Disclaimer: You've heard it before.
Demyx Report: Numerus Randomus
It's going down today. Xemnas has been talking about 'testing' the residents of Hollow Bastion for a while now, in a nutshell he wants to see how tough the people there are so we can work out just how many Heartless we're gonna need to wipe 'em out. The more we need the longer it's gonna take. And the lucky guy who gets to test them? Jax. Yup. Hs first solo mission and he's going into the middle of a warzone. Xemnas thinks the kid has what it takes so who am I to doubt him? Besides look who trained him... he's doomed!
Seriously though, I hope Jax does it, this is as much a test for him as the Hollow Bastion guys, once he passes he's a fully fledged member of the Organization, complete with his own throne in the meeting room... not that he knows this himself yet... anyway better go, gotta see the kid off and then it's off to help Roxas clear out Wonderland... joy.
"Thought you'd be here" Demyx commented with a smirk as he emerged into the hall of empty melodies, Jaxon glanced back from his spot on the balcony before going back to staring into space. "Looking forward to your first time solo?"
"Guess so" Jaxon shrugged. "Be better if I actually knew what I'm supposed to be doing out there..."
"Xemnas hasn't told you?"
"I'm to be 'filled in as the mission progressess' Jaxon qouted. "Why? You know something I don't?"
"Now that would be telling" Demyx smirked. "But whatever it is kiddo I think you can handle it."
"Really?"
"Well, not that I have an ego or anything... but you are my lackey, that should be all you need."
Jaxon laughed. "Yeah, giant Heartless are nothing to the lackey of Demyx, the 'Melodious Nocturne!'"
"Now you're catching on" Demyx laughed slapping him on the shoulder. "We'll have you turned into a mean heart collecting machine in no time."
"Yay" Jaxon sighed. "Assuming I make it back..."
"Oh you will make it back Jax, don't be stupid!"
"That's a bit hard seeing as I spend most of my time hanging around with you!"
Demyx slapped him again. "Changed my mind, I hope you don't make it back!"
"That's more like it" Jaxon smirked, Demyx went to reply but both nobodies jumped as a portal opened and their superior stepped through.
"It's time."
Jaxon nodded and walked towards the portal, Demyx stopped him and slapped him on the shoulder one more time.
"Good luck buddy."
"I'm gonna need it" Jaxon muttered before following Xemnas into the portal and disapearing leaving Demyx alone.
"Be carefull kiddo..."
"Nice place" Jaxon muttered as he looked out on the town below the castle he and Xemnas were stood on top of. "When was the tornado?"
"This is Hollow Bastion" Xemnas answered. "Until recently only Heartless and the witch Maleficent resided here...."
"A witch?" Jaxon asked sceptically. "Are you serious?" Xemnas gave him a look. "OK, you are, so where is this witch now?"
"Gone, vanquished by Sora, along with most of the Heartless..."
"This Sora kid sounds like a real handfull..."
"Sora is not your concern!" Snapped Xemnas, Jaxon finally fell silent. "Since Maleficent vanished the residents of this world have returned" he gestured to a small town on the edge of the castle. "The Heartless, have had to take refuge..." he pointed beyond the town to a series of cliffs.
"Whoa..." whispered Jaxon. From his vantage point he could make out hordes apon hordes of Heartless moving around. "So, why not just send the Heartless in?"
"That is why you are here, it appears that the towns residents are determined to ensure this world does not fall to the Darkness again, any Heartless that enter the town get wiped out..."
"And you want me to go in there?"
"Yes, you are to find out just how powerfull the residents of this world are, then we can deduce how many Heartless we will need for our plan."
"Plan?"
"All will be revealed in due course Jaxon."
"So, let me think on this, you want me to go down there and, basically, start a fight?"
"Indeed, I dare say that would be playing to your strengths?"
"A little" Jaxon smirked. "But why me? Surely you could just rush in and destroy the place?"
"I do not wish this world destroyed, I too once resided here many years ago. I merely wish for it to be as it was when the Organizaton had control..."
"Crawling with Heartless?"
"When the time is right the Heartless will no longer be needed, you asked why you were being sent on this mission?"
"Be nice to know."
"This is just as much a test of your abilities as the resident's. Look at it as an... opportunity to prove yourself."
"You mean I haven't already?"
"Did I say that?" Xemnas chuckled. "Now go, and do not fail."
"I won't superior" Jaxon nodded. "I guarantee it!"
"Very good, and good luck to you."
Jaxon nodded and pulled his hood over his head before vanishing, Xemnas turned and walked back into the castle a small smile forming on his face.
