S3E6: Plans for Invasion / Matters That Must Be Taken to Heart
2618 Words
Four-Star General's Hotel.
It doubles as a clinic, and it lies near where Malandalay Connective Highway splits into two roads.
As of this moment, the abductions have mostly slowed down, but we're all still on our toes.
Once we, the group of 26 – 19 adventurers and seven allies – get inside the hotel-s***h-clinic, we ask the single important thing.
“May we know where Col. Porcarelli is confined?”
The receptionist simply answers...
“He's in room 209. And one of his old friends, Robinson Rutherford, is confined in room 210. Are you all their friends, too?”
“Definitely.”
“Alright, just use the stairways over there.”
“Thank you.”
We eventually make our way towards room 209, and it is guarded by several familiar faces.
They are all Ishi-shiro officers, judging from their uniforms; and they are also CAT officers back in the real world.
“Valmonte and company! You have all finally showed up! Now then, allow us to introduce ourselves.”
The woman, who has a somewhat innocent appearance but hides something that's the complete opposite, states her name and designation, and the rest soon follow.
“I'm Cherami Maynard, and I'm the Ishi-shiro's chief combat techniques officer. I'm a master of the deadliest art ever known, the 'Blood Gulch no Jutsu'.”
“This is Radolf Goldstein, the Ishi-shro's assistant chief combat techniques officer. I have endured lots of scars from killing many foes. I also develop my own fighting style; but as it currently stands, it is second only to my master's in terms of lethal potential.”
“Iain Oersted here. I'm the Ishi-shiro's chief strategy officer, and I draw my unsurpassed war strategies from several strategy RPGs old and new. I'm sure you know these by heart, too, Valmonte.”
“I am Karenina Nashville, and I'm the Ishi-shiro's chief food supplies officer. I do eat a lot, even though I don't get so pleasantly plump, for some reason. I encourage our soldiers not to go to war on an empty stomach.”
“This is the Ishi-shiro's chief medical officer, Vanna Mercado. While I'm a nurse-s***h-white mage by training, I also embraced the way of the ninja after I entered this hallowed organization.”
“I'm Randall Bathwright, and I work for the Ishi-shiro as its chief acquisitions officer and assistant ordnance officer. I admit... in this world, I'm half-human, half-robot; and I never realized it until this mysterious voice spoke out to me.”
“I'm Antoon Abadilla, and I'm Darby's half-brother. I currently serve as the Ishi-shiro's chief espionage and assassination officer. I fervently believe in honing my own skills to become the ultimate ninja.”
***
Cherami Maynard. Age: 17.
Radolf Goldstein. Age: 17.
Iain Oersted. Age: 17.
Karenina Nashville. Age: 17.
Vanna Mercado. Age: 17.
Randall Bathwright. Age: 17.
Antoon Abadilla. Age: 17.
All of them are CAT officers; and like the other ones already recruited so far, they have their own traits, interests, and aspirations in life.
Cherami is known to have quite a short temper, and so does Radolf.
Iain has a more composed attitude, as he knows being all too tense will mess up strategies and tactics really badly.
Karenina has a huge appetite... and has quite a unique metabolism, which can explain why she never gets fat.
Vanna is the calmest of the bunch; but when she gets serious, she can be a little too serious.
Randall is known to be the biggest fan of a long-running series of action platformers that are mega-difficult, but still rock after all those years.
Antoon pretty much shares the same traits as his half-brother. They are both dedicated to their own brand of martial arts, and they do find the time to spar with each other.
One time, I was buying lunch from a nearby Chinese takeout during a special Saturday CAT training session.
Dillington High's lone cafeteria is closed during weekends, so I had no choice but to buy food outside.
Once I got back onto the school premises, I walked according to the rules set forth in the CAT handbook – one must walk or march steadily, always hugging the right-hand side of a hallway or any other structure.
Still carrying the boxed takeout, Radolf immediately spotted me with quite a mean stare (and Cherami followed suit); with the other officers just chilling.
“Valmonte! Where did you buy your lunch?”
Standing at attention, I readily answered...
“Sir, I bought my lunch from outside, sir!”
“Uh-huh. It makes sense, since the cafeteria is closed. Carry on.”
