Chapter 258: No Chance To Atone (Part 2)
Sergeant John Rigen's perspective
Camp Kinser - Okinawa island - Japan - September 2nd, 2060
Room 110 - 0:02 AM
I don't know what to say right now, so tired.
After we committed that big fault, we were arrested and now are detained in somewhere isolated. A room, seems to be also located in Okinawa, but I'm not sure. We're staying in this room, the three of us. We had slept a little bit earlier, now we're sitting on the bed, waiting.
This isolated room seems to be a room used for interrogating. Its main color is slight black, the room is set up to be limited in the lights. Apparently, the room is covered with a bit of gloomy color when lights are placed on non-center spots, white lights are small and have a weak brightness.
The room has no electricity chair or any tools or anything used for interrogating people. However. It only has three beds placed in the corner.
The room's front door on the right side, locked. Above the wall of the room, in the direction which has the door is a huge glass board. We can't see the other side of the glass. But the "interrogators" up there are sure to be standing there, observing our every move and talk carefully.
At first I thought we would be jailed after hitting the Allied military, but no. We were brought into this room, they locked it and we stay here. Here, our weapons and old clothes are stripped, we are free to move. But not really.
We have to wear white clothes when we are detained. We had just been fed earlier, but now we still feel hungry, though not so much. We were not well fed, we couldn't sleep well with the gulping bellies.
Now I just want to save Sarah and Hatano. I must do something to make it happen. But not with dying, I must survive to return to the old other world - Euro Grant. Going back in time will be my only decision. To make it happen, I need the Goddess.
She sent me to this world once for a reason. Now she sent us here with another reason. When we are able to return to the Katia realm, I will ask for Katia's help. I must save Sarah and Hatano, I must do it.
By the way, I don't know what happened to Sarah and Hatano. Both of them died, one was before I found out, the other died right in front of us... it's very sad. Cawess had ordered his men to bury them. Although we want to see our friends for the last time, we never get the chance.
"What's going to happen to us, John...?". - Sitting on the bed and thinking, my wife suddenly spoke up
"Uhhhh...". - I glanced at my wife, who was beside me. "We're going to be alright, don't worry, we'll be alright". - I patted Shera's head, then my wife fell to my chest, saying nothing but hugging me
I regret causing trouble to others when I get mad and can't control it. I had troubled my wife and Reimi... poor them, I should've been calmer instead of holding a hot head.
"You two should better rest...". - I told my wife and Reimi to go to bed. "We'll be alright, this time may have been midnight so don't stay up anymore... have to take care".
"I will guard the night, my Lord, my Highness". - Reimi, you shouldn't do this thing
My wife doesn't reply, she just keeps holding me while staying her head in my chest. Maybe Shera is hating me right now. Nothing to say about Reimi, she is sure to have the same feeling as my wife, but she never says out.
What should I do to make up with them?
"Wake up... all of you". - Suddenly, a voice from a micro sounded out. "John Rigen, Shera Rigen and Reimi Frieden, all of you...". - Although the voice was sounded from a mic, I still noticed that was Cawess'
"Huh...?". - My wife was surprised, she got her head up and looked around. "What?". - She was confused, she looked around once again before stopping at the glass as if to be sure that was the place where the voice came out
"That's some kind of magic?". - Reimi was also confused
"You two, stay silent and listen, do what I say". - Done ordering them, they decided to stay silent completely
"What do you want from us?". - I asked Cawess
"......". - The voice stayed silent, as if he was thinking about what to say. "See it for yourselves, and we'll talk".
All of us go silent and start wondering, feeling a bit hard to understand. Cawess seems to have stopped staying on the mic, he has left the glass.
Seconds later, the front door is silently opened. We get up to see what is about to appear from that dark other side. Strangely, two US Marines, two JAF soldiers and two FRONDER soldiers come in but unarmed.
The Marines stand guard in front of us. They don't let us have a chance to run away. While the FRONDER soldiers and the JAF soldiers are pulling into the room a white metal cart. After having done the job, they leave the room.
"Look inside, don't touch". - The voice came out once again, telling us to get closer to the cart
We approach the cart then look inside. There is a dead body, not from a human being but something similar to us. Hmmm... I can sense the scent of blood here. The blood of this human-like creature seems to be a bit... I don't know what to say.
The creature seems to be some kind of a green lizard in a human's body. He has a dark green skin, thick and quite scabrous if I have to describe. His face, mouth, huge appearance and his tail, are just like a giant lizard in a human's body.
He's dead. His chest has wounds from gunshots, shredded his right lower biceps and has some holes in his chest. His blood is already dried, it's red, just like our human's... hmmm.