Despite looking like a dump from the castle Jaxon had to grudgingly admit that the town wasn't that bad, from where he'd emerged in what looked like the market district the town seemed to be in the process of being restored, the market district was built above the residential so he could look out over the rest of the town, the rows of houses ended abruptly at what seemed to be the outer wall, from there it was mile apon mile of barren wasteland until the cliffs where he'd seen the Heartless running around.
"Good day for a fight" he muttered to himself turning and walking through the district, unlike Agrabah the traders here left him to his own devices, there didn't seem to be that many people about, he felt something collide with his waist and looked down to see a large duck straightening it's hat. WHAT THE....
"Ach! Watch whur yer goin' laddie!" It hissed at him before continuing on it's way, Jaxon staring slack-jawed after it.
"A talking duck? I only wish that was the weirdest thing I've ever dealt with. Heartless, nobodies, Jaxon my friend you are in this up to your neck..."
Still muttering to himself he walked down a long flight of steps and found himself amongst the houses he's seen from above, it was even quieter down here, almost too quiet...
The gunblade appeared instantly as he spun on the spot and saw a group of shadows floating towards him, he tensed up but the Heartless shot passed him and around a corner, Jaxon stood still for a moment out of confusion but then the unmistakeable sound of a battle rang out, he ran towards the corner but slid to a halt as a Heartless shot past him and disapeared, he made sure his hood was up then slowly stuck his head round the corner to see the last Heartless disapearing with a lone man standing over it, Jaxon quickly used the darkness to move himself up to a roof above the man to get a better look.
"Well, well, well" he commented with a small grin. "Looks like I've found my test project" the man seemed to sense he was being watched and turned but Jaxon ducked out of sight, when he looked back the guy had disapeared into a small house, Jaxon's hand tensed around the gunblade and he got ready to charge in after him but he stopped himself. What if there was more in there? He smirked as a small voice in the back of his mind asked who exactly cared how many there were, he ignored it and settled down, the guy had to come out sometime, and when he did it was game time.
"... yeah" a man's voice drew Jaxon out of his daydream, he glanced over the edge of the roof to see the guy leaving the small house holding a weapon, Jaxon squinted and his eyes went wide when he saw the guy holding what looked to be a gunblade of his own over his shoulder. "... I'm going to head over to the bailey, see how many there are today..."
Jaxon ducked out of sight as the guy walked by and looked after him. Yes, definitely a gunblade, something told him this was going to be good, he watched the guy walk up some steps and make his way along the outer wall before disapearing into a large stone building, blankly he wondered what he would be feeling right now, anticipation? Excitement? Worry? He shrugged that question to the back of his mind and followed after the guy, as he entered the stone building he slowed and began silently stepping through the building.
Come out, come out wherever you are pal!
He paused as he reached an opening in the concrete and looked out, several feet below was the guy, walking towards a small path through the cliffs, how had he gotten down there so quickly? Jaxon watched until the guy was a safe distance away and jumped down from the opening, using the darkness to aid his landing and slowly following his target towards the path.
The game of cat and mouse continued all the way through the cliffs, Jaxon tailing the guy until he was too close then holding back and going after him again, just where was he going? Eventually he walked out of the path onto a massive clearing, Jaxon held back in the mouth of the path until the guy disapeared at the other end and charged across it, the clearing narrowed into another small path between two cliffs before opening again, Jaxon slowed and cautiously walked out onto an overlook over the town, he could make out the buildings and the castle far below, he suddenly realised that this overlook was the end of the road, where had the guy...
"Now then... now that we're alone how about you tell me who you are and why exactly you were following me."
Jaxon winced under his hood, so much for stealth, he turned to see the guy leaning against the cliff wall staring at him, he stepped forward holding his gunblade pointed at the young nobody who stood defiantly staring at him.
"Not a talker huh? Well, if it's a fight you're after..."
"But that's exactly why I'm here!" Jaxon interrupted. "And it just so happens that you're the guy to give me one!"
The guy laughed. "Well, you're a strange one, who are you?"
"I'm what's left when both light and darkness are stripped away" Jaxon couldn't stop a smirk from formng on his face as the guy looked confused. "But that's not important."
"Oh, and what is?"
"Just the simple fact that I'm here, and I'm in the mood for a fight" Jaxon threw his hood back letting the guy see his face for the first time, a flicker of surprise crossed his face.
"But, you're just a kid, why would you want to pick a fight with me?"
"Got orders" Jaxon shrugged. "And you gotta follow orders, nothing personal."
"You're a strange kid..."
"I prefer the term 'nobody'" Jaxon responded. "Now, if we could get to the part where we fight..."
"Well, if you're in such a rush..." the gunblade was held up. "... where's your weapon?"
