Outcasts and Outlaws
Volume 4, Chapter 6
The First of the Three
Opening Music: http/youtu.be/uBEVpAygTFs [FMA Brotherhood OP 1]
(Shows the city of Vale from above)
Kono omoi wo
(Connor appears in front) keshiteshimau niwa!
(He holds out his hands)
Mada jinsei nagai desho?
(Ruby appears and smiles)
(Shows Jim in the dimly lit hallway of his house with the twin kids looking up at him)
Yarinokosshiteru koto!
(Mars looks up and puts sunglasses on)
Yarinaoshite mitai kara!
(Shows the four members of Team Kalos standing on the city streets at night)
OUTCASTS AND OUTLAWS (Shows Connor standing on the street at night as lights flash past) Yume no tsuzuki oikaketeita
(He puts his hands together as they glow gold)
hazu
(He holds his hands out and the golden light shines out)
nanoni!
(Shows Mars in front of the Hunter Department of the Police Station) Magarikunetta hosoi michi hito
(He walks down the street)
no tsumazuku!
(Shows Yang laying on her bed, asleep with the twins)
Ano koro mitainitte
(Shows Stephene and Irileth walking down the street with their weapons)
modoritai wake ji nai no!
(Shows Kane on the roof of a skyscraper)
Nakushitekita
(He holds his hand out in front of him)
sora wo sagashiteru!
(Shows Mars running along the road)
Wakatte kuremasu youni!
(Shows Striker looking serious) Gisei ni
(Shows Blaze from behind then he turns around with flames)
natta youna kanashii kao wa (Shows Ruby lying on her bed) yameteyo!
(Shows Connor clutch his eye and hand in pain as they disintegrate away)
Tsumi no saigo wa namida ja nai yo! (Shows Jim clutching his arm as it is torn away)
Zutto kurushiku seottekunda! (Shows Ruby clutching her stomach in pain)
Deguchi mienai kanjoumeiro ni! (Shows Rufus, Floyd and Tim in the city. Rufus reveals his octopus arm under his long sleeve, Floyd takes out his moon sword, and Tim makes a gun shape with his hand, a sniper rifle glistening in the background.)
Dare wo matteruno?
(Shows Kane fire out black clouds) Shiroi
(Jim fires his submachine guns) nooto ni tsuzutta youni!
(Shows Mars summon up his green sword and shield)
(Shows Carter and Lime standing to attention)
Motto sunao ni hakidashitai yo! (Shows Asher flick his fingers and cause an explosion)
Nani kara nogaretainda!
(Shows Kalos in a street)
Genjitsu tte yatsu!
(Shows Connor running down the street with his katanas out) Kanaeru tame ni
(Connor starts swinging his swords at Blaze and Striker)
ikiterundatte! (Kane, Mars and Jim run down the street to help him) Sakebitaku naru yo
(Asher sends an explosion down the street at them)
kikoeteimasuka!
(Shows Asher standing at the end of the destroyed street)
Bunan ni nante yatterarenaikara! (Asher sends another explosion down the street)
Kaeru basho mo nai no!
(Shows Ruby and Yang looking out onto the street at night and the twins coming running along from behind them)
Yasashisa ni wa itsumo kansha shiteru!
(Connor runs along, coating his swords in a thick golden aura as he goes)
Dakara tsuyoku nantai!
(He slashes his swords at Striker, misses, then faces Blaze)
I'm on my way!
(Shows Ruby praying for his safety) Natsukashiku naru!
(Connor stabs the ground with his swords)
Konna itami mo kangei jam!
END
A blast, following by people screaming in panic, could be heard. Connor had gone out in a shopping trip for Ruby since he had been told to take it easy, Lime accompanying him for protection just in case. Due to the safety protocols, he was wearing his armour padding and had his katanas with him, Lime having a 9mm pistol on her belt. They couldn't be too careful and now he was glad they'd done as they had. They heard more explosions as they ran towards the main street of the shopping district, a wide path with luxurious shops on either side, seeing sparks of electricity bolt out. They could only assume is was a criminal and that the emergency call would probably be made to the rest of Team Kalos or to another soon, but until then they had to deal with the situation themselves.
