Chapter 13

Castle von Wulfcastle

“So that’s the truth of it then” Wulfcastle said with a sigh of relief.  He had told them everything about the history of the Wulfcastle family that dated back to the renaissance.  “It was true about how my family got this land and this castle, but it was only after the renaissance that my family fell into dishonor and was tasked with fighting the very evil that assailed Greydorf and headquarters.

After the clean-up effort began around the castle, Schroeder began pressing the baron into answering some of the questions that Fallion had told him.  Kruger threatened to throw him into the brig, but word had already spread about what Fallion told Schroeder.

“Ludwig von Wulfcastle the second betrayed his own brother” Fallion said to Schroeder.  “What did he do to betray him?” Schroeder asked plainly, not minding the fact he had a gun pointed at him.  “I see no reason to continue talking to you with a gun to your head” Fallion lowered the pistol “But Duchess here will keep an eye on your lover” he said as Duchess nodded in response.  Fallion pulled up a chair for both himself and Schroeder.  “Nice to see a cold bloodied bastard like you behaving like a gentleman” Schroeder said sarcastically.

“Come now lad” he said in a diplomatic tone “Just because we’re on opposite sides of the chess board, doesn’t mean we can’t come to a truce.”  “Some truce you have here” Schroder looked back at Helga, seeing the Duchess’s right hand still maintaining the knife around Helga’s throat, while her free hand was grabbing and squeezing at Helga’s breasts, causing her to be somewhat aroused.  “Herr Schroeder, I would like it very much if you could just here me out about the Wulfcastle legacy and see who you can really trust” Fallion said trying to maintain his cool.  “Very well then, what dark truths are there about the Wulfcastle family?”

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“Fallion has a way of manipulating the truth, but what he said about my family was true.  The people who attacked us were Blood Knights, but the real masterminds are an organization called the Black Skull Society.  It was founded by Helmut von Wulfcastle, my ancestor’s disgraced brother” Wulfcastle explained.  “What did your ancestor’s brother do that made him disgraced?” Bruckner asked plainly.

“When the renaissance began, that’s when my family moved from military and political affairs to the sciences and philosophy.  They not only thought of it as a way of improving the methods of fighting wars, but also believed in how it could benefit humanity in the long run.  All the science experiments you have seen conducted upon your arrival here were all thanks to my ancestor Ludwig von Wulfcastle the second.  He believed in the sciences, literature and philosophy so much so, that not only did he often bring his teachings to the peasants of what he had learned to the nearby villages, but also taught the children there as well, including orphans form other parts of the country.”

“But his brother Helmut von Wulfcastle the first, didn’t share the same beliefs his brother had” Wulfcastle sighed.  “He believed that what he learned should not only remain in the hands of the nobility and royalty, but also it should be used to practice darker and more nefarious purposes.  When in the year of our lord fourteen-eighty-five, Ludwig the second came into town to promote his teachings, he was then asked by some of the villagers why had some of the members gone missing and what was slaughtering the livestock.

“He didn’t know why the villagers had gone missing or why their cattle and pigs were being butchered.  He then had some of his personal house guards to launch an investigation with the townsfolk into what was going on.  Several nights had passed without answer until one night, when the moon was full, the townsfolk and the guard got an answer.  What they had seen slaughtering their pigs and cattle was a vile beast that was fused by science and witchcraft.  Many good men lost their lives that night trying to slay the beast, but it was my ancestor that dispatched the creature.  It was latter revealed that the beast had been one of the villagers.”

“My ancestor knew nothing of what had gone on or where that creature came from, he explained this to the emissary’s of the emperor, the regional lords and even representatives of the Catholic Church, by which I mean Inquisitors.  What it all came down to was the fact that he had been accused of using both sorcery and science to terrorize the folk and even plot a war to gain the emperor’s throne.  Before judgment could be rendered on my ancestor, they came across the most horrifying thing that even Wulfcastle the second never even dreamed off.  His brother had a secret lab.”

“They were spending so much time searching his lab, that they never did a through check on his brother’s lab.  While being detained under house arrest Wulfcastle the second notice something odd about his brother’s behavior.  How cool he seemed and how he was not defending him as strongly as the villagers were.  He one day followed his brother to his personal lab without alerting him and noticed that behind a book shelf, was a secret passageway leading down into what was once the castle’s dungeon.”

“The brother had informed the Inquisition of this and despite their suspicions about my ancestor; they still wanted to check it out.  When they found the entrance to the secret lab and entered it was what they founded horrifying, even blasphemous.  There were torture racks form the old days with dissected human bodies on them, human heads and brains in jars along with various other body parts and in the cells were the vilest things ever seen.  Ape like men that had been once men, human bodies with the heads of rams and various other demonic looking creatures.”

‘It was then they discovered that Helmut von Wulfcastle was worshipping the devil and practicing the black arts while attempting to combine them with sciences.  It was then that the inquisition ordered the destruction of the creatures in the cells and the images of the fallen angel.  At that very same time, Helmut came in.  He had been outraged by the fact that his experiments were being destroyed and that the people who were destroying it had no grasp of the sciences.  Wulfcastle told his brother how much of a fool he was for using his time and talents for the destruction of humanity rather than the preservation of it.”

“That’s when Helmut tried to escape, but his brother wouldn’t let off so easily.  When he escaped through one of the secret passages that went outside the castle, he tried one last time to reason with his brother, but Ludwig the second refused to be swayed by his treachery, betrayal and vile deeds that he had committed in the name of science.  Ludwig von Wulfcastle the second had no choice but to kill his brother.  With a single thrust from his sword, he ran Helmut through his black heart; his body falling over a cliff into the forest, his body was never found.”

