whisper:> Boss Kitty, we can't get inside Fort, Red's locked it down tightEstelle:> Protect the healer at all costs…Boss Kitty out T.C. glowed bright blue and disappeared with a loud pop. Jones, Webb, and Nemo turned around, the noise drawing their attention away from the helicopter in the air."Stand down, Captain Thornewood, that's an order," Jones said, placing herself between Estelle and Dr. Nemo.Estelle unwielded Lost Battalion and stormed towards them. Webb and Jones backed up a few paces as Estelle glared at them."Why are you with him? Captain Neusilber is the enemy!" Webb shouted.Over Webb's hand microphone by his shoulder a voice said, "Rescue Team X, this is Blue Falcon. ETA 5 minutes…how copy?""Little busy, Blue Falcon, I hope you got a kill team in the bird," Webb said.She broke out in a run towards Nemo. Neusilber pulled out his sword and ran with Estelle. Jones pulled out an extendable baton and flicked it, extending it fully. She shifted her feet."If you attack me, consider your status as a team captain revoked," Jones said."It is Dr. Nemo I seek, particularly in light of the actions he perpetrated on T.C.," Estelle said with a hiss, lunging towards Nemo.Jones positioned herself and caught the hilt of her trench dagger with the baton. Metal clanged against metal. Jones grabbed the other opposite end of her baton, preventing Estelle from bringing it down on her neck. Estelle placed her hand on top of the hilt, forcing the blade to cut the side of her neck."You…you know how much experience you will lose…if you kill me," Jones said, her voice beginning to shake. "Besides, I studied all your moves…I know all of them. You can't possibly beat me."Jones dug her feet into the ground, holding the blade away from her throat. Her arms began to shake."Rescue Team X, we are 3 mikes from your position…" the radio said.Webb pulled out a slender dagger and thrust the blade towards Estelle's exposed ribs. Neusilber parried the attack away, nearly knocking the blade from Webb's hands. Then Neusilber kicked Webb in the chest, sending him back. The thunder of the helicopter thudded louder.Estelle glared icily at Jones, then at Nemo."Do you know my coin trick?" Estelle asked as she moved her blade along the baton a few inches to the left."Coin trick? Now you are making up crap," Jones said, noticing the blade was over her shoulder.Estelle opened the palm of her hand that was on top of the hilt, revealing a glowing silver coin. She flicked it towards Dr. Nemo. It hit him in the chest and burst into a cascade of shiny chaff that sparkled in the starlight. The brilliance against the ambient light glittered as the shiny chaff called to her, pulling her ever closer.D.T. Jones stood in silence as Estelle disappeared. She turned around in time to see Estelle reappear above Nemo. Gravity pulled her down, and Lost Battalion's blade sank into the soft spot between Nemo's clavicle and second rib."Coin trick," Estelle said and jumped over his shoulder, landing behind him.She had spun the blade around as Dr. Nemo screamed out in pain. Credulity appeared in her free hand, and Estelle began to punch it in the back of his head.A green goo-like substance exploded from the side of his head. Estelle pulled out Lost Battalion, and his body fell, leaving a latex-like skin that oozed the odious green fluid."Was that a clone?" Webb said as he stopped his fight with Neusilber."Alchemic simulacrum," Estelle said as she stepped away from the body. "That means his defection wasn't real. Now if you excuse me, I have a fortress to capture."Estelle sheathed her weapons and walked back towards the fortress."The Azure Council isn't going to forgive you, Captain. You hear me? You are going to be suspended for this treachery," Jones shouted at her.Neusilber shrugged and followed Estelle.He spun around to say, "I don't think she cares."The helicopter hovered overhead, its rotor blades slicing through the air with a rhythmic thud. A powerful spotlight illuminated the surroundings, casting a stark contrast of light and shadow on the terrain below. As the helicopter maintained its position, the forceful down wash from its rotor blades kicked up a swirling cloud of dust, illuminating the dust particles with its beam of light.***