//------------------------------// // Chapter 22 New and Old faces // Story: A Black Sun Rises // by Bronycommander //------------------------------// Chapter 22: New and Old faces None of them said, a word, afraid it would get them killed as they got brought to what looked like a garment mill and were put into a cell, with a single window. “What are we gonna do? I-I don’t wanna be back in a lab…” Blau shivered at the thought, his voice cracking. “I don’t know…” Dinky said, trying to think of something. “Hope and pray for the best?” “I am sure Fletcher will look out for us upon hearing what happened…But will he be there in time?” Katja wondered as the sun was going down. Two SS soldiers were assigned to guard them just starting their guard duty. They both saw how the children had fallen asleep on the cots. Yet, they were tossing and turning, scared looks on their faces, “Poor kids, must have a nightmare.” One of them said with sympathy. “Who cares, we shall only guard them!” The other one replied slightly annoyed. “I do care for them!” “I don't believe it! You're a member of the SS, you're not supposed to be showing pity! We're the best-trained soldiers, why did you even join the Waffen-SS?” “For the last time, they forced me!” The first one yelled and his comrade just rolled his eyes. “Whatever…” Dinky and her friends wake with a slight gasp, shivering. They had dreamed of being put before a firing squad. A SS soldier walked up to the cell and unlocked it, they all looked at him with fearful expressions. “Please don’t kill us…” The filly pleaded. The soldier just gave a weak smile. “Calm down, I’m not going to harm you.” He said and gave them a board with bread and water. “Here, you should eat something.” It surprised them, yet they gladly took it. “Thanks,” Dinky replied, then they started to notice the man was familiar and they remembered. “Wait…aren’t you…” “Yes. I am the soldier you saw in the forest, who protested at your capture before it and with the reinforcements in Italy. Just call me Dennis.” For the first time, they saw his face fully. Pure blue eyes, brown hair, clean shaven, an athletic build. Overall, he looked like he was in his late teen years, making them wonder how he could be in the SS. “How can you be with the SS?” Katja asked and he sighed. “I didn't choose at all. They chose me. They wanted young, healthy men to fight their battles for them. They saw me helping my dad load up our car for the market and before you know it, here I am in the clean black suit and bloody gloves...Or they would have taken everything. I never believed in the propaganda are anything what they think in the SS.” “Oh my...I am so sorry to hear that.” Blau said with sympathy in his eyes. “My father told me before I left that when you give your word, you keep it, that it is your actions that define you,” Dennis said with a sad voice, looking down for a moment. Then he looked at the kids. “...How can I ever face him after what I have done, what I have seen being done to others?” None of them could answer it for a moment. Then Dinky spoke up, “Try to speak in a calm manner to him, let him hear you out, I am sure he will understand you. My father always does when I need to speak with him about bad things.” “That could work.” He replied with a smile.” Suddenly, an SS officer walked up to him. “Come with me, I have to discuss something with you.” “Yes, sir,” Dennis replied, though he doubted it was good. The officer led him into another room. “Our orders got changed.” “Changed? How?” David asked confused. “The prisoners are to be disposed of.” The officer told cold. “S-Sir?” Dennis asked in disbelief. “With all due respect, they are still children.” “Are you disobeying a direct order from your superior?” The other SS member asked in a strict tone. “No, Sir. I just….feel uncomfortable about it.” “Comfortable you say? You know, disobeying a direct order is a serve crime. And it would affect your family as well.” The officer reached for a pistol. “You don’t want that, don’t you?” “N-No, Sir.” “Then prove your loyalty to the Reich.” He gave him the pistol and led him outside. To his horror, Dennis saw the three children tied up and blindfolded against the wall, shaking. Dennis couldn’t believe it, he could never do this. But if he would refuse, his family would suffer. The pistol shook in his hand as he lined up the sights, aiming at Dinky’s head, wanting to give her a quick and painless death. Click! Confused, he looked at the weapon and noticed from the weight: It was empty. Regardless, the shot had missed anyway, seeing how the officer walked away without a word. Fletcher and Blazkowicz moved through the sewers to the SS HQ, it was located just right next door at the Hospital. Blazkowicz