Chapter Quote:
"I thought I knew the world. I thought I knew myself. I thought I knew my dearest friend. But I knew nothing at all."
~Estrella DeMadrigal
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Chapter 20: Valley of Kings

Cipher

"You can't end it there!" Elizabeth said. "We still have Avalon and V2 to hear about!"

I laughed as I got up. "I need the bathroom, and I know you won't let me go once we get to the last battle. You two can wait for a few."

My niece and nephew groaned but didn't argue further. To be honest, besides genuinely needing to the bathroom, I also needed to steel myself for the upcoming missions. Knowing what happens, it got to me in a bad way, especially because I'd pushed these memories as far down as they could go. Not the healthiest coping mechanism, but it worked for me. It was the only thing that saved me from losing it. To say I went to a dark place after the war would be an understatement...

When I entered the living room, Elizabeth and Genette had stocked up on drinks and snacks and were waiting impatiently for me to begin. Because I'm a horrible person, I took my own sweet time getting settled into my chair before diving into the mission.

The two of them leaned forward expectantly, eyes alight with curiosity. I may not have been looking forward to dredging up these memories, but the looks on my niece's and nephew's faces made it all worth it.
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PJ and I landed at a makeshift base on the way to Mund, restocking our supplies. I switched our weapons to ones specialized for ground targets, instinct telling me that was the way to go. If and when I faced Pixy, because I knew I would, I could fight him with regular missiles. I believed in my abilities to do so.

We took back off the moment we were cleared and rushed to Avalon Dam. On the way, Hammerhead came on to brief us for this particular mission. "I'll transmit the latest data we've received from the Allied Forces. "According to this, the dam is protected by an intensive anti-aircraft defense network. To deal with this, the Allied squadron will draw anti-aircraft fire to itself in the skies. Meanwhile, Galm Team will join the Allied squad's Avalon Dam strike team and approach the target at low-altitude through the canyon. That's the only way we stand a chance at succeeding. If you destroy the V2 launch control facility, you should be able to stop the weapon from being fired. The V2 will probably be equipped with a nuclear warhead. The destruction caused by its single warhead will most likely dwarf the damage inflicted by that tactical nuclear attack before. All the Allied Forces will be mobilized for this full-scale operation. It seems this war doesn't want to come to an end. We must stop the V2 launch! Hurry!"

Operation: Point Blank

Location: Avalon Dam

Date: 1995/12/31

Time: 1500 hours

"Wait, so all the Allied Forces are literally drawing the gunfire to them, so I can fly my way through the valley to get to the dam? Is that seriously the only way we can do this? Putting their lives in danger?" I asked. "I'm not sure if that's really brave or really stupid."

"You should be familiar with that particular feeling," PJ remarked.

"Hey!"

"It's the only way we can ensure you get through," Hammerhead said. "While I'm sure you could take out all the anti-aircraft without them, we don't want to risk that with a mission this vital. You're almost there. Get ready."

As if on cue, I turned around a mountain and was greeted by a deep valley. I floored my engines and lowered my plane, PJ keeping close behind me. Hammerhead came back on and said, "Galm Team. Keep low to the water on your approach to Avalon. You'll be shot down if you fly high."

"Guess I really am going to live the low-life today," I joked, thinking back to my horrible comeback to Pixy the first time we were at the Round Table.

"What?" PJ asked.

"Nothing..." I grimaced, forgetting my wingman would have no idea what I was talking about. At least, not this wingman.

"Get to the enemy fortress. Once you're close, increase altitude and fly over the dam," Hammerhead ordered.

"We've got this," I assured.

"This is PJ. If I'm with you, I know I can do it. I'll follow your lead."

The first targets approached- two SAMs and two AA guns on a bridge crossing the valley. Before we came within range, I told my wingman, "Whatever I don't destroy, you take care of. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Who's behind you?" I asked, glancing at the radar.

"Omega 11, sir! I'm one of the Allied Forces. I'm here to watch your backs. Y'all are too indispensable for this mission," the man said in a thick southern drawl. "I also fought for this so I can say I flew with Galm. Y'all are awesome!"

I laughed. "Thanks for the compliment, man. Hey, listen, whatever PJ and I don't shoot down, you take care of, got it? That's the best way you can help us."

