A pity for them he had seven now. This general was a problem though. A real problem.
“Grace!” Runner shouted backwards. After a second the brunette was there, her lips next to his ear.
“Yes, sir?”
“Slight change of plans, Grace. Pop the rear door and throw the ‘free attack’ sign out at the others. We’ll be angling for the command tent. This general learns quick and I want her done. She’ll be confused by the six tanks and not expect a seventh from the rear. Everyone else needs to load up on silence and sleep potions. I want the sleeping general and anyone else around her taking a nap as well.”
“Your will, sir.”
Then Sophia was gone.
Runner waited until he heard the rear hatch close again before swinging out wide and away from the battle. It would take some time to do it, but if he could secure the general, this would be over today.
Taking a peek from his side view port, he watched the six tanks continue onwards. Looking straight ahead again, he called up his map. He needed to figure out where she’d be. If he were her, where would he put his own command site? Especially if he’d been attacked once already. Close enough that he could watch the battle but flee if the fight wasn’t going his way.
With his fingertip, Runner followed a side road that led towards open fields. Every other direction would put them closer to harm’s way or a dead end.
Ranging the approach, Runner kept them moving.
Behind him the clink of bottles could be heard as his little magical troop stocked up. Sophia returned after a few minutes of them driving endlessly.
“We’re ready, sir. I will give you your general personally. When we take her, where should we put her?”
“Tie her up and drop her over my lap. Anywhere else she might bounce around and get hurt. If she’s hurt, she’ll wake up. Be gentle.”
“Your will, sir.”
Runner rolled his eyes but kept silent. This “sir” business was grating on his nerves.
His mind went down a path he didn’t want it to and was helpless to stop. His thoughts firing one after another with questions aimed at himself from himself.
Here you are. Defending a virtual country you don’t need to. You say you could have escaped the castle, yet you could easily have ditched the entire army. This is all pointless. Even now the medical server is connecting itself to every pod in preparation. It’ll be ready in only a few hours. All you need to do is move everyone. Then you’re done. They’re safe. But this? This is all pointless. So, why?
Thoughts of his party flashed through his mind. Then his extended party, like Isabelle and Stefan. Then those connected to his party. Even the goddesses.
He had promised to keep the world running for Nadine. Now, though, he was trying to fix what he could.
He couldn’t answer his questions. He was also out of time.
He had been wrong in his guess on the general’s command post. But only by thirty feet or so. She had moved herself further back than his original estimate. Moving Boxy to her first gear, Runner crept along, keeping the noise output as low as possible.
The moment they noticed him he planned on hitting it into fifth.
There.
His blonde counterpart had armed herself and taken up a guard this time. Surrounded by armored knights, she held a staff in her left hand as she watched the battle.
Runner selected the general and stuck a red X symbol on her. Then began marking everyone around her with other markings.
Runner had just opened his mouth to explain when he heard Sophia’s voice.
“Red X is the target. Sleep every other target. I’ll take her personally,” Sophia commanded. He heard the rear hatch open in preparation for the grab and bag. Runner suddenly felt a deep gratitude to Sophia. Already she was earning her keep.
Amazingly Runner got them within fifty yards before they were noticed. Runner slammed it into fifth gear and Boxy surged forward. Blondie didn’t even turn her head—she was completely focused on the battle. Barreling into the command camp, he avoided everyone and everything in his singular drive to capture the general.
Finally, her head turned as Runner whipped Boxy around into a fishtail to present the rear door at the target.
Sophia and her double-sized squad leapt out of the moving vehicle before he brought it into neutral. Looking over his shoulder, he watched and waited, feeling helpless.
Shouting and yelling came to him along with a few magical detonations, then silence.
The Sunless squad came stumbling back in through the hatch. Two had half health bars and a third happened to be in the red and looked like she’d been hit with a couple debuffs, but they were there.
Sophia and a troop member clambered in, each carrying a body. The final member came in and shut the hatch. Sophia dropped the bound blonde general into Runner’s lap and she took the second sleeping body into her arms.
Sitting down right there in the middle of the cabin, Sophia pulled the sleeping woman into her lap and started yelling orders at her crew. No time to question her about the second person. Runner slapped the shifter into fifth gear.
Pressing his right hand into the general’s lower back, he held her in place as he drove with his left hand.
“Sorry, General. We weren’t going to take any chances. You’re far too smart for your own good. You have everyone’s utmost respect and admiration,” Runner apologetically said, rubbing the general’s back lightly. “Have no fear, no one intends to abuse you or cause you harm. Providing you agree to my terms. Otherwise it will be a very clean and very swift death. I promise.”
Then they were clear of the command camp. Ahead of them the battle continued on.
His cannons fired every moment they could get a clear shot. Tanks swept back and forth through the ranks in a wedge formation.
His Barbarian allies had engaged one of the cavalry flanks and were currently destroying it as the other side’s cavalry battled Runner’s.
Now he could see why blondie had been so into the fight. It wasn’t going her way at all.
