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Silva cursed quietly, sliding behind the cover of one of the many trees covering the surface of Rogue-V. The Illuminate forces were overwhelming the defenses, fire raining out of the sky as the residents of the planet fought back with all they had. Their helmet was long gone, the smell of fire and blood flooding their lungs with every breath they took
But even with the distant sounds of jets and explosions, it was more peaceful than the deafening chatter they heard before, as everyone reported their situation in increasingly panicked manners. the loss of contact with the Patriotic traitor didn't help the morale one bit
they sighed and rushed toward another distress call, popping a stim to chase away the creeping exhaustion
"Let go of me!" Silva reached the clearing next to a small building made out of shipping containers, expecting another civilian fighting a squid Overseer, getting their Liberator ready.
Instead, they were met with a sight of a squad of humans in black and red armor, dragging a group of civilians away towards a Pelican
"Oh, shut up!" One of the divers groaned, punching a woman in the face, making her drop to her knees. "Why don't we just shoot them?"
Silva didn't need to wait to see the fanged skulls on their armor to know who they're facing
A squad of heavily armed Apostates, while they're alone, exhausted, running low on ammo was basically the worst situation they could've gotten themselves into. all they could do is just watch their people - the people of Rogue-V - be taken who knows where.
that is, unless they interfere. But were they really going to risk their life for the chances of this small group to raise even a little bit?
The answer would be clear to anyone who knew Silva
"Hey, fuckers!" Silva screamed with all the force they could muster, opening fire, griting their teeth as the deafening fire rang out. The first Apostate fell, others rushing into cover. Silva was about to shout an order at the civilians when they felt someone grabbing their arms with an iron grip, making them drop their weapon
"What do we have here?" The voice coming from the Apostate holding them was ice cold, not hiding the mix of interest and contempt as he examined the patch on their shoulder. "The new medical leader themselves."
"Let go of me you bastard," Silva growled in response, wincing in pain as the grip tightened in return, trying to get out of the taller Apostate's grasp.
"Silva?! Silva!" Another figure left the cover, running towards the two. Silva quickly recognized Cecil, their old acquaintance, finally seeing him in person after months.
"Cecil." Silva hissed "Is running over civilians on missions not enough for you?"
"Oh come on that was one time!" Cecil laughed, taking off his helmet and taking a swig out of the bottle he was carrying.
"Whatever. Once or all the time, get away from these people now!" Silva shouted, trashing in the grip of the man holding them as they watched another Apostate leap out of the cover and aim their rifle at the nearest civilian, as another one rushed to stim the diver Silva managed to hit. "They haven't done anything to you!"
"They haven't done anything. Correct. They stood idly as the dream of true freedom was bastardized and destroyed by the greed of those you now call leaders." The grip on Silva's arms loosened just enough for them to be turned around and allowed to face the man, who they now recognized as the Apostate leader.
"Do you think we don't see it?! Do you think we don't try to salvage what's left?!" Silva slipped out of the leader's grasp, but didn't do anything else. They knew that any attempt to run would make them, and more importantly the civilians, a prime target. Not like they were planning to, anyways.
"Silva, correct?" the leader crossed his arms, watching the determined sparks in the opposing medic's eyes. " Silva, you need to understand... there is nothing to salvage anymore. The Senate is corrupt, the leadership cares about nothing but their own gain. You have become the new Super Earth and will burn as such."
Silva grit their teeth. Although they expected to hear this insult, it still stung as much as expected. They shifted their weight from one leg to the other, trying to keep themselves standing
"Still," the leader continued calmly. "You are different. You're not behaving like an all powerful leader, you're behaving as a medic who happens to be one. I mean, you rushed out without a squad to save someone whose names you don't even know. And... i appreciate that." There was a trace of something Silva would read as recognition, were it not for the situation.
"I'm a medic," they reacted, forcing themselves to hold eye contact despite the blur at the edge of their vision. "It's my job, and my people's job. Even if it takes our lives."
In that moment, an idea flashed through Silva's mind, crazier than anything else before, save it for the idea to defect
"Fight me," they spat out. "Pick the weapons. If I lose, I will join you and lead you to where The Council has been evacuated to, you'll get what you want and this can stop. If you lose, you will leave the civilians and common divers be. Deal?"
The clearing went quiet, as the leader evaluated the bold proposition of the medic. He could clearly see that Silva was barely standing, nowhere close to their full strength. And something told him that even completely rested, he could easily overpower them physically, just judging by the height difference.
"You're barely holding on," he pointed out, not as a mockery but as a reminder. "You're willing to sentence your leaders-"
"I have no leaders," Silva interrupted him. "I am loyal to no flag, I am loyal to the people under it. The Council can get eaten by squids for all I care, as long as my people stay safe. And by my people, I mean the common folk. Those who stay because they have no other option or were misled."
The confession rang through the jungle of Rogue-V, with nobody except Apostates to hear. Cecil chuckled quietly, seeing Silva's usual polite demeanor crack and a new version of them taking its place.
"Very well, then. Cecil, your spear, please." Cecil obeyed without a word, tossing Silva a stun lance, which they caught midair and activated it. The leader slowly extended his own, not attacking yet.
"Someone should film this," an Apostate claimed, not waiting for an answer and unlatching a drone case from their belt "A Senate member being given what they deserve" Silva didn't react to the provocation, instead blowing a stray strand of hair that's been hanging over their eyes away.
"Anyone wanna bet they'll win?" Cecil asked hesitantly, sitting on a folding chair he presumably dragged out of the ruins of a base not so far from here. A couple of hands were raised and a betting pool was quickly established, although it was obvious who was favored by the spectators.
