AGITΏ: Warriors of Creation.
Hay Lin was never very interested in boys before. She was just the way she was, a creative individual who just loved her friends and willing to risk herself for them. She cared little for what others thought of her or the opposite sex.
All that changed when she met Eric who would become her new boyfriend. Eric was the first boy ever to cause her heart to thump every time he was nearby and pull heart strings she never knew she had. She then realized she was in love with him. Why shouldn't she? He was sweet, kind, and all around nice guy and liked shiny things. The last part was a quirk but it made him all the more endearing.
The day when Nerissa had taken control of him nearly broke her heart. She had nearly given up if not for the faith of her friends. They actually shared a kiss that day too, even when he had not known what was going on.
She had vowed to protect him and that was why, up until now, he had no idea of her secret life as a Guardian…
"ERIC! NO!!" Hay Lin screamed as she watched Frost plunging his hand into Eric's chest, eliciting a loud scream from the boy. Frost was not very gentle with his latest catch as he searched for this boy's Seed, if he had one anyway. If he didn't then maybe he could cause the Air Guardian to suffer as he tortured the boy mercilessly. "LET HIM GO!"
Eric was feeling unspeakable pain as this beast of a man held something deep within his chest. Was it his heart? He was unsure, but the pain was intense and he was about ready to black out. He doubted that this monster would remove his hand even if he'd passed out. It was somewhat of a mixed blessing when he finally did.
BOOM!!
Frost was suddenly sent flying and slammed into a support beam by a powerful blast of wind. He looked up to see Hay Lin and now was scared of her.
Hay Lin's fists were clenched at her sides as she gritted her teeth. Her eyes were narrowed and focused on Frost. The other Guardians turned to look and could see a tornado beginning to form around their gentlest member. Even Cedric and Miranda stopped to admire the sight. What none of them noticed was the tears that were leaking from the corners of her eyes.
"Woah," Irma let out. "Hay Lin's pissed off." She was feeling scared right now.
Hay Lin approached Frost slowly and with strength she never knew before lifted him up by his shirt. Sweat began to pour down the hunter's face. Hay Lin growled, "I told you to let him go…" Frost couldn't even utter a reply as Hay Lin pulled back a fist and covered it in a tornado before throwing it at Frost's face.
KE-RACK!!
As a result, the powerful hunter was sent flying high into the sky by the force of the punch before he appeared as a tiny speck in the sky. The Guardians gaped. They never knew Hay Lin could be so strong.
Miranda and Cedric exchanged looks. They already had an Otiga so part of their mission was complete. "I suggest we withdraw," Cedric said.
"Agreed," Miranda let out as both of them vanished into a dark portal.
Hay Lin calmed down and then remembered something important. "Eric!" She few straight at his prone form and lifted him up. "Come on, speak to me!"
Meanwhile, the Agito were playing a game of 'Whack-A-Mole' with their Otiga adversary. The monster had dug a set of holes around them and wound jump out at random to slash at them before retreating into one of its many tunnels.
"This thing is seriously pissing me off!" Shadow growled as he turned to throw a fist at the fast escaping Mole Otiga. "He keeps getting away!"
"I know," Cyclone agreed. He had tried shooting his arrows down a hole but that accomplished nothing. "I can't exactly shoot at something I can't see!"
Caleb was standing back to back with Shagon as they awaited the right time to strike.
Flame and Aqua were thinking the same thing. Their abilities didn't work quite well against such an opponent. Gaia, on the other hand, was calm. He gripped his hammer and walked over to one of the holes. He focused his hearing and then…
The Mole Otiga jumped out of the hole and then Gaia struck. He gave his hammer a powerful swing and sent the Mole Otiga flying straight into the air. It let out a loud shriek.
"NOW!" Gaia shouted. Shadow took this as his signal and his horns spread open with a 'shing'. The symbol of Agito formed under him as he went into a pose, his eyes focused on the descending Otiga. He bent his knees and pulled back his leg, absorbing the energy.
At the same time, Cyclone's horns had also spread open as he too focused the Agito Force into himself and his weapon. His eyes focused on his target, the Mole Otiga.
Shadow leapt up and flew straight at the Mole Otiga, leg outstretched in a flying kick. His attack smashed into it and sent it to the ground. At the same time, an energy arrow struck it before it crashed, sending a cloud of dust flying. The dust cloud simmered down and soon they could see the Otiga letting out a wail as the belt around its waist glowed with a purple glow before letting out a blinding white light. A second later the Otiga exploded and left behind its original human form.
"Yeah!" Cyclone cheered as he suddenly turned back to Oliver. "Aw, crud."
Shadow had turned back into Adrian and the other Warriors had also turned back to their respective human forms.
"OK, that was anticlimactic," Gerald stated. Matt, who had turned back from Shagon, just stared.
"You call that anticlimactic?" the Regent of Earth asked. Gerald shrugged.
"I guess after the last few explosions I've grown desensitized."
"Well, come on," Caleb said. "I think I heard Hay Lin scream."
The boys then ran over to where the girls were. They had changed back to normal. Will, Cornelia, Taranee and Irma were standing but Hay Lin was kneeling on the ground, cradling Eric. He didn't have any visible injuries but by the way tears were pouring out of Hay Lin's eyes, he might have internal ones.
"Come on," Tyler said. "We better get him to a hospital."
Hay Lin silently nodded in agreement as Caleb lifted Eric into his arms and carried him. Taranee placed a reassuring hand on Hay Lin's shoulder.
