The road to Point C was rather long, and it was only to get longer.
The convoy had stopped at the nearest gas station and refilled, then we moved on.
I decided to stretch my legs for a bit, and walked beside Ootaea. She was humming a tune, and I couldn't help but ask, "What's that song?"
"Hm? Oh, it's just a little something I came up with. I call it 'The Song of a Cow'." She replied, looking up at the roof of the truck.
To be precise; the back of the truck. We were all standing inside of it while the truck drove on.
"Sounds interesting. Wanna sing it for me?" I asked, leaning against the wall.
She thought for a moment, and then nodded. "Sure, I guess. It's not very long, though." She cleared her throat, and began to sing.
"I'm a cow,
I'm a cow,
Moo moo moo,
I don't know what to do,
I'm a cow,
Moo moo moo."
I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it, but she seemed proud of her little song.
"What? You don't like it?" She pouted, crossing her arms.
"No, no, I love it! It's just... Unexpected, that's all." I replied, still chuckling a bit. "Do you plan on signing a deal with the ADF to make it their official anthem?"
She laughed, "As if! I don't think they would like it very much... But maybe I'll try to show it to Sir Ladec, he seems like the type to appreciate a good cow song." She said, a wide grin on her face.
"Sir Ladec huh...? I feel like he'd give you a weird look and tell you to shut up." I said, imagining the scenario in my head.
Here's how I think it would go:
It begins with Ootaea humming her silly little tune, and then Sir Ladec turning to her and saying, "Rookie, what are you doing?" then Ootaea replying with, "Sir! I'm singing the anthem of our ADF group! Do you like it?" and Sir Ladec just staring at her blankly, his expression showing his utter confusion, as he slowly shakes his head and says, "No, I do not. Now stop humming that tune, it's distracting."
...Yeah, that's how I think it would play out.
"You don't know that! He might actually like it!" She protested, her fists clenched in determination. It was cute, in a way.
"Alright, alright. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt." I raised my hands in surrender, "But if he doesn't like it, you owe me a favor."
"A favooooor? Whaaaat!? That's not fair!" She whined, but I could see a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Fine, but if he likes it, you have to do something for me, too!"
I raised an eyebrow, "Alright! Let's lay out our terms, then. If he likes it, I'll... Uh, let you punch me in the arm. If he doesn't, I want you to..." Hmm, what would I want her to do? "...I want you to let me choose your next meal."
She frowned, "Two things! If he likes it, I kick you in the balls. If he doesn't like it... Don't make me eat shit. Deal?"
"Deal." I extended my hand, and she shook it, a wide grin on her face.
Leurnim had been watching our exchange, and he couldn't help but laugh, "You two are something else. I hope nobody dies from your little bets." He said, and we both laughed.
"Heh, I guess I can make her eat poison... She never said no to that..." I joked, and Ootaea hit me lightly on the shoulder.
"Shut up! I didn't agree to eat anything that could harm me! I just agreed to eat whatever you choose for me to eat! So if I die, that's on you!" She declared, pointing a finger at me.
"Oof, she got you there." Leurnim teased, and I could only shake my head.
"Alright, alright. No poison, no shit or anything from the human body..." Hmm, what could I make her eat then? The possibilities are endless, but I want to make it somewhat embarrassing for her... I looked around the truck, trying to find something that could work.
I know...
I walk up to one of the other soldiers, getting his attention and whispering, "Hey, can you lend me a hand real quick? I have an idea." He nodded, and I told him the details of my plan.
The soldier went to the driver's seat, and I could hear him talking to Sir Ladec. After a few moments, he came back and gave me a thumbs up.
"What are you planning, Greenhorn?" Ootaea asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"You'll see." I replied, a smirk on my face. This is gonna be good. "Granted, I win the deal."
The convoy slowed down, and the back door of the truck opened. Sir Ladec stepped in, his face stoic as usual. "Rookies, the soldiers told me that you two have something to show me. What is it?" He asked, looking at us expectantly.
Ootaea and I shared a look, and then she turned to him, "Sir! I have a song that I think would be perfect for the ADF! May I sing it for you?" She asked, her tone professional and respectful.
Sir Ladec raised an eyebrow, but nodded, "Go ahead."
She cleared her throat, and began to sing.
"I'm a cow,
I'm a cow,
Moo moo moo,
I don't know what to do,
I'm a cow,
Moo moo."
