Sashataakheru (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
wolfanfics) wrote2010-01-15 12:25 am
wolfanfics) wrote2010-01-15 12:25 am
Entry tags:
The Glass House: Chapter Twenty Nine
Title: The Glass House
Author: Sashataakheru
Beta: The wonderfulrana_narsilion <3
Fandom: The Chaser/AusComedy RPS
Starring: Adam Hills, Sepulchre (OC), Wil Anderson, Hamish Blake, Craig Reucassel, Tim Minchin, Julian Morrow, Chas Licciardello, Charles Firth, Chris Taylor, Andrew Hansen, Caleb (OC), Dr Rachel Hardy (OC), Antoinette Laurent (OC), Dr Samantha Reddings (OC), Dominic Knight, Shane Cubis, Gregor Stronach, Tim Brunero, Andy Lee
Pairings: Andrew/Chris; Adam/Hamish; Jules/Chas; Rachel/Antoinette(/Samantha); Adam/Seb; Adam/Wil; Craig/Caleb; Adam/Wil/Tim; Andrew/Craig, Wil/Chas; implied Tim/Craig, Hamish/Andy (after a fashion. XD)
Word Count: 4,545
Chapter: 29/32 [Previous]
Warnings: language, violence, broken!Andrew
Rating: FRAO
Disclaimer: I don’t know them, not associated with them, just a slashy fangirl admirer with a very active imagination.
Author’s Notes: FYI, fullwing = winged human capable of flight. Halfwing = fullwing/human halfbreed, usually unable to fly, sometimes have vestigial wings, but can be removed to pass as human and not as winged. ZOMG. Four chapters to go. D:!
Summary: Seb finally brings Andrew under control, leaving Chris to deal with the fallout as he takes Andrew to safety.
Chapter Twenty Nine
By mid-afternoon, Andrew had made it to Canberra. The other rebels hadn't made it so far, but they were not as interested in fighting their way through as fast as possible, nor would they have found it as easy as Andrew had. Andrew had powered the tanks to make fast progress southward, cutting a fiery path down the coast and destroying any resistance he found along the way. All he cared about was getting to Canberra.
He arrived with little fanfare, most of the resistance torn between fiery death thanks to one strange being, or fighting off the real rebellion, and given a choice, most picked the rebellion, leaving Andrew free to do what he wanted. He stopped outside Parliament House and positioned his tanks, ready to destroy it.
Andrew wondered if they really were all inside there, like he had hoped they were. They, of course, being the Government. They wouldn't evacuate, would they, just because there was a rebellion happening all over the country. Hell, they probably thought Parliament House was the safest place to be, and goodness knows it was self-sufficient enough to keep them locked away in there for months if need be.
The few soldiers guarding the House closed in and readied their weapons. No way was some fire demon going to destroy their Parliament House. Their initial shots were greeted with silence as they flew through the air and hit nothing. Andrew narrowed his eyes and smirked. He raised his flaming sword in the air and charged his tanks to fire.
The soldiers ran for cover and tried to rescue anyone still inside. The tanks rained shells down upon the building. Andrew smiled with glee as he watched it fall to pieces, trapping everyone inside. The screaming didn't bother him. No one could touch him. He flew around the building, looking for anyone trying to escape. The last thing he wanted was for someone to get free. That was not part of the plan.
Andrew's timing had been impeccable. He had rushed to Canberra to destroy everyone in Parliament. All the figures ruling over the country would be there, and now they were buried under rubble. It was not a building Andrew liked, either. It represented everything he hated. It was not the People's House anymore; it had stopped belonging to the people many years ago. It had to be destroyed. Then they could rebuild another one on the foundations of the old one, one that would not be so hated and representative of the evils the country had suffered.
There was an eerie silence once the tanks had stopped firing. Parliament House lay in ruins, crushed into the ground. It looked odd, what with everything else in Canberra left relatively unscathed. Once it was clear Andrew had won, the gathered crowd stood there passively, unable to believe what they were seeing. Some were soldiers, some used to work in Parliament House, and others worked in other instutitions around the capital.
Andrew gazed around, satisfied, sword held loosely in his hand. The fire that had engulfed his body dissipated; the only flames left caressed the sword blade, ready for action. He raised his sword above his head and slammed it down into the ground, sending a flash of bright fire light across the city.
"This country is mine! No one will stop me now!"
Andrew flew into the air and circled around Canberra, still clutching the sword tightly. He sent flaming figures down to the ground to guard his territory, animating them and making them live. The orange figures patrolled the roads and entry ways, ensuring no one got in. Anyone still standing around fled in fear.
"Now to fly! There is much to do!" Andrew cackled as he flew, heading back towards Sydney.
Andrew searched the streets below for his prey, hoping to find Adam and the other rebels. He wanted to gloat, to taunt them into attacking. He finally found them involved in another skirmish in some random street Andrew couldn't remember the name of, fighting some soldiers as they fought for control of the city. Andrew flew down to them, landing in the middle of the fight, grinning wickedly as the bullets shot straight through him. With one outstretched hand, Andrew disposed of the soldiers and turned his attention to the rebels. He was pleased to see Chris there, who stopped when he noticed Andrew there. Another soldier held Chris back as he tried to make his way to Andrew.
"Adam. We meet at last. This country will be mine. Tell your men to back off," Andrew said as he walked forward.
"Andrew, settle down. Work with us instead of against us," Adam said.
Andrew laughed. "I wonder if you realise just how pathetic that sounds. Look at what I've become! I can do more like this than I ever could as a mortal. Watch me bring this country into utter chaos."
"You're crazy," Adam said, shaking his head, lost for anything else to say.
Chris broke away from the man holding him back and approached Andrew. Andrew turned to look at him when he saw him and closed in, a fiery hand caressing his cheek. Chris stared into his eyes, trying to search for the man he loved.
