Gibson: Now this is more like it. Buckling down and actually getting more writing done.
Lyra: I know. I got past that little slump and I'm now getting this typed up.
Gibson: Well, let's hope for your readers that you keep up the work.
Lyra: I will Gibs! *cuddles*
Gibs: Um…well…on with the story.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Flashback
The Hyper Force landed outside the house of Ms. Mindel. They carefully walked inside and looked at the destruction. The house was small, dark, and smelled of mothballs. Tables and chairs were knocked over and broken glass littered the floor. Gibson rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"This doesn't seem to be caused by a struggle," Sparx picked up a broken lamp.
"What do you mean Brain Strain?" Gibson was about to answer when Chiro spoke up.
"It looks like the house was destroyed afterwards. There's no sign that Mindel fought. No blood or clothing. Nothing." Chiro's brows knitted together in confusion. Gibson nodded in agreement.
"I believe we should separate into groups and see if we can find anything that would link back to the attacker," Antauri suggested. The others agreed. Nova and Chiro left the main room and headed up the stairs. Sparx tossed the lamp back on the floor, causing a light thunk on the rug.
"I know this is going to sound harsh but…why the heck are we helping people that hurt Chiro?" Sparx's question weighed on all their minds for a moment. Finally Antauri broke the heavy silence.
"This woman may have hurt Chiro in the past, but now it seems she is the one in danger. And it is our duty to help those in need." Otto and Gibson nodded in agreement, but Sparx didn't look too convinced. The three looked through the living room, dining room and then met up with Nova and Chiro on their way to the kitchen.
"Nothing out of the ordinary upstairs. It is actually creepy clean up there." Nova shuddered in mock horror.
"We haven't seen anything down here either." Otto bounced into the kitchen. "But maybe we will find some food!" The others shook their heads as they followed him in. The kitchen was like the rest of the lower level. Dishes were shattered and the cabinets were ripped off their hinges. They shuffled around the kitchen, peering into the cupboards and looking through the debris. As the monkey team wondered around Chiro found himself walking towards the kitchen window. He gazed out at the sun lower on the horizon.
'I had no idea so much time had passed. Seems only minutes before we were eating breakfast.' Chiro looked back at his team. 'No wonder Otto's so hungry.' Chiro chuckled lightly but stopped when his eyes fell on something red peeking out from under the flipped table. He pulled the fabric out and held it delicately.
"What have you found Chiro?" Chiro handed it to Antauri. It was a short simple silk scarf and nothing seemed to mark it as being suspicious. But the wheels in Chiro's head were spinning. He knew that scarf, and there was only one person he knew that wore that in her hair. Chiro darted out of the kitchen down the hall and out the door before the others knew what was happening.
"What did we miss?" Sparx yelled as Chiro's disappearance registered. Nova and Antauri were the first to recover and rush after him. Otto grabbed Gibs' arm and dragged him after the others. Sparx stood in the kitchen blinking for a moment.
"Monkey Doodle!" Growling in annoyance Sparx rushed out of the house and ended up bumping into the back of Otto.
"What am I chopped liver?" Sparx yelled. He then noticed everyone watching Chiro. He was turning in circles and gazing out into the distance. The orange and reds of the setting sun painted the sky behind him making him glow. His eyes held an odd spark as he finally set his gaze to the north.
"Let's go Team." Confused they followed Chiro as he walked down the road.
"Um, Chiro. Where are we going?" Otto asked.
"Shouldn't we go to the other victim's house?" Gibson continued. Chiro shook his head.
"That would be a waste of time. I…I think I know where they are." Chiro began to focus on where he was going, almost like he was trying to remember his way. They walked in silence as the streets slowly got darker, older, and more worn down. Soon they were walking on gravel instead of pavement. The buildings were falling down and broken concrete littered the ground. As the Hyper Force walked more into the ruins they began to feel uneasy,
'But Chiro,' Thought Antauri, 'he seems to be relaxing. He's not as tense as before. He looks at home here as he does at the Super Robot.' They soon came to a stop in front of what looked like a warehouse.
