Chapter 10
[Hikan]
Well… we didn't make it in time.
Even if I was in my CPU form, we weren't able to make it. I ran out of energy as we landed next to the guild. I was so tired that my legs almost collapsed under me, but I pushed forward.
I ordered Yukiko to stay in the lobby, she complained and begged at first but I would not allow it. Seymour is already going to yell at me because I was late. Seriously, he's like Histy sometimes.
And I wasn't wrong, Shizuki and I stepped into the room and saw Seymour with his arms crossed in front of us. "Where have you two been?"
"Something came up that we had to help real quick." I said and scratched the back of my head, "Sorry… Ahahaha…"
"Hmph! Typical, not only is Planeptune's general STILL not here, but the great Hikan Masato is late to his own councils meetings." Seymour stated and walked back towards his seat.
Still, the Planeptune general isn't here? He usually misses some things that aren't as important, but he usually never misses a council meeting. I guess an emergency came up. In his place, however, was Histy, IF was sitting next to my seat and Ozaki had already taken his place and was sorting through papers, closely examining them with his friend beside him: the Leanbox General.
He usually misses preparing the meetings due to his own job in Leanbox, being the CPU's assistant and all. It seemed Vert hired a new guy to help her while she… worked on her own thing.
His short blonde hair was straight in the back and in the middle of his head, but once going towards the front, his hair went up, it looked like he had a fin on his head. His glasses were dark tinted so you couldn't see his eyes and he wore a black long-sleeved jacket with a black vest under it, he had gray fingerless gloves on his hands and black dress pants along with black dress shoes. The most impressive thing about him though was that he was blind, that's why he tinted his glasses. But he was able to move around freely and read and tell when things are in front of him. He says that it took him a long time to be able to do all of this, but I'm sure he has some sort of secret.
I sat down at my chair and Shizuki took her seat next to me, Once Seymour saw us all in place, he stood up from his chair. "Council is now in session!" he announced and IF looked over at him, about to say something. I grabbed her shoulder.
"Let it go." I whispered and she looked back at me.
"But…" I stared at her, "Fine…"
"Recently, in all four of our home nation's. We had nothing but peace, the CPU's continue to protect their nations and compete for their shares. However, something has started to change that perfect peace." Seymour explained and held his hand towards Ozaki, "Ozaki."
"Thank you sir." Ozaki said as Seymour sat down and Ozaki stood up, "In all of our nations, there has been a monster like no other that has been sighted. A beast that can use advance technology and can avoid every nation's security. This beast is certainly one of most dangerous creatures we've come across." he explained, "Using the technology between Leanbox and Lowee, we were able to capture an image of the beast." he said and looked over at the Leanbox general and nodded.
"Here it is." the general said, his voice was calm and professional, he was like the perfect assistant. He pressed a button on the table and a screen slowly came down from the ceiling. Once fully down the screen lit up and showed a picture. Sure enough, it was exactly like what Shizuki told me it looked like. It had it's arm up with it's claw shot out and was looking into a forest. "As you can see, this beast resembles a human, but we've never seen it's face. We're not sure if this thing is a human or not."
"It would be best if we send our best hunters to apprehend such a creature." Histy suggested and Seymour looked over at her.
"It would, but my focus is on another matter." Seymour stated, "Surely, all of you must know that Lady Black Heart has gone missing."
"I've gotten reports, yes. But I have unable to pinpoint her precise location." the Leanbox General pointed out.
"With the technology both you and Lowee possess, you are unable to perform a simple task? Unbelieveable Makoto!" Seymour yelled. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that his name is Makoto.
"Don't blame him!" IF blurted out and Seymour glared over towards her.
"Why are you even here? This meeting is for the Council Generals… And you are no General." Seymour criticized and IF gritted her teeth. I looked over at Ozaki and saw him staring at me. I already knew what he wanted.
"I asked her here personally Seymour. As the leader of the Council, whatever I say goes." I declared and Seymour stared at me.
"Fine." I looked back at Ozaki and he smiled and mouthed the words "thank you". "Onto another important matter. I refuse to allow anyone from Lastation to take part in this hunt."
"What? Seymour, please understand-" Ozaki started but Seymour shook his head.
"Lastation's CPU is missing. Our first priority is to find her, Lastation's protection is at risk!" Seymour pointed out and Shizuki looked over at him.
"Uni is there in Lastation, she can hold it down until Noire comes back." Shizuki commented but Seymour slapped his hand down on the table.