"You got it!"

I liked this guy's enthusiasm.

Locking onto two of the targets, I fired missiles at them, zooming overhead before I could see if they hit. PJ followed suit, taking out the other two. Omega 11 remained close behind.

"You've passed the first bridge," Hammerhead announced. How many bridges were there? I don't remember that in the briefing...

"They're after me!" Savage Three shouted. "I'm not gonna make it! Someone get them off me! Oh, wait, I'm good. They missed."

"Damn, get a grip," Savage Two snapped.

"Calm down!" their captain ordered. "Galm isn't the only team that can fight!"

If we're not the only ones who can fight, then why are we the ones being sent through the valley of death? I thought. Rather than voicing this, I kept my mouth shut. I didn't want to find out the hard way that we did need them if my words offended them, and they left.

A cluster of buildings and anti-aircraft came into view as I hugged the side of the mountain. I switched to special weapons and let loose a bomb on top of them, decimating the majority of them. PJ took out two more, and Omega 11 took out the last one, saying, ""Our guys above are taking the heat. Don't let them down!"

Two enemy planes flew towards us at a high rate of speed. I shot down one and PJ the other. This mission was going way too smoothly right now, and I wondered what hell we were about to get ourselves into after this. Nothing was this easy...

To be honest, the most nerve-wracking thing about this entire mission was flying through the valley through the mountains. Some of the turns were sharp, and at the high rate of speed I was going, I worried I may not be able to turn in time.

We approached the second bridge. Similarly to the first one, it had four targets on it, two at each end. I aimed for the ones on the left, and my wingman the ones on the right. I didn't notice the SAM below until it launched a missile at me, but Omega 11 swiftly took care of it.

The three of us shot under the bridge, heading to the next one, wherever that may be.

"You've passed the second bridge," Hammerhead said.

"My left wing's hit! Sorry, Savage Four is pulling out."

"How many of you are there?" I asked.

"Twenty-one, but ten of us either got shot down or had to pull out before y'all arrived. We're doing much better now," Omega 11 answered before immediately exclaiming, "Oh shit! Joker One's down. Ten planes left!"

Are you doing better with us here? I thought. Either A World With No Boundaries had better defenses than Belka did, or these allied pilots weren't the cream of the crop. Either way, losing over half our allied forces didn't bode well. I started to believe PJ and I had the better end of the deal, flying through the valley.

The second cluster of buildings and anti-aircraft approached, and I realized they were some type of checkpoint. It wouldn't be for long, however. I sent another UGBL at them but unfortunately didn't destroy as many as the first time. PJ launched multiple missiles along with Omega 11, taking out the rest.

"Joker Three's hit. Eight planes left!" Omega 11 informed.

"When did the ninth plane get hit?" I demanded.

"Right after Joker One."

"And no one thought to say anything?"

Noises of distress came over the radio, causing an ally to say, "Gizmo Two, hang in there! It won't be long until Galm Team takes out the V2."

"Domino Two's down. Seven planes left!" Omega 11 said.

At this point, I firmly believed these pilots were not the best of the best. They certainly didn't go to Top Gun or anything, and they definitely hadn't been prepared for a battle of this magnitude. I felt bad for them, if anything.

"Third bridge in sight," PJ remarked. "Are we almost through?"

"I sure hope so," I replied, launching missiles at the targets before I darted under the bridge. I jerked my plane to the left to turn, narrowly avoiding crashing into the mountainside. That was what I'd been afraid of.

I risked a glance behind me to see PJ and Omega 11 still on my tail, no targets left on or underneath the bridge. My comrades must've taken care of them.

"You've passed the third bridge," Hammerhead announced.

"Next checkpoint coming up. You know what to do," I said, locking and launching.

Having two people behind me made the strategy much easier. If we missed any targets, I planned on turning around to finish the job because our allies were having such trouble the anti-aircraft already. I didn't want to risk leaving any enemies behind.

"Menace Three is pulling out. Six planes left," Omega 11 informed, then adding, "Damn! Menace Two's been hit, too. Five planes left!"

"Son of a bitch!" I finally burst. "Just hold on! We're almost there!"

Whether that was true or not, I had no idea, but I hoped the idea of it would boost their morale enough to make them last a little longer.

