“Put your hands up and walk towards me!" The armed guard shouted.

One-six and his team complied, lifting their hands high above their heads and taking small and steady steps forwards. The best way to not get shot is to follow orders and not make erratic movements.

“We just want some fuel and we’ll be on our way,” One-six called out. “We are not spies, we do not want trouble. Give us a place to rest, guard us as close as you want.”

They came to a stop before the guards, the muzzles of their rifles pointed straight at their chests.

“You people killed my brother,” the guard clenched his teeth. “Shot down over the mountains, never to be seen again.”

“I express my deepest regret, however, I can do nothing to change that."

“I could shoot all of you right now. I can kill you so fast you won’t even have time to react,” the guard whispered through his clenched teeth, clearly trying his best to suppress his anger. “Nothing will happen to me if I shot you right now. Killing you won’t make me a murderer. I would only be a murderer if I shot real people.”

One-six remained silent.

“If I shot you right now I can avenge my brother. I’ll be able to say goodbye to my past and become a better person. This town would thank me for exterminating pests like you. If only. If only I could convince myself that I’m as cold blooded as you people are.” The guard lowered his rifle and signaled for his men to do the same. “Even if I know that you’re not human. You damn sure look like one and talk like one. I know I’m a contract soldier but I’m still a human too.” He waved to a mechanic in the distance, “Get their plane fueled up! I want it done before sundown.” Then he turned back towards One-six. “Leave us alone as fast as you can. You are not welcome here.”

“Thank you,” One-six said.

“You better,” the guard replied.

“How can we pay you?”

“No need. Accepting payment from Europeans will damage our town’s reputation.”

One-six nodded in understanding.

“For now I will need you to hand over all of your weapons,” the guard said, holding out his hand.

One-six reached down with the tips of his fingers, unclipped his holster from his belt and handed it over to the guard. His teammates turned to look at him with questioning eyes.

“Hey, if you let them take our guns we’ll be completely defenseless,” Two-six whispered.

“I know.”

“Then why are you-”

“Two-six,” One-five muttered, cutting her off. “Listen to our commander, we must trust him.” He stole a sideways glance at One-six, a hint of sarcasm showing in his eyes.

Hesitantly, the rest of his team handed over their service pistols too.

“Alright then…” the guard sighed at last, as his men took away the pistols. “I don’t think anyone here would want anything from you guys, so you are probably free to go into town while your fighter is being refueled. Closely guarded by us, of course.”

“Can’t we stay with our aircraft?” Two-six asked.

“No,” the guard answered straight away. “We don't trust you in the first place. And you thought we would let you be with a fully armed fighter aircraft?”

Two-six tried to think of an answer, but another man spoke before that could happen.

“I think I can take over from here,” a bearded merchant said in a thick eastern accent as he walked over. “These four men can stay at my place, I have enough rooms and enough security.”

“Ah, yes, sir.” The guard said in a polite tone, completely opposite to the way he had spoken to One-six.

“I have some things I want to ask these men, so I’ll be taking them for some drinks,” the merchant said, smiling slightly as he looked One-six and his teammates up and down. One-six felt a sense of uneasiness wash over him. He couldn’t quite tell if the merchant was overly friendly, hostile, or simply just curious. “Captain Eric, would you care to join us too? I’ll be paying, of course.”

“Oh sure, sir. I’m never one to turn down free drinks,” Eric, the guard, said. “I too have some questions I would like to ask these men.”

*****

The spacious room was dusty and had cobwebs covering most of the ceiling corners. One lone lamp hung from the ceiling, dimly illuminating the entirety of the room. A thick curtain covered the wooden window on one wall, buffeting lightly in the dusk breeze.

Lenn lay on a soft rug on the floor, staring up at the ceiling blankly. His teammates were all either standing around, or laying down too. It has now been half a day since their fateful encounter with the hostile fighter, and none of them have had much rest.

Takeshi’s helpers took them to the merchant’s house; a two-story wooden building which reminded them of a wealthy hunter’s hideout. They were allowed to stay in an empty storeroom until someone arrived to take them back to New Asia.

“Do you think Captain Yuki has gotten the message yet?” Kang asked from a comfy animal skin couch, fiddling with a little pocket knife he found in the room.

“What message?” Lenn asked back nonchalantly.

“You know… that we’re alive.”

“I don’t know…”

“Probably,” Rei mumbled from the other side of the room. He was leaning on the wall with his arms crossed, seemingly lost in his own thoughts before he spoke up. “Even without satellites we can still communicate pretty fast with long-range radios. By this point the message has probably already made it up and down the chain of command.”

Kang looked up at Rei, “So how long do you think it would be until they send someone to come fetch us?” He asked, putting the knife down after getting bored of it.

“Well…” Rei sighed. “It’s not really about how long, it’s more about if it will ever happen,” he said, as he walked across the room to the window. He pulled apart the curtains, letting in a current of chilly air and a few leaves which tumbled and weaved in the wind. For some reason the leaves reminded Lenn of fighter planes chasing each other through the air, and the first one to fall to the ground is the loser. Then he rested his arms on the windowsill and looked out towards the vast forest outside.

“What do you mean by that?” Lenn asked.

“We lost, Lenn. We got shot down. For all they care we’re dead, burnt to a crisp along with our plane,” Rei answered. “But because of some crazy miracle we survived. And now we’re asking them to come pick us up. We’re asking them to use resources to come pick up people who have proven incapable of doing their job.”

“Well, we get sent on rescue missions to other downed pilots don’t we?” Lenn questioned, sitting up on the floor. “What difference are we compared to them?”