"Come on, Hay Lin," Taranee said. "Eric will be okay." Of course, she doubted her words.
"At least he wasn't turned into an Otiga," Gerald said, trying to put a positive spin on this. It didn't seem to work. Turning into Otiga was actually better than dying in Hay Lin's opinion. At least they could solve that problem if it ever occurred.
Ian was rubbing his temples. "You OK?" Irma asked the Agito of Fire.
"Yeah, just a bit of a migraine, that's all," he told her.
The group was thankful that the hospital didn't ask too many questions. The fight had been crossed off as an exploding gas main so once Will had said that was where they found Eric the doctors hadn't needed much more information.
Eric's grandfather, Zacharias, was called quickly and arrived just as fast. When he saw his grandson in a hospital bed, he grew silent and just seemed to radiate worry. He then turned to the girls.
"Do you know what happened?" he asked.
"We found him near where those explosions happened," Irma explained quickly. "He didn't look hurt but he was out cold so we brought him here."
"Well, thank you, all of you," Zacharias nodded. He then turned to Hay Lin, who was just as quiet as he was a moment ago. "Hay Lin, I'm sure this is hard on you as well."
Hay Lin didn't talk. She just sniffled as she nodded. She had been crying on and off since they had gotten Eric admitted. Her voice would probably too hoarse to talk even if she wanted to.
As they all continued to sit around in silence, a doctor finally walked out to talk to them.
"Are you Mr. Lyndon?" he asked since he only knew that the group of school kids had brought the patent in.
"Yes I am," Zacharias nodded as he stood up. He was in front of the doctor in the blink of an eye. "Is my grandson all right?"
"I wouldn't worry too much," the doctor replied with a smile. "He seemed to be suffering from a mild case of shock. He did have some internal bruising but considering what happened I think he got off lucky. He can leave as soon as he wakes up."
There was collective sigh of relief from everyone in the room. Hay Lin just broke into tears again as the other girls held her so she could get it all out.
Adrian was just as relieved as all the others, but he was also thinking about the consequences of today. Had Frost been able to do anything to Eric's seed? Assuming he had one of course.
Within Eric's mind…
"Hello?" he called out. "Hello?" He was in a dark space and his voice echoed. "Anybody there?" There was no light source anywhere but despite all that he was still able to see his own hands. He began to walk. He wasn't sure where he was going but he opted that it was better than just standing around doing nothing.
Eric began calling out to people, anyone, "Hay Lin, are you there? Grandpa?" No answer except for the echoes. There was just darkness all around him and he was unsure as to how far or long he'd been walking.
Still, there was no one. He hadn't found anyone.
And then, he saw it. It was a bright light, just in front of him. Feeling hopeful, he began to approach it, albeit cautiously. For some reason, he could feel that this light, whatever it was, would lash out at him.
He didn't make it close enough when he heard a growl coming from behind him and then a loud roar. He clutched his head in pain. That roar had come from inside of him.
The Agito who were with the girls suddenly clutched their heads in pain. This caused the girls, Will and Irma especially, to become alarmed.
"Guys, what's wrong?" Irma asked.
"Ugh, it hurts!" Gerald let out as he clutched his head. Oliver had dropped down to his knees and Ian was struggling to stand. Tyler and Adrian fell onto their seats, still holding their heads.
The Guardians had learnt that the Agito were linked. They could sense each other. This also extended to the Otiga which were basically corrupted Seeds of Agito. The only reason they would be clutching their heads in pain right now would be because…
No…
"Eric!" Hay Lin yelled and suddenly they heard a loud crash that sounded like glass shattering. The doctors went into the room and Hay Lin followed them, with Eric's grandfather in tow.
The window was broken, and Eric Lyndon was nowhere to be found.
Miranda and Cedric, back in their human forms, returned to the bookstore which acted as their base. They knew that they'd be facing the Dark Figure's wrath but right now they didn't have anywhere else to go. Frost was nowhere to be seen and neither of them wanted to waste time looking for that brute.
"So, you've returned," the Dark Figure said as Cedric and Miranda entered. The Dark Figure was sitting on a chair reading one of the many books that still remained. "How was your mission?"
Cedric and Miranda gulped. They couldn't lie since their new master could read their thoughts and if they told him the truth who knows what would happen. Cedric decided to speak for both of them as Miranda stood behind him. Cedric approached the Dark Figure.
"We were able to discover a dormant Seed and corrupt its bearer into an Otiga," Cedric reported.
"And…?" the Dark Figure asked, wanting more details.
"The Guardians and Agito arrived, just as you expected," Cedric continued. "They…defeated and restored the Otiga."
The Dark Figure frowned. At least they were able to make a new Otiga before it was defeated. He then asked, "Where is Frost?"
"Frost found another dormant Seed and attempted to corrupt it the last I saw before the Air Guardian literally blasted him into the skies," Cedric answered. He never really liked Frost. The brute was more muscle than he was brains. Not worthy to be in the same room with them.
The Dark Figure accepted this answer but suddenly he growled as he clutched his head in pain. Ever since the new Agito began showing up, his headaches had been growing worse and more annoying. The headaches only happened when an Agito had awakened but this headache felt a lot worse.
He then realized what had happened and cursed under his breath. Frost, that idiot, had just released an even bigger pain than the Agito.
But he then smirked since this new unknown variable would be the Guardians' problem. Could they handle it?
It was confused. Where was it going? What was it doing? Where was it in the first place? A growl escaped its throat and kicked a trash can clear across the street. It was angry. It had no idea what had led it to be in that room of white, but it did not like the feeling of confinement. So it left. It broke the glass and escaped. What it was going to do now though, it didn't know.