"I feel like I'm about to hurl," PJ admitted, sounding grim.

"Don't throw up. We have enough on our plate."

"Thanks for the solid advice, Captain."

"Have some more: take out this other SU-47," I said, firing missiles at the first one. It went down in a ball of black smoke. Veering to the right around the mountainside, I approached the fourth bridge, taking out two more targets. PJ and Omega 11 struck down the others.

"You've passed the fourth bridge," Hammerhead confirmed.

"Domino Three also went down. Four planes left! Come on!" Omega 11 encouraged. "The rest of us can still make it through this!"

"I won't let any more people die!" An ally declared.

"No! Domino Leader's been taken out! Three planes left!"

Shit... I thought, wondering when the hell I'd reach the dam itself. Deciding the allies needed help, and figuring PJ and I could take it from here, I commanded, "Omega 11, it was a pleasure working with you, but I think the guys above need your help. We got it now."

"Roger that." Omega 11 floored his plane upward, gathering the attention of the enemy immediately. He rolled to avoid gunfire and missiles. As much as I wanted to make sure he was okay, I had to turn my attention back onto my own task at hand.

Turning another corner, I was suddenly greeted by a wide opening with a massive wall spanning the two mountainsides. I whistled and said, "Well, I'll be damned."

"Was that a pun, Cipher?" PJ queried.

"An unintentional one."

Mission Update

"Two planes made it through!" an ally exclaimed gleefully.

"Who made it through? Galm?!" another asked.

"All planes," Omega 11 interjected, "draw the attack above! Galm Team will handle the V2!"

"We're gonna stop it, no matter what," PJ said firmly. "I never want to see that barren land again."

I agreed with him but frowned at the sight before me. Numerous gun towers dotted the base, all sending a wave of bullets at us. I wouldn't make it out of this unscathed, no matter how good I was. If by some miracle I did, then there truly was some angel or demon looking out for me.

The best method I could figure out was flying up to a high altitude, and then diving back down directly above them, giving the towers a taste of their own medicine by barraging them with bullets.

Giving PJ the order, we both began our diving runs, systematically destroying them in a line; I took the ones on the left, and PJ took the ones on the right. The gun towers could still shoot at us, but it was harder for them.

"V2 is ready for lift-off. Beginning countdown," the enemy said. "Seven minutes to V2 launch."

"There are three launch control devices positioned at the base of the dam. Destroy them all!" Hammerhead ordered.

"We will carry out the new creation of destruction through the power of righteousness," an eerily familiar voice declared, echoing words I'd heard just a few hours earlier. "Territories, peoples, authorities... all will be liberated. This is the new state, 'A World With No Boundaries' we'll create. Neither nations nor nationalities have meaning. We will erase these unnecessary borders."

And then it hit me.

"Hammerhead," I said. "For the love of God, please tell me we captured Bristow."

Our AWACs didn't respond immediately, giving me the answer I needed, and I audibly growled.

"Whatever that noise you just made was, Cipher, did not sound human," PJ remarked.

"Bristow better pray the troops find him before I do."

"I know you want him, Galm One, but you need to focus on the mission. Take out the V2 now!" Hammerhead commanded.

"I know, I know. PJ, take out the rest of the gun towers. I'm going in," I said, flipping my plane around and leveling out in the opposite direction, diving down into one of the tunnels. My plane barely fit, and my heart raced in my chest. I could scarcely hear the chatter on the radio over the pounding in my ears.

But I nevertheless heard Bristow loud and clear when he said, "The World With No Boundaries will pen a new story. The world will change."

"Would you please just shut. Up," I groaned. Before I could bitch to him anymore, though, the first four targets appeared. I dropped a UGBL on them, flooring it out of there before the bomb exploded and took me with it. I did not want to have an unintentional mutual destruction.

An AA gun stationed in the tunnel fired at me, but one quick missile easily took care of it.

I turned a narrow corner, going at a slow rate of speed to ensure I didn't crash into a wall. Passing under an opening to the skies above, I ached to fly out, but I wouldn't allow anyone to put themselves in danger flying in these tunnels. Not to mention, I had a personal bone to pick with A World With No Boundaries. I wanted them to know who single-handedly took them out. My pride might've been influencing my decisions at the moment, but if I won, then who cared?

