Eleven: The Sequel of AlterMyth

Blinded By The Light

Prologue

"What's your angle here, Sparrowhawk?" Omega asked from the cupola of her Sheridan tank, "Why have you brought these people here to No Man's Land?"

The bewildered Major leered at the Major General. Then, she turned her eyes to the army that had accompanied Sparrowhawk to the DMZ all the way from Saigon: an army of reporters, cameramen and staffers from major Western news media outlets riding on MACV busses and trucks. The army of journalists disembarked from their rides and began setting up their equipment - forming a perimeter of cameras pointed at the mouth of the subterranean caves of Sector Hotel-11. All the while, the reporters prepared their microphones and voice recorders and thumbed through their scripts.

"My angle?" Sparrowhawk ran a hand through her long, silky, black hair with graceful purple streaks. With locks of her hair in her hand, she flicked them back towards Omega dismissively, "What could you possibly mean, Butters?"

Despite being in the cupola of a tank with a 152mm main gun and the .50 caliber heavy machine gun by her side, Omega was powerless against the unarmed Major General. All Omega could do was clench her mechanical hand and curse the nickname that Sparrowhawk dubbed her to that day.

"You said I was under investigation." Omega finally revealed her hand, "I thought you would be here with a battalion of Military Police - not the entire Saigon News Bureau!"

"You are under investigation, yes. But today isn't about that, Butters. I'm here to congratulate you, actually!" The Major General put a hand on her shapely hips and smirked, "Sources tell me that something incredible happened here today. Not only were we able to develop and deploy a new way to fight the Horrors, we were also able to bear witness to the rise of the Eleventh Council." Sparrowhawk's shimmering red eyes looked into Omega's and spoke, feigning innocence, "Who knew that the rat-morph would turn out to be the Eleventh Representative of Chaos, huh?"

"How did you know that...!?" Omega's face went pale.

"Would you believe me if I told you that a little bird told me?" Sparrowhawk hummed, "Or would you sleep better at night knowing that your soldiers are my soldiers too? Chain of command and all."

"Which is it!?" Omega hissed.

"I wonder~" Sparrowhawk shrugged. She then gestured to the army of news media assembled at the perimeter, "Either way, that little Nephilim of yours and the new Representative of Chaos are going to be superstars. I'll make sure of it." She gave Omega a sidelong glance and added, "Wasn't that your ultimate goal too? With your 'Operation Telstar'?"

Omega didn't answer. She held onto the cupola of her tank tightly and seethed in silence.

"I'm a fair lady. I give credit where credit is due." The Major General spoke playfully, teasing her powerless subordinate, "Share in the limelight of your two little projects now, or wallow in the darkness on your own like you always used to do." She then wore a saccharine smile that hid daggers behind the thinnest of veils, "What happens from here on out is up to you, Omega Alpha."

Again, Omega had no answer for Sparrowhawk. Satisfied, the Major General gestured to Omega and urged,

"C'mon now, Butters. The New York Times wants a photo op."

Left without a choice, Omega grumbled beneath her breath and slipped out of the cupola of her tank.

Completely and utterly defeated.

Wrapped up in Sparrowhawk's little finger.

...

Eleven