It tossed another garbage can to the side just to alleviate some pent-up frustration. It could feel the need to do something, but it just didn't know what. Was it to find something? Was it to find someone? Was it being called to battle? It preferred battle. That way it could alleviate even more stress. Still, it knew that it was looking for something. What was it looking for?
After it walked past a broken mirror, it stopped and looked at the broken image reflected in it. It saw sections of crimson which gleamed in the light. It also saw green pieces which were gleaming as well.
"Haaaa," it purred as it traced a finger along the reflecting surface. It was shiny. Shiny was good. It liked shiny things. An image of something shiny flashed through its mind. It wasn't like other shiny things. This shiny thing was part of something very precious.
"Rah!" It roared before punching the broken mirror and shattering it further. It was now even more confused! It had a clue now though. Shiny. What it wanted was connected to a shiny thing.
It would find the shiny thing and the precious thing connected to it.
Meanwhile, the Guardians, Warriors and their allies were searching for the missing Eric. Hay Lin was almost in hysterics as she was wracked with worry. Irma, luckily, was there to console her.
"Someone must've taken him!" Hay Lin cried. "Maybe it was Cedric, or Miranda!" Hay Lin was in denial; she didn't want to believe that her dear sweet Eric had turn into an Otiga. He was just so sweet, and nice, and she loved him! She could never imagine him being a monster.
"Hay Lin," Tyler sighed. He was the logical one so he had to tell her, "The glass was broken from the inside. Something broke out of Eric's room and it just might be Eric. We can't just ignore the possibility." Hay Lin sniffled. Oliver handed Hay Lin a napkin to dry her tears.
"So, got anything on the mystic radar?" Adrian asked Will who was holding the heart. "That thing can track down Otiga, right?"
Will frowned. This was the first time she would attempt anything like this. Sure the Heart could detect portals as well as open/close them now but that was before the Veil was lifted. Now, she was attempting to find one person. She was trying to focus and Adrian asking questions wasn't helping. "I'm trying to concentrate, Adrian."
"Fine," Adrian leaned against the wall, hands behind his head. "I won't disturb you."
Mattfrowned slightly at how casual the dark boy was being with his girlfriend. He didn't like the way Adrian and Will were hanging out or spending time together. Sure they were allies, but there was something about the black clad warrior that bothered him. He wasn't sure what it was. It wasn't jealousy though. It couldn't have been.
"Well, we won't find the guy if we just hang around here," Ian said. "I think we better split up."
"Well, we can't split the girls up," Gerald said. "They need Will and the Heart to transform. We, on the other hand can transform without being together."
"Hey, we don't need to transform to fight," Cornelia huffed at Gerald's comment. It was true. They did have their minor abilities at their disposal even outside their transformation.
"But yet, you still do," Oliver said as he fixed his glasses. "And with the kind of enemies we have now I think that we're stronger together rather than divided."
Taranee had to agree with the shorter boy. "That's right. We need to be on our guard. Whatever Eric turned into could-" They heard a crash. "What was that!?"
Hay Lin raised her head, "Eric?"
"I hope so," Irma gulped. She was hoping Eric hadn't turn into an Otiga. It would feel awkward to fight a friend.
Caleb got ready to fight if it ever turned violent. They could hear footsteps and heavy breathing. At the same time the Warriors were holding their heads because of a throbbing pain. They gritted their teeth. The pounding was becoming more and more painful with every second.
A deep breathing noise rose from the alley as more sounds of things crashing in the alley. Sounds of footsteps followed the noises as the source came closer. Each of the AGITO members began holding their heads in pain.
"Whatever's coming," Adrian grunted. "It's bad! Really bad!"
As he said those words, a figure came walking out of the alley. The girls gasped as they saw him. Even Caleb and Matt's eyes widened as they took in the figure and its appearance.
It was donned in dark crimson armor that looked like it was almost alive. There were bits of black at the joints and near the waist, but the main color was red. Gold bands were wrapped around the ankles, wrists and the collar. The head was most noticeable since it had what appeared to be a silver mouth guard and a pair of large green eyes. A yellow stone adorned the forehead and two horns reached from the same spot. There was also a yellow stone in the centre of its waist, just below the abdomen.
"Eric?" Hay Lin gasped. She took a few steps closer; hoping whatever was in front of them would see her. "Eric, is that you?"
It looked at the collected group that stood several feet in front of them. Seven males and five females. The females seemed odd. It could feel that it could almost recognize them. It didn't matter at the moment. It had to find the shiny thing that was connected to the precious thing.
It took another step forward before a pounding echoed its head again. It had been feeling it as stepped closer to the group. It didn't feel it near the females or the two males off to the side. It did however feel the pounding coming from the five males.
They were powerful. It didn't like that. It didn't like how powerful ones such as them were so close by. They might actually intrude and try to stop it from finding the precious thing.
One of the females stepped forward and began speaking.
"Eric?" she spoke. "Eric is that you?"
It heard the female speak before something began to stir in its mind. The voice was so familiar. It was a very nice voice. It felt soothing. It felt calmed by the female and her voice. But…why was it so familiar? Why did her voice feel so soothing? Who was this female who had such an effect on it?
The answers weren't coming and that only served to get in upset. It began letting a growl out of its throat as it held its head, trying to find answers. None were coming and in all its frustration and confusion, it roared to release them.
"RAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" the figure bellowed as it heard Hay Lin's voice. It then lunged right at the group with claws outstretched. The mouthguard opened to reveal sharp teeth.
