Rhivera

~Chapter Twenty-Four~

~Juaquin~

~That same day~

That moment when the mines went off was so vivid. Rico and I were leading the charge after Miro’s forces, when the ground beneath us suddenly burst. The area was surrounded in sand and debris. I was knocked to the ground... but Rico wasn’t so fortunate. When I finally got to my feet and found Rico, his body was disfigured, broken, and he was bleeding horribly.

He wasn’t breathing. I told myself he was just unconscious and needed to be woken up. I pumped his chest and tried to revive him in the haze of debris. It wasn’t until Miro’s soldiers attacked that I finally snapped to reality and realized he was gone. He was wearing a necklace, one he said was gifted to him from his grandmother years ago. He said it brought him good luck. I took it off his body, hoping I could return it to his family, so they had something left of him.

I thought for sure I was dead when Miro’s soldiers caught me, but reinforcements came from the north. General Victor must’ve planned this out to an extent. Miro’s army disappeared into the woods, and another series of explosions went off behind them. Wherever Miro goes, destruction follows.

When I finally reached the woods, it was dusk. Victor’s army idled around an underground exit point hidden among the trees. It looked like Miro had fled further west.

An azure Survival Suit user approaches me as I enter the woods. From the emblem on their chest, I know it’s Ilyana. Without thinking, I run to her and embrace her tightly.

Who knows how long we held each other like that before finally breaking away, “Did anyone else make it?” Ilyana asks, dried tears under her eyes.

I shake my head. I ask, “Where is the General?”

There is a crowd of soldiers grouped together, around them are the bodies of soldiers in the black uniforms of Miro’s army. At its center, is opening to an underground tunnel, the one Miro must’ve planned to escape through. Victor’s soldiers are already being sent down into it to investigate.

I find General Victor near the ‘exit point’, planning his next move. I interrupt his talk with the other higher officers.

“Glad to see you made it, Nirivo,” Victor acknowledges me nonchalantly. How dare he act like that?

“You led us into a trap!” I yell as I march toward him. Two Survival suit soldiers step in my way, protecting Victor.

“I had no way of knowing what was waiting for you out there. I did all that I could with the information I had,” Victor replies without empathy. He watches the nearby soldiers in case I’m about to do something drastic. He wasn’t wrong to be cautious after what he put us through.

“Everyone who went with me died in those sand dunes because of you!”

“And now, Miro is on the run and will soon be dead. Then all the fighting will be over.” Victor responds coldly, “I’m sending nine of my own Survival suit soldiers to lead the charge in chasing after Miro and I’d like you to lead them. Who better to end Miro than you?”

I know he’s trying to use and manipulate me again. But... I want to see Miro dead. He knows that and is using it to his advantage. But I don’t care. “Let’s get moving as soon as possible.”

“Of course,” Victor smirks, which only enrages me more. I’ll direct that towards Miro.

Victor’s Survival Suit squad is formed and we prepare to head into the woods after Miro, with the rest of the army ready to follow close behind.

“You shouldn’t be going out there again,” Ilyana tells me. She was to lead a small portion of the army that was heading into the woods.

“Do you think you can stop me?” I ask.

“No,” She answers glumly.

I look at her. I know going after Miro again is dangerous. I might not make it back. I might never see Ilyana again. I undo the clasps and remove my helmet and look at her.

I hesitate a moment before kissing her. She jumps for a moment when my lips meet hers, but then she takes my hand in hers and kisses me back. When I pull away, we look at each other’s eyes and she gives me the sweetest smile and puts her head gently against mine.

“You have to come back.”

“I’ll do my best.” I tell her.

“No, you have to promise.” She urges me.

I stare at her for a moment before saying, “You know I can’t promise that. But I’m going to do everything I can.”

Ilyana’s smile dissipates, but eventually, she nods in acceptance.

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General Victor’s army heads into the woods, with Nirivo’s Survival Suit Squad leading the way. Night falls, and we begin using flashlights to see our way through the dark. Luminescent beams shoot through the darkness. Victor’s army arcs north and south in such a way that if Miro tried to go anywhere but directly west, he’d be cut off. The army periodically fires single shots into the air, reminding Miro’s army that we were close behind and there won’t be a chance to rest. There won’t be an escape for Miro this time.

The Survival Suit soldiers move at a quicker pace compared to the rest of the army. I move at an even quicker pace - the other Survival Suit Soldiers struggle to keep up. I feel this all-consuming need to reach Miro again.

We continue and come across a small town established within the woods. I expect it to be ravaged by Miro’s army but it’s especially peaceful. I stop in at one of the homes to determine Miro’s location.

“Miro and his army just kept marching westward toward Illesto,” The owner of the home says.

“Did they harm any of you?” I ask.

“No, they just passed through. They didn’t seem to want to cause us any trouble,” The owner responds.

I accelerate my pace at the dismay of those with me until I see little specks of light through the dark of the woods. It has to be Miro’s army.

“Turn your lights off,” I tell the soldiers with me. I don’t want them to see us coming. They follow my orders and we cautiously approach. Soon, we can see the mass of people forming Miro’s army, marching steadfastly westward.

“Everyone fan out,” I whisper to them, “At my command, we’ll open fire.”

Though I couldn’t see their faces, I could see their apprehension and nervousness in their body language. There were only ten of us, and I was going to have them fire on an army of hundreds.

“Keep your guns loaded and maintain your distance from them and you’ll be fine,” I try to assure them, and they begin to fan out. I suppose they trust Nirivo’s word. I’ve had more experience with Survival Suits than anyone.

Miro’s army remained unaware as we spread out, “Fire!” I yell, cutting through the silence of the woods. Muzzle fire brings light to the area. Gunfire strikes Miro’s forces.

