“Your Highness!” cried Colonel Sherwood. No reply, his words simply echoed in the empty throne room ominously. He rushed upstairs to the king’s bedroom opened the door and found the king sitting on his bed holding a royal cavalry submachine gun.
“Sire?” Sherwood asked.
“Yes?” replied the king grimly.
“I’ve come to report that the—”
“Yes, I know I can see from my own window.”
Sherwood looked outside. Even from a distance the battle was unpleasant to look at. He got a full view of the damage the Sturmgewehr’s artillery barrages were causing. He turned to the king and asked, “What are you doing with that weapon?”
“I figured if I’m going to die, I’ll do it fighting Klaus and his cronies”
“With all do respect, sire,” said Sherwood. “I do not think that would be wise.”
“Why not?” asked the king “We’re all going to die anyway.”
“Well, for one you’re the king.”
“Of a dying kingdom.”
“Not so, sire, we can win this!”
“You don’t seriously believe that, do you?” replied the king coldly. “We are outnumbered, outgunned and outsmarted; the only thing we can do is fight and die.” He picked himself up, holding the submachine gun in his hands, and marched out of his bedroom.
“Sire, where are you going?” asked Sherwood.
“I’m going to join them,” replied the king.
“Wait up,” Sherwood called out as he too exited the bedroom.


The two of them maneuvered their way through the ravaged city. Flaming debris and bloody human remains littered the streets while exploding shells continued to shake the city. Dying people crawled on the pavement crying out in agony. The king felt horrible for ignoring their plight but he pressed on with Sherwood until they reached the city’s wall and climbed up the ladder to the defense platform. Soldiers fired their weapons into the massive army they saw before them that was filled with soldiers, tanks and cavalrymen. The king joined his men firing into the massive force below.
“Sinclair, report!” called put Sherwood. A grizzled 40 year old Major with a light machinegun walked over and replied, “52 more dead, 213 more wounded.”
“I see.”
“That’s all you can say?” snapped Sinclair and walked past him and saw the king firing away with his submachine gun.
“Sire, with all due respect, what the hell are you doing here?”
“Joining you in battle,” replied the king.
“In that case could you please take over command? Sherwood’s blind optimism is killing us.”
“Silence, soldier,” Sherwood fired back. “We are going to win this battle one way or another.”
“Sir,” Sinclair replied. “We’re hopelessly outnumbered; the wall is being cut to shreds, for all we know our loved ones are no longer with us. Face facts, sir, we’re going to die whether you like it or not!”
“Nonsense, we can wi—” Before Sherwood could finish, an artillery shell exploded near him, scattering his flesh and bone into the air like confetti.
“I rest my case,” said Sinclair.
“Fall back into the city,” he shouted to his troops.

Klaus stood on top of an armored car and observed through his binoculars. He saw that one by one the soldiers on the wall began to dissipate until the wall was deserted.
“Excellent,” he said to himself. He activated the speaker on the top of the cars and said, “Move the siege towers into position.”
“Yes.”
Four 90 ft tall wheeled rectangular monoliths began to move forward towards the wall. Soldiers and tanks quickly moved out of way. The towers lurched closer and closer when all of the sudden two boulders fell out of the sky. One knocked down a siege tower; the other crushed several Sturmgewehr soldiers. Klaus turned and saw a familiar large humanoid female figure approach at alarming speeds.
“It’s back,” he snarled and turned to his army and shouted through the speaker, “We have company.”
Four of the largest tanks faced the giantess and fired but the giantess swiftly dodged their fire power. She ran to the nearest tank, slammed her hand in it and she proceeded to use the tank as a punching glove to destroy the other three tanks. She then took her hand out of her tank glove and threw it at the soldiers firing at her. She continued to stomp forward; picking up clumps of soldiers and throwing them at a distance. Klaus manned the car’s machine gun turret and shouted to the driver. “Get me as close as possible”
“Yes sir.” The car started and drove forward into the battle. Klaus aimed the guns for the giantess’ head and fired. The bullets grazed her and they caught her attention. She ripped the top off a smaller tank and used it as a club to smash out the machineguns. Klaus yanked out his revolver and fired. A few tank shells managed to hit her but they merely scarred her. She continued to give them a massive beating until Klaus then got on the barely functioning speaker and shouted, “Retreat, leave the wounded, fall back!”
The soldiers and vehicles quickly evacuated the battle field.
“She robbed me of victory again,” he snarled to himself.
As she watched the army fade into the distance, she collapsed to the ground exhausted.

Raquel, in her haze of exhaustion and lightheadedness began to hear voices.
“She’s dead,” one of them said.
“She can’t be,” said another.
“Well, she’s not moving.”
“What’ll we do if she is dead?” another voice asked.
“I don’t know,” another voice replied.
Raquel began push herself up and the voice grew more anxious.
“She’s moving!”
“Impossible!”
“I don’t believe it.”
“She’s still alive.”
She fully opened her eyes and was greeted with the sound and sight of humans
cheering her on as she arose. The sight was so heartwarming that she couldn’t help but shed a tear of happiness. Her old friend King Tillinghast approached her smiling with the rest of them.
“My dear Raquel a million thank you’s for returning and saving us from the Sturmgewehr.”
She picked up her friend and held him close.
“You owe me,” she said jokingly and kissed him.

The euphoria was short lived. The lovely little city that Raquel remembered was now in ruins and the smell of burning flesh filled the air. Why did I delay? she asked herself.
“Final report?” The king asked Sinclair.
“4,100 dead, most of them civilians, 6,000,000 more wounded, most of them are not expected to live long.”
Raquel couldn’t hold back her tears any longer and while she didn’t sob, the tone of her voice was considerably melancholy.
“I can’t stay here.” she said.
“Raquel, wait!” cried the king. “Do you think it’s possible more of your kind could help us?”
“I’m not sure,” replied Raquel. “Most of our contact with humanity has been with the Sturmgewehr, but then again my father is a member of parliament and has been known for pioneering charitable causes so maybe there is a chance.”
“Can I see him now?” he asked her.
“But what about the people?” Sinclair asked.
“If we don’t get help soon the people will die here. Now while we’re gone, all the wounded need to be treated at once and have all doctors put to work on the wounded at once, create makeshift shelters if you have to.”
“Yes sir,” replied Sinclair.
Raquel then picked up the king in her hand and walked off with him.


The trip was rather dull despite the sights the king witnessed. However when they came to a familiar lakeside, the king looked at Raquel’s face and said, “Keep going, don’t stop.” But 10 seconds latter, she stopped.
“Just keep going!” he snapped.
“Wait,” replied Raquel. “Just listen.” The king humored her but then discovered what she was talking about. There was this beautifully melancholy tune that seemed to be played on a wind instrument.
“Oh my, that is lovely,” said the king. “It sound Elvish.”
“I believe it is.”
She kneeled down and crept close to the source of the music. The king hopped off her shoulder and followed. Near where Marlon was buried, they saw an Elf playing a pan flute. The Elf was tall and lanky with black hair. He wore green, white and red hunting clothes and had a bow and an arrow sack over his left shoulder.
“It’s Pixitatonolous,” said the king in amazement. Raquel gave the king a confused glance.
“He was a friend of Marlon, everyone else likes to call him Pixis for short.”
“Oh yes, I remember Marlon talking about him once.”
“Stay here.”
The king slowly walked over to him.
“Oh,” said Pixis. “Lord Tillinghast, this is a pleasant surprise.” And with that, he put away his pan flute.
“I wish we’d meet somewhere more pleasant than here,” replied the king.
“What are you doing here?”
“The Sturmgewehr have devastated my kingdom and I’m going to seek help from the giants.”
“The giants, why them?”
“Marlon was in love with one of them,” he turned to Raquel and said, “You can come forward.”
Raquel got up and stepped over to the two of them.
“Raquel, meet Pixis, Pixis, meet Raquel” said the king happily.
“Hi,” said Raquel. Pixis was speechless. He loved to think of himself as a classy ladies’ man but he had one weakness, redheads, especially if they were much larger than him.
“You look tense,” said the king.
“It’s just the wind,” replied Pixis. “It’s kind of chilly.”
“What wind?” the king asked.
“Well, never mind that,” said Pixis quickly. “Can I join you?”
“I guess you can,” said Raquel, “but why?”
“Why not?” replied Pixis. “You could use the company.” Raquel could tell that the Elf was infatuated with her so she thought to herself, Might as well, I don’t want this guy stalking me.
“Let’s go,” she said and placed the two of them on her right shoulder.