Adrian and Oliver, despite the pain in their heads, reacted quickly and used their powers to send the 'Otiga' flying back and into a dumpster, creating an indentation. It began to growl as it got back to its feet, eyes focused on the 5 Agito.
"Please, don't hurt him!" Hay Lin begged, but her words fell onto deaf ears as AGITO all transformed.
Adrian: "Shadows of Agito…"
Gerald: "Waters of Agito…"
Ian: "Flames of Agito…"
Tyler: "Grounds of Agito…"
Oliver: "Winds of Agito…"
"TRANSFORM!"
In bright flashes of light, the 5 boys had transformed into their Agito forms. Flame, Cyclone and Aqua quickly summoned their weapons and charged at the 'Otiga' in front of them who was snarling at them.
"If we defeat it, it'll turn back to Eric!" Flame said, remembering what the Oracle had told them.
"Let's do it!" Aqua agreed. Flame swung his sword at the Otiga but it leapt up and smashed its feet into his face. It then ducked under Aqua's trident thrust and smashed its fist into the blue Agito. Cyclone aimed but never got a chance to shoot as the 'Otiga' pounced on him before running towards the girls, focusing its attention on Hay Lin.
Gaia and Shadow charged and then swung their fists, but the 'Otiga' was agile as it dodged their attacks. Suddenly, a pair of curved blades extended from its wrists and it slashed at the two Agito with them, sending sparks flying off their chest.
Cyclone aimed at the back of the 'Otiga' and fired two arrows. However, it had sensed the two projectiles coming and leapt over its two opponents, causing the arrows to hit both Shadow and Gaia. The 'Otiga' then retracted one of its blades and then shot out a tentacle with a sharp tip that pierced Cyclone's armor. Cyclone screamed as he was being electrocuted by the tentacle. He was then forced back to his human form and fell unconscious. The 'Otiga' swiftly pulled the spiked tentacle back.
Suddenly, the 'Otiga' stiffened and then it turned its head to see Shadow, with his hand open and pointed at it. Shadow was using his telekinesis to keep the 'Otiga' still so they could attack. "Eric, this is for your own good!" Shadow shouted but the 'Otiga' began to roar. Shadow's headache was starting to act up again. Whatever this 'Otiga' that Eric had turned into, it didn't feel like the others. It felt more like when he detected the other Agito, yet not the same either. The headache got worst and he was forced to let the 'Otiga' go. The 'Otiga' then rushed at Shadow and with its claws slashed the black Agito across the face before giving him a reverse roundhouse to put him down. Adrian's armor vanished in flash of light.
Flame and Aqua's horns spread out as they focused their power into their weapons. The 'Otiga' could sense them and then two tentacles slithered out of its wrists in place of the blades. Flame and Aqua charged, ready to defeat the 'Otiga' who then swung out its tentacles at them. It caught their weapons and yanked them out of both Agito's hands. It then jumped up and smashed its knees into their faceplate, sending them crashing to the ground in a heap. Their transformations failed at that moment, changing them back to normal.
Gaia was the only Agito left standing as he stood protectively in front of the girls, Caleb and Matt. "You shall not pass,' Gaia said as he got ready to battle this feral 'Otiga'. It growled and then stalked towards them.
"Please, let me speak to him!" Hay Lin begged, catching Gaia's attention.
"Are you crazy, Hay Lin?" Cornelia asked. "That thing just took down 4 out of 5 of the Agito!"
"That 'thing' is Eric!" Hay Lin countered. "Maybe I can reach him."
"How can you be sure it's Eric anyway?" Irma asked. They hadn't gotten enough clues to support that theory, aside from Frost having his hand in Eric which was then followed by the Air Guardian's crush's disappearance.
"I just know," Hay Lin said. "Guys, I know it's him. I can feel it. I know he won't hurt me!"
Gaia contemplated this and then turned his attention towards the 'Otiga'. The thing's presence was causing his headache to get worst. He could barely focus or sustain his transformation. The 'Otiga' couldn't exactly affect them like this. It was usually before their transformations.
The 'Otiga' looked towards Hay Lin who was slowly and cautiously approaching it. It calmed down a bit. "Eric…?" she asked again, reaching out with her hand. "Eric, if that's really you, please…come here…" She opened her arms invitingly in hopes that it would help keep him calm.The 'Otiga' tilted its head curiously at the female before it retracted its tentacles and then slowly approached her. Hay Lin's heart was beating fast. If this was Eric, she knew he wouldn't hurt her, but if she was wrong…she just hoped she wasn't wrong.
Hay Lin gently placed a hand on the creature's armored head. She could feel the texture of the armor. It wasn't metal, and it felt more organic and alive than the Agito's armors. It felt soft, like leather. The thing didn't make any movement, but then the growl emanating from its throat was starting to sound like…a purr?
Irma blinked. "OK, is that thing purring?"
"Will, are you sure about this?" Matt asked as they watched Hay Lin calming the 'Otiga' down.
"I'm not sure about anything anymore, to be honest," Will said as her eyes were transfixed on the scene as well as the 4 injured and unconscious Agito. Gaia was still readying himself just incase the 'Otiga' did anything that would endanger Hay Lin.
"Eric," Hay Lin realized as she gazed into the creature's large eyes. "It is you." She smiled, with tears falling out of her eyes.
It was feeling excitement from battling the five changing males. They were strong, but they were just too slow. It was able to beat down four of them and force them to change back. Now there was only one left to fight before it could go on to find the precious thing.
