Chapter 8: The Risk We Had to Take
Flaibia — A Broken History
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS86syCPABQ
After a long day in Bashistan, Demarion finally returned home to Flaibia, the country that served as his base of operations. From here, he controlled most of the drug trade flowing through five neighboring nations. He worked with powerful business partners, recruited gangs, and trained them to become killers.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFMuWulxft
But Flaibia had not always been like this.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlrY3pL77u
For years, it was a peaceful country—a place where families came to start better lives. That peace ended when an extremist movement rose to power. The group sought absolute control, led by a former military officer named Devon Stein.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9b49gu3YD3
Stein saw Flaibia not as a sanctuary, but as an opportunity. He built his own private military, enforcing his ideology through fear. Anyone who opposed him was executed or forced to flee. Civil war erupted, tearing the country apart.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxS95RdcTHG
For two brutal years, Flaibia drowned in blood. Families were destroyed. Friends turned against one another. Every day became a battle for survival.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvMrLve4h9
Eventually, many citizens realized the war was unwinnable. They fled the country, escaping to Olympics and beyond. Devon Stein viewed their departure as his final victory.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd44iOz6M7q
He was wrong.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvokJNoHnm
One night, Stein was shot in the back of the head—killed instantly.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo41a3NybYc
The man who pulled the trigger was Demarion.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEs0GIWJsg
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs3AnBxGn0
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m22BkCtFc
We Were Not Prepared for This
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5AJA9A2dM
Now Demarion was back in Flaibia, moving fast. He had a rare opportunity—one too valuable to ignore.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2l24tjvje2
Intelligence confirmed that a royal aircraft was passing through the region, carrying Princess Aurora of the Republic of Eimpus. Capturing her would give Demarion the leverage he needed to blackmail the Prime Minister and control the Republic.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mF0pY5Wni
He stood among his troops, holding an EMP rocket launcher.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7KfFitG7K
Demarion:
“Today is a big day. That plane carries the princess. We’ll disable it with this EMP. The pilots will be forced to crash north of the woods. Kill all survivors—except the princess. She stays alive. Understood?”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVo8QTJhEE
Battalion Troops:
“Yes, sir.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqyQk5U0Wv
Demarion smiled.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwooIeZYOzs
Demarion:
“Looks like luck is finally on my side.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNSHejHZ5j
He locked onto the aircraft and fired.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsGSfFEJ7f
The rocket streaked through the sky.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvsPuXp1pF
Princess Aurora had no idea what was about to happen.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3hdA6TmiI
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0AbOP4WGd
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo8pQtANVN
Aboard the Royal Aircraft
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoLWHGQkuG
Pilot 1:
“Captain to air traffic control. We’ll be arriving in three hours. Preparing for landing.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMapbpG6eWb
Air Traffic Control:
“Copy that. Stand by for landing instructions.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2Evutq5Wq
Moments later, the captain addressed the cabin.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76mA4Ww5f1
Pilot 1 (over intercom):
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We’ll be landing in approximately three hours. Please relax and enjoy the flight. Princess Aurora, if you need anything, our staff is happy to assist.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeEM4cLSiS
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTPQiVw4qn
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO6QW19YF9
Guard Conversations
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkdGX4PNJW
Mitchell Bates leaned toward Toby Lane.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZwMesLPSv
Mitchell:
“Hey, Toby. Want to talk before we reach Eimpus?”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuBo7rVlK6
Toby:
“Sure. What about?”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PLtCgxvKm
Mitchell:
“Why did you join the Republic Guard? You could’ve had a peaceful life.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHoWrIy4RH
Toby sighed.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjQTEzaB71
Toby:
“I didn’t have a choice. It was either live on the streets with my family or join. I gave up my childhood to keep them alive. What about you?”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQc6MTzXp7
Mitchell:
“My father took massive loans to buy a house—ninety thousand to purchase it, ten thousand a month to maintain it.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLusOvaE6DK
Toby:
“That’s insane. Why not find a cheaper place?”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkfjEkphs5
Mitchell:
“My mom said the same thing. My dad wouldn’t listen. Four years later, we were evicted. The debt didn’t disappear. So I joined the Guard to pay it off.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31mIt83J9G
Toby looked away.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsocbPNnAU
Toby:
“I need some quiet time. Personal space.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1hP4itGJt
Mitchell:
“Yeah… sure. Nice talking to you.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNWHGvl3zg
Mitchell returned to his seat.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPT9IwFztq
Everything seemed fine.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWA2haSjhm
Until it wasn’t.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmRmZBZNFh
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0JvpJDg9k
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdYEWvvLKN
Impact
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHlr1EIaWZ
Pilot 1:
“Running system check.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5pBfnqUUf
Pilot 2:
“Engines stable. Fuel systems normal. No issues detected.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxc1FoswI6o
Suddenly—
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVNFP9hYeL
Pilot 1:
“What was that?”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxodLrN18YU
Pilot 2:
“We’ve been hit! All systems are down—I’ve lost control!”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL5jWqm0XD
The aircraft began to plunge.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbUqIWyZ9G
Princess Aurora:
“What’s happening? Why are we going down?”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMw7CrGGGu
Lieutenant Benjamin Allen:
“Pilots, do you copy?”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlkdhtG41y
Mitchell:
“Lieutenant—we were hit by an EMP. Communications are down.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IyTTBcRCz
Lieutenant Allen:
“Understood. Everyone, brace yourselves. Seatbelts now. Sergeant Lee—protect the princess.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ltbS4gVAn
Sergeant Elsie Lee:
“Yes, sir.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvTZHWKTZi
Pilot 2:
“Attempting reboot… systems failing!”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYDPHOXjVf
Pilot 1:
“Wait—systems are back online! Partial control restored.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlkoL55Wvl
Pilot 2:
“That’s impossible.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmu85a94CzF
Pilot 1:
“Doesn’t matter. We’re landing in the woods. Divert all power to the shield.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTxP4Kvsxw
Pilot 2:
“That’s a huge risk.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Gn6kVMKwz
Pilot 1:
“It’s the only way.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DXHHd0sbi
The shield flared to full power as the aircraft tore through trees, smashing branches and metal alike. The impact shook the cabin violently—but the shield held.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvuy2jjVgt
The plane finally stopped.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEwMDx4MTp
Silence.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToa8F6uShE
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYMLVTAIuF
Ground Threat
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrYYNCk7jQ
Lieutenant Allen:
“Status report!”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKPITa8M8G
Pilot 1:
“We’re alive. No injuries. Engines shut down.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfevDfj8EQd
Lieutenant Allen:
“Everyone out. We need to know where we are.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO24eyjHhr1
Moments later—
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgfcWMZQRP
Mitchell:
“Lieutenant—hostiles approaching from the north.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjzeZNUIwO
Lieutenant Allen:
“Damn it. Everyone listen up. We’re outnumbered. Seven of us will stay here and distract the enemy. The rest will escort Princess Aurora to safety and call for help.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrciBONhZY
Mitchell:
“I should go with them. I’ve lived here—I know the terrain.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5b36qEdfJD
Lieutenant Allen:
“Approved. Go. Now.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjXk7eHZrh
Smoke grenades hit the ground.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrUAJhlqEl
Lieutenant Allen:
“Sergeant Lee—take the princess. Move!”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo0dAMhWge
Sergeant Lee:
“Princess Aurora, follow my orders. If something happens to me, keep going.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OixclXc1P
Princess Aurora:
“I understand.”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIzqiucxFg
Lieutenant Allen:
“On my mark. Three… two… one!”
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZEVLomhv6
Smoke filled the forest as gunfire echoed.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxvOJEnN7q
The fight for survival had begun.
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBHqTWdk8o
160Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjPEWM3J5I
End of Chapter 8
ns216.73.216.208da2
and then Add to home screen.