"What have you done to yourself?" Chris said softly.
For a moment, Andrew weakened, seeing the concern in Chris' eyes, but it wasn't enough to subdue the spirit inside him. His eyes sparkled with delight as he spoke.
"I'm alive! I've never felt so powerful before!"
As if to prove his point, Andrew pushed Chris away, sending him flying backwards into the rebel soldiers behind him. Chris scrambled to his feet, but wisely kept his distance.
Andrew straightened and scowled at Chris. "I can do anything I want. I've been released from my prison and now I'm seeking revenge on the world that punished me before."
"Who are you really? What's happened to Andrew?" Adam said.
"The human you call Andrew is dead and gone. I required his life to set me free," Andrew said.
"Andrew, you're scaring me. What have you done? What's done this to you?" Adam said.
"Things that should never have meddled in affairs that are not their own."
Everyone turned to see Sepulchre's translucent figure standing behind them as he walked towards Andrew.
"You! You helped free me! All this is your doing!" Andrew hissed, insidious smile across his lips.
"That sword will be your destruction. You have no right to meddle here. You took Andrew before I realised what you really were. Now, get out. Leave him alone. Begone back to the caves where you were once trapped. You do not deserve any reward for what you have done," Sepulchre said.
"No. No! You will not have power over me! You have no power to banish me!" Andrew yelled as he backed away.
"I know your true name, Azai. With it, I will bind you to me and take you away," Sepulchre said.
"No! No you will not! I will not go with you! I will destroy this pathetic human before you take me!" Andrew was screaming now, panic clear in his voice.
Sepulchre walked forward, eyes blazing. He held out his hand towards Andrew and closed his eyes. Almost instantly, Andrew was kneeling on the ground, clutching his head and screaming in pain. No one else could hear what, if anything, was being said, but it was clear Seb knew what he was doing and was gaining control of Andrew.
By the time Andrew stopped screaming, he was curled up on the ground, naked and shivering, fingers digging into his scalp. Seb stood there, the flaming creature that had taken hold of Andrew crouched close to the ground, chained to Seb with golden metal shackles.
"Azai, you're coming with me. Adam, look after Andrew. He was held hostage by a force he could not fight. He may not recover, but there's no way to tell right now. You have a bigger battle to win. Be prepared to compromise. There are greater forces at work here than even I had anticipated. I leave you now, but know you are blessed and looked after," Seb said before vanishing from view.
Adam and Chris were at Andrew's side immediately. Chris gathered him into his arms, holding him close. Andrew clutched onto him, somehow knowing he was safe.
"Someone get a truck, we need to take him somewhere safe. Some of you set up a guard around us. The rest of you keep moving. We can't afford to stop for too long or they'll be on us before we can fight back," Adam said, directing the troops waiting for instructions. They immediately got to work, following his orders.
Andrew's eyes fluttered open and he looked up at the face above him. Recognising him as Chris, he smiled. Chris almost started crying. He gently brushed a finger against his cheek, glad to see him alive.
"You'll be alright, mate, just hang in there," Chris murmured as he stroked his head gently.
The relief that washed over Andrew's face said what he wasn't able to say.
Adam and the rest of the troops fought on, trying to establish their rebellion, while Chris travelled in the truck with Andrew as they looked for somewhere safe to take him. The truck eventually stopped outside a on the outskirts of the city. A makeshift hospital had been set up in a small primary school by both the rebels and the Army as the casualties mounted on both sides. It was easier than trying to rely on hospitals, not when there were soldiers all over the streets. Any safe building was used, as long as it was out of range of most of the fighting.
The truck stopped outside the school. Chris left the truck to carry Andrew inside. The room he entered first was crowded with patients, soldiers, and medical staff, with every available surface being utilised. Chris was greeted by a nurse who bombarded him with questions about Andrew's condition as she walked him to the first spare bed they had, which was a couple of rooms away. Chris gently lay him down on the bed and stepped back so the nurse could examine Andrew.
Chris hung back, watching her fussing over Andrew, hoping he was alright. He absentmindedly chewed his fingernails, unable to tear his eyes off him. He didn't look at the other patients, some who were even more badly injured than Andrew. All that mattered was Andrew. Time seemed to slow down. Even the gunfire and artillery shots all around him couldn't break his concentration. He would not be able to relax until he knew Andrew was alright.
Andrew was left sleeping restlessly. It was the best they could do. Andrew's mind was not willing to cooperate just yet, and Chris could hardly complain. It wasn't like he had just hurt his arm or something. Chris wanted to stay by his side until he woke, but he was shooed out and told he would be more useful helping the other soldiers guard the hospital. It was hard to argue with that, and Chris headed out to find the other soldiers, trying to push his worry out of his mind.
A soldier approached Chris as he left the room Andrew was in. Chris recognised the insignia and uniform of a State soldier anywhere, and it left him a little nervous.
"You got a gun? Know how to fight?" he said.
Chris found his hand went to his gun anyway. "I'm a rebel, but I know how to fight. Got trouble?"
The soldier gestured anxiously. "Shit yeah. Round the front. Surprise assault. Come on, we need every man we can get. This way."
Chris followed him to the front of the school. There were already soldiers engaged in gunfire across the street, though exactly who they were fighting was unclear.
"What have we got? Is it the Army?" Chris said as he crouched behind a rock, firing over the top towards the trucks.
"Think so. Maybe some rebels too. All we're trying to do is keep them away from here," the other soldier said. "The name's Fletcher. Major Fletcher, fourth brigade."
"Good to be fighting with you, Major. You sure there's not a better way to get them to back off?" Chris said.
"It's the only one we've got," Major Fletcher said.
