The Legion Commander Strikes Back

• The Vanguards

Although Armoria was holding its own in the war, they did suffer some casualties as well. And unfortunately, Ivary had resorted to using biohazards as a weapon.

It was rumored that they had some of the best virologists engineer new strains of viruses that were so dangerous, no one could survive once infected. 

Armoria was even put in a state of emergency because of this. Among those man made strains was the one that caused Omnipox. A lethal acute respiratory disease that kills within a matter of days, and Skyler Vanguard had come down with it.

Elizabeth stood in the sterile white hallway of the hospital, her eyes red and puffy from crying all night. Even now, she was still crying, with her shawl wrapped around her.

She watched her daughter through the glass, she wasn't allowed into the hospital room since it was a contagious disease.

From the corner of her eyes she saw the doctor approaching and she quickly rushed up to him. “Doctor, please how's my daughter doing?” Elizabeth begged, her voice laced with desperation. 

“It's not looking good, if she continues like this her lungs would have collapsed by the end of today. We've connected her to an oxygen mask. But we might need to place her in a breathing chamber as soon as possible before she dies.”

“Then do so, please!” She pleaded. 

“It's not a cheap procedure, each time she's using oxygen your bill is piling up and we can't proceed with treatment when you haven't even paid for the oxygen she used yesterday. As for the medication, you haven't even fully paid for that either, you only made a deposit and that was two days ago.” 

Elizabeth had used her entire life savings just to pay the down deposit so the hospital could begin treatment, she was a broke widow and had nowhere to run to. After the passing of her husband Howard Vanguard, her life quickly crumbled before her eyes.

Her son was drafted to war just after his engagement and the only news they heard from the military officers was that there was an explosion and that he most likely died. 

With no legible heir left, Desmond, Howard's brother, took over everything, including the Vanguard group, the company her husband founded. 

Skyler had to drop out of highschool because Desmond made sure that they were no longer receiving funds, he'd even managed to seize Skyler's trust fund and left the mother and daughter with nothing but breadcrumbs.

The only reason they still had a place to sleep was because he offered them the maids quarters in the Vanguard manor in exchange for them working as domestic house staff. 

“Just start the treatment, do whatever it takes, I'll look for the money,” Elizabeth assured even though she had no means of doing so, but she was a desperate mother, she wouldn't let her only daughter die. 

“I have to tell you Mrs. Vanguard, if you don't have that money by evening, we'll have to take your daughter off oxygen.” 

Her heart skipped a beat as the world around her began spinning. She couldn't let that happen, not while she was alive. 

“Yes doctor, I promise!” She said and then spun around and grabbed her tattered hand bag, shooting one last glance at her daughter before leaving. “I won't let you die Skyler,” she muttered under her breath and then wiped away her tears on her way out.

***

Elizabeth burst into the Vanguard manor, the place she once used to call home when Howard was still alive, however, now, this place was worse than hell itself. 

Martha was in the sitting room with some of her other high-class friends, they seemed to be celebrating something.

Martha Vanguard was Desmond's wife, and she was just as ambitious as her husband. They say behind every successful man was a woman. She was that woman for Desmond vanguard, she had helped him cover his tracks after his evil deeds. 

One of Martha's friends noticed as Elizabeth was trudging towards them in her disheveled state. She kept her drink down and nudged Martha who raised her head, a scowl forming on her face instantly. 

“And what do you think you're doing here? Can't you see that I have guests?!” Martha barked, irritation evident in her tone. 

“I'm sorry but I need your help-”

“You always need help, that's why you're so wretched,” Martha said, interjecting her.

A wave of humiliation washed over Elizabeth as she stood there watching Martha's friends laugh at her, but she didn't care, she would stomach all the humiliation in the world if it meant her daughter's survival. 

She instantly dropped on her knees. “Please! Martha!” She cried, tears streaming down from her face, she crawled on her knees towards Martha, but then Martha and her friends moved backwards, avoiding her like she was a plague. 

“My daughter is dying! She needs your help please!” Martha blurted. 

“Eww get off my white carpet!” Martha screeched. Looking around for someone to come pick her up. Martha's snobbish friends giggled as they exchanged whispers. 

“Please! You were here when she was hospitalized, please she needs your help, they're going to put her on oxygen, if I can't pay they'll take it off and she'll die,” Elizabeth explained, crying profusely.

“Well then, that's one less low life I'll be sharing oxygen with,” Martha remarked, causing her friends to burst out laughing. 

Just then, Jason Vanguard, Desmond's son, came down from the stairs. His eyebrows furrowed when he saw Elizabeth on her knees. 

“What are you doing here Elizabeth? Are you trying to embarrass my mother in Front of her guests?!” He accused her.

Elizabeth's mouth widened as she tried to speak but the bile that rose to her throat made her choke on her words. 

She only managed to shake her head. Her eyes widened as Jason neared her and grabbed her by the arm. “Get out you're an eyesore woman!” He said as he shoved her out of the sitting room. 

“Please Jason! It's your cousin that's in the hospital fighting for her life!” Elizabeth cried, trying to reason with his emotions.

It only earned her a solid smack on the face, causing her to fall to the ground. “Don't ever call that illiterate disgrace of a girl my cousin!” He warned. 

“What’s going on here?” Desmond's voice rang from the entrance, causing her to turn and face him.

“She's embarrassing me in front of my friends, begging for money as if we don't give her any.”

Desmond immediately frowned. “It seems like we've allowed this wretch and her daughter to overstay their welcome here. From today henceforth, I don't ever want to see you set foot in this mansion again.”