Betrayal
#10 of Fallen Sky Tales
"We've been walking for over an hour. Is that the place?" Dante pointed to a castle close to their position.
The head villager nodded, "That's it. Once we get in, we kill the man responsible and they we'll find your treasures."
At the entrance, two armored guards wielding spears stood at the ready, "H-halt! You aren't allowed to enter!"
Dante pointed his modified pistol at one, "We're here for only one head. Then we'll be on our way."
The other guard looked at his companion, "They must be here for... but we're supposed to. Uh, we didn't see you. Hurry up, that man is destroying this country."
Jill was relaying orders to Cratis as Ratchet nudged Dante with her elbow, "How about that? Good deeds all around today for The Beast. What will they think about this?" She laughed as the guards stepped to the side and the small party walked in through the outside gates, over the drawbridge, and then through the inner gates which led directly into the meeting chamber.
"That's him! Quickly!" A villager shouted. He was referring to the rather overweight feline on the throne. Titus lined up a shot with his sidearm and hit the man in the head, "Wow, that was simpler than I thought it would be. Men! Look for something to pay them with! Dante, please wait here with your people, we will do the work!" The villager and his ten companions ran off.
Dante pulled a lollipop out of his pocket and then into his mouth, "There aren't guards. Jill, what is the situation with this world?"
"Well, peaceful when I left. There isn't any war really, people work and eat. Only those who do nothing or don't deserve anything go hungry. In general, there aren't many guards."
He nodded, "Jill, Chey, go to the right hall. Titus, take the left hall. Ratchet, get those guards out front and hold this area. Tell them something is amiss. I'll take the center hall. Go, wait for orders." They went off to their duties, and even Dante ran through the center hall. He kept his eyes open and saw a few guards cowering with minor injuries.
He heard a scream from an elaborately decorated door, so he kicked it in, "AH! Oh, Dante, you scared me. We were just getting a little... retribution for our losses." The head villager and two others were in the room. A young woman in a wheelchair was being blocked by an older woman. They were both dressed regally.
"Please, take me! Leave my daughter alone! I beg of you!"
Dante didn't remove the lollipop, "Mind telling me what's going on here?"
The head villager chuckled, "Just having some fun."
"Mm, right." Dante drew his modified pistol and shot the villagers in the head. He spoke through his computer, "Villagers are the targets. Subdue or kill, your choice. Three are down." He looked at the terrified cats, "You two alright? No injuries?"
They were petrified with fear, but the young woman in the wheelchair took a breath and spoke, "We are unharmed. Who are you? I've never seen anyone dressed like you, or with that weapon."
Dante sighed, "I'm nobody. Can you two move? We're going to the entrance area. Stick close, I'll cover you." He opened the door and peered to both sides, "Let's move."
He walked down the hall, getting the guards to join him. A few communications came through his computer, "Dante, Chey here. Two down."
"Checking in, only got one over here. He fought back, but I'm fine."
"Up front, got three. One ran towards you Dante."
"Sere. I'm moving the ship to your location. Cratis and the others are on board, and we have some new guns and ammo. We'll be there in a moment."
Dante aimed his gun down the hall while walking, "Come out, come out wherever you are..."
"Dante, I'm moving to you." Titus sounded like he was running.
"Hey, all of you, I'll send you to the safe zone with my lieutenant. Titus! Hurry up!"
The dragon came into view as the hovering of a ship could be heard outside, "Here commander. Who are they?"
Dante walked past him, "Four doors to check. Escort them to the entrance. Tell Jill and Chey to look for any injured people."
Titus led the people out, and Dante began to search.
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"Chey! Jill! Look for survivors and help any injured back here. Ratchet, Sere should be here. Go out and help her get in. Rachel too. Cratis and her men can watch the roads."
They nodded and ran off. Titus was left with two woman of royalty and ten guards, two of which were unharmed, "Mr... Titus? What is happening?"
"Uh... well, we fought off a ton of people that fat guy hired to destroy villages, some villagers offered us pay to take out the fat guy, and Dante ordered us to kill the villagers. So... yeah. That's about it."
Chey and Jill led three injured men, "We found them. They should be fine, but better safe than sorry."
"Any down your hall?" Chey was serious. She wasn't used to this much action in a day.