"How many soldiers do we have here? Have we got anyone round the back?" Chris said.
"There were around thirty of us before, but we're down to about ten now. Can't say we're the best men ever, just the ones who care enough to protect a place like this," Major Fletcher said.
"Should we head round the back, just to make sure? They seem to be heading off now," Chris said.
The Major straightened and lowered his gun. "Yeah, okay. But only because I know there's only a few back there. They could probably do with a couple more."
Chris and the Major kept cover fire going as they crept around the back to defend the place. Taking strategic positions again, they scoured the night for advancing troops from either side. Chris looked up as he spotted a large group advancing towards them, mostly in vehicles.
"Major! You hear that? Large group coming right towards us!" Chris whispered harshly.
"Should we hail them? Tell them to stay away from here? I doubt the few of us could fight them off," the Major said.
"Might work. You're official Army, you hail them," Chris said.
"We're one rebel and one Army officer. We both hail them," the Major said.
Chris nodded his approval. With a quick glance at the Major, they both got to their feet to address the approaching group, their weapons laid down on the ground as a sign of surrender.
"Halt! This is a hospital! Identify yourselves!" the Major said.
The group stopped about ten metres away and the soldiers alighted. Bright headlights blinded Chris and the Major from seeing who was approaching them. Their commanding officer walked forward to greet Chris and the Major. They saluted as they met, Chris standing back a touch, not wanting to be identified so readily as a rebel in case these men were not friendly.
"Lieutenant Colonel Jones, third cavalry battalion. This an Army hospital?" the commanding officer said.
"Major Fletcher, fourth infantry brigade. It's a joint Army/rebel hospital, sir. There's only about ten of us guarding it, a mix of Army and rebel soldiers, sir. Orders from the Brigadier, sir," the Major said.
"A joint operation? Have we reached alliance already?" Lt Col Jones said. He glanced at Chris curiously.
"Unofficially, we have. Both the Army and rebel forces in Queensland are fighting together now in a bid to stop the progress of the combined Chinese-Indonesian troops taking over the state. I've been ordered to look after this hospital and to protect the rebels, sir. We may need their troops in the end if we're going to drive out the invaders. The Brig said it was the best option for now and that antagonising the rebels further would not help matters. Civil war in the face of a huge invasion is not a plan for success. I've heard there's other unofficial alliances as well that are in the process of being formed. The news of the Chinese-Indonesian invasion is spreading quickly. Everyone's preparing for it. We're still waiting on word of an official alliance though," the Major said.
"Had much fighting around the place? We could lend our forces to protecting the hospital and get some more infrastructure in place," Lt Col Jones said.
"Got some fighting out the front. I think some rebels turned up and started firing. We're protecting the place and returning fire as best we can, sir, but we can't be everywhere. There are only ten of us," the Major said.
"Consider us allies then. I'll get the men around to help. Is this one of the rebels, Major?" Lt Col Jones said, looking at Chris standing there, watching their conversation.
"Chris Taylor, sir. Yes, I'm one of the rebels. My partner's hurt, he's being taken care of. I offered to defend the hospital, sir," Chris said stepping forward to meet him, unable to avoid slipping back into soldier mode as he conversed with a senior officer.
"That's good of you, Taylor. Is that an Army-issue assault rifle?" Lt Col Jones said, noticing the gun Chris was holding. He'd picked it up again, just in case.
"Er, yeah, we may have nicked some Army equipment. Seemed easier than smuggling it into the country, sir," Chris said.
"Kept it in good condition?" Lt Col Jones said.
"Yes, sir. Learnt how to look after it during my time in the Reserves, sir," Chris said.
"You were a Reservist, Taylor?" Lt Col said.
"Yes, sir. Royal NSW Regiment, 41st Battalion, sir," Chris said.
"Good man. I like a man who's served his time. Ever deployed?" Lt Col said.
"New Zealand, sir, during the invasion. I was sent to Auckland. Served there for three years," Chris said.
"What made you leave and join the rebels, Taylor?" Lt Col said.
"To be perfectly frank, it was New Zealand, sir. I got there and saw what the troops were doing to the citizens and it sickened me. How I lasted three years there, I don't know. I managed to avoid most of the fighting. I was deployed to secure the city once it had been taken. When I returned, I left and soon after, I heard about the rebels and joined them," Chris said.
"If it's any consolation, Taylor, New Zealand was a mistake. We should never have gone there. I was stationed in the south, protecting the troops as they ravaged the country, looking for the nukes they were supposedly stockpiling. It was all lies and all for political gain. I don't blame you for leaving after that. What rank did you obtain by the time you left?" Lt Col said.
"I was just a Private, sir. Serving in New Zealand kinda put me off ranks, sir," Chris said.
"Well, Private, let's get this guard in place. We've wasted enough time chatting. Remind me to buy you a drink when all this is over," Lt Col Jones said.
"Will do, sir," Chris said.
With the extra troops in place, Chris allowed himself to relax a little. They could defend themselves now, especially as they had acquired some missiles along the way. It was certainly better than ten men trying in vain to secure a place that probably should be guarded by at least fifty. Chris returned to Andrew's side whenever there was a lull in the fighting. Andrew continued to sleep on, unaware of the fighting on around him.
It was hours later when he finally woke. Chris was exhausted from patrolling and had asked for a break. He was in need of sleep, but now that he'd stopped, all he wanted to do was see Andrew, now that he'd woken at last. After taking some coffee and some food that was offered, he let a nurse take him to Andrew.
"He'll be alright, we think, but don't push him. His mind's very fragile right now. When things settle down, we'll have him moved to a proper hospital where he might be able to get better treatment, but we'll do what we can for now," the nurse said as she gestured Chris towards Andrew's bed.
"Thanks. I know you can only do so much right now. I'll stay and guard the place as long as possible. Least I can do," Chris said.