Sir Ladec's expression didn't change much, but I could see a hint of confusion in his eyes. He stayed silent for a few moments, before speaking, "...That was... Interesting. Why did you want to sing this to me? Is there a reason?" He asked, his tone neutral.
"Oh, well... It's just a song I made up... and I thought it would be- Umm, perfect for our new anthem! Hehe..." She replied, her confidence faltering a bit.
"I see..." He said, rubbing his chin. "Well, I don't think it's quite what we're looking for in an anthem, but it's a nice song. I'll keep it in mind."
I couldn't help but burst out laughing, clutching my stomach as I did. Ootaea looked at me with a mix of embarrassment and anger, while Sir Ladec seemed to be a bit amused, his lips twitching upwards slightly.
"See? I told you he wouldn't like it." I said, trying to catch my breath.
"Shut up! He didn't say he hated it!" She retorted, her face flushed.
Sir Ladec cleared his throat, and we both looked at him. "I will be honest, it's not something I would choose as an anthem, but I appreciate the effort. It was a nice try, Rookie. Now, back to your posts, we have a few hours ahead of us." He said, turning around and going back to the driver's seat.
Ootaea was defeated, and I couldn't help but tease her, "So... What's for dinner tonight?"
She groaned, "Ugh, I hate you so much right now. Fine, what do you want me to eat?"
Hmm... What would be the funniest thing to make her eat? I'm not going to let her starve, so I can't be too cruel... Ah, I know.
"I want you to eat... A whole watermelon. With the rind." I said, a grin on my face.
Her eyes widened, "What!? That's not even food! You're trying to kill me!" She exclaimed, looking at me with disbelief.
I shrugged, "Hey, that doesn't kill, you know? It's just hard to chew. Besides, you agreed to the terms."
She pouted, crossing her arms. "Fine, fine... You win this round, Greenhorn. But next time, I'll win for sure." She said, a competitive glint in her eyes.
"Oh? You're going to try and come up with another anthem?" I asked, teasing her a bit.
"Maybe... Or maybe I'll just challenge you to a game of cards... Either way, I'll beat you." She declared, sticking her tongue out at me.
"Ha, we'll see about that. I'm pretty good at card games. In my whole life, I've always won against people!" I boasted, puffing my chest out.
"Is that so? Well, I've never lost a game of cards in my life! So we'll see who's the true master here." She replied, smirking.
"You two sure are confident." Leurnim said as he put his hand on my shoulder. "I'd like to see who wins in the end." For a moment he seemed lost in thought, and then... "What about a game of chess? It's less luck and more about skill and wit."
I raised an eyebrow, "Chess? That's a bit too... Extreme..." I couldn't admit this, but I've never played chess in my life, and I don't plan on doing so either. It's too boring and takes too long.
Ootaea, however, seemed excited by the idea, "Ooh, I love chess! My favourite opening is the King's Gambit! What about you, Greenhorn?"
Damn it, put on the spot. "Uhm... I don't have a favorite opening, but I like to play as black." I replied, hoping she would take the bait.
"Oh, so you like to be defensive, huh? I'm more of an aggressive player, I like to attack and take control of the board." She said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Let me join in on this too, then. I'm a white player, and I like to use the Sicilian Defence. It's a classic." Leurnim added, his expression serious.
The three of us looked at each other, a competitive atmosphere filling the air.
"Hold on, who said you're in on the challenge?!" Ootaea protested, pointing a finger at him.
"Hey, I heard the challenge has no limits! So I can join if I want!" He retorted, grinning.
I had to say, this might save me from losing. Maybe having him join would be my chance to come out victorious. But either way, I had to go along with this. "Alright, how do we go about this then? Best two out of three?"
They both nodded, and Ootaea said, "That sounds fair. And the loser has to do a dare from the winners."
I'm not sure about this, but... "Alright. I'm in. Let's do it."
We shook hands, sealing the deal. This might be fun, or I might just regret it. But either way, it was a way to pass the time for whenever we go back to headquarters.
As the convoy continued on its journey, I couldn't help but look at the horizon, wondering what Point C would look like.
I could only hope that no more unexpected events would happen.
At least, not as bad as the ones that have already transpired.
A few more hours, and we finally arrived at our destination.
Point C.
What are you really? A town? A city? Or something else entirely?
