Chapter 9

The Kneesocks Inquisition

"Oh, my dear sister, you cannot expect me to believe after a whole night of probing his brain, you didn't find more than a single page of evidence on Chaos Gloves!" Kneesocks tsks, giving the report to the servant to deliver to Corset and crossing her arms. Both young demons are in Scanty's room.

Scanty rolls her eyes. "I didn't spend all night "probing" his brain, Kneesocks." She objects, putting air quotes around the word probing.

"Yes, but you reported how the weapon turned red after coming in contact with demon blood. How would you have learned that bit without being injured?" Kneesocks insists.

"Accidents happen." Scanty shrugs, getting slightly aggravated.

"And the scar around your neck? You're not into auto-erotic-asphyxiation!" Kneesocks accuses.

"Fine, Kneesocks, I got caught and he almost killed me!" Scanty snaps. "I was so scared, and he was crazy and dangerous! And…and it turned me on so much. Oh, Kneesocks, I think I'm falling for the enemy!" Scanty admits, blushing.

Kneesocks scowls. "You're not in love with him; you're in love with the thrill and the adrenaline of almost getting killed for once. Scanty, he's an ANGEL, you cannot be together. He'll actually be out to get you because you intruded on his privacy!"

Scanty smirks and wags her finger. "That isn't what he'll remember! All he'll remember is a beautiful scarlet skinned teenager with long sea-green hair!" She exclaims flicking her wild spiky mane. "And!" She shouts, spinning around to face her sister, crouched down to her knees; a wild look in her eyes. "…A kiss." She reveals, standing straight up, her heel brought up to her sculpted buttocks, her hands clasped over her demonic heart, looking out the pentagram shaped window wistfully.

Kneesocks facepalms. "Really sister?! A KISS?! I thought I already told you, Romance is for the weak. And it has to be NOW, after years of boys swooning over you, and tripping over their own feet as you pass, you don't want just any boyfriend, lover, or sex slave, but it has to be an ANGEL?!" Kneesocks shrieks, throwing her arms up at the dreaded word.

"Well, Kneesocks, no other boy; demon, ghost, or what have you; has ever had eyes that pierce your heart or see into your soul! None of those could even have a chance of being my equal! And they certainly wouldn't have the pungent air of mystery lying about their being!"

"I think we should trade targets, Scanty." Kneesocks observes. "This may be too much for you, and you aren't thinking rationally."

Scanty shakes her head. "Thanks but no thanks, Kneesocks. While I appreciate the concern, I think I can woo him over to our side. Think about what could happen if we had an angel on our side. He was in the dark side of heaven, holding a bloody knife and a bag of heavens! He said he was an assassin! Gould you imagine having an angel working for us?! He could tell us info and be my little pet. And he could learn to trust me and we could find love… He could hold me in those lean arms of his and press my face to his chest… and I could feel his heart beat against my cheek, and feel his breath against my horns, and his strong black wings wrapped around my back…" Scanty croons and closes her eyes, trying to maintain her fantasy, of this angel protecting her from everything, his gossamer wings caressing her as his soft lips press against hers, taking her breath away.

Kneesocks sighs, exasperated. "Whatever, sister. I'll go review my Intel and tonight I shall attempt to recover the memories of Chaos Jacket. Go stalk the Assassin and see what he does."

Scanty rolls her eyes and heads out, closing the door behind her, leaving her sister to her own devices. Kneesocks flicks on the computer and pulls up her files.

Subject: Chaos Jacket

Race: Angel Sex: Male

Weapon: Jackets and overcoats that turn into a variety of guns and ranged weapons.

Battle Strategy: Unconfirmed.

Favored Weapon: Unrecognized.

Status: Fallen Angel. The Sin of Pride.

Additional information: None filed.

Kneesocks sighs and leans back in her chair. "I hate unfinished paperwork. Now I have to sit here and fill out the extras." She groans and blows a stray hair out of her eyes. "Well…better examine the video footage and file out at least the battle strategy part, if nothing else." She sits up and clicks the video, seeing the Razor Mantis and the two male angels jumping out of See-Through. "Those bastards… So that was what went wrong. We figured the girls wouldn't figure out how to kill it till it at least got halfway to the church, or at least to where it could fly."

