Eleven: The Sequel of AlterMyth

London Calling

Prologue

The soft colors of the dawn painted the mid-August sky outside the old Army Infirmary building of Da Nang Air Base. Irys, wearing a knapsack of the small handful of things she was given, stood at the paved front yard of the Infirmary.

She took a deep breath and breathed in the air of the relatively calm air base. Then, she looked up to the Infirmary roof and the pretty periwinkle sky above it and mused..

It's been almost a month, huh?

Irys adjusted the strap of her knapsack and heaved a sigh. That was when she heard footsteps, along with the wheels of luggage rattling along, approaching her. Irys didn't need to turn to know who it was.

"Good morning, Bae." Irys joined her hands behind her back and smiled.

"Mornin' Irys." Bae yawned, covering her mouth of sharp teeth. She rubbed the side of her eyes with the back of her hand and remarked, "We're finally getting out of this rickety cage."

"Yeah... though it wasn't all bad." Irys reminisced, following the silhouettes of birds flying in the dawn sky. She remembered the upside-down Bae that she saw in her room on day one and chuckled, "Remember what you told me on the day we met? I didn't 'get in your way', did I?"

"Oh please, you got in my way in all sorts of ways! I got booted out of the Australian Army - honorably at least. I'm carrying the responsibility of the entire Eleventh Council on my shoulders now, and I have to babysit a Victorian Nephilim on her scientific world tour." The rat-girl aired her litany of grievances.

"Bae..." Irys felt a pang of remorse.

All of a sudden, Bae winked playfully, "But it was totally worth it!"

Irys' smile grew wider and she spoke softly, "I'm glad you decided to come with me, Bae."

"I'm a girl of my word!" Bae pounded her chest proudly, "Plus, Omega's gonna need help keeping Sparrowhawk's slimy hands in check. The Eleventh Council's gonna protect you at all costs, Irys."

"You mean, Baelz Hakos will protect me." Irys teased, "My own personal bodyguard!"

Bae's cheeks flushed red. She folded her arms, raised her nose and turned away from Irys, "Hmph~! You know what? I might still be able to find a flight back to 'Straya!"

"Oh? But I think you're gonna miss me and fly to London anyways~" Irys called Bae's bluff.

All of a sudden, Irys and Bae both broke out into laughter.

"I hate you, Irys!" Bae laughed.

"I hate you too, Bae!" Irys laughed back.

They said this, but they stood shoulder to shoulder facing the sunrise. There wasn't an inch of distance between them.

Once the two of them managed to catch their breath, they turned to face the MACV Army Infirmary one last time. Bae graciously saluted the building and Irys followed suit.

The two ladies walked away from the Infirmary for the last time towards one of the nearby hangars. There, the group that they were flying with were already assembled and were waiting for them: Second Lieutenant Mumei Nanashi, First Lieutenant Kronii Ouro, Major Omega Alpha, Major General Sparrowhawk and Chairwoman Ophelia Lowry. A small contingent of MACV soldiers was present there too.

Behind them was a peculiar aircraft - a large, cutting-edge four-engine passenger jet. It was marked in light blue Pan American World Airways livery that grew more and more pronounced as the rising sun illuminated the air base.