"Ohhh, it's gross...". - My wife saw the corpse. "Oh no...". - She looked away, holding her mouth and seemed to be a bit concerned
"What the hell is that...?". - Reimi looked at the corpse, she was curious more than having fear. "A lizardman?". - She then looked at me, feeling complicated. "John, you said your world has no magic or these kinds of creatures, why a lizardman here? How...?".
This is not my world, Reimi. Just a dimension that is similar to it. And I don't know about this creature either.
"Mr. Frieden, you said you know about this creature?". - Cawess, I don't know if she knows what to answer
"Yes, they look similar to... ummm...". - Alright, at least she knows she should shut her mouth instead of saying "My world has these creatures"
"Your dossiers have been leaked to us, we all know you don't come from this world". - Someone else had just taken Cawess' place, now he's holding the mic. "It's hard to believe, but now we need you to give us the intel, lady".
"Yes, they look like creatures in my world named "Lizardmen", that's all I know". - My wife spoke up on behalf of Reimi
"You've seen them before?".
"Not really". "Only seen illustrations of them in books, they're located somewhere we cannot reach... so that's all I know to tell you about".
"In books?".
"Our historical books, lessons that we learned from school". - Reimi spoke up once again. "But all of us haven't had the chance to 'em, only the records and illustrations remained in books that we learned".
"Does every "lizardman" in your world look the same as the one in the cart?".
"Ummmm... maybe, Sir...". - Reimi later rechecked on the creature. "But they look bigger than ones we saw in books...". - She left the cart, staring at the glass board. "Maybe I can't tell you more, it's beyond my knowledge".
"..........". - The other side stayed silent for a while, as if the operators there were discussing something. "......". - The silence kept going on. "Does the color of their skin all similar to the one below?". - Huh?
"We told you that we don't know much about 'em...". - My wife looked away and whispered, complaining with her unpleasant feeling
"I've read books about creatures like these so maybe I can...". - Reimi spoke up once again. "The records said these creatures had various skins, so this is not the only one...".
"......". - Again, the operators went silent to discuss before going further. "Can these "lizardmen" turn into men? Becoming fake humans to deceive others?".
"Huh?". - Reimi and Shera were bewildered at the question, so did I
"What do you mean?". - I asked them carefully
"Become humans, changing their appearance, look like a human being". "Only return to their real form when they die, can creatures in your world do that thing?".
"I've never heard about it". - Reimi whispered to my wife. "Books about creatures in demon's land, I read it all". "My memory can't be wrong, no record ever had that kind of event". - Now they started discussing by whispering
"The answer is no, huh...?". - The operator seemed to be very disappointed. "........". - They went silent
"Hey, hear me?". - I spoke up, attempting to ask them
"You have any valuable intel, Sgt. John Rigen?". - No
"What's your goal for asking us this?". - I stepped closer to the wall, looking up to see the glass board. "What're about bad things that we had committed... why asking us this when we hurt your men?". "Tell me!". "Don't ask us things we don't know, what do you want from locking us here instead of jailing us?".
"We ask you, you answer...". - Cawess finally returned to the mic or something. "No one of ours died in that incident, it's nothing to worry about". "This one is more serious... tell us what you know and we'll consider releasing all of you".
"But we don't know what to answer!". - I felt that I was losing my patience, I couldn't stop saying loud right now. "Tell me about their graves, where they got buried and lead us to see them!!!".
"John, please stop!". - I resisted a bit when my wife and Reimi rushed to me just to hold me back. "Please stop this, John...! Please... please!". - Hmmmm... hmmmm... I must calm down!
I manage to hold myself from my deep anger. I try to ease my muscles, then my mind. Although it's hard for me to calm down, I am doing my best right now. I feel happy when I haven't done anything bad to my wife and Reimi.
"If the three of you can't answer us, then we'll lock you here till we think about seeing you again". "When we have new intel we can't explain, answer it for us... then we'll think about releasing you". "Now stay away from the door, do not move". - Cawess ordered us to stand still. "........". - Two operators seemed to have left the mic
"Wait a minute, you can't do that, Sir!". - My wife suddenly protested. "You asked us unclear questions, you didn't tell us the purpose behind it". "What led you to ask us these things, Sir? If you say it out, we may have a more clear view to answer your questions...". - Done demanding to the operators, Shera grabbed my hand and smiled some
"..........". - No response. "Remember to prove it as you said to us". - Col. Cawess once again, returned to the mic. "Don't disappoint us again".
"It's related to last midnight's assault". "After the assault, many reports of friendly units shooting each other were shown to us". "The survived stated that they were attacked by their own men during gunfights, they couldn't distinguish which one was hostile, or friendly".
