A technomancer's journey in an apocalyptic world

Chapter 15: Confrontation

"It is slightly over 93 meters from here to the water surface and with the water approximated 12 meters deep in some of the parts you can say safely say that the gorge is 10 meters deep and exactly 40 meters wide."

Ryan looked at awe at the person who was helping her, sister Maeve's ability was extremely useful from flying using her bat like wings to using echolocation to measure the distance in terrifying accuracy as such he could not help by remark, "Your ability is extremely useful like a living breathing RADAR."

Maeve simply gave an exaggerated bow as Ryan could not help but speak out loud, "I have been thinking for a few days now.", his words drew everyone's attention as he continued to speak, "We all are exhibiting some form of powers so should we not make code names for us."

Donna who was nearby mulled over his suggestion as she spoke, "Like in those comic books you like."

Ryan nodded eagerly as Maeve spoke, "So what do you think my name should be related to Bats?"

Ryan's face scrunched up as he spoke, "Nah it lacks originality people will claim you as a copy cat."

"Oh I know.", a voice came from the side making everyone turn towards her as she spoke, "How about '~Screamer~'?", the person finished in a seductive tone sending shiver down everyone's spine.

Maeve gave a shriek as she felt someone touching her and draping over her in a rather sensuous manner specially her sensitive wings as the person spoke with a half lidded tone, "See how wonderful her voice is"

Chloe had a vein throbbing on her forehead as she spoke, "Corporal Amelia, you will cease such foolishness."

Amelia grinned at her as she spoke, "Please Chloe I was just teasing them no harm done she how flustered she looks and look at Ryan his face is as red is tomato."

Chloe gained an evil look on her face as she spoke, "Amelia enough Ryan is 15 year old minor have you no shame and if you do not stop.", she let the threat hang a little as Amelia send a challenging look to her as she spoke, "You will what, there is no country no order, no army so what will you do."

Chloe's face hardened as everyone paled at the sudden implication a junior ranked personnel was challenging her senior but at the same time she was right there is no law and order whatever semblance was left was being held together in a rather piteous manner, Ryan did not wish for a conflict to break as he stepped forward only for Amelia to leer at him as she spoke, "Awww the virgin boy stepped forward let this big sister teach a thi.....ack.", a strong hand gripped her neck so hard it almost broke seeing the newcomer everyone including Ryan took a step back.

"Baby Brother she did not touch you inappropriately now did she.", Michalina asked her brother with a deranged smile on her face making Ryan gulp, Ryan had seen her big sister getting angry before but today was a bit different the electricity flowing through her and her normal brown eyes glowing in pale blue color made her more menacing.

Ryan simply shook his head as he spoke, "No big sis."

Michalina nodded at that as she spoke, "Well good then I will not prolong her suffering too much.", her eyes then fell on Amelia as she spoke, "You should know that my brother is off limits yet you leered at him did many indecent acts in front of him and molested your sister for that I will make you pay.", her voice was dripping with so much venom and hatred that it made Ryan shake a bit with fear, then Amelia screamed as current flowed through her body.

Michalina turned towards Ryan as she cooed at him, "Baby Brother let Big Sis deal with this despicable pervert while you finish your work.", with that she turned and began to a drag a still screaming and begging Amelia away from them.

A stunned silence descended before Chloe spoke to Donna, "Damn she is going to kill her, Donna with me and Maeve go and get the major fast, others stay with Ryan.", with her piece said she ran after Michalina along with Donna to run interference as Donna hurriedly took to the skies.

It did not take long for Ciara to arrive and by then a group had formed, she could hear them shouting and arguing, as she neared she saw Ellie and Jessica standing by her daughter's side arguing with Chloe and Donna with their weapons ready to be drawn in a moment notice, a scream came from the figure under her daughters boots as electricity was running all over her body then a loud pop was heard followed by a scream from Chloe, "Michalina STOP TORTURING HER!"

Ciara had seen enough as she bellowed in anger, "WHAT IS GOING ON?!!!"

An uncomfortable silence descended as she spoke angrily, "Care to explain, why one of my soldier is torturing one of her sisters?"

Michalina let go of the whimpering Amelia's arms which was bend at an odd angle as she spoke, "Major, this degenerate pervert had not only challenged the authority of his superior officer, she had the audacity to molest her fellow sister claiming since there is no law and order we are free to act like uncivilized mongrels but also had the audacity to set her sights on my baby brother and sexually harass him, so I decided to punish her accordingly and make an example of her."

Ciara's eyes hardened at that whether she was angry at Michalina or Amelia, Ryan could not tell, Chloe immediately saluted to her superior as she spoke, "Major what Lieutenant Michalina said is absolutely correct, she began to molest one of our soldiers I ordered her to stop but she challenge my authority and then she sexually harassed Ryan, then Lieutenant Michalina arrived and caught her with full intent of harming her, I was afraid she might kill her with the way she was acting as such I asked Maeve to inform you, Ellie and Jessica soon joined preventing us from stopping the torture."

Michalina had a hurt look on her face as she spoke, "You misunderstood me Chloe I did not intent on killing her just make her beg for her death."