I then walked towards the quadrangle; and once the coast was clear, I eased my body, sat on a bench, and ate my lunch, letting the energy it carried be the sustenance for that afternoon's session.
Once the session was finally over, and everyone was dismissed, these same officers were just casually conversing about various topics.
Cherami and Radolf just smiled as they discussed the latest hit song.
Iain studiously read a book about military strategies employed by both the Allied and Axis Powers during the Pacific theater of World War II.
Karenina just munched on some sea salt ice cream.
Vanna just hummed a song.
Randall played the then-latest iteration of his favorite game series on his Gear Boy Dual.
And Antoon just thought of what to expect for next week's exams in multimedia class, particularly on the ins and outs of user interface design.
So I was entirely right after all.
These officers, while they could act tough at appropriate times, could also loosen up and chill, because they're also humans like the rest of our class.
***
Because I was so immersed in nostalgia for the past five minutes after shaking hands with the officers, I almost forgot to ask Gershwin my most pressing question.
“By the way, Gershwin... How'd you get that sweet, sweet limo?”
“Oh, that? Guess it's time for me to come clean, especially to the officers.”
He then clears his throat as he begins his explanation.
“I acquired the limousine, which I proudly call the 'Mikan no Ken', from an online auction. You see, when I was first sucked into this virtual world, I reached for my phone; and to my surprise, my digital wallet was ringing to the tune of millions of double pesos. Mind you, this is just fantasy cash; but it's still money I could use!
“I then remembered one of my childhood dreams: To own an expensive car. So, while I was recovering on my bed back in the fictionalized Dillington High's clinic, I browsed an online auction site; and to my pleasant surprise, the car of my dreams was up for grabs!
“I went through a fierce bidding war before finally acquiring the entire thing... and sorry if I hid it from you all along. I just kept it in my personal item stash, which fortunately features a pocket dimension in order to do away with space limitations.”
Oh, like the one I use, where I took out my skateboard with no problem at all?
“I just waited for the time when it could be used to its fullest; and no better time came than when those tanks ambushed us!”
He then segues into another pressing question, this time aimed at me.
“And back to you, Ben. How'd you manage to skate your way across the highway in that battle?”
“Ah, yes. I once played those classic skateboarding games, and I was excited when their remastered version was announced last year. No sooner did I buy them on release, of course.”
“And I know you to be a bad skater in real life.”
“Hahaha... yeah. Fortunately, I'm able to live out my skater fantasies here in this fantasy world.”
Giuseppe then cuts in.
“Now then. I guess... you officers may not be familiar with my group of loyal scientists, so... here they are.”
***
Renton Germinal. Age: 18.
Roxette Abellanosa. Age: 17.
Maristelle Valles. Age: 17.
Kei Gotanda. Age: 17.
Nicole Apostolos. Age: 18.
Charles Saint Etienne. Age: 17.
Maria Joie Balthazar. Age: 16.
They all come from different classes, but they always hang around Giuseppe and his sci-tech club he ruled for all of high school – and thus I personally call them his “groupies”.
One time, I had the opportunity to check out the club's room – simply because hanging out in the library and in the computer club room could be boring and repetitive at times.
There, Giuseppe and his team were working on something awesome.
Renton caught my attention.
“Hey! Don't you dare walk into our room without our permission!”
The leader himself just tapped his shoulder and calmly reminded him...
“Please don't raise your voice. I know Benoit not to leak any secrets regarding our activities, or of other club activities in particular.”
“Oops... sorry.”
I then saw what the other groupies were doing.
Roxette was hard at work doing some clean-up jobs of parts she took out of the sprues.
Maristelle and Nicole were giggling as they soldered the required PCBs together.
Kei tossed the parts to be washed into the ultrasonic cleaner.
Charles checked the LEDs the club just bought to see if they fit the project's overall look and feel.
And Maria Joie happily painted the parts that needed to be painted, using an airbrush.
“So, they're always loyal to you. I guess... you have some trait that attracts them together.”
Giuseppe replied, “And it's no secret. I know you are a loner. But if you adopt my qualities without ruining what you are, you can attract a group of people who are on the same wavelength as you.”
“Yeah, I know.”
As it turned out, the project they were all working on... was the transformable robot that was shown later in the robotics exhibition Giuseppe himself invited me to.