Titus shook his head, "Negative. Just waiting on Dante and the others."
Some feet echoed from the drawbridge, "We're all set Dan...te... where is he?"
Rachel set down her portable kit, "Injured people, line up. I'll fix you up one at a time. Serious injuries first."
Jill walked over to the royal women, "Uh, Queen Claire? Princess Mira? Are you two alright?"
The Queen smiled, "Ah, one of our own. Yes, though we are quite shaken. This... Dante, he saved us. If my husband and my other daughter's husband to be were here, none of this would have happened."
Mire smiled, "How did you get to wear that armor and use that weapon? I though nobody got off this world?"
Jill scratched the back of her head, "An old friend helped. She was also from here." Jill looked over. Rachel was finishing up with the injured and Sere was examining Mira's wheelchair, "What's the matter Sere?"
"I've never seen something like this. The wood is bent into a circle for the wheels. I could make a better one easy. With brakes and high density but lightweight material for durability. A few pieces of rubber, some armor scraps... easy."
Jill laughed nervously, "That's our engineer. She can make almost anything if she has the materials."
Dante casually walked past the throne and through most of the people, "I'm done. Finish up, we need to get paid."
"Dante! Uh, Mr. Dante! Can I join your army?" Mira's voice echoed in the chamber. Everyone froze.
"Mira! You are my daughter! I cannot allow you to-"
"Mother, Falsa is to be married, not me. There is much I can do for the outside, and this may be my only chance. Mr. Dante! Please, I owe you a great deal, so please allow me to join!"
Dante groaned, "I don't feel like dealing with this. Titus, your call. I'll be on the ship. Sere, help Rachel with her things. Everyone else, help secure the area, drinks are on me later." Dante walked the distance all the way to the Albatross. Sere and Rachel followed soon after, and they all sat in the lounge, "Ugh... I need a nap."
"You were amazing Dante! Only you could do that!"
Rachel smiled, "I'm a little surprised you didn't get too hurt. I am curious about Mira though, I bet I could fix her legs if I had time. Handicapped people were my specialty before Fallen Sky hired me."
Sere laughed, "I still wanna make a wheelchair now! It look fun to try. What's that?"
The door opened, and soon Mira was rolled in by Cratis, "Dante, she said she was allowed to come aboard?"
"Hello Mr. Dante. Mr. Titus allowed me to join. I may not be able to fight with anything other than a rapier, but I am an expert negotiator. If you are mercenaries, I could easily get you more money and more assignments!" Cratis sat on a chair while Mira rolled near Sere, who couldn't help but plot to build another wheelchair based off of the existing one.
Dante's computer beeped, "A message from Jill..." He pulled out Anima and pointed it at Cratis, "What do you know?"
"H-hey, calm down. What is this about?"
"I had Jill put a tracer on all emails looking for certain key words. Your men, who you trust so much, got messages from Fallen Sky asking for my head. Hand over your gun. Now." Cratis quickly did as she was asked, "I didn't get anything about you, but you trust your men. Rachel." He tossed Cratis' pistol to her, "Just in case. Sere and Rachel, take position by that wall. Cratis, don't leave their sight."
"I uh... so they received mail, they didn't respond, did they?"
The question was answered for her, "Dante, drop your weapon and we promise to make it quick!"
Cratis shouted out, "What are you men doing?! Why would you betray me?!"
"Sorry ma'am, but 50 mil for his head? We can't really refuse. We didn't sign up for a mercenary company for charity! Plus they'll give us jobs and immediate elite status! The rest of you will be unharmed as long as you don't fight us, and you'll keep your jobs!"
Dante took out the lollipop stick and tossed it into a nearby bin, "So, I was right. They do want me dead. Oh well, can't be helped. You want my head? That trophy needs to be earned. You picked a fight in my house! I will not let you live for that insult!" Dante stepped out into the open, pointing Anima down the hall.
Bullets rained past him, but he casually shot 7 bullets one at a time, "Come on! Hit me! I'm right here!"
The assault stopped, and Dante put Anima in it's holster, "Dante, I didn't know. I thought they were..."
Dante walked into the lounge and sat on the couch, "Cratis, you will be confined to your room for now. Titus will determine your loyalty. Against logic, I'll trust you to go on your own and not escape. Sere and Rachel, show Mira to a room, I assume Titus will also get your things?"
