ORIGIN OF CHAOS
Chapter Two: Friends and Enemies
It's been seven years since the tragedy struck. News of Prowl's demise was spread by the Guardians, sending people in a panic. But things would only get worse from there. A year after Prowl's death, the people were slowly starting to become sick and no medicine they had could heal it. The sickness started out as a cough, then to a fever, and finally death. And now, years later, the once green planet had turned to a decaying black.
"Things are coming along better than expected." Aero said.
Aero was staring at a portal view of the blacked room inside a circular green room. The room was almost empty with the exception of a few chimeras' lying around and a throne in the center which seated his master, Zeenint. Despite the bright coloring of the room, Zeenint's face remained hidden in the shadows.
"Eise has truly outdone himself." Zeenint praised. "The last vein of virus never would have spread this fast."
"It's true the virus is much stronger." Aero said, pausing for a hesitating moment.
"Why do I feel that you are keeping something from me, Aero?" Zeenint growl threateningly.
"It is unfortunate to say, Master, that the virus is not as effective as we thought." Aero stated. "We have receive reports that a select number of people have been found immune to the virus."
"What?!" Zeenint said outraged. "Eise promised that this was the strongest virus available."
"It is, Master." Aero nodded. "But as always, nature tries to oppose your will. It won't be long before they figure a way to use their immunity and reproduce it to a vaccine."
"Then you must hunt down those who are immune and destroy them." Zeenint said.
"We are fortunate." Aero said. "We received a report from a civilian in Midia City about a girl who has been found immune."
"Then hurry to Midia City and kill her." Zeenint commanded.
As you wish, Master." Aero bowed out and disappeared into the darkness.
The scene opens up to a faraway desert where a clutter of eroding, abandoned buildings occupied the center of a massive crater. There was a lopsided sign the said 'Welcome to Midia City'. But standing high on the outskirts of the city, a figure wearing a brown tattered cloak gazed out into the destruction. It was Stream. He had grown about two feet taller over the years. His dangling quills reach down to his back, restrained by a black ring. Stream walked down to the quiet city.
"Things have certainly changed in the past seven years." Stream tought. "The virus that killed Prowl is starting to spread at an alarming rate. but somehow, I have been found immune to it." He entered the city whcich was as dead as it looked. "Keeping to Prowl's word, I am hunting the Guardians. But the question is, where are they?
"Get that freak!" a voice shouted.
"Leave me alone!" a meek, female voice said.
As Stream turned the corner, he ran into a girl, knocking her down. She was a yellow vixen, barely twelve, with a red opal encrusted into her forehead. She wore a red shirt with a yellow vest, a pair of black shorts, white gloves, and a pair of red boots with a black strip going down. Floating near her head was blue blob-like creature with pink wings and a ball floating above its head.
"Chao." The creature said to the vixen.
"I'm ok." The vixen assured it. She looked up towards Stream and jumped up with hopeful eyes. "Please, you have to help us."
"What for?" Stream said indifferently.
"There are some bad men after us." The vixen said horrifically. "They've been chasing us all day."
"That's your problem." Stream said coldly. "Whatever trouble you get in is your own business."
"Please." The vixen begged, but Stream showed no interest.
"There she is!"
The vixen turned down the street where she saw a gorilla, a python, and a lizard charging toward her. Knowing full well that Stream was not about to lift a finger to help her, she ran. The creature shouted in a strange language before turning tail towards its owner. The gorilla, python, and lizard ran past Stream, having not seen him while focusing on the vixen. Stream watching them as they made their way out of the city.
"She can handle on her own." Stream said monotone.
He turned down the street where they came from. Meanwhile, the vixen and the creature were attempting to climb out of the crater in hopes of escape. But the python, the fastest of the chasers, step out in front of her and kicked her in the face to knock her back down. She fell on her face and weakly sat on where she found all three chasers surrounding her.
"What do you want?" The vixen asked terrified, clutching her pet. "Why are you chasing us?"
"As if that wasn't obvious!" The lizard snapped.
"You're immune to the virus." The gorilla stated. "That's all the reason we need."
"But why, I never did anything." The vixen said.
"It doesn't matter." The python hissed. "You freaks need to be wiped out permenently."
"No!" The vixen cried
"Shut up!" The gorilla yelled. "Enough talking, time for killing!"
The massive gorilla raised one of his large fists over the vixen's head and swung it down. The vixen clutched her pet securely and shut her eyes for the final blow to come. But it didn't. Suddenly, the gorilla howled in pain. The vixen opened her eyes in surprise and found Stream standing protectively in front. The gorilla was whimpering at his limping wrist, which Stream snapped.
"What was that for?" The python questioned.
"You would sink as low as to harm a defenseless girl." Stream said disapprovingly. "It's sickening."
"I know what this is." The lizard said. "You just want to hog all the glory for yourself."
"Glory? What glory?" Stream asked.
"For when The Guardians come for her." The lizard said.
"Well if The Guardians want her, then I can't let you take her." Stream sniggered.
"Say what?!" The three exclaimed.
"If you want the girl, you'll have to kill me first." Stream stated.
"Fine by me!" The gorilla yelled.
The gorilla put his shoulder out in front and charged in like a rampaging rhinoceros. Stream quickly reached back for the vixen and her pet and flipped forward into the air. The gorilla slammed his shoulder into the wall, creating a small fissure, while Stream landed safely on his feet. Stream set his passengers aside and jumped back when the python attempted to bite him. The python slung his head forward, but Stream grabbed him by the neck and tossed him to the wall next to the gorilla. The lizard lashed its tongue at him, but Stream stamped his foot down on the ground. The lizard whimpered in pain before Stream would let go, which sent him flying back ten feet. The gorilla, ticked off at Stream, charged at him from behind. But like last time, Stream flipped over, adding a kick in the back of the head. The Gorilla fell on his face while Stream landed safely.
"You'll pay for this!" The gorilla proclaimed before running away.
"Wait for us, boss!" The lizard screamed; he and the python chased after him.
"Well, that was fun." Stream smirked.
"Thank you!" the vixen cried; she and her pet hugged him in gratitude. "We owe you so much."
"Any enemy of The Guardians is a friend of mine." Stream said; his attitude doing a 180. They pulled away and Stream held out his hand. "By the way, my name is Stream."
"I'm Vulpa." Vulpa introduce. She pointed to the creature next to her. "And this is Cheese." (Yes, it's the same Cheese.)
"And uh...what exactly is...Cheese?" Stream asked awkwardly.
"He's an entirely new breed of creature I discovered." Vulpa said excitingly. "I call it a Chao."
"Why do yo call it that?" Stream asked.
"Chao, chao chao chao, chao." Cheese said.
"Oh, that's why." Stream sweat dropped. "Well, we should probably get out of here before they come back."
"Good idea." Vulpa nodded.
And so, Stream started walking out of the crater with Cheese floating behind. Unfortunately, Vulpa was not a trained warrior like Stream and had to climb out. Suddenly, Vulpa caught a loose rock and nearly fell off. Luckily, Stream was there to catch her. Not wanting to get held up, Stream offered to carry Vulpa out of the crater, which she accepted. Vulpa was amazed at how Stream was able to walk up a vertical wall. Once at the top, Stream set Vulpa back down; Cheese floated merrily around her head.
"Well, that took long enough." Stream groaned, cracking his spine.
"Sorry." Vulpa said embarrassingly.
"Hey, no worries." Stream waved off. "Come on, let's get moving."
Stream, Vulpa, and Cheese set off down the desert path. Meanwhile, the gorilla, python, and lizard entered into and abandoned building, licking their wounds.
"The nerve of that rat." The python hissed.
"I still say we could have taken him if he hadn't cheated." The lizard complained.
"Getting back at that rat is the least of our worries." The gorilla sneered. "If The Guardians ever found out about this..."
"Found out about what?"
The atmosphere around them seemed to tense at the sound of the voice. The trio slowly and hesitantly looked up to one of the support beams near the ceiling. Aero stood above them; his expression was the least from welcome
"I-It's Aero." The python stammered.
"Tell me what?!" Aero repeated forcefully.
"Well, the thing is...uh." The lizard said hesitantly.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with the immune, would it?" Aero questioned.
"Yes." The gorilla said meekly. "The thing is, she got away."
"What?!" Aero roared.
"It wasn't our fault!" The python exclaimed. "It was that hedgehog! He's the one who let the girl get away!"
"A hedgehog?" Aero said intrigued. "His fur wouldn't be blue, would it?"
"Yeah." The lizard nodded.
"So he's alive, even after the virus has been released." Aero thought. "This could be a problem."
"So, can we go?" The gorilla asked.
"No. I have a reward for your services." Aero said malevolently.
The white Guardian held his claw, which began to draw a white aura. All of a sudden, a strange gust of wind emerged from nowhere and formed a wall around them trio of creatures. Aero closed his claw, which spelled the end of them. The wall of wind formed a vacuum that sucked the air from inside. The trio of creatures gasped wildly while they desperately tried to escape. But their efforts proven in vain and within a matter of seconds, they all dropped dead.
