Hey everyone, so this part here, as well as the part before it, and the part fallowing it, was originally all supposed to be one chapter. But I'm lazy as fuck so it's going to be three chapters, possibly four. Anyway, you get the latest developments in the life and times of Ronny Ferus faster because of my lazyness, so yay.
Oh! And I just realized a couple days ago that when you write something italic in Open Office and then import it to , it ceases to be italic, so there was probably some confusion in previous chapters as to when someone was thinking something. Sorry about that, and brownie points to all those who were able to figure it out regardless.
In response to Not Nameless: First of all, sorry that it has taken my forgetful ass three whole fucking chapters to respond to you, but yes, you may quote me. In fact, please do, I invite it, on here or anywhere else.
Now... GET ON WITH IT!
...
Ron looked out the window of the van, but the blackness of the night compounded by the dark tint of the glass curbed his vision so heavily that he couldn't even see the ground rushing past underneath. They had been forced to all pile into one of the vans, because the other one was full of field and monitoring equipment. Rin got to ride shotgun, next to his brother who was driving. Behind Yukio sat Ron, with Konkomaru in the middle and Bon in the opposite window seat. Behind them sat Shemie and Izumo, with Renzo happily squeezed in between them. Nobody talked, there was a tension in the air. Suddenly, something flashed by Ron's window, startling him. He looked back to see that it was just a blinking yellow light illuminating a road side construction site. Ron got comfortable in seat again just in time for Yukio to say: "Alright, we're here." The car slowed, coming to a halt before turning left into a large empty lot. Ron looked around Yukio, trying to get a better look. Then the head lights illuminated it's silhouette in the distance, maybe a hundred yards away. It was so massive that from where he was, all he could see was about half of the southern wall. The head lights turned a little to the right, showing a door at the very corner of the factory, marked PRIVATE PROPERTY. DO NOT ENTER. And then underneath that: EMPLOYEE ENTRANCE ONLY. The car continued to pull forward, before stopping about twenty feet from the large metal doorway. "Everybody out." Yukio said.
They all got out and huddled around the hood of the van. Despite the blackness, it was a very nice night out, the air was warm and humid, and when got to hot, a nice breeze came along cooled everything back down. Ron and pretty much everyone else quietly wished the weather could be enjoyed under better circumstances.
"All right, here we go." Shura said, appearing from the blackness behind them with a large rolled up sheet of paper in her hand. "This is the floor plan of the factory." She said, unrolling the paper on the hood of the car. "There are four entrances, one at each corner of the building. We are here; at the southeast corner entrance." She pointed to the spot on the floor plan. "The road we just got off of is here, running parallel to the western wall. There are two floors; the manufacturing floor, or bottom floor, where all of the assembly lines are. There are six lines in all, the factory has them placed three wide and two long on the floor. Try not to destroy any of the lines or the equipment that is still attached to them, we have to foot the bill for that. In total, the factory is about an eighth of a mile wide and a fourth of the mile long. Any questions about the layout?"
Bon's hand shot up immediately. "You said there were two floors, but you only talked about the first floor. Why didn't you mention the second, is it off-limits or something?"
"Nothing is off limits." Yukio said. "I would like to remind everyone that this is in no way a controlled exercise, this a real combat mission. Use everything at your disposal."
"True." Shura said. "But, to answer your question, Suguro, I didn't mention second floor because it's just a management floor. The only thing that makes up the 'second floor' is two catwalks that Run along east and west sides of the building, a bridge in the center connecting them, and a foreman's office on the west side. There's really no reason why you would need to go up there."
"The foreman needs to be able to observe his factory well." Ron said. "I bet that office and those catwalks are pretty high off the ground floor."
Shura raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, about thirty meters." She said.
"Sounds like a good vantage point to me." Ron said.
Yukio shook his head. "Let's jut get on with it. Come on, Time to get the rest of your materials of of the other van." He said.