“After that was over with, Helmut’s secret lab was put to the torch, destroying all his experiments and research, then afterwards it was then collapsed and sealed for all time, never again to be entered.  Lord Wulfcastle the second was absolved of his crimes.  He from that day swore that when he wasn’t using his science for the good of humanity, it would use it to fight the evil that people like his brother would do unto humanity.”

“So that as you can see is why my family history has been kept a secret” Wulfcastle finished.  The group of soldiers along with Schroeder, Helga, Bruckner and Sheila were dumbfounded by this information.  “Who else knew off this?” Helga asked.  “The general” said Kurt as he appeared out of nowhere “and of course myself.”  “You knew of this and didn’t bother to tell anyone” Sheila said with an icy tone in her voice.  “Sheila, you have been like a sister to me, I wouldn’t want to see anything happen to you or your new lover here.  Besides, the real villain here is Lord Blackthorn, Fallion and their other minions, who continue to pursue Helmut’s way of thinking” Kurt responded plainly.

“If Helmut’s research and experiments were destroyed, how did people manage to come across it?” Schroeder asked.  “Because before he was killed” a voice grunted across from the terrace that overlooked the main entrance.  It was General von Krieger being wheeled in a wheelchair by a Wulfkorp trooper.  “Before he was killed he had an army of followers just as he began conducting his experiments.  His original research and experiments may have been destroyed, but his followers continued it even today they are still conducting such experiments.”  Kurt nodded at the general before speaking.  

“Right now what Fallion and the rest of the Blood Knights, along with the Black Skull society are trying to divide us and with the way you’re treating the baron, it’s giving them what they want.  We should be focusing on our efforts on reorganize and tracking their whereabouts” Kurt stated.  “We already have a network of spies in places” Harbin said, coming in from the entrance that the general came in from “and it looks like it’s paid off” he finished with a smile.

“What have you got Harbin” Helga asked.  “Coordinates that indicate where they are operating from, it’s too small to be their headquarters, but it’s large enough to house two battalions worth of troops and large experiments.  It’s somewhere on the northern coast of France where Normandy meets Brittany” he finished but still maintained a frown.  “But that’s not the worst of it.  They plan on unleashing the weapon two days from now.”  “Two days!!!!?” That’s insane” Schroeder cried out with a surprise while the others around the murmured their dissatisfaction.

“We’ll never make it in two days to stop them” Bruckner cried out “Even if we manage to round up enough people, we’ll never make it in time.”  That’s when the general put up his left index finger.  “By foot you may not make, but by sea and air you shall.”  The soldiers had a confused look on their faces.  “I can understand Herr General how we can get their in time by sea, but how do we get there by air.  Surely you don’t expect us to grow wings and fly” Cadet Schwartz asked.  General von Krieger smiled “You’re right, I don’t expect you to grow wings, but with the method that you’ll be shown, you won’t have to.”

Chapter 12

Castle von Wulfcastle, southern Rhineland, Prussia

Status: under attack

The Blood Knights attack on the castle came as a surprise to the sentry’s, let alone the seasoned troops.  The explosions came from the main gate and the secret underground railway entrance, but no-one thought that the Blood Knights would consider an attack on such heavily guarded areas.  It was only after they attacked the less guarded areas such as the walls next to the gardens where the baron’s personal study was and the sewage drain connected to the main kitchen, that it became clear it was distraction.

Many troops were caught off guard and cut down before they could reach for their weapons, others who were on guard duty were more alert then those who weren’t put up a hell of a fight but were not good enough to take down Hideo Sasaki’s shurikens and sword, Fallion’s well placed shots or Duchess and her serrated throwing knives, it was a blood bath.

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After scaling the wall, Fallion, Duchess and Hideo went their separate ways, when a well dressed officer stepped out of the baron’s study room and took a few shots, killing several Blood Knights and wounding Duchess in the left shoulder.  “Die” Fallion shouted as he shot the officer, not knowing whether he mortally wounded him or killed him.  Fallion carried Duchess out of the way and into a corner where a pair of troopers tended to her wounds.

“Tend them carefully or you die if she does” Fallion stated coldly.  Hideo came over to Fallion “She got nicked in the arm, but she’ll pull through.”  Hideo maintained a poker face “Didn’t know you cared about her” he said sarcastically.  “I don’t you stinking yellow dog” Fallion replied coldly “I just don’t want to explain to the master why one of his best got killed off.”  “If that being the case, I’ll go and do my part” Hideo stated plainly.

 As he left to go do his part, he looked back at Duchess and noticed a set of bloody stitches on her left shoulder.  “I am fine, so don’t you tell me otherwise” she said coldly.  “As you wish, milady” Fallion said bowing.

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“These dogs have a lot of balls attacking us here” Kruger said between shots from his Wulfkorp automatic rifle, which he had set to single shot to save ammo.  “Can’t say I blame them” Harbin stated in between shots from his handgun “They’ve wanted us dead for years for harassing their efforts, it only makes sense they’d want a piece of us” he said again as he fired off a shot, causing a Blood Knight to shout in pain as he died.

Harbin had been in the main research facility when the attack happened.  Fortunately for him, this was one of the few times he carried his standard issue Wulfkorp pistol on him.  When the Blood Knights began to pour in, he started taking potshots at them while ducking down between research tables.  Kruger and his troops were suited up and ready for a fight the moment the explosions happened, but that of course was due to the fact that he and his men were doing firing exercises nearby in full body armor.