It was about to fight the last one when the female from before stepped closer to the both of them. She looked distressed. For some reason it did not like that. It felt bad at the fact that the female was distressed. The female looked like she was about to speak. Maybe if she did then it could take the source of her distress.
"Eric…?" she asked. "Eric, if that's really you, please…come here…"
The female then opened her arms as if asking for a hug. For its own part, it was confused. There was that name again. For some reason, that name felt familiar. It especially liked it when the female said it. If it would make this female happy then it would be this 'Eric'.
It recalled its weapons, since something told it that hurting this female would be an unforgivable crime. It stepped closer to the female, completely ignoring the last of the five changing males. When it was in front of the single female, she reached up and placed a palm on the side of its face. The touch felt just as soothing as her voice. It couldn't help but purr from the sensations it felt from her. It liked this female. It liked her a lot.
Suddenly, images flashed through its mind. A smile. More clues to the precious thing. The shiny thing was part of a smile. More images of dark hair before the portrait of a face rose in its mind. The precious thing wasn't a thing at all, but a person. This person.
It stared into her eyes and watched as tears began falling down her cheeks. It didn't like to see her cry. She was smiling though. It liked to see her smile. She was crying, yet she was smiling. How confusing.
"Eric," she spoke. "It is you."
It saw more flashes enter its mind. Images of a boy. A boy who stood beside this precious person. Dark hair. Tanned skin. Then something came to its mind, a meeting between the precious person and the boy. Her smile was shiny. It and the boy liked shiny things. That is what made them notice her at first.
It reached up and touched her cheek as gently as it could. Gentle was a tricky subject to it, but it managed since she nuzzled its hand slightly.
"H…H…Haaaaay…Li…Liiiiinnn," it groaned out. It didn't know what the strange words it managed to choke out were, but they were connected to the precious person. It was sure of that.
The precious person seemed to know them two. Her tears began to come out even more before she wrapped her arms around it and sobbed loudly.
"Oh, Eric!" she cried. "What did he do to you?"
The other Guardians, one rebel leader, a Regent of Earth, and one Agito watched in surprise as Hay Lin hugged the 'Otiga'. The 'Otiga' wasn't even attacking her. Could this really be…Eric?
Slowly, the 'Otiga' began to change in her arms. The organic armor was slowly being absorbed into its body as its face changed into a more human-like one. Hair began to grow and very soon the Otiga in the Air Guardian's arms had turned back into the ever familiar form of Eric Lyndon. Hay Lin held onto the boy who had fallen asleep in his change. She was glad to have him back…
But what were they going to do now?
The Dark Figure had felt the Agito's power as well as the partial awakening of a Gills. The Agito were trouble enough, but a Gills? Gills may not be perfect Agito but they were unpredictable and ferocious fighters that acted based on instinct more than on rational thought. It didn't make them any less dangerous, though. He knew he could beat a single Gills, but they were a lot of trouble if allowed to realize their true potential.
The Dark Figure knew what he had to do. First, he would punish Frost for waking the Gills up, then he would eliminate this new Gills.
Maybe all Gills would need was a doctor's appointment? Its last appointment.
"So what did you do?" as Mirra as she and her 'sister' tended to the beaten and bruised Warriors.
"We got him back to the hospital, that's what we did," Cornelia replied. "He looked like a wreck to be honest."
After Eric was snoozing soundly in Hay Lin's arms, the rest of the girls took in on themselves to wake up the boys and get them somewhere safe. Caleb and Matt were 'volunteered' by Hay Lin to help carry her boyfriend back to the hospital. Zacharias was already there, trying to get some kind of answers out of the doctors about what might have made his grandson escape through a window.
The rest of the Guardians brought the Warriors back to the restaurant so to have Yan Lin and Mirra treat their bruises. All of the boys had bruises on their bodies and would definitely be feeling the fight for a while to come.
"I suppose this will teach you to never underestimate an opponent," Yan Lin sighed as she brought a bundle of cloth full of ice out for Adrian and his swelling eye.
"We learn something new everyday," Adrian groaned as he took the makeshift icepack. His arm suddenly throbbed as the reminder of his bad landing after Eric had kicked him came back to haunt him. "Ow!"
"Here," Will sighed as she took the icepack. She then gently had Adrian lean his head back before placing the ice pack over the bruise which covered his eye and a side of his face. "You need to take it easy."
"Sure," Adrian frowned slightly. A thought then came to his head before he smirked. "Matt would probably blow a fuse if he saw us like this."
Will took notice of their position at that comment. Adrian was leaning back on his seat with Will right behind him, almost letting him rest on her. She struggled to hide her blush at the embarrassing position and focused on Adrian's bruises. "Oh, shut up. Matt knows we're only friends."
Adrian just snickered.
Gerald groaned slightly as the cold from Irma's icepack was placed on his forehead His neck was sore after the devastating knee to the face that Eric had dealt him. The Guardian of Water was fussing over him.
"Man, he dealt a number to you guys," she frowned.
"Don't I know it, Water Sprite," Gerald groaned. "Eric's got some strength on his side."
"Well, don't try to move, okay?" Irma sighed as she subconsciously rubbed his shoulder to try and comfort him. "You guys really scared us when we saw him take you down."
"Tried our best and he still beat us down," Gerald frowned. "Are we sure he's even an Otiga?"
"How can he be anything else?" asked Ian from where Taranee was helping him tend to his nose. He was afraid it was broken, but after a brief look, everything looked okay.
