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Chapter: 21

The lizard-man dubbed 'Draco' by his red-headed comrade stalked toward Takato and Kazu, crushing tiles beneath his clawed feet. Takato sat where he was, his eyes wide and his body shivering so badly that his teeth were clattering.

This is real! a part of his mind yammered, trying desperately to make sense of the situation. You've got to get up! This is real! This guy is going to kill you if you don't get moving! C'mon Takato…move! Move! Movemovemovemovemove…

"Chumley…" Kazu snatched him by the arm and dragged him to his feet. His mind in a panic-induced haze, he turned toward his friend. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Even his thoughts felt sluggish; refusing to do more than drag their feet through the mud. He saw Kazu's fear-filled expression. Felt the tremors in his fingers as they gripped tightly along his arm, but they didn't register with him. He didn't want to. The enormity of the situation left him paralyzed. This wasn't how the old stories went. He wasn't supposed to be here, and people like the Midnight Defender weren't supposed to be lying mangled in a corner, possibly dead.

"Chumley!" Takato grated, shaking him by the shoulder. "Get a move on! We've got to get out of here! What are you doing?!" The boy looked over at the encroaching Draco. He was closing in on them—was he taking his sweet time to savor the moment or was he trying to figure out what he was dealing with? Kazu shook his head. Whatever it is, if we don't get out of here and fast we're going to wind up as meat for this guy!

"Takato!" Jeri shouted, and at once Takato snapped out of his paralysis. Something in her voice, some urgency that Kazu had only just been holding back brought his attention to bear. At once Takato was scrambling to his feet just as Kazu started to half-pull, half-drag his friend across the floor. Draco, seeing this, broke into a run and charged toward them, letting out a powerful snarl, his jaws shifting and changing form, becoming increasingly less humanoid in appearance and much more reptilian. Both boys grabbed hold of the other, instinctively trying to shield the other with their body as the inhuman nightmare dove at them.

It was just then that a searing laser surged over the pair and cut into Draco's skull, burning through one eye. Before either boy could even react, a robotic figure flew over them and caught hold of Draco's still-oncoming body by the head and twisted it. An audible crack filled the air as the human-turned-reptile's body spun to the side, away from the boys and smashing into a set of tables. Two, steel-clad legs hit the tiled floor, giving both Takato and Kazu a full view of their savior.

It appeared to be a robot, that much was certain as no one could mistake it for anything else from the gap where its abdomen should have been and the number of wires that ran along an exposed metallic spinal column. A steel skull rotated in their direction, blazing electric eyes flashing first red and then blue at them. It looked very much like a nightmarish skeleton. It looked so incredibly thin and fragile—barely their size even—but with the ease that it had handled Draco gave them a clue as to just how powerful it really was.

Looks can be deceiving… Takato thought idly.

"A Hall Monitor," Jeri whispered in a relieved tone. Takato's ear perked up at this. He remembered a news report about something involving that just a day—or was it the day before?—ago.

What had it been? he wondered, trying to remember. It was no good unfortunately. He was still too hyped up on adrenalin and fear to properly focus.

"Why's it just staring at us?" Kazu muttered, his voice barely audible.

"It's scanning us," replied Jeri. "I broadcast a signal letting all PlanPol units know that Takato's a heroi. No doubt it wants to make sure that he's not a threat since he activated his powers."

"Terrific…"

"You…son of a bitch!" shrieked an angry, female voice as a ball of fire slammed into the back of the Monitor's skull. Rotating it back around, it brought its hands up, revealing a twin pair of glowing orbs.

"Hostiles detected," it said. "F.S. Fields analysis begun. Engaging stage one countermeasures."

"Why is it announcing its strategy?" began Kazu just as the robot let loose a flurry of laser blasts on his targets. The remaining two hoodies who were still standing scattered, narrowly avoiding being hit by the burning beams of energy.

"Tank!" shouted the redhead, ducking behind a table in an effort to use it as a shield. "Shield! Now!"

"My power doesn't work on that sort of thing!" her comrade shouted back. Touching a table, it suddenly blasted forward and struck the robot full force on its shoulder, causing it to miss the redhead. Its head swiveled toward him, eyes flashing blue as it scanned.

"Target male exhibits telekinesis abilities. Classification, Beta, level 1-2. Range appears to be limited. Units primary weaponry effective on target." It swiveled back toward the redhead. "Target female exhibits pyrokinesis. Classification, Beta, level 1-2. Long range capabilities. Will engage."

"Go to hell!" yelled the redhead as she hurled another ball of fire at the Hall Monitor. With surprising speed, the robot ducked beneath the fireball and fired off another blast, this time catching her in the abdomen. The girl pin wheeled backward and collapsed to the floor, gasping in pain and surprise as she clutched her wound.

"Son of a bitch," she grated, clenching her teeth. "Son of a bitch…"

"Sabot!" shouted the thin man. The robot spun around, realizing that, while it was focused on the female the man had been trying to flank it. Reacting quickly it smashed an arm across his face, causing a fountain of blood to erupt from his nose as he fell. The impact had another effect though. Sparks flew from the Monitor's arm as the chassis cracked and split open.

'Tank' rolled over onto his back, glaring venomously at the machine. "Almost had you," he choked, trying to stem the flow of blood from his nostrils.

"F.S. Field Frequency identified," the Monitor said. "Establishing suppressor field now."

"Suppressor field?" began Takato from off in the corner. "Wha…?"

"Get out of here Takato!" Jeri exclaimed. "Don't ask, just go! You won't like…"

The air around the Monitor warped subtly before blasting outward, enveloping the food court. Instant pain hit Takato's nerves, setting them afire and forcing him to double over and empty the contents of his lunch onto the floor.

"Kazu!" Jeri shouted, turning her volume up as high as it could go. "Get him out of the field's range! Kazu?"

Kazu groaned, one hand clutching the side of his head as though it hurt him. Shaking it, he looked at his friend and then back at the scene in front of him. "Yeah…" he grunted out. Biting his lip, he took hold of his friend and started to drag him away, ignoring the vomit that spilled out of his mouth and onto his shoes. "Got…got it."

###

She saw her hand go to her stomach to check the laser wound. It still hurt like hell, but fortunately for her the heat from the beam had seared the wound, keeping her from bleeding out.

Thank God I won't be forced to take care of it myself, Sabot thought with a shