Burners Unite: Kane's Trouble

SLAM!

Julie jumped at the sudden swiftness in which the Duke slammed open the limo's cab divider to stare angrily at her and the guards who sat about her. It was no secret that Duke's temper had soared to new heights during his conversation on the computer with... whoever it was. His screaming had been heard loud and clear, the evidence of his outburst clear on the flush of his cheeks and wildness in his eyes. Julie tensed as he narrowed a startlingly sharp gaze directly at her.

"WELL. That went well, didn't it?" he barked. Julie bit her lip in contemplation of what she was going to say next. Finally, she decided to go with...
"Was that Kaia you spoke with?"
"Yes," Duke growled out, slumping further back into his seat, "I just got finished with ensuring she doesn't decide to dispatch with your father, so you better be happy now,"
Julie nodded enthusiastically.
"She also has refused to hold off her attack until we are free of the area so we best do this fast," he added stiffly, "No doddling on your part missy," he ordered shaking a finger at her.
"Why?" Julie asked, "Does Kaia scare you?" she snorted. The look of outrage on Duke's face was immeasurable.
"Kaia does not scare me..." he hissed darkly, "I don't allow any of my clients to intimidate me. Besides, a smart man always carries insurance," he stated, brushing a hand casually across one of his sweatsuit pockets. Julie gave the pocket a once over and was surprised when she spotted the tip of a small black remote extending out from it. She averted her eyes quickly when the Duke lifted a fist to bang it on the window seperating the limo cab from the driver.
"How much farther?" the Duke barked, clearly getting impatient. Julie had seen the way he had frozen up under fire. No doubt the experience had been traumatizing, and he had no intentions of having to go through it again, much less be trapped in the middle of a war zone.
"10 minutes, Sire," the driver responded through the glass.
"Good," Duke responded. Afterwards the talking stopped and Duke turned up the dial for the music speakers unnecessarily loud, sending rock music pounding at Julie's ear drums.

Doing her best to ignore the music, Julie took to wondering about Mike and the rest of the Burners. Were they still trapped inside the garage? Was there any chance they had gotten free by now and were working on a plot to stop the Terra Invasion? What would happen if they weren't strong enough? What would happen if the Terra Dwelers won? Duke had promised that her father would not be harmed, but what about the rest of the Detriot citizens? What would become of everything she knew? Her home, her friends, her co-workers? Julie's mind was bombarded with images of a jungle invaded Detroit Deluxe, with bushes, vines and trees growing all around, wrapping about broken buildings and corrupting every part of the modern world that it had once been. She saw Terra Dwellers running wild with spears in their hands, thefts taking place inside people's houses, families screaming in fear and cowering in corners as their homes were raided and destroyed.

Julie's eyes flashed open and a furious flame burned within them. Her gaze fixated on Duke. How could he let this happen? How could he be so incredibly heartless?
"What is the matter with you?!" she snapped out, though the loud music smothered her words from being heard. Still, Duke had seen she was trying to say something and put a hand behind his ear.
"What?!"
"What is the matter with you!?" Julie shouted again. But Duke was none the wiser as to what she was trying to say. In a surge of absolute rage, Julie sprang from her seat, to both of the gaurds' surprise, and sent a hard kick right into the music player. The music came crackling to a stop and the Duke shrieked in panic. The guards quickly launched forward to grab her arms and pull her back into her seat, but the damage was already done, and the Duke was just on the verge of his second break down today. However, before he could get going, Julie began her own screaming rampage.

"How can you be so selfish?! An entire city of people is in danger out there and you are perfectly okay to watch as their homes and everythign they know is destroyed!? You think your stupid cars are more important than human lives! You are the most sick, twisted individual I have ever met!"
"HEY!" Duke protested, but Julie cut him off.
"Don't you 'HEY' me! You know very well it's true! You think the greatest thing in life is having everything you want the moment you want it, but guess what! You're wrong! You don't have a single friend in this world that you haven't dazzeled with your money! I don't care how many paid lackeys you keep around, you are utterly alone and you always will be unless you start putting others' needs before yourself!"