"Pathetic life forms." Aero muttered.
Back out in the desert, Stream and Cheese seemed carefree, while Vulpa struggled to keep up. Stream had to admit the sun was bearing down on the hard and stopped to rest. They took shelter under the shade of a rock wall. Stream passed a bottle of water to Vulpa and Cheese after he was finished.
"Thanks." Vulpa said, taking the bottle to drink before handing it to Cheese.
"So, why were those creeps chasing after you in the first place?" Stream asked suddenly.
"It's because I'm immune." Vulpa explained. "They thought that if they could bring me in, The Guardians would give them a cure."
"But there is no cure if they get rid of the immunes." Stream said grudged. "Why won't the people see that by experimenting with the blood of an immune, they could find a vaccine?
"People believe it's the immune's fault that the virus is here in the first place." Vulpa stated.
"No doubt told by The guardians." Stream seethed.
"So it was The Guardians?" Vulpa asked. Stream nodded. "So my big brother was right. I was hoping he wasn't."
"So what happened to your brother?" Stream asked. "He isn't..."
"Oh no, he's still alive! He's immune, too!" Vulpa said cheerily. "I'm just disappointed that The Guardians are as evil as my big brother says they are. I remember when I first saw The Guardians. Eise seemed so brave, and strong, and heroic, and..."
"Vulpa, you're yammering." Stream pointed. She stopped; her cheeks a shade of red. "Wait a minute. Are you...blushing?"
"No!" Vulpa exclaimed, turning her red face away.
"You wouldn't be the first." Stream stated. "Every female I knew had a crush on Eise. They even started their own fan club."
"I know." Vulpa muttered. "I was the vice-president."
"You're not serious." Stream said, but Vulpa said nothing. "Oh god, you're serious."
"Chao chao chao!" Cheese laughed.
Stream joined Cheese while Vulpa hid her burning face behind her tail. Suddenly, a light breeze passed by, which Stream felt was out of place. The breeze floated up to the wall above them when suddenly, a loud clang erupted from above. Stream and others shot their heads up just in time to see a landslide approaching them. Stream quickly grabbed Vulpa and Cheese and rolled away before the rocks hit the ground.
"What was that?" Vulpa asked.
"I have a pretty good idea." Stream said seriously.
The breeze flew back to the ground, which transformed into a miniature tornado. The tornado disappeared and Aero was found in its place.
"Greetings, fellow warrior." Aero greeted. "I am Aero, The Wind Guardian."
"I know who you are!" Stream growled. "You're the reason Prowl was killed!"
"I suppose that is true." Aero said indifferently. "And if knew that, then that means you must be Stream. I must say, it was a pleasure to fight your former master." Aero paused for a moment to unsheathe his sword. "I hope you will be equally as entertaining."
"Can't make any promises." Stream said.
Stream reached for the shoulder of his cloak and tore it off. Stream wore a pair of black gloves with chrome rings gauntlets, a pair of black boots with red stripes, a red sash around his waist, and Prowl's sword strapped to his back. He reached back to unsheathed Prowl's sword and held it towards Aero.
Ah, the sword that made Prowl a legend." Aero said amusingly. "It's amazing that you can eve lift it."
"You want to see something really amazing." Stream sniggered. "Then stand still.
Stream charged forward with his sword raised and swung around to the side. But Aero showed no signs of concern and merely held his blade to the side to block. But surprisingly enough, Stream's assault proved to be much stronger than anticipated. Aero was forced to hold his blade stead with both had to prevent any advances from Stream.
"Amazing." Aero thought. "Not even Prowl was this powerful. This boy is truly unique."
"What's wrong?" Stream grinned, struggling to keep his blade steady. "Cat got your – do you even have a tongue?"
"Don't let your arrogance blind you from the danger." Aero warned. "You never know when your opponent may get obtain the upper hand."
At that moment, Aero disappeared in a gust of wind and reappeared behind. Before Stream had a moment to register what happened, Aero was already thrusting his sword at Stream's back. He was an inch away when a blur suddenly collided with his face. Aero staggered back lightly and watched as the blur whizzed around the air before returning to Vulpa. The blur uncurled in her hands and turned out to be none other than Cheese.
"Great job, Cheese." Vulpa smiled.
"Chao!" Cheese cheered.
"You'll pay dearly for that one!" Aero roared.
"Hey, why not pick on somebody your own size!" Stream exclaimed.