Shura rolled the floor plan back up and they all walked back to the other van. Once they were all gathered around the back doors for the van, Shura opened them wide to reveal nothing less than a mobile armory and command station. There were eight or so glowing computer monitors and beeping electronics, along with two folding chairs, a gun rack, and a padlocked supply cabinet at the back. Yukio stepped inside and grabbed a lone G36c rifle off the gun rack, he then unfolded the stock and handed the weapon to Suguro, who took it and immediately pulled the bolt open, checking to see if there was a cartridge in the chamber. Once he was satisfied that weapon was safe, he slung it over his shoulder. Yukio then walked back to the supply cabinet, undoing the padlock and grabbing a utility belt containing four magazines out of it, also handing this to Suguro, who wrapped it around his waist and clicked the buckled behind his back. Then Yukio reached in the cabinet and removed what looked like a head band with some kind of pod on the side of it. "You all will also be receiving one of these. This is what we will be using to monitor the mission." He said. "This little pod on the side here is a digital camera, allowing us to observe every move you make in real time from right here in this van."
Shemie shivered. "You mean that your not coming inside with us." She said, her voice quivering with fear.
"Don't worry Shemie." Yukio said. "Thanks to these cameras, it will be like we're right there with you." Then, Yukio pulled a two wave radio out of his jacket pocket. "Doubly so with these. This button on the side here," he said, fingering a large red button next to the digital antenna. "is the panic button. If you press it, it will send an alarm to us, as well as a beacon to your exact location. However..." He said, his tone intensifying. "if anyone of you presses it, the mission is over for all of you, so think twice before calling for help. Alright, lets get set up."
Over the next couple of minutes, radios and head cameras were distributed to everybody. As Ron sniffed the air, he noticed a slight increase in tension as the action got closer. He started seeing that tension manifest itself; Bon kept checking his weapon, Izumo scrutinized her summoning circle, making sure that there were no brakes or mistakes, and even Rin, who was usually either to brave or to oblivious to be scared, kept messaging the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it at a moments notice. There was a particularly strong scent coming from Konekomaru, dangerously strong. It worried Ron. Then everybody was ready, except for one minor detail.
"Hey." Ron said, walking up to Shura. "So, are you gonna let me have my gun?"
"Well..." Shura said. She looked over to Yukio, who nodded grudgingly. "Alright, give me a minute." She said. Then she held her hand over her stomach area, and suddenly her tattoo began to glow with light. A pistol emerged from the light in her stomach, suspended in mid air. Then Shura grabbed it, and the light disappeared.
"Anybody ever tell you just how trippy that is?" Ron said, raising an eyebrow.
"You do realize that as your instructor, I could make you go in there with nothing but your boxers, right?" She said.
"Yeah, yeah. Can I have the gun now?" Ron said.
Shura rolled her eyes. "Here." She said, handing him the pistol.
Ron took it, but then had to take a second to admire the craftsmanship. It was a H&K USP 45. with a mag-well custom fitted for extended magazines, a right-hand-molded grip, a custom recoil compensator/flash hider mounted to the muzzle, and a miniature PEQ box mounted under the barrel with a laser sight and a flash light. All over the barrel and receiver there was professionally done engravings of crosses, adding to the weapons already foreboding look. It was some really nice custom work, but... "This isn't my pistol." Ron said.
"What do you mean it's not 'your' pistol?" Shura said.
"You know what I mean." Ron said, growling.
Shura chuckled. "Buster, you'll be getting that pistol when I think your ready for it. Like I said before, you should be happy that you're getting anything."
Ron sighed. "Okay." He said. "Can I at least get some ammunition?" He said, sticking his middle finger up the empty mag well of the gun.
"Alright, since you asked." Shura said. She once again did the thing with her tattoo, but this time two large pistol magazines emerged from her stomach. She handed them to Ron. "You happy now?" She said.
"I only get two?" Ron said.
"They're staggered magazines, they hold twenty rounds a piece and are fully loaded. If you need more ammo than that, you dead anyway, Buster." She said, ruffling Ron's hair.
