" Let's go. I will explain everything after we rescue others." Noah grabbed Jake's hand pulling his bulky body out of the window. They both fell down on the floor but quickly got up and hid inside a bush to avoid any suspicion.
" Are you alright ? I heard you were injured badly." Jake asked in a concerned tone.
" I am fine. It hurts but I will be better after some rest. What about you? Did Mera told you anything?"
" Yeah, she said she treated others but they were also locked up for further investigation. I don't know why they are doing this but I heard from my mother that Mr. Alastair was injured badly. They still don't know if he will be able to make it through the night." Jake told him everything he heard.
Noah had an inkling but now he knew why Mera was so decisive about everything. It might only be a doubt but with the impact of almond loosing her father, she had no other choice than to go with the only lead they had-him.
" Listen, we have to leave rhis village and go into hiding. You can decide to stay here and tell them everything because by then, I will be gone. I am thinking about taking our team with me but it would be upto them if they wanted to some with me for this mission." Noah paused slightly only to see Jake's confused expression.
" I am going after them. Now that we know they have these weapons it wouldn't be long till they invade this place in numbers. I doubt we will be able to stop it but if we strike first, we can slow them down or even make them think twice about attacking."
" I will need all of you and it will be the most dangerous mission of your life. If you are not confident, you can turn back."
" Do you have to do this? Why don't you explain yourself? I am sure they will understand." Jake pleaded. He had seen what their one battalion could do. It was clear they had more numbers at the foot of the mountain.
There was also the issue of monsters. lurking everywhere. If they were not careful, they would die before ever reaching their real enemies!
" I have to do this. Those weapons are something we can't ignore. We will be sitting ducks waiting to be slaughtered if we stay here. I can atleast try, this is all I know and I don't want anyone else to get hurt." Noah was adamant on his choice.
Guerilla warfare is his speciality especially in such dense forest. His body was in excellent condition at least miles better than his peak excluding the bruises. He was sure he could weave through the landscape trapping people while utilising different tactics to make them panic.
He still remembered his clandestine mission of uprooting the rebels who were situated near similar forests. He had to bide his time and stayed in the forest for three months living like some madman who only lived to hunt.
When his team came to pick him up, they shivered just looking at his face. They often told him that he looked completely animalistic, with red eyes and face full of hair. His clothes were barely hanging from his body but his hands firmly held a makeshift club which was smeared with blood.
Even without proper food and water he lived like a cave man with sole focus of carrying out his mission. Since it was an off the book mission he wasn't recognised by the government but his prestige was enough to have a face to face meeting with the 'big' man.
" I...I.." Jake was hesitant. He really wanted to go with Noah but he didn't want to leave without saying anything to his parents.
He remembered Noah's lessons, a soldier who leaves the battlefield was deemed a deserter. He never wanted his family to feel that he left them. They would be devastated by such a news.
" It's up to you. I can use your help but if you don't want to go, just promise me you will not tell anyone what I am about to do. Just tell them, I escaped and you refuse to follow me, alright?" Noah didn't want to pressure him. He was just a kid, it would be a huge burden on his shoulders.
" No! I will go with you!" Jake made up his mind. He only wished that his family would forgive him.
" Good." Noah patted his back as they began heading toward others.
Julia was already awake like she was ready for them. Jake was on a lookout while Noah cut out the window with his tool. Most of these houses were similar except the chief's house.
He quickly explained his plan to her which she readily agreed. They gathered her gear before finding Cody and Milo.
Cody was nervous seeing them outside in the middle of the night. He needed much more convincing but seeing Julia ready to leave, he gathered up courage to follow them.
He might be a coward but he definitely wanted to protect Julia no matter what because he had a crush on her since they were little. Noah didn't explain much because the sky was beginning to lighten. They needed to get out of the village before everyone wakes up.
The issue was Tang. From what they knew she was severely injured, even with Mera's help she would need to rest for few days to regain her strength.
They gathered outside her house and saw her laying on the bed. She was still sleeping but her whole body was wrapped in bandages. Noah knew he wouldn't be able to take care of her during battle.
" We should leave her behind. As I said, it's a dangerous mission. We will have to keep moving, we can't carry her everywhere." He said with a pained expression.
" You are right. You might need a replacement then?" Someone interrupted their talk which immediately made them alert!