She watches the brothers coordinate their attacks on the ghost. "It appears that the current strategy is for the Assassin is strangely a distraction while the gunner tries to find its weakness, testing different areas of the body with bullets. One on one, this strategy makes sense for this metallic ghost. The Anarchies would probably spend a few hours trying to find its weak point by bashing and blasting it till maybe a stray bullet hit its weak point, or Stocking slashes its eyes. These boys are being smart about this. Instead of focusing with raw power, they are trying to be effective."

She watches Gloves dodge gracefully around the legs of the beast, slinking in and out from between them, slashing at the belly, then like a snake, darting out. It is almost entrancing but Kneesocks manages to avert her gaze to watch the Gunner, Jacket, who has switched to a Dragonov, preferring fire rate over power, and has backed up quite a ways.

"Where! Is! The FUCKING! WEAK SPOT!" Gloves snarls. "JACKET! Hurry your ass up! I'm getting bored!" He shouts, using both weapons to block a giant razor from tearing him in two, shoving the limb away. Kneesocks watches as he notices the bug getting annoyed with him and looking for his brother. "It would appear I'm not the only one!" Gloves exclaims, and starts bashing the sides of the beast, drawing its attention once more. Kneesocks realizes the Assassin is rapidly losing faith in his brother's bullets, hearing a bullet bounce of every five seconds.

Jacket looks at the bloody eyes and aims, stating his opinion and takes the shot. The bullet rips through the beast's eye and bounces around inside its skull. The mantis collapses on the ground and blows to pieces, and some heavens start raining from the sky. A black blur runs across the screen and Kneesocks blinks. She leans forward and rewinds the video, slowing down the frame rate. She sees the black blur and zooms in on it, clearing the image up. She leans back and captures the image, and studies it. "Hmmm…That's a problem." The picture reveals Gloves dashing through the air, his gloves back on his hands, snatching most of the coins out of the air, a amused expression on his face.

Kneesocks files away the picture and files away the report on their strategy, effectiveness and how fast they killed the ghost. As a mission goes, they accomplished killing the ghost twice as fast as the Anarchies were expected. "Maybe that's where father's concern comes from. They might be better than us…Might….I need to find their weakness and exploit them. I'll start getting faster if I'm to beat Gloves and Stocking in combat." She becomes more impressed, if not confused, with the energy readings of the new angels. One continuously emitting energy bigger than himself, the other emitting next to none, but can streak through the air faster than anyone else.

She stands and stretches heading over to the window, popping it open and looking out on the city as her ponytail whips around behind her. "I should figure out a way to test these brothers, in a way that'll get them split up so I can observe Jacket while Scanty observes Gloves…I'll make four ghosts that will test the strength of each angel, and distract the Anarchies long enough for them each to finish their own jobs." A plan forms in her mind and she chuckles as the sun starts setting, and cool air starts blowing into the room. Clouds start forming above head and small droplets start to sprinkle, signaling a shower for the night. She heads down to the lobby, and waits for Scanty. Scanty walks in after the limo pulls up and she puts a few slips of paper in her pocket.

"Let's go hack some dreams, Scanty!" Kneesocks cheers.

"Actually, Kneesocks, there's a problem. Chaos Jacket was just kidnapped by Anarchy Panty." Scanty consoles.

"Well?! Where did they go?!" Kneesocks demands.

"That's just it. I was following Gloves, and I just got back. I only know because Jacket's bike was crashed and still in the woods in the park after the fight between him and Panty. I think Gloves wil find him soon and we should follow the Goth angel. But Stocking practically kicked Gloves out of the Church, so the boy angels might be finding somewhere different to stay. I believe they'll go back to the church, but who knows? I say we just follow the boy and make our move when we can." Scanty suggests.

"Hold on, how about instead of tracking the angel, we beat him to Jacket and try to get him first?"

"What would we do then, Kneesocks?" Scanty questions, giving her a look.

"Experimentation, of course." Kneesocks winks. Scanty winces and puts her hand up. "Let's stick to my plan, ok? Follow Gloves and wait till he brings Jacket home and we'll "probe" his mind. OK?"