The trek continued to an extinct volcano. Raquel climbed halfway up the volcano and came to an entrance in the middle of the rock face and entered. The cave was lit only by small lanterns but they did give off enough light for the three of them to see. She made her way down the cave until she finally stopped at the cliff edge and said, “Well, here’s home.”
Her two passengers looked and gawked at an enormous crater that law before them. The crater was 525 meters deep and 1200 meters in diameter with the mouth of the volcano looming above it. Buildings, be they houses, factories or businesses, were carved into the wall of the crater and the very bottom was a majestic palace that unlike all the other buildings was actually built with marble and ivory instead of carved from the rock of the crater.
“This is amazing!” said Pixis in astonishment.
“Indeed,” said the king, “but how do we get down?”
“Easy,” replied Raquel. She grabbed a rope that was attached to the edge of the cliff and pulled it up. At the end of the rope was a harness. She then put it on her, let the rope slip down the chasm and then positioned herself on the edge of the crater.
“Isn’t there a safer way to do this?” asked the king.
“Sorry,”” replied Raquel, “but it’s the only way.”
“And your people have this sort of equipment lying around?” snapped the king.
“It’s a necessity,” said Raquel. “Now hang on!” She stuffed her two companions in her cleavage. Se then pushed her self off the edge of the canyon and rapelled down. She repeated the process nine more times and while the king was struck with fear, Pixis’s mind was clouded by the euphoria of his surroundings. She finally landed on another ledge but this time there was flight of stairs that lead into the city. She took off the harness and looked down in her cleavage.
“Are you ok?” she asked as she picked her friends out of her cleavage.
“Well, I’m alive,” said the king. Raquel needed no answer from Pixis, the look on his face that was somewhere between cheeky and horny was the only answer she needed from him. Raquel made her way down the stairs and while she felt at home, the king was in awe of the size of the buildings. An ordinary house here could be a mansion in any human kingdom. When they got to the 12th ring of houses, she turned to the right and made her way down to the 7th house. She opened the door and stepped in.
“Mom?” she called out.

From out of another room in the house came a much older giantess, her hair was black with evidence that it was going grey, she was also a little bit shorter than Raquel and had lovely green eyes.
“Oh honey,” she cried. “Where have you been? First you vanish for three days, then you come and you’re traumatized, and as if the things couldn’t get any worse, I go to wake you up and you’re not in your bedroom!”
“Sorry, Mom, it’s long a story.”
“It better be truthful,” she replied and looked into her daughter’s cleavage.
“Who are they?” she asked in surprise.
“Oh,” gasped Raquel and quickly plucked her friends out.
“I’ll let them introduce themselves,” said Raquel.
“Hello, my lady,” said the king. “I’m Rupert Tillinghast.”
“And I’m Pixitatonolous Karmantocoth the 75th.”
“Well,” replied the older giantess. “I must say, it’s nice meet you but that’s beside the point. Where were you, dear?”
Before Raquel could say anything, the door opened again and in stepped a male giant who was a little bit older than Raquel’s mother, with a receding hairline, blue eyes and glasses.
“Well,” he said deadpan. “Raqqy’s back.”
“Hi dad,” replied Raquel meekly.
“And we have some visitors I see,” he continued.
Raquel’s friends quickly introduced themselves to her father.
“Nice to meet you two,” he said. “My name is Harlan and see you’ve already met my wife Valerie.” He then turned to his daughter.
“Now,” said Valerie. “Give me that explanation you promised.”
Raquel told them everything that happened to her, the capture, her relationship with Marlon and other humans, the tragedy that had befallen Marlon and his father, why she went back and the king’s plea for help. Her parents were speechless.
“Well,” said Harlan. “I’m sorry about what happened to your son, Rupert, and I promise you I’ll do what I can to help your people.”
“Harlan,” said Valerie nervously. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves now.”
“What’s wrong with helping out another species in a crisis?” Harlan protested.
“Nothing,” she replied. “But shouldn’t we let the humans sort this out themselves.” She then turned to Rupert and said meekly, “No offense”
“None taken,” the king replied.
“Valerie,” said Harlan, “this may well concern every civilization known to this world and that includes us.”
“Thanks, dad,” said Raquel. “I was afraid you’d say no.”
“Why would I? Judging from your story it sounds like what’s left of Rupert’s kingdom could potentially fall into chaos. That could be quite dangerous both to his people and the outside world and I think you and we have a responsibility that your land goes through a stable transition of reconstruction.”
“You sound like you’ve seen stuff like this before,” said Pixis.
“I have,” replied Harlan, “Several times as matter of fact.”
“Really?” asked Rupert in astonishment.
“Really,” said Harlan. “Before our kind came to the point we are now, our government was once a very corrupt monarchy. The middle and working classes were suffering from over work and disease but rulers refused to help them. They were consumed in their own private perfect little world. However the people started a revolution and took the government down by force. But even though the elite was taken down, the workers became elite thus creating a new generation of depressed workers who in time started their own revolution and this scenario of the workers becoming the very people they hate repeated itself for three centuries until it reached a point that left our homeland in shambles at the mercy of another corrupt system of government. But finally a small group of people, my wife and I included, decided to have a non violent revolution this time. We staged protests, gave speeches and before we knew it things started to change. The government started to reform itself into a democracy and to make a long story short I became a senator of the parliament and we started having close relationships with other races such as the Elves and the Dwarves.”
“That’s quite a story,” replied Rupert
“I wouldn’t want any other race to go through the centuries of hell my people went through,” finished Harlan.
“Again, Dad,” said Raquel. “I can’t thank you enough for supporting this cause”
“It won’t be easy getting parliament to help you but I promise I will do all that I can.”


Klaus’s battered army entered the gates of their home city Sterminus. As they passed through its magnificent expansive streets, Klaus noticed that his people were peering out their windows and looked at them with concern, uncertainty and doubt.
Klaus turned to the armored car’s driver and barked, “Take me to the Fortress at once.”
The driver nodded and cautiously maneuvered through the city and went directly to the center of it.
The Fortress was distinguished by the 500 ft. pyramid that served as both a home to the ruling body of chancellors (which Klaus was part of) and as command center for planning military strategies as well with dealing with local affairs. Beneath the pyramid were barracks and armories for the Sturmgewehr’s growing military force. The car stopped and Klaus promptly exited the vehicle, where he was immediately greeted by Maximilian Molotov the chancellor of information.
“What happened, Klaus?” he asked.
“I was humiliated again by that oversized bitch,” Klaus growled, “and to make matters worse our people may be starting to doubt us, we cannot let that happen.”
“What do you wish me to say to them?” Maximilian asked.
“I don’t care,” snapped Klaus and he marched into the fortress where he ran into his chief military strategist Carlos Kaman.
“Oh sir,” he said. “It’s good to se—”
“Not now,” barked Klaus. “I’m not in the mood.”
“But I do have good news.”
“Well, let’s hear it.” said Klaus.
“The 67th bomber squadron reported that they’re inbound to Argena.”
“Well, that is good news,” said Klaus in a pleased tone. “Prepare a battalion of soldiers to take care of any survivors.”