“We’re not with our aircraft, nor do we have any important information they can’t let the Europeans have. They will probably go to our crash site and destroy anything that’s left over. We aren’t really worth that much to them, especially since that the supply of people is plentiful now.”

“Why don’t we just hop on a trading plane headed for New Asia?” Lenn suggested hopefully. “Then we can just meet up with-”

“Do you even want to go back?” Rei snapped. “Why do you seem so intent on going back to fighting?”

“Rei, what’s wrong with you?” Kang narrowed his brows, getting up from his couch.

“I just don’t get what’s so back about a bit of peace,” he argued, throwing his arms up to show that he didn’t want a conflict between them. “I’ve fought all my life. Why can’t I just have some peace until all this is over, then go back and inherit my family business?”

“What if New Asia falls?”

“It won’t. Neither of the two cities will ever fall. Either they make a peace agreement, or this war just carries on forever.”

“And what if the war carries on forever?”

“Well then I’ll just be a happy man living in a mountain village.”

There was a moment of silence.

“Whatever,” Lenn muttered. “I’m gonna go back at any chance I can. Whether you guys want to follow me or not it’s your choice. I’ve fought for New Asia all my life and I’m not going to give up after a small misstep.”

“I wouldn’t really call getting shot down a small-“

“Shut up, Rei” Lenn snapped.

“You just want to go back because of your past don’t you, huh?” Rei jeered.

“Don’t you bring up my past,” Lenn shouted, getting to his feet. “You know nothing about my past!”

"Rei..." Kang tried to speak up.

“Oh I can already guess plenty from what I know,” Rei chuckled. “Let me guess… Your parents died? Left you and ran away? Yeah I’m aware, happens all the time in the sl-”

“SHUT UP!” Lenn screamed, as he threw a powerful right hook straight into Rei’s jaw.

The punch dazed Rei for a moment. And when he came to his senses he dropped low and charged shoulder first into Lenn, knocking him to the floor. Punches and kicks were exchanged as they both struggled for control.

“Guys stop!” Kang shouted, trying his best to break apart the two larger men who were tangled up with each other. “What’s gotten into the two of you? Stop!”

But the two ignored him and continued their pointless fight.

“Guys, please…” Ying, who had watched the whole ordeal silently whispered. When they ignored her she raised her voice a little. “Please stop!” She cried, her voice breaking and raspy from the effort. She felt her eyes watering up, she couldn’t stand the sight of the only ones she care about turning on each other.

Lenn and Rei looked towards the voice, and saw Ying with tears streaming down her cheeks. Finally the two stopped. Lenn shoved Rei away from him and stayed down on the ground. Rei stumbled backwards and stood up, heaving heavily from the exertion of the fight.

In their years together they had never seen Ying shed a single tear.

“What’s gotten into you, Rei?” Kang asked.

“I…I…I’m…I’m sorry…” Rei stuttered, wiping the little trail of blood which ran down from the edge of his mouth. “I’m sorry… I must be too tired… I think we all are…”

“Look at what you’ve… you’ve made Ying cry!” Kang exclaimed. “And what crazy stuff were you two spewing? We’ll never split apart, no matter what. We fly together, we fight together, and, if needed, we get shot down together.”

“Rei… I just…” Lenn began.

“No it was my bad. I spoke irresponsibly…” Rei apologized.

“So come on now. Let’s make up again. We’re still brothers, we’re still comrades,” Kang said, pulling Lenn up by his hand. “Come on, get in…” He opened his arms, beckoning his team in for a hug.

At first they were reluctant, but soon they gave in and came together for a second group hug on the same day. Ying’s muffled sobs grew into more of a cry, but instead of sobs of sorrow and despair, it was now sobs of joy. They stood there for a long while, hugging each other tightly, reinstating the unmovable fact; that at that moment, they were the closest people each other had in the entire universe; and that it would remain that way for all eternity.

Then there was a knock on the door, and the four broke apart just in time for Takeshi to come into the room.

“How you doing?” Takeshi smiled. “Your new buddies are leaving now, and they want to speak to you one last time.”

*****

“…Mr. Takeshi gave us some information and people for us to meet,” One-six said. “I’m sure you have lots of questions about everything, many of which Mr. Takeshi should be able to answer for you. We have lots of questions too, most of which we will probably never find the answer of."

“So where will you go now?” Lenn asked.

“Back to Europa. Report back to our Captain. Pretend like nothing happened and find things out our own way.”

“Won’t you be punished for sparing an enemy’s life?”

“They don’t know. We’re rebels now. That was decided the moment we went off-course and shot you down… Ah, thank you. I almost forgot to say that. The information you gave us are very helpful.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I guess that’s it then, my foreign comrade.”

“Yeah… I guess we part ways now.”

“Although our meeting was short, I have thoroughly enjoyed it.”

“…I wish I could say that too…”

“Anyhow, goodbye, good sir. Maybe in the future we will meet again. And by that time I hope we meet as friends and not as enemies.”

“I sure hope so too.”

One-six stuck out his hand, Lenn grabbed it with his own and gave it a firm shake. Then he and his team watched as the European pilots climbed aboard their jet.

The canopy, blood red under the dusk sun, lowered down and shut closed. Then the engines started, kicking up powerful gusts of air in every direction and vibrating the air with such vigor that they could feel it in their chests. Slowly the jet lifted off from the ground, accelerated forwards, and sped away with the setting sun at their backs.

And thus marked the end of lies and deceit and the beginning of discovery and truth. As the flaming exhaust of the engines disappeared into the distance, the correct answer to the ultimate question approached.