"Um, Chiro…where are we?" Otto looked around uneasy.
"I keep thinking a zombie is going to jump out at any moment." Sparx shuddered. Gibson laughed.
"Zombies? Now you know there are no such," A crash inside the building stopped him and caused him to jump. Chiro smiled and started to head into the warehouse with Nova and Antauri on his heels. The others took one more glance around before rushing in after them.
It was dark. That was the first thing Nova didn't like about this place. She couldn't see a thing. She almost screamed when she felt a hand take hers. Chiro smiled reassuringly to her.
"You can turn on your lights." He told the group.
"But that will show the assailant our position and they will be able to attack." Antauri did not want to place them in anymore danger, but Chiro's light laugh caused him to raise a brow.
"Nothing will hurt us here." He stated firmly. The others glanced at each other then shrugged and turned on their flashlights. Chiro once again headed down one of the many corridors and effortlessly lead them to a large pitch black room.
"This must be the main storage compartment of the building." Gibson concluded. He turned his light to the left and found himself face to face with a… face?
"ZOMBIE!" Gibson jumped and clung to Sparx as he got ready to attack. The main lights turned on, flooding the room in light. What Gibs thought was a zombie was really Ms. Mindel. She was tied up with a piece of cloth over her mouth. She shook in fear and looked around franticly. Gibs let out a nervous laugh and let go of Sparx.
"Sorry about that." Sparx only smirked at Gibs. They then saw Chiro as he climbed down from one of the ladders.
"Sorry it took me so long to get the lights on. Forgot where the switch was." Chiro rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. Mindel saw Chiro and instantly her eyes hardened and any trace of fear left her. She tried to yell something but the gag only let out a muffled sound. Chiro walked over and removed the gag prepared for the explosion.
"What is going on here! How dare you and your disgusting friends do this to me!" She panted after her first bout of yelling. Sparx crossed his arms.
"How's that for gratitude. We come to save here and she insults us!" Mindel only narrowed her eyes.
"It is HIS fault this has happened at all!" She glared at Chiro who only stared at her blankly. His face was an emotionless mask.
"Chiro, what is going on?" Antauri could not tear his eyes away from Chiro. He knew Chiro knew more than he was telling them.
"Maybe I can shed some light on this mystery." A female voice echoed around them. Then, standing on one of the crates, a figure in a black cloak and hood appeared. "It's been a long time Chi-Chi," She said calmly. The figure jumped off the crate and walked closer to Chiro and the monkeys. She came to a stop a few feet away and gazed at Chiro.
"Yes, it has been. But why are you here Arabelle?" The figure laughed.
"How did you know it was me?" She took off her hood revealing a young woman around 18 with short brown hair, almond shaped hazel eyes, and tan skin. Chiro pulled out the red scarf and threw it to her. Another laugh and she tied the scarf back into her hair.
"I guess I'm losing my touch." Arabelle held out her arms and Chiro ran to her and hugged her.
"I missed you too pup." Arabelle muttered as she held him. Nova's tail twitched. Who was this woman and why was she holding her child? Nova's eyes caught Antauri looking at her with a smile and she knew she was acting silly. Taking a deep breath she calmed herself as she walked up to Chiro and Arabelle.
"Who are you? How do you know Chiro?" Before Arabelle could answer, Mindel made herself know again.
"That is the rat that kidnapped me! Arrest her and that boy!" Arabelle glared at the woman.
"That's right. I have unfinished business. Excuse me as I get rid of this trash." Arabelle pulled out a dagger from her cloak and walked over the Mindel. A murderous glint appeared in her eyes and she raised the dagger. Before anyone could act Chiro ran between Mindel and Arabelle.
"Move Chiro. This ends tonight." Chiro shook his head.
"You're no better than them if you do this. Tell me where Fang and Eban are." Arabelle flushed with anger.
"She hurt you! The whippings, starving us then hunting us down and sending us away from you! She deserves to die! And Fang, Fang is going to kill that bastard for what he did! What he did to Silver, and what he tried to do to you." Her hand shook and Chiro reached up and took the dagger from her hand. He turned with cold eyes and knelt down in front of Mindel the blade close to her skin.