"Ready?" Silva asked, weighing the weapon in their hand.
"Ready." The leader confirmed right as he leapt forward at Silva.
They didn't flinch, raising their spear and moving slightly to the side, dodging the blow with relative ease. They felt a faint echo of pain in their left leg, but paid it no mind, fully focusing on the fight.
The Apostates expected a show, and a show they would get.
The two exchanged blows, Silva mostly keeping on the defensive. But it was obvious they won't last long like this, eventually succumbing to the multiple new injuries caused by this fight and general exhaustion of the long hours saving people from under Illuminate fire. It was obvious who was going to win, and that he was playing with the weaker medic to see just how long they last. And perhaps to show them the futility of their efforts.
Silva backed down, scanning the area, looking for something - anything - that could help them. All they could see is the jungle extending what felt like forever, and the Apostates surrounding. Except Cecil, who has got up from his seat, looking for something else to drink
Memories of an encounter with one particular Illuminate Overseer flooded their mind, almost making them miss another attack
Wait, that's it!
In a desperation fueled strike Silva managed to breach the leader's defenses, hitting him with an electric shock, enough to make him stagger. They pushed him aside and darted for the chair, earning them laughter from the surrounding Apostates who assumed they're trying to run
Silva tossed the stun lance to the ground and picked up the chair, swinging it before the leader could fully turn. The collision of wood and metal echoed far out from the clearing, but the chair held. The leader stumbled back, not fully processing what Silva just did. Raising his spear to block the second strike, the spear slid through Silva's defenses, scratching their cheek and giving them a small electric shock.
They ripped the stun lance out of his hands and didn't hesitate before swinging again, not unlike a shepherding dog protecting its flock from a larger predator. this time the blow caused the leader to lose his balance, dropping on the ground.
In the background Silva faintly heard the laughter of the Apostates transform from mocking into nervous, as well as Cecil's quiet 'you go, girl! Make me some money!'
"You will not. harm. anyone. else!" Silva shouted, underlining each word with a hit. "I've taken the oath to protect others, and you bet your traitor ass that's what I'm gonna do!"
"We're- ow! Both traitors- stop it, damn it!" Despite wearing a helmet the leader was covering his head with one arm, visibly perplexed by the sudden turn of events. "I was just testing you anyways!"
"Give up and maybe I will," Silva mumbled. "Do you think I believe you? Testing me?! you went after innocent people instead of directing your anger upwards!"
The leader couldn't help but chuckle between trying to block the strikes. This medic, despite how devoted they were to the idea of protecting other Chaosdivers, knew what they were talking about. And they had the same spark driving him and his people, a hatred for the higher-ups of Chaosdivers, despite counting as one of them.
"Whatever, you can have your civilians" he groaned, flinching expecting the blow that didn't come "Did you have to do this in front of my people though?" Silva took a step back and walked towards the civilians, scanning them for any injuries to potentially resume the beatdown.
"Go there. Straight ahead. You'll know where to go," Silva ordered the civilians, pointing southwards. They didn't dare to add any more details in case any of the Apostates would decide to chase after them, but hoped it will be enough to get this small group to safety.
"Silva." Silva spun around, chair still in hands, earning them a chuckle. "You can put that away. You won"
Silva looked around. The Apostates lowered their weapons, but were still ready to fire.
"Go on, then. Shoot me." Silva knew there was no escape. At least they will die how they lived - saving people and fighting the oppressors.
"Shoot you?" the leader chuckled. "Please. You're more useful alive."
Silva's only reaction was to raise the chair a little, smirking as they noticed the leader getting ready for an attack.
"Oh, come on. I don't plan to capture you. I just wanted to congratulate you. And, perhaps, extend an offer to you." He approached them, pushing the chair down. Silva tried to resist, but their exhausted hands gave in easily.
"What choice do I have other than to listen?" they growled, taking a small step back, trying to keep at least some space between them and the man they currently considered their biggest enemy.
The world felt like it was tilting, darkness creeping into the edges of their vision, but they persisted, even if it was just for a moment longer.
"You realize the Senate is corrupt, the Council of none uses you for their own gain, and you try to fight it by the books. That is honorable, to say the least, if maybe a little naive. But if you'll ever feel betrayed the same way we have," he extended his hand, holding a small Apostate symbol carved into a piece of metal. "This might help you find one of us."
"Why are you giving me this? I just kicked your ass with a chair, you should be more pissed," Silva snapped back, trying to hide the confusion.
The leader chuckled quietly, flicking the piece of metal towards Silva.
"Maybe I needed a reminder to not to underestimate those like you," he answered truthfully, watching Silva's face to see how the confession was accepted. "Medics, I mean. I wanted to see what you're made of, I wanted to give you a lesson that your effort is for nothing. Yet... you persisted"
"That's how I survived for this long," Silva said, laughing softly. Despite the situation, their intuition told them the leader will honor his word, and that they maybe have a chance of getting out of this alive.
In their peripheral vision Silva could see one of the Apostates holstering his Senator, followed by others hiding their weapons away almost entirely.
"If our paths cross again, I hope you will be in better condition. And we won't be pointing weapons at each other" With that he pushed Silva aside, although not strong enough to knock them to the ground, and made his way towards the Pelican with his men following closely behind, one of them picking his wounded comrade.
As the ship raised off the ground, Silva realized just how exhausted they were, dropping to their knees.
They have to get back to their people, somehow. But first, they have to rest for a moment...