Stream flipped overhead and landed in front of Vulpa for protection. Stream raised his sword to the sky; a string of clouds suddenly formed into rain. Stream began circling his blade in the sea of raindrops, which suddenly started to take the form of an aquatic dragon. The dragon followed Stream's sword and shot towards Aero was it was let loose.
"You actually think you can defeat me with simple parlor tricks." Aero laughed.
Aero brought up his own sword and swung it down sharp to emit a wave of razor wind blades. But the dragon's strength appeared to be much stronger than the wind blade; the dragon crushed the blades in its teeth. Aero was somewhat surprised by this, but quickly recovered when the dragon came down on him. Aero jumped away, but the dragon just came back under Stream's command. As the dragon closed in, Aero started swing himself around with his blade held out. Aero transformed into a gigantic tornado, which collided with the water dragon, melding them together. For a second, Stream thought he had lost when suddenly, the tornado of wind and water turned into a solid wall of ice.
"What... just happened." Vulpa asked.
"Personally, I'd rather not find out." Stream said.
Stream swiftly replaced his sword back in its sheath and grabbed Vulpa's hand before disappearing into the rainfall. Meanwhile, the ice wall that encased Aero began creaking ominously. Suddenly, in a brilliant flash of light, the wall was broken and Aero landed perfectly on the ground. He scanned around for Stream, but the rain was making it impossible even to see his claw in front of him.
"Damn, Master Zeenint will not be pleased." Aero muttered furious.
Meanwhile, Stream and Vulpa ran back to Midia City and took shelter in one of the abandoned buildings. Vulpa was shivering harshly, Cheese trying to cuddle up to her for warmth. Stream took pity on the two and threw his cloak over them.
"T-thank you." Vulpa stuttered.
"No problem." Stream waved off; his gazed shifted out the broken glass window. "So that was a Guardian, huh? well, look's like I got my work cut out for me."
"After the rain stops, where do we go next, Stream?" Vulpa asked.
"We?" Stream questioned; his eyebrow rose.
"Of course. We're both immune, so it would make much more sense to stay together." Vulpa giggled. "Beside, a journey is even more fun when you have friends with you."
"Friends...I like the sound of that." Stream smiled. "I guess our first priority would be to find the other immune's."
"There are only a handful of us left." Vulpa explained. "But my big brother said they were meeting in a place called Pyrus Cave."
"Then we'll head for Pyrus Cave first thing in the morning." Stream said. "Good night, Vulpa."
"Good night, Stream." Vulpa yawned.
Vulpa pulled up Stream's cloak, rested her head on the cold floor, despite being uncomfortable, and drifted off into blissful sleep with Cheese following shortly. But Stream stayed up longer, watching the rain through the broken window. Besides the fact that he had nearly lost to one of The Guardians, he felt quite proud of himself. For the first in living memory, Stream had a friend. Stream fell to sleep shortly after with dreams of a life after the battle was over.
The scene changes to the endless corridor dimension of The Guardians. Eise was seen surrounded in a small lab of chemicals and toxins. Eise was currently, forced by Zeenint's orders, developing a stronger vein of virus that would surely kill the immune. But secretly over the years, without Zeenint knowing, Eise had also been developing a vaccine. Eise suddenly pulled away from his work.
"It's not everyday I see you in my section of the corridor's, brother." Eise said, turning around to face his brother, Aero. "To what do I owe the honor?"
"I have recently battle against an immune that could prove to be an annoyance." Aero stated.
"That would explain the Master's furious screams." Eise chuckled.
"The immune escape because I was somehow encase in ice." Eise informed. "I have two theories on how that could happen."
"Do tell." Eise said amusingly.
"One is that my wind and his water mingled together." Eise explained.
"That is a possibility." Eise said. "Equal forces of water and wind can be merged together to form a collision of ice."
"But my other theory..." Aero interjected. "Is that you willingly helped them escape."
"Brother, I am shocked." Eise said dramatically. "What would possibly give me reason to interfere with your work?"
"You're the only one who openly rebels against the Master." Aero pointed. "Helping them would give you a chance to overthrow the Master."
"Even I am not foolish enough to defy Zeenint's power." Eise said seriously. He passed his brother, walking towards the dark corridor. "Next time, do your best not to let your pride overcompensate for your lack of success."
And with that, Eise had departed into the darkness. Aero stood rooted to his spot, his claw clutched in rage. Without thinking, he pulled out his sword and swung down at the array of chemicals. Various acids, toxins, and vaccines were spread across the corridor floor, but none of that mattered to him. He was humiliated by a rookie hedgehog and embarrassed before the Master. Aero was sure that next time he met Stream, it would be on his deathbed.
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