Raquel exited the volcano with her two tiny companions on her shoulder and a large sack of food that her mother gave her for the king’s people. She made her way down the mountain and was about to head back to the king’s homeland when Pixis abruptly announced, “I’m off” and slid down her body to the ground.
“You’re going home?” Raquel asked.
“Right, I have to meet family in Argena for supper.”
“You want me to give you a ride home?” she asked again.
“No thanks,” Pixis replied. “I’ll head back on my own.” As he waved goodbye, Raquel and the king waved back and headed off back to the kingdom.
When they arrived the horrific smell was gone but the sense of hopelessness remained.
Raquel gathered some scattered wood into a pile, poured some powder from a few artillery shell casings on the pile, and rubbed two shards of metal together. Sparks flew and the fire started. Raquel took out a frying pan and dish from her sack and began cooking food for the victims. When she had enough well cooked food on the dish she presented it to the humans who were huddled together in overcrowded hospitals shelters made out of beams and planks of wood. The humans now looked at her as if she was God incarnate and they grabbed at the food.
“One at a time,” Raquel ordered polity and they reluctantly obeyed. When the plate was empty, she went to fix up another batch. As she was making it she overheard the king talking to someone and it sounded urgent.
“Is anything wrong?” she asked him. The king stepped over to her.
“Sinclair tells me the wounded Sturmgewehr soldiers we captured are not responding to our interrogators and I fear we my have to take drastic steps to get information out of them.”
“There’s one who’s a practically fine nuisance named Claude Reinhart,” added Sinclair who was at the king’s side. “He simply refuses to speak and on the occasions he does speak, it’s always an insult.”
“Perhaps I can help,” replied Raquel. “Let me finish up with this batch and I’ll talk to him.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” asked Sinclair.
“Don’t worry, I have an idea but I need a chessboard to make it work.”



Pixis’s journey was more or less as he expected it to be, uneventful and the pleasant sunset seemed to punctuate the feeling perfectly. But the feeling of tranquility came to an end when just above the horizon he saw plumes of black smoke coming from where Argena was located. His heart began to race, and he began to pick up speed. The sound of airplanes roared overhead and he began to pick up the pace again. As Argena came into view, Pixis’s feelings of hopelessness grew stronger. The once magnificent iron and glass skyscrapers that dominated the kingdom’s skyline were reduced to metallic burned out stumps with smoke coming out of them. Fire dominated the smaller buildings and the mighty rock wall that protected the people was now playing a part in their suffering. Pixis collapsed to the ground and screamed at the heavens in sorrow and rage.

As Raquel was finishing up giving the second batch of food to the masses, the king and Sinclair met her outside the castle with a chessboard and all the pieces.
“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” Sinclair asked. “This is Klaus’s right hand man we’re dealing with here.”
“Trust me,” said Raquel and the king placed the board and the pieces in her hand.
“Now,” said Raquel again. “Where is this guy?”
Her question was answered when two guards with shotguns escorted a tall man in his very early 40’s with dark hair and icy cold blue eyes like Klaus. As the three of them stopped, Raquel gently set down her other hand in front of them.
“I guess I don’t get a blindfold,” Claude said sternly.
“For the last time,” replied one of the guards angrily yet restrained. “You’re not going to be executed.”
Claude simply rolled his eyes and stepped into her hand.
“Okay,” he snarled. “Let’s get this over with.”
Raquel lifted him off the ground and walked outside the city.
“I hope she knows what she’s doing,” said Sinclair to the king.


Raquel finally got to a grassy field that gave her an admirable view of the sunset. She then placed Claude down on the grass and set up the chessboard. When she finished she moved the chessboard over to him and said, “White or Black?” Claude just stared at her sternly and pointed to the white pieces.
“Okay,” she said and sat down on the earth. Claude kneeled down and started the game. As it progressed and pieces were being taken, Claude was immersed in the game. He hadn’t played chess in years and he seemed to forget that he was playing with someone he was supposed to hate. Finally, Raquel cornered his king and said cheekily, “Checkmate.”
Claude chuckled and replied with, “Not bad, not—” He stopped suddenly and looked up at her with hate and fear in his eyes.
“I see,” he said. “You’re waiting, waiting to pounce right? Yeah, that’s it, you want me to give in to this little mind game of yours. Well, I’m not falling for it!”
“I just wanted socialize with you,” Raquel replied calmly.
“Socialize, my ass!” Claude snapped back “You want to kill me! You want to throw me in your mouth and smash my head against your teeth. Well, I’m having none of it! I’m………I’m………..” He started to lose focus of what he was saying and began sputtering until he got a look of pure terror on his face as if he saw the Devil himself, then he let out this nightmarish scream that was heard by the people in Tillinghast’s kingdom. Finally he collapsed to the ground sobbing.
Raquel picked up the pathetic man, held him in her arms like a newborn baby and walked back to the ruined kingdom.
“It’s okay,” she cooed. “It’s okay.” She made her way up to the castle tapped the window of the king’s bedroom. The king peered outside and looked at Claude current state and asked Raquel,“What did you do to him?”
“We just played a game of chess, that’s all,” she replied and handed him the chessboard.
“And it did that to him?”
“It was another one of my dad’s tricks he told me about,” she began. “He used to be a soldier before being a part of parliament and his specialty was interrogation. What he would do was he would befriend prisoners and play games with them and eventually they’d answer his questions without resistance. I didn’t think it would affect him like this though.”
Claude peered up from Raquel’s chest, his face soaked with his tears. The king looked at him and turned his attention back to Raquel.
“Maybe you’ve shattered his whole worldview,” he said. “He just couldn’t stand the idea of someone he’s supposed to hate being kind to him.” At that moment Claude finally spoke up.
“It’s more than that,” he said and he turned his body toward him. “It’s much more than that.”
“What do you mean?” asked Raquel.
“I don’t know how to describe it,” replied Claude. “I might as well tell you.”
“Tell us what?” asked the king.
“Well,” began Claude, “unlike Klaus I was not born into the Sturmgewehr. My family were just simple people who lived in a small kingdom but we had good relations with the Dwarves who lived in Montaga and that is why the Sturmgewehr came. They made horrible claims that the Dwarves were exploiting us and that we should call off all relations with them. We refused, so they attacked us. They killed my family and I was taken into their hands because of my physical condition. Klaus was my personal instructor before he became the Sturmgewehr’s leader. During my training he would tell that everything my parents taught me about all races being treated equal was wrong, he went so far as to ordering me to hate them and I believed him. In time I worked my way up the ranks and became Klaus’s right hand crony. He even said that I would be his successor as chancellor of war. I felt honored at that time but now……”
Claude broke down into tears again.
“Please, kill me,” he said aloud. Raquel’s head quickly recoiled in horror.
“I’ve done so many horrible things, please for love of all that is holy, kill m-” Raquel gently flicked her finger against his head and Claude’s body went limp. The king looked up at Raquel in surprise.
“Did you just—”
“No,” she interrupted. “I only knocked him out. With your permission I’d like to look after him until his mood becomes brighter.”
“Very well,” said the king. Raquel then walked outside the city, laid down on the ground and went to sleep with Claude still in her arms.