Thana, Katarina, Hannah, Nadine, and Isabelle were doing spectacularly. Smiling, proud of his Awakened Naturals, he spun the wheel till he was heading towards the rear of the battle.
Stopping a few hundred yards short of the fight, he spun Boxy around so her rear faced the troops.
Shifting the general carefully, he tried not to harm her. Eventually he managed to get her to his shoulder.
“Grace, I’m going to see if I can get them to surrender. Guard duty,” Runner said as he stood up, his left arm wrapped around the general’s thighs and his right hand pressing to her waist to steady her.
“You, you, and you. Wall spells if needed. You and you, guard duty from the vehicle. Rest of you on bodyguard status. I’m on sleep watch for our guest,” Sophia ordered, setting the little brunette she had been holding to the side.
Runner was a bit astonished at how well she was doing. His paranoia even went up a notch.
“Grace, where have you been all my life? I never expected this,” Runner quipped as he made his way to the rear door. Two of the noblewomen opened the hatch and scurried outside to secure the area.
“Being raised to be an obedient wife,” she said, standing up. “I begged Lady Thana for assistance in military tactics. Though I find myself beggared to her in favors, I have been given an extensive library on small-force tactics,” said the woman, keeping close to Runner’s side.
“I’ll let her know I appreciate what she did for you. You’re worth your weight in gold already,” Runner said, coming to a halt in the grass. “Brighteyes, Angel, Minxy, I’m about to kick this anthill over. As always, you’re welcome to join me if you see fit.”
“You always have the best surprises,” Brunhild murmured as she simply appeared in front of him.
“Yes,” Ernsta agreed, nodding her head.
“Sure, love. You’re good for a show. That and I get to stare at your ass,” Amelia purred at him, immediately
closing to within touching distance.
“Down, girl. Occupied right now.” Runner called up his GM command list once more.
/Commands
Available Commands:
Adopt
Broadcast
ClassReset
DiasbleChat
Divorce
EnableChat
GMHub
LogOut
Marry
Rename
GMHubReturn
Unstuck
/Broadcast
Broadcast X(zone) Y(zone distance: measured in number of units from point specified)
/Broadcast Kastell 1
“Soldiers of the Human army, I am Runner Norwood, known as Breaker. On my life to Ernsta, Brunhild, and Amelia, I swear to you your general has fallen and is now my personal captive. Should you surrender immediately, by lying on the ground, face down, I will take your lives and safety into my custody. You will survive this ordeal and be free once this war is done. You have ten seconds to comply. No clemency will be granted after this.”
“Witnessed,” the trio of goddesses boomed in response.
Like a ripple passing through water, handfuls of soldiers dropped to their faces, then tens, then hundreds.
Till even the cavalry were lying face down on the ground, and the battle was over.
“Pack ’em up, Grace. We’re heading back to Kastell. Game over,” Runner chirped.
Chapter 15 - Outplayed -
9:19 am Sovereign Earth time
11/18/43
Runner sighed and squatted down in front of the brunette they had captured. She was tied to a chair and bound in such a way that she was helpless. Sleep was the spell of the day and between himself, Sophia, and liberal amounts of potions, they were able to keep both her and the general incapacitated the entire trip here.
Apparently the brunette was the second-in-command. Prettier than most and fuller in figure as well, she could definitely turn a head back on Earth. Here she was average. Maybe a touch above.
“So, we’ll do this in a simple fashion. You’ll serve me, or you can die. I can’t have soldiers of your quality running around and possibly ruining my plans. Just consider this the evil monologue and we’ll be fine.” Runner paused and suddenly laughed at himself.
“That actually was a pretty villainous thing to say. Ah well. I’ll also answer any questions you have but then I’ll expect you to answer. Your oath will be made to Ernsta. Should you fail in your oath, you will die and your soul is hers. To be clear, she could decide to use it as floss or bury it in a pig farm. Her choice.” Runner frowned and gestured at the brunette.
Sophia was the only soul with him at this juncture. The rest of Sophia’s squad was in the general’s room next door and the hallway between the two. Runner’s own party was currently processing the mass of prisoners they’d taken.
Reaching out a hand, Sophia cleansed the sleep from the second-in-command, simply named “Aide de camp.”
Immediately she began casting a spell with Runner as the target.
Runner activated Throat Strike and sighed.
“Last chance. I don’t want to kill you if I don’t have to.”
As soon as the interrupt wore off, the woman began casting once more.
Runner hit her with Silence and then flicked a hand back at Sophia. Rubbing at the bridge of his nose with his left hand, he contemplated the situation.
“So be it. I’ll take care of her myself and dump the body. Stuff her head in a bag. I don’t really want to look at her when I do it.” Runner gave the order without looking to his subordinate.
“Of course, sir” Sophia said, moving to stand behind the prisoner. She pulled a dark black bag from her inventory and pulled it down over the motionless aide de camp.
“Mind going to the other room? I promised her I’d make it clean and quick but I’d rather not have an audience,” Runner said, still rubbing at the t-section of his forehead.