"Thank you. It's much appreciated," the nurse said and left them alone.
Chris sat down beside Andrew's bed and took his hand in his, squeezing it gently. "Hey there, love," he said quietly.
Andrew stiffly looked over at him and smiled. "Hey," he whispered, finally able to talk. His voice was soft and pained, but at least he could talk. "Are we winning?"
Chris shrugged. "Dunno, still fighting though. I'm staying to guard the hospital here, and to look after you. You gave us quite a scare, you did. How are you feeling?"
"Tired. Achey. I don't remember much, not really. It's all kinda vague and fuzzy. If I've fucked up, I'm sorry."
"Seb saved you. He said it wasn't your fault," Chris said.
Andrew grinned. "Good ol' Seb."
"Yeah."
"Still should've been stronger though. I'm such a weak pathetic human being." Andrew's smile faded, and elation turned to disappointment.
"You didn't let it destroy you. You're so much stronger than you realise," Chris said. He brought a hand up and stroked Andrew's cheek gently with the back of his hand.
Andrew leant against his hand, loving his touch. He almost wanted to cry. "Why the hell do you still love me?"
"Can't stop loving you. Sounds corny, I know, but it's true. You mean everything to me, Andrew," Chris said.
"Heh, how absurd of you to be talking of such love while there's a raging war on outside," Andrew said, stifling a laugh.
"Well, I could talk about the war if it'll make you feel better," Chris said. "It's all the rage at the moment."
Andrew sat up a little, more curious about the situation outside than he had thought he would be, considering all he'd been through. "Have we lost anyone yet? How many have died so far?"
"No one knows. There are battles raging all over the country, and the Chinese and Indonesians are sweeping down through Queensland. No one knows anything right now. All we're doing is fighting for our survival."
"I thought that's how it might pan out. Do you think it'll all be worth it? Have we made a bad decision in bringing this country into war? We've never known civil war here. Do you think we can really cope with this?"
Chris shifted uncomfortably. Andrew wanted answers he didn't have. "It's too late to stop it now. The Chinese are refusing to leave, now that they've gotten a foothold into the country. Word is they've betrayed us and are wanting to take over the country for themselves."
"That doesn't surprise me either. I wasn't sure allying with them was a good idea."
"We had no choice. No one else was willing to arm and aid us."
Andrew sighed and leant his head back against the bed. "I know, but didn't we ever consider that they might betray us in the end? We knew how hungry for energy and food they are. They had vested interests in helping us. Didn't they bargain for control of our mines as well? We're letting them take our country from us. We'll be no better off than before. Can't do anything but fight and stay alive, I suppose."
"Yeah, that is true. Nothing else to do, really. Are you gonna be alright?" Chris said.
"Hope so. I hope I didn't hurt you or Craig at all," Andrew said.
"Nah, you didn't hurt us. We'll be fine. You, on the other hand, I hope you're alright, because from what I can gather, your precious mind took a lot of damage. I hope it's not going to be too bad. I'd hate for you to be destroyed by this," Chris said.
"Me too. I don't remember much, but it's all kinda crazy. I just hope the voice is gone for good. It scared me, it did," Andrew said.
"It scared me too. You sounded crazy, talking to yourself like that. Craig and I had no idea what was going on. We didn't know what you were going to do with us," Chris said.
Andrew drew his knees up to his chest and stared down at his feet. "I didn't - I tried to tell you, to save you, I didn't want to hurt you. I-I knew what Craig had gone through before and I wasn't sure I could hand him over to go through it again. But the voice - the voice was too strong. It wanted me to do things I didn't want to do. It hurt me. It scared me. There were times I was too frightened of the voice to disobey it."
Chris moved to sit on the bed beside him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, trying to bring him some comfort. "Shh. It's all over now. Seb said the voice is gone for good. You'll be alright now."
Andrew looked at him anxiously. "I hope so. I don't like being crazy. Am I going to fight again? Or is this the end of my service? I'd feel bad lying back in bed while you guys fight on, doing nothing to help."
"I'd be very surprised if you did any more fighting. I've seen guys with battleshock like yours, though you got a deeper hit of it than most. You've suffered a great trauma. It's not the sort of thing you sleep off in a week."
Andrew laughed again. "Hey, I know how to look after myself. I'm not that fucking fragile."
"No, but your mind needs looking after. I'm not sure it's able to cope with the horrors of warfare right now. I'll talk to Adam and Wil, see if there's anything we can rig up for you. Not sure when they'll be moving you either, or where they'll be moving you to. I may have to stay here and defend the hospital, though. There's barely enough of us to keep this place safe. Besides, a hospital is worth defending, yeah?" Chris said.
"I'll be alright. Just - don't abandon me. Come and see me every now and then," Andrew said.
"Will do. You get better, you here? Can't have you all sick, can we?" Chris said.
"I'll be fine, Chris. Stop fussing," Andrew said, brushing him away playfully.
"Is it my fault you've given me a perfect opportunity to fuss over you and shower you with love and attention?" Chris said with a grin.
"Keep that up and I might not let you leave," Andrew said.
"I'll leave whether you want me to or not. I'd like to get some sleep between now and the next time I need to get out there and fight. I thought I'd at least come and talk to you for a while before I went though. Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself. I'll be a few rooms over if you need me, but please, for the love of the Gods, let me sleep, alright?" Chris said, getting to his feet.
"I was wondering why you looked so tired. Go on, get some sleep then. You're needed more than I am," Andrew said.
Chris brushed the hair out of his eyes as he gave him a soft kiss. Andrew let him go reluctantly and settled back in bed to take some rest of his own. The distraction of Chris was gone and now he was left with a mind full of memories it wasn't sure it wanted. Unwilling to deal with it just yet, he asked a nurse for some sleeping pills and allowed himself to fall asleep, hoping, praying, for dreamless rest.
