Pain Purity and Apocalypse

Chapter 11: The Fear of Losing Yourself

A/N: (I've got a fun little game for ya, the  location of AOME has been disclosed as former Rome, but RORO, being a secret base, has not had their location disclosed. If the distance between RORO's undisclosed location and Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania, is exactly 4126 miles; And the distance between RORO and Asherwood is 500.8 km... Where is RORO located? The location is in Italy.
(Comment Down Below To See If You Got It Right!)

Sunday, May 20, 1993
(Location: RORO/The Scarlet Reaper Aircraft)

    Sebastian leads Lok, Trinity, and Xander down the winding halls of RORO's underground base. Each of the three teens wears a wine red aviation suit, a full body suit crafted with the best quality heat and flame resistant fabric. Above their left breasts the letters: 'R.O.R.O' Are printed in gold. Sebastian wears the black variation of the aviation suit. It's early morning, 5:30 AM, and the team is preparing to fly directly from the grounds of RORO to Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania. The halls, even though it is early, are bustling with marching soldiers.

"What's happening? Usually there isn't this much commotion this early?" Trinity observes, bewildered by the amount of Demons and Reapers all somehow fitting in the cramped hallway. Suddenly, Jessica dips around the corner, avoiding the crowds, heading in the same direction as the team. She follows, falling in step with Xander. She calls up front, trying to catch Sebastian's attention.

"General, i'm sure you're aware, but there's been reports of small three men squadrons of Bombers near Florence."

"I'm aware, I have a terrible feeling that Lucifer isn't really on our side after all. He wants to keep his power, but is not our ally. He may have stated he is on our side, but we all know that could mean something completely different than we think." There's an aggravation in his scarlet eyes, as well as within the eyes of every soldier who fears the events that lay ahead. Jessica pushes between Lok and Trinity, making her way up to walk with the General.

"I figured as much," she begins, "He most likely wants to keep us on our toes, giving Jude slight hints to throw us off our game— that bastard!" She growls. Sebastian sighs into his reply.

"That's exactly what he's doing, I didn't trust a letter of the words he said yesterday. He ain't on our side, and he ain't ever going to be. He's still in contact with Jude, and he fears only for his own safety." The General raises his head slightly, to yell over the commotion around him.

"Soldiers! Once you get into the hangar, the elite fighter pilots do not have to stay and listen to my words. The safety of the Reaper Nation is a stake. For every other RORO personnel, I will be assigning troops to guard the grounds between RORO and Milan. We have to get moving, now!" The commotion erupts once more as everybody in the building migrates through a set of massive iron doors. Xander pushes through first, and stops in his tracks at the sight.

Above his head, the ceiling raises so high, he can barely see the end of it. The dripping roof folds over in a dome shape. All around, rows of red and gold aircraft; Jets, bombers, specialty fighters, all nine line the walls. A massive runway shoots across the centre of the cement floor, with a movable launch mechanism at the start which leads to a small, tilted platform at the end.

Malachy, adorning a black aviation suit, jogs across to the control room; A small, enclosed box, full of control panels, monitors, and buttons. A crackling suddenly sounds, everyone turns their heads up to a white speaker attached to the wall above. Trinity and Lok join Xander at his side. Sebastian takes his place, standing before everyone.

"General Standish, sir, signal when ready." He gives Malachy a quick nod before he begins.

"Jessica, and Petro." He points to Jessica, and then points to the tall, bulky Reaper standing beside her. His hair is buzzed, he wears a dark green aviation suit, and there's a stern seriousness in his eyes.