The sun rose the next morning and Raquel slowly opened her eyes, she looked at her unconscious bosom buddy and nudged his head. Claude slowly awoke and the two of them immediately made eye contact with each another.
“How are we feeling today?” Raquel asked politely.
“How should I feel?” he asked nervously. Raquel chuckled and sat up. But then she looked up and her face tuned to a look of shock but not in a negative way.
“What is it?” asked Claude. Raquel turned his body to face the city and the two of them saw the city once in shambles now being rebuilt by Raquel’s people. She stood up and walked into the city as it came back to life before her eyes and when she turned to the king’s castle, she saw her father talking with Rupert. She quickly rushed over to her father who saw her quickly and was just as happy to see her.
“You did it!” she cried as she embraced her father smothering poor Claude in the process.
“Yup,” he replied, “it was perhaps my easiest time with parliament but that’s not saying a lot.” Raquel chuckled but then her father looked down at her cleavage and saw Claude squished in their.
“Who’s the pervert?” he asked. Claude nervously receded into her bosom.
“It’s alright,” she said to Claude as she picked him out of her cleavage. “It’s just a sample of dad humor.”
“Well?” asked Harlan.
“You could say he’s a reformed Sturmgewehr soldier,” replied Raquel.
“Is he now?” asked Harlan in slight surprise. Their conversation was then quickly interrupted by a couple of soldiers on horseback, one of which had an Elf at his side that seemed shell-shocked.
“Sire,” one of the soldiers cried out.
“Yes?” asked the king.
“We found this Elf wandering on the outskirts of the city, he was just wandering aimlessly.” A look of shock appeared on the king’s face as he looked at the Elf.
“Pixis?” he gasped. “Get him down.”
The soldiers did as he ordered.
“Raquel, my dear,” said the king. “You need to take a look at this.”
Raquel kneeled down and looked at her traumatized companion. Claude stepped down from her body and took a close look at Pixis. Pixis turned his head slightly and looked at him from head to toe. His eyes seemed to silently panic at his ruined Sturmgewehr uniform. Suddenly Pixis lunged at Claude’s throat and attempted to strangle him. The two soldiers quickly restrained him.
“He’s one of them!” Pixis cried “You’re protecting one of them!”
“But he’s changed,” replied Raquel tensely. Pixis didn’t listen. He then grabbed his hunting knife and jammed it into one of the soldier’s legs. He then leaped at Claude, held him by the throat and his knife was raised in the air. Raquel grabbed Claude but Pixis held on and continued to attempt to jab the knife into Claude’s heart. Raquel grasped the enraged Elf in her other hand.
“Please, calm down,” Raquel said to Pixis. But Pixis continued to squirm so Raquel tightened her grip on him to the point that she feared that she would break his spine. She then out of fear loosened her grip.
“Okay,” gasped Pixis.
“Now, what happened?” Raquel asked him. Pixis collected himself as best he could and began to speak.
“Argena was attacked, I saw it happen, planes bombed the city and Sturmgewehr soldiers are already inside.”
“Say no more,” demanded the king and he turned to one of the soldiers.
“Get me Sinclair and every available soldier we’ve got.”
“Yes sir,” replied the soldier and took off.
“You’re going to help them aren’t you?” Pixis asked the king happily.
“My men will do what they can, Pixis,” the king replied.
“I’m coming too,” said Raquel suddenly.
“Hold on now, Raquel,” said her father. “I’m going with you too.”
“I accept you, Harlan” said the king. “But why bring Raquel she’s—”
“A woman?” asked Harlan.
“That’s not what I mean,” the king replied. “She doesn’t have any military experience.”
“I taught her hand to hand combat and how to outsmart your enemies.”
“That’s all very good but—”
“Rupert,” said Harlan. “Trust me on this.”
“Very well,” said the king reluctantly.
“Good,” replied Harlan. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to head back home to get an old friend to join us, I won’t be long.” He ordered another one of the giants to take charge of the reconstruction until he got back and walked off.
“I want to join your men, sire,” said Claude to the king. “I have some unfinished business to attend to with the Sturmgewehr.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” said the king.
“I agree,” said Raquel. “At least with what you’re wearing.”
“Good point,” replied Claude and he turned to the king. “Do you have any clothes I could borrow?”

The king led Claude up to his bedroom.
“If you’re going, pick any clothes out. I suggest you pick ones from the back of my closest.”
“Very well,” replied Claude and he walked in to the king’s room. The king waited nervously outside for about fifteen minuets and then Claude walked out wearing black pants, a bluish white shirt, brown boots, a brown hat and a large brown duster. He was the splitting image of Rupert when he first met Cathy.
“How do I look?” he asked the king.
“Fine.” replied the king. “Quite fine.”
“Now, I’d like a weapon,” said Claude. The king led him to the armory where thousands of guns lined the walls. Claude scanned the weapons and came across a large black revolver with a barrel of approximately eight inches or more in an old holster.
“This is perfect,” he said smiling.
The two of them headed outside where the king’s soldiers, half of which were on horse back led by Sinclair, were waiting for him and to their surprise the city was fully repaired. People were going back to their homes and business and the only giants left were Raquel and her recently returned father who had with him an oversized (by human standards) lever action rifle.
“That’s you’re friend?” asked the king in surprise.
“Hey, it served me well during times of war.”
“Very well,” replied the king. “Move out!”
“You heard him,” called out Sinclair. “Let’s go!” Raquel picked up Claude and placed him on her shoulder and looked down at Pixis.
“You riding up here?” asked Claude.
“I’ll walk,” Pixis replied sternly.
“Are you sure?” asked Raquel with sexy coy as she stroked her index finger across her cleavage. Pixis’s stern demeanor weakend and he caved.
“Okay,” he said sheepishly and Raquel picked him up, knowing that he might go after Claude again. She placed the elf once again her cleavage and she and her father joined the king’s army.

The ruined city came into view and everyone got a first hand look at what the Sturmgewehr were capable of. The fires Pixis saw were gone but the burned skeleton of the city was still a disturbing sight and above the city there were three zeppelins hung in the air circling the perimeter of the city like vultures.
“Halt,” Sinclair ordered to them. He then ordered to see Pixis and Raquel responded by taking the Elf out of her cleavage and placed him at Sinclair’s side.
“You’re going to have to guide us through the city”
“I’d be glad to,” replied Pixis. “But what about the zeppelins? The moment they spot us their cannons will blow us to smithereens.”
“Leave that to me,” said Harlan as he crouched down and aimed his rifle.
“A word of advice to anyone here not a hundred feet in height-- get down, cover your ears and close your eyes.” They all quickly did as he said and then Harlan took aim at one of the zeppelins and fired. Fire burst from the zeppelin’s hull and it crashed outside the city and exploded. Harlan fired at the final two with equally similar looking satisfying results.
“Well,” said Pixis as everyone else picked themselves up. “Nice shooting but they’re sure to expect us now.”
“I have an idea,” said Claude.

