In a certain tower in London, in a room filled with rows of computers and stacks of paperwork...
"Has the Guard made contact with the Saint?"
"We do not know! The heretics are closing in on them as we speak!"
"Tsk! How far is the nearest reinforcement?"
"40 miles from the Galandre exit."
"That's too far! They won't make it in time!"
Such was the tumultuous atmosphere of a certain group of people who were frantically fiddling with their computers and speaking into their headsets.
Their faces rife with panic and anxiety, they made a cacophony of shouts and commands and in the midst of it all, is a middle-aged man who stood behind a rather large hologram table.
"This is no good! They're surrounded! I knew we should have sent out some of the Royal Guard to assist the Guards assigned by the Vatican!"
The man grimaced as he inspected the holographic image displayed on the table.
"Two Guards...what were they thinking sending only two to find the Saint while the rest stayed at the airport?! Are they planning on letting the Saint die?!"
He was complaining to himself as he fiddled with the table console.
"Sir, if I may, the Vatican did send their best Hunters to find her. If it's them, then extracting the Saint from Aeternitas with minimal casualties would be possible.", a young woman wearing the same uniform as the middle-aged man stated. A small plaque that said 'Secretary' pinned over her left chest.
However, the man clicked his tongue, "Tsk! Best Hunters my ass! Look at the current situation! They're surrounded on both fronts and they even have a couple of non-combatants with them and since the Saint is not allowed to abandon anyone, they also cannot abandon them even though they are clearly slowing them down!", he angrily pointed out the facts.
But as he was busy scratching his head in frustration, the door to the room opens and someone enters unabashedly catching the attention of every personnel inside the room. A minute of silence passed, then all of them-including the middle-aged man and the secretary, stood at attention and saluted the person.
"At ease ladies and gents. Return to your duties immediately.", the person commanded and everyone immediately went back to work and the cacophony of voices returned.
The person then approaches the middle-aged man and the secretary, walking briskly past the frantic personnel that milled about the room without difficulty.
"You look like you are in quite the pickle there, Sir Albert?", the person comments sarcastically with a chuckle.
"Feh! Look what that 'child' got herself into.", the middle-aged man, Albert, retorted with a scoff, "She got herself sandwiched between 2 enemy forces with two deadweights following after her. What do you think of that, Commander?", he inquired mockingly.
He could hear the secretary sigh in the background but he didn't care. He voiced out his complaints without hesitation.
"Hmm...", the person regarded as the commander had a pensive look while looking at the hologram that displayed the current situation, "Any reports as to who those 'deadweights' are?", she then asks the secretary.
"Ah yes! The two non-combatants are an old man the Saint had encountered near the outskirts of Lothargien called Jack, and the other is a young man whom the Saint had met before reaching Lothargien and was responsible for keeping her safe until she made contact with the Hunters.", the secretary answered without delay.
"What is the young man's name?", the commander inquired.
"I believe Hunter Kallen called him, Ashen."
"!", the commander froze at the mention of the young man's name.
Noticing such unusual reaction from the commander, "What is it commander? Why the shocked face?", Albert asked in bewilderment.
The commander then fiddled with the console almost immediately and turned around the hologram a couple of times before making a sigh as if convinced and exasperated at the same time, "Good grief...that brat just won't keep to herself...", after making a brief but wistful smile, the commander then walks away wordlessly.
"Eh? Commander?"
"It's alright. Have the reinforcements secure Galandre exit. You can let the Hunters handle the opposing forces. I'm pretty sure with that young man with them, they can get out of there relatively easy.", the commander assures the two.
"What the bloody hell are you talking about commander? Need I say that the young man you are referring to is missing an arm? How can he even be of assistance in a battlefield?!", Albert questioned the commander's words. He was in complete disbelief.
However, the commander simply continued to walk away and said, "You heard my orders. Get it done or I will give the order myself.", before proceeding to leave them alone.
Albert and the Secretary felt themselves choke under the intense pressure that the commander's words gave-off even though the commander was already at the door and when the commander was finally gone, the atmosphere lightened and the two were able to breathe easily again.
"Bloody hell...why the sudden hostility? That commander is taking this too lightly.", Albert huffed as he put his hands on the hologram table.
"Based on the commander's words, the commander seems to trust the young man and may even know him. Is he perhaps a Hunter as well?", the secretary wondered.
"Feh! As if. That young man is clearly in no condition to fight and with those injuries of his, I am surprised he is even walking. The commander may be going deranged already after being cooped up in the palace for too long.", Albert retorted derisively.
"But the orders-"
"I know. We cannot disobey.", Albert pressed a button on the console, "Royal Guard, this is Sir Albert of the Response Command speaking. Secure Galandre exit and cordon off the area. Make sure no one exits or enters until you make contact with the Hunter team."
After he heard the other side acknowledge the orders, he terminated the connection.
"Jeez...now we have to look out even for a couple of deadweights...", he groaned as he continued to issue orders to everyone else in the room.
*****
In a certain car...
The commander fiddled with a tablet, looking at the various reports and images that were sent by Albert's secretary.
"A total of 42 terrorists dead..."
"Your Majesty?", a voice calls out.
"Ah. I was just feeling a little nostalgic as I read the reports. Don't mind me."
"I have not seen you make such an expression in such a long time your highness. I think I know why."
"Aha~! Was I too obvious Gabriel? I was sure I was making quite the perfect poker face. Your eyes are still pretty sharp for an old butler, hehe."
"To my surprise your Majesty, your 'perfect poker face' was not in the least present when you muttered to yourself.", Gabriel, the old butler sighed, "It seems he has been found already based on your expression.", he offered a cup of coffee to the commander.
"Ah yes. I'm sure even my dear, Evaline would be thrilled to hear the news."
"But your Majesty, I believe a catastrophe would ensue first when 'they' reunite again.", Gabriel said worriedly.
"Ahahaha! Yes. You might be right. But I believe the two will easily reconcile. Afterall, for a misanthrope like him, he has a very unique personality. With him on board, I believe the Saint will arrive in England safely."
"You would trust the young master with such a task? I feel a little uneasy when you say that.", Gabriel states his uneasiness.
"Hahahaha! You don't have to speak like that Gabriel. Trust me, he will bring the Saint here safe and sound. I guarantee it. All we need to do is to convince him to stay to help us with 'that'."
"Eh? Your Majesty, you plan on involving him in 'that'? He would never agree to such a thing.", Gabriel noted.
"Just make preparations with the others. I shall handle the convincing."
Hearing such a confident reply, Gabriel could only relent and agree, "Very well. Your Majesty, Queen Olivia. Your will shall be done.", he bows before his ruler and then proceeds to contact the other servants with a phone.
Queen Olivia could not help but smile, "Well now...I cannot wait to see you again, my wayward son-in-law.", she mutters to herself once more as she looks out the window of the car and onto the smoke-filled gray skies of London as the sounds of battle raged in the air.