Julie was now quite red in the face and breathless from all her shouting. The Duke was sitting back, staring at her with unamused eyes that peeked over his sun glasses. When she finally had ceased her verbal onslaught, he cocked a brow.
"Are you finished?"
Julie only continued to pant, glaring murder at him. It was in the next moment that the limmo's double doors were opened and two guards stood at the ready. Julie been so caught up in her rant that she hadn't even noticed until now that the car had stopped moving. They looked to be parked in some sort of large, shady looking storage lot.
"Get out please," the Duke ordered. Before Julie could say anything, the two guards sitting at her sides rose and hefted her from her seat to push her out. Babs followed and the Duke emerged lastly. Julie pressed her lips tightly together and took in her full surroundings. Normally, there were security drones hovering everywhere within Detroit Deluxe but this area was completely void of any. This was strange, considering Julie would think her father would want a secret car garage properly protected.

"This way," Duke said, an excited smile on his lips as he rubbed his hands together and strode off towards the closest storage house. Apparently, everything Julie said had gone in one ear and out the other. She sighed and followed along obediently. The sooner this was all over and done with, the better.

...

Abraham Kane stood inside his observation room tower, thumbing through the many holo data screens of business information before him. But his thoughts were not on his work. He had not seen his Julie Bear in two days and this concerned him. He knew his work schedules were difficult and they hardly had any time together, but still it was uncommon to just not see her around. He had thought about calling security to see if they could locate her, but one thing happened after another, and more and more pressing work matters had required his attention. It wasn't as if he hadn't gone without seeing Julie for a couple of days before. She was a big girl, nearly 20 now, and could take perfect care of herself. Still, it was difficult for his fatherly instincts to let go of her completely. He couldn't exactly help worrying about her.

The swish of automatic doors caught Kane's attention and his assistant Tooley strode in eagerly.
"Sir!" he addressed, "There's someone here who wants to see you!" he announced in his annoyingly jovial way. Kane withheld the urge to growl. He'd told Tooley time and time again, NOT to permit visitors during his primary work hours! How was he supposed to get anything done around here if he was giving his time to every Tom, Dick and Joe who wanted his attention?
"I don't accept visitors this time of day Tooley, you know that," Kane responded, doing his best to hide the frustration in his tone.
"Oh, yes, I know that sir," Tooley replied, "But this one is really important," he stated.
"Everyone who visits thinks whatever they have to say to me is important," Kane grouched, keeping his eyes glued to his work.

"Does every visit revolve around the fate of Detroit Deluxe as you know it?"

That wasn't Tooley's voice, and the moment Kane heard it, his eyes snapped open wide. Slowly, he turned around from his work at the computer. A man in Kane Co. work clothes with a gas hood encased over his head stood in the office. Kane couldn't tell who it was, but the statement that had been made was suspicious enough.
"Tooley, leave us," Kane ordered. If this was some sort of bad news from the engineering department, then Kane wanted to keep it under wraps.
"Oh, so you have time now? Okay sir!" Tooley responded, turning away swiftly to leave the room.

Once the doors closed shut Kane took a deep breath and eyed the man in the Kane Co. body suit.
"You have my attention," he stated folding his arms.
"Good,"

The man then removed his gas helmet and revealed himself. Kane's muscles became instantly taught and his pupils dilated intensely. This was no worker... this was his worst enemy.
"Chilton..." He growled.

Mike Chilton kept a stoic expression on his face, standing still and not moving to draw any weapons. Kane could hardly believe that his arch enemy was standing before him, completely vulnerable and with no where to run! The Burner leader had a lot of gaul to do something this risky.
"Well, well, this is interesting," Kane chuckled in wicked satisfaction, "Decided to turn yourself in finally?"

...

Mike Chilton wasn't here to exchange pre-fight banter. He had infiltrated Kane Co.'s most surveyed security stations, had disguised himself as one of the workers, had traveled through many different levels of the tower, dodged several suspicious workers and risked life and limb in order to get an audience with his worst most dangerous enemy, and all for what?

"I'm here for one reason and one reason only, Kane," Mike responded, "To save Detroit Deluxe,"

There was a brief silence and a tension that hung in the air, before it was abruptly shattered by Kane's blast of hysterical laughter. Mike set his jaw stiffly.