Claude walked through the dead city. The smell of charred flesh filled the air as walked through the once glorious Elven city. He came across three Sturmgewehr soldiers that seemed to be on patrol. As he approached them they drew out their weapons and shouted “Halt!”
“Hold your fire boys” he said nonchalantly.
“Reinhart?” asked one of them in surprise and he motioned to the others to lower their weapons.
“I don’t believe it. General Reinheart, we heard you were dead.”
“Did you know?” Claude asked.
“Come on, sir,” said another one of them. “Let’s get you to the Brigade.” As the four them walked off one of them glanced over his shoulder.
“I think heard something,” he said. “It might have been some of those pointy eared freaks.”
“I didn’t hear anything,” replied Claude. “Let’s keep going.”
“Yes sir.”
“So,” said Claude. “Where’s the rest of city’s inhabitance?”
“We’re searching for survivors as we speak. Don’t worry, we’ll have those damned things dead soon enough.”
“Well then,” said Claude. “I think see three of those damned things right now.”
“Where?” asked another soldier.
“They’re standing right in front of me,” replied Claude coldly.
The three soldiers stopped dead in their tracks and nervously turned towards Claude.
“Are you okay, sir?” one of them asked.
“Never felt better,” he replied.
The three men quickly raised their weapons at him but alas, Claude quickly drew his revolver and fired off six shots. Three men fell to the ground and drowned in pools of their own blood. Claude smiled, reloaded his revolver and placed it back in his holster. He walked about seven miles until he found the brigade. They had constructed a makeshift base in the middle of what appeared to be large park. He approached them and like before the soldiers aimed their weapons at him and just as before they started recognize who he was. Their Colonel was the first to run up to greet him.
“General Reinheart,” he said. “We thought you were—”
“I know, I know,” interrupted Claude.
“What happened?” another one asked.
“I was captured by the enemy,” the soldiers started to murmur among themselves and Claude resisted the urge to chuckle at this predictable response.
“What did they do to you?”
“Surprisingly enough, they treated me quite well.”
The soldiers fell silent.
“You’re joking, sir,” one of them chuckled nervously.
“I’m not joking,” replied Claude. He noticed that some of the men were where slowly going for their weapons.
“Sir,” began the Colonel. “You seem to have gone some traumatic shit there.”
“My time with them has no doubt changed me but I assure you my honesty has not altered.”
As Claude finished his statement practically every soldier was aiming their weapons at him.
“If that’s the case,” said the Colonel, “I suggest you surrender to us and—” he stopped suddenly.
“What was that?” he said in surprise.
“What is it, sir?” asked one of the soldiers.
“I heard something.”
“Who’s with you?”
“Friends,” replied Claude.
“Are they now?” The Colonel replied, he then drew his pistol and pointed at Claude’s temple.
“Call them off.”
Claude shook his head. “You really shouldn’t have done that.”
“Why?” the Colonel asked sternly. His question was soon answered when Raquel leaped from behind one of the buildings wielding a blunt piece of debris and slammed it into the Sturmgewehr soldiers. Sinclair charged in with the other soldiers firing their weapons, the Sturmgewehr fired back and all hell broke loose. Before the Colonel could give an order to his men, Claude grabbed him by the throat and pulled out the Colonel’s bayonet. The Colonel struggled but Claude silenced him driving the bayonet into the man’s chest and head repeatedly.

Claude then joined the battle firing his revolver at his former comrades with a look of manic glee in his eyes. He saw Raquel pick up tanks and smash them as well as swat and stop enemy soldiers, he watched soldiers gun each other down while throwing grenades and using other explosives to turn each other into fleshy confetti and to top it all off, Harlan was playing sniper, taking out vehicles and large bunches of men with his rifle while using some buildings as cover from the heavy guns. Claude was a bit surprised seeing Pixis being quiet vicious yet non lethal. He would fire arrows into the arms and legs of soldiers, crippling them. Claude commandeered a machine gun on top of a Sturmgewehr tank and fired it into the sea of enemy soldiers. The battle then quickly turned into a human shooting gallery.

   Harlan wiped the sweat from his forehead and ejected the last empty cartridge from his rifle. A flood of unpleasant memories were coming back to him as he walked over to where his comrades were located. The memories grew more unpleasant when he reached the sight. Bodies of both armies littered the ground and stench of burning flesh filled the air. Raquel walked up to her father with a look of horror on her face, wrapped her arms around him and wept. Pixis walked up to her in concern.
“Raquel?” he asked nervously. She looked down at him, her eyes moist.
“Did I kill anyone?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” replied Pixis nervously.
“You didn’t,” said Claude. “You just broke a bunch of bones.” Raquel relaxed just a little bit and moved away from her father.
“I take it they were taken prisoner?” asked Harlan.
“Some of them.”
“Some of them?” repeated Pixis suspiciously. “Explain yourself.”
“Well,” began Claude. “I was busy putting them out of their misery whe—”
“You were killing them?!” shouted Pixis
“Why not?” Claude fired back “They deserved it.”
“But how does it make you different from them?” replied Pixis angrily.
“Because I kill to make amends, they kill because they loathe every being that doesn’t remotely look like them.”
“Well, then you’re just li—” Before Pixis could finish he felt someone touch his shoulder. He turned around fast and saw a familiar face, a tall Elf with a black hair and a thick black beard wearing a black and gold Elven war robe.
“Hello, Nephew,” he said softly.
“Uncle Sanjor,” gasped Pixis. “I—” looked behind him and saw that some of his own people still bruised but still alive and coming out of hiding.
“What about the rest of my family?” Pixis asked him.
“They’re alive,” his Uncle responded. Pixis was relieved but still uneasy. Sanjor looked at the two giants and Claude.
“I must say have quite the taste in companions.”
“Well,” replied Pixis. “Claude here isn’t exactly a companion.”
“But he’s certainly a skilled fighter,” protested Sanjor.
“Tell me about yourself Claude.”
“Well,” began Claude. “I was one of them.” He pointed the vast number of Sturmgewehr corpses. “But this lovely angel here changed me.”
“And judging by your viciousness in combat I can tell she made you a more efficient killer. What’s her secret?”
“I just played some chess with him,” said Raquel nervously.
“Fascinating,” replied Sanjor and walked back toward Sinclair to talk about disposing of the body.
“Quite the uncle,” said Harlan. “I take it he’s a soldier?”
“A Dreadnaught,” replied Pixis. “A special elite soldier, they’re trained to have no fear and to care for others and never for themselves. They’re completely selfless and have no ego and charge into battle with only melee weapons.”
“Fascinating,” said Harlan.
“We should probably get going,” said Raquel.

Raquel picked up Claude and the three of them left the city. Sanjor looked at his nephew and smiled.
“Do detect jealousy in your eyes?”
“What? NO!” Pixis snapped. “I’m not jealous; I just don’t like the prospect of Raquel being with a potentially dangerous sociopath.”
“How long have you labeled him that?” asked Sanjor.
“It’s not a label, it’s the truth.”
“If that’s the case then I say you’re a total pervert.”
“WHAT?” shouted Pixis.
“Don’t tell you forgot about all those times you followed every busty lass you came across.”
“I was young and stupid back then, Uncle,” said Pixis.
“And you still are.”
Before Pixis could respond two Elven soldiers walked up to Sanjor carrying a wounded but still breathing enemy combatant.
“We found him operating a radio. He was apparently sending a message to the Sturmgewehr.”
“Reinforcments?” Sanjor asked them.
“It sounded like he was informing them about their traitor and he was also giving them coordinates.”
“Coordinates too where?”
“Apparently they were pointing to the direction those two giants were going.”
Pixis grew nervous. “Are you sure?” he asked the soldiers.
“Go listen for yourselves,” replied the prisoner with shit eating grin on his face.
The soldiers guided them to what was left of the damaged but still functioning radio. Pixis quickly grabbed the com.
“Who is this?” asked a calm collected Klaus.
“Sir,” said the prisoner coming forward to the com. “This is Conner again; my captors would like the have a word with you.”
“Well, I hate disappoint them but I have a prize to claim,” Pixis then angrily shoved Conner out of the way.
“If you even scratch her” Pixis shouted into the com. “I will personally—”
“Who is this?” shouted Klaus.
“Pixitatonolous, thank you very much, and I swear if Raquel is harmed in any—”
“You have affection for that thing?” Klaus interrupted. Pixis then heard a low “Hhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmm” over the com. Then over the radio came the word “Fire.”
“NO!” screamed Pixis as the sounds of heavy guns erupted from the com. Among the sounds gun fire her heard Raquel scream in anguish and pain. The sounds then died and Pixis heard the faint sound of some else’s voice.
“Sir, they’ve fallen but female is apparently still alive though.”
“Very well,” Klaus’s voice replied. “What of Claude?”
“We’re still looking for him.”
“Very well, prepare the chains lets bring back our prize.”
“You sick bastard,” snarled Pixis.
“Don’t worry, she’s not dead,” replied Klaus. “Yet. First I’ll present her to my people showing them we are capable of doing of doing then I’ll play with her for a bit and then I’ll kill her.”
Pixis screamed with anger. He yanked out his hunting knife, gutted the radio until only static was heard over the com. The Prisoner laughed madly at Pixis’s misfortune.
“Oh boy,” he said in a grimly Jolly tone. “You actually love that thing don’t you?”
The two soldiers then grabbed him by his arms and hoisted him up.
“I don’t give a shit what you do to me,” Conner said aloud. “Do what you want, I can take it.”
“Really?” asked Sanjor as he approached Conner. Sanjor then looked at the soldiers and said “Crucify him.”
Conner’s laugh faded and his smile was replaced with an uneasy look.
“You can’t be serious,” Conner said.
“Take good long look at my face and tell me that I’m not serious.”
Conner stared into Sanjors eyes. He was dead serious.
“Take him away,” said Sanjor. As the prisoner was taken to his fate, Sanjor turned his sobbing nephew and put his hand on his shoulder.
“Come now,” he said. “Gather your human companions take me to their leader, I owe him a debt for what he’s done here.”