Jaxon smirked. "Right here" his gunblade appeared in his hand, the guy froze.
"What? How... where did you get that?"
"No clue" the nobody shrugged. "But it does its job!" He suddenly lunged forward swinging for the fences, the guy jumped back and parried all of his blows, the two blades locked together for a second before they broke, the guy swung low but Jaxon blocked and tried to hit him with the handle only for the guy to step away and try another blow, Jaxon blocked all of them and tried to skewer him but their blades locked again, the guy threw his free arm at Jaxon but the nobody ducked and tried to trip him only for the guy to jump his foot and back away keeping his blade poised.
"Not bad kid" he nodded. "You got some moves I'll give you that."
"Why thank you" Jaxon answered only just noticing the grin he was sporting I'm actually enjoying this! He matched the guys steps as they circled each other. "You're not so bad yourself."
The guy smirked and lunged forward, Jaxon blocked his blows and leapt behind him feigning a head-shot and swinging low, again it was blocked and the guys high blow almost took his head off, his last second duck sparing his neck but costing him one of the spikes of hair at the top of his head, he kicked the guy away and used the darkness to switch the gunblade from one hand to the other, caught off guard the guy barely blocked his blow and caught him with a backhand before trying another high blow, Jaxon blocked it and pushed him away starting another standoff, Jaxon ran his hand through his hair.
"You messed wth the hair pal! Shouldn't have done that!"
The guy laughed. "Really? Well before you make me pay, I have a request."
"That being?"
"Your name, it doesn't feel right fighting someone, especially someone with a gunblade, without at least knowing who they are."
Jaxon smirked. "Well if it means so much to you, it's Jaxon."
"Jaxon?"
"You got it, now how about you tell me yours?"
The guy frowned. "I abandoned my real name a long time ago..."
Jaxon paused. "Well" he muttered. "That makes two of us..."
"You gave me a fake name?" The guy's mock rage brought another smirk to his face.
"You can give me a fake one if you like."
"Fair enough, my name's Leon."
"Really? Well 'Leon' it's been nice chatting to you but..." in the blink of an eye Jaxon spun the gunblade and fired at Leon but the man jumped over the round and came down aiming a blow at Jaxon's head, the nobody blocked it and the blades locked together again. "Gotta say pal, you're good, but there's one difference between us..." he twisted the blades sending them flying out of their owners hands then smashed his elbow into Leon's face. "I fight dirty."
Leon tried to get up but Jaxon drove his knee into his ribs before kicking him in the face to knock him down, he stood over the man then kicked him hard in the ribs.
"Not bad for a kid huh?" He yelled before pulling his foot back to do it again, Leon caught his foot and tripped him before jumping back to his feet, Jaxon rolled to his knees but the man kicked him in the jaw sending him to the ground, he looked around for his gunblade and dived for it, he turned but found himself staring at Jaxon's blade.
"How..."
Jaxon smirked while rubbing his jaw, a large bruise already forming. "Oh... should've told you before" he used the darkness to make the gunblade switch hands and back again all the while pointed at Leon. "Neat party trick right?"
"So..." Leon scowled up at him. "You fight with the darkness..."
"Kinda, but I don't need the darkness to do this!" He pulled his foot back and kicked Leon hard in the face again laying him out at his feet, he stood over the dazed man holding the gunblade over him, his orders were to test the guy, but what happened then? He was so busy thinking he didn't notice as a sharp object flew towards him and ripped across the back of his hand, cutting through both glove and skin causing him to reel away dropping the gunblade and holding the now bleeding wound.
"Get away from him!" Jaxon glared up at the source of the voice, a teenage girl, roughly around the same age as him, stood on the cliff looking down at him, she held out her hand as the shuriken she had thrown spun back into her hand.
"Another one?" He whispered with a small smirk as the girl glared down at him.
"You better take off pal" She said raising the shuriken again. "Or you'll go down at the hands of the great ninja Yuffie!"
Jaxon burst out laughing. "Good one!" He yelled up at her trying to ignore the throbbing pain in his hand. "You're serious?"
"Deadly" the girl smirked back. "So you gonna leave or do we have to do this the hard way?"
Jaxon held his arms out wide, the gunblade returning to his hand. "You tell me?"
"The hard way it is then, pity, you were kinda cute..."
Jaxon shook his head in dsbelief. "I'd like to say the same..." the girl flushed.
"What..."
"Like to, but I hate lying" Jaxon finished with a grin, the girl went redder, this time with anger.
"How... how dare you? Do you know who you're dealing with?"
"Some silly little girl pretending to be a ninja by the looks of it!" He shot back.
"Silly little... listen little boy I'm the..."