opened the door and saw a SS soldier sitting at the reception, quickly shooting him into the head with his MP 40 before he could react. Then they started to check the file cabinets and desk for information, but found nothing, so they continued to search, walking up the stairs. “Hey! We got a man down!” A soldier yelled downstairs and both operatives knew, they had to fight their way through. They quickly surprised the SS squad in the next office and searched for information, with Fletcher finding a document in a cabinet that made him concerned. To: General Zetta From: Captain Richter Sir, Ordering the capture of the children that were with the Green Knight and American was a sheer genius. I'm certain they will crack quickly. Then our Scribes will pluck all the information held in the depths of their minds. It will of course render them insane, but such are the fortunes of war. “Oh dear… we better hurry.” “Agreed, Fletcher.” They then fought their way through the next floor and offices with ease, coming to another officer, with a map on the wall, also having photos of the captured agents on it. “That must be it. A garment mill taken over by the SS Paranormal Division. It’s not far from here.” “Then let’s move!” They took the same entrance out they had taken it and to the sewers again to avoid unnecessary fighting, coming to the garment mill shortly. The front door is completely barricaded, guarded by a squad of Wehrmacht soldiers, which both recognized as they came closer. “Fletcher, didn’t expect to see you so soon again,” Konrad said surprised. “Me neither. We are on a mission to rescue captured Golden Dawn members from the garment mill. Plans went south. They got the foals. I'll need your help.” “What?” Escher asked in slight shock, blinking as Fletcher nodded. “Alright, this is crossing the line…” He said with a dark tone. “We’ll help you. There’s an entrance on the left side of the rooftop, a ladder.” “Thanks.” They all took the ladder inside, coming to a cellar. Right at the end was a tied up and blindfolded man on a chair, guarded by two SS soldiers. William and Fray killed them with synchronized shots of their rifles, then untied the man. “Thank you. You go on – I’ll find my way out of here.” The Golden Dawn member said as he stood up. They then moved up the stairs, taking out any SS soldiers that dared to stop them. In a small room was the next prisoner, freeing him. Coming across a catwalk, they saw another room with a prisoner inside, guarded by a Scribe. He shielded himself from Blazkowicz’s fire but Konrad lunged forward, stabbing him into the throat with his Bayonet. After the last prisoner was freed, Fletcher looked around. “The children have to be here somewhere!” He cast his tracking spell and smiled. “Got it! Right on the top floor.” The group wasted no time and came to a door, Blazkowicz kicked it open. Inside were the children, also tied up and blindfolded on chairs, trembling. Two SS, soldiers one of them an officer, guarded them. The soldier had a slightly scared expression, the officer rather determined to stop them. “Surrender, or they die!” He threatened, aiming a pistol at the children. Fletcher looked for an opportunity to shoot, but the officer stood directly in front of the children. Any shot at him would hurt or kill them too. It looked like they had no other choice, if they wanted the kids to live. But what happened next, surprised everyone. The other soldier punched the officer right into the face, a slight hint of rage and disgust in his expression. “I had enough!” Then he untied the kids, who instantly ran into Fletcher for a comforting hug. “Shh, it’s okay.” He said in a calming voice and looked at the young man, recognizing him. “You have my gratitude, kid.” “I did only what was right, what I had to do. My name is Dennis.” “Great job, kid.” Blazkowicz praised him. The young man nodded, then looked at Konrad. “Mind if I join you?” “Not at all. You don’t deserve to be with those guys.” “Now, we get you back to the safehouse,” Fletcher said to the kids and they nodded as the three Golden Dawn agents walked up to them. “We’ll get them there, so you can continue with the mission.” One of them said and Fletcher nodded, the kids did too. “And we better get going. See you later.” Konrad spoke and left with the others. As the kids left with the Golden Dawn members, Fletcher and William made their way to the exit sewer entrance, only to stop as they saw it was guarded by a new enemy. A blonde woman wearing a black SS uniform. “I saw them before. Elite Guards, once under the command of Helga Von Bulow.” William told Fletcher. Barely he had spoken the woman spotted them and lobbed a green ball of energy at William, he quickly ducked to avoid