"Thanks for the encouragement." Ron said, sliding one of the mags up into the gun and stuffing the other down his pocket. Ron walked back over the group. Bon was busy fitting his flash light to the side of his gun, but everybody else seemed ready to go. They were all quietly chatting amongst each other, except for Konekomaru, who was standing a few feet from everybody else, staring at the ground. "Is something wrong?" Ron said, walking up to Konekomaru.
Konekomaru jumped at the sound of Ron's voice. "N...No." He stuttered. "I was just... praying."
"When are you gonna learn it's impossible to bullshit me." Ron said, putting on a friendly smile. "I can smell fear, remember?" He said, flicking his own nose.
Konekomaru sighed. "It's just..." Konekomaru looked away from Ron. "Last year, I was possessed by a demon, a Typhoon. Lets just say that it was less than pleasant. And darklings are notorious for possessing... people of my size." he said.
Ron nodded. "Your problem is trust." he said.
Konekomaru turned and looked Ron straight in the eye. "What do you mean?" He said.
"The last time you were possessed it was because you didn't trust the people around you. You didn't trust that Rin could keep his power contained, and you didn't trust Bon and Shima to not abandon you. So right now, how about you trust me when I tell you that everything will be alright." Ron said, putting a hand on Konekomaru's shoulder.
Konekomaru looked up at Ron, and, to Ron's surprise, smiled. "Thanks." He said.
"Alright!" They heard Yukio shout. All heads turned in the direction of the instructor. "Look," He said, approaching the group. "I wasn't going to trouble you with this, but we have a new policy with exwire combat missions. As part of your training for being in the field, you have to assign a mission leader for your group."
Bon immediately stepped forward. "I nominate myself." He said.
"No way!" Izumo said. "I wouldn't fallow you into a pillow store."
Bon whipped around, pointing a menacing finger at Izumo. "Yeah? Well how else is better for the job than me? You? HA! That's a laugh."
Izumo sighed, like a mother disappointed in her obnoxious son. "I wasn't going to suggest me, nimrod. I just don't want somebody as self-obsessed as you are giving me orders."
Bon looked like he was going to spontaneously combust. "Why you little..." Konekomaru and Renzo grabbed him on either side and held him back as he tried to lunge himself at Izumo.
Izumo didn't even flinch. "Typical." she said.
"I have an idea." Rin said, tapping his head. "What about Ron?"
"Huh?" Everyone else blurted in unison, including Ron, Yukio, and Shura.
"Think about it." Rin said. "We've all known him for equally as long, and we all distrust him equally as much, so there's no bias."
Ron raised an eyebrow. "Uhh... thanks... I think." Ron said.
"Rin does have a point." Konekomaru said. "Ron is really the only common denominator here."
Izumo sniffed. "So what? Without that demon pistol of his, Ron is just as useless as Rin without his sword."
"Hey!" Rin and Ron shouted in unison.
"Just pointing out the facts." Izumo said.
"Not really." Rin said. "I know he can fight hand-to-hand, and he has great reaction time. I have the bruises to prove it."
"And just because his demonic powers are sealed away in a gun, it doesn't mean that there isn't still the blood of a fear demon pumping through his veins. So he's still naturally better with a gun- or any other weapon- than most humans." Shura said.
"Well, Ron." Yukio said as everybody turned to look at Ron. "What do you think."
"Uhh... sure, I guess." Ron shrugged. "So I'm like a squad leader?"
"Yes." Yukio said, stepping forward. "The team leader acts as a field coordinator for the other exorcists. It's his job to figure out the best way to deal with the task at hand and come up with solutions to problems encountered in the field." Yukio took a rolled up piece of paper out of his jacket. "This is a smaller version of the floor plan we all looked at earlier, it might help you plan your moves." He held the map out for Ron, but when he grabbed it, Yukio held onto it for a second, and mouthed the words 'Don't fuck this up' to Ron before letting go.
"Thanks." Ron said, nodding to Yukio.
Yukio turned to face the rest of the group. "Now, you will be entering the facility from the doors closest to us, the south-east entrance." He said, pointing to the large metal double-doors illuminated by the van's headlights. "That is your only instruction, from hear your on your own. Mission clock start..." Yukio looked at his watch. "...now. Go!"
"Okay, everybody, lets move!" Ron shouted, running toward the door and motioning for everyone else to fallow him. Ron took cover on the wall on the left side of the double-doors. "Suguro, stack up on the other side of the door, the rest of you, get behind me, up against the wall."
Suguro stacked up on the other side of the big double-doors. "Breach and clear?" He asked, stuffing a magazine into his weapon and pulling the bolt back.
"Yeah." Ron said as ever body else lined up behind him. "You know how?" He asked.
"Yeah. Do you?" Suguro asked.
Ron nodded. "Shura taught me." He said.
"So how we gonna play this, you want to kick down the door?" Suguro asked.
"Naw, it's to heavy, and I don't want to startle what ever is behind it. So take it slow. We'll open the doors at the same time, I'll clear left, you clear right. Got it?" Suguro nodded. Ron looked behind him at the others. "Okay, everybody else, wait out here until I me and Suguro clear the room okay?" Everybody nodded. "Okay, here we go." Ron pulled the slide back on his pistol, chambering a round.
Ron pushed on his door, slowly applying more and more pressure until the giant door started to move. Suguro fallowed his lead, and together they opened the doors, guns raised. It was completely black on the inside, Bon and Ron fingered the buttons on the side of there firearms, turning on their tactical lights. Ron was a little surprised at what he saw, instead of giant factory, extending out as far his little LED light would shine, his light fell upon a row of lockers, less than twenty feet in front of him. He continued through the doorway, moving his light to the left, he saw more lockers and few benches, as well as few empty shipping crates along the wall. He entered the room fully, checking the wall behind him and behind the door, but again, only finding lockers.
"Clear right." He heard Suguro whisper.
"Clear left." Ron said. Suddenly Ron was blinded by a bright flash of light. "Fuck!" He yelled as he covered his eyes with his arm.
"Oh, sorry." He heard Suguro say.
When Ron uncovered his eyes, he saw Bon standing next to light switch. "Give me some warning next time, okay? You damn near scared the shit out of me."
"I said I was sorry, didn't I?" Suguro said, shrugging.
Ron gave Suguro a hard look as he turned off his tactical light and put his pistol back into his waist band. Then he ducked his head back outside of the doubled doors. "It's safe to come in." he said to the other students, who fallowed him back into the little room.
"I don't think this was on the floor plan." Konekomaru said as he entered the little room with all the lockers.
"Yeah, it doesn't look like this was part of the original factory." Bon said, rubbing his hand over the wall were a locker had been ripped out. "These are cheap bricks and poorly laid mortar, it looks like it was just thrown up to be an employee locker room. The rest of the factory is probably just beyond that door there." he said, pointing to a crooked and splintered wooden door in between two lockers.
"It certainly smells like a locker room." Renzo said, pinching his nose.
"Look over there." Izumo said, pointing toward the western end of the room. "That looks like a cargo elevator." And indeed it was. A large metal cage painted in a yellow warning color, with an electric motor bolted to the ground beside it.
"Yeah. It probably goes up to the second floor cat walks, where the manager's office is." Konekomaru said.
"So wait, is the entire factory broken up into little rooms like this?" Rin asked.
Bon shook his head. "Probably not. But it would be a good idea to check it out from above. So someone should go up there and get the lay of the land. Don't you think, Ron?" He asked. But Ron wasn't paying attention, he seemed to be lost in his own little world, sniffing the air. "Ron!" Bon said, a little bit sharper. "Shouldn't we get going?"