"I think Gerald's right," Oliver groaned as Cornelia patched up some minor cuts on his chest. All the while she was muttering how he shouldn't risk himself since it would upset Elyon. "I've been here the least, but all the Otiga I've seen I can usually tell what animal they're mixed with. With whatever Eric turned into, I couldn't see it."
"Good observation," Tyler nodded. "He didn't have the same belt that the Otiga wear either. If anything, it looked like it wasn't finished developing or something."
A crash was heard as Yan Lin gasped and dropped her plate. Everyone turned to her to see that her eyes were wide with shock.
"Not finished developing," she gasped. "Oh, how could I not see it before!?"
"What is it?" asked Will.
"I believe I know what Eric has been turned into," Yan Lin frowned.
"Well?" asked Cornelia. "Out with it!"
"Do you girls remember what I told you about Agito after Adrian first appeared as Shadow Agito?" the aged woman asked. Seeing nods, she continued. "I also recall warning all of you about a being known as Gills."
"Gills?" Oliver questioned, unfamiliar with the term. "What's that?"
Yan Lin and Mirra both explained to AGITO what a Gills was. In a nutshell it was an imperfect form of Agito.
"You did mention it," Taranee nodded. "If you think Eric has become one though, we need to know what it can do."
"Well, you saw a little of what it can do today, I believe," Yan Lin explained. "Its entire body is its weapon. The blades and tentacles are all part of its body, organic weaponry. The only downside that is truly known is that Gills has no real rational mind. It's more animalistic than anything."
"I doubt that," Tyler commented. "If that was true then he wouldn't have recognized Hay Lin or go like a puppy for her just by seeing her."
Mirra spoke, "Maybe, the animalistic part of the Gills recognizes Hay Lin as…" she paused, "Its mate."
This caused everyone to go silent.
"O…kay…" Irma spoke awkwardly. "Seriously, its mate?"
"Does Eric even think like that?" Taranee asked.
"From what we saw, I don't think it's much of a stretch," Tyler said. When Hay Lin had approached Gills, it didn't react as violently as it did with the Agito. In fact, it acted docile and gentle with her. "He didn't seem to want to attack her."
"Well, guys, we still got a problem," Will said. "How are we going to break it to Eric?"
"Are you sure?" Adrian asked. "I mean maybe he's like us. Maybe he doesn't remember turning into Gills."
"Maybe," Will half-agreed, "But do we really want to take that chance? Besides, Eric needs, no, deserves to know about this. What happens if he loses control and turns into Gills again?"
"Well, if that ever happened we can just send Hay Lin," Gerald suggested. "And he'll start acting like a little puppy."
Hay Lin stayed with Eric as he lay in bed, sleeping soundly. She would caress his face one in a while as she gazed down on him. He had been through too much and all because of her. First was the Nerissa thing and now this? Now, he had turned into something else. She began to cry but wiped away the tears. She didn't want Eric to wake up seeing her sobbing. He didn't need to even get a hint that something was wrong.
Meanwhile, Caleb and Matt were both outside the room, guarding the boy. Matt had received a call from Will telling him that Eric might still be in danger of himself. Shagon could at least hold him off while Hay Lin tried to talk sense into him.
In a way, Matt knew what Eric was going through. During his start as Shagon, he was trapped within his own body as he was forced to see the horrible things Shagon would do. It hurt him to see Will get hurt all because of him. He didn't want to see it happen again. Not even to Hay Lin.
Matt had doubled back home to pick up Mr. Huggles, his pet dormouse as well as another one of the Regents of Earth. Huggles could turn into Khor the Destroyer, a beast man with incredible strength and loyal to Matt. He had the raw power that could match an Otiga. They just needed to test that theory.
"So, how long are we supposed to stay here?" Caleb asked his younger friend.
"I guess maybe all night," Matt shrugged. "So, who's gonna go pick up food from the cafeteria?"
"Well, I'm not sure about this place, so it's you then," Caleb smirked.
"Fine…" Matt sighed. He was still feeling uncomfortable about leaving Adrian alone with Will. He just didn't trust the black Agito around his girlfriend. He, however, did have to let it be. He then sniffed the air, "Hey, do you smell something?"
Caleb sniffed and grimaced. No, it couldn't be… "Blunk…"
They could see one of the supply closet doors swing open as a small goblin-like creature tumbled out, covered in toilet paper. He landed and looked up to see Caleb and Matt. "Hi, boys. Where girls?"
Frost had returned and his welcoming party was anything but pleasant.
"Ugh!" Frost grunted as he was slammed against the wall by his new 'master'. The Dark Figure's face was close to his and his eyes were glowing red and looked REALLY unhappy.
"YOU FOOL!" The Dark Figure roared. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE!?" He threw Frost into a table, breaking it in half. "THE AGITO WERE BAD ENOUGH, BUT YOUR INCOMPETENCE HAS JUST AWAKENED A GILLS!"
"What do you want me to do then!?" Frost yelled out.
"I want you to go to the hospital…and terminate him," the Dark Figure growled. "Well, what are you waiting for!? Go, NOW!" Frost then rushed out of the bookstore, putting on his human disguise in his rush. Cedric and Miranda both laughed at their colleagues' misfortune but then stopped frozen as the Dark Figure looked at them. "You two, go with him. Make sure he doesn't fail."
Frost moved as if hell was hot on his heels. He didn't need this screw up getting his new master already mad at him. He didn't know what a Gills was, but if it was enough to get his new master upset then it was definitely something he didn't want hanging around because of him.
