Chapter 5: 4.

As Volan lay unconscious in his room, Gael was riding shotgun in an armored personnel carrier. His arms crossed with one hand impatiently tappings its fingers on his metal vambrace. While no one could see his face underneath the helmet, the red of his faceguard felt extra intimidating tonight. Everyone, save two, were on edge as they silently rode through the night.

However, one of the newly anointed Flameguards riding along didn’t know why the air was so tense and couldn’t keep himself from asking.

The Rookie, Ensign Mallos Elk, whispered, “So… does anyone know why the Captain’s on edge tonight?”

Lieutenant Rilnith Mustang, responded, “You didn’t hear? The Captain got called back in today.”

Mallos had never seen the Sword-Captain in such a bad mood before. Sure one or two of the other Flameguards from an Old Noble House, or one full of himself and hailing from a New Noble House, had tested Gael’s patience before. But this wasn’t like that. Even when stuck in the midst of dissension from a difference in social class, the Sword-Captain was always in a pleasant and smiley mood and kept everyone in line. But this time. This was a different side of his Sword-Captain he hadn’t seen before.

Mallos asked, “But that’s part of the job, isn’t it? We don’t really get days off, do we? Just days where we’re on call, right?”

Commander Testris spoke up, bluntly addressing the matter, “Hah! No need to whisper, you two. Sword-Captain was just called back on his son’s birthday. Ain’t that right?”

Gael grunted defiantly and rolled his head.

Commander Testris Lionbreaker chuckled through the mic in his helmet, “Sword-Captain cut a deal with the King a long time back. He’d always get to see his son on either of their birthdays, and he’d work every other day of the year without complaint.”

Mallos was stunned, “That’s a hell of a deal to cut.”

The one driving the APC, Major Iker Gear, chimed in, “Yep. And it’s one the Sword-Captain’s upheld for the last sixteen years. Not many know about it outside of those who were present when it was granted, but it’s not some big secret or anything.”

Gael cut in, “Oh shut it.”

Testris only continued, using praise to tease his commanding officer, “Ain’t a sacrifice many of us could make. Everyone knew the Sword-Captain was strong, but it wasn’t until that happened that many of us truly respected him. You think you could handle working near every day Major?”

Rilnith pointed to himself with a finger, “Me? Hell no. I don’t mind being on call during the holidays, but three-hundred-plus days a year is too damned much for me.” He flipped the question on Mallos, “What about you, Rookie? Think you could handle it?”

Mallos responded,  “No. Not me. It’s hard enough getting a proper night’s rest when we’re left on-call. Most of the Flameguard would probably go insane working that much.”

Iker added, “A few certainly tried.”

Mustang asked, “Oh? Any of them even get close?”

Testris laughed, “Flame, no! Most of them wound up falling asleep the moment they sat down in a chair after a week. Best attempt so far was one Old House Noble who made it three months out of sheer spite.”

Iker recalled, “Oh, right! Him!”

Mallos asked, “He hated the Sword-Captain that much?”

Iker responded, “You’d be surprised to see how many in our ranks have tried to stick it to the Sword-Captain.”

Testris asked, “Wasn’t he found asleep and face first in his lunch in the mess hall?”

Mustang remembered now, “Ah, yes. Good ol’ Oat Face. Pretty sure he stopped boasting openly after that.”

The pleasant banter helped Gael with his mood. He even let out a short chortle. Iker looked at him for a moment, smirking and glad to see his Sword-Captain in an improved mood. However, the banter had to come to a close as the APC approached an active investigation site. They were a good 12 kilometers outside the city now and were checking in on an area below a major highway overpass

 It was an area of contention as several homeless people had set up makeshift homes and shelters. Many were built out of old camping RVs the owners couldn’t afford to keep up maintenance on, or large cars stuck in the same position. Some had managed to find or purchase materials for building more proper housing, but it was still makeshift regardless.

On approach, Iker and Gael could see the flashing red and blue lights of the City Guard’s patrol vehicles keeping the area cordoned off. Immediately upon approach, the guardsmen keeping the road closed moved to the side and allowed them in. Following Gael’s APC was one other with a separate squad of Flameguard.

Gael piped up as he turned in his seat to face his squadmates riding in the back, “Alright, we’re approaching the area. Look alive, Flames.”

Everyone responded, “Yes, sir!”

Moments later, the APC came to a halt and the doors swung open. Everyone hopped out and shut the doors as they left. The armor they wore, as compared to their uniforms, was very reminiscent of an era long since past. They looked like knights who had modernized their armor a bit. Atop their chest was a sturdy breastplate, and pauldrons decorated their shoulders. On their forearms were reinforced vambraces and full helmets protected their heads.

Different stylizing of the armor differentiated the ranks between each Flameguard. As Sword-Captain, Gael’s armor was much more angular. His pauldrons were double-layered and his helmet had a red plate to protect the face. While it looked like he couldn’t see out of it, developments in crystal-tech had made it possible to have this kind of gear both look intimidating and remain fully functional.