it. Fletcher aimed his weapon, but the woman moved towards him very fast and tried to hit him with retractable blades attached to their wrists. He managed to block it with his spear, seeing briefly a skeletal pattern on her chest and face. Using his strength, he shoved and back and hit her across the chest, blood splattered as she clutched her wound and died. “Okay, let’s go,” Fray said as the way was clear and climbed through a hole in the sewers. Still, the Elite Guard reminded him of someone. Kinda like Domino and Saracen. Wonder what happened to them. I know Midnight still thinks they’re alive, but they don’t have means of agelessness like we do…I just miss them…Saracen would definitely be by my side here…Could he be that ghostly guard that I saw before? Given how we were best friends, it would be very likely. But then again… “I swear this place is hunted I heard laughter again – and no one was there.” A voice tore him out, and he peeked around the corner, seeing two Wehrmacht soldiers chatting. “I know what you mean. I keep hearing a buzzing sound.” “Why do we have to guard down here anyway? No one’s going to come through the sewer.” The first soldier replied, his back to the two intruders getting knocked out with his comrade. As they moved on, Blazkowicz switched to the Tesla gun, knowing that by buzzing and laugher, an Assassin was nearby. Activating the Veil, he just saw him running towards him and fired, taking the hostile out before he could do any harm. The way led to a ladder, which they took up, hearing another German voice. “Those Drache Troopers are unsafe; the resistance has taken to shooting their fuel tanks. The explosion usually takes out anyone else close by.” “Well, now I know not to stand near anyone carrying a flamethrower.” Around the corner were also to Wehrmacht soldiers, having their backs to the intruders, getting knocked out bore they could react. But as Fletcher came to the mouth of an extremely narrow corridor, he stopped abruptly as a hostile soldier came around the corner. He wore a black trench coat and a white gas mask, with red lenses and a helmet, carrying a fuel tank on his back. Burn!” He yelled in a menacingly deep echoing tone, firing a jet of flames. Fletcher quickly cast a shield spell, then fired a powered arrow that head of the soldier, killing him instantly. “So this must be one of those Drache Troopers.” William switched his Particle Cannon for the still intact Flamethrower. Hearing laugher again, he activated his Veil once more and burned the incoming Assassin before he could get close. They came to some stair that led to a ladder. Climbing up, they came to the outside of a factory. An MG nest on the other side saw them and opened fire. They both activate their Veil shields and took the soldiers out with their rifles. A train car next to it was busted open and a heavy trooper walked out, firing a shotgun-like burst of energy balls, which the shields absorbed. Fletcher in response fire three arrows at once, two headed for the shoulder vents, the third for the emergency vent, blowing the trooper up. Suddenly the ground shook as a heard an echoing energy sound, sounding like a massive explosion. “Whatever it is, it comes somewhere in the inside of the facility.” William concluded. They then fought their way through the facility, coming across workshops for the armor of the heavy troopers, the strange echoing sound occurred everyone in a while with a countdown. Eventually, they came to what looked like a repair shop, seeing a large tank hull, as they eliminated the SS troops, with Fletcher stabbing a scribe as he shielded them. Then they moved towards what looked like a firing range. On the other end was a tank turret, mounted on a railway carriage. It fired a spherical globe of energy and they took cover behind a concrete barrier. While protected by it, the barrier got obliterated the barrier completely, the small debris floating in the air for a few seconds before falling to the ground. But by moving from barrier to barrier, both managed to get past the tank gun and stormed the control booth behind it. Fletcher shot two scribes with his arrows before they could react, William took care of the SS soldiers. Seeing a large number of SS moving in after the booth was cleared, Blazkowicz ran to the buttons that controlled it and fired the gun at them. Fletcher took notice how the gun was instantly disintegrating the soldiers into a bile of bones, and that it apparently used Veil Barrels as ammunition, as it ejected a spent barrel every time it fired. Also, the gun was rigged to two coils on each wall of the firing range; these flashed with electricity when it fired. It was very impressive, yet terrifying. After the enemy threat