[h2][b][center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITcwK8gVixQ]Cry Of the Desperate Village[/url][/center][/b][/h2] [img]https://orig00.deviantart.net/ce04/f/2015/151/7/f/japanese_village_by_narandel-d8vg05f.jpg[/img] The floor was soggy. It was a vicious rainstorm the night before and sadly the combined wind and unstable radiation in the air cause the death of most of Izaoyi's crops. The village elder stepped over the remains of a rice paddy on the way to a house. The Elder [b]Kiwami[/b] was actually quite young, today was his 41st birthday but you would never know from the look on his face, he had no intention of celebrating or being happy today. He and his personal guard [b]Abe[/b] were told that two gunshots were heard early that morning and so they went to investigate. Kiwami and Abe slowly entered the small farmhouse near the outskirts of town. There was some damage to the structure as it look liked some debris had smashed into the wooden walls and broke a few windows. As Abe pushed the door open with his rifle trained on the center of the doorway, a few flies that were buzzing inside made their escape. The stench of death was unmistakable, and in front of them lay two bodies. A male and a female, both no older than 25 both had vicious gunshot wounds tho their faces and both corpses seem to be holding hands with a note between their palms. Kiwami's head sank in sorrow and he slowly turned to Abe who shook his, it was almost like they expected to see this. Abe lowered his rifle and pried the not from the dead couple and unraveled it to read: [u]Dear fellow villager, if you are reading this, we are now dead. After the rainstorm last night destroyed our crops we know there is no way we can pay off our personal debt to the Yakuza. We have heard too many vicious stories of debt collectors to even risk facing them, so we have decided to end our own lives on our own terms. My wife is 3 months pregnant and although that should have been a thing of joy, bringing a child into this wretched existence feels like a moral disservice. We hope that the village of Izayoi, soon understands that death and suffering are the only options for the future and that taking your own lives is the much preferred option. Best of luck to you all, see you in the next world. -Ryoma & Yukia[/u] Kiwami's eyes were welling up with tears as Abe read the note, after turning to see his almost weeping elder, he tore up the note, and radioed the cadaver service to collect the bodies. Both men cursed under their breath as they left the house back into the soaked farm field. [b]Abe:[/b] [i]That's the 4th suicide in two months, as if there wasn't enough things killing us![/i] [b]Kiwami:[/b] [i]This is the price that villages pay for being independent, ridiculous taxes from the Yakuza and constant terror among the population, but what's the alternative? Do you want to us to be an occupied town like Sendagaya? With slave camps manufacturing drugs? And having our girls as young as 12 providing 'comfort' services for the Yakuza Bosses? I had to make a decision Abe......fuck... I tried to think of the village.[/i] [b]Abe:[/b] [i]There wont be a village left at this rate, Kiwami. But, well I got the telegram this morning, I was going to surprise you as birthday present, but I guess now isnt a time for celebration......The Bastion sir, its been completed and tested. It's ready to go.[/i] Kiwami's teary eyes widened, and Abe tried not to smile with too much enthusiasm. Instantly the two men jumped into each other's arms and started hugging, it was an embrace of relief and excitement, but also fear of the unknown. [b]Kiwami:[/b] [i]Call a meeting at the townhouse, invite the village reps and our 5 heroes. Brief them, and get them on their way as quickly as possible. The village is in their hands now.....[/i] [@Whoami][@Xandrya][@Ferrocerium][@Drakey][@Cryfest]