"No." Ron said, holding up his hand. "I smell something. We're not alone." Ron pulled out his pistol, and motioned for Bon to come up behind him as he advanced toward the western end of the room. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the barrel of Bon's rifle come up beside him as he moved forward, toward the smell. It was coming from a pile of shipping crates in front of the eastern row of lockers. It was sweet, but not creamy, it was sharp, and layered beneath it was a bitterness. It was very pure fear laced with an undertone of confidence, a very interesting combination. There was one particularly large shipping crate that reached almost all the way to the ceiling of the little room, and could have easily fit two people inside of it. He pointed to it, showing Bon where the smell was coming from. Bon trained the barrel of his rifle on it as they approached. They stopped at it, and Ron raised three fingers, signaling a count down. 3... 2... 1... He closed his fist, and then flipped the shipping crate over to expose... a child with a video camera?
"What the fuck?" Bon said, lowering the barrel of his gun.
Ron could see the little guy was about to scurry off, so he grabbed him by the back of his shirt color and raised him off the ground. "Put me down now!" The kid yelled, waving his video camera at Ron.
Ron just gave him a kind of sideways look. "God your short, what are you, like five?" He said, stuffing his pistol into his belt.
"I AM TEN YOU BOGGER EATER! Your...Your just a giant!" he screamed.
Ron heard the rest of the class come up behind him. "I think a better question is 'what is he doing here?'" He heard Izumo say.
"Yeah, that." Ron said, looking the little kid straight in the eyes.
The little kid looked around at all the other students, with there various weapons and strange clothing. "Your here to fight the monsters, aren't you?" he said, totally ignoring Ron's question.
Ron didn't know how to respond to that. "Uhh..." Ron looked over his shoulder at Bon, hoping for some silent advice. Bon gave him a look that said 'just bullshit.' "No, no. There's no such thing as monsters. We're just... a cleaning crew." Ron said, smiling.
"You lie!" The kid said, pointing his finger in Ron's face. "I know because your one of them, a monster! You have pointy ears, and pointy teeth..."
Ron raised an eyebrow. "Sure, I may look a bit odd, but it doesn't mean I'm a mon..."
"...And a tail!" The little kid said. Now that made Ron gulp, as well as curl up his tail behind his back. "And your friend is one too!" He said, pointing over Ron's shoulder at Rin, who tried to quickly and nonchalantly stuff his tail into his pants. "I've been able to see them ever since I got sick when my father bought this place. But nobody at school will believe me, they make fun of me! But now I have you on video and everybody will see that I'm not a lair!" he said, waving the camera around.
"Hmm." Ron smiled. "I'll be taking that." He said, snatching the camera with his free hand, and then tossed it over his shoulder to Renzo, who nearly dropped it on the concrete floor as he caught it.
"Hey! GIVE IT BACK!" The kid screamed.
"We will." Ron said. "As soon as my friend over there deletes the memory."
"NO NO NO NO NO!" The little kid screamed and thrashed as he tried to hit Ron, pretty aimlessly, considering Ron had him extended out at arm's length. "You can't do this!" He said as his eyes started to tear up.
Then, Ron set the kid back down the ground, which was apparently such a surprise that it warranted a halt in the child's crying. "Listen, kid." Ron said, kneeling down so that he was once again eye level with the kid. "Forget about the monsters, they're scary, but they are all just in your head, you can wish them away any time you please." Ron reached out and ruffled the little kids hair. "If you ask me, it's the humans that you've got to be worried about."
Something began to glow behind the kids eyes. "Is that what you fear, Fear-Demon?" The voice came from the little kid, but it was higher pitched, and layered, it wasn't his voice. It was... demonic. It was at this time that Ron noticed the little kid was standing in a shadow cast by the crates, a shadow that appeared to be crawling up his leg...
…
Thanks for reading! There are probably a fuck ton of spelling and grammatical errors here, but good news, before I update this story again I'm going to do a full read through of it and clean it up. And allow me to thank those who have stuck with me regardless of my total lack of proof reading.
Please review!