was eliminated, they both nodded at each other, knowing that this gun had to be destroyed. They activated the veil and saw that the coils were glowing red and used the gun to destroy them. As soon as the last coil was destroyed, the gun exploded in an electric teal color, being disabled. They then moved through a backdoor in the booth, coming across to what looked like production machine for Veil Barrels before getting through another door. It led to a large room with three conduits in it, themselves were on a catwalk, seeing a broad SS Officer in the middle of the room, his back to them, hands behind his back. “Finally I get to meet the man and stallion who have caused us such so much trouble… But I'll put a stop to that now.” He said confidently. “Like hell you will,” Blazkowicz said and took aim, but what happened next surprised him and Fletcher. The bullets passed right through him. And he chuckled as Blazkowicz reloaded and fired again, with the same result. “You really don't understand, do you?” The German taunted and raised his hand. The catwalk started to creak and both tried to run before it collapsed and both landed on ground level with a groan. Getting up, they saw that the man had brown eyes and hair and realized: It was General Zetta himself. “You of all people should know you cannot trust what you see.” He taunted. Fletcher took a step back as Zetta ran towards him, strangely moving as if on puppet strings, making a distorted groan as he attempted to punch, Fletcher, who jumped out of the way. That’s supernatural! He realized and activated his Veil, being surprised at what he saw. In the Veil, Zetta was not a man but a huge worm-like monster. He fired at his veil form, Zetta fired solid rings of expanding energy at chest level at them, Fray ducked to avoid it. Blazkowicz on the other hand, did not use the Veil, still firing at a human Zetta, with the bullets still going through him. “What is this?! Die already!” He yelled frustrated, avoiding the punches as good as he could. Fletcher kept on firing until Zetta’s carapace was blown off. In response, he went to one of the conduits, it activated and slowly restored him. Fletcher saw outside of the Veil a ghost-like form of Zetta’s slug appearance, and the human body was full of holes. Despite this, Fray didn’t hesitate to destroy the generator with a charged arrow, causing Zetta to scream in pain as exploded violently, damaging him in the process. Upon seeing the ghost-like form and bullet holes, William realized he had to use the Veil. The SS officer then fired solid rings of energy that ran along the ground this time, but his enemies jumped over it as they fired at him and he was forced to go to the next generator. Fetcher destroyed this one too with a charged arrow. This time, Zetta fired scatterings of energy projectiles in a diagonally tilted ring but Fray and Blazkowicz jumped up the side and kept firing until he collapsed. Now, they saw the slug perfectly outside of the Veil, as William walked up to him, his MP 40 pointed at the head. “You think this makes any difference, you simpleton? We will prevail, I promise you. We serve one with power you cannot comprehend.” Zetta taunted with a distorted voice. “Hitler's already half a corpse and I'll make sure he's all the way once I see him again.” Zetta just chuckled- “Oh you poor fool. I wasn't talking about the Fuhrer...He is coming. His hand reaches out for your little associates...And he has so many things planned for them.” He said before the American fired, causing blood to splatter. But the destruction of the generators caused a chain reaction of explosions and they both wasted no time to get to the exit door, vaulting over the wall outside. “Phew…Glad that’s over. Any idea how he became that thing?” Fletcher asked his ally. “I suspect it’s a mutation as a result of exposure to the Veil. No doubt Berlin will send a replacement. The new guy can't be any worse. Let’s get back to Caroline.” Fray nodded, yet Zetta’s last words made him think. Who did he mean with “He is coming?” He thought hard, but could not get up with an answer. “Back at the safe house, the resistance leader and children smiled warmly at their return. “You did well. Maybe the impossible can happen maybe we can kick the Nazis out of Isenstadt, live free again. But only if we keep it up. The Nazis are retaliating for the death of General Zetta by attacking this section of Isenstadt. We must move to downtown.” She explained. “Take the sewers northwest, then once you’re downtown, travel along the waterways, the Nazis shouldn’t see you there.” “Okay. What about the children?” Fletcher wanted to know, being slightly worried. “I will organize their safe passage out of the city personally, as I