At Gael’s hip was a longsword every Sword-Captain had used before him, but there was also a second one. The other one, resting beside his honorary sword, was a weapon given to him as a gift from the Holy Republic of Technology. It was one of their strongest crystal-blades ever created, and it was given to Gael as a symbol of peace between the Republic and Zekanto. Gael accepted it, as he understood the meaning behind it, but how it felt in his hands always bothered him. While he would use it, he could never fight at 100% with it in his hands.

Next was Major Iker. His armor was a lot more regal and less intimidating, but just as effective. Where the Sword-Captain had red, he wore a lot more blue. The expected amount of gold trim adorned him, but he wasn’t like the Sword-Captain. Where Gael stood on the front lines as the squad’s Tank, he would be in the back. Crystal-rifle in hand, Major Iker performed long-range reconnaissance as well as made sure threats were put down.

Then there was Lieutenant Rilnith and Ensign Mallos. They wore the standard issue Flameguard attire. It was similar to both the Sword-Captain’s and Major’s, but you could tell at a glance who was higher up in rank. Rilnith had a crystal-enhanced shortbow as he handled closer-range engagements on the frontlines with Gael, and Mallos had a pair of enchanted maces to crush any armor an enemy had.

Last but not least is Commander Testris. Testris wasn’t human like everyone else present. Rather, he was a minotaur and stood a good 30 centimeters taller than Gael. He had a more modern appearance compared to his knight-like squadmates with much more cloth than metal. His helmet with a red visor, protruding horns, and tall height made most fear him on sight, Testris didn’t use a weapon most others expected. Rather than a heavy or big weapon, he used a staff. Testris was the squad’s Synergist, but also their magical explosives expert. So when the Flameguard needed something to go boom, he made sure it did.

In addition to all this, Gael had everyone carry two pieces of “old gear”. Old gear refers to armaments that had become obsolete compared to the newer crystal-tech weapons. Firearms had once been the go-to weapons of all branches of Zekanto’s military, but the Republic had discovered new ways to utilize elemental crystals. And new weaponry was one of the first things invested in. Eventually, almost all firearms in both nations had been replaced by crystal-tech.

Firearms could still be found and purchased, but had become very heavily restricted and were much more of a collector’s or enthusiast’s item. However, Gael wanted to make sure his men always had a contingency plan. Because of this, he made sure every Flameguard also carried an USP .45 and combat knife on them at all times when out in the field.

As everyone quickly checked their gear, Gael made his way further into the investigation site and his squad followed suit. It wasn’t long before he met the detectives in charge of what was going on. Upon seeing the Sword-Captain, she addressed him.

“Sword-Captain Roltand, good to see you this evening.” The two shook hands and she introduced herself, “I’m Detective Hwa-Young. The gentleman to my right is Detective Hasan. We’re honored to be working with you.”

Detective Hwa-Young looked younger than she was. Most people guessed she was around 23 or 24, but she’d been around for a while and seen her fair share of things. Her hair was black, her eyes a pale blue, and her skin was comparable to snow. Her partner, Detective Hasan, had a dark tan to his skin and a scar on his left cheek. His hair was black and kept held back with so much hair product it looked greasy. However, he had piercing brown eyes and kept a serious look on his face at all times. Detective Hasan was Hwa-Young’s junior, though the difference in appearance always caused some confusion; especially since he was 190 centimeters tall, and she was 163.

Gael replied, “Understood. With me is Commander Lionbreaker, Major Gear, Lieutenant Mustang, and Ensign Elk. What’s the current situation?”

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The seven started walking further in and the devastation of the area was much more prevalent than before. What makeshift homes had been made out of vehicles and strewn together materials had all been demolished and torn to pieces. Bodies lie strewn about on the ground; mostly in pieces. It was hard to tell who was luckier, those who bled to death from one or two missing limbs or those that either couldn’t be identified at all or were nothing but brain matter and viscera now.

Gael asked, “What happened here? It looks like a tornado came through here, not a monster like I’d been led to believe.”

Hasan replied, “No one would blame you for thinking that, Sword-Captain. It’s hard for us to believe that this was done by any living thing as well, but unfortunately it was.”

Hwa-Young continued for her junior, “Guessing you can see why you were called in on this, Sword-Captain.”

They stopped beside one of the more intact corpses. Immediately, Iker took a knee to get a better look at it.

Gael asked, “See anything, Major?”

Iker replied, “Well, this damage wasn’t done by any conventional weapon I know of. Not even bullets can leave gouge marks like that.”

The corpse had three deep gashes in its back that pierced all the way through the torso. It was as if someone impaled the body thrice, then ripped off an arm for good measure.

Iker asked, “You got any ideas, Commander?”