Author: Sashataakheru
Beta: The wonderful
rana_narsilion <3Fandom: The Chaser/AusComedy RPS
Starring: Adam Hills, Sepulchre (OC), Wil Anderson, Hamish Blake, Craig Reucassel, Tim Minchin, Julian Morrow, Chas Licciardello, Charles Firth, Chris Taylor, Andrew Hansen, Caleb (OC), Dr Rachel Hardy (OC), Antoinette Laurent (OC), Dr Samantha Reddings (OC), Dominic Knight, Shane Cubis, Gregor Stronach, Tim Brunero, Andy Lee
Pairings: Andrew/Chris; Adam/Hamish; Jules/Chas; Rachel/Antoinette(/Samantha); Adam/Seb; Adam/Wil; Craig/Caleb; Adam/Wil/Tim; Andrew/Craig, Wil/Chas; implied Tim/Craig, Hamish/Andy (after a fashion. XD)
Word Count: 4,545
Chapter: 29/32 [Previous]
Warnings: language, violence, broken!Andrew
Rating: FRAO
Disclaimer: I don’t know them, not associated with them, just a slashy fangirl admirer with a very active imagination.
Author’s Notes: FYI, fullwing = winged human capable of flight. Halfwing = fullwing/human halfbreed, usually unable to fly, sometimes have vestigial wings, but can be removed to pass as human and not as winged. ZOMG. Four chapters to go. D:!
Summary: Seb finally brings Andrew under control, leaving Chris to deal with the fallout as he takes Andrew to safety.
Chapter Twenty Nine
By mid-afternoon, Andrew had made it to Canberra. The other rebels hadn't made it so far, but they were not as interested in fighting their way through as fast as possible, nor would they have found it as easy as Andrew had. Andrew had powered the tanks to make fast progress southward, cutting a fiery path down the coast and destroying any resistance he found along the way. All he cared about was getting to Canberra.
He arrived with little fanfare, most of the resistance torn between fiery death thanks to one strange being, or fighting off the real rebellion, and given a choice, most picked the rebellion, leaving Andrew free to do what he wanted. He stopped outside Parliament House and positioned his tanks, ready to destroy it.
Andrew wondered if they really were all inside there, like he had hoped they were. They, of course, being the Government. They wouldn't evacuate, would they, just because there was a rebellion happening all over the country. Hell, they probably thought Parliament House was the safest place to be, and goodness knows it was self-sufficient enough to keep them locked away in there for months if need be.
The few soldiers guarding the House closed in and readied their weapons. No way was some fire demon going to destroy their Parliament House. Their initial shots were greeted with silence as they flew through the air and hit nothing. Andrew narrowed his eyes and smirked. He raised his flaming sword in the air and charged his tanks to fire.
The soldiers ran for cover and tried to rescue anyone still inside. The tanks rained shells down upon the building. Andrew smiled with glee as he watched it fall to pieces, trapping everyone inside. The screaming didn't bother him. No one could touch him. He flew around the building, looking for anyone trying to escape. The last thing he wanted was for someone to get free. That was not part of the plan.
Andrew's timing had been impeccable. He had rushed to Canberra to destroy everyone in Parliament. All the figures ruling over the country would be there, and now they were buried under rubble. It was not a building Andrew liked, either. It represented everything he hated. It was not the People's House anymore; it had stopped belonging to the people many years ago. It had to be destroyed. Then they could rebuild another one on the foundations of the old one, one that would not be so hated and representative of the evils the country had suffered.
There was an eerie silence once the tanks had stopped firing. Parliament House lay in ruins, crushed into the ground. It looked odd, what with everything else in Canberra left relatively unscathed. Once it was clear Andrew had won, the gathered crowd stood there passively, unable to believe what they were seeing. Some were soldiers, some used to work in Parliament House, and others worked in other instutitions around the capital.
Andrew gazed around, satisfied, sword held loosely in his hand. The fire that had engulfed his body dissipated; the only flames left caressed the sword blade, ready for action. He raised his sword above his head and slammed it down into the ground, sending a flash of bright fire light across the city.
"This country is mine! No one will stop me now!"
Andrew flew into the air and circled around Canberra, still clutching the sword tightly. He sent flaming figures down to the ground to guard his territory, animating them and making them live. The orange figures patrolled the roads and entry ways, ensuring no one got in. Anyone still standing around fled in fear.
"Now to fly! There is much to do!" Andrew cackled as he flew, heading back towards Sydney.
Andrew searched the streets below for his prey, hoping to find Adam and the other rebels. He wanted to gloat, to taunt them into attacking. He finally found them involved in another skirmish in some random street Andrew couldn't remember the name of, fighting some soldiers as they fought for control of the city. Andrew flew down to them, landing in the middle of the fight, grinning wickedly as the bullets shot straight through him. With one outstretched hand, Andrew disposed of the soldiers and turned his attention to the rebels. He was pleased to see Chris there, who stopped when he noticed Andrew there. Another soldier held Chris back as he tried to make his way to Andrew.
"Adam. We meet at last. This country will be mine. Tell your men to back off," Andrew said as he walked forward.
"Andrew, settle down. Work with us instead of against us," Adam said.
Andrew laughed. "I wonder if you realise just how pathetic that sounds. Look at what I've become! I can do more like this than I ever could as a mortal. Watch me bring this country into utter chaos."
"You're crazy," Adam said, shaking his head, lost for anything else to say.
Chris broke away from the man holding him back and approached Andrew. Andrew turned to look at him when he saw him and closed in, a fiery hand caressing his cheek. Chris stared into his eyes, trying to search for the man he loved.
"What have you done to yourself?" Chris said softly.