As they finally reached the street and looked down it, they saw the one behind the mess. He was a man in a blue, short sleeved jacket, a strange white mask with lightning tattoos covering his face and steel gauntlets on his forearms. Small sparks of electricity crackled around him, the cars parked all on both sides of the street were wrecks and the windows of all the buildings were broken, as if the area had been struck by lightning. When the man saw Connor at the end of the street, he stared at him intensely, Lime quickly pulling out her gun and pointing it straight at him. The mask hid his expression, but somehow Connor guessed he was angry. "Who are you?" Connor questioned, trying to avoid a fight if he could, that was the first rule of engagement.
"You may come to know me as Striker...or perhaps, you will remember." The man replied ominously, speaking in a young, but troubled voice. Putting a hand up to his face and placing two fingers on the centre of his mask, he muttered, "My sister, I shall avenge you now...I will slay the demon that killed you..."
Music: http/youtu.be/1TP4TU2Oe4Y [Attack on Titan OST- Female Titan Chase Theme]
Without any further words, Striker charged forward, extending two small, dagger like blades from each of his gauntlets, looking like something out of Assassin's Creed. Connor grabbed the handles of his katanas and braced himself, sensing he was in for a serious fight. When Striker was within range, he lashed out at Connor with his small blades, he stepping back to dodge them. He then grandly unsheathed his swords, swinging them both from left to right. Striker brought up his arm to block the blades with his steel gauntlet, a clang sounding as metal hit metal, then stabbed forward with his free hand. Connor leapt back from the sharp point, turning as he was in mid air and swinging his katanas from right to left as he landed, Striker easily blocking with his gauntlet again, this time the other arm. He sharply brought up his other gauntlet over his face, a bullet hitting it and ricocheting off. Lime had fired the bullet, she shaking a little but keeping her aim steady. She had given Connor an opening though and he used it to knee his opponent in the belly and send him back a few paces.
"What are your orders, sir?" Like asked formally, keeping her gun trained on Striker and gradually gaining confidence.
"Stay back there and shoot when you see an opening, but be careful not to hit me." Connor commanded. "Don't come in any closer unless you see get hurt. I only want you coming over to me if you're planning on using your healing semblance, even then you'll need to be cautious."
"The woman needs not be cautious, my prey is yourself." Striker corrected Connor, getting back up his feet unfazed.
"Me?" Connor repeated confusedly. Plenty of criminals had tried to kill him over the years to avenge their jailed allies, but he somehow found this one different, strange. It was like his mind was trying to suppress memories that this man was trying to bring back to light. "Why should you come after me?" Connor said next, ignoring the feeling. "One of your buddies get jailed?" He suddenly thought it would make sense, considering the cells were full of criminals at the time.
"I wouldn't expect you to remember..." Striker muttered lowly in response, seeming ever more irritated. "Tell me, how many more have you killed since then?"
Connor's eyes widened in horror as he heard those words, knowing what they meant. It meant that whoever this man was, he had met Connor once before when Kane was still in his head. Not only that, he had met him while he had not been able to control the power very well, which often resulted in him going berserk and killing people every now and then, Mars being the only one that could calm him in that state. Was Striker referring to the night he destroyed his village and killed all it's inhabitants, or one of the many other incidents? He had put that part of his past behind him, having come to terms with it after splitting Kane's mind from his. Why was it all coming back to haunt him? He didn't even talk to Ruby about those days, those horrible days. "Who the hell are you?" Connor asked once again, his voice shaking.
"I am an avenger...a soul whose only purpose in life is to destroy the one who destroyed his most dear." Striker replied cryptically, preparing his weapons for another assault. "You took from me what I loved the most, reduced it to ashes and walked away without any indication of your own guilt. You live to this day, I will rectify this."
"Just what the hell did I do to you?!" Connor shouted, really starting to become afraid of the mystery assassin now. "Who did I kill?! There were so many back then, remind me!"
After a moment of contemplation, Striker once again spoke, "Alas, you truly do not remember. No bother, maybe you will find out in due time...or maybe you'll be rotting before you have any chance to!"
Striker charged forward once again after those words, taking Connor off guard. He barely had time to raise his katana in defence as one of the blades came from his right side, almost dropping his weapon when it impacted. He felt a sharp pain in the side of his face as Striker's hand sped past it, then realising his hidden blade had sliced his cheek open, blood flowing freely from it. His arm now behind Connor as he stared him in the eye, he whipped the dagger out of the gauntlet and held it tightly in his hand, then drove it towards the back of his neck.
A gunshot rang. Blood erupted from Strikers hand. He dropped the dagger and retracted his arm, stepping back for his own safety. He looked down at the hole in his hand, the bullet having almost gone straight through and hit Connor in the neck as well. It had been a risky shot. The female officer had risked Connor's life in order to save it. Striker carelessly prized the bullet out, not even wincing as his blood splattered across the ground. Connor looked frozen with fear, Lime shaking and barely holding onto her gun. He couldn't blame them, they had been within an inch of death.
Music: http/youtu.be/53GXfedpscs [Naruto OST- Ikari]
It only took a second for Connor's expression to change, he went from terrified to furious. He was no longer intimidated by Striker's cryptic way of talking, but angry at what he was insinuating. Gripping the handles of his katanas harder than ever before, he stabbed both into the concrete ground, pumping as much aura into them as he could muster. "Weapon Resonance!" He growled in rage, his swords becoming coated in golden light which kept expanding and growing. Soon they had changed into two massive and golden curved blades, the handles flexing over his hands for extra grip. He looked up at Striker menacingly, his face full of contempt. "I've had enough of your stupid talk! I don't care who you're are anymore!" Connor snapped, wanting to end this battle before he recalled any more of his past pain. "If I have to to shut you up, I'll destroy you!"
"Just like her..." Striker mysteriously added, but this only succeeded in making Connor angrier.
"Officer Lime, stay as far back as you can. Don't fire that gun." Connor sternly ordered her, making her think for a moment she shouldn't've have taken the shot that had almost hit his neck. "He's mine!" He then declared, rushing forward with the finished version of his massive golden blades in hand. He swung the sword in his left hand to the right, Striker bringing up his arm to block it with his metal gauntlet. Even thing he succeeded in doing so, the impact was more than powerful enough to push him to the side, even as he tried to push back against hit. He almost gasped when he saw the other sword coming at him from the opposite direction, ducking under it and running around Connor's side to get a hit if he could, but cautiously keeping his distance. He saw a glint in his eyes, something he hadn't seen in anyone since then.
"It seems you still have a bit of it in you." He commented dryly as he whipped with his arm, sending throwing knives out of his gauntlet. Connor simply knocked them away with his heavy swords, then slashed them out again. Strikes ducked under them once more, then charged up electricity in his left hand, but was knocked to the side before he could fire it. He felt a bone in his arm crack upon the impact, it was extremely painful, but it wouldn't stop him from moving it. As he was knocked through the air, he shot a bolt of electricity out of his hand, it striking Connor right in the chest and knocking him off balance, but doing nought to halt his attacks. The next one came fast from the right, Striker barely being able to block. He was then surprised to see the swords falling towards the ground, their golden energy fading from them, then realised Connor had dropped them on purpose.
Reaching over his shoulders, Connor pulled his other two katanas off his back, not bothering to charge them with his aura before he sliced downwards towards his enemy. Striker raised his hand just in time to catch the swords, the blades of each digging deep into his palm and grinding against bone, but he could take the pain. He'd had worse. He held the blades up there as he stared right at Connor's face, which was twisted with fury, then used his other hand to strike him with another bolt of lightning.
[Stop Music]
Connor fell back, his katanas coming out of his grip and landing on the concrete, leaving him weapon less. Striker's hands were both badly injured and bleeding, but somehow Connor knew that wouldn't stop him. He was in a precarious situation, particularly as Lime was conflicted about whether or not she should disobey a direct order and shoot. The blood on his cheek went all the way down his face now, trailing down his neck and coating one side of his head in crimson red.
"This is all you have...? Without the darkness, you are nothing..." Striker taunted as he walked towards Connor, whipping his daggers out and holding them by his sides. His body started to crackle with electricity, Connor somehow feeling as if he was being stared at with remorse from under the mask. The electricity sparked from multiple points around Striker, giving him a terrifying look. Connor didn't suppose he could even get close without getting shocked. "Your abilities...are low level...anyone could copy them..." Striker told him in a low and quite frightening voice as he stopped just a couple of metres away. "Weapon Resonance!"