Testris chortled, “I can’t think of anything that could do that kind of damage. It’d be a hell of a feat to even see a minotaur do that kind of damage, let alone a weapon.”

Hasan added, “We’ve also been unable to find any kind of weapon in the area that could’ve inflicted the wounds. So either it was taken with the perp, or destroyed. We’ve yet to find evidence of the latter, but our dogs are on the hunt for anything of use.”

Gael chuckled, “Seems you’ve got a good partner, Detective Hwa-Young.”

She rolled her eyes at the praise.

Gael addressed his squad, “Alright. Spread out and search for anything of use, but keep an eye out for anything that moves. It’s likely whatever did this is gone, but we can all tell this situation is abnormal. The moment you find something, report it in.”

The four all understood, “Yes, Sword-Captain.”

And with that, they dispersed. Major Gears, rifle in hand, posted himself as high up as he could to scan the area while Commander Lionbreaker took the Lieutenant and Ensign with him on patrol. Gael remained with the detectives as they picked apart the scene. He would be in charge of protecting the two of them while everyone else combed the area for any trace of whatever did this.

For a while, there isn’t much to go off of but the horrors only get worse. A couple who were trapped mid love inside their RV had been crushed to death by whatever attacked. Its “hands” had pushed the ceiling of the vehicle down and crumpled everything like a hydraulic press intended for cars. However, there were strange claw marks left on the roof as to suggest the monster couldn’t close its hands.

In another area, they found a “family” of three homeless people who’d been torn to pieces, but not at the joints. Instead, they’d been hacked apart by something kind-of-sharp. Given there were lots of scratches and claw marks around the area, it seemed probable that the monster had used its claws to sever these people into pieces. But no animal no matter how monstrous could do something like that given present knowledge on the region’s fauna.

Gael asked over the radio, “Anyone find anything?”

A brief pause before Testris replied, “Nope. Just more blood and guts.”

Gael asked Iker next, “You see anything up there?”

Iker answered, “Nothing looking like a monster, but I’m seeing something strange near the creek. Head southwest and you should see it, Lionbreaker.”

Testris understood, “Copy that, Gears. We’ll start heading that way. Cover us if anything shows itself.”

Iker agreed, “Roger.”

Gael shares what’s come up with the Detectives, “Seems Major Iker spotted something. Commander Lionbreaker is checking it out now with the Lieutenant and Ensign.”

The detectives nodded, but Gael wanted to try and get a better idea of what they were dealing with.

Gael asked, “So, the City Guard got any ideas on what this thing could be with what’s been found so far?”

Detective Hasan answered, “We’re just as stumped as you, Sword-Captain. However, it may be connected to something bigger.”

Gael was surprised, “Oh?”

Detective Hwa-Young explained, “There’ve been strange disappearances and murders going on in the dark all over the place lately. It was assumed to be the work of a serial killer at first, but then the bodies started to turn up like what you’ve seen tonight, Sword-Captain. Right now, I theorize that whatever we’re looking for has been the cause. And this sight won’t be the worst to come.”

Gael asked, “Well. Seems you’ve got some dots connected then, but nothing on its appearance yet. Either of you hazard a guess on that front?”

Detective Hasan answered, “That’s been the harder part. The only thing we’ve found so far are evidence of something large and sharp being carried by the thing. However, I’m starting to think the weapon is actually part of the monster.”

Gael raised an eyebrow, “So you’re saying that this thing has some large and sharp thing as part of its body?”

Detective Hwa-Young replied, “For right now, yes. No murder weapon has been found yet, and you’ve seen the carnage. I don’t think there’s anything that can inflict wounds like we’ve seen and stay a secret so easily. Somehow, the killer doesn’t leave any obvious blood trail. Also, the dogs seem to lose its scent somehow. So conventional means of tracking have all wound up hitting dead ends.”

Then Gael’s radio went off as Testris reported in, “Found something you’re going to want to see, Sword-Captain.”

The detectives’ and Gael’s ears all perked up at the news. Immediately they started moving over to where Testris, Rilnith, and Mallos were. And when they got there, what they found stunned them. On the ground were human sized footprints next to multiple large claw marks, but no blood to suggest a murder. However, that wasn’t the strange part. What was strange was that a ways down from the footprints was some writhing flesh.

Then there was a very small trail of more bits of squirming pink meat. Following it, Gael and the detectives came across the rest of the squad all looking down a large pipe that led into the sewer system. Mallos held up a flashlight and everyone could see the murder weapon. It was a large arm without flesh, but with large claws for fingers. Its muscles were a writhing mass as bits of bone and sinew could be seen still poking out and twitching. Whatever in the hell they were dealing with wasn’t normal by any stretch of the imagination.

As they all stood there in stunned silence, only Detective Hwa-Young could say something before the mass of bone, sinew, and meat began to disintegrate.

She asked, “What the hell…?”

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