"Why does it have to be about Gloves?!" Kneesocks accuses.

Scanty glares and crosses her arms. "Because Jacket IS Gloves' brother! Stocking and Gloves just had a fight right after their first date! ALL because of Jacket!"

Kneesocks crosses her arms. "That still explains nothing but why you think you have a chance to get closer to him."

Scanty grits her teeth and takes a breath. "BECAUSE, Kneesocks, he knows Panty is getting or has captured Jacket. Either He'll help his brother, or Gloves will save him to kill Jacket himself!"

"Hmmm…doubt it, but from the way the Anarchy sisters fight, who knows?" Kneesocks admits.

They get into the limo and Fastener drives away. Scanty whips out her guns and activates the spell. "Well… According to the drone I have following Gloves, he is heading to the slums of Daven, swerving down the bridge." She announces, smiling. Of course, it's also DELIGHTEFUL that Glocking is over, I can begin mission Scaves!

Scanty purrs and Kneesocks throws a wineglass at Fastener. "You heard her! To the slums!" The glass shatters against the windshield and Fastener puts the pedal to the metal, speeding over the highway, leaping over speed bumps flying over other cars that are stopped in red lights.

Soon they are at the downtown area, following the oblivious angel down the road. Consumed by his quest, he doesn't take into account of the small black limo following him. They follow him to a ratty yellow motel, where a pink jeep is parked in the front, marked with a pair of blue angel wings so no one steals it.

Gloves pulls his bike up to an alley, and waves his hand, beaconing into the alley, whispering. Shortly after, a half naked Jacket runs out and jumps onto the bike, screaming, "Go! Go! GO!" Gloves nods and burns rubber as they peel away into the rain, heading towards the middle of the city's market districts.

"Follow them!" Kneesocks shrieks and points at the streaking motorcycle. Fastener grumbles and slams on the pedal, pulling up to a reasonably undetectable distance away from the angelic motorcycle. They turn off the bridge as the angels do and watch as Gloves parks near the front of the store. Fastener parks the car down towards the end of the parking lot. Kneesocks jumps out and walks into the mall, minutes behind the brothers. Scanty looks around and turns to Kneesocks. "We might have to split up. You can just call my cell if you find them. Call me in 30 minutes if you haven't seen them."

Kneesocks gives a salute and nods. "Roger, Sister."

She heads to the food court, thinking that'd be the first place a goth angel would go, especially one that looks like it would eat as much as Stocking.

Scanty turns and heads to the back of the mall, heading for the game stores, comics and a punk store.(like a hot topic) She see the golden haired angel amidst a sea of black, & rainbow hair teens immediately. Scanty hides behind a rack of black shirts with band tees and red studded leather belts.

"NO JACKET! I won't buy that shirt!" Gloves shouts, looking away. "It's WAAAYYY too bright!"

"Bright?! It is just orange, dude! Come on, you NEED to revamp you're wardrobe! Maybe you'd get more attention from different girls if you'd simply wear a different color than just BLACK all the time!" Jacket argues, stressing his point.

Gloves rolls his eyes and looks around.

"Fine! Just…Pull a couple of those red and black plaid flannel shirt, and maybe some red and green ones… I know you didn't grab your wallet, so I'll pay with some extra Heavens. You can just owe me gas money later for saving you."

"Deal." Jacket smirks grabbing the long sleeve shirts. Gloves looks around and grabs another pair of studded gloves and sees a pair of the coolest googles he's ever seen. He tosses it on the check-out counter. "Here scan those too." The cashier scans the items lazily and puts them in a bag. Gloves looks around and grabs a green backpack with a big white skull decorating the front. He stuffs the bag of goods in the backpack and puts the goggles on his forehead, swinging the backpack onto his shoulders.

"Come on Gloves, let's grab a bite, I'm starving after that fight with Panty!" Jacket merrily declares.

"Yeah…not even going to ask what happened."

"Hey! That bitch went crazy! It happens when you're as stunning as I am." Jacket defensively states.

Gloves snorts. "Oh man. Just say you lost for once and I'll buy you a freaking pizza. I have, like, five heavens left, and these people treat them like gold!" Gloves said walking off towards the front of the store.