"Chiro!" His family called to him. Antauri started to walk carefully towards Chiro.
"What you did to me and my friends will never be forgotten, nor forgiven. I think you should die." Chiro raised the blade and sliced down. Antauri jumped forward. There were shocked gasps as the ropes fell away and Chiro stood. Mindel shook on the floor, confused.
"But you deserve to die slowly and alone. Alone in your misery." Mindel stood on her shaking feet then ran out the door and down the corridors. Once her footsteps could not be heard Chiro turned to Arabelle.
"Take us to Fang before he does something he'll regret." Arabelle snorted.
"He could never regret killing that man." Arabelle faltered as she said this. Chiro was looking at her with such anger that her blood ran cold.
"Talon," Chiro started calmly, "Take us now or I swear by Silver I will fight you." Arabelle knew the use of her nickname meant he was serious. With a sigh she nodded.
"Let's go. He's not to kill him until the strike of midnight." They once again found themselves wondering through the corridors and up a few stairs.
"Why are you waiting for midnight?" Otto asked cautiously.
"Because it has been exactly three years since they took my sister and friends. And it will be Silver's…" Chiro voice faded and Talon nodded. Gibson checked the time and became nervous.
"It is five minutes to midnight. Are we almost there?" Talon quickened her strides.
"Just down this hall and out the door." They rushed forward and burst through the door. There tied up and hanging over the edge of the five storey building was Eban and Fang was sitting on the ledge sharpening his knife. He was slightly muscular wearing faded jeans and a white t-shirt. He was tan like Talon with spike blond hair and brown eyes. He was 19 though he could pose as older. Fang looked over at the door and smiled.
"Hey runt! Glad to see ya again." He stood up and walked over to them. Chiro looked over to the monkey team.
"Sparx, Gibs, could you cut Eban down and then place him on the ground safely? He'll find his way home from there." Sparx and Gibs nodded as they set to work. Fang looked crest fallen.
"Wait just a moment. We set up this great revenge and you are stopping us?" Fang honestly looked disappointed and Chiro could only shake his head. He watched as Sparx and Gibs helped the man out of the ropes and down the building with their jetpacks.
"You two are not killers. And I didn't want you to start being ones because of me. Besides," Chiro looked between them, "If you wanted to really kill them, you would have." Fang and Talon looked to each other then shrugged. The statement made the monkeys shiver. Sparx and Gibson return and landed next to Chiro.
"We wanted to scare them. Make sure they never messed with us or you again. The deserved to feel the same fear they tried to place in us." Fang looked up as the clock struck midnight.
"Happy Birthday Silver" Talon whispered.
"Happy Birthday Lily" Chiro smiled as he gazed up at the stars. Antauri, Nova, Otto, Sparx and Gibson circled around Chiro and once again he felt loved and safe. He looked over to Talon and Fang and felt a twinge in his heart. Two people he thought he'd never see again were alive and safe. It made him think of Shadow and Nightshade and hope they were ok too.
"They are ok." Talon said almost as if reading his mind. She still stared up at the stars. "And Chiro." Chiro looked over to her. "Shadow and Nightshade are not alone. Silver is with them, alive." Chiro's heart pounded in his chest. Silver, Lily, his sister, was alive. The emotional and physical stress hit Chiro full force with this news and his world went black.
Lyra: Ok I thought I'd do a little character info because of the nicknames. Other than Chiro the other characters will only be called by their "Pack Names".
Chiro: And Lily. She will be mostly referred to as Lily other than by Talon.
Lyra: Ok here are the characters names and Pack Names.
Lily: Liliana- Silver Moon
Chiro: Golden Star
Arabelle: Talon
Leon: Fang
Amber: Shadow
Sean: Nightshade
Chiro: Wow. When will they come into the story?
Lyra: Soon. But next chapter you revealing more of your past.
Chiro: This is not going to be fun.
Lyra: *cuddles Chiro* It's going to be ok.
Otto: Review please! *others come in and cuddles Chiro with me*