“If they’re here for something important, why haven’t they just have taken it and run away?”  Kruger shouted over the gunfire.  “Maybe it’s because that’s not what they’re here for” Harbin replied “We have to inform the general that this an attack mean to bloody our noses” he finished.  Kruger nodded “Alright, you men stay here and hold them off” Kruger commanded the other troops “We’re going to secure the general and the baron, in the meantime, give us some cover fire.”

With that order given, the troops began shooting suppressive fire, in order for Harbin, Kruger and a few troops to go inform the general.  Just as they where headed to the passageway that lead to the baron’s courtyard and study, the three troopers that had come with them where thrown off the ground and landed with a thud.  Sharp objects had been thrown at them and before they could find out who did it, the person in question appeared before them.

‘Hideo Sasaki” Harbin snarled.  Kruger tried to fire off a few shots at Sasaki, but he batted them away with his sword as if he could see them coming.  “Even with it at full auto, you could never hit me” Sasaki said apathetically.  Before he could approach the pair, something was thrown at him and landed just before his feet.  It was a Kama and Sasaki knew who it was.  Sasaki put up his sword before he turned to see his old rival’s face with a mask of contempt on his face.  “Kurt” Hideo said smiling coldly.  “Hideo Sasaki, your fight is with me not them” Kurt said as his sword was locked with Hideo’s.  As they disengaged Kurt looked at Kruger and Harbin “Go to the baron and general they need your help” Harbin and Kruger saluted as they ran to the hallway that led to the baron’s personal study.

“Your friend the General may be too late and the baron will be joining him shortly” Sasaki said as he launched an attack on Kurt.  “Dead or not” Kurt responded coldly as blocked with his sword “Your blood will be spilled as well.”  The clashing of swords could be heard over the gunfire and sounds of shouting, as two warriors had it out.

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“Alright troops” Helga stated as she unholstered her pistol “Keep your heads and asses down, we’re going in hot” she finished as she opened the mess hall door.  After the alarm had been sounded, she, Schroeder and the troops grabbed whatever guns and ammo they could, then went to there lockers to wear something better then gym clothes.  When they were suited up, they met back at the gym and went through the plan.

“The mess hall is the best place to cut off the Knights, since that’s one of the places they came in from.  Without a means of escape, they’ll have to shoot there way out.  We intend to make that difficult for them” Helga finished.  When they entered the mess hall they caught the Blood Knights by surprise and were able to gun them all down before they could fire back.  Once the room was secured and no Blood Knights remained, Helga then consider another idea.

“Bruckner, Sheila, you go to the garden area where the baron’s study is, me and Heinrich will remain here and see if we can prevent more Blood Knights form coming in or getting out.”  Bruckner saluted and Sheila tipped her hat, they took fifteen men with them while another five remained with Schroeder and Helga.  Before Helga and Schroeder could go over their next plan of attack, an albino colored man had a gun to Schroeder’s head and a pale skinned woman had a knife to Helga’s throat.

The troopers were in shock at how they could not have seen the two that they began to raise their weapons but not fast enough to avoid Fallion's kill shots.  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you” Fallion replied coldly as he aimed his pistol at Schroeder’s chest.  As he said that Duchess pressed her knife further into Helga’s neck, a little blood was trickling down her neck.

“Perhaps I should introduce myself Herr Schroeder.  My name is Fallion” he said slightly nodding his head with a cold smile.  “The one that’s holding your former lover hostage is known as Duchess” he said as he looked back her, having a cold smile as well.  “How do you know my name?” Schroeder asked coldly.

“Herr Schroeder, I am a spy or formerly of her majesty’s royal espionage services.  But I decided there was enough challenges outside the services that were just waiting to be challenged by my special talents” he said plainly.  “It’s my job to know such things, like how Helga was your former lover and how your family was dishonored by your brother Dietrich the second.”  Schroeder’s fist’s balled up; his face turned red and was tempted to reach for his Wulfkorp pistol.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.  I’d be forced to kill you and your former lover” he sniffed as if there was something foul about the air, other than himself, he smiled coldly.  “I see that you are back to together then, one night of love making would do just that.”  “Are you going to kill us by boring us to death with your gloating or are just going to shoot us?” Schroeder asked his face still red.

“If I wanted you and your lover dead, I would have killed the lot of you already and I would telling a corpse about the truth of Baron von Wulfcastle’s family history” he said sighing “the history that they have never planned on telling you nor ever will.”

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Harbin and Kruger fought several Blood Knights on their way to the castle gardens where the Baron’s study was, but after fifteen minutes of shooting out with the Knights in the terrace, they began to fall back.  “Why are they falling back?  It’s not like them to fall back after such a hard fight? ” Harbin asked quizzically.  “Maybe they realized that a stalemate aren’t worth it and decided to give up” Kruger said jokingly.

“That can’t be it” Harbin replied.  Before Kruger could respond a loud bellowing sound came from down the stairs.  Then suddenly a huge armored figure came through the door and began sweeping aside Blood knights as if they were mere flies.  One Knight was sent screaming over the edge as he was thrown from the terrace, another was split in two by the armored figures battle axe and the last one was smashed into the floor by the figure’s left gauntlet.  When that was over, the figure took his bloodied left gauntlet and left his visor up.  It was Baron von Wulfcastle the seventh.