will meet an informant about the commander who’s coming to replace Zetta. I don’t see how this Nazi could be any worse than Zetta, but you never know. I want to find out everything about him I can.” “Good. See you in downtown. “Good luck. Fletcher.” The children said in incision as he left with Blazkowicz for the sewers. As they walked thrown, the stepped as they heard footsteps, leaning against the wall as they saw several shadows. “Someone will pay dearly for putting me down here.” They saw a scribe walking past, a pack of Sniffers following him, apparently controlling them. William sneaked behind them with his flamethrower and burned them, Fray looked away in disgust, not able to bear the screams. Nevertheless, they moved on, seeing two chatting SS soldiers through a hatch. “The fighting of Midtown has ground to a standstill. What got into the townspeople to make them suddenly put up a fight?” “It’s that American agent, Blazkowicz. When he killed General Zetta it made them think they could fight back.” “What’s this Blazkowicz look like?” “Tall, blond – and if I ever see him, dead.” Reaching the end of the sewers, the two climbed up, seeing that the buildings of Downtown were much more heavily damaged than in Midtown, possibly due to Allied bombing. Taking Caroline’s advice to stay by the waterways, they reached the new safe house without any enemy contacts, seeing Erik with a worried expression. “What’s wrong?” William asked him. “Caroline has been taken prisoner by the Nazis. After she left with the children, the informant turned out to be a trap.” “What?” Fletcher asked in shock and disbelief. “We just received word they’re being held at a castle outside of town. Needless to say, we’re preparing a rescue.” Fletcher gritted his teeth with a growl. “They will regret that. There is no time to waste.” “Ja. A short distance from here there’s a truck waiting to take you to the castle.” Both nodded and moved out. The stallion dreaded to imagine what would happen to the Children, hoping they weren’t too late, seeing a Wehrmacht squad with a SS soldier up ahead on the street. “So we meet again. Fletcher.” Konrad greeted with a smile. “Glad to see you too, but we have a problem. Dinky, Katja and Blau got captured again and brought to the Castle outside of town.” Fletcher told him and his expression became slightly shocked. “What?” He blinked, then sighed. “Alright, we’re with you. There was something we were about to warn you anyway.” He said as they all moved. “And that this? The Sergeant pointed at the Zeppelin in the sky. “We got informed, when a signal is given, immediately withdraw to the city limits of Isenstadt and that the signal will be transmitted once the Zeppelin has reached optimal position and its weapons system is fully operational. So we better do it fast to rescue them.” “Right.” William nodded. The squad took a second truck once Blazkowicz and Fra reached the agents at the truck that was waiting for them. It was night when they reached the castle. Konrad and his squad were determined to save the children, ready to do whatever it would take and the Sergeant yelled to his men, “Squad, advance! Keep moving forward!” Together with the Kreisau agents, Fray and Blazkowicz, they stormed the outer country yard, quickly overwhelming the SS defenders. An MG was firing from a window, but Fletcher took aim with his K98 and fired, taking the gunner out and opening the way. William saw a glint on a balcony and took aim with his rifle, scooting a sniper right through the scope. Having overtaking the first bridge, they entered the next one, hearing a loud roar in the sky. They all were quite surprised to see two soldiers, flying in the air with jetpacks, armed with two four-barrel rocket launchers. They fired at the resistance fighters, circling around, but Fletcher cast a shield Spell and fired an arrow at one of the enemies with little trouble. It hit the jetpack, it sparked and the soldiers lost control, crashing into his comrade and both exploded. “For Isenstadt!” One Kreisau member yelled as they advanced to the inner courtyard, and were greeted by another Despoiled. It fired its energy at Fletcher, he jumped out of the way, then concentrated fire with William and the soldiers on it, defeating it quickly. He let out an aggravated sigh. “Well...You tested it on yourselves...Smart...Do you people just...not believe in Health and Safety Codes?! Is that forbidden in your Fascist Doctrines or something?! You're doing this on purpose aren't you! You're being as crazily evil as possible just to piss me off!” The way then led to a closed portcullis. “Find a way to open it, we wait here!” One of the agents said to the soldiers, they all nodded, taking a side entrance. They came