"Great ninja Yuffie, I heard it the first time, but this is serious business..."
"Good, because I'm gonna seriously throw you off that cliff!" The girl yelled throwing the shuriken, Jaxon sighed and waved his arm, darkness surrounded the weapon and it disapeared. "... what?"
"Told you" Jaxon smirked as the shuriken appeared behind her, she turned at the last second and ducked as it shot passed her and vanihed over the edge of the cliff, she drew two smaller blades and jumped down, he sidestepped her and tripped her sending her to the ground, he swung the gunblade down but she rolled away and attacked with both blades, he effortlessly blocked all her attacks with the gunblade and swung low, she jumped back just as the blade ripped into one of her boots, the two stood staring at each other for a moment, Jaxon still smirking Yuffie now glaring at him.
"So 'great ninja'" Jaxon mocked. "You wanna back off now?"
Yuffie didn't respond but instead flew at him again, Jaxon sighed as he blocked her blows, the girl was good, but Leon, still struggling to shake off the kick to the face, was a lot better, Yuffie took advantage of his complacency and swung both blades at his head, he blocked them but she caught him with a well placed kick sending him sprawling, he couldn't help but laugh as he stood up.
"Give up?" She asked keeping her blades poised. "Or do I have to spank you some more?"
"Please" Jaxon answered with a small nod. "I've only just begun."
"So have I!" She lunged at him again, this time Jaxon saw it coming and slapped the blades down before tripping her, she yelled in frustration and jumped up at him again, he didn't even block her blows now but just dodged from side-to-side before tripping her again. "Stop toying with me!" She shrieked lunging again... right into the handle of the gunblade.
"If you insist" Jaxon sighed bending down and pulling her up by her top. "Pity, you actually were kinda cute" he smirked before spinning around and throwing her against the side of the cliff, he took a second to study the still bleeding wound on the back of his hand before raising the gunblade and aiming at her. "See you on the other side" just as he fired he noticed a blur shoot across his line of vision, the round impacted the cliff wall but Jaxon was already looking past it at Leon, the man gently lowered Yuffie to the ground and pointed his gunblade at Jaxon.
"That's a hell of a trick" the young nobody conceded. "Is this round two?"
Leon smirked but didn't answer as more people emerged and stood beside him, a young woman with her long hair tied back, and older blonde haired man and a really old man dressed all in blue, Jaxon's smile didn't falter but he took a step back as Leon advanced on him, the young nobody started to raise his gunblade but stopped, four against one (five when the ninja girl got up) didn't seem too inviting, plus to his recollection his orders had been to find out how tough the residents were and he'd done just that.
"Well" he said letting the gunblade vanisha slowly backing towards the cliff-edge. "It's been fun, but I got what I came here for, thanks. Take care now" with that he jumped backwards off the edge, darkness surrounded him and he looked up to see Leon staring down at him from the cliff before he disapeared.
It was only after he'd emerged from the darkness at the top of the castle that Jaxon noticed the pain in his hand, he raised it up and took the shredded glove off, the girl had cut him right down to the bone by the looks of it, he smirked despite the pain.
"At least I can feel something" he muttered.
"Didn't I tell you that?" Xemnas emerged behind him. "Well?"
"There's at least five of them, maybe more. I fought two of them, one of them's really strong, I barely beat him, the other one did this" he raised his bleeding hand. "You're gonna need a lot of Heartless to take that place down."
Xemnas nodded. "You have done well Jaxon, very well indeed, I have to admit I'm impressed."
"Thank you superior."
"You have passed your final test, go back to the castle and get some rest. You have earned it."
Jaxon nodded his thanks and opened a portal. "You're not coming?"
"I have some issues here I must deal with you go on alone" Jaxon nodded again and vanished, Xemnas turned and walked back into the castle, judging by Jaxon's report the plan for Hollow Bastion would have to wait, but that meant he could focus more of the Organization's energies on Castle Oblivion. He smiled to himself as he walked down a long staircase towards the castle's basement. All the pieces were almost in place.
"Jax!" Demyx almost knocked Jaxon off his feet in his eagerness to greet the younger nobody. "You made it! How did it go?" He noticed the large cut on Jaxon's hand, the bleeding finally showing signs of stopping. "How did that happen?"
"Ninja did it" Jaxon muttered wearily.
"Ninja?"
"Long story Dem. But I'll tell ya later, right now I wanna get this strapped up and collapse in my room for a few hours."
Demyx nodded and let Jaxon walk away. "Knew you could do it Jax" the younger nobody grinned back at him and disapeared.
Demyx Report:
HE DID IT!!! .. that is all.
There ya go, read it and review it please.