“That was a lot of fun” he said heavily breathing “not like the old days when I was younger” he said as he was sweating hard “but still was fun nonetheless” he finished with a smile.  “The Blood Knights are….” “Are fleeing with their tales between their legs” the baron laughed “but now’s not the time for rest, General von Krieger has been wounded badly and need’s to get to the hospital fast.”  Harbin and Kruger nodded as they followed the baron back the way he came.

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“Take these mother fuckers out” roared Ulrich as he began pushing them back into the rail-station with his mini-gun.  The Blood Knights had come through the rail-station and main entrance just as he was told.  “Hey Bruckner” Ulrich shouted to grab his attention.  “What’s the situation?”  Bruckner’s face was grim.  “Blood Knights are pouring out from the main entrance.  Schwartz and Friedan are holding them off; I see your having no trouble with them here.”

Ulrich laughed “Damn right trooper, you and Lady Deadeye go back to the main entrance and some fun with those slug-heads while I clean up here.”  Bruckner shook his head “I have to check on Herr Schroeder and see what progress he’s made.”  He thought Ulrich would make some snide remark about the captain not being a man, but instead he just nodded.  “I’ll go in your stead hon, to the main entrance” she said.  “Right then, I join up with Deadeye at the main entrance when I am through here” Ulrich stated.  “With the way you’re handling things pardner, it won’t be long” Sheila said.

Ulrich laughed again “maybe so, but you two best be on your way, the lads won’t last long without you two, so go” as he knifed a Blood Knight that tried to sneak up on him and gut him.  Before the two when their separate ways Sheila and Bruckner kissed and then left.

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The clashing of swords seemed like a blur to those observing it, but to Kurt and Hideo, they were perfectly precise attacks that required a keen eye and skills sharper than one’s sword.  It felt like the fight had gone on for hours instead of ten minutes.  But Hideo didn’t care how long he had to duel with a fine swordsman, as long as that swordsman was Kurt Holden.  The half-breed mongrel had no right to call himself a ninja.

Though Hideo was working for the Black Skull Society that sponsored the Blood Knights and consisted mainly of western dogs, the only reason he participated with them was due to the fact that his clan had something of an alliance with the Black Skulls.  The only reason they tolerated the westerns was the promise that Black Lotus clan, could have Japan all to themselves while the Black Skulls had the rest of the world.

Hideo grew tired of this fight and he needed to end it, for he promised he’d be done in fifteen.  After disengaging Kurt he sheathed his sword and folded his arms.  “What the hell do you have planned know Hideo?” Kurt spat.  “I promised my comrades that I would finish in a certain amount of time and that time is up, till we meet again” Hideo saluted Kurt with two fingers.  Before Kurt could charge at him, Hideo threw a smoke bomb and Kurt’s world turned to fog.  By the time Kurt could see clearly, Hideo Sasaki was gone.

“Damn you Sasaki” Kurt cursed out loud “I’ll get you, someday I’ll get you.”

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“That’s the story behind the Wulfkorp’s existence” Fallion concluded.  “It’s a bold faced lie and you know” Helga spat as she still managed not to get her throat cut by Duchess.  “Is it my dear?” Duchess said seductively into her ear and then began to lick her neck, making Helga blush.  “What’s happening to me? Helga asked herself “Is she trying to seduce me? I….must…love….Heinrich!!!!!” she roared to herself mentally as she elbowed Duchess in the solar plexus with all here might.

The strike threw Duchess off well enough to remove the knife from her neck, Helga then charged at Duchess with a solid left hook to the right side of her face, knocking Duchess for a loop.  When Duchess recovered from the blow, blood was trickling down the side of her mouth.  She licked the blood from her lips.  “Delicious” she said smiling cruelly “It’s been a long time since I tasted my own blood.”  “You’re going to taste more when than that when I’m through with you” Helga spat back.

Before she could launch an attack at the pale skinned bitch, the doors burst open.  It was Bruckner.  Before Fallion could shoot at him, Schroeder body slammed him into the ground and began pounding away at Fallion.  After receiving five blows to the face and head, Fallion shoved him off with his legs and shot Heinrich in the arm, barely nicking him.  Fallion rose to his feet to shoot at Bruckner, to discourage him from shooting back at him.

“That’s not the first time someone ruined my face, but it won’t be the last” Fallion cursed “When we do meet again Herr Schroeder, you will die along with your bitch of a lover” he spat out blood.  Duchess grabbed Fallion and they went down the sewer from which the Blood Knights had come out from.  It wasn’t the exit she had in mind, but anything was better than nothing.

Bruckner and Helga helped Schroeder to his feet, just as they did; the baron, who was dressed in a strange suit of armor and Kruger both came into the mess hall.  “What just happened here? The baron asked.  “Some albino faced freak and pale skinned whore were holding the captain and Commander Braun hostage” Bruckner explained as he began pulling up the troops from the floor.  “They did more than just that baron” Schroeder said coldly.

Kruger stepped forward “Mind your tongue captain, the baron’s in charge now that the general has been wounded badly.”  “The general’s been hurt?” Helga asked with a look of concern on her face, the baron nodded “he suffered a few shots here and there, but he’ll live, what about you Herr Schroeder?” the baron asked.  “Does it look like I’ve been hurt badly?” Schroeder indicated coldly to the flesh wound across his left arm, shocking the room full of people.

Before Kruger could set him straight, the baron stopped him with his left arm.  “It was Fallion and the Duchess who told you wasn’t it?” the baron said with a look of contempt on his face “What did he tell you?”