"You are here to save Detroit Deluxe?!" Kane scoffed. Mike ignored the biting mockery in Kane's tone and instead activated his holo computer to bring up images of the Terra Tank Battle procession.

"You've dealt with the Terra Dwellers before," Mike stated, "Well they are back, and more powerful than ever,"

He allowed Kane's suspiciously narrowed eyes to search over the video images of the Terra Dwellers and their tanks rumbling down the road, firing their turrets and causing massive damage to the surrounding area. The material had been taken during the fight in which the Burners had done their best to prevent them from breaching the Eastern Entrance. Some of it was even live footage from where Dutch was secretly parked, recording the army's progress.

"How do I know this isn't some sort of hoax?" Kane questioned after a good long minute.
"Check for yourself," Mike suggested, "The Terra Tanks should be within fifteen minutes of Central Deluxe,"

Kane glared at Mike but soon turned away to activate his security monitors and bring up live feed from his Kane Co. street drones. Sure enough, three of his security cameras had sighted up the tanks. Kane's eyes widened in surprise and fear. Spinning back around to face Chilton, he searched at him with questioning eyes.

"Wh-why did you warn me?" he asked, "You risked your life to get this news to me," he stated in complete perplexity.

"By the time you found out on your own it would be too late. Half the city would be infiltrated and more damage than could be repaired in a year would have already been done," Mike answered honestly. Kane stared at the Burner, marveled.

"Despite the monster you've made me out to be to the public eye... I still care about Deluxe's wellbeing just as much as I do about Motorcity's... I lived here once, you know," Mike reminded, "Even if I don't agree with the way you run things,"

Kane's eyes hardened, "I do hope you're not so naive as to expect that just because you warned me about this invasion that I'll be willing to let you walk out of here,"

At that, Mike smiled.
"Of course not. Which is why I was planning to fly," he grinned, now activating his skull staff and racing towards the nearest office window. Kane shouted angrily, drawing an electric whip from subspace and lashing it out at Mike's foot, but it was too late. Chilton had already crashed through the tower's glass window with his staff and was now falling through the air. Kane watched as a Kane Co. hover craft home moved steadily below to intercept Mike's path, aligning perfectly to allow the Burner a square landing on its roof.

Kane's scream of fury split the air and Mike merely glanced upwards to smirk at him. Mike couldn't even begin to express the relief he'd felt in successfully warning Kane of the oncoming threat, without getting captured. Now, Detroit Deluxe was going to be able to defend itself in time and the Burners would not have to fight alone. As if on cue, thousands of large battle grade security drones sailed through the air in a flock of metal force. But they weren't all headed towards the Terra Tanks location. Some had split off and were now headed straight for the hover home Mike stood atop.

"Uhh... Chuck?!"
"I see them, I see them!" Chuck replied on the other end of the team communication's line. The hover craft home suddenly took a sharp lurch downwards, causing Mike to loose his footing. He rolled down the now slanted roof, scrambling to grab on to something, his heart beat slamming against his chest. Just as he was about to tumble off and back into the open expanse of sky, Mike's hand caught ahold of the roof's edge and clung tight. It was pure adrenaline which gave Mike the strength to hold on so well, but it didn't help when his body banged against the hover home's glass wall.

The loud thud caught Chuck's attention from inside where he was controlling the house and he shrieked, seeing Mike hanging on for dear life. Quickly, Chuck tilted the hover home so it was level once more before finishing the craft's descent to the ground. The battle drones were still chasing them and laser fire scorched through the air, pelting off the roof top and scarring the metal frightening close to Mike's hand. Panic seized his chest momentarily but then he realized his feet were close to the ground and he released his grip. A spike of pain split his knees upon the impact of his landing, but Mike forced himself to ignore it and run. The drones were still after him and as long as he was without a vehicle, he was very much a sitting duck.

