1st of Ash, year 121 Age of Steel
“So, how many losses it would take to finally get them concerned?” Vincent slid open the window of the carriage by a few inches.
“Permission to speak freely, sir.”
Vincent nodded. He took out a cigarette and lit it.
“It looks bad for the higher-ups if it has spread into the West End, and if they’re not in a good mood, everyone down the ladder is going to suffer the same fate.” Anna paused and looked at the rain through the carriage’s window. “Though it would look good on your resume sir.”
Vincent blew a cloud of smoke out the small opening in the window. “Let me guess, there are no other officers available for it?” Vincent paused as he studied Anna’s facial expression. “Ah, it’s her right? Fuck. So I got the short end of the stick.”
The carriage stopped in front of the Riverland Corps headquarter. Anna opens the door of the carriage then she took out the black umbrella opened it and wait for Vincent. The pair walked across the courtyard and into the administrative building. Vincent nodded at the two soldiers at the door who saluted him. Once they made their way inside they took the stairs to the third floor and made their way to the briefing room. Vincent slowed his pace as he approach the opened door.
“Listen, Major, we should act now! Who knows what will happen if we waited longer? Don’t tell me there’s no one availab-“
“Sir, Lieutenant Wolfgang sir.” Vincent saluted at the Major.
“Ah Lieutenant Wolfgang, good of you to join us.” The Major grinned as he motioned for Vincent to take a seat. “Doctor Riesch this is Lieutenant Wolfgang, I’m sure you two are acquainted”
The doctor glances at Vincent before she continued “As I was saying, Major, act now, if it spread throughout the West End it’ll be a problem. You don’t want to be reported for negligence right?” The doctor stood up and placed her hands on her hips.
The Major hides his clenched fist with his other hand. He took a deep breath, “Now, now, we don’t want that right doctor? Lieutenant Wolfgang here will be the one to assist you in the matters. I will brief him on the matters and he’ll meet you in the lobby.” The Major replied as he stood up.
“You better.” The doctor grumbled as she left the room.
The major watched as the doctor left the room. He then grabbed the half-filled glass on his table and threw it at the nearby wall. “Damn that bitch. If only she’s not the daughter of-“, He paused and looked at the door. He then plops down in his chair and sighed. “Private, go down to the barracks and tell Corporal Leon and his squad to get ready.” Anna saluted then she exits the room.
Vincent grabbed two glasses from the nearby table, poured from the bottle on the Major’s table, and placed one glass in front of the Major, and held the other in his hand. “So, Elisa Reisch, this must be regarding the outbreak from Searing right sir?”
The Major nodded, he then took the glass and downed the content in one gulp. “Vincent, you know right why I assign you this duty?” The Major paused, “Given your history with the doctor.” Vincent downed the content of his glass in one gulp and poured another for the Major and himself.
“Don’t want her father breathing down our necks right? It’d be bad for us.”
Vincent took out a piece of cigarette and lit it. The Major chuckled, “If only you’re not Abraham’s son,”
“You’d throw me out of the window right?” Vincent blew a cloud of smoke.
The Major laughed. He poured another glass and downed it in one gulp. “Coordinate with the Defense Corps posted in the West End. The West End is our priority, after that the East End, especially the blocks surrounding the Bank.”
Vincent looked at the miniature map of Zaichaer in the middle of the room. He took a mental note of the red pins scattered around the West End.
“Sir, yes, sir. There are several places with reported cases in the West End and a lot more on the other side of the river. Permission to resort to stricter measures when dealing in the East End and the Knobs.”
“You truly remind me of your mother.” The Major chuckled. “Permission granted, as long as you don’t cause a riot. You know the pile of paperwork right if a riot would break out? It’s the Knobs we are talking about. We haven’t pinpointed the location of that bitch too. We need to have the supplies ready in case she makes an appearance.”
“History tends to repeat itself.” Vincent blew a cloud of smoke.
“Then the Order would do what they did 31 years ago.” The Major poured another glass for himself.
Vincent looked outside the window and saw several carriages pull up in the courtyard. “Don’t want to keep the doctor waiting. Permission to be dismissed, sir.”
“Handle it well Lieutenant. Dismissed.”
“Sir, yes, sir” Vincent saluted then made his way to the lobby of the building. He couldn’t see the doctor anywhere. He saw Anna near the door.
“Where’s the doctor?”
“She’s in the carriage already and sir, your loaned weapons are in the trunk of the carriage.”
“Thank you Private. You’re dismissed.”
Anna saluted then made her way up the stairs.
“Sir, Corporal Leon, reporting in.” Leon saluted.
“Corporal, everything’s ready to go?”
“Sir yes sir.”
“Follow our carriage.” Vincent made his way to the carriage where the doctor is. He took a seat opposite the doctor and pushed the sliding window open. He then took out a piece of cigarette and lit it.
“Done with the briefing, Lieutenant?” A hint of sarcasm could be heard in her voice.
Vincent blew a cloud of smoke out the window. He watched the gates of the courtyard disappear from view. He purposely ignored Elisa’s comment.