Connor was surprised to hear him say such words, but even more shocked by what happened next. The electricity that had been building up around Striker corralled down to his daggers, growing them two long claymore style swords made wholly out of the electricity, sharp and thin. His gauntlets also glowed blue, as if they were filled with his aura. "What you have seen of me so far, it is barely the tip of the metaphorical iceberg. I will not reserve my power any longer."
"How can you do that?" Connor questioned, slightly afraid of his opponents strength, it having been a long time since he or any of his team had encountered such power. "How can you use a weapon resonance? No one but us is supposed to know how to do it."
"It is not as complicated as you assume, any well trained warrior could master it." Striker plainly replied. "It was a simple task to fulfil, but enough small talk...time for you to die."
Without another word, Striker raised one of his electrical swords up, looking right at at Connor as he held it there for a second, it's energy crackling. He then swung down hard and fast, Connor closing his eyes in fear.
Connor opened his eyes when he heard a smashing sound and rejoiced at what he saw. A barrage of dark clouds had smacked into Striker from the side, knocking him away before the blade hit. He was now leaning against the wall of a nearby building which, by the cracks in the wall, he had assumedly been launched into by the impact. He remained standing, but seemed a little stiff as he stood away from the wall and faced his attacker, Kane. His black cape drawn over his back and his glove covered fists clenched, he stood there majestically and stared down his opponent. "I came as fast as I could when I heard the emergency call, of course." He told Connor, explaining how he had arrived in the nick of time. "Having trouble handling this one?"
"Kane..." Connor mumbled, lost for words. He didn't know if he should tell him about what Striker had been saying, how the battle had been going so far or simply keep his mouth shut. In the end, he sighed gratefully and replied, "He's a tough cookie, maybe as tough as some of the guys we fought back in the day."
"Oh, really?" Kane responded as he called upon his scythes, making them appear from among the dark clouds. "In that case, it's no surprise you're having such a hard time. We'll take care of it from here."
Connor was about to ask what he meant by 'we', not seeing anybody else, but that question was quickly answered. Standing atop the roof of the building that Striker was standing in front of, Jim shot round after round out of his dual revolvers down at his target, his coat billowing in the wind. Striker swiftly brought up his arm and used the glow of blue gauntlet to summon a shield of electricity from it, one just big enough to repel all of the bullets. Jim them jumped from the building, joining Kane on the street, and fired off a few more rounds. Striker repositioned his arm and moved the shield, deflecting the shots again. Jim then pushed open the barrels of each of his revolvers to get rid of the empty shells inside them, then swiped them over the ammo belt on his chest to quickly reload. He next stepped back slightly, letting Kane run past and charge in with his scythes.
Striker ran to the left to dodge Kane's first attack before it hit, but he didn't stop there. He quickly turned to face his enemy, his scythes clashing against the electrical swords he held. After a short moment of conflict, Kane swung upwards from the ground with one of his weapons, Striker having to jump back to avoid being cut in two. While he was in the air however, he sensed energy building up and looked over to Jim, whose eyes were glowing white as his guns glowed the same colour. "Weapon Resonance!" Jim cried as his guns transformed from small revolvers into bigger submachine guns, the ammo belt over his chest connecting to their magazines and keeping them stocked up. He opened fire immediately, unleashing a hailstorm of bullets upon Striker, who brought up his arm to block with his electrical shield as he came back down from his jump, every seeming to move slowly as he tried to decide what to do next.
Before he could however, he heard another cry from Kane. "Weapon Resonance!" He called out, holding his scythes by his sides as his eyes were shrouded in dark clouds and the same clouds travelled down his arms to his weapons. In mere moments his scythes were surrounded by the dark clouds and changed into claws of darkness, two of the Grimm like sets of talons extending from each scythe. Swinging his arms towards Striker just before his feet hit the ground, he sent the four claws towards him, they crashing into the concrete as he repeatedly stepped back to avoid being crushed. The dust and smoke brought up by the attacks covered the appearance of the next attacker, Striker only just having time to react.
