Chapter 16: Aftermath of the Fall

Back in the government headquarters, the Governor-General is seen celebrating the fall of the Resistance. He popped a champagne bottle while laughing.

"We got em, Cypher! Hahaha!!! How clever of you giving the tracker to that internet bunny would reveal the resistance's base, who would've knew she was one of them. How she wasted her life choice." The older Strahm bragged as he filled the glasses with champagne and handed one to Cypher.

"I am very pleased sir" Cypher softy said with a snakelike grin ever present as he takes the drink.

"...And you, Renalyn, have been our sword that cut down our enemies." he then congratulates Rena, who stood beside Cypher and hands her a drink.

The three shared a toast and the Governor-General downs his drink. Rena and Cypher however threw away theirs drinks while he wasn't looking because in truth, neither of them even liked him but they have their own reasons working with him.

Governor-General finished his drink and turns to ask Rena.

"Do pardon me for not asking but how was your mission on your trip?"

"I supplied the guys from the Arma company with the weapons we made from the Iron Juggernaut. In turn, I gave their other allied company the false intelligence of the Arma company's treachery while blowing up their plant using their name. And just as I hoped, two allied companies fight and kill each other before they even know what was going." Rena responded.

"Heh! Excellent Job, and what of your reunion with your...brother." The older Strahm asked.

"....He won't hinder you any longer" Rena lied, she knew he was still alive.

"I see, I know what you feel. You see I too know all about the sibling rivalry, I can't say I'm in good terms with my brother, but to think he was resistance. No matter, I destroyed everything he's built so that rends him powerless to stop me."

Rena couldn't believe he bought her lie, as cruel as she can be, she still cares for her brother.

"If that's all then I'm leaving, you can celebrate for all I care." Rena said as she leaves.

"I'm afraid I'm no use for this time either, do call me if you ever need in my services again." Cypher chimes in as he puts his hat on and leaves the Governor-General in his office.

It would seem the two have been using this man as a golden goose of agendas, but what they don't know is that even Cypher knew all along the reaper is alive but decide not to reveal that information.

As he walks out of the building orange snake eyes glowed and his snakelike grin managed to slither out a snake tongue as he hisses.

"Not yet, little reaper."

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It took Alex some time to regain consciousness, his vision blurry. As he came to, so did his memory of his battle with Rena, his loss. He could still feel the wounds inflicted by his twin sister. Had it not been for the self-healing, he would likely still be unconscious and wounded.

Strangely, it wasn't concrete that felt on his body anymore. Instead, he felt a soft bed and a pillow under his head, a lamp was lit on a dresser next to him. He was able to make out more details as his vision cleared up. The room's walls were shades of light unsaturated green, with white across the ceiling. It wasn't too large, but big enough for a dresser, desk, closet and a bed next to a window. On the desk, he spotted his grey shirt along with his cloak, both folded neatly. Across his body were bandages to stop any bleeding, a medical kit, and a bowl of water with a wet cloth, sitting on the edge of the bed.

And then there's Sara, sitting on a chair asleep.

"She must've been looking after me all this time, I better let her know I've come to." he thinks.

Alex puts his hand on her shoulder and lightly shakes her. She slowly opens her eyes then yawns while stretching, when her eyes met me her expression quickly turns to both relief and concern.

"Ah you're awake! thank goodness!" she spoke in relief.

"Hey, how long was I out?" I asked.

"Five hours, we took turns taking care of you. I'll let the others know" Sara replies then she gets up from her chair and walks to the door.

"Why?" Alex asks as it stops her at her tracks and gains her attention so he continues to question.

"Why didn't you just leave me? The deal was done."

"But you didn't get your revenge, did you?

"..."

"Did those past weeks mean nothing to you? Daphne and Akindele died helping you and you want this to be done with by yourself?" Sara said, raising her voice as if she's annoyed yet it sounds like she wants to cry a little bit, this prompt Alex to stay silent while she scolds him.

"Like it or not, we're friends and when we say we're gonna help you get your revenge, we mean it! I'm not asking you Alex, I'm telling you. Doing things alone can get you far, but not far enough, so don't do this alone!"

Alex takes it all in when Sara gave him a piece of her mind, she sighs and turns to the door.

"When you get your head clear, come join us."

Sara said then she leaves and closed the door, leaving Alex in his thoughts.

She was right. At the beginning, he doesn't trust in the resistance and merely saw them as a means to end, but overtime he grew to appreciate them as friends. He can't let Daphne and Akindele's deaths be for nothing.

He tightened his fists and gets out of bed, realizing he has no shirt over his bandaged torso, only in his black jeans. He puts on his grey shirt, boots and red tie, he leaves to the door and followed the sound of chatter.

When he found himself in the living room, he could see Alden and Shinonome sitting in one couch, Sara standing next to them, and an unfamiliar woman with black short hair, brown eyes and glasses.