"Lieutenant Michalina as you so well pointed out we are not uncivilized mongrels then why, why DID YOU THINK IT WAS NICE TO TORTURE SOMEONE.", Ciara was towering at her soldiers, she was not the mother of Michalina at the moment but her superior.

Her voice made everyone stand ramrod something that Ryan had heard stories about the legendary commander mode of hers and now he was about to witness it, "Since when did I gave you the permission to discipline others Lieutenant Michalina, I so do not remember do you?"

Michalina shook her head as she began to speak, "But I"

Only for Ciara to thunder at her, "But nothing as long as you are members of the Black Wolves you will obey the proper rules and regulation, what Amelia did was wrong and she will face disciplinary sanctions but you also broke the rules as such as of now you three are suspended I want you three to report to my office without delay where I will decide on your punishment now move."

Michalina and her group saluted her as they started jogging back towards the base as Ciara turned her eyes as she spoke, "2nd Lieutenant Chloe and Sergeant Donna carry Corporal Amelia to the infirmary I will decide her fate in the tribunal as I will not tolerate any misdeeds from soldiers."

Both the soldiers saluted to her as they picked the now slightly whimpering Amelia, as they were about to leave Ryan decided to speak, "Mom about sister she."

Ciara looked at him directly into his eyes, eyes that made her wince, she used to like her son's eyes but now it is so inhumane that it made her sad as she spoke, "Ryan I know what you are about to say but I am sorry I cannot alter the rules for one, I am so sorry."

Ryan nodded as he let out a sigh before he spoke quickly, "Mom there is something else I need Sister Donna's help to complete my current project."

Ciara raised one of her eyebrows before she substituted Donna with another as Amelia was carried off to the infirmary, as soon as they were no longer visible Donna sighed as she spoke, "I am sorry Ryan you had to see something so disgraceful."

Ryan gave her a weal smile as he spoke, "It is fine though big sister did over react, I hope she will not be punished harshly."

Donna simply sighed as she spoke, "She is extremely lucky that we are in need of proper soldiers as well as the chain of command is in tatters otherwise she would have faced jail time."

Ryan winced at that as much as their mother loved them at the same time she was an honest woman just because Michalina is related to her she would not try to shield her but she would punish her according to the law.

Ryan shoulders shagged a bit as he spoke, "I do not know why Amelia acted as such in such a degenerate manner, it just does not make any sense."

Donna frowned as she composed her thoughts for a moment, "We no matter what at the end of the day are humans, and every people has a breaking point no matter how well trained they are, Amelia acted like this because she is breaking apart, how much interaction did you have with the civilians from the town."

Ryan bit her lips thinking about his interactions for a moment with them before his eyes widen as Donna continued with a sad smile on her face, "It seems you have finally noticed huh, no one not even the doctor they might stare at you from afar, they might even question when everyone was present but no they never spoke with you one on one like us, even the doctor avoided you like plague do you know why?"

Ryuu's brain ran a thousand mile per second at that before his eyes widen as he spoke in disbelief, "Is it because I am a male?"

Donna gave a comforting squeeze to Ryan's shoulder as she spoke, "You are extremely intelligent Ryan, yes it is because you are a male they seemed to have developed androphobia, of all the women we rescued three of them are locked up."

Ryan was stunned this was something he never knew as he spoke, "But why?"

Donna looked towards their base with somber look on her face, "One has attempted suicide thrice, another well her mind is broken to the point she thinks anything that moves wants to have sex with her and she is an obedient sex slave and the third well when you were comatose she tried to kill you because you are a man."

Ryan's jaw dropped at that as he spoke in disbelief, "What?!"

Donna nodded with a grim look on her face, "Yes it is true, Ruby took the knife on her shoulder in order to save your life, Major was extremely furious but the youngest of them all pleaded for the life of her mother as such she was spared but she is now imprisoned, Amelia was tasked with to look after them and I think the stress had affected her."

Ryan felt a headache forming because of it as Donna continued, "Amelia was the one who volunteered for the job, she was the one broke protocol to beg for that woman's life along with her child, but by doing so she earned Michalina's ire, your sister fought tooth and nail to have that woman executed and today's incident occurred because of it. The woman who tried to murder you was adamant and unrepentant of her action and only the heartfelt begging of her daughter and Amelia saved her life and when Amelia acted in such a way I believe Michalina lost control."

Ryan looked down for a moment as he spoke, "So what should I do?"

Donna looked at him directly in the eye as her eyes widen slightly for a brief moment, 'So this are the changes they were talking about it is really like he is becoming part machine I hope his humanity never dies', she gave him a smile as she spoke, "Avoid interacting with them at all cost, they have suffered a terrifying ordeal and in normal scenario they would have received counseling and what not but we are not able to provide those necessary help as such Ryan I request you to avoid them at all cost, if you are forced to stay in the same room or speak with them try to have as many of us with you specially your mother or aunts present okay."

Ryan nodded as Donna spoke with a smile, "I believe we have wasted enough time so now what do you wish for me to do Ryan."