Only time will tell.
...
"Sooo, whatcha thinking about, Doffy-O-Doffy?" Ootaea asked me as she sat next to me, looking at the town in the distance.
I sighed, "I was just thinking... This place looks... Familiar, somehow." It really does, but I can't put my finger on it. Is it the buildings? The roads? The atmosphere? I don't know.
"Really? I don't see it... But maybe it's just me. I haven't been here in ages." She said, scratching her head. "Oh! But I do remember there's a really nice bakery here! They make the best cakes, you know."
"I have a sweet tooth, so that sounds great." I smiled, looking forward to trying them out.
We both stood up as the convoy stopped suddenly, what was happening? We were still a bit far from the town...
"Something wrong?" I asked Leurnim, who was looking ahead with a serious expression.
"Something is blocking the road... I can't make out what it c- Oh, no. It's an Amalgamate." He said, his tone grim. "Everyone, get ready to fight. This one looks... Different."
I tensed up, and looked at the thing in the distance. It was indeed an Amalgamate, but... It was much bigger than the others I've seen. It was like a giant centipede, but rather than legs, it had arms. Many arms, all different sizes and shapes, some were human, some were animalistic... But the most disturbing part was that the arms weren't just attached to its body, they were also attached to each other. It was a mess of limbs, all writhing and moving in a chaotic manner, making it hard to tell where its head was. Its entire body was black and slimy, and it left a trail of some sort of liquid behind it as it moved.
"SOLDIERS! Spread out and start firing! Don't let it get close!" Sir Ladec commanded, and we all followed his orders, getting off the truck and taking our positions.
I didn't have a weapon, so I guess I should just leave it to-
"Here, Doffy! Take this!" Ootaea threw something at me, and I caught it. It was a gun. A pistol, to be exact. "I got this from the supplies! I thought you might need it! Now go and shoot that ugly thing!" She said, smiling at me.
I looked at the gun, and then at her, feeling grateful. "Thanks, Ootaea. You're a lifesaver." I said, and she nodded.
Without warning, shots were fired, and the Amalgamate let out a shrill screech that pierced my ears. I covered them, trying to block out the noise, but it was too much. I could feel my head throbbing, and my vision blurring.
No, now was not the time to be weak. If I could do anything to avenge Alice, it was to kill this abomination. I aimed the gun, and fired, the recoil making my arm flinch. The bullet seemed to hit the Amalgamate, as it screeched again, turning its attention to me.
"Shit..." I mumbled, trying to get my bearings.
The Amalgamate moved with an erratic speed, slithering towards me, its many arms reaching out.
"What the fuck?!" I cursed, trying to dodge its attacks. I managed to avoid a few of the arms, but one of them caught my leg, and I felt it grab me tightly, the sharp fingers digging into my skin.
"Agh!" Raising me into the air, I could see the monster's face, or what I thought it was its face. It was like a bloated mass of flesh, with many eyes and mouths scattered around it. It had no nose to speak of, nor ears. It was just a disgusting amalgamation of different creatures. One of the mouths opened, and a screech came out, the same one that was hurting my ears. It felt like it was trying to crush my skull.
"CEASE FIRE! WE DO NOT WANT TO HARM OUR SOLDIER!" I heard Sir Ladec yell, but I couldn't see anything aside from the monstrosity in front of me.
The Amalgamate opened another mouth, revealing rows of sharp teeth. Fuck, fuck fuck.
I'm going to be eaten!
Just then, I raised my pistol, and shot at the mouth, not even aiming, just hoping to hit something. The bullet pierced through the flesh, and the mouth closed, screeching again until it dropped me.
I fell to the ground, landing on my back. The impact knocked the wind out of me, and I gasped for air.
"Youuuu. Areeeee. Cuuuurseeeddd. Youuuuu. Wiiiillll. Diiiiiiieeee." A distorted voice came from the Amalgamate, and it lunged at me again.
I rolled to the side, barely avoiding its attack, and stood up, trying to run away. But it was faster than me, and it grabbed my ankle, making me trip and fall again.
It was then when I heard gunfire again, and the Amalgamate screamed in pain, letting go of me. I looked back, and saw that Leurnim and Ootaea were shooting at it, while the other soldiers were reloading their guns.
"Thanks!" I yelled at them, getting up and running towards them.