"So what are you going to do?" asked Miranda with a smirk,
"What else?" Frost frowned. "I'm going to make an Otiga and crush this Gills thing before it becomes a problem."
"Are you sure you're up to it?" asked Cedric with a smirk. "You screwed up the last time which is what led us to this little situation we're in."
"SHUT UP!" Frost roared. "I would have gotten us another Otiga out of that kid if the Guardian of Air hadn't blasted me!"
"Excuses," Miranda snorted. "Just don't screw it up again or else the master might just turn you insides into soup."
Frost shivered at the memory of the master gripping his heart in his cold grip. It was something he didn't want to experience ever again. If it could get any worse then he really didn't want to know about it.
"So what if this kid has people watching him?" asked Cedric. "The Guardians and the other Agito are going to. If he's dangerous enough to get the master going then you know they are going to keep an eye on him."
"Then you two can deal with them," Frost frowned. "If you can manage that then I'll deal with the Gills."
"Just be sure not to screw up," Cedric spoke.
"Is he okay?" Hay Lin asked with some worry as she watched the doctor examine Eric's sleeping form.
"Well," the doctor frowned as he examined the boy. "He seems to just be resting at this point. I'm beginning to think that he might have inhaled something from the explosion that made him move in his sleep. I've seen weirder things. Just some bed rest and he'll be alright. I'd feel better if we kept an eye on him for the night."
"That's good," Hay Lin smiled as she ran her fingers through Eric's hair.
"I guess I'll leave you alone," the doctor nodded. "No funny business."
"Sure," Hay Lin nodded. The doctor gave a brief goodbye before leaving the room. As the doctor left, Matt and Caleb stuck their heads inside.
"How is he?" asked Caleb as he munched on a candy bar that Matt had snagged.
"The doctor says he's going to be fine," Hay Lin smiled. "He just needs some rest."
"Glad to hear some good news for a change," Matt grinned. Huggles squeaked in apparent agreement.
Blunk stuck his own head in and noticed the hospital bed. He looked around curiously, but even he got the idea that he shouldn't try anything funny.
"Boy okay?" he asked.
"He will be," Hay Lin answered with a smile.
"Now all he has to do is wake up," Matt sighed. "Who knows when that's going to be."
Hay Lin just nodded in reply. She knew that, but that didn't stop her good mood since she was sure that he would wake up soon enough.
The doctor who had beem tending to Eric was walking down the hall while checking his notes on the young man's condition. A strange one to be sure, but nothing life threatening. Just odd, but that was somewhat the norm for Heatherfield these days.
As he was walking through one of the hallways, he strolled past a door which went into an observation room that some of the surgeons would use for their patients. As he walked past it, the door slammed open and the familiar form of Frost leaped out and snagged the man before pulling him back in. The door slammed shut before a bright light could be seen coming through the cracks in the door. The light quickly turned purple before dimming. The door opened and the doctor stumbled out with a dead look in his eyes. Frost followed him with a pale glow dimming on his glove.
"Okay," he frowned. "You go get rid of the Gills. You'd better not screw up either!"
"Giiiiiilllllllsss," the doctor moaned before he started shuffling down the hall again.
"At least you can make an Otiga properly," Miranda snickered.
"Didn't I tell you to shut up?" Frost growled. "Just get ready incase it needs backup."
Caleb was leaning against the wall while Matt was feeding Mr. Huggles some of the fruits he had managed to snag from the cafeteria. Blunk was snoozing at Matt's feet, hidden by Caleb's jacket. He wanted to talk to Hay Lin, but she seemed focused on the boy in the bed so he couldn't.
The noises of footsteps caught everyone's attention. Matt and Caleb both looked down the hall to see the doctor returning. He seemed to be a little unsteady on his feet though.
"Hey, Doc," Matt waved. "Back so soon?"
"Forgot to check something," the doctor spoke in almost a mumble. "Won't take too long."
"Go right in," Caleb shrugged as he gestured to the door to the room.
The doctor nodded before he walked in and shut the door behind him. Matt was about to go back to feeding Mr. Huggles when he suddenly felt shivering coming from Blunk.
"Something wrong Blunk?" Matt asked with a frown.
"Man feel bad!" Blunk shivered. "He filled with dark stuff. Remind me of bird thing back on Meridian!"
"Bird thing?" Caleb blinked. His eyes then suddenly widened in realization. "Otiga!"
"What are you doing?!" Hay Lin's voice shrieked from within the room.
Matt and Caleb both stiffened before they slammed the door open. Inside the room, Hay Lin was desperately holding the doctor back from Eric. The doctor was holding a scalpel and was attempting to try and stab the sleeping boy with it.
"Huggles!" Matt cried to the dormouse.
Mr. Huggles acted fast and leaped off Matt's shoulders towards the crazed doctor. In mid-air, he transformed into Khor the Destroyer, looking like a large humanoid beast which was wearing a bluish tunic with boots on his feet. His head took on a more wolverine-ish look. The second Regent of Earth gripped the doctor from behind and yanked him away from Hay Lin and Eric.
"What is wrong with you?!" Hay Lin cried out at the doctor.
"We think he's an Otiga!" Caleb cried as he circled around the struggling doctor so that Khor could drag him into the hall.
"What?!" Hay Lin gaped in absolute shock.
As by hearing the word 'Otiga', the doctor's eyes flashed before black smoke began swirling around him, forcing Khor to let go.