Miro’s forces move to return fire, but struggle to find us in the darkness. Bullets hit us, but to no effect. I see one of the other Survival suit soldiers flinch as a bullet hits him. Clearly it’s the first time he’s ever been hit while using a Survival suit. Once they realize that they can’t be harmed, they continue intrepidly.

The enemy realizes what they’re up against and turns tail to flee and I give chase. We have the advantage in terms of mobility due to our low numbers. They can’t outrun us. Dead soldiers in black uniforms litter the ground that we tread. A rocket is fired at us, but in the dark they miss us entirely, toppling a tree behind us.

One of Miro’s soldiers falls, but is still alive, crawling along the ground. “Help me!” The soldier yells out. I can see some of Miro’s other soldiers rushing to his aid.

“Don’t kill the injured one!” I tell those with me, “Focus on those coming to his aid!” Miro’s army’s principle was to defend the weak. Usually I’d find it admirable, but in this moment, I see it as a weakness to exploit.

So many die trying to save that single soldier before they finally decide to leave him behind. Only once we reach that injured soldier do we put him out of his misery. I know I’m being ruthless, but Miro and his followers deserved it after what they’ve done. We relentlessly follow, staying just far enough to be safe. A dark figure with a black helmet similar to mine approaches us, our bullets striking him without effect.

It’s Miro. Why would he approach us alone?

Miro’s unnaturally deep voice cuts through the air, “I’d like to speak with Nirivo personally. If you’ll agree to a brief ceasefire.” Miro’s army waits at a distance behind him, their lights illuminating the area.

The others look to me before continuing to fire. I might as well entertain whatever Miro has in mind. If I can keep him here, it’ll give Victor’s army more time to catch up.

“Hold your fire!” I tell the others. I walk ahead to meet Miro while the others wait.

Miro is stationary, holding something behind him. When I draw close, he pulls it out from behind him, “Not a step closer. I’ll pull the pin on this grenade if you do.”

I just need to keep him here, take up as much of his time until Victor catches up. Just say anything to stall him.

“All things considered, your life for mine isn’t a terrible trade. Don’t you think?”

Miro pauses, “Damn it Juaquin, is that what the military has driven into your mind? Telling you to throw your life away!?”

How did he know my name? I suppose he did see my face. He could’ve figured out who I was.

“You know who I am?”

“Juaquin, it’s me. It’s Arturo.” The unnaturally deep voice of Miro claims.

My heart drops. That can’t be true, “How do you know that name?”

“Because it’s me Juaquin! I am Arturo!” he insists, his voice unrecognizable.

“Take off your helmet,” I demand.

“You know I can’t do that. The moment I do, I’ll be shot.”

“Then how do I know you’re telling the truth? Prove to me you’re Arturo!” I press him. He probably found out about Arturo and is trying to use that against me.

“After you lost your dad, you ran away from home. I found you sitting alone on the beach. You didn’t come home until I told you about how I lost my mom to Population Control too.” Miro says. Only Arturo knew about that. I never told anyone and Arturo wouldn’t have either.

“It can’t be you,” I say in denial.

“You know it is. I’m fighting for my mom, for Eugenio and others just like him.” Miro, or rather Arturo explains. It makes sense why he spared me at the sand dunes. It even makes sense how we got away in Sotra’s Jungles. He wasn’t aiming to kill us back then.

There are so many questions, but there isn’t time. General Victor is only drawing closer and Miro’s army doesn’t stand a chance against him. Even after all the killing here and at Mount Rhive, I don’t want anything to happen to Arturo.

“Damn it... You need to run! The General’s army will be here soon!” I tell him, gritting my teeth.

“I know. I told most of my army to go on without us. I’m hoping you’ll let the rest of us go,” Arturo tells me. That’s smart of him to have the rest of his army flee while he stayed behind. Maybe he was counting on me that I’d let them go.

“Just... Just, get out of here okay.” I say bitterly.

“Thanks Juaquin,” Arturo begins to turn away from me. He lifts the object in his hand to me, “By the way, this isn’t a grenade. It’s just a pinecone I picked off the ground.”

I chuckle a little, “Yeah, you’re definitely Arturo. That’s clever. Now get going!”

“I’m sorry about your friend,” Arturo says before turning away and returning to his forces. They all begin to move out. How long has Arturo been doing this? Miro has been around for a few years, was it him all along?

The Survival Suit Soldiers move to pursue, but I raise my hand up to them, “We’re returning to the rest of the army,” I tell them.

“What? Why? We have them on the run!” One of them asks, eager to attack.

“The General ordered us to head back,” I lie.

“What did Miro say to you?” Another asks.

“It’s not important. It’s time to head back,” I walk past them in the direction of Victor’s army and they hesitantly follow along.

In moments, we come upon Victor’s army. It’s scary how close behind they were. If I held Arturo up just a little longer, they would’ve caught up. I receive confused expressions from the soldiers as they pass by us.

Victor was commanding the army from the very back, armed and marching alongside everyone. To buy Arturo some time, I took the Survival Suit Soldiers to the General, knowing full well I’d catch an earful from him for returning. But I find Victor with his radio to his ear and a distressed look on his face, barely paying us any mind.

“We’ll reach you as soon as possible,” Victor says into the radio before clipping it to his belt. He looks at us, “What’re you doing back?”

“You called us back,” I lie, beginning to walk alongside him.

“I didn’t,” Victor states simply. I say nothing, “Whatever, I was going to call you back anyways. There’s news of Miro being sighted in Illesto, leading a revolt.”

“How is that possible? There’s no way Miro’s reached Illesto already.”

“We may not be following the true Miro. Regardless, I need you and the other Survival Suit soldiers around me. We’re not finished yet.”