- Chapter 8 -
Get Out of My City
Author's Note:
This chapter is rated M for somewhat graphic violence. You have been warned.
Saya, Haji, Kaori, and Kai walked down the hallway of the Red Shield facility alongside the others, the group escorting a Plexiglas capsule containing the mutant chiropteran's remains to the lab.
It had been two hours since the attack on Omoro. Saya and the others had brought the creature's splattered body to the facility, hoping that Julia and the other scientists would be able to discover just what alterations Collins had done to it and how to counter them. They agreed to bring Kanade and Hibiki with them, and everyone was in agreement that, as long as Collins was trying to capture the twins, they were not to be left alone under any circumstances.
Through it all, Saya fought grimly not to lose her cool as she thought over what to do next. The Delta 67000 agent was obviously far more powerful than any of them had anticipated. No chiropteran she had ever faced was able to shapeshift or regenerate as well or as quickly as this one could. Furthermore, she had managed to cut it twice, and her blood failed to crystallize it. They could only hope that the tests would be able to reveal a way to bypass it.
Her thoughts shifted to Collins once more, and she felt a black rage build up inside her, like a rope knotted tight around her heart. Automatically, she balled her hands into fists, clenching them so tight that her fingernails cut grooves into her palms.
As long as she breathed, that lunatic would not get his filthy hands on Diva's children.
Nathan made his way through the facility, unseen and unheard by any of the personnel as he followed the group escorting the glass container.
The creature, which Collins had dubbed "Epsilon," was one of the more advanced products of Collins' inhumane experiments. Its entire body structure was highly malleable, allowing it to manipulate its biological makeup however it wanted. Through genetic manipulation, he had even managed to grant it immunity to the crystallizing effects of Saya's blood, though even he was unsure if the immunity was absolute.
Nathan had predicted from the start that Epsilon would fail to destroy Saya or capture Diva's daughters, though he admitted to himself that it came pretty damned close. He himself had his own reasons for being here.
Nathan had managed to survive being bisected by Saya five years ago simply because he was never actually Diva's chevalier to begin with. In actuality, he was the chevalier of Saya and Diva's late mother, who had sadly perished while the twins were still in her womb. He had chosen to serve Diva rather than Saya because Diva reminded him the most of his beloved queen.
When Collins put his plans in motion, Nathan had largely agreed to help him simply out of boredom. However, now that Collins had resurrected Diva and his brothers for the sole purpose of advancing his scheme, Nathan drew the line. Diva had been used and abused her whole life, and he was not about to let it happen again.
Given their history, Nathan was not entirely certain that Saya would be able to get through to Diva, but he believed that her daughters were the key.
Saya leaned casually against the wall with her hands jammed deep into the pockets of her dark red leather jacket and her sheathed katana at her side. Most of the Red Shield personnel were inside the lab as security detail just in case, while Kaori, Haji, and Kai had gone off to tend to Kanade and Hibiki, leaving Saya alone to think and remember her numerous shortcomings.
No matter what they say, I'm nothing but a failure, she thought bitterly. I'm the reason for all of this. I'm the fool who unlocked that tower door and let Diva go. I gave up on her and hunted her down for over a hundred years without even trying to understand her side of the story. I failed to save the first Joel and all of those party guests who Diva slaughtered that day. I failed to save Dad from being kidnapped and experimented on by the American military. I failed to save Riku from Diva either time. I failed to save all of those Red Shield agents who died trying to help me. I failed to save today's Joel from being paralyzed. And finally, at the MET, even though I finally beat Diva, I still lost my sister and didn't stop the war. No matter how many times I win, everybody still loses.
Saya felt tears sting her eyes, but then channeled her sorrow and doubt into determination. She withdrew her right hand from her pocket and looked at the palm.
But that's all in the past now, she thought. My friends and family need me, and I'm not gonna let them down.
With that, she clenched her right hand into a fist.
It no longer matters how many times I've failed. The only failure or success I have to worry about now is whether or not I stop Collins. And that one, I'm going to win.
Saya was snapped out of her meditation by the sound of a familiar voice.
"Hello, my dear."
Saya whirled in the direction the voice came from and felt her jaw drop in shock. Standing before her, alive and well, was Nathan Mahler.
"Nathan?!" she said in surprise. "But... you're dead. I killed you."
Nathan's eyes widened in mock horror. "Am I? Did you?" he asked, then looked down at himself. "Eeek! It's a ghost!"
Saya's hand quickly descended to the hilt of her katana, but Nathan suddenly blurred and reappeared right in front of her, slapping her weapon aside. Saya's eyes flashed and she swung her fist in a right hook, but Nathan calmly caught it and stopped her cold.