"Dutch, Texas, Jacob!" he called into the communication line, "Meet me in Detroit Central! Kane is sending a patrol of battle drones to deal with the Terra Dwellers but they are not friendly. Repeat, NOT friendly! He will take any one of us out if he gets the chance!" Mike informed, rushing to the inside of the hover home which Chuck had been piloting. But Chuckles hadn't been the only one inside the craft. Blonde Thunder and Mongrel both were parked within, patiently waiting for action.
"Why Central Deluxe?" Dutch asked.
"Because that's where Kaia will be headed first and I want to make certain she's taken down," Mike responded, slipping on his motorcycle helmet.
"Do I still have to drive by myself?" Chuck whined, nearing the driver's side door to his blue muscle car reluctantly.
"Yes Chuck, I'm sorry," Mike said, "You'll do fine," he promised, sliding onto his own bike and starting the engine.
"What about Julie?" Jacob asked over the line, "Where is she?"

Mike swallowed. He hadn't forgotten about her. It's just that warning Kane of the incoming attack had taken first priority.
"Her location is still unknown so everyone be keeping an eye open for her," Mike ordered. The team affirmed their promise before cutting out. Together, Mike and Chuck burst out of the hover craft home within their vehicles and burned rubber across the Detroit Deluxe floor. It was shiny and white, no road even visible since this place hadn't been designed for car use. Only the grooves which indicated where hover homes docked for the night were imprinted on the floors, and they did their best to avoid them. As the pair drove, Mike considered what kind of trouble Julie really was in. Trying to call her once more, he received nothing but a dead response. Silently, he prayed that Julie was alright, and that some how, some way, he would find her before it was too late.

...

Julie finished typing in the entry codes to the large storage unit and stepped back to watch the large metal doors crank open. They were old fashioned and rusty. Why her father hadn't gone through the trouble to update this particular storage lot, she didn't know. Perhaps he had wanted to keep it looking old and insignificant to keep snoopers away? It made sense. After all, Kane generally had a reason for everything he did.

Upon the opening of the large storage doors, the Duke through his arms open wide at the sight of his precious cars.
"MY BABIES!" he cried, darting forward with all the giddiness of a little kid and slapping himself upon the nearest car's hood to rub it affectionately.
"Oh how I've missed you!" the Duke gushed, actually going as far as to kiss the car's hood multiple time before repeating the gesture with the next car, and the next. Julie watched in disgust. She loved cars too and all, but this was ridiculous, especially when there were people out there in whom she could be helping to save right now instead!

"Okay, okay," Julie interrupted, walking forward, "I've done everything you've asked, now guarantee me my secret is safe so I can leave," she demanded. The Duke ignored her for a good two minutes, continuing his petting of his cars before finally, Julie stomped her foot on the ground and got his attention.
"DUKE! I'm leaving now and you better not give away my secret or I will-"
"Or you''ll what?" The Duke snorted. Julie stuttered, her mouth hanging open but with no words coming out. She didn't actually know what she would do... She searched her brain for something... anything that would make Duke think twice about ever giving her identity away. Then, an idea hit her. The remote she'd seen in Duke's hands. She knew the look of a detonation remote anywhere and he had wandered a hand past its place in his pocket specifically when he'd spoken about how Kaia didn't frighten him and having "insurance". Julie narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

"Or I'll tell Kaia that you programed a self destruct remote to all of her Terra Tanks and Hum-vees!"

The Duke's eyes bulged in horror.

"I doubt Kaia will be very thrilled with the news..." Julie added. The look of shock on the Duke's face slowly melted to one of bitter resignation.
"Deal," he spit out, "Now go away," he ordered, pointing the direction in which she should leave with a demanding finger. Julie wasted no time. She sprinted away as fast as she could, waiting until she was far out of reach from the Duke's electronic inhibitors which had prevented her from putting out or receiving any calls. Once she fully free, she activated her holo computer and began to bring up her contact list. However, the sight of explosions in the air some distance off snagged her focus. Hoards of her father's battle drones were flying through the air, their guns raining down laser fire. Occasionally, some were shot down, blowing up with a loud BANG and a crack of blue lightning. Terra Tanks were merging into the city and the sound of their extremely powerful turrets thundered in the air.

The war had begun...

Hey guys! Hope you loved the chapter! I cranked it out just this morning because I've been so incredibly busy these last couple days. Just so you all know, I only planned for this story to be a total of 15 chapters long, and I'm still aiming for that... but if things end up needing more time, I will go with the flow and write until I feel the story has been properly finished.

That being said, the "supposed" final chapter will be up next Sunday!

Leave some reviews for me!