Chapter 5TJ - Subject of Interest

 It's been 4 AM, and John has been slithering around on his queen-sized bed.

 

Bell, meanwhile, is deep on her sleep.

And John... looked at Bell and say,

John: Don't mind me, want to take some walks.

So, here's the cafeteria. It's so good that the famous Karathrace* Coffee shops are forced to relocate or having its staff quit due to how better the Persica Tower Cafe's offerings are.

*the Mobius equivalent of Starbucks, if you don't catch the joke.

Which, thanks to Bell attending the Tower Cafe every weekends up to the dawn of Monday... who wants to refuse?

I mean, sure, we're married couple but Bell just loves to have talks with customers, usually brothers and sisters in arms, basically advising them to have and be loving couples...

And yeah, no matter if it's chestnut as a bartender, silvery as a maid, and gold as a sun light for her as a swordsman and her true form...

I love her.

After getting the food from the automatic vending machine (because there is no attendant today) i came across a soldier.

O'Brien, as i look on his nametags.

He seems just as troubled as me.

I managed to sit beside him.

O'Brien: Oh.... oh.... sir!

John: Cut the formality. We're off duty.

John: So... anything troubles you?

O'Brien: Yeah, like, we're sent out from Da Silva because of a messy conflict there. And then epicenter, those two...

John: No need for details. They escaped, right?

O'Brien: Yeah.

John: Well, in times like this, losses are inevitable, and... having any nightmares or uneasy feelings lately?

O'Brien: Yeah, heard Logistics personnel were demoralized to various extent either. 

I can't blame anybody or anyone for this. It's just how the world runs.

I just wish "those two" to be turned back.

O'Brien: Hey... about Taylor... I'm sorry.

John: Sorry for what? It's never your fault. It's never the Logistics fault!

O'Brien: Nevertheless, if you're interested with the situation, you might arrange a secure call to Luca. You contracted her, right?

Well, it's my wife's idea, given my wife personally knew Luca some time before, to turn the attention from Logistics' military personnel to others, but...

John: Yeah, i'm thinking of it. Live on, brother!

I immediately left the premise after doing some clean-ups, and O'Brien follows.

Given what happened to Taylor... how that.... thing, can kill from distance, especially with the help of unknown personnel... 

Perhaps it is a good idea to have another immortal, one who have an actual leadership experience, to take over.

Don't really want to see another brothers or sisters in arms dying like flies.

Luca's a good woman, and if she's off duty i wish to spend more time with her.

She even made a facsimile of me called "Romanov" to show how much she loves me.

Of course both Luca and myself understand that i already married, and Bell did understand as well.

Later...

Well, that's it. Supposed to be bad news, but i'm fine with that.

Basically every single Archer Logistics personnel with the exception of select few under Luca's command are recalled into Inner Persica and Tower District.

Which means... defensive manuevers.

Well, retreat is not always bad. Especially how the enemy we encounter have powers beyond imagination... like baddies just drop dead with a single shot or something.

Brothers and Sisters in arms, especially the ones with no or light magical talents and those who below 30... were demoralized and depressed.

And that even my beloved Bell, with her carefree facade, hid genuine sense of concern towards my life and she didn't just wants me to be safe, but also wants me to be as happy as usual.

Recently i wasn't felt doing my best to Bell at night because of the haunting thoughts and being really, really anxious, but she reassured me that i'm still doing my best.

But i try to live on. No. We try to live on. Hold as much ground as we can, and then when the time comes, either confront the two or just gave in to their demands. Which, i think, not much. All they want seemingly is to go home. Maybe a clerical mistake or being subject of interest, but...

I try not to think about that much as i wanted to boot on Esteem and playing Ravenfield again.

Meanwhile...

Dani, Jon, and Mackie managed to leave the city. Dani's inherent military experience allow her to drive the MRAP out of San Da Silva.

Dani: Jon.... You're a man, you should be the one who drives!

Mackie: Oh no.... he's soundly asleep...

Mackie: And you... as a Tammison, you have an innate military experience!

Dani: Eh... Eh? I just play some videogames, but yet...

Dani: Well, this one isn't a stick, typical American car... (although this is an MRAP)

Meanwhile.... flashback to Jonathan's past...

Jon: They call me... "Alpha & Omega. Beginning and the end..."

Allison: Revelation 21:6, is it?

Allison: No, that would be intimidating for you.

Allison: How about... Jonathan?

Jon: Then... Jonathan Torrington, taking from Mom, Allison Torrington?

Allison Torrington isn't really Jonathan's mother-by-birth, as Allison is a single woman. However she has sympathy toward Jonathan, who is treated as a dangerous weapon to be used by unscrupulous shadow organizations.

Allison: Well... let's shake hands...

Press X to shake hands.

Allison: Nice to meet you, Jon.

Flashback end.

Dani: Mr. Tory, wake up!

Dani: A boulder!

Dani: And you, you could really sleep on a winding mountain path, WHERE I AM SPEEDING MY WAY IN!?

Jon: Actually, i'm way past doing over my cooldown times of using my Dead Eye ability, so...

Dani: Hey, don't fell asleep again!

Mackie: There is an AT4 in the backseat, if you wish...

Dani: Even with my suit, it would be heavy, besides... i fear backblast...

Jon: By the way, did you really know the way into Inner Persica?

Jon: May we remind us to our goal... find the Sage, Bell... ask for her how we could find our way back home...

Dani: Yeah, but i'm not pressing main quest button here, we already know that and we're not doing sidequests!

Jon: Maybe we should ask those Logistics guy nicely...

Dani: They aren't looking friendly so far...

Mackie: It is better that we should find another way to traverse...

Dani hit the reverse gear, and then...

Dragon.

Jon: Oh.... (fires shotgun)

Dani: Mr. Tory, there's more of them!

Jon: Uhhh... we're in too deep here!

Mackie: There's an M249 here in the trunk! Do what you do best!

Jon: Yeah...

Jon then fires all of the Dead Eye imbued bullets to the dragon. Far before the box cartridge is emptied, all the dragons are dead.

But of course, both Dani and Jon are not Dragonborn, so they can't absorb those dragon souls.

Jon: Well, i think just Dead Eye and your apparent military training skills are enough, Dani.

Dani: Thanks, but...

Dani: THERE'S A LARGE GOLDEN THUNDER DRAGON ONE!!!!!! WHAT THE!!!!!

Dani: And we're running out here!

However, Jon holds his fire.

Jon: But i didn't sense a killing intent from it.

Dragon: You passed.

Dani: And it's leaving.

Jon: WAITAMINUTE! I'M ASKING SOMETHING!

Jon: NOW ANSWER ME OR...

Then the golden thunder dragon turns into a girl.

Jon: So....

Dragonkid: I actually want to see how if you're worthy for the Swordmaster's Challenge!

Jon: Where we could attend that?

Dragonkid: Well, if you're heading here, then you're going to visit the Swordmaster's Challenge!

Dragonkid: Like the "Good People of the Imperial City, Welcome, to the Arena!" thing!

While parting ways with the dragonkid, with no intent of harming, Jon and Dani soon met another fellow adventurers seeking to find whatever the challenge tower facing...

Richard: I'm Richard.

Lynel: I'm Lynel Christopher.

Frederica: Here's Frederica.

Jon: Thanks for the accompaniment, but... i think separate ways would be safer.

Dani: Jon, we'll be safer if we travel together...