Eleven: The Sequel of AlterMyth

Let Me Stay Here, In The Realm Of Eternal Autumn

Prologue

"Wouldn't you like to become my sapling, Lieu~te~nant?"

Fauna's honeyed proposal echoed in the turbulent depths of Kronii's mind. As the great MACV assault of the St. Katharine's Docks continued to rage, Kronii found herself in a most unusual bind: embraced from behind by the curiously powerful arms of Dr. Fauna Ceres. In that bind, all of the battle cries, screams and gunfire seemed more and more like they came from another distant world for Kronii.

Trapped in that precarious situation, tension gripped Kronii's heart. She knew something was wrong here. Kronii didn't know Fauna for very long but she was aware of her touchy-feely nature and her penchant for teasing and flirting at every opportunity she could take. However, that Fauna that Kronii knew wasn't the same one embracing her.

"Hrghhhh...!" Kronii struggled to break free again.

Fauna, however, stubbornly held her down with her strange strength. Frustration started to take root in Kronii's mind. Even though she was discharged early from Watson Memorial Clinic, she should have had more than enough strength to break free from Fauna's bind.

How did a frail civilian like Fauna gain so much strength so quickly? She's a medical officer for Monsanto for crying out loud!

The last time Kronii saw a transformation that drastic, Hakos Baelz became the Representative of Chaos in the heat of Operation Telstar. When Kronii thought about this, a harrowing realization dawned upon her.

"Wait a second! Don't tell me you..."

"Oooooh, did you finally figure it out?" Fauna cooed, amused by Kronii's anguish, "I'm not as weak as the last time you saw me, Lieutenant. I've always kept my head down, did as I was told and let opportunities pass me by - but no more!" She rested her chin on Kronii's shoulder and whispered into her ear, "I am Fauna Ceres, the new Keeper of Nature. I will rid this world of parasites and polluters and restore this green earth!"

"You're the new Keeper of Nature?" Kronii hissed defiantly, "Captain Hakos should be your leader, then! And MACV supports the Eleventh Council! We're on the same side!"

"Same side? Ufufufufu~ I think you misunderstand, Lieutenant." Fauna corrected, blowing gently into Kronii's ear, "I have no plans of joining Bae's false council. She, and that wicked siren of a Nephilim, are at the heart of the problem, you see. That means all of the people who support her have to go too!"

"What...!?"

"But don't you worry your pretty head, Lieutenant. I've taken a liking to you." Fauna added slyly, "I will spare you from the fire that will purge the twisted forest of this world. Then, when all is said and done, you will become a sapling in the new world - free to blossom and bloom towards the verdant green future! My future! Wouldn't that be grand?"

Kronii winced. Fauna's voice seemed to pierce her very soul and whittle away at her sanity. It was a slow and deliberate mental assault of honeyed words and breaths of fresh spring air in the autumn - like a soothing Bossa Nova melody in a dramatic operatic movement. It wasn't right, Kronii told herself, but Fauna's voice blurred the line between right and wrong.

The Lieutenant's cheeks blushed.

Then, Kronii's earpiece buzzed and snapped her out of Fauna's alluring spell. It was Major General Sparrowhawk's voice!

"Attention all OD units, this is Spirit-In-The-Sky. My gunship's running low on ammo, so we're flying back to Heathrow to refuel and rearm. Be advised, reinforcements from the British Army are en rou-"

Before Kronii could hear the rest of Sparrowhawk's spiel, Fauna plucked the earpiece out from Kronii's ear.

"Hmph. Listening to other women when you already have me." Fauna chastised Kronii. Then, she crushed the earpiece between her fingers.