In the south main gate of Guards-hold,
besides the stone made infirmary, Groups of blue were busy loading boxes, the troops under Bartholomew were done packing up for the long march to Pilatun valley. On top of a giant cart stood the Captain, determined in all nature - to match his strength with the known and unknown, he looked down and saw his subordinate with a cardboard and a pen, jotting down what and whatnots.
"Who's stationed at the tower?" Bartholomew asked Zudi.
"Lieutenant Azuri" she answered unbothered - inking down on her cardbord, the name of the Lieutenant just even mentioned left Bartholomew to *sigh*, he looked a bit un-wanting "And the reinforcement troops?" he added.
"Captain Dey-kong" Zudi answered, with a worried look, looking up at her Captain.
"Whaa--- why is that fart playing with me?" Bartholomew ranting, it was a short moment of tantrum. Suddenly Marcus popped up out of nowhere with his ears twitching, he - on appearing immediately poke Zudi's arms and give an eye signal, team work at full display, Zudi and Marcus took the opportunity to try and persuade their Captain in the location of their training grounds. "Maybeee Lock-heath plains isn't that bad of a training spot" said Marcus, nervous chuckling, "Ye--yeaa even halhazar looks good - the weather, the short distance for supplies andd --" "danger" Zudi slowly added but suddenly,
"CAPTAIN! IS THIS ENOUGH FOOD?" loud - sounds more like a roar - from their comrade - completely overshadowed the two suggestions.
"HOTHOR?!!!!!" They both shouted at this big muscled dude with an unmatched kind face to body ratio.
"Egghead!, " Gorilla!" Marcus and Zudi bickered.
"This be the moment to be in hunger for strength", " For what if we were weak the Captain will surely be ---- low tier" said Hothor. "Soo whatt??" , "Low tier or no, we can still guard towns" Marcus and Zudi in the same mind, same concept - best of friends.
Laughter, rowdy bunch of drunkards, the bar was full of life. Lu cramped his face with piles and plates of meat - stuffed together - ate them whole in all, "Ii--Just wanna say" he looked around, they're eyes locked on his show, "Ii don't hunger but I feel taste -- fc-*barps* -- uk the bill - bring all the steaks" he shouted aggressively, the mouth gaped apes that stared at the show - were all hyped out even more so. "Woooooo----" Szlick chanted with the rest, he slapped some butts and danced when called, he puts on a show that only a Jahgger could throw,he even discard his trademark dark brown glasses-which revealed his faded hazel eyes, the two boys the star of the show, one for the party the other for the - eats - enjoyed they did - fun had them all.
Lucy in search of the rippers, soon neared the bar, all the while - a tail - with brown robe covering all, stalked the clumsy Blue. Lucy, only one thing in mind, took no heed in what's around, she walked fast and passed even her go-to ice-cream store, focused on the target and the praise she hoped to earn, for Mustang she needs to impress - a promotion she deeply yearned. There she was standing - breathing deep ,in front of a bar named 'O'hare's deep', and inside the bar the show goes on, Lu stood still and silent rowdy bunches they stood in wait, then a slow and orchestrated 'oooooooooooooooo------ooh' and a dart flew straight at his face, the dart fell down but hit it did, though the Null-man didn't flinch - the crowd cheered the hit but booed it didn't stick. On the other end was Szlick with a bottle of wine - Straynag - the label , a proud brand of 'Thyme'. He cheered - they cheered - still the Null-man declined - hits from all the darts - and the 1000 bet in deins to who could make it stick.
More and more the apes went wild, amazed and rowdy all of them threw - they - darts, for once in a life time a man exist - who feel no pain and un-effected from it, instead he was in a bliss - still the darts they just won't stick. Silent the owner proposes an ante up, he shouted at Lu and said "You up?" on his hand an axe - the one handed kind - shabby but sharp - Lu sees and didn't decline - the crowd moves away, the target stood still
" Ladies and gentlemen".
" Can I add on the bet?" Silent did a 360 turn and all betted he'd miss. "Really?" , "not even a 'he won't be faze by it?' but only a 'me missing the hit?'" Silent smiling raised his voice in question, "Oh well!" he said, and pulled and cocked his arm in motion - for a throw - just before he pulled the trigger, the doors like a pop - erupted opened "SZLICK! " a voice they all heard, Lucy stumbled inside.
The crowd - the apes - they bent their neck a bit, their drunked eyes stared at the clumsy felled chick. "I didn't order no blue" Szlick, smart in response, slightly leaning down sideways - his slight dark curly hair, waved down wards, like hanging vines. Clumsy Lucy stood and dusted away her clothes *Ahem* she clears her throat, a deep breath she took and recites and quotes "Mister Szlick and ----" she turns and there she saw a hunk, she blushed a bit, red roses on her cheeks she continued "Mis--mister,c--can I catch your name?" she asked. "ooooooooooo" the apes went, all eyes on the stars.
"You'd have to come closer, lil tweet, I can't barely hear you cry" Lu slick and playful, he sits on a chair, bossy in stature and - 'cool' he thought - and settled for that look.
"Oo-kay" Lucy looking down, walked fast with small steps, about a metre she stopped and asked " May I know your name?".
"Ayy! I thought you asked for me?! " Szlick smirked in remark.
"Yess - you too" Lucy replied but turnt her sights at Lu.
"Lu! What's yours?" smooth tongued the null-man, seems he found a body to be hooked.
"Ii- am Lucy, Hi everybody!, Sorry to be a party pooper but the 'BLUES' needs a talk with these two capable rippers".
" Capable?? Babe I'm 1 in a million" Lu flexed his arms out straight - flaunting for applause.
Szlick added "And a jahgger can't be out-moved at all".