"Some reports said those impostors were behind the losing control of the ETW system, some even said some artillery units were "replaced" by those men". "Though the reports had different stories, their details were the same with the descriptions of those "allies" when they died".
I feel the oddness in the story, I decide to stay silent to listen more about it. My wife and Reimi are still confused, though they're trying their best to answer the question. Right now, I can see them whispering to each other to discuss things. I should join them too, that's what I think.
"The one below is a sample of many of those who were killed by our men or drowned in the snow". - Suddenly, the operator revealed it to us. "Eyewitnesses said they turned into that form when they died...". - Lizardmen turned into humans to fight, huh? Unbelievable. "We don't have the way to know if those creatures are still among us or not, if things like this happen again, we may have to shoot our men for safety".
After getting the information, the three of us start thinking about an answer. My wife and Reimi are whispering to each other, I also want to join 'em. Feeling my tap, Shera turns to see me slowly. She only nods then pulls me closer to her.
"I have no idea about this one, John...". - My wife whispered to me, expressing her sad face
"Me too, my Lord...". - Reimi said the same. "Turning into humans, disguising us, I never heard of that in the books".
"You can't answer us...?". - Shit... stop pushing us, Caw!
"We need time to think, we're near to the answer!".
Hmmm... now I must find a good excuse. Creatures that turn into humans then attack humans, huh? Sounds like some kind of science fiction. However, the way we got here is enough to be some kind of sci-fi thing. I must have a proper answer for this case.
"China's President, you said?". - All of sudden, I heard my wife hearing Reimi's whisper. "Yeah... John also told it about that once". - Her talking way recollected me to something
"Sir, I think we've got the answer for this issue". - Suddenly, my wife looked up and announced it
"Tell us what you know".
"Did those creatures come from the China military?".
"Correct".
"My husband told us about this one, about what Sir Cawess told him". - My wife glanced at me, as if to ask my permission to say it out
"Nod".
"Sir, let me answer". - She looked up at the glass board once again. "My husband told me that the Allied 10 years ago had received a letter from a missing elite soldier that they sent to China for the US invasion in 2042". "And he testified that the President of China wasn't a human being". "Do you think this case is related to what he stated...?".
"...........". - The operators went silent for a moment, now they seemed to be discussing to each other. "Everything seems to be clear to us a bit now". - Another operator took Cawess' place
"Now tell us... how did all of you get here?". - Shit, that's very difficult for us to answer. "If those creatures also come from your world, then they would be likely to come here by the way you got here".
"That's impossible, Sir, we just suddenly got here, we don't even know how we could...". - Reimi was a bit frustrated, she kept saying fast to reject it. "Urrrghhh... nevermind". - Only when Shera tapped her, Reimi decided to stop saying
"Sir, you can't say those creatures really come from my world". - My wife also rejected that conclusion as well. "We never saw them, and our history books never described them to be creatures with the ability to fake into humans".
"..........". - Once again, these operators went silent. "That's enough... we've got enough intel". "The three of you are still very useful to us, but now we have nothing to ask more". "Today's enough".
"Hey, how's about releasing us?". - I got closer to the glass, asking those people
"We'll think about it when we trust you enough". - You shouldn't say that when you're holding the mic, Cawess. "Now stay away from the door to let guards do their job, do not disturb them".
"You'll be released or not, depends on your cooperation". "Now go to bed, today's interrogation is over".
"Then feed us well then we'll go to sleep! How can my wife and Reimi sleep with their hungry stoma-". - I felt my wife's hug from behind, so I stopped being loud. "Alright, fine... we will wait till we get released, now do not disturb our sleep, got it...?". - I raised my middle finger to the glass board, scolding those men
Four US Marines later come into the room. They're well-armed to the teeth, literally. Two of them point their rifles at us although we don't do anything hostile, while two others move the cart away.
The Marines shortly get out and lock the door. We are locked here, in this very isolated room, very gloomy. Accepting our fates to be locked here for a while, we return to bed, sleeping.
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"Wake up... wake up...". - All of sudden, someone called me when I was sleeping
"It's enough sleep, wake up...". - That voice once again, I felt it was somehow familiar
"Wake up!".
"Urrrghhh!". - My belly was kicked or something, I couldn't take the pain so I unconsciously held my belly
I open my eyes after taking that pain. I feel a bit cold with the atmosphere, as well as the surface I am lying on, it's odd. It doesn't seem to be in bricks, but the ground, with the rock and dirt surface. Looking around for a while, I realize that I am in somewhere else.