Klaus watched as the soldiers proceeded wrap Raquel’s limbs in chains. The chains were connected to two of the Sturmgewehr’s largest tanks; both were 77 ft. in length and 31 in width. Between them was a roofless truck that had a control panel in the back seat, the panel had only a dial and a lever and protruding from the device was a series of cables that were attached to the chains. Raquel however was slowly regaining consciousness and the soldiers quickly darted away as she began to rise up. Klaus raced to the truck’s control panel and threw the lever. A loud ominous buzz came from the machine. Raquel screamed in pain and collapsed. She raised her head and made eye contact with Klaus. Klaus turned around and shouted “Alright, move it out.”
The tanks and the truck started moving forward but Raquel stayed put. She used the strength she had left to pull away from the vehicles but Klaus once again threw the switch again with the same painful results.
“It’ll become more painful if you continue to resist.”
Raquel got up and nodded her head.
Klaus smiled and ordered one of his officers to come forward.
“Take fifty men here and find Claude; I want him dead or alive but preferably dead.”
The Officer nodded and gathered the men.
“Move out,” bellowed Klaus.
Raquel began the follow the vehicles as the army moved along. As the long journey continued Raquel’s mind raced for ideas on how she could get out but she kept drawing a blank. As the Sturmgewehr’s capital city came in to view she finally decided if she was going die, she’d better do it with dignity. She straightened her body and put her head in the air as the gate to the city opened. As she was parade through the city she noticed that unlike the first time Klaus captured there were no civilians in the street starring at her they were all in there homes looking through their windows at Klaus in fear. She looked down at Klaus and saw that he was clearly perturbed. She thought about taunting him based on this situation be she decided not to. The tanks lead her to the Pyramid in the center of the city, a chunk of earth to the left of the Pyramid opened up and revealed a large hydraulic door opened that lead to winding ramp, the tanks took her down the ramp and into the dark abyss.

Claude peered out behind the tree he was hiding behind. The platoon was marching forward and scanning their surroundings. Claude quickly loaded his revolver and as soon as finished one of the soldiers made eye contact with him.
“He’s over here!” the soldier cried out. Claude quickly fired his revolver. The bullet shot its way through the soldiers head, sending brain matter and skull bits flying. The rest of the platoon opened fire on Claude but he jumped out of the way and fired the five bullets he left in the gun, killing three other soldiers and then reloaded the gun. They continued to exchange gun fire at one other and Claude was starting run low on extra ammo until finally he was down to one bullet left in his gun and there were 19 soldiers left. As they closed in he began to contemplate suicide but then as he put the revolver to his head there was a large bang and then the ground beneath the soldiers exploded and their limbs scattered into the air. Claude turned to were the sound came from.
“Harlan,” he cried. Harlan cocked his rifle and got up of the ground bleeding but still alive. Using his rifle as a crutch he managed to stand up straight again.
“Are you okay?” he asked the wounded giant.
“I’m fine,” Harlan replied. “Raquel?” he asked the smaller man.
“They took her.”
A look of hopelessness came over Harlan’s face.
“I’m going to get help,” said Claude. “Tillinghast might be able to spare some men for us.”
“Good idea,” replied Harlan. “I’ll get the parliament to see if they can send our brigade to assist them.”
“Thank you,” said Claude. Harlan nodded and turned around.
“Are you sure you can make it?” Claude asked him.
“Trust me, I’ve been through worse,” Harlan replied and the two men split off

Pixis and Sanjor arrived and King Tillinghast’s castle and told him of what had become of Raquel and proposed an alliance between their armies.
“I accept your proposal,” said the king. Pixis felt his spirits rise. “So what are you waiting for?” asked the young Elf.
“Hold on,” said Sanjor. “We need to know were they’ve taken her”
Pixis was about the answer when suddenly the throne room doors opened and Claude marched in.
“Good Lord,” cried Pixis. “I thought you were dead.”
“Sorry to disa—” Claude paused suddenly. “Wait a minute, how—”
“Never mind that,” Sanjor interrupted. “What are they doing with Raquel?”
“They’ve captured her,” replied Claude.
“Why didn’t Klaus kill her out right?” the king asked Claude.
“It’s more then likely that she’ll become Klaus’s personal plaything to torture and humiliate just that he can satisfy his own ego.”
Pixis and Rupert were horrified by this development but Sanjor just scratched his chin and has a look of curiosity on his face.
“Why would he feel the need to do such a thing?” he asked.
Claude took a deep breath.
“It all started after he came to Sterminus after his attempt to infiltrate Tillinghast’s kingdom in order to get them to join the Sturmgewehr failed. It was the first time he ever faced defeat and it’s taking a toll on his sanity.”
“He was sane?” asked Rupert with a raised eye brow.
“Humor me,” deadpanned Claude. “When Klaus came back he was no longer the calm collected man we knew him as. He was now an angry, paranoid madman obsessed with two things, killing Raquel and destroying your kingdom. The latter of which was easy, the former on the other hand was more difficult because we just had no clue were she lived. We woul—”
“Enough!” snapped Pixis. “We’re wasting time”
“Then what do you suggest we do?” asked Claude sternly.
“Easy,” replied Pixis. “Rupert and Sanjor combine their military forces and assault the Sturmgewehr, while go rescue Raquel. You know their city inside and out so it should be simple.”
“Have you gone mad?” the king asked Pixis in shock.
“Mad or not,” said Claude, “I agree with his plan”
“Likewise,” replied Sanjor. “But I’m not sure how an Elf would get past a city full of bigots.”
Pixis looked at his Uncle and then walked to Claude, took his hat and placed it on his head.
“I see,” said Claude taking back his hat “But find your own hat, plus you might want wear something else besides a green tunic and hunting tights.”

The chamber Raquel found herself in was an unappealing to say the least. For two whole days she was all alone and the bland environment of the chamber was not helping. The walls, doors and cat walks were tastelessly grey and the oppressive ceiling had cables that were attached to the chains. The electrically wired chains she was in were now bolted to the floor. There was also a fifth chain around her neck. Klaus and three other soldiers walked out of one of the doors on the cat walk and on to the catwalk to a control panel similar to the one he used to torment Raquel when she was captured.
“Tell me, Klausy,” said Raquel. Klaus turned toward his large enemy with a perturbed look on his face.
“Were you always this hateful psycho who wished for the extermination of every non-human being on the planet?”
“I don’t appreciate your tone, bitch,” Klaus send sternly and threw the switch on the control panel. The same ominous buzz emitted from the panel and Raquel felt the painful electric shocks return for seven seconds.
“To answer your question, yes, I was born in this city. Nicolae Sturmgewehr’s teachings are taught in our schools and—”
“I can’t believe you force children to believe all that shit the madman talked about.” Raquel interrupted viciously.
“Shut up!” Klaus yelled
“I mean think about it,” continued Raquel. “He claimed that the reason for all human suffering was because the other races are hogging all the world’s resources in a vast conspiracy against humanity. If that’s true then why has every war humanity has been in been caused by humanity and why have other races come forth to have relations with human kingdoms?”
“Shut it, bitch,” Klaus shouted. “Those kingdoms are slowly learning the errors they’ve made. Over half the world’s human kingdoms have joined us in our quest and more are to follow. I have military advisors there, waiting to show the world what they’ve created out of those—” Before Klaus could finish a door swung open and a soldier entered.
“Sir, guards at the gate have sighted two men vagrants who wish to enter.”
“Let them in, I don’t care now back to your station.”
“Yes sir,” said the soldier.
Klaus then turned to another guard and said “Bring out the other prisoners.”

