Chapter 7: Complications

GS led Hikari through the doorway of a large building. He took her directly to an elevator and pressed a button that took them to one of the basement levels. During this whole ordeal, Hikari didn't say a word, but kept looking at the Darkside hedgehog.

The two soon arrived in the third basement. GS led the Balance to a large, glass room. He then shoved Hikari down onto a chair with a table a few inches in front of it. He pulled out his Glock pistol and pointed it at her.

"Normally, this is where I threaten to put your brains on the wall." GS said. He then put the safety back on his pistol before shoving it into the holster on his belt, "But be thankful that, when it comes to Darksides, I'm not normal. Now then, I have you here for about an hour. Where are your friends hiding?" Hikari didn't answer. GS sat down in a chair adjacent to Hikari's and made a steeple with his fingers, "Not talking? Well, I think I can get something out."

—

Outside, a group of four Darkside soldiers were standing guard in front of the door that led inside of the building. They were carrying either black poleaxes or AK-47s and were standing rigidly in position. They heard something hit the ground and raised their guns.

"Firaga." A low voice said. A fireball flew out and hit the first one with an AK-47. Immediately, a man wearing a black beret on his head lunged out with two ninja swords drawn, which he plunged into the first one with a poleaxe. He jumped over to the second one carrying a poleaxe and managed to disarm him with a few quick strikes to the shoulder area. He grabbed the soldier and wheeled him in front just as the second one with an AK opened-fire on him. All the bullets went into the unfortunate Darkside that the Black Beret had disarmed and was using as a meat shield.

Sgt. Reynol then tossed the body at the Darkside, who immediately fell under the combined weight.

"Lemme see that." Reynol said, pulling the AK free from the Darkside's grasp. He grabbed the clip before pulling it out and tossing it away, "AK-47—reliable, powerful rounds, and easy to get your hands on. If your boss could afford these, you'd think he'd be able to get American models. The AK's good, but I personally can't say no to a good ol' American M-series..."

"What do you want?" the Darkside asked, fearfully.

Reynol rolled the corpse off the Darkside before grabbing him by the collar and heaving him up.

"You guys recently brought in a Balance. I wanna know where she is." The former SOLDIER stated, "Care to show me where she is?"

—

The group quickly shoved the various objects on a table off before placing Ross on it. They turned him over to show his bleeding back.

"This'd be so much easier with D-Dude." JC muttered.

"I can use magic, you know." Phoenix said as she summoned her Keyblade. She held it up before saying, "HEAL."

Green lights surrounded the injured Pokemorph. The bleeding stopped as new skin grew out, pushing out the shrapnel.

"Well, glad to see that crisis was averted." TL said, cheerily.

"But we've still got three of our guys unconscious." DJ stated.

"I don't think it's anything serious." JC said, "A few bruised ribs, possibly a few concussions, but I don't think it's anything major."

"Now what?" Lunatic asked.

"We wait until Reynol comes back, that's what." JC said.

—

In the building, GS was still doing his best to interrogate Hikari. His efforts were proving fruitless as the Balance still refused to so much as open her mouth.

"I have to give you props—you're a tough nut to crack." GS stated before asking, "What if I told you you're looking in the wrong place? What if I said I know exactly where Drake is?"

Hikari looked up and stared at GS with wide eyes.

"Yeah, Drake's nowhere near New York." GS said, "I've just been given orders to be here. Truth is, he hasn't set foot in this state for over two years." Hikari kept opening and closing her mouth, letting out small breaths while she was at it, "Speak up a bit."

"Where...is...he?" Hikari asked in a weak voice. Her hands flew to her mouth. She hadn't spoken in years until this very point. Why? Hope that she could save her love?

"Nice to see you can speak." GS said, cooly, "And he's in Los Angeles, California. I don't know what he's doing there, though. Now, I gave YOU some information, now it's your turn. Where are your author friends hiding?"

"How about right here?" asked a familiar voice. GS wheeled around just in time to see a black, fingerless glove hit him right in the face. The Darkside hedgehog was sent tumbling as Sgt. Reynol walked over to Hikari.

"Reynol-san?" Hikari asked.

"Now, you talk?" Reynol asked as he pulled out his (blood-stained) ninjato out and slashed through the chains holding the Balance's hands to the table, "This day's just full of surprises."

"How'd you get here?" Hikari asked.

"Got some info from a guard." Reynol said, "Tried getting the jump on me when I had my back turned. Don't have to explain what happened."

"Th-there's something you should know." Hikari said.

"Not now, we've gotta get goin'." Reynol interrupted, taking off. He looked back at Hikari and asked, "You coming or not?"

Hikari started running after the ex-SOLDIER out of the building and into the elevator.

—

The other Authors were sitting around the underground bunker. Lunatic was sitting at the bedsides of Rook and Kitty, his two friends out like lights. JC was pacing back and forth as TL kept watch with his Byakugan eye. The white hedgehog suddenly stiffened before looking over at the others.

"We've got company!" he shouted.

BOOM!

An explosion created a hole in the ceiling. A small figure fell through and stood up with a feral smirk. From his blue hair to his insane smirk, everyone knew the sight of The Face—one of the most notorious serial killers the FAF had the misfortune of fighting.

"Hello, Authors." He greeted, "After all the mayhem I caused in this city years ago, I don't think introductions are necessary."

"How'd you find us?" JC demanded as his pseudo-Symbiote quickly engulfed his body.

"Quite simple, really." The Face replied as he pulled out a mini-UZI, "Imagination River energy is extremely easy to track if you know how."

"But, I haven't performed the ceremony in MONTHS." TL said, "How could-"

"CRAP!" Lunatic swore, "My IR energy's still at full power!"

"Why do I have the feeling that THIS is how Drake found out about your race?" Nukid asked.

"Now, I've been asked by Drake to brutally murder all of you." The Face said, loading a clip into the submachine gun he already had in hand, "Any objections?" JC snarled, Lunatic summoned his chakram, Phoenix held her Keyblade in a battle-ready position, Shadow-DJ held up his scythe, and Nukid cracked his knuckles. The Face smirked as he opened-fire after saying, "I hoped as much!"

—

Sgt. Reynol and Hikari Ino ran out into the streets where storm clouds had gathered. Thunder roared through the sky as a shower began to roll through the city.

"Just hope we can get back soon enough, this has been a rough enough day as it is." Reynol stated. The two continued running before coming to a halt.

"I...I thought he was on the other side of the country." Hikari said, fearfully.

"And I thought all Black Berets were dead. Life's full of surprises."

Standing in front of them, from his dark trench coat to his dark blue skin, was Drake Ebon Darkstar. The leader of the Darksides and current ruler of over ninety percent of the world.

Sorry this took so long to get up. Just me being lazy (as usual). Once again, read, review, and don't flame but con crit is more than encouraged.