blueteamnovel 590. The Tear Retrievers
590. The Tear Retrievers
590. The Tear Retrievers
Five days later.
The streets leading towards the palace of the 8th Order’s province were dyed red. A convoy dragged by giant, red-coated wolves barreled through makeshift barriers.
Mighty paws ploughed through brick and stone like grains of sand. Aboard the caravans were a separate Recovery Team deployed by the Head to follow the Amalgam. Their task was to recover any innocent lives that were spared by the Amalgam, similar to how the Scarlet Logic Collection Teams used to function.
Funnily enough, some of Scarlet Logic’s forces were also integrated into this new Body of the Head. Those that properly repented and were deemed trustworthy by Justica Arms were given a chance of redemption, and they took it with pride.
Scarlet Logic’s loyalty was a shackle forged with fear and absolute control. The moment those things were torn away, their personnel became more than ready to bite that hand that nurtured them like a mistreated dog.
This new Body was named the Tear Retrievers and served precisely what its name entailed, and to a terrifyingly proficient degree. It was new and far from an Atelier, but it became a Body that was relied on by Ateliers for recovery work.
It was not directly managed by the Amalgam but instead by one of the new Level 200 Exalted. Few had flocked back to the Nexus upon hearing the Amalgam’s call via the Stars of the Nexus, and they reclaimed roles that best suited them.
The director of the Tear Retrievers was an unnamed entity. What was only known about them was they were a curious thing that wept perpetually, hence the name the ‘Tear’ Retrievers.
Their territory became the Red Grin’s following their elimination in D7 and served as a stabilizing body for such a corrupt part of the Nex Megalopolis.
On the backs of each red bodysuit-like unform of the members of the Tear Retrievers was a symbol of a blue, contrasting teardrop. The members who were deployed by them were called a Recovery Team, and required precisely twenty Recovery Units, a Vice Captain, a Captain, and one Manager preferably of Scarlet Logic origin.
Accompanying personnel was at least one Black Wing and two Hora Therapeutics Lunas. A Moon was optional, but considering the dangers of Grandis, a Lunar Haruspex accompanied the convoy.
Because of the dynamic and structure of order the Amalgam imposed; it was possible for even one of the Recovery Team grunts to give input. The Head’s philosophy centered around individual leadership. This ensured that if the head of the group was hacked off, then another could take its place like a hydra.
Paired with CognitO Transmitters and Receivers, the group may as well be one collective hivemind.
“The Ruins of Puritas. What a sight to behold. It doesn’t smell any better than S7.”
The Manager mulled, despising the sight of destruction that he had been surrounded by for as long as he could remember. He drove the frontmost caravan, which held the most vital personnel within including the Black Wing.
“Be glad that the Crimson Hunger hasn’t sprouted here yet. Despite the ruinous state of Puritas, it’s oddly only occupied by criminals and flock of the same feathers.”
The Lunar Haruspex uttered coldly.
“Well if two and one are working together then they probably have a treaty to preserve this. I don’t know what kind of lunatic would want to preserve rubble, but hey, we also have crazies of our own that want to preserve history.” The Captain spoke up, speaking casually with the Moon like they were close friends.
The Moon in question was a woman with a coat that wrapped her up like a blanket. A giant mushroom grew atop her head, and her flesh was a shade of light blue that glowed in the dark due to her bioluminescent ability.
This person was a Mycelli, and one that had the ability to produce pain-killing spores from a gas sack hidden within her blue mushroom cap.
“Attachment. Someone has a fondness for these ruins.” The Black Wing then spoke as she popped her head back into the caravan from the cavity above, brushing her short, black, and white hair that resembled the pattern of a dalmatian. “It has little historical value since Puritas should be left to rot in obscurity. As such...”
*Cha-Chank*
“... Shouldn’t we do the honors?”
A devious grin formed on her face as she readied a bulky version of the Standard Talon, one that had a far larger magazine size which took the shape of a giant drum.
“Easy. Five feathers don’t give you the right to delegate so haphazardly.” The Moon coaxed her to put her weapon down.
“Soon to be six as soon as we return.” She hummed, hoisting the weapon over her shoulder like it weighed nothing.
“Aiming for the coveted seventh feather?” The cat-eared Demi-human Manager asked, still watching the road ahead as the wolves paved through the rubble.
“Not until my hair is dyed black. Besides, I was kidding. No point in firing this baby at something that doesn’t bleed.” The Black Wing sang.
“Healers... are just wolves in sheep’s clothing.” The Captain muttered, still unable to wrap his mind around the fact that this same person used to be a Healer.
“... It’s a weird feeling.” The Manager uttered as the Recovery Units moved in to immediately begin checking for any injuries or signs of trauma.
In the meantime, the Black Wing moved in to assure them that they were now in good hands.
“Get used to it. The Amalgam knows how to take care of those she leaves behind.” The Lunar Haruspex seemed to read the mind of the Manager.
“I’m not used to seeing people cling onto hope for so long. If it was anywhere else, then those eyes would’ve lost their colors. I’m thankful in any case.”
“M-Manager! Any idea what this is!?”
Black particles formed on the bodies of the Recovery Team suddenly. At first, they thought they were under the effects of an unknown spell, but this panic was immediately cast away by an enveloping warmth.
“... This is healing magic...?”
“Ease yourself. It’s the power of the Amalgam. It originates from that.”
In the center of the chamber was a single, bleeding monolith that uttered incomprehensible whispers. It emitted a periodic burst of power according to the people they rescued which, to their shock, healed them.
“Monoliths that heal?”
“Don’t be so surprised. The Head is capable of many things. Healing is but one of their many powers. Why else are they named the Amalgam?”
“... I can’t believe it. It’s an object. And it’s healing...”
“You’ll be surprised to find that some Guilds in the City of Hearts have one installed, largely due to the lack of Healers.”
Indeed.
A few Guilds had one such monolith installed and imbued with the Amalgam’s Healing magic. This eased the burden that was placed on the Healer’s significantly. As powerful as it was, specific illnesses and major injuries still required a Healer, but one could live for quite a long time just by being in the presence of the monolith.
Before the Manager or any of the Recovery Units were able to comprehend this, a loud gunshot burst their ears. Suddenly, the monolith crumbled into itself as a hail of bullets pulverized it.
“W-What are you...”
“Order of the Amalgam.” The Black Wing coldly said. “You don’t have the clearance to know more.”
“... That’s fine. I feel like it’ll be better if we’re left in the dark.”
“Good. There’s big fish out there in this cruel pond. We wouldn’t want them getting their hands on something so tasty.” The Black Wing didn’t elaborate further, but her implication was enough of an explanation for them. “So, one hundred people. How many are going to sit on the back of the wolves? We gotta head back past that disgusting city too. Too bad we can’t stuff them into a Dimensional Storage.”
To see a Healer speak like this caused a few to rub their eyes and pinch their cheek; a reaction the woman had grown to adore.
One hundred people could not easily fit in the eight caravans they brought along, so compromises needed to be made. The people half expected to be culled, but to their surprise, they overheard the talk of saving them all.
Suddenly, someone approached the Lunar Haruspex with hands tightly held to her chest.
“U-Um... Did you see... a boy on your way here?”
“Only flowers, darling.”
“I-I see... That’s a shame... They seemed close to that person. The one who saved us. I hope... he’s ok.”
Out of everyone that was saved, only one person decided to leave out of their own volition.
And that person was Deiman.