to the other sides of the portcullis with some Veil machines. William took notice that one of them held a large weapon, similar to the Particle Cannon in form. “That should do it.” He said and picked it up, aiming at the portcullis. As he pulled the trigger, it fired a spherical globe of energy that detonated and lifted the gate up before the tip of the weapon spun for a short moment, as if it recharged. “It’s like a mini version of that tank gun we saw at the Cannery.” Fletcher commented at the sight. “Yes, I overheard a scantiest that they call it Leichenfaust.” Konrad explained as they got outside. They had to see another of those altered beasts, fought by both SS and Resistance with no success. Blazkowicz aimed the Leichenfaust at it and fired. The altered got instantly disintegrated into a pile of bones, floating for a moment before hitting the ground. With the area secure, they all advanced into the inner Keep and eliminated the SS there. “We’ll hold this area. You go save Caroline and the children.” The same agent from before said and all soldiers nodded, walking up the stairs. They all fought their way through a dinning room, Blazkowicz used the Leichenfaust to eliminate another Despoiled among the way, before hearing a voice. “I’m taking this prisoner to the roof. Do not let the American through!” It was Grosse, seeing through a bared window how he dragged a struggling Caroline up the stairs. Fighting through the SS soldiers, the group’s route led through a radio room and a library, hearing laughter. Two Assassins charged at them, but the flamethrower of William burned them with screams before they could get too close. After that they came to a storage room, the stairs leading to the roof. “We secure this area, so no Reinforcements get to you,” Konrad said to the stallion and American. “Alright,” Fray replied and moved up. B.J and Fletcher Fray entered the roof of the castle, a huge machine was on it, harnessing the power of the Black Sun Dimension as it looked identical to that in the Church. The agent spotted an SS-officer dead ahead. "Deathshead..." Deathshead chuckled.” Agent Blazkowicz, Fletcher Fray. When I heard reports you were in town, I could not believe my good fortune - finally, I can have my revenge." He clenched his fist. "You forgetting we the ones with the guns. Shut that thing down.” B.J. said with authority, training his MP40 on Deathshead, Fletcher Fray his bow. "You're not the one giving orders here. Drop your weapons, especially you, Fletcher Fray, if you don't want that your little friend dies." He stepped aside, revealing that Hans Grosse held Caroline as hostage, while an SS-Officer held Dinky at gun point. The unicorn saw the fear in her eyes. "No! Don't" Caroline struggled while Dinky trembled in fear. Both dropped their weapons, Fletcher did it only to not endanger the little foal. "And that is why Germany will triumph. We are willing to risk everything to win. Many had thought this device would tear the barrier between our dimension and the Black Sun. But we persevered and now possess an inexhaustible source of power. With it, Germany's war machine will conquer the world.” Deathshead told them with triumph in his voice. "I’m tired of their continued existence, Hans. Shoot them." As Hans was about to shoot, the machine suddenly exploded, making him miss. Caroline struggled to get free but Hans managed to shoot her, causing both operatives to gasp slightly in shock. Yet they got their weapons as Deathshead looked at the damaged machine in horror as it sparked and caught fire. “Nein! Nein!" The machine sent out Veil energy, disintegrating the officer along with Hans. The filly herself was unharmed but dazed as she hit the ground. "Dinky!" The knight was about to came to her. But in the moment he almost reached her, the machine exploded into pieces, knocking him over and opening an uncontrollable portal that sucked the filly and B.J. in before they could react. "Dinky! NO!" Fletcher tried to reach out but it was too late. As he saw Deathshead fleeing, he fired a short burst of bullets from his MP43 but missed. Suddenly, he heard a terrifying scream coming out of the portal. It sounded like the same the despoiled made when Fletcher and B.J. destroyed the machine at the church, accidentally turning an SS-officer into one of those horrible creatures. For the first time in years, he was really scared, his yes becoming small. "Uh-oh..." The Eternal Knight trained his bow on the portal, ready to face whatever would exit it. At first, he thought it could be B.J. but he remembered that the Thule Medallion protected him from the portal back in the hospital. Then, it hit him like a train who had made that scream. No, no, no, no, anything but that!