"Y-yes, I convinced him to do so." She was frightened, but blushing under her fine white fur.
"Figures, even I could convince him to run into a volcano if I wanted. If anyone needs me, I'll be in my room."
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Mira rolled down through the corridor of the rooms, "That was scary, but kind of fun."
Sere laughed, "It doesn't get much more fun than that. Oh, except the whole fighting an army or making the largest mercenary group in the known universe our enemies. But we'll be ready!"
"Oh, I wish he would take it easier." Rachel was looking up and thinking, "Every time he gets violent, it seems like we are in the most danger. I mean, we aren't the combat members. Oh right, I'm Rachel, the doctor on this ship. I'd like to talk with you later, after you get settled in of course."
"Okay I suppose. But later is a definite. I'm still getting used to this ship. It's not made of wood and there are no sails. Plus it flies, it's something completely new. And your armors and weapons... it's all so much."
Sere nodded, "It's all very easy once you read a few books. And build some things of your own. And modify things of you own."
"Sere, stop showing off please. Here, this room is open. It's next to Sere and mine oddly enough. That's Jill's room, Chey's room, Titus' room, Ratchet's room, Dante's room. Over here is Cratis' room, and a bunch of empty ones now. Odd how this business goes."
Mira rolled into her room, "Not the same as home, but it has some charm I suppose."
Sere looked around, "There is a bathroom, there is your bed. Here's a desk and chair. Do you need anything since you can't walk?"
Mira looked embarassed, so Rachel stepped in, "Ah yes, some bars in the bathroom would help. I wonder... would it be possible to have a bar installed over the bed with a lever to raise and lower it?"
Sere looked, used her hands to measure, "I can do that. It won't be pretty, but it's possible. A quick welding with some metal scrap we have. I'll be right back." She opened the door, "Chey! Can you help me get some things?"
"Uh, sure. Oh, hey in there, Titus is carrying your stuff over bit by bit."
Dante was informed that some of the castle guards helped remove the bodies on the Albatross and clean up whatever they could. Not to mention they also helped move Mira's things into her room, while decorating around Sere's quick work. All she could do was weld a few bars into places, no fancy mechanisms for now.
Dante received a message about how to send payment. Instead of credits, he asked for the client to pick up the materials Sere needed to upgrade the Albatross. He would pay his people, "Let's see... pick up in about a week. We need to pick up Miss Star before Fallen Sky catches wind of what we know. What a mess. Then again, I'm involved. It couldn't be pretty no matter how I look at it."
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"So Jill, why didn't you tell me about where you used to live? We're like sisters, right?" Ratchet was kicking her feet over the armrest of the couch.
"I could ask the same of you." Jill giggled, "But, I guess I'm no longer a part of that world. This is my home now."
Ratchet smiled and rested her head on Jill's lap, "Good answer. I was gonna say the same thing. Though I must admit, a nice and peaceful world would be a welcome change of pace."
Chey came in and sat on the other side of Jill, "I heard from Dante, this won't be a good few weeks for us. But hey, at least I'm here with you."
Jill hugged her, "Hey, don't move your legs, they're comfy." Ratchet adjusted her head, "Okay, continue."
Jill pet Ratchet's head, "So, what do you think we should do about all of this? I mean, we are in danger, but I think Dante should get a present or something. He has done a lot for all of us, and saved us more times than I can count. Especially in that last melee brawl."
Chey smiled, "I swear, I was about to die so many times. But I agree. What could we get though? He has alcohol. A trophy maybe? Why is this so hard? Anyone else would be easy."
Ratchet shut her eyes, "No idea. You all think of something. I'm sleepy."
"I know what we could get!" All three women jumped. Sere was peeking from behind the couch, "How about a big date night! Food and stuff, like maybe a movie? We could all do it!"
The three thought about it, "Well, can't hurt. Better than what we had. So next chance we get, big group date. We can call dibs after everything."
"D-dibs?"
Ratchet smiled, "Of course. How else will we decide order?"
Chey looked down, "You are one devious little vixen, but that's what makes you you. As long as Miss Star isn't involved. And I'm with Jill the whole time."
"Yay! This will be fun, if we get time that is..."