Claude and Pixis walked through the opening and watched the gate closed behind them. Claude turned to Pixis who was wearing a hat similar to Claudes and a buttoned up duster that was two sizes to large. Pixis looked to the left and right of him and saw a line of cannons on either side of the wall. Each cannon was 52 ft. long and were on raised platforms and were pointed at certain points of the wall where there was a hatch way for guns to protrude from.
“Well, this was easier then expected,” Claude whispered to Pixis.
“Where do we go from here?” asked Pixis
“There,” Claude pointed to the pyramid in the middle of the city.
“Beneath it is the interrogation chamber; Klaus is most likely keeping her there”
“So how do we get in there?”
“Follow me.” It took the two of them 70 minuets to reach the out skirts of the Pyramid.
“What now?’ asked Pixis.
“Follow me.” They crept around the pyramid and found a door the far left side of the west end of the structure.
“This leads to the chamber,” said Claude. “It used to be to store tanks and other vehicles until Klaus stated using to store prisoners he thought had vital information and believe me their were lots of them, the techniques he and his interrogators used were unpleasant to say the least they’d torture up to 200 people at once down there.” Pixis felt it was best he should say nothing.
As soon as they opened the door they heard as series of clicks behind them. They turned around and were surrounded by Sturmgewehr troops.
“Hand over your armaments,” the lieutenant ordered.
“Too easy indeed,” said Claude as he and Pixis handed over their weapons while two soldiers restrained them.
“Take them to Klaus,” ordered the Lieutenant.

“Shit,” snapped Sinclair as a put away his binoculars in rage and turned back to towards the human/elven army he and Sanjor commanded.
“What happened?” asked Sanjor
“Your nephew’s brilliant plan failed.” He then turned to his army and shouted, “Now here this.”
“Wait, don’t be hasty.”
“I’m sorry,” said Sinclair. “But it seems that we have no other—” Suddenly one of Sanjor’s dreadnought soldiers rushed up to Sanjor.
“Sir, there’s a brigade of giants heading this way from the south.”
The two commanders looked at each other in amazement. They followed the soldier to the back of the army and saw the platoon before them 4000 giants all of them holding huge cannon like rifles. Their (surprisingly female) leader walked up to the two smaller men.
“I am platoon leader Katharine Carcica, we are here on rescue mission.”
“Well then, join the party,” said Sinclair “We’re going blow them straight to hell.”
“We’ll help you in any way we can.”
“Thank you,” he said.
“Okay, everybody, get in position,” Sinclair shouted.

Claude and Pixis were escorted into the interrogation chamber. As they walked along the catwalk Raquel turned to them and excitedly cried “Claude, your alive!”
“I’m not surprised,” said Klaus as he approached his old friend. “I should have sent a battalion to slaughter you.”
Claude just stood there and silently scolded at Klaus. He looked and saw that behind him the cat walk were a line of prisoners, bald pale and emaciated line up from youngest to oldest with three soldiers holding them there.
“What’s going on?” Claude asked nervously.
“My vengeance,” replied Klaus coldly. He walked over the control panel and pushed a black button. The chain around Raquel’s neck shot into the floor to the point where Raquel was standing on her hands and feet like a dog with her head level with the catwalk.
“Open your mouth,” Klaus ordered Raquel and she reluctantly complied. Klaus then turned to the prisoners.
“Get in there, one at a time.” The line of prisoners shuffled forward. As the first one approached, a child no less than six, Raquel shut her mouth. Klaus sighed and pulled threw the lever on the control. Raquel gasped in agony.
“In, now!” snapped Klaus.
The prisoners filed into Raquel’s maw. Tears came from Raquel’s eyes after the last prisoner entered her mouth.
“Swallow them,” said Klaus.
Raquel shook her head. Klaus put his hand the lever again and threw it. Raquel moaned with pain but did not swallow, instead she placed her head on the floor and gagged the prisoners out of her mouth. Klaus shock his head in frustration and turned to the soldiers.
“Kill them.”
“No!” screamed Claude, Raquel and Pixis but it was to no avail. The soldiers fired their weapons down at the prisoners and they were all dead in a manner of seconds.
“Why?” gasped Claude.
“Why?” replied Klaus. “Do you now how it feels to watch an utterly perfect you created collapse before eyes all because of that thing.” He pointed to Raquel angrily. “That’s why I’m doing this, she humiliated me twice and I’m just returning the favor while at the same time saving the human gene pool.”
“You are sick,” gasped Pixis. Klaus turned to the Elf.
“Now who is this?” Klaus asked as took off the hat of Claude’s comrade. Klaus examined the look of fear on Pixis’s face.
“An Elf,” said Klaus nonchalantly as he grabbed Pixis by the neck and dragged him over to Raquel face.
“Open up,” said Klaus.
“No,” whispered Raquel in a tone of voice that was somewhere between hopeless and angry. Klaus took out his revolver and pointed it Pixis’s head.
“Open your mouth or I’ll blow his jaw off.”
Claude head butted the man restraining him, tackled Klaus to the ground and began to wrestle him. The soldiers cornered Pixis and aimed their weapons at the two struggling men. Raquel and Pixis grew tense as the fight raged on, suddenly the sound of an explosion could be heard out side and several more followed.
“You hear that?” Claude asked Klaus “The Sturmgewehr’s done for.”
Klaus punched Claude in the face and shoot him in the abdomen.
“NO!” screamed Raquel. Klaus emptied his remaining ammo at the giantess in frustration. The bullets simply grazed her leaving barely visible scars.
“Sir,” said one of the soldiers nervously and he pointed the look of fury on Raquel’s face.
“I think you pissed it off.” She screamed in anger and raised her arms and body quickly breaking the chains that secured her arms and neck. Klaus leaped to his feat and went for the control panel but Raquel grabbed it and ripped off its surface.
“Shoot the fucking thing!” Klaus hollered. The soldiers opened fire but Raquel smacked the soldiers away and scooped up Pixis. Klaus made a run for one of the exits but Claude body slammed him.
“I though you were better then that,” said Claude. But then more gunshots rang out. Claude looked and saw more soldiers in the door ways. Raquel stretched out her hand and Claude jumped into it. Klaus then ran threw the door and the soldiers slammed the door behind them and locked it. The soldiers then turned to the leader.
“What’s going on outside?” he demanded.
“Where under attack, sir,” said one of the soldiers.
“Get the chancellors and my generals into the emergency bunker at once,” he ordered.

