Ambush

The sisters held hands, blocking the trade route in the middle of the forest as the hovertank came steadily at them. This was their third raid, and based on their knowledge from the AssMachenstani communicators they had swiped, they had managed to keep their identities intact. But security had been heightened. And though Isa was currently trying her best to heighten the sisters’ magic with her quilaire, the sisters were having no luck teleporting the driver from out the cockpit.

“Lithuania,” said Estonia, her skin shimmering bright blue. “It’s not working. He’s not coming out.”

“Focus,” was Lithuania’s desperate reply, as the tank came closer and closer. “They’ve seen us. We can’t fail now.”

The sisters were gripping each other’s hands so hard their fingers were tingling. They grew bluer… brighter. In just seconds they would be run over. “Open fire!” screamed Latvia.

From the bushes came blasts of fire from Marco and Felix’s rifles, which merely ricocheted off the tank’s impenetrable hull. “Run!” cried Lithuania, dashing with her sisters towards the bushes as Winfry lit the tank on fire with his librem.

The flaming tank veered, swerved, rammed into a massive tree, and a second later, from the tank emerged the woman of the black smoke dress. She floated high above the tank as it burned, made a strange gesture with her hands, and the fire was extinguished. Safe from the flames, a small group of men wrapped completely in black military garb jumped out from the tank, laser guns at the ready. The woma slowly settled onto the ground, her smoke dress wrapping itself tightly around her as she landed, acquiring what seemed to be a more solid, fabric-like consistency. Floating close behind her was a roughly football-sized, spherical object wrapped in the same mysterious fabric.

“Come out from the bushes, you idiots,” said the woman. “Come and face me, I know you have some magic tricks of your own.” Marco and Felix, hidden in the bushes, turned to Lithuania for direction. Estonia and Latvia also waited for their youngest sister to make the move. Isa and Winfry were silent, and Lithuania felt the pressure. They hadn’t accounted for this—not for the smoke lady to appear. She was stronger than any of them.

“Relax…” said the woman. “I wish only to speak to you…” Lithuania knew she was lying, but rose regardless. The smoke woman smiled. “Now that’s a good girl… you do know going up against me is useless, no?” Lithuania remained inexpressive. “Well then, let me give you a little update, shall I?” Her eyes glinted maliciously. “From the looks of it, and from what I hear from my emissaries, you’ve been hiding out in LusciousLocks for weeks now. So let me tell you where your side stands…”

The woman cleared her throat, suggesting everyone else emerge from the bushes as well. One by one, they did. Felix, Marco, Latvia, Estonia, Isa and Winfry, all looking at each other, wondering what the next move would be, hoping someone could think of something before it was too late. “Now don’t you try and escape,” said the woman, opening her palms towards the heavens. In a flash, millions of tiny specks of blue rushed to her hands from all around, extinguishing in a puff of blue smoke as she closed her hands into fists. Instantly, the sisters felt powerless. “Your magic around me is… useless. Now let me clarify you of your current situation, Foggistanis. Your home base, the Antioch Complex, along with everything and everyone in it, has been destroyed.”

Lithuania felt her heart drop. She felt the blood leave her face, and for an instant, she thought she’d faint. She looked to her sisters, who seemed equally stunned and weakened. Could it be true? Could the Antioch Complex have been destroyed so quickly?

“No, I am not lying, and yes, your situation is quickly growing hopeless,” said the woman, her smile audible in her voice. Then she brought the hovering, wrapped object to her hands and held it tenderly, as if it were a baby. “The countries of Nilbmah and LusciousLocks have, clearly, fallen under AssMachenstani rule… and Econometric Elation is soon to follow. A fleet from Styx is on its way there as we speak. As for your Foggistani outpost on your beloved moon of Attica, well… let’s just say we’re saving the best for last, hmm? But I assure you, their situation is equally hopeless.”

Lithuania didn’t believe it. At least she didn’t believe it was hopeless. Foggistan was a force to be reckoned with, and Attica was its heart. Though the Antioch Complex might be destroyed, Attica would not be taken over easily.

“Now… I’m sure you smart girls have come to the conclusion that I mean you no harm. I would have blown your heads off back at Lockton if I did.” Felix gripped his rifle tightly, shivering with anger at the memory of his fallen soldiers. “Back then, I had… other motives.” In a single motion she unfurled the spherical object from its smoky fabric, letting it drop with a thud and roll along the floor.    

A collective gasp, and Isa screamed, clasping her hand over her mouth, tears welling in her eyes too quickly for her to hold back. “NO!” she cried. “NO!”

It was Timoteo’s severed head.

Felix pulled Isa close, held her tight, rubbing her arms reassuringly. Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Marco stared aghast, as Winfry retched heavily in the bushes.

“Pardon the theatrics,” said Delilah, “I’ve just always had a soft spot for some good drama. Now… before I do the same to every person here who is not of my interest,” her eyes flashed quickly over Felix, Marco, Winfry and Isa, “I suggest you three sisters allow my men to lead you peacefully into the tank. Agreed?”  

Lithuania looked over at Felix, Marco, Winfry and Isa, her eyes full of meaning. “Promise me you won’t hurt them,” she said to the woman.

“Lithuania, no!” cried Latvia. “We can’t go with her—it’s the last thing—”

“Do we have a choice?” Lithuania cried. She turned back to the woman. “We will go with you, no tricks. Just let my friends withdraw into the woods. Once I know they are safe, we will go with you.”

“You are in no position to negotiate—”

Lithuania swiftly whipped out a blade from her belt and held it to her own throat. “Let them go or you will not take me alive.” The woman’s eyes opened wide. The men in black quickly aimed their weapons at Lithuania. Her hand was shaking, but she was definitely not kidding. She knew the mist woman needed all of them alive. She’d learned that much.

“Hold your fire, boys,” said the mist woman. “And you,” she said, addressing Winfry, Isa, Felix and Marco. “Disappear before I change my mind.”

In under a second, everyone had exchanged glances. It was the only way. Slowly at first, Winfry, Isa, Felix and Marco began to back away. “Go!” cried Lithuania, impatiently. “GO!”

The foursome began to run, deep into the darkness of the jungle. Once she could no longer hear them, Lithuania lowered the knife. “Alright,” she said, captive but not yet defeated. “Lead the way.”

The mist woman eyed her coldly, then with a swift gesture ordered three of her men to lead the sisters into the tank. As they did, she told the remaining men, “Find the ones who escaped. And kill them.”

“NO!” screamed the three sisters at once, each receiving a swift rifle butt to the face that knocked them out cold.  

“Find them. Kill them. And bring me their heads.”