The smoke continued to swirl until it began to dissipate. This new Otiga had white clammy skin and had dark green armor which adorned long skinny arms and legs. It had an elongated head which had eyes on the side and no discernable mouth. Several tentacles hung down its back. Clamped around its waist was the usual belt which signified an Otiga.
"Giiiiiiilllllllssss," it growled as it stared at the room's occupants, the one in the bed received the hardest stare.
Matt immediately turned into Shagon and grabbed the Otiga. Both Khor and Caleb grabbed the monster too before dragging it away from Eric's room. They were struggling with it since the thing was hell bent on completing its mission of destroying Eric.
"What do we do!?" Hay Lin asked. Blunk's idea was simple. Wake Eric up!
"Boy, wake up!" Blunk yelled in Eric's face, slapping him on occasion. The passling then got an idea. The girls did say that he stunk REALLY horribly. Blunk then took in a deep breath of air and then breathed right at Eric's face.
The effect was instantaneous as Eric's eyes shot open and he quickly sat up, "GAH!" Blunk fell off the bed in shock as the boy was coughing while at the same time trying to breathe in fresh hair and to get rid of the odorous fumes around his head. His watery eyes finally focused on Hay Lin. "Hay Lin? What's going on? Where am I?" Hay Lin grabbed his arm and pulled him out of bed.
"No time to explain, Eric," Hay Lin said to him. "Your life is in danger!"
"Danger?" he asked. "What kind of-" His question was cut off when the Squid Otiga came back into the room. Apparently, it was able to shake off the two Regents. "WHAT THE HECK IS THAT!?"
"GIIIILLLLLLSSSSSS!!" the Squid Otiga roared before spitting ink bombs at the boy.
"Hold on!" Hay Lin shouted before they both turned invisible. The bombs splattered all over the pillow before it was melted by the blank inky substance. It had missed. Blunk cautiously tip-toed around the monster before hightailing it out of the room.
Hay Lin turned visible again outside of the room. Eric asked, shocked, "Hay Lin, how did you do that?" He was referring to when they had gone invisible.
Down the hall Hay Lin could see that Caleb was beat up and both Shagon and Khor were barely holding it up. They look pretty beat. "You guys okay?" Hay Lin asked Shagon.
"With all things considered, that could've turned out a whole lot better," Shagon said.
Eric was definitely freaked. Hay Lin was talking to a guy with wings and a gold mask like it was something normal! "Hay Lin, I really wanna know what's going on!" Eric said, slightly panicked.
"To put it simply," Caleb grunted as he picked himself up, "That thing wants to kill you."
"Why!?" Eric asked in panic.
"GIIIIIILLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSS!!" the Squid Origa roared as it had found them, striking a terrified Blunk who was running for his life. Blunk squeaked in fear before he went and hid in a nearby trashcan.
"No time, we have to get out of here!" Hay Lin opened a window. "Follow me!"
"Out a window?" Eric asked. "Are you crazy!?" Hay Lim took hold of his hand and smiled at him, gazing into his eyes. She gave him a large grin, showing off the shiny braces he loved so much.
"Don't you trust me?" Hay Lin asked. Gulping, Eric held tightly onto Hay Lin's hand before the two of them leapt out of the window. The Squid Otiga went to follow but was blocked by Khor and Shagon.
"You're not going anywhere," Caleb said. The trio then charged at the Squid Otiga.
Eric screamed as both he and Hay Lin sped towards the ground. 'How could she be so calm about this?' he asked himself mentally. Suddenly, he could be feel their descent was slowing down. He blinked as they softly landed just outside the building. "Let's go," Hay Lin said, pulling Eric's arm. He wouldn't budge. "Eric?"
"Hay Lin, I really want to know what's going on," he requested, a serious expression on his face. "What was that thing? Why did it want to kill me? And how come we're not street pizza?"
Hay Lin cringed. She really didn't want to tell him about all this. It was whole lot better that he just remained an innocent bystander in all this. He didn't deserve to be in danger all the time just because of her.
"It's called an Otiga," Hay Lin explained. It was breaking her heart to do this because of her fear that Eric would hate her for revealing all this, including what he was capable of. "It used to be a person who has strange abilities that had the source corrupted. I'm not sure how it happens, but I know it does."
"Okay," Eric nodded as he glanced back at the window he and his girlfriend had just flown out of. He could hear the sounds of fighting between the squid thing and those three guys who were in the room when he woke up. Tentacles, feathers, and fur could be seen flying from the open window.
"You have abilities too?" Eric asked as he turned back to his girlfriend. He remembered her turning invisible with him. She nodded, quietly, almost afraid of using her voice since it might betray her. "Then why is that thing after me?" he asked
"Because you have something special," Hay Lin answered. She was trying to be truthful, but even she was a little confused. "I'm not sure what it is but whoever is making the Otiga thinks you're a threat or else he wouldn't have sent that thing after you."
"Wait," Eric frowned. "Does it have anything to do with the weird-looking guy who stuck his hand in my chest or that dream I had about fighting those armored guys I saw before you calmed me down?"
"Yeah," Hay Lin nodded. "Only that dream wasn't really a dream."
"Huh?" Eric blinked before a loud crashing noise echoed from above.
Both teens looked up to see what appeared to be Khor and Caleb being thrown into the open air by the tentacles of the Squid Otiga. Shagon flew after them and gripped their arms to keep them from falling to the ground and becoming street pizza.
More sounds of glass shattering could be heard as the Squid Otiga launched itself from the window. Its tentacles gripped a nearby tree and let it swing itself to the ground where it glared at Eric.
"Giiiiiiilllllllssss," it groaned.
AGITΏ