"Absolutely not. Uni is not yet ready." Seymour denied.
"Not ready? Uni has as much experience as Noire does! She helps Noire with all of her work." Shizuki argued and look at Histy. "Tell him Histoire."
"It is true that Uni has made an incredible impact on Lastation, both her and Noire have been able to increase their shares more than twice the amount of the other nations." Histoire agreed, "but, I will have to agree with Seymour, Uni is not yet ready to have Lastation under her responsibility. She has yet to awaken her CPU form."
"Then I can help her. I can-"
"Shizuki, enough." I ordered and stood up. "Uni won't be able to hold Lastation down on her own, but that doesn't mean whe will be on her own." I explained and looked at Seymour, "That's the one thing that I hope to change around here, no-one will be on their own anymore. My job is to keep Gamindustri safe with the CPU's. When another one of my comrades is in danger, then I'll help them with all I've got. This beast is our biggest threat and I know that this beast has a connection to Noire's disappearance."
"Yes yes, you love doing your long monologues…"
"Monologue or not. Seymour, you will assist in finding this creature and capturing it. Shizuki and I will focus on finding Noire." I decided and stood up. "Ozaki and Makoto, you two will use the tech you have to find the beast. Histoire… I know how hard it will be, but have Neptune meet me in Lastation. IF, I want you to look around Planeptune for the beast." I commanded and looked around, "If any of us finds anything about the beast, immediately contact me or Shizuki. We'll show this beast to not mess with us."
Everyone nodded except for Seymour and I smiled. "Then this council is-"
"Hikan!" The guild receptionist came barreling into the room out of breath.
"What's wrong?" I asked her and she looked up at me with concern in her eyes.
"It's the girl you had with you. Yukiko. A emergency came in and she insisted that she would take the quest. I told her to stay put but she wouldn't listen."
"Calm down, it's alright. We'll get her."
"Please hurry, because the emergency came in because… it's the beast again…"
After hearing that I didn't waste any time. I ran down the stairs and bursted out the door of the guild. I jumped into the air as fire engulfed me. Transforming into my CPU form.
The area that Yukiko went to was a cave that I will never forget… the Planeptune hideout of The Saviors. I flew over there so fast that it took me less then two minutes.
I landed on the ground and reverted back. I ran into the cave calling Yukiko's name.
"Yukiko! Where are you!" I yelled looking around, we blocked up the entrance to the hideout to assure that no-one stumbles in. But I could not find Yukiko anywhere.
I walked out of the cave after searching. Where was she? She was supposed to be here.
I pulled my phone out and was about to call Shizuki, but something caught my ears.
"Hahahahahahahaha." A deep gruesome laugh coming from in front of me. I looked up and saw nothing at first, but I heard something. Immediately I knew what it was.
"Stop hiding behind your invisibility, show yourself." I called out and something flashed in front of me, white flashes went around the air and soon the skin of the beast started showing. Shortly after, the entire beast was in front of me. Seeing it sure was something… "Yeah, I'm getting excited!"
The beast made a low growl as it pointed it's finger at me. "Hikan…" it muttered with Shizuki's voice, "HELP!" it yelled with Yukiko's voice.
"You… what did you do with Yukiko?!" I shouted and the beast grunted before raising its arm into the air. It's claws shot out of it's gauntlet and growled at me.
Suddenly, it charged for me, faster then I expected it to be. I quickly side-stepped and threw my leg around, hitting it in the side, but it barely affected the beast. It looked over at me and threw it's arm forward. I moved out of the way and summoned my short-sword, quickly slicing the beast in front of me. But it threw it's arm up and blocked the attack. Then grabbed ahold of me and picked me up. With a roar of defiance, it ran towards the cave and smashed me against the wall.
"Gah!" I grunted, I actually felt blood run up my throat and escape my mouth, it's been so long since I've seen my own blood. "Playing that way huh?"
I flipped over the beast after it took me off the wall for another smash and turned quickly. The beast turned and walked towards me. I dodged another one of it's slashes and grabbed it's arm, but it easily shook me off by swinging it back at the cave, this thing's strength is inhuman.