Jacket rolls his eyes. "Ugh, Gloves. No one told you, did they?"

Gloves stops and turns, confusedly looking at his brother. "Ummm…Tell me what?"

Jacket crosses his arms and smirks. "I know EXACTLY why everone will sell you anything for A Heaven!"

"Well, spit it out then." Gloves retorts, curious.

"Well, while Angels and Demons are the only ones that can kill ghosts to be able to get the coins, every being can use them. Angels, as you know, use them to fund our missions, pay for new weapons and equipment. Demons can use Heavens to make Hells to buy from other demons."

"Wait, Hells? What are Hells?" Gloves asks, incredulous.

"Seems you don't know it all after all, dork." Jacket chuckles.

"I never said I knew it all…I just usually happen to know more than you do. Anyways, Hells?"

Jacket clears his throat. "Yes, Hells. When a demon kills a real ghost with even some power, they can get a few heavens. It's a fact that they can turn a single Heaven into a hundred Hells, making them richer, but it's legend that if a demon collects enough Heavens, without turning them into Hells, they can become either a human, or- more expensive- become an Angel."

Scanty gasps and Gloves's eyes widen. "What?!"

Jacket nods, "Indeed. But I hear it takes about a thousand, maybe even thousands of Heavens to become one of us. And even then they have to stay on earth and get more heavens to buy their way into the Pearly Gates."

Scanty leans her ear out of the rack, listening intently now. I can buy my way into Heaven?! And be an Angel with Gloves?!~ The very thought fills her with innocent hope, and her heart quickens. Wait, slow down, Scanty. Don't throw everything away for a man. It's one of the Ruuuuuules. You don't even know if he'll love you in return! Just…log the info away and remember it later.

"But you still haven't explained why the humans want them? Why would they want Heavens OR these Hell coins?" Gloves persists.

Jacket smiles. "Well, humans are just as flawed as some of us, Gloves. Heavens can buy people forgiveness for their sins, and enough Heavens will buy them a place in heaven for when they die. Regardless of how much they sinned. But it has to cost a lot more than becoming an angel for a demon."

"What?! Blasphemy! What if they are truly evil creatures! What if they don't deserve the place allotted to them, regardless of how much they pay!" Gloves yells, infuriated.

"Well gloves, then if they are truly evil, they wont actually save up the Heavens, they'll want more power. So, they'll perform a ritual, and turn the Heavens into Hells. If they are truly evil, they'll use the Hells to become demons and live forever on Earth and in Hell. Only those that truly regret their sins and want to be forgiven and get a place in heaven will want to save those Heavens. And since only angels or demons can get Heavens, the humans turn to us for some mercenary work. That's sort of the reason why we have Angel Outposts throughout the world, and some of us choose to even stay on earth."

Gloves nods and looks down, biting his lip. "What if…an Angel started turning Heavens into Hells? Y'know, hypothetically… what would happen?"

Jacket frowns. "Well, They'd start becoming demons, I'd assume. One of the Fallen- that's one of us, by the way- did that once and became one of the most powerful Demons on earth… Angels don't talk about him much or why he did what he did, but most assume it would be Greed, or Wrath, as he developed a hatred for angels."

"What was his name?" Gloves inquires.

"…Mourning Star." "Morningstar?" "No, Mourning Star. Like grief."

"Who gave him that name?" Gloves asks, confused. "Mother gives us our last names, and our clothes determines our first name, and we pick our middle name, if we want one."

Jacket goes quiet for a few seconds. "Mother did. He was one of her most powerful subjects and they were lovers. It's said they slept together even while he was on earth, and shortly before he became a demon, they had children. No one really knows who they are, but it doesn't really matter now, cause we will not meet them on earth. They probably never leave the castle!" Jacket laughs and they both grin, staying quiet, reminiscing about their lives in heaven.

After a few seconds pass, Jacket pats Glove's back. "Come on, bro. There's a pizza you owe me, and people are waiting to buy Heaven."

Gloves smirks and nods. "Hey, Game Designers deserve to go to heaven. Let's buy a few games before we leave."