For a moment, Andrew weakened, seeing the concern in Chris' eyes, but it wasn't enough to subdue the spirit inside him. His eyes sparkled with delight as he spoke.
"I'm alive! I've never felt so powerful before!"
As if to prove his point, Andrew pushed Chris away, sending him flying backwards into the rebel soldiers behind him. Chris scrambled to his feet, but wisely kept his distance.
Andrew straightened and scowled at Chris. "I can do anything I want. I've been released from my prison and now I'm seeking revenge on the world that punished me before."
"Who are you really? What's happened to Andrew?" Adam said.
"The human you call Andrew is dead and gone. I required his life to set me free," Andrew said.
"Andrew, you're scaring me. What have you done? What's done this to you?" Adam said.
"Things that should never have meddled in affairs that are not their own."
Everyone turned to see Sepulchre's translucent figure standing behind them as he walked towards Andrew.
"You! You helped free me! All this is your doing!" Andrew hissed, insidious smile across his lips.
"That sword will be your destruction. You have no right to meddle here. You took Andrew before I realised what you really were. Now, get out. Leave him alone. Begone back to the caves where you were once trapped. You do not deserve any reward for what you have done," Sepulchre said.
"No. No! You will not have power over me! You have no power to banish me!" Andrew yelled as he backed away.
"I know your true name, Azai. With it, I will bind you to me and take you away," Sepulchre said.
"No! No you will not! I will not go with you! I will destroy this pathetic human before you take me!" Andrew was screaming now, panic clear in his voice.
Sepulchre walked forward, eyes blazing. He held out his hand towards Andrew and closed his eyes. Almost instantly, Andrew was kneeling on the ground, clutching his head and screaming in pain. No one else could hear what, if anything, was being said, but it was clear Seb knew what he was doing and was gaining control of Andrew.
By the time Andrew stopped screaming, he was curled up on the ground, naked and shivering, fingers digging into his scalp. Seb stood there, the flaming creature that had taken hold of Andrew crouched close to the ground, chained to Seb with golden metal shackles.
"Azai, you're coming with me. Adam, look after Andrew. He was held hostage by a force he could not fight. He may not recover, but there's no way to tell right now. You have a bigger battle to win. Be prepared to compromise. There are greater forces at work here than even I had anticipated. I leave you now, but know you are blessed and looked after," Seb said before vanishing from view.
Adam and Chris were at Andrew's side immediately. Chris gathered him into his arms, holding him close. Andrew clutched onto him, somehow knowing he was safe.
"Someone get a truck, we need to take him somewhere safe. Some of you set up a guard around us. The rest of you keep moving. We can't afford to stop for too long or they'll be on us before we can fight back," Adam said, directing the troops waiting for instructions. They immediately got to work, following his orders.
Andrew's eyes fluttered open and he looked up at the face above him. Recognising him as Chris, he smiled. Chris almost started crying. He gently brushed a finger against his cheek, glad to see him alive.
"You'll be alright, mate, just hang in there," Chris murmured as he stroked his head gently.
The relief that washed over Andrew's face said what he wasn't able to say.
Adam and the rest of the troops fought on, trying to establish their rebellion, while Chris travelled in the truck with Andrew as they looked for somewhere safe to take him. The truck eventually stopped outside a on the outskirts of the city. A makeshift hospital had been set up in a small primary school by both the rebels and the Army as the casualties mounted on both sides. It was easier than trying to rely on hospitals, not when there were soldiers all over the streets. Any safe building was used, as long as it was out of range of most of the fighting.
The truck stopped outside the school. Chris left the truck to carry Andrew inside. The room he entered first was crowded with patients, soldiers, and medical staff, with every available surface being utilised. Chris was greeted by a nurse who bombarded him with questions about Andrew's condition as she walked him to the first spare bed they had, which was a couple of rooms away. Chris gently lay him down on the bed and stepped back so the nurse could examine Andrew.
Chris hung back, watching her fussing over Andrew, hoping he was alright. He absentmindedly chewed his fingernails, unable to tear his eyes off him. He didn't look at the other patients, some who were even more badly injured than Andrew. All that mattered was Andrew. Time seemed to slow down. Even the gunfire and artillery shots all around him couldn't break his concentration. He would not be able to relax until he knew Andrew was alright.
Andrew was left sleeping restlessly. It was the best they could do. Andrew's mind was not willing to cooperate just yet, and Chris could hardly complain. It wasn't like he had just hurt his arm or something. Chris wanted to stay by his side until he woke, but he was shooed out and told he would be more useful helping the other soldiers guard the hospital. It was hard to argue with that, and Chris headed out to find the other soldiers, trying to push his worry out of his mind.
A soldier approached Chris as he left the room Andrew was in. Chris recognised the insignia and uniform of a State soldier anywhere, and it left him a little nervous.
"You got a gun? Know how to fight?" he said.
Chris found his hand went to his gun anyway. "I'm a rebel, but I know how to fight. Got trouble?"
The soldier gestured anxiously. "Shit yeah. Round the front. Surprise assault. Come on, we need every man we can get. This way."
Chris followed him to the front of the school. There were already soldiers engaged in gunfire across the street, though exactly who they were fighting was unclear.
"What have we got? Is it the Army?" Chris said as he crouched behind a rock, firing over the top towards the trucks.
"Think so. Maybe some rebels too. All we're trying to do is keep them away from here," the other soldier said. "The name's Fletcher. Major Fletcher, fourth brigade."
"Good to be fighting with you, Major. You sure there's not a better way to get them to back off?" Chris said.
"It's the only one we've got," Major Fletcher said.
"How many soldiers do we have here? Have we got anyone round the back?" Chris said.