After hitting the wall of the cave again, I slid to the ground and quickly recovered. Again the beast walked towards me and this time both claws were out of his gauntlets. I summoned another sword and held my ground, "Come on! Let me show you my power!" I yelled and ran towards the beast. I slashed at it's abdomen, but it easily parried my attack and slashed its claws towards me. I ducked and went for another kick. But the beast was ready this time, it jumped over my kick and landed behind me. I turned around towards it and slashed quickly, but the beast backed away from my slash and went for a stab, I diverted it's claw away, but it used it's other hand to grab me by my throat and lifted me into the air, I dropped my sword in the process. It brandish one of its claws again aiming right under my chin.
I smacked my hand on it's mask and erupted fire from my palm, immediately it dropped me and reeled back. I grabbed my sword and swung across it's chest. Making a mark across it's armor. It growled at me and raised its arm at me, shooting one of its claws towards my face. I quickly turned my head as the claw went sailing over, when I looked back up the beast was ready and swung its fist at my face, connecting against my cheek, I flew back and landed on the wall of the cave. The beast ran towards me and grabbed me by my shirt. Lifting me in the air again. I grabbed its arm again and erupted fire, but it didn't bother putting me down. It shot another claw out of his free arm and threw it towards me face. I grabbed his arm and held it back, but it was slowly closing in on my face. Now would be the time…
"To transform!" I shouted and continued to push the beast's arm back, but nothing was happening… why wasn't I transforming!
The beast grunted and threw me towards the ground. I landed with a thud and looked back at the beast. Not only that but I couldn't move my body… what is going on?
The beast slowly made its way over to me and raised its foot over my head, I still couldn't move!
"Shit!"
"Take this!"
Before the beast could stomp down on my head, it received a cut across its mask and stumbled back, landing in front of me was someone, I certainly wasn't expecting.
"N-Noire?!" I called out surprised and as Noire looked back at me. She was in her CPU form with her weapon ready for a fight
"You idiot, don't you know that you tire yourself out?" she said before fixing her attention back to the beast. It looked between me and Noire before grunting and turning away. It jumped into the air and landed up above the cave, it looked back at us before it's eyes on it's mask flashed yellow and hitting something on its gauntlet. It disappeared in an instant.
"Hah… hah… thanks Noire." I thanked as I struggled to get up. Noire looked at me before sighing.
"You should know better, I thought you would be aware of your energy by now." Noire said as she floated over to me and helped me to his feet.
"Alright, I...I got a little carried away…" I said and she choked back a laugh.
"A little?"
"Enough about me though, where have you been? We've been worried sick!"
With that comment she blushed, "Worried? About me?"
"Yes! Uni and Shizuki went out searching for you and I was going to search for you right after the council was over."
"...I don't remember what happened that much, I remember that… thing though." Noire said and looked back where the beast had left. "And… I was found by a girl…"
"A girl?" I said and then felt something jump on my back.
"ME!" Yukiko announced as she jumped up on me. Almost causing me to stagger over again.
"Yukiko! Get offa me!" I scolded and she let go, she walked up in front of me and tilted her head.
"Sooo. What was that thing? Was that what you were talking about in the Council?" Yukiko asked and Noire looked at me too.
"I would also like to hear what happened." Noire chimed in and I nodded.
"Alright… here's what happened."
I explained what we talked about at the Council meeting, how the beast was more dangerous then we thought and discussing how to find Noire.
"I see… Not even Lowee and Leanbox's satellite system was able to locate me?" Noire repeated and looked down, "That's strange…"
"But I found her lying outside in a clearing, they couldn't take the picture?" Yukiko asked and I almost lost my footing again, both Yukiko and Noire held me up.
"You're going to end up killing yourself at this point." Noire told me as they helped me keep my balance, "Come on."
"...Heh. It sounds like Noire is worried about me…" I teased and Noire blushed.
"I-I'm not worried! J-Just… considering Lastation's citizens. Some people like you there." Noire quickly reacted. I smiled and chuckled a little bit.
"Um… Noire? You're blushing." Yukiko pointed out and Noire let go of me, straining Yukiko. "Wait! I can't carry him myself!"
"Well, looks like you'll just have to deal with it!" Noire yelled as she flew into the air towards Lastation.
"Wait! Noire!" Yukiko yelled but Noire wasn't stopping.
"Forget it, she's too pissed." I said and laughed a little bit, "That's what we get for teasing her like that."
"You… you don't care?"
"Not really, lay me down by that tree over there." I said and she did and sat next to me.
"So, what happened? You were pretty worn out."
"I'll tell you while we wait, I'll call Shizuki and IF to come get us." I said and started to scroll to Shizuki's contact…
Same thing, poll ends December 24th. Get them in while you can! It's greatly appreciated!