An enemy plane flew opposite me. Before they could get a lock, I fired my guns at them, knocking them out of the battle.

"Take out the launch control devices before barriers close up and cover their facilities," Hammerhead said as I approached the next section of targets.

"I'm already on- wait a sec..." I trailed off, launching a UGBL while repeating what he'd just said in my head before saying, "The barriers are going to do what now?"

"They're going to close once the seven minutes is up. You currently have just under six minutes left to finish this."

"Ah, shit."

"You can do this, Cipher!" PJ encouraged. "I know you can! Janie sends you her love and encouragement too!"

"Thank you," I said, although I didn't exactly feel confident in my abilities. But, I figured as long as I kept a steady hand and a clear mind, I could do this.

I had to.

An AA gun came into view, and I took it out with some well-aimed bullets before it could even turn around to shoot at me. I risked glancing at how close I was to the walls, noticing my plane had lifted up dangerously close to the ceiling. I lowered it back down, keeping it as center as possible in the tunnel.

"Cut power from all facilities destroyed. Don't let the circuits short out!" An enemy warned.

I entered a large room, giving my plane and myself a fleeting moment of space before it narrowed back into a tunnel. I passed underneath another barrier door. The opening seemed smaller than the last one I'd seen, and I wasn't sure if that was its design, or if they were all slowly shutting. Regardless, I didn't want to be in this tunnel any longer than need be.

Entering the next room full of targets, I dropped a UGBL on top, lifting my plane up as close to the ceiling to avoid the explosion as much as possible if it detonated before I flew over it. While the bomb destroyed most of the targets, one survived. Unable to turn around, I realized I'd have to make another run through this godforsaken facility, an idea I wasn't fond of.

I followed the next hallway, keeping a moderate, steady pace. I was on a time limit, but that didn't mean I could fly recklessly through this place. That would be even more stupid. However, I still barely made the turn, and as I leveled out my plane, I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

Planes were not meant for flying underground. They were meant for the skies. At least I had openings if need be. If this was one continuous tunnel, I'd freak.

"Our facilities have been damaged! I'm detaching a module section!" An enemy said. "Where is that damn plane?!"

"These barriers can even withstand nuclear attacks. Show him what Avalon is all about!" another shouted.

"Our facilities have suffered additional damage! We've lost the stabilizer and gyro systems!"

"All main oxygen valves are now open. V2 Launch Phase One is complete."

"Phase One complete. Moving to Phase Two."

That's not good...

I reached the end of the tunnel and shot out into the sky, breathing heavily. I lifted one of my hands up to see if it was shaking.

It was.

How I managed to keep my plane steady in that tunnel was beyond me. But I was going to have to do it again since one target hadn't been destroyed. Steeling myself, I looped upside down and flipped myself upright, diving back down into the tunnel.

"Five minutes to V2 launch," an enemy announced.

"Avalon. This is the final destination. I have to stop them from launching the V2. I can't let them destroy the world," PJ said.

Meanwhile, I was approaching the target, but a missile alert sent me into a panic. An enemy plane coming from the opposite side fired at me, and in a split second, I had to dive down perilously close to the floor. The aircraft shot over me, along with its missile, but I missed the target. Swearing, I continued flying on, looking for the next barrier to fly out of, just so I could turn around to plunge back in.

"Make our righteousness known to the world," Bristow said.

"Are these people insane?" PJ asked.

"Is that a rhetorical question?" I replied.

"The control facility barriers are halfway closed! Move it, Galm Team!" Hammerhead barked.

"I'm moving, I'm moving!" I snapped, my nerves getting the better of me.

I dove back into the tunnel. Another enemy plane, potentially the same one who shot at me earlier, zipped past me, unable to fire this time. Moments later, I heard an enemy say, "It's the Demon Lord! He's really here!"

"Engage in aerial combat! We've got 'em. There's only two of them!" Another encouraged.

"PJ, you doing okay, brother?" I questioned, not liking the statements made by the enemy. There may have only been two of us, and there may only be one target left, but if my wingman was in trouble, I wanted to know. If he was, I'd have him lure the bandits back to me, and I'd shoot them down in the blink of an eye.

"I'm good. They're not all that difficult to shoot down, to be honest," he confessed.