"Calm yourself, child," he said, sounding not the slightest bit winded. "I'm not here to fight."
The two chiropterans silently locked eyes with each other for a minute or two before Saya finally relaxed. With that, Nathan let go of her arm and backed off.
"Then why the hell are you here?" Saya asked.
"I came here to warn you," Nathan replied. "Collins has far more than Delta 67000 experiments in mind. If you don't act quick, the world truly will belong to the chiropterans."
"And why are you telling me all of this?" Saya demanded.
"Let's just say he crossed a line and that it didn't sit too well with me," Nathan said mysteriously.
Though uncertain what to make of this information, Saya decided that he sounded sincere enough. After a moment, she quickly drew her katana and grabbed Nathan, holding the sword to his throat.
"Thanks for telling me that," she said, calm but cold. "Now listen very carefully, Mahler, because I'm only gonna say this once. Get out of my city."
Even with the blade pressed against his throat, Nathan showed no sign of fear, instead seeming rather amused. "Anyone ever tell you that you have a bizarre way of showing gratitude?" he asked, then hissed in pain as Saya pressed the blade harder against his neck.
"I'll go," Nathan said, a smirk on his face. "But know this: we will meet again, Saya."
"If I see you again, I'll be sure to kill you, and see to it personally that you stay that way," Saya spat in a voice full of calmed rage.
Nathan chuckled. "Such conviction and determination," he said. "You truly are your mother's child after all."
Saya was utterly confused by that statement, but didn't have time to answer before Nathan turned and was gone just as suddenly as he had appeared.
Meanwhile, inside the lab, things were about to go sour.
As they watched, inside the container, the puddles of goo started to form into hunks of gray flesh and join together, forming a humanoid body. Everyone recoiled as the chiropteran reformed and began to pound on the glass, spreading cracks all over it.
"Shit!" David yelled. "It's breaking out! Call security!"
Julia quickly made her way to the red button on the wall and slammed it down with her fist. Almost immediately, a klaxon sounded and red lights began to flash. Through it all, the chiropteran continued to pound on the glass, which was clearly going to give way any second.
"Julia!" David shouted. "Get the hell out of here! We'll hold it off!"
Julia hesitated, then nodded and dashed out the door just as the chiropteran managed to break out of the container and stepped out. Lulu sprang forward with a cry, her axe slicing through the air. The creature raised its arm just as she reached it, and the axe sank deep into the arm. The creature didn't even blink, but twisted as it drew the claws of its other hand across Lulu's belly.
Lulu winced in pain as the claws ripped through her black coat and pulled open two sizzling lines of pain across her belly. Almost immediately, blood gushed out of her and splattered on her pants, her boots, and the floor. The creature proceeded to side-kick her in the gut and launch her away, the blade of Lulu's axe still buried in its arm. With Lulu neutralized, the creature proceeded to grab the hilt and jerk the axe blade out of its arm with a grunt.
David just barely managed to raise his gun when the chiropteran turned its gaze on him and chucked the axe at him. He quickly dove to the side, and the axe buried itself in the wall behind them. If he had been just a second slower, the axe would have sliced his head in two.
David raised his gun again, but suddenly the chiropteran's arms elongated and latched onto his shoulders. He struggled to break free, but it did no good: the creature reeled its arms back in, dragging David along until they were practically nose to nose. Its jaws snapped open.
"Bastard-"
David thrust a thumb into one of the creature's eyes. It bellowed with pain, and then struck him across the mouth, sending him flying across the room to slam into a wall with his back, where he slumped to the floor, unconscious.
Another Red Shield agent tried his luck, but the chiropteran stretched its arms again and latched onto him, one hand grabbing his left arm and the other grabbing the back of his head. It reeled him in and sank its teeth deep into his neck, worrying at the wound like a dog with a bone. The Red Shield agent gurgled and thrashed in the chiropteran's grip for several seconds before going limp, his life's blood spraying out in a torrent that splashed the creature even as it fed on him. After drinking its fill, the chiropteran released the hapless agent, who fell to the floor, a massive cavern where his throat used to be.
Reenergized, the creature let out an inhuman shriek of triumph and then galloped out the door on all fours, killing or injuring any agents in its way as it went. Mere moments later, Saya, Haji, and Kai dashed through the lab door, weapons at the ready, only to stop short at the sea of blood before them.
"Damn it. Damn it!" Saya screamed, punching the wall in frustration. "We were too late!"
Author's Note:
Well, looks like Nathan's ditched Collins, and the mutant chiropteran has escaped. Can Saya put it down for good? Will it succeed in its mission? Why am I asking you all of these questions?
Again, all the answers (except the last one) in the chapters to come.
Please R&R. Until next time...