Raquel took this moment to hug her friends and she wept tears of joy then set both down on the cat walk.
“Now,” she said as she wiped the last tear from her face. “Let’s get out of here.” Claude and Pixis nodded in agreement and then Pixis looked down at an uncurious soldier at his feet. He saw Claude’s revolver and picked it up.
“Hey,” said Pixis and he handed it to Claude.
“Thanks,” replied Claude and the two scavenged for more supplies while Raquel yanked off the chains that held her legs. Claude wrapped one of the soldiers’ shirts around his wounded chest to protect the wound.
“So how do we get out of here?’ asked Pixis as he was handling various weapons.
“Well,” began Raquel. “If we go out the way they brought me in here they’re bound to be waiting for us. So I think our best bet is to dig our way out.”
“And how do we do that?” Pixis asked her. Raquel responded to that by punching a large hole in the ceiling.
“Oh,” replied Pixis in surprise.
“Hey,” Claude called out to Pixis and tossed a heavy brown sack. Pixis peered into the sack and saw a number of thick, stick like objects the pins on the bottom of them.
“Grenades?” Pixis asked to himself but there was no time for questions Claude hopped on to Raquel’s hand and Pixis quickly followed grapping the bag in his left hand. She put her two lovers on left and right shoulders.
“Ready?” She asked. The two of them nodded and Raquel proceed up the hole smashing her through the pavement of pyramids floors. She punched her way through floor after floor. Claude and Pixis caught sight of people fleeing in terror as Raquel burst through nearly every other floor. Finally Raquel burst out the top of the Pyramid.
“Look,” cried Raquel and pointed the north end of the cities wall. Smoke from various explosions filled the air the Sturmgewehr wall cannons continued to fire mercilessly at the approaching multiracial army.
“Look, giants,” cried out Pixis. Raquel could make out the sight of a platoon of giants of both sexes standing in line and providing support for Sanjor and Sinclair’s forces.
“They’re still getting clobbered,” cried Claude.
Down below them at the foot of the Pyramid they saw gun flashes and tracer rounds zipped at them.
“Hang on!” said Raquel as she took her two lovers and held them in an embrace. She then slid down the Pyramid like a slide and landed the massive thud that knocked the offending soldiers of their feet. Raquel got up; place her lovers back on her shoulders and charged forward. As she reached the wall soldiers turned around fast in surprise and fire at her. Claude returned fire and Pixis flung grenades upon the soldiers. Raquel grabbed one of the cannons and ripped it off its foundation and proceeded to smash against the gate bringing it down in seconds she then turned and went after the other cannons. Sturmgewehr troops filled out of the doorway and were greeted by Sanjor and his dreadnaughts charging forward with swords unsheathed. The soldiers opened fired but dreadnoughts continued forward and proceeded to dismember the soldiers. The entire army made up of Elves, humans, and giants then poured through the gate and Raquel and her friends in the heat of the battle.

Klaus and his generals observed the conflict from the relatively safety of the bunker. A wounded soldier entered the bunker and slammed the door behind, him.
“Report,” said Klaus.
“They’re wiping us out.”
“Let loose everything we’ve got at them!”
“We have,” cried the soldier. “None of it is working.” Chancellor Molotov walked up behind.
“With all due respect, sir,” he started. “The other chancellors and I have decided that it is best that immediately give out order 931 to the troops at once.”
“No,” yelled Klaus “We can still win this!”
“Sir, we are overwhelmed, we cannot.” before Molotov could finish Klaus drew his revolver on him.
“Question me again and I’ll blow your damn brains out!”
Molotov took a step back. Klaus holstered his revolver ad marched into his quarters followed by his generals. The soldier walked up to Molotov and the chancellor turned to him.
“Send out order 931 to the troops at once,” Molotov ordered.
“But Klaus said—”
“Fuck Klaus,” snapped Molotov. “Do it.”
“Yes sir,” said the soldier and he exited the bunker.
Molotov could hear Klaus ranting his head off in his quarters and after 5 minuets of non stop babble from Klaus about how they god’s gift to the earth and how they will triumph in the end, the generals exited the room in frustration while angrily dubbed them “traitors”. Molotov turned to the generals.
“Order 931 is in affect as of now gentlemen.” And with that Molotov marched back to the chancellors meeting room. The generals drew their side arms put them to their heads.

The battle raged on for another 35 minutes and causalities were piling on both sides dramatically. The battle seemed on ending until the enemy troops began to retreat into the civilian buildings. Sinclair battered and bruised smiled triumphantly.
“We did it,” he sighed.
“You did indeed,” said an exhausted and wounded Raquel as she set her friends down. One of the giant soldiers walked up to her.
“Are you alright, Miss?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” replied Raquel.
“Are you sure you look awfu—”
“I said I’m fine.” The soldier then backed off.
Sinclair then turned to Sanjor.
“My troops and I are going scout the remaining Sturmgewehr the rest you should escort Raquel and others out of here”
“Very well,” replied Sanjor and he turned to his troops and shouted. “Move out.”
“Move out,” called out Katharine and the turn armies picked up their dead and wounded and departed from the city.

By the time the reached the makeshift base camp the humans and elves created Raquel laid down on the ground and buried her face in her hands. Claude and Pixis joined her in an attempt to comfort her she scoped them up with her left hand and held them against her chest. The three of them said nothing for over an hour until Sinclair and his army returned.
“Well?” Sanjor asked Sinclair
“It’s bad,” he said. “It’s truly awful, everyone there is dead.” Claude and Pixis heard this and the two of them slipped out from Raquel’s grasp and joined the two commanders.
“Every single person there is riddled from bullets and it was all done by Sturmgewehr troops and there’s no sign of Klaus.”
“By the gods,” gasped Sanjor. “Why?”
“Order 931,” answered Claude. “In a nutshell it states that in case of situation were the Sturmgewehr are beyond salvation soldiers must kill every single civilian so that they are not corrupted by outsiders plus this order is given to their allies as well.” The two commanders were speechless. Raquel meanwhile was hoisted up by Katharine.
“Come now” she said “Your father’s waiting.”
“He’s alive?” Raquel gasped. Katharine nodded her head and two of them along with remaining giant soldiers walked. Raquel turned around briefly and waved good bye to her friends. Pixis and Claude waved back a returned to the conversation at hand. In the end they had no choice but dig a mass grave put all the bodies in it. The process was grueling and tedious as they went from city to city and buried the dead and the only reward was that it eventfully ended and the soldiers could go home after spending days in hell.

Raquel was delighted to see her father alive (albeit with crutch) but that was the extent of her happiness. For oncoming days she spoke very little and rarely went outside the house. She would eat her meals but that was the extent of her socializations. This went on for two weeks non stop until one day in early May. As she woke she over heard a conversation coming from the living room. She quickly changed into her clothes and opened the door just a little bit and saw that her father was talking to some familiar faces on his reading table. She opened the door all the way and saw, Sanjor, Pixis, Claude and Rupert on the reading table talking with her father. Harlan turned to his daughter and said “Good morning, dear, sorry we woke you up.”
“It’s okay,” she replied. “What are you talking about?”
“Well,” her father said. “We’re preparing to start the first official multiracial alliance”
“We’ve concluded we cannot suffer another threat like the Sturmgewehr again,” said Rupert. “So the logical answer was to unite our lands in order to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” A smile crept on to Raquel’s face.
“I see,” she said with enthusiasm slowly coming into her voice.
“But what are you doing here with your nephew, Sanjor”
“Well,” the old elf started. “I have been appointed to be Ambassador of Argena and as for Pixis here, well I figured that when I die I might as well have a protégé even if he is slightly perverted.” Raquel chuckled while Pixis rolled his eyes and Raquel finally focused on Claude.
“And you?” she asked.
“Well,” Claude said. “Rupert offered me to be part of his royal but I had to decline. You on the other mean so much to me.” Raquel picked up Claude and planted a kiss on his body.
“Say,” spoke up Pixis. “Is it okay if I stay while my Uncle sorts out the plans for the alliance?”
“Sure,” said Raquel. “But you don’t have to lie to me.”
“I wasn’t lying,” said Pixis. “Honestly!”
Raquel and Claude laughed as the giantess picked up the cheeky Elf.
“Well, if you excuse us dear the three of us much to discuss.”
Raquel nodded and headed outside.
“So,” said Pixis “What now?”
“Who knows?” replied Raquel. “Let’s go see what else is out there.”

Klaus wondered through the remains of Sterminus.
“This is nothing!” he boasted “Right, men? We’ve had worse times than what has happened here, this isn’t even a minor setback we’ll be back to save this great world from being infested with those parasites. The Sturmgewehr still lives and we are evidence of that. God has chosen us to carry out his wrath and we shall not fail him.” He continued to rant to his vast army of nothing as he stood in the ruins of his once mighty empire.