"Don't mention it! Now keep running!" Leurnim replied, firing another round at the creature. "It seems to really want Dofro dead... Why is that?"
How should I know?!
"It must be because of the Blue void thing!" Ootaea said, reloading her gun.
Oh, that's probably why. That makes sense, but I don't know how that would work.
The Amalgamate seemed to recover from the shots, and it charged at us again, its many arms flailing around.
"Dodge!" Sir Ladec shouted, and we all jumped out of the way, avoiding its attack.
The Amalgamate stopped, and looked around, as if confused. It then turned to me, and I could feel its many eyes staring at me with hatred. "Huuuman... Wiiiill... Suuuffer... Juuust... Liiike... Meeeeeee." It hissed, its voice full of malice and anger.
What does that even mean?
I was about to ask that, but then it rushed at me again.
But then, it just stopped. It stopped moving, and stood still, as if frozen.
It was then when I noticed the arrows sticking out of its body, piercing through its flesh. And from the sky, more arrows flew, hitting the creature and making it fall to the ground, dead.
I looked up... But there was nothing.
'Now how's that for a save, Dofro?' The voice again. I don't know if I should be relieved or terrified.
"Hey! Who the hell did that!?" Sir Ladec yelled, looking around. But nobody answered.
"Whoever it was, they saved us." Leurnim said, walking towards me. "Are you alright, Dofro?"
I nodded, still shaken by the whole ordeal. "Yeah... I'm fine. That was... Something else." I said, glancing at the dead Amalgamate.
"I've never seen anything like it before... It's like it was made specifically to kill you." He said, scratching his chin. "I think we should report this to the higher-ups. This is serious business."
"Yeah, I agree. I don't know why it targeted me, but I'm glad it's dead." I replied, feeling a bit of relief.
Ootaea walked up to us, her scythe in hand, "Hey, guys... I think we should get moving. The town is waiting for us, and we don't want to keep them waiting." She said, a nervous smile on her face.
"But what about the Amalgamate? Do we just... Leave it here?" I asked, looking at the creature again.
Sir Ladec approached us, and shook his head, "No, we'll call for a clean-up crew. They'll take care of it. For now, we have to continue our mission." He said, taking out a radio and contacting the ADF.
We all nodded, and got back on the truck. I was still a bit shaken, but I tried to compose myself.
…
We drove towards the town, and I could see the walls surrounding it. It was a fortified place, with guards on the watchtowers and gates. Even though I could see it, I knew we had about two hours left to go till we reached the town.
I just hope nothing else happens along the way.
"I'm a cow, I'm a cow. Moo moo." Ootaea hummed, leaning on my shoulder. I couldn't help but chuckle at her attempt to lighten the mood.
"You really like that song, huh?" I asked, smiling at her.
"Yeah, it's catchy! And it makes me laugh." She replied, grinning.
"I can see that." I said, looking ahead at the road. "But don't you think it's a bit... Weird?"
"Weird? How so?" She asked, tilting her head.
"Well, it's about a cow, but you're not a cow. And also, it's a bit silly." I explained, trying not to offend her.
She pouted, "So what? What if it's silly, it's fun! And besides, I can relate to cows, they're cute and fluffy!" She argued, crossing her arms.
"Fluffy? Cows are not fluffy, they're more... Hairy and fat. Wait... Are you hairy and fat?! No wonder you like them so much!" I teased, poking her side.
"Hey! I'm not fat! You can see my build, I'm fit! And I'm not hairy either, I shave my legs, thank you very much!" She retorted, pushing me away. "And even if I was, it wouldn't matter! Cows are still cute!" She huffed, turning her head away from me.
"I dunno, I'm more of a dog person. They're loyal and friendly." I said, shrugging.
"Ugh, dogs... They're okay, but they slobber too much. And they bark at anything. I'd rather have a cow than a dog." She said, sticking out her tongue.
"Oh, yeah? Well, I'd rather have a dog than a cow. They're more useful. Think of police dogs and service dogs." I countered, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Pfft, as if you could handle a cow. They're much stronger than you think. Plus, they give us milk and cheese! What do dogs give us? Nothing but trouble." She said, smirking at me.
"Are you just jealous because you know I'm right?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'll admit, I'm jealous of your good taste, but I'm not wrong. Cows are better than dogs." She replied, her smirk widening.
We continued our debate about which animal was superior, not noticing the time passing by.