"There were around thirty of us before, but we're down to about ten now. Can't say we're the best men ever, just the ones who care enough to protect a place like this," Major Fletcher said.
"Should we head round the back, just to make sure? They seem to be heading off now," Chris said.
The Major straightened and lowered his gun. "Yeah, okay. But only because I know there's only a few back there. They could probably do with a couple more."
Chris and the Major kept cover fire going as they crept around the back to defend the place. Taking strategic positions again, they scoured the night for advancing troops from either side. Chris looked up as he spotted a large group advancing towards them, mostly in vehicles.
"Major! You hear that? Large group coming right towards us!" Chris whispered harshly.
"Should we hail them? Tell them to stay away from here? I doubt the few of us could fight them off," the Major said.
"Might work. You're official Army, you hail them," Chris said.
"We're one rebel and one Army officer. We both hail them," the Major said.
Chris nodded his approval. With a quick glance at the Major, they both got to their feet to address the approaching group, their weapons laid down on the ground as a sign of surrender.
"Halt! This is a hospital! Identify yourselves!" the Major said.
The group stopped about ten metres away and the soldiers alighted. Bright headlights blinded Chris and the Major from seeing who was approaching them. Their commanding officer walked forward to greet Chris and the Major. They saluted as they met, Chris standing back a touch, not wanting to be identified so readily as a rebel in case these men were not friendly.
"Lieutenant Colonel Jones, third cavalry battalion. This an Army hospital?" the commanding officer said.
"Major Fletcher, fourth infantry brigade. It's a joint Army/rebel hospital, sir. There's only about ten of us guarding it, a mix of Army and rebel soldiers, sir. Orders from the Brigadier, sir," the Major said.
"A joint operation? Have we reached alliance already?" Lt Col Jones said. He glanced at Chris curiously.
"Unofficially, we have. Both the Army and rebel forces in Queensland are fighting together now in a bid to stop the progress of the combined Chinese-Indonesian troops taking over the state. I've been ordered to look after this hospital and to protect the rebels, sir. We may need their troops in the end if we're going to drive out the invaders. The Brig said it was the best option for now and that antagonising the rebels further would not help matters. Civil war in the face of a huge invasion is not a plan for success. I've heard there's other unofficial alliances as well that are in the process of being formed. The news of the Chinese-Indonesian invasion is spreading quickly. Everyone's preparing for it. We're still waiting on word of an official alliance though," the Major said.
"Had much fighting around the place? We could lend our forces to protecting the hospital and get some more infrastructure in place," Lt Col Jones said.
"Got some fighting out the front. I think some rebels turned up and started firing. We're protecting the place and returning fire as best we can, sir, but we can't be everywhere. There are only ten of us," the Major said.
"Consider us allies then. I'll get the men around to help. Is this one of the rebels, Major?" Lt Col Jones said, looking at Chris standing there, watching their conversation.
"Chris Taylor, sir. Yes, I'm one of the rebels. My partner's hurt, he's being taken care of. I offered to defend the hospital, sir," Chris said stepping forward to meet him, unable to avoid slipping back into soldier mode as he conversed with a senior officer.
"That's good of you, Taylor. Is that an Army-issue assault rifle?" Lt Col Jones said, noticing the gun Chris was holding. He'd picked it up again, just in case.
"Er, yeah, we may have nicked some Army equipment. Seemed easier than smuggling it into the country, sir," Chris said.
"Kept it in good condition?" Lt Col Jones said.
"Yes, sir. Learnt how to look after it during my time in the Reserves, sir," Chris said.
"You were a Reservist, Taylor?" Lt Col said.
"Yes, sir. Royal NSW Regiment, 41st Battalion, sir," Chris said.
"Good man. I like a man who's served his time. Ever deployed?" Lt Col said.
"New Zealand, sir, during the invasion. I was sent to Auckland. Served there for three years," Chris said.
"What made you leave and join the rebels, Taylor?" Lt Col said.
"To be perfectly frank, it was New Zealand, sir. I got there and saw what the troops were doing to the citizens and it sickened me. How I lasted three years there, I don't know. I managed to avoid most of the fighting. I was deployed to secure the city once it had been taken. When I returned, I left and soon after, I heard about the rebels and joined them," Chris said.
"If it's any consolation, Taylor, New Zealand was a mistake. We should never have gone there. I was stationed in the south, protecting the troops as they ravaged the country, looking for the nukes they were supposedly stockpiling. It was all lies and all for political gain. I don't blame you for leaving after that. What rank did you obtain by the time you left?" Lt Col said.
"I was just a Private, sir. Serving in New Zealand kinda put me off ranks, sir," Chris said.
"Well, Private, let's get this guard in place. We've wasted enough time chatting. Remind me to buy you a drink when all this is over," Lt Col Jones said.
"Will do, sir," Chris said.
With the extra troops in place, Chris allowed himself to relax a little. They could defend themselves now, especially as they had acquired some missiles along the way. It was certainly better than ten men trying in vain to secure a place that probably should be guarded by at least fifty. Chris returned to Andrew's side whenever there was a lull in the fighting. Andrew continued to sleep on, unaware of the fighting on around him.
It was hours later when he finally woke. Chris was exhausted from patrolling and had asked for a break. He was in need of sleep, but now that he'd stopped, all he wanted to do was see Andrew, now that he'd woken at last. After taking some coffee and some food that was offered, he let a nurse take him to Andrew.
"He'll be alright, we think, but don't push him. His mind's very fragile right now. When things settle down, we'll have him moved to a proper hospital where he might be able to get better treatment, but we'll do what we can for now," the nurse said as she gestured Chris towards Andrew's bed.
"Thanks. I know you can only do so much right now. I'll stay and guard the place as long as possible. Least I can do," Chris said.
"Thank you. It's much appreciated," the nurse said and left them alone.