I look up the sky. It's still dark, but seems to be about to get dawn or something, maybe.
"Urrrghhh... huh?". - A confusing voice from behind me, I looked to that side and it turned out to be my wife
Reimi is beside her. The two of them have just woken up, and seem to be very confused. Reimi rubs her eyes, while Shera realizes the oddness of the ground surface. Like me, they are also wondering.
"Enough sleeping, Sergeant". - All of sudden, a voice in front of me sounded out
I immediately turn in that direction and focus on what is over there. And I see Cawess - who is standing before me. Behind him is Seeley or something, with some armed US Marines... what is this?
"Hmmm...". - I get up cautiously, making sure he would not kick me again
"What's happening here, John?". - Shera and Reimi approached me in cautious. "Colonel... Lieutenant...?". - They pulled me back, keeping the distance between those two
"What do you want from us, Sir...?". - My wife asked Cawess cautiously. "You get us out here for some kind of purpose? Don't hurt us". - She snatched a small rock on the ground as a weapon, then got up fastly
"Take it easy...". - Cawess raised out his palm, as if he wanted to say he wasn't hostile to us. "All of you, listen to me before going to do anything, especially you...". - He pointed to me, as if he wanted to remind me to control my emotions to avoid unwished troubles
"Gen. Hudson doesn't want you to escape, he has furthermore things to do with the three of you". - Then he started approaching me. "Not because I'm your old friend, or because we have any relationship in war... I just think that digging the intel from you is just useless". "You don't know what else to say, no valuable for keeping you there". - Colonel stopped right in front of me
"So you saved me?".
"I never save you". "And it's impossible to escape this island just by yourselves".
"What's your purpose for getting us here, Sir?". - My wife asked Cawess. "What are these about...? Let me know".
I look at my wife's position, and see her and Reimi holding something. Two military backpacks, one is held by Shera, Reimi is thinking about if she should hold it or not. There's also another backpack on the ground. Somehow those backpacks just naturally appeared from behind us.
"Pick it up". - Cawess told me to pick up that backpack
"For what?".
"Pick it up and I'll answer".
"But for what reason?".
"I'm holding it!". - My wife sounded out once again
I look at her. And Shera can be seen holding one backpack on her back, the other one is wielded by her two hands. Despite carrying two backpacks at the same time, my wife doesn't seem to feel them heavy. I think she shouldn't hold it anymore.
"Alright...". - Cawess stepped away from me. "John, tell me do you want to get outta here right now, through my help?". - He returned to his men, then looked at me
"What would we lose by accepting it?".
"You have to follow my orders, the three of you will be sent to China along with the Allied when the 2nd assault is conducted". "You'll have to fight together till the Allied crushes down Beijing". "After everything is over, maybe I'll think about setting you free". - "Maybe", huh?
"Why came to that decision?".
"That's the only way for you to escape from Okinawa, everything will be alright when you become a soldier, he won't know".
"What if we try to escape during that process?".
"In the middle of war zone?". - If it happens, our fates will be determined by luck
"You don't hate us for beating you and your men anymore?".
"That's a small problem, the amphibious assault is more important".
I don't say anything to Cawess, but head to my wife then take the backpack. I feel that the backpack is quite light despite having a big appearance.
"When are we going to join the Allied?".
"The 2nd assault will be started in the next hour". - Then Cawess pointed to my backpack. "Gear, uniforms and heavy arms are in the Alrotz, rifles and secondary arms, follow us to pick them up later". - Alrotz...? This backpack is named Alrotz?
What does it mean...? The old belongings that we used to own are actually related to this world? I can't believe it.
I pretend to neglect that detail by wearing the backpack on my back. Now I just wonder, but I can't say it out straightly. Sarah and Hatano are dead, now I must get my wife and Reimi to safety. Here isn't a safe place, I must find the way to get my loved ones to safety.
Fighting in Beijing won't be my choice at all. Being jailed and interrogated isn't a choice too. Must do something to get us back to the old world, then save my subordinates and reset everything.
"Wait... what the hell...?". - Suddenly, my wife and Reimi got surprised
I look at them. Both of them are very bewildered to see their hands getting blurred, strange white seeds flying out from their bodies are making their bodies get blurry. Feeling the oddness, I slowly check on myself. My body is getting blurred, as if the three of us are about to disappear.
"Wait, what the hell...?". - Cawess was surprised to see us like this. "Wait wait wait!". - He ran to me, Seeley and the Marines also ran after him. "Not again...". - This happened to me once Cawess, maybe we're about to vanish
"What's happening, my Lord?!". - Reimi was a bit scared or something
"We're going to be alright, nothing to worry about".
