Chapter 244

◇◆◇ (Abigail’s point of view)

With Natsuki behind the wheel, Abigail and the others watchs the broadcast and discussed the future of the group. Vani and Yakumo were also in the car.

The monitor repeatedly played scenes of battle between the defense force and the aliens that had invaded the 88, including Gevaudan.

After that scene, Abigail and the others escaped from the central headquarters building by monorail. Then Natsuki picked them up and they were now driving around the city.

After confronting Penrose and Yasmin, she and her team had to assume that they had turned this entire Fort against them. It was planned to escape from the 88 once the thing turns sour, but there was an alien invasion here.

As a result, every ground route leading outside was sealed off. The girls had nowhere to go and had no choice but to follow Logan’s lead and head for another escape route.

Abigail’s activities should have ended once she handed over the stick to Gevaudan. It was totally unexpected, even for her, that the aliens invation would start at this particular moment.

She had no idea why so many aliens had suddenly popped up.

It was hard to imagine that Gevaudan was the one who brougt them, I don’t know what’s going on anymore. Even though I wanted to use the kin and gin to call him but there’s other people here.

“–Are you okay?”

Abigail let out a small sigh and approached InoRyder. She rotated her shoulder uncomfortably. Her dislocated shoulder had been popped back in by Logan.

“Nah, this is nothing.”

Smiling smugly, InoRyder look at the monitor.

“This is a hell of a situation, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I was not expecting this development either.”

“Those aliens, did Yasmin help them in?”

“…..I don’t think so, No.”

“Are you sure you’re done with the investigation?”

Abigail hesitated for a moment, unsure of what she was talking about at first, but then she realized it was about Nigel’s investigation and gave a small nod.

“–Yes, I’ve had enough. We didn’t solve anything in the end but it’s time to move on. Thank you InoRyder for all your help.”

“You’re welcome.”

She answered in her usual carefree tone, but there was no liveliness in her voice.

What she had heard in the Office must have been shocking to her. About the real purpose of the team she belongs to. The fact that the head of 88 was an alien. The person who stabbed Nigel, whom she adored, was her former captain.

“We’re almost there.”

Natsuki called out to the backseat.

The car stopped.

Logan got out first, followed by Abigail and the others.

When they got out, they found themselves at the depot where Wakefield had been shot the other day. The central HQ building was in disarray, so a temporary HQ was now located here. Penrose and his team were giving instructions from another location.

Aircraft are taking off from the runway one after another.

Logan had asked Rutherford to arrange an escape helicopter. Abigail and the others would be on it.

Abigail looked around and spotted the Fox team in a corner of the field. Captain Whisley seemed to be giving the orders to the team.

“–Hirsch, you take several of your men and join Eriksen.”

“Roger………… hmm?”

Suddenly, Hirsch noticed Abigail. Rudra, who was near him, also spotted Vani and rushed over.

InoRyder lazily raised up one hand.

“Hirsch…….”

“Yo, InoRyder. You’re late. The party is getting…”

Hirsch grinned, then looked at InoRyder’s face and frowned.

“– Looks like you got yourself in some serious trouble, too.”

“It’s not that terrible……..”

Tapping Hirsch on the shoulder, InoRyder went straight to Whisley.

“InoRyder …You’re late–!?”

Suddenly, InoRyder grabbed him by the collar.

“━Did you know?”

InoRyder asked pointedly.

“About what?”

“Garnier.”

“Garnier?……What’s going on?”

“He’s alive.”

“Oh…… I didn’t know about that…………. but I’m not particularly surprised. Neither do you, I suppose?”

“Did the lieutenant general tell you about the Fox team’s ‘true’ purpose?”

“?”

Whisley’s brow furrowed and his one eye twitched.

“InoRyder…….you sniffed something out, huh?”

“…….”

The two stared at each other so close that the tips of their noses touched each other.

Eventually, InoRyder slowly relaxed her hand.

“–Nothing.”

“Is it so serious that you can’t tell me?”

“excuse me, Captain Whisley……”

Abigail said.

“I have something I’d like to discuss with you in private–“

“…….”

Abigail gathered Wisley, Hirsch, Rudra, and Verni and unfolded the story in the Office, bit by bit.

“Holy crap…… is that really true?”

Hirsch asked back, stroking his chin.

Vani and Rudra looked at each other.

“No redactions, we told you words for words. She and Logan are the witnesses.”

“Garnier is an alien cyborg, huh? It’s rather fitting……. What do you think, Whisley?”

Hirsch turned to Whisley for directions.

Whisley who has his eye closed while listened to Abigail, unfolded his arms and looked up.

“—- right now, our priority is to deal with the aliens. If Abigail’s story is true and the Lieutenant General is on our side, then that’s good enough for now. We’ll deal with Yasmin later.”

“Yo, guys.”

InoRyder who had been missing until now returned from the armored camper while carrying a huge gun.

“What’s that?”

Whisley asked, squinting.

“Wild roar. Maybe this will be useful.”

“Nigel’s gun…….”

“I can’t shoot this because I hurt my shoulder…….so I’m going to give it to Whisley. Unfortunately, I really want to use senpai’s Buther hunting skill with this.

“……”

Abigail was secretly panicking, but couldn’t find any reason to told them to stop.

“—- Abby, it’s time!! hurry up!”

Logan shouted, beckoning from inside the helicopter.

At his call, Abigail headed for the helicopter with Natsuki and Yakumo.

When they reached it against the strong winds caused by the aircraft, she entrusted them to Logan, who gave her a look.

“Take them first! They’ll definitely target you if you stay here! Take care of Natsuki and Yakumo!”

“You too!! hurry!!”

“I’m staying!”

“What!?”

Logan looked at Abigail in surprise.

“We are staying too!”

Natsuki hugged Yakumo and shouted.

“You two go!”

“You can’t!! Both of you! If you miss this you’ll never get out of 88, Abby!!”

After a while of pushing and shoving, InoRyder and Whisley saw the situation and rushed over.

“–Haaa……!? Don’t be silly! You need to hurry and get outta here Abby-chan!”

“Get out of here, Abigail!”

Whisley shouted loudly.

“I was out hunting that butcher just now and he saw through my formation! I’ve never something like that before! That’s not a typical Butcher! I have a bad feeling about this!”

“……”

Whisley continues as Abigail stifles.

“The other aliens are not normal either! This isn’t a small-scale raid! This is a full-scale invasion! It is no longer safe inside the 88! You need to get out as soon as possible!”

Just as Abigail was wondering what to say to them.

Vani’s piercing warning rang out.

“Whisley! Something’s…… wrong!!”

She and Rudra had their backs to each other and looked around. They both pulled out tomahawks and held them in a dual wielding stance.

All of them closed their mouths and sharpened their sense.

The rumbling of the helicopter’s engine. The fierce sound of the wind. The blowing snowstorm.

–Suddenly, they felt something strange about the scene.

Amid the strong wind created by the helicopter, a white haze was rising up to their knees.

Like a morning mist floating on a quiet lake, it remained still and motionless, covering the ground despite being in a strong wind.

Then a pale arm reaches out from the fog.