"Lemme guess!!! Is it about the gorilla cause we did saved your friends" Szlick said, walking by and sitting down with Lu.
"Yes?! and No, the Colonel looked at you as an asset" Lucy answered.
"Oh and the Captain you helped, praised you in high regards".
" Saved!" the two corrected.
"Saved! sorry" Lucy apologized.
Szlick guessed that Lucy might be gullible and said "Ayyight! so what you have in mind?".
"Oh! well", "I'd liked to ask If you'd be so kind to follow me"
"To your room?" Lu slyly asked.
The crowd went "ooooooo".
A cute blush and quickly Lucy denies" N--No to the Mid - Infirmary " Lucy said with a shook of her head.
"Why?, I don't favor the blues". Szlick said, playing with the brim of a glass he emptied.
"Alsoo you still owe us the reward for that gorilla" Lu added with downed expression.
"Yee-yess The colonel mentioned a reward" Lucy gave her all in hopes that they'd follow.
"Nooot buying it lady" said Szlick.
"It's true -- a whole 50000 deins".
Lucy with one eye closed.
" 50000? " the boys looked at each other, amazed they were and both said "For that weak ol'gorilla?".
" Yess, 50000 straight in deins" Lucy sensed her success.
The two boys whispered, Szlick talked a plan and Lu lent his ear.
They nodded and Lu said "Ookay! Beuatiful".
'Beautiful?' she thought, Lucy caught in fantasy but composed herself rapidly.
"We'd follow yaa to mid wherever.." said Lu.
"Yes! please, if you could be so kind"
"Butt.. " Lu added a but, "Huh?, but?" Lucy replied in kind.
"Only if you pay our bill for us" Szlick continued where Lu left off. "Bill?! Ye-- of course" Lucy quickly answered, "Silent sir! our beloved bill please?!" Szlick shouted out for it. Silent holds his hand out and signalled a call, a busty waitress soon show up with a paper but small.
"Bill bill bill, I still have a little left" Lucy checked her pockets.
The waitress handed her the bill and Lucy took a peek, the small paper fell with a long list of wine and meat, her dreams her hopes shattered and she almost passes out. The two boy smirked and laughter filled the bar.
Lucy came to her senses and painfully wrote a cheque, for to her the two - the assets - would pave a way to higher seat in the office. "There" she said and handed it to Silent who nods.
"Oh well!! will pick this up later boys" said the boys, they stood and prepared to leave, Szlick donned his glasses plus a thousand cool points in appearance.
"I'm taking this meat to go" said Lu and Szlick did the same on wine. Silent just shrugged the duo as they entertained the night. "If that's all we will now leave, follow me gentlemen" and Lucy leads the way, "Don't mind if I do" said Lu his eyes under her waist, Szlick smiled and hugged his partner and they said "until next time, you savages" "Wooooo---" and then they left,
first step outside Lu looked stunned "Amm I drunk or it's not night time yet!?" he asked, "It's the Silent effect" Szlick answered, "Oh! you didn't know?, well it's like this, the bar---" Lucy stopped mid sentence by Lu, "It's a pain knowing everything" he said and walked away leaving Lucy dumbfounded - and she thought 'So ignorant but So cool' her body was jiterry, and Szlick noticed "ouuu-- I know that look, man of the stars are like crooks, stole hearts of maidens, leaving them shook" he rhymed, almost a song. All the while the trio were stalked by Lucy's previous stalker - this unnamed, unseen like an assassin reached into his back, he brought out a cross-bow miniature in size, he breathe a smoke of green gas in the bolt and aimed - directly at Lucy, the trio un-aware of the neigh danger, even more so Lu who in a sense of being cool walked away but in the wrong direction, "Mister Lu!!" Lucy called out at him, Lu turned back - making the poor girl shy "Uh--Umm it's that way" shy she was, couldn't even look at Lu's face and in turn his face was darkened - ashamed - 'Waa, shy shy shy shy, idiot' - Lu's thought, without uttering a word, all serious he turned around and stopped and stood silent and unwavering, waiting for Lucy to pave the way, Szlick chuckled unheard.
But at the exact moment when Lu turned back and walked towards Lucy and Szlick the assassin shot his bolt but he missed - instead hitting Lu at his butt, which the latter didn't even took a notice. This put the assassin in a state of disbelief and later turned his mood into anger, completely disregarding Lucy - the target, the assassin solemnly aimed at Lu. The trio started their walked towards the Mid-infirmary, from O'hare's deep all the way to the infirmary, the assassin shot 653 bolts, all aimed at Lu - all hit the mark but all failed to harm the Null-man - pouring salt to the wound, the new target didn't even feel the bolts hitting his body, this unbelievable - unfortunate assassination attempt knocked the assassin out in disbelief - he fell with foams coming out his mouth - he still was outstanding though as no men saw his stealth not even feel his attacks.
"It's getting late, Troops assemble" Captain Bartholomew loudly called for a line.
The troops swiftly followed with a rows and columns of blue.
"We've been granted a huge opportunity from the Colonel, through years of living in ease, we've been too comfortable".
Maarcus and Zudi looked like their souls just left their bodies, besides them Hothor smiled and eager for the training.
" I promise you one thing, pain and hard times for the days to come.... but fret not, for our results will engulf this whole nation for the next mighty soldiers are only just to come"
Bartholomew spoke dignified, "what's with him all of a sudden" Marcus slowly said, "I don't know, since he met the two, he's been obsessed sith strengt" Zudi answered, "That's why I respect the captain I'll follow him u til I die" Hothor filled with tears, totally effected by the speech and the rest followed his eyes - they cried .
"MARCH!" Bartholomew commands and jumped down from the cart. The southern gate opened and the troops began their long march - 404 soldiers - two carts full of supplies, on they headed toward Pilatun, their destined place to which on foot they march.