"You're going to disappear once again?".
"Maybe this will be the last time we can see each other, Cawess... all the best to you".
"I feel odd about this, John, we keep getting blurrier...". - We're going to be okay, Shera
The three of us stand before these people. They are shocked to see the way we're about to disappear, they can't even open their mouths. Slowly over time, our bodies are getting blurrier. My mind feels to be a bit blurred too, my consciousness also feels blurred for no reason.
"I hope to see you again...". - The Colonel said goodbye, he slowly watched me vanishing before him
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"Urrrghhh...!". - My head felt very hurt, my neck hurt, my eyes, my entire body
I open my eyes. I look around and realize the scenery around me is very dark. Maybe I should say it's just a blank world. I'm lying between Shera and Reimi. They have just woken up too, and are holding their heads because of the earlier pain.
Finally, we've got away from that dimension. Lucky to me, we're now in the place that I currently want to be - the Katia realm. I must ask her to go back in time, I must save both of my subordinates.
I try to get up when I realize I am staying on the ground, but somehow I can only crouch, can't move more. But I can take it, my body can't stand but at least I can stay in this pose without any problems. Hmmmm... where are you now, bitch?! Get here to see me, you must let me go back in time to save both of 'em!
"Where is this place...?". - My wife and Reimi were bewildered, they looked around the place
"Keep silent, both of you". - I told them to keep silent
"So all of you have finally returned, huh?". - All of sudden, that familiar voice came to me. "Oh, I forgot... not all, but almost, haha". - This bitch, I will kill her!
"Who the hell are you?". - Shera and Reimi were worried to see this closed eyes woman
".....". - Somehow I can't talk at this moment although I want to open my mouth and scold the hell out of this Goddess
"Children, you don't know who I am...?". - She suddenly appeared from the air, right in front of us
"That's some kind of magical". - Reimi was quite nervous
"No, but who are you...?". - My wife asked the woman once again
"The Goddess all of you worship, the creation of your world... God of all". - Katia raised her hands high and wide, standing straightly and looking at my wife with her closed eyes. "It's me, child... that's me, I'm God... Katia".
"No human with flesh eyes can see the Goddess". - My wife immediately rejected. "No one can see her, I don't believe you're the Goddess".
"That's so...?". - Katia turned around, then the area came out a white chair from nowhere. "If I'm not almighty, then I'm no God at all, child". - She sat on it, slowly looking at all of us with her closed eyes, smiling a little bit. "Enough to believe me now?". "No human can see God...? Of course they can't, but I have the choice to let you see me".
"My husband said you were the one who sent us there?".
"Of course, child, that's the truth".
"Why did you kill his subordinates? They didn't do anything bad to you...". - Shera got up, questioning Katia straightly
"I don't kill anyone at all...". "All I do is putting the events, things of something that they're supposed to happen... then I watch, I don't kill anyone at all". "I'm a very peaceful God, a deity that cares about her people...".
"So you're playing with us all the time, after all of this...?". - Reimi also got up, she approached the Goddess
"What's your purpose for sending us to that world? What made you kill Sarah and her sister?". - Reimi questioned Katia more while approaching her. "Hey, tell me about it! Let me through!". - She got mad and started slamming an invisible wall when she couldn't get closer to the Goddess
"I said I never kill anyone, all I do is just putting things to happen... then I watch it". - Katia kept moving her hand from this side to that side, rejecting charges against her. "About why you people got to that world, well... I got bored so wanted to change some atmosphere, understand?".
"What's your true purpose behind it?". - My wife approached Katia, asking her. "You sent those lizardmen there or something...? How many worlds are these that you've created so far?".
"I said I was bored, so I did that thing". - Katia tilted her head to the right. "Those lizardmen will be answered soon, no need for me to explain or anything...".
"Hey, fucker!". - I managed to get up, so I immediately rushed to her. "Send me back in time, I must save both of them! Send me back in time!". - I kept slamming the invisible wall, but couldn't do anything to get away from it
"Shut up, all of you...". - Suddenly, I was paralyzed
I manage to move my head. Using that advantage, I look around and see my wife and Reimi are also paralyzed just like me. They can look around like me too, but we can't talk or anything, just looking around is the thing we can do.
"That's enough... thanks for stopping by". - Katia said to us. "We may speak to each other once again, now get out of here and don't disturb me".
After hearing Katia's words, our minds feel so blurred, as well as our vision. The distance between us and Katia is getting farther than ever. I try to reach for her, but it's very pointless. I notice that we're floating in the air, getting far away from the Goddess' position slowly.
Oh no... my consciousness is getting blurrier!
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