“Of course, sir,” Sophia responded, moving to leave the room immediately.
When the door closed behind Sophia, Runner looked up at the brunette and got to his feet.
“Well, let’s get this over with.”
Runner reached out and grabbed the prisoner by the shoulders since the ability required physical contact and then mentally thumbed a preset macro he’d made titled “GMHub 1.”
/GMHub 1
Teleporting…
Active settings only:
Death=On
Food/Water=On
Damage=On
Gravity=100%
Biome=Plane
Day/Night Cycle=On
And then he and the brunette were in an empty grassland. Runner typed in a rapid series of commands as the woman tumbled to the ground. The chair, her bonds, and the sleep spell were suddenly all gone.
/GMHub Settings
Death off
Damage off
Food/water off
Settings changed:
Death=Off
Damage=Off
Food/Water=Off
Coming up with her staff pointed at him, she took a fighting stance, glaring at Runner.
“Yeah, don’t bother,” Runner said, gesturing at the staff. The aide stared at her staff and then gave it a light shake. Apparently nothing happened at the end of her cast.
“You’re done with the world. This is your life now. I’ll come back and visit you in a day or two to see if you’re willing to talk. Oh, and food for thought. When was the last time you went to the bathroom? Right, then. See ya.”
Runner tapped the premade button to return.
/GMHubReturn
Teleporting…
Back in the little narrow room, Runner pushed the chair to the wall.
Definitely has the potential for a prison. What else can I do with it?
He gave the room once last check to see if they had left anything. Finding nothing, he opened the door and stepped out.
“It’s done,” Runner said to Sophia, who moved to stand at his elbow.
He crossed to the second room, opened the door, and stepped in.
“Everyone please exit and remain on station in the corridor. Sophia and I will be working on the general now.”
Immediately the squad of beautiful Sunless noblewomen trooped by him. Once the door clicked, Runner turned and squatted down in front of the general.
“Alright, general. Your turn. This is quite simple. You’ll serve me or you’ll die. I’m afraid I can’t leave you running around. Your aide chose death and she is no longer of this world. Any oath you make to me would be safeguarded by a trio of goddesses. I’ll answer any questions you have. If you’d please, Grace?” Runner asked, pointing a finger at the blonde general.
Sophia ended the sleep spell on her and Runner waited to see what would happen.
“You’ll answer questions?” the general said, her deep gray eyes flicking from him to Sophia and back.
Runner nodded his head at that, watching her. Her eyes were deep and intelligent. She had a certain aura to her and she definitely had her charms. The short blonde hair reminded him of Amelia. Maybe a touch fuller in the chest and hips, but definitely well put together. Certainly above the norm even here.
“Did you really have to kill her?”
Runner ping ponged his head back and forth as he pretended to think on his answer.
“Yes and no. Yes because I can’t risk her running around. I really can’t. No because I could have had her swear an oath. Though that seems as unlikely as the other, doesn’t it? Next question.”
“You say I would serve you. In what capacity? I won’t warm your bed.”
Runner laughed at that and shook his head.
“Why does everyone assume that’s what I want?”
“Wishful thinking? She’s welcome to warm my bed instead,” Sophia supplied, which only made Runner laugh the more.
“Nice. Maybe she’ll warm yours and you warm mine and I’ll warm hers.”
“I wouldn
’t mind. Consider me up for the challenge, sir.”
“Very forward thinking of you, Grace. To answer your question, no, General. I have enough lady problems as it is. I don’t need forced sex slaves. As for the capacity in which you’d function, something similar to what you were doing previously. It’d be under my discretion. Why would I have you do something other than what you’re good at?”
“You would trust me?”
“Not really, no. I’d have you swear an oath to the three aforementioned goddesses who would love to use your soul to power themselves. Should any of them find you in violation they’ll probably suck you dry faster than an alcoholic prostitute looking for her next bottle. Though I would put in the condition that I have to approve of it first. Wouldn’t want them taking you down without due cause. Unless it’s an attempt on my life. Then you’re done.”
The general’s chin fell at that answer and she turned her thoughts inward, chewing on the whole thing mentally.
“What’s your name, General? I have a great deal of respect for you, so I’d like to at least address you correctly. That or I can start calling you Blondie.”
“Faye, Faye Sennet.”
“Faye. Pretty name. Do you have family left behind in Crivel or Faren?”
Faye looked startled at the question, her eyes darting from him to Sophia and then her own knees.
“I-I don’t know. Before this war I didn’t-I didn’t question, err…I…” She trailed off, her eyes losing a bit of their definition.
“Ah. You’re Awakening. This is an easy discussion for someone of your intelligence. When was the last time you used the bathroom? Think on that. While you think on that, compare your memories of before the war to right now. You’ll find they, well, taste different. Com—”
He was interrupted when the door opened. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw one of his new guards poke her head in.
“Lord Runner, Queen Helen will be ready for you soon,” she said, then disappeared back out the door.
Otherlife Nightmares: The Selfless Hero Trilogy Page 27
