Holmcross Project (Year 1)

Luger drove the car to the temple, but noted halfway there that it was running out of gas. "Damn!" He banged on the dashboard and stopped the car, parking it on the side of the road. "We'll have to run it. Come on!" Luger dashed off, Steven following closely.

"Hey, wait!" Wesson hopped out of the car and made to follow.

"Hey, Wess." Nils spoke up. "We got company."

"Hn?" Wesson looked over as a large lizard came up to them, blocking the road between them and the other two. "Geh, how annoying." He waved his hand dismissively. "We don't have time to play with you!"

"Dar?" The lizard tilted its head to the side.

"I said get lost!" Wesson said, frowning. "We don't have time for you!"

"Dar! Dar-dar-dar!" The lizard began hopping up and down and moved closer.

"Can you at least say something other than 'dar' if you're going to challenge us?" Wesson pulled out his revolver, nodding to Nils. "Let's blow this loser away."

Nils nodded with a grin and reached in his coat, pulling out a few grenades. Then he pulled the pins and threw them as Wesson fired a few shots at the lizard, the two quickly turning back to the car and ducking behind it just in time to hear a large explosion.

Wesson looked over the top of the car. "Egh, nasty. Well, let's hurry on." He nodded to Nils and they stood up, heading down the road without a second look at the carnage.

–

At the temple, Luger and Steven had reached the front but saw no sign of Zeikfried. "Is he...inside?" Steven breathed.

"Why would you go along with my challenge?" Luger murmured, frowning, and then he gasped and looked back towards the town. "Damn! If we're here, the town is on its own!"

"Let's hurry, then!" Steven ran into the temple, not waiting for Luger.

"Wait!" Luger turned and ran after him. When he got inside, neither Steven nor Zeikfried were to be seen. "Amelia?!" He called out. "Amelia, where are you?!"

"Luger!" Amelia cried out from somewhere in the temple. Luger ran towards the sound of her voice and saw Amelia behind a pillar, Zeikfried and Steven locked in combat not too far away.

It was a matter of priority; ensure the princess was safe, or join the battle. In this case, the princess took priority by far and he moved from pillar to pillar to avoid being seen until he reached her, kneeling to untie the cords binding her.

"Oh, Luger." Amelia whispered. "I was worried that..."

"Shh." He offered her a hand up, which she took. Then he led her back towards the entrance. "I'll get you to safety, and then help out Steven."

Amelia nodded and then looked at Steven, who was close to Zeikfried. He seemed to be saying something, but she couldn't understand it. Finally, they heard a harpy screeching and Zeikfried and Steven broke apart. Luger ducked down, holding Amelia close.

Steven was wounded, but alive. Luger doubted he would be much longer, but the harpy said something to Zeikfried and then flew out, Zeikfried vanishing. After he was gone, Steven fell to his knees.

"Steven!" Amelia ran out, ignoring Luger's reaches for her to stop. She knelt next to Steven and held him close. "Oh, Steven...you fought so well..."

"I-I couldn't...let them win. Not again." Steven said, smiling weakly. Luger walked over to them and offered him a hand up, which he took. "Thank you for helping her while I kept General Zeikfried distracted."

"No, thank you for distracting him so I could." Luger smiled and shook his hand. "I was wrong about you, Steven. You're not our enemy."

"Let's head back to town and help them." Amelia said, nodding with a serious expression.