And now, in this fantasy world, I'm attracting fellow adventurers who are also my classmates, unknowingly displaying the qualities Giuseppe required of me: Charisma, leadership by example, and knowledge in the field known to be best at.
***
And from out of nowhere, Robinson the sage shows up, which surprises us all.
“Guys, my former fellow students, I bring you good news.”
We all know what it is, right?
“As we speak, Edilbert is now conscious, and he's slowly regaining his strength!”
I inquire him, “How'd you know that?”
“Three days ago, I finally awakened from my unconsciousness; and knowing that he needs to be back in action ASAP, I used my patented healing magic to help him recover faster. I did it as a means of gratitude to him for helping me eliminate the demon who possessed me.”
“Good deeds are indeed rewarded, huh? Well... what are we waiting for?”
We all nod in agreement.
And thus, with a much larger crew, we all slowly enter the room where the Supreme Leader is confined.
He is none the happier that a much larger combined force is the first thing he sees, besides the nurses who took care of him.
“Everyone... my old friends at Dillington High...”
He strives to hold back his tears.
“Welcome back.”
We all give him a round of applause as he smiles at all of us.
“We have all drifted apart ever since that attack on the cruise ship roughly more than a week ago... but it is nothing compared to our overall mission: To get to the bottom of all the devious schemes The Movement has in store for Daig'digaia!
“But then... as my ever-loyal subordinates briefed me an hour ago, we must also focus on the mysterious disappearances of women in Sarbacutta. Based on their intelligence gatherings, these women are now being kept inside the Cube of Trials, a former training ground for mathematicians.”
“And this is where I come in.”
And yet another familiar face stirs my memories.
***
Zoe Knightley. Age: 17.
She was one of my crushes, if you could even call it one.
Aisha was also one of my crushes, if you could also call it one.
You see, I just called girls who are my type “crushes” – but I lacked the balls to even court them, as I was so immersed in my studies – and sometimes, my delusions.
Yeah, even I wasn't spared by the thing called chunibyo (or “eighth-grader syndrome” to non-Japanese ears).
One time, I wrote a love letter and attempted to deliver it right to her desk.
But Lady Luck was unkind to me at that time, and the letter just flew from my hands due to the strong gusts that blew through the window.
I tried to follow where the letter went; and in another dose of bad luck...
...it flew right through a paper shredder inside the faculty room.
The letter was instantly shredded into pieces, and there was no way I could get it back whole.
Third time's no charm, either.
Because when I dejectedly got out of the faculty room, I saw Jamieson proposing to Zoe in the hallway.
And thus, I had to wave the proverbial white flag and let her end up in Jamieson's arms.
So it's no surprise they would end up working together in this fantasy world.
***
Zoe wears a skin-tight body suit that complements her figure well, and she also has several holsters and magazine pouches strapped to her waist.
“As the Ishi-shiro's lone female civilian agent... and as a woman... I can't let my fellow members of the race of Eve be the victims of a possibly traumatizing experience. And Jamieson... I'm proud to support you in every way I can.”
Jamieson agrees by simply holding her hand.
“Now then,” Edilbert continues, “we must map out a battle plan to invade the Cube of Trials itself. Efficiency is the name of the game... and we must also remember all our old math lessons, as they will be the key to successfully infiltrate the dungeon and rescue the women.”
While we all discuss the plan in an impromptu strategic conference...
...somebody breaks into our room.
As she is unarmed, we don't show any hostility to her.
And because the officers recognize her right away.
“Constance Princessriver! What is your business here? You're a psychic, right?”
The girl with the light purple hair nods silently in agreement, and then follows up with her whispering speech...
“Yes. And with your combined might with these other adventurers... you must also help me find Bamelin and Akalina.”
Edilbert then asks her, “And why should we help you? We're planning to rescue the women, and we don't want to waste precious time.”
“The women you will rescue... and an effective good luck charm they want to use for their establishment, Restaurant Beloved... they are all in the same place, the Cube of Trials.”
So that explains the “Closed Until Further Notice” sign in front of the restaurant in question.
After breathing a huge sigh...
Edilbert relents.
“Alright. We'll all help you while we also conduct our rescue mission. After all, I can dispatch a team to assist you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Porcarelli!”
“Do not mention it. After all, these matters are all taken to heart.”
- Writer