Jacket laughs and pats him on the back. "Yeah, I'm sure we can buy a few good games and have enough left over for a bacon pizza and drinks. I'll give you my heavens from the last fight in the morning." Gloves and him walk out the store and scanty flicks her phone open, hitting her speed dial number 4, Kneesocks. After two rings her sister answers. "Any luck?"

Scanty nods. "Actually I've found them and they are going to head to the food court soon to order a bacon pizza."

"Roger, I'll poison their drinks." Kneesocks replies calmly.

"NO! Don't kill them!" "Relax, sis. IT's only fatal to humans. To angels and demons, this plant is just a sedative. I'm just going to put a few in the drinks and food so that when they get to the church, they fall asleep as soon as possible."

"Oh…well that's fine. And easy cause there is only one pizza place in the food court."

"Right. Later sister." "Roger." Scanty hangs up, and looks around the store. She sees hairspray, colored contacts, vampire teeth, and bottles of skin bleach and energy drinks on the counters. "Hmmm… if I need to get close to him… I might as well hide my identity." She says picking up bottles of skin bleach, pale make up, and single color contacts, picking a light green color, like the rings of her eyes. She pays in cash and slips them in her trench coat pockets. Scanty rushes out, flipping the collar of her jacket up, and attempts to blend in with the Japanese citizens.

Kneesocks hops over the counter to the pizza parlor, putting on the employee uniform and hat, covering her skin and face. She gets the pizza that the angels want warmed up, and mashes some sedatives in the pizza, setting up a bottle of pills under the counter. She looks around, seeing really no one on duty, probably on a coffee break as it's getting so late, or everyone is between shifts.

Soon the brothers arrive and she takes the pizza out of the oven. She puts it on the counter and grabs their drinks, dropping two leaves in each, not looking up at Gloves as he leaves two Heavens on the counter for her. "Danke." Gloves thanks, heading back to the table and throwing the pizza down in front of Jacket. "Vernaschen!" Gloves smiles.

Kneesocks slips the Heavens into her pocket and heads into the back of the parlor, changing back into her trench coat. When the boys finish eating, she heads out the back door and meets Scanty in the limo.

The boys save the drinks for last, as Jacket wolfs his pizza down, and Gloves practically inhales it, eating a slice twice as fast as Jacket. Jacket watches him and smirks. "You do remind me of Stocking-chan." Gloves stares at him, not sure what he means, mouthful of pizza. "Nomnomnom?" Jacket rolls his eyes and laughs. "Do you ever think you might have also been sent down for Gluttony?" Gloves smirks and wags his finger, swallowing a pizza slice. "No way, man. I think my Envy and Greed is worse. Let's stick with Envy till that is resolved. We'll worry about my weight when my angelic metabolism fails." Jacket laughs and they swallow some of their drinks, heading out, having finished the pizza. Gloves throws it like a Frisbee at a dumpster outside, not caring if it actually goes it, and keeps walking to his bike. Luckily the box flies into the dumpster lid, falling inside the metal bin and slamming it shut. "Two points, dude." Gloves smirks.

Jacket smirks. "So how are you going to make it up to Stocking-chan?" Gloves shrugs, walking to his bike. "I'll just give her it back and let her decide when to forgive me." Jacket downs his drink and holds the glass bottle, following him. "Sounds like a very ineffective plan, bro." Gloves gulps down his and throws it on the ground, making it break into a thousand pieces. "I'm not trying to get into her dress. I'm trying to make a lasting relationship with one of the few angels that are like me." Jacket shrugs and just tosses his bottle on top of the pile of glass. "Whatever."

Gloves swings his leg over the bike and sits down, stroking the skull on the bike gently, and sliding the keys in, powering it up with a purr of gas. "Oh I freaking love this bike. Come on, Jacket. Let's go home. I'm pretty tired." Jacket jumps on the back of his bike and Gloves drives off, the goth-mobile barely making noise, and Gloves pulls the goggles down over his eyes.

Kneesocks and Scanty go over to the bottle, and Kneesocks laugh, picking it up. "Perfect. It's empty."

*To be continued in Kneesocks Inquisition 2/2 Jacket's Dreams…