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“That little shit” Fallion snarled “I tan his filthy hide for this one.”  “Vanity should be the least of you worries” Hideo replied coldly “many of the troops were lost due to this little incursion” he sneered.  “We followed the lord’s order to strike at the Wulfkorp Headquarters the moment we found it” Duchess said with venom in her voice “it matters not how many men we lost, our orders from his lordship were to attack the Wulfkorp Headquarters and do as much damage to them as possible.  We accomplished that” she said as she began to apply dressing to Fallion’s wounds.

After they had attacked the Wulfkorps HQ, they rendezvoused with there steam powered tanks that provided them with cover for escaping.  The Wulfkorp troops crippled, there was doubt that they would pursue.  But the lord insisted on having them on hand just as a precaution.  That was one thing he did not disagree with his lordship on.  The tanks would then take them to a nearby rail yard to a train that would await them, which they were now currently on. 

“With them crippled” Fallion began “they won’t be able to hit us back before we finish the final stages of the experiment” he smiled coldly as more blood leaked out of his face.  “If you can manage to keep your poker face for much longer” Duchess said plainly “then I’ll be able to stop the bleeding unless you want to change your face again.”

‘I can always do that” he said “and besides, patching up the wounded isn’t exactly something you specialize in.  She knew what he meant by that.  Since the Crusades, her family’s house had specialized in information extraction.  It’s what others would call torture.  Her family, now only known by a few in the royalty and nobility, was that for centuries the house of Von Bruno had been experts in torture methodology.  The fact that they were masters of medicine and surgery was not just a cover but also a fact.  When they weren’t providing the surgical and medical needs for the nobility and the royalty, they were also paid a little extra to interrogate enemies of such people.

The torture’s that were committed by house Von Bruno ranged from peeling off the skin and flaying Muslims and so-called Christians during the Crusades, helping the inquisition burn alive, impale and crucify heretics and those who followed Luther in defiance of the Catholic Church.  But when Fredrick the great came to power, he despised the house of von Bruno, not just because he despised the methods and found the work revolting, but also because they had wrongly tortured and executed one of his own personal guards.

It was then he ordered the house of Von Bruno arrested and executed.  Few members of her family escaped with there lives, but in the end there was only her and several other followers that shared her vision.  Just as she remembered what her father taught her of the family history, she finished up with tending to Fallion’s wounds.

“When you said to those Blood Knights that you’d kill them if I died, what were you getting at?” Duchess asked.  Fallion looked to Hideo and he then nodded before he left the car.  “What do you think I meant by that” Fallion replied back.

 “I think you meant something special” she said as she undid the leather belt around his pants and then pulled them off “I think you meant more” she said as she began unlacing her boots.  She then began undoing the laces around her corset, revealing her pale skinned chest with nice round breasts upon completion. 

“I think you meant something really special” she said as she undid the belt buckles around her skirt and removing them, revealing her complete naked body.  Fallion was never this easily seduced, but seeing her beautiful naked body made him feel funny

“I warn you” Fallion said plainly, as she began to climb on top of him “if you try to kill me after this, you will fail” he said trying not to be so easily seduced, but still smiling at what he was receiving .  “I have no intention of killing you” she said as she climbed on him onto the him, satisfied that he was in her, she then laid her head on his chest.  “Because if we weren’t meant for each other, then I would kill you” she said wrapping her lips around his mouth and pleasing him as she had done many times before a kill, even though this was the one time she actually found pleasure in love making instead of killing.

Chapter 11

Somewhere near the lands of Castle von Wulfcastle

Southern Rhineland, Prussia, Two and half months later.

The sun was setting as the black clad man made his last observations.  His master had paid him several months back to find out the location of the Wulfkorp headquarters, but it proved far more difficult than one would expect.  The man was not an expert spy like his master, but he still was trained well enough to know how to lie his way in and out of a problem, how to send messages in secret and to know when one is being followed or spied upon.  He had enough of the last.  He would have started his search in the Rhineland upon his arrival two months back, but his master made it very clear on how he would collect his information.  He thought back to that moment two months ago.

“There is no such thing as an ordinary village, city or town, especially here” Fallion said sternly as he pointed to the Rhineland region on a map.  “I understand master” the man said.  “You better, Lord Blackthorn has no time for excuse and he expects the Wulfkorp to be hit hard enough, so that they will be crippled long enough so that the Lord may carry out his plans” Fallion finished.  “Now what did I mean by there is no ordinary city, town or village in this particular region” Fallion pointed back at the Rhineland region once more.

“Because that region is where the Wulfkorp has its headquarters, so security will be much higher?” the man asked.  “You are correct my pupil” Fallion said with a cold smile “the Rhineland region is full of Wulfkorp spies, so that they know who and why someone is coming into the region, in order to make sure no-one is coming in to do anything suspicious” he concluded.  “That being said” the man said “I might have spies on me the moment I step off the train, even more so then when I fled the fatherland.”  Fallion nodded “A wanted man you may be, but after what I taught you all these years, lying and tricking your way out of a situation won’t be a problem” he stated.

“Plus if you have any trouble finding the headquarters remember this: the more spies that you notice following you, the more likely you are getting close their headquarters.  They may have security agents in the Rhineland region, but they will be concentrated on finding spies even more so when you get closer to their headquarters” Fallion concluded.

“I understand master, may I take my leave then master” the man said.  “Yes and report only when you have something and when you can send it” Fallion said as he dismissed the man.  With that being said, the man in black began making plans to leave from the Aquitaine region of France where he hid out and made way for the train stations, donning several disguise while trying to hide his face and identity from various authority figures.  It worked so effectively, he thought he would enter the Rhineland region with any unnecessary blood.