"I knew your hated your boss, but to think it would push you to help us, we appreciate it." Alden said.

"There's no need, it's actually more than just my boss." the woman replied then she turns to Alex.

"Ah Alex, good to see you have awakened, this is Edith Song, she's the Governor-General secretary, she hates him so helped us." Alden said.

Though Alex remained skeptical.

"And I'm supposed to take your word that she'll not sell us out?."

"I know you don't trust me, but I do this because I wanted to thank you for saving my daughter." Edith approached him

"Your daughter?" Alex asked confused.

She then turned to her right and called out a name.

"Lily!"

A few seconds later a girl with short bob cut hair and brown eyes emerged with light pink pyjamas.

"It's you." Alex was surprised to see this girl so familiar, he rescued her from the rapists after he destroyed the Iron Juggernaut. She stopped right in front of him, although she looked a little shy.

"Um... you're Alex Crowe right?...Thank you so much for saving me from those horrible men."

she sincerely said while bows in gratefulness.

"We owe you a debt, I assure you, you're safe with us." Edith said as she bows as well.

Looks they have a place to stay and rest thanks to Alex's good deed.

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In the ruined site of the abandoned school, also known as the resistance's base, the White Sword were scoping the area out.

Nate was seen the center for supervision. Ever since his encounter with the Reaper, he began to suspect the Governor-General wasn't telling him everything.

"Captain Wolfe, you have to see this sir!" one of his men called him and he followed him.

Then he was brought to a body from the debris, he was wearing a jumpsuit and it's riddled with bullet holes. The most notable thing he saw is that there are glowing veins all over this man's body.

"What is this?" Nate asked.

"I never seen anything like this, could he be Resistance?"

Nate took a little look closer and the man's eyes suddenly shot up, he grunts and gets up. This causes Nate and his men to back off.

The man surges with blue electricity in his hands and just he was about to unleash an attack, Nate blasted him with ice, freezing him in place and rendering him immobilized.

"What was that?" one of his men asked.

Nate walks to the frozen man and he inspects him. He noticed something on the back of the neck, there are numbers "0034" and next to it was a some sort of sigil. Nate knew whom this sigil belonged to.

"Maybe this is the work of the resistance, what do you think Captain?" one of the men asked after they chat while Nate was inspecting.

"I thinking something doesn't add up with our government. First they hired us to apprehend the Reaper and the Resistance, and suddenly they told us to stand down right before they attack this place." he thinks.

"Let's clear out!" Nate ordered.

"Yes sir!!!" they simultaneously said right before they back.

"Charlie" Nate called out.

A soldier named Charlie turned his complete attention to him then listened to his orders.

"I'm sending you on a secret mission, we need to find out what the government is really up to."

"As you wish sir!" Charlie complied.

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Alex stood at the balcony in the night with his usual brooding, letting the wind on his face, staring at the dark corners to the alleys.

"The breeze does feel nice at night, doesn't it?"

The voice of Shinonome calls out from behind him, although Alex didn't turn around, he still spoke to her.

"I suppose it does"

Shinonome joins him at the balcony and a long silence begets from the two.

"You're thinking them aren't you?" Shinonome asked.

"All the time." Alex responded then continued.

"In the end, I gave Daphne what she really wanted, I wonder what Akindele's family have to say about this."

"Akindele's family is already dead."

"...What!" Alex turns to Shinonome, shocked.

"The government came to their house while Akindele was out, when he came back, his house was burnt to the ground and found the remains of his wife and kids. He made it his mission to stop them and bring his family justice so he came to us."

Alex looked down, taking it all in.

"I guess he didn't have the courage to tell you, can't say I blame him, not the greatest memory you want to relive."

"Then I'll avenge them, I'll avenge them all." Alex declared.

"You know, you've been doing that quite a lot lately. Instead of avenging, why not give the dead some peace."

"Avenging them is all I know about giving them peace."

"There are other ways Crowe."

Another silence goes on until Alex decides to ask something.

"So what's the story between you and Alden? seems to me like you're more than just his secretary."

Shinonome thinks for a moment before replying.

"We were actually childhood friends, we were inseparable, of course I developed feelings for him. When I saw what he needed to do, I swore I would help him, I swore I would stick with him to the very end."

Another moment of silence.

"Well, that's quite the dedication Shinonome."

Alex said

"Please, call me Yuka."

Another bond form, but he could see she's willing to die for what she believed in, guess he better prepare to this attachment go.

"Um...Mr. Strahm is calling for you" Lily came up from behind them, still shy as ever.

Yuka and Alex nodded to each other before heading downstairs. Upon arrival, he saw Alden talking to a familiar redhead woman.

"Carmilla?" Alex said in astonishment.

"Hey cutie, you truly are hard to kill " Carmilla responded in a sultry manner.

"So what brings you brings you here?" Alden asked her.

Carmilla brought up a smile.

"Just dropped in to let you know, I found your fourth demon."