Out of the dust came Mars, clutching a green energy sword in one hand and a shield made of the same energy in the other. He swung his sword downward, Striker barely being able to block it with his swords before it hit his face. They stood there for a couple of seconds in their struggle, then Mars spoke, sunglasses over his eyes. "You call that a weapon resonance?" He taunted, looking at the electrical swords. "I, the creator of weapons resonances, will show you how it's done!" With that declaration, Mars' eyes started glowing green. Soon afterwards, another blade grew out of Mars' energy sword, Striker only just being able to move his head aside to avoid being stabbed by it. The sword had now turned into a one handed pickaxe, not only that, it had grown significantly larger.
Mars had other tricks up his sleeve though, he turned the weapon sideways and slashed to cut of Striker's head, but he expertly ducked under it and jumped back to safety. He then threw his sword up in the air for a moment and charged up electricity in his hand, as much as he could, then shot it. Mars brought up his green energy shield as quick as he could, which was now also much larger. Even the massive bolt of electricity barely faced him, his shield taking the brunt of it without getting a scratch. Striker reeled back in shock, not having expected such a lack of effect, but didn't see the next attack coming. Connor darted in front of him, his fist glowing golden, and punched him straight in the belly. Striker was knocked backed by the hard blow, clutching his stomach in pain and spitting blood on the inside of his mask.
When he raised his head, he saw the four charging towards him again. This was more than he had wanted to get himself into, much more. He had intended to kill Connor and then return to Asher, but then they had interfered. He couldn't take all four of them, two at a time maybe, but not without help from Blaze. Looking over his shoulder, he saw his escape route, a sewer lid, and kicked down on it to open up the way down. He then stepped back into the hole whilst staring remorsefully at the four, dropping down nonchalantly as they reached him. They would have followed, but a bang filled the sewer below after he fled, caving in the way down.
[Stop Music]
"Whew, that guy was a pain in the arse." Jim commented, wiping sweat from his forehead as his weapons and everyone else's returned to their original state. "Is it just me, or did you guys get an urge to kill that guy?"
Kane nodded in agreement, looking down at the cave in regretfully. "I had a feeling we should kill him instead of taking him prisoner, he seemed extremely dangerous. I'm not sure why though..."
Silently agreeing with their statements, Mars noticed Connor had strange look on his face and said to him, "Hey, you alright?"
Connor didn't respond at first, he jerked his head up as if he had been snapped out of a trance, then looked around art the other three, unsure of whether he should tell them. Finally, he walked past Mars, putting a hand on his shoulder as he went, and whispered to him, "We need to talk...about a couple of things..."
Ending Music: http/youtu.be/dsecL4bcH8M [Clannad Afterstory OP]
(Shows the sky above the city) (Shows the city streets)
(Shows Connor and Ruby's house) (Shows Ruby from volume 3 smiling)
OUTCASTS AND OUTLAWS Kimi daka ga sugisatta sake no tochuu ha!
(Shows Ruby walking down the city streets)
Atataka ni hidamari ga ikutsu mo dekiteta!
(Shows a flashback of Beacon) Boku hotori ga koko de yasashii! (Shows flashes of Ruby)
Atatakasa wo omoi kaesshiteru!
(Shows Connor looking out the window from work)
(Shows Ruby and flashbacks of her)
Kimi dake wo kimi dake wo!
(Shows Yang and flashbacks of her)
Suki de itayo!
(Shows Irileth and flashbacks of her)
Kaze de me ga nijinde!
(Shows Connor holding Ruby's hands by the door of their house at night)
Toku naru yo!
(Shows Irilety clinging to Kane at Beacon)
Itsumademo
(Shows Yang waving and smiling) obeoteru
(Shows Connor and Ruby walking through the beacon grounds together)
nanimo kawo
(Shows Connor making his leaving beacon speech)
kawattemo!
(Shows Jim)
Hitotsu dake
(Shows Mars)
hitotsu dake
(Shows Yang hugging the twins) arifureta
(Shows Irileth laughing and Kane letting out a small smile)
mono dakedo!
(Shows Ruby out at night with her red coat on)
Misete yaru kagayaki
(It zooms to her face)
ni michita sono hitotsu dake! (Zooms back out as it fades away) Itsumademo itsumademo mamotte iku!
END