She pouts and slides open the window on her side.
“Five glasses right? By that time, another person could be dead!” She pushed the sliding window shut. “You truly never cared about anything or anyone right? As long as you’re not the one on the other side of the gun.”
The cigarette snaps in two. Vincent locked eyes with Elisa, “You think I don’t care? Then why the fuck am I here?”
Elisa scoffs. “Because the Major doesn’t want to anger my father and you don’t want to disappoint the Major because it’ll throw any chance you have at promotion out the window.” She paused to catch her breath, “And because you’re a heartless bastard who would do anything to achieve your goal.”
Vincent pounded on the carriage’s door, signaling the driver to stop. The carriage came to a stop and Vincent hopped out of the carriage. A few moments later he hopped back in with a pack of cigarettes. He then pounds on the carriage’s door and the carriage resumes its journey.
He took out a roll of sweet from his coat’s pocket and threw it into Elisa’s lap.
“You think this would fix it?” She scoffs, then slides the window open and threw the roll of sweet out.
Vincent took out a piece of cigarette and lit it. “IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT!” Vincent leaned back and blew a cloud of smoke out the window. “It’s not your fault Elisa, he was beyond help. I did what I have to.” He blew a cloud of smoke out the window. “Deep down you knew it, yet you still try. At least I brought a quick end to his suffering.”
Tears stream down her face. Vincent threw his cigarette out the window and sat beside her. He puts his hand around her shoulder. “Hey, it’s not your fault. It’s not your fault.” Vincent took out a handkerchief and wipe her tears. “That look doesn’t suit you.” He replied as he pulls her closer.
She rests her head on his shoulder. After a few minutes, she looked up at him. “B…but…I haven’t tried…could…..still…”
“Shhh, shhh.” Vincent tried to calm her as he gently stroke her hair. He then leaned in and kissed her forehead. He looked outside the window in time to see Markus’s cafe disappear in the distance. With his right hand, he grabs another roll of sweet from his coat’s pocket and places it in her hands. “There’s still enough time to finish it. According to the briefing, there should be several cases spread in three adjacent blocks. We’re heading that way first.”
Vincent then made his way back to his seat and lit another cigarette. Elisa looked at him. “I still remember that you hate the smell of tobacco lingering in your hair.” He blows a cloud of smoke outside the window. “Let me do the talking with the folks here alright? Not all of them have the patience of the major. Good thing there are no reported cases in Embassy Way. We’ll focus on the West End first since there are fewer reports of cases than in the East End.”
“So, how many losses it would take to finally get them concerned?” Vincent slid open the window of the carriage by a few inches.
“Permission to speak freely, sir.”
Vincent nodded. He took out a cigarette and lit it.
“It looks bad for the higher-ups if it has spread into the West End, and if they’re not in a good mood, everyone down the ladder is going to suffer the same fate.” Anna paused and looked at the rain through the carriage’s window. “Though it would look good on your resume sir.”
Vincent blew a cloud of smoke out the small opening in the window. “Let me guess, there are no other officers available for it?” Vincent paused as he studied Anna’s facial expression. “Ah, it’s her right? Fuck. So I got the short end of the stick.”
The carriage stopped in front of the Riverland Corps headquarter. Anna opens the door of the carriage then she took out the black umbrella opened it and wait for Vincent. The pair walked across the courtyard and into the administrative building. Vincent nodded at the two soldiers at the door who saluted him. Once they made their way inside they took the stairs to the third floor and made their way to the briefing room. Vincent slowed his pace as he approach the opened door.
“Listen, Major, we should act now! Who knows what will happen if we waited longer? Don’t tell me there’s no one availab-“
“Sir, Lieutenant Wolfgang sir.” Vincent saluted at the Major.
“Ah Lieutenant Wolfgang, good of you to join us.” The Major grinned as he motioned for Vincent to take a seat. “Doctor Riesch this is Lieutenant Wolfgang, I’m sure you two are acquainted”
The doctor glances at Vincent before she continued “As I was saying, Major, act now, if it spread throughout the West End it’ll be a problem. You don’t want to be reported for negligence right?” The doctor stood up and placed her hands on her hips.
The Major hides his clenched fist with his other hand. He took a deep breath, “Now, now, we don’t want that right doctor? Lieutenant Wolfgang here will be the one to assist you in the matters. I will brief him on the matters and he’ll meet you in the lobby.” The Major replied as he stood up.
“You better.” The doctor grumbled as she left the room.
The major watched as the doctor left the room. He then grabbed the half-filled glass on his table and threw it at the nearby wall. “Damn that bitch. If only she’s not the daughter of-“, He paused and looked at the door. He then plops down in his chair and sighed. “Private, go down to the barracks and tell Corporal Leon and his squad to get ready.” Anna saluted then she exits the room.
Vincent grabbed two glasses from the nearby table, poured from the bottle on the Major’s table, and placed one glass in front of the Major, and held the other in his hand. “So, Elisa Reisch, this must be regarding the outbreak from Searing right sir?”