Two bandits came at me head-on, but this time I was ready, launching missiles at them. They somehow evaded, but at least they couldn't attack me in return.

"He slipped by our attacks. That must be the Demon Lord," one of them said.

"Do you see any other nutjob flying through this tunnel?" I countered.

"Turbo fuel pump is running smoothly. V2 Launch Phase Two is complete."

Shit.

The last target approached, but it was heavily guarded now: two AA guns and more enemy planes. Being smaller and more maneuverable than mine, they could make sudden, sharp turns. I didn't have that luxury.

I took out the AA guns first, dodging the enemy planes and speeding down the hallway to the next barrier door. I shot out of it into the sky, clenching my teeth. I really did not want to go back into that tunnel, but I had to.

Just as I was about to flip around and head back in, an enemy craft flew in front of me. I fired two missiles at it, not expecting either one to hit. I simply wanted him to not follow me. But when I entered back into the tunnel, PJ exclaimed, "Holy shit, Cipher! How did you make that shot?!"

"Did I actually hit that plane?!" I replied in awe.

"Yes!"

"The Demon Lord is in the tunnel again! Stop him at all costs! Even if our planes get hit in the process!"

"Three minutes to V2 Launch."

"I'm almost there," I said, watching as the target got closer and closer.

"Don't worry about friendly fire!" an enemy snarled. "Just unload everything you've got!"

"What's that shaking?" one of them demanded. "Are we being attacked from above?"

"That might possibly be my engine," I said, putting my thrusters on full-throttle. Having been in this tunnel so many times now, I'd memorized which areas I could speed up, and which areas I needed to slow down. Thankfully, this hallway fell into the former category.

Finally, the last target came into view, and I dropped a bomb on it, hightailing it out of the room as it exploded.

"All V2 control facilities have been destroyed!" Hammerhead announced, sounding more than a little thrilled. He wasn't the only one, although mine almost came more from exiting that blasted tunnel for the final time than from stopping the V2 launch.

Almost.

"We did it! We stopped the V2 launch!" PJ cheered victoriously, flying rapidly towards me. "The fighting is over!"

No, it's not. The thought popped into my head involuntarily, almost as if someone- or something- else was telling me so. Where's Pixy? He should be here...

"We're confirming the situation. Cipher, PJ, stand by," Hammerhead ordered.

Mission Accomplished

A few moments later, Hammerhead confirmed the launch facility was, in fact, destroyed. I let myself breathe a little easier.

"Now the war is finally over," PJ said. "Have you heard, Cipher?"

"Heard what?" I asked.

"I got a girlfriend back at the base," he replied.

I snorted. "Yeah, I know that. She and my girlfriend happen to be best friends."

"But did I tell you what I'm going to do?"

"What?"

I'm gonna propose to her when I get back. I even bought flowers."

"You're gonna do what?!" I exclaimed, amused by the fact that we'd had the same idea without even telling each other. "Dude, that's awesome!"

"If she says yes-"

"And she will," I interrupted.

"Will you be my best man?"

Touched by the question, I sincerely said, "It'd be my honor."

"Awesome. Let's go home!"

The two of us flew back towards Valais Air Base, but something still bothered me.

Pixy should've been here. He was their best fighter. Why wouldn't they have sent him to defend this place?

Unless-

"Warning!" Hammerhead nearly shouted. "Unknown target approaching at high speed! Break! Break!"

PJ and I swerved away from each other, flooring it as hard as we could away from the area we'd just been in.

A laser flashed in PJ's direction, and my blood ran cold when I saw my wingman's plane disappear off the radar.

"PJ!" I yelled. "Janie!"

For a few, excruciating moments, no one responded. I feared the worst, and my entire body began to go numb. I couldn't have just lost my girlfriend and my wingman. There was no way. They must've survived. I couldn't-

"We're okay," PJ said over the mic. "We're pretty beaten up, but we're okay."

I let out an audible sigh of relief. "Be careful. Take care of yourselves. Hammerhead, get a rescue mission started. Whoever this threat is, I'll take care of them," I said.

What I didn't say was that I already knew, deep down, who this threat was. No one needed to tell me.

But my adversary did anyway.

"So, have you found a reason to fight yet? Buddy."