He was proven wrong once he began moving southward into the Rhineland region.  Upon arriving into the town of Wolfsburg, he noticed three men had been following him.  He thought nothing of them at first when he entered the Rhineland region, but just as soon as the train left to Wolfsburg, they started following him at slow, but steady paces.  “They must be Wulfkorp spies” he said to himself.  He would check into a hotel like he planned and rest up until nightfall.

When nightfall arrived he would make his move.  He didn’t want to cause too much attention to himself, but he couldn’t let them have the upper hand on him, he had to draw them away.  He went across the street to the tavern and went behind it.  Just as he expected the three men followed him down the street and into the alley.  He hid in the shadows waiting for them, when they got confused as to where he went when they couldn’t see him.  Two of them left and ordered the one to remain behind.

“Big mistake on your part” he whispered to himself smiling.  When the one man was left alone, he pounced on the spy and then slit his throat.  What he didn’t realize is that it wasn’t a man but a woman, a beauty if she had been alive with her brown eyes and raven hair.  “A beauty like you should have stayed home and raised your little bastards” he said sneering to himself.  Even though the man was a spy and taught to be emotionless on a kill, he still didn’t like the idea of killing women.

It didn’t matter know anyway, the Wulfkorp would know that he was here and the dead body would be proof of that.  Fortunately the man had been taught wilderness survival, a talent he had to adopt quickly after he had been chased out of Prussia for some terrible crime.  After leaving Wolfsburg, he spent the next several months hiding out in the woods, trying to avoid human contact and making his reports through a network of spies that posed as traveling merchants.

Now that he had found the Wulfkorp Headquarters, he wanted so badly to impress his master.  “Where in the hell is he” the man cursed to himself under his breath.  “If there is one thing I haven’t taught you are patience” a familiar voice said.  The man spun around to see an albino faced man with a pale-faced woman wearing a leather vest with spider-webbed netting on her arms and legs, a foreigner dressed in a strange outfit with a sword on his back and several Blood Knight Troopers that were armed and ready for a siege.  It was Fallion, Duchess and Hideo.

“Apologies master, I have been so eager to await your arrival” the man said smirking.  “It can wait; this is the headquarters of the Wulfkorps?” Fallion asked coldly.  “Yes, how I know it is because there a system of rails that goes underground.  Odd for a train to be doing that sort of thing unless you are the Wulfkorps, but also I noticed something that might impress your foreign friend” the man indicated to Hideo.  “I am not his friend” Hideo said coldly, “But if you have something that might interest me, speak it.”

The man smiled sadistically.  “You have a rival, blonde hair, blue eye, goes by the name of Kurt is it?” the man said as Hideo nodded.  “I know of him from my master about your grudge with him, I was told to keep a sharp eye out for him.  It wasn’t that easy to shake off the man, followed me for days on end before I could lose him.”  “Enough” Duchess said coldly “What about the best attack points on the castle, do you have those too?”

The man bit back his contempt for the women, telling him what to do instead of the master, but Fallion nodded in agreement with her.  “Let me show” the man said as he lit up a lamp and then rolled out a set of maps, depicting the outside and inside of castle.  “As you can see here my master, these two points” he indicated with his finger to a pair of red circles “are the most heavily guarded, but here” he indicted towards several other circles colored blue “are the most vulnerable, but still well guarded which would present a problem.”

“Not for me” Hideo scoffed “or me neither” Duchess said smiling coldly as she pulled out her knives.  “The matter of getting will not be your problem, but ours.  You have done well my pupil, now you must leave immediately and await further instructions, understood?”  The man smiled, seeing that his master had been pleased with him.  “Understood, my master” with that being done, the man disappeared into the forest.“Alright men, here’s the plan” Fallion said as he began looking over the maps.

**************************************************************************

“Who’s up next as my sparring partner?” Ulrich bellowed.  The gym was alive with activity as the evening training went on.  Every evening after six o’clock was the beginning of evening training, by which most soldiers called “After six torture time”.  It was referred to as such because Ulrich was a real monster with the training.  He put them through a serious regimen of workouts that made men sweat heavily and hand-to-hand combat training along with Kurt, from time to time but it was Ulrich who was the real beast in training.

Every morning since the week Schroeder, Bruckner, Schwartz, Wolfgang and the other soldiers were brought in to the Wulfkorp, they got up at six-fifteen in the morning to have breakfast and began a series of training exercises ranging from testing out their standard issue weapons on the firing range to tactics to being pummeled in the training area of the gym by Ulrich

“The firearm you see is called an automatic rifle.  It has a four firing methods: off, single, triple and full auto” Harbin explained to Schroeder and the others.  The weapon that he had shown was a medium length weapon with a rectangular shape frame.  The frame also had a scope on it that Harbin explained would be useful when scanning the area and taking out targets from afar.  “It is no substitute for the scopes on rifles which Frauline Horton will be teaching you about in sniper training.  Now to the sidearm’s” Harbin was about to explain when Sheila stood up.

“If you’re trying to bore everyone to death, you have accomplished” she said with bored look on her face.  Harbin looked at her and frowned “If you want to teach them about the firearms, go ahead.  I’ll be waiting for when you are ready to learn about mechanics” he stormed out fuming.  Sheila smiled as she picked the weird pistol looking weapon.  “This here boys is your standard issue Wulfkorp sidearm.  I normally don’t carry like everyone else” she said slapping her holstered revolvers around her hips.