Chris sat down beside Andrew's bed and took his hand in his, squeezing it gently. "Hey there, love," he said quietly.
Andrew stiffly looked over at him and smiled. "Hey," he whispered, finally able to talk. His voice was soft and pained, but at least he could talk. "Are we winning?"
Chris shrugged. "Dunno, still fighting though. I'm staying to guard the hospital here, and to look after you. You gave us quite a scare, you did. How are you feeling?"
"Tired. Achey. I don't remember much, not really. It's all kinda vague and fuzzy. If I've fucked up, I'm sorry."
"Seb saved you. He said it wasn't your fault," Chris said.
Andrew grinned. "Good ol' Seb."
"Yeah."
"Still should've been stronger though. I'm such a weak pathetic human being." Andrew's smile faded, and elation turned to disappointment.
"You didn't let it destroy you. You're so much stronger than you realise," Chris said. He brought a hand up and stroked Andrew's cheek gently with the back of his hand.
Andrew leant against his hand, loving his touch. He almost wanted to cry. "Why the hell do you still love me?"
"Can't stop loving you. Sounds corny, I know, but it's true. You mean everything to me, Andrew," Chris said.
"Heh, how absurd of you to be talking of such love while there's a raging war on outside," Andrew said, stifling a laugh.
"Well, I could talk about the war if it'll make you feel better," Chris said. "It's all the rage at the moment."
Andrew sat up a little, more curious about the situation outside than he had thought he would be, considering all he'd been through. "Have we lost anyone yet? How many have died so far?"
"No one knows. There are battles raging all over the country, and the Chinese and Indonesians are sweeping down through Queensland. No one knows anything right now. All we're doing is fighting for our survival."
"I thought that's how it might pan out. Do you think it'll all be worth it? Have we made a bad decision in bringing this country into war? We've never known civil war here. Do you think we can really cope with this?"
Chris shifted uncomfortably. Andrew wanted answers he didn't have. "It's too late to stop it now. The Chinese are refusing to leave, now that they've gotten a foothold into the country. Word is they've betrayed us and are wanting to take over the country for themselves."
"That doesn't surprise me either. I wasn't sure allying with them was a good idea."
"We had no choice. No one else was willing to arm and aid us."
Andrew sighed and leant his head back against the bed. "I know, but didn't we ever consider that they might betray us in the end? We knew how hungry for energy and food they are. They had vested interests in helping us. Didn't they bargain for control of our mines as well? We're letting them take our country from us. We'll be no better off than before. Can't do anything but fight and stay alive, I suppose."
"Yeah, that is true. Nothing else to do, really. Are you gonna be alright?" Chris said.
"Hope so. I hope I didn't hurt you or Craig at all," Andrew said.
"Nah, you didn't hurt us. We'll be fine. You, on the other hand, I hope you're alright, because from what I can gather, your precious mind took a lot of damage. I hope it's not going to be too bad. I'd hate for you to be destroyed by this," Chris said.
"Me too. I don't remember much, but it's all kinda crazy. I just hope the voice is gone for good. It scared me, it did," Andrew said.
"It scared me too. You sounded crazy, talking to yourself like that. Craig and I had no idea what was going on. We didn't know what you were going to do with us," Chris said.
Andrew drew his knees up to his chest and stared down at his feet. "I didn't - I tried to tell you, to save you, I didn't want to hurt you. I-I knew what Craig had gone through before and I wasn't sure I could hand him over to go through it again. But the voice - the voice was too strong. It wanted me to do things I didn't want to do. It hurt me. It scared me. There were times I was too frightened of the voice to disobey it."
Chris moved to sit on the bed beside him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, trying to bring him some comfort. "Shh. It's all over now. Seb said the voice is gone for good. You'll be alright now."
Andrew looked at him anxiously. "I hope so. I don't like being crazy. Am I going to fight again? Or is this the end of my service? I'd feel bad lying back in bed while you guys fight on, doing nothing to help."
"I'd be very surprised if you did any more fighting. I've seen guys with battleshock like yours, though you got a deeper hit of it than most. You've suffered a great trauma. It's not the sort of thing you sleep off in a week."
Andrew laughed again. "Hey, I know how to look after myself. I'm not that fucking fragile."
"No, but your mind needs looking after. I'm not sure it's able to cope with the horrors of warfare right now. I'll talk to Adam and Wil, see if there's anything we can rig up for you. Not sure when they'll be moving you either, or where they'll be moving you to. I may have to stay here and defend the hospital, though. There's barely enough of us to keep this place safe. Besides, a hospital is worth defending, yeah?" Chris said.
"I'll be alright. Just - don't abandon me. Come and see me every now and then," Andrew said.
"Will do. You get better, you here? Can't have you all sick, can we?" Chris said.
"I'll be fine, Chris. Stop fussing," Andrew said, brushing him away playfully.
"Is it my fault you've given me a perfect opportunity to fuss over you and shower you with love and attention?" Chris said with a grin.
"Keep that up and I might not let you leave," Andrew said.
"I'll leave whether you want me to or not. I'd like to get some sleep between now and the next time I need to get out there and fight. I thought I'd at least come and talk to you for a while before I went though. Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself. I'll be a few rooms over if you need me, but please, for the love of the Gods, let me sleep, alright?" Chris said, getting to his feet.
"I was wondering why you looked so tired. Go on, get some sleep then. You're needed more than I am," Andrew said.
Chris brushed the hair out of his eyes as he gave him a soft kiss. Andrew let him go reluctantly and settled back in bed to take some rest of his own. The distraction of Chris was gone and now he was left with a mind full of memories it wasn't sure it wanted. Unwilling to deal with it just yet, he asked a nurse for some sleeping pills and allowed himself to fall asleep, hoping, praying, for dreamless rest.