The Major nodded, he then took the glass and downed the content in one gulp. “Vincent, you know right why I assign you this duty?” The Major paused, “Given your history with the doctor.” Vincent downed the content of his glass in one gulp and poured another for the Major and himself.
“Don’t want her father breathing down our necks right? It’d be bad for us.”
Vincent took out a piece of cigarette and lit it. The Major chuckled, “If only you’re not Abraham’s son,”
“You’d throw me out of the window right?” Vincent blew a cloud of smoke.
The Major laughed. He poured another glass and downed it in one gulp. “Coordinate with the Defense Corps posted in the West End. The West End is our priority, after that the East End, especially the blocks surrounding the Bank.”
Vincent looked at the miniature map of Zaichaer in the middle of the room. He took a mental note of the red pins scattered around the West End.
“Sir, yes, sir. There are several places with reported cases in the West End and a lot more on the other side of the river. Permission to resort to stricter measures when dealing in the East End and the Knobs.”
“You truly remind me of your mother.” The Major chuckled. “Permission granted, as long as you don’t cause a riot. You know the pile of paperwork right if a riot would break out? It’s the Knobs we are talking about. We haven’t pinpointed the location of that bitch too. We need to have the supplies ready in case she makes an appearance.”
“History tends to repeat itself.” Vincent blew a cloud of smoke.
“Then the Order would do what they did 31 years ago.” The Major poured another glass for himself.
Vincent looked outside the window and saw several carriages pull up in the courtyard. “Don’t want to keep the doctor waiting. Permission to be dismissed, sir.”
“Handle it well Lieutenant. Dismissed.”
“Sir, yes, sir” Vincent saluted then made his way to the lobby of the building. He couldn’t see the doctor anywhere. He saw Anna near the door.
“Where’s the doctor?”
“She’s in the carriage already and sir, your loaned weapons are in the trunk of the carriage.”
“Thank you Private. You’re dismissed.”
Anna saluted then made her way up the stairs.
“Sir, Corporal Leon, reporting in.” Leon saluted.
“Corporal, everything’s ready to go?”
“Sir yes sir.”
“Follow our carriage.” Vincent made his way to the carriage where the doctor is. He took a seat opposite the doctor and pushed the sliding window open. He then took out a piece of cigarette and lit it.
“Done with the briefing, Lieutenant?” A hint of sarcasm could be heard in her voice.
Vincent blew a cloud of smoke out the window. He watched the gates of the courtyard disappear from view. He purposely ignored Elisa’s comment.
She pouts and slides open the window on her side.
“Five glasses right? By that time, another person could be dead!” She pushed the sliding window shut. “You truly never cared about anything or anyone right? As long as you’re not the one on the other side of the gun.”
The cigarette snaps in two. Vincent locked eyes with Elisa, “You think I don’t care? Then why the fuck am I here?”
Elisa scoffs. “Because the Major doesn’t want to anger my father and you don’t want to disappoint the Major because it’ll throw any chance you have at promotion out the window.” She paused to catch her breath, “And because you’re a heartless bastard who would do anything to achieve your goal.”
Vincent pounded on the carriage’s door, signaling the driver to stop. The carriage came to a stop and Vincent hopped out of the carriage. A few moments later he hopped back in with a pack of cigarettes. He then pounds on the carriage’s door and the carriage resumes its journey.
He took out a roll of sweet from his coat’s pocket and threw it into Elisa’s lap.
“You think this would fix it?” She scoffs, then slides the window open and threw the roll of sweet out.
Vincent took out a piece of cigarette and lit it. “IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT!” Vincent leaned back and blew a cloud of smoke out the window. “It’s not your fault Elisa, he was beyond help. I did what I have to.” He blew a cloud of smoke out the window. “Deep down you knew it, yet you still try. At least I brought a quick end to his suffering.”
Tears stream down her face. Vincent threw his cigarette out the window and sat beside her. He puts his hand around her shoulder. “Hey, it’s not your fault. It’s not your fault.” Vincent took out a handkerchief and wipe her tears. “That look doesn’t suit you.” He replied as he pulls her closer.
She rests her head on his shoulder. After a few minutes, she looked up at him. “B…but…I haven’t tried…could…..still…”
“Shhh, shhh.” Vincent tried to calm her as he gently stroke her hair. He then leaned in and kissed her forehead. He looked outside the window in time to see Markus’s cafe disappear in the distance. With his right hand, he grabs another roll of sweet from his coat’s pocket and places it in her hands. “There’s still enough time to finish it. According to the briefing, there should be several cases spread in three adjacent blocks. We’re heading that way first.”
Vincent then made his way back to his seat and lit another cigarette. Elisa looked at him. “I still remember that you hate the smell of tobacco lingering in your hair.” He blows a cloud of smoke outside the window. “Let me do the talking with the folks here alright? Not all of them have the patience of the major. Good thing there are no reported cases in Embassy Way. We’ll focus on the West End first since there are fewer reports of cases than in the East End.”