“This bad boy here has got three settings: off, single and triple.  Normally the off switch is more of a safety trigger thing, but this here is your real trigger finger” she said as she took her gloved right index finger and waved it back.  “This part” she indicated to a small box like shape on the gun “is called a magazine.  Normally you’d load your bullets in your side-arms like my revolver” she said as she pulled out the revolver in her left holster “but the ammo you load is in this part.”  She then went on to explain the other parts of the gun.  The long part called the muzzle and why the butt of the gun was made of wood instead of metal.

She finished shortly there after “Alright then, to the firing range” she explained as they moved to take their turns shooting on the firing range.  When it was Bruckner’s turn she kissed him on the cheek “For luck baby” she smiled as he smiled back taking his shoots.  When it was Schroeder’s turn, he did slightly better than Bruckner.  “You may be a good shot” Sheila said smiling to Schroeder “But my man here is just as good” she said as she was taking a single gloved finger stroking his scarred left face.

 When they were done with the standard issue weapons they were moved on to more special weapons.  That was Ulrich’s specialty.  When Ulrich came up to troopers he spat in contempt.  “Alright you maggots, it’s time to learn how to use heavy weapons.”

“You guys may have a problem lifting this particular weapon” Ulrich indicated “but when it becomes less heavy for you maggots, then you can learn to use it, but for now I will show you how to use it.”  Schroeder remembered a few months back when he had seen Ulrich use it back when he had ill feelings towards the man.  It let off a loud roaring sound like the room was falling around them.  When it stopped, there was nothing left that you would consider a target, just a large hole where there had been one.

“Heavy weapons may not be for you” he indicated to Schroeder “or any of you” he indicated “but once I am through teaching you about them, it’ll be up to your ability to use them properly” he grinned.  He then showed them another series of special weapons.  A medium size tube shaped thing with a butt whom it was called a grenade launcher, another tube shaped device that was much larger called a shoulder cannon and finally his gun that he used earlier that was called a mini-gun.

“This ugly brute fires a hundred rounds a second” he said grinning as if he enjoyed holding it.  “Not only does it require this heavy pack for the ammo” he indicated to the large box shaped device “but it also requires a lot of steam power” he indicate to another box similar in size but different design.  “You won’t burn your back, but it's still heavy shit.  Eggheads like Helga, Harbin and the other scientists that they work with are finding new ways to shrink them down and make it easier, but after the first time you saw this, much progress hasn’t been made.”

“Progress has been made you dumb oaf” Ulrich turned to see Helga with stern look on her face “I am also not an egghead and I happen to be your superior” she said to him sternly as she pointing at him.  Ulrich had maintained his poker face, before he could respond she looked to Schroeder.  “Captain Schroeder, I want to show you my work” she said.  “I’d be more than willing to see what you’ve done” Schroeder said as Helga nodded back with a smile.  “You’d best be showing him you work and not a good time.  In case you forgot, he still needs to be taught the basics” Ulrich spat.

With that said Helga walked up to Ulrich and slapped him hard across the face.  When she had been done doing that, she took Schroeder by the hand “Come, follow me Heinrich” she said.  “Whatever you say” he said as he looked back at fuming Ulrich.

“You know he’s right to say that I still need to know the basic training.  I don’t need you to save me from everything Ulrich does” Schroeder stated plainly.  “Your right I don’t need to save you from everything he does to you, I just don’t want him to drive your ass into the ground for failing and tormenting you for your success’s” Helga responded.  “So then why show favoritism to me and not the troops?” Schroeder asked.  “Because there not officers, he always despised officers back when he was in the regular army.”  Schroeder felt confused, before he could ask Helga why she then answered for him.

“It’s one thing for an officer to maintain order within the ranks, but when he fails to make a tactical assessment, that’s when bad things happen.  Back around the time when he first encountered Steel Monger” she shuddered as she explained “he warned his colonel of the matter, but took no heed from him because he was from the ranks and not a proper officer” she said with contempt in her voice.  “Even when he advised him the best way to fight Steel Monger, he still refused to listen to Ulrich.  That’s when Ulrich struck him down, if it wasn’t for General von Krieger being there, Ulrich would have been hung.”

“But I am not that kind of officer, you know my military record as well the others, it states that I do have good tactical sense, even when I don’t know what I am facing. Also, I am not some peacock officer who’s afraid to get his hands dirty or fight or bleed alongside the regular troops, he has been told this hasn’t he?” Schroeder asked.  Helga nodded “He has been told that, but you haven’t gained his trust” Helga sighed “The only way you can gain his trust is by beating him in a fight.”

“How bad is it” Schroeder asked quizzically.  “About as bad as you looked after fighting Steel Monger” Helga shook her head with disappointment.  “But I do know someone who can help you take him down in fight” she said with a positive tone her voice.

*********************************************************************8

“Not like that Heinrich, like this” Kurt said as he gripped Schroeder on his lapels and threw him to the side.  Heinrich had been thrown many times and he still wasn’t improving.  “You’re not using your right leg to sweep my left leg out of the way fast enough.  You need to go fast enough so I don’t catch and throw you on your back like I just did” Kurt finished explaining.  Heinrich was sweating hard through his training uniform, which Kurt called a GI.  He was told by Kurt to change into that after he entered what Kurt called a dojo.

“Up once more” Kurt said as he gave out his hand to help Schroeder up.  When they faced each other again Kurt grabbed Heinrich’s lapels once more.  “Don’t worry about hurting me” Kurt stated plainly “I have black belts in Tai-jitsu, Ju-jitsu and Ninjitsu, so when it comes to me getting hurt, I am more prepared then you are, now throw damn you!!!!” Kurt demanded.  Schroeder swept his right leg fast and threw Kurt down to the mat so fast, that Helga, who had been watching them spar, didn’t see it happen.

“Correct, like that Heinrich” Kurt said as he held up his hand so that Schroeder could lift him up.  “You may just be martial arts material, but I can’t promise you that you’ll be as good as me” Kurt said plainly.  “I just need to know enough to knock Ulrich flat on his butt and earn his trust” Schroeder explained as Kurt slapped him across the back of his head.  “I am not instructing you on the martial arts of Japan just so you can show up Ulrich” Kurt said coldly “I am teaching you these lessons in order to live.  Fighting is only half of the lessons you will learn from me, provided you want to learn more than that.”

“I am sorry Kurt” Schroeder said as Kurt folded his arms with a frown on his face “What?” Schroeder asked.  “Another thing you’ll have to learn from me is how to show the proper manners, whenever you address me, you call me sensei or master, calling me sir helps too, but not outside this dojo, understood?”   “Yes sir” Schroeder said plainly.  Kurt nodded “Excellent, now I want you to meet another one of your sparring partners” Kurt Indicated to the individual in the corner.  When the man stepped into the light it showed a familiar face.

“Schwartz!!!” Schroeder said with a smile on his face.  “Hey there Captain, nice to see that we’ll be sparring partners now that I got my new leg” Schwartz said grinning as he tapped his left leg.  “It feels funny at first, but once I got used to it, it was as if I never lost my leg in the first place.”  Before Schroeder could ask more Kurt cut in.  “Now that you two have caught up, it’s sparring time for you two.  Schwartz, show him what I’ve taught you while I spar with Helga.”

************************************************************************

For those two months, Schroeder, along with Helga, Kurt and Schwartz, learned the various techniques of the Taijitsu and Jiu-jitsu.  Kurt did show a few Nin-jitsu techniques, such as how to sneak around and strike when no-one could see you, but Kurt made it very clear that unless you want to learn real Nin-jitsu, you’d have to commit more time to it.  Schwartz was more than eager to learn more about being a ninja, but Schroeder wasn’t and merely wished to learn the hand-to-hand combat.  Over those months despite his soreness from Kurt’s training, Schroeder became more muscular and the other women, besides Helga, began hiding their blushing faces and giggle as the saw him shirtless.

“Hey Schroeder” Ulrich bellowed out so loud that Schroeder snapped back to reality.  “Since you obviously enjoy day dreaming more than training your up next” Ulrich chuckled.  “Let me handle this lug” Bruckner whispered to Schroeder “I took him on before.”  “The man had his back to you and then you butted his head in with a rifle, what makes you think you can take him head on?”  “He’s right sarge” Wolfgang added in “I tried that same approach and like at me” the man was bruised and bloody all over, which shows the extent of Ulrich’s sadistic training.

“If you and the rest of the ladies are done having your tea party, let’s fight Heinrich unless you’re a chicken” Ulrich said flapping his arms while some of the troops laughed.  “Kick his ass hon” Schroeder noticed a sweat stained Sheila and Hilda both wearing sports bras and gym shorts, speaking to him.  Helga was also there nodding here approval.

“Need permission from your women to fight me worm?” Ulrich sneered.  “Only if it means taking down a dickless wonder like you” Schroeder spat back.  A series of laughs came in, but Ulrich turned red.  “A pampered poodle like you think he can take me down eh?” he spat in contempt “then let’s fight.”  With that being said the two men grabbed each other by they’re joints.  Ulrich was able to thrown Schroeder off his balance by grabbing his waist and tossing him over his back side, but Schroeder had anticipated that and rolled out from the fall.

“Ulrich may be an expert when it comes to boxing and wrestling, but even those styles have there faults.  If he tries to do a suplex, then make sure you roll your way out before you fall” Schroeder thought back to one of Kurt’s lessons.  “I know you’ve been training with Kurt for these past several months, but I’ve been a wrestling and boxing champ back when you were still sucking your mother’s teat.”

“One other tactic he’ll try is to provoke you.  Don’t let him get you angry or you will lose focus and then lose” Schroeder thought again.  Ulrich charged at Schroeder and just as he was about to swing a devastating right haymaker, Schroeder grabbed his right arm and tripped him with his right leg, sending Ulrich flipping to the floor on his back.  Schroeder then got onto the floor and wrapped both his legs around Ulrich’s neck with his right leg around his right arm.  The men who had been rooting for Ulrich looked stunned.

“Give up yet, you ugly gorilla?” Schroeder asked as he struggling to keep Ulrich pinned down.  “I still got more fight in me” Ulrich spat as he tried to squirm his way out but to no avail.  Before the fight could go on any further, explosions were going off.  Schroeder unhooked his legs around Ulrich’s neck to stand up and wonder what was going on, Ulrich remained sitting on the mat to massage his neck area.  “It’s probably Harbin again testing out another experiment or blowing up a failed one” Helga said plainly.

Then another series of explosions went off and there was a faint sound of gunfire, then the alarm went off.  “Attention, Attention” a voice shouted out over the P.A. system “Blood Knights have entered the base, I repeat Blood Knights have entered the base, all troops repel borders” the voice ended over the system.  “How the hell did they find us” Bruckner shouted.  “Hell if I know hon” Sheila replied “But why don’t we get saddled up and ask them” she then said as she grabbed Bruckner’s arm.

“Let’s go Heinrich, the general and the baron will need us” she said waved her arm.  Schroeder, along with Helga, made a mad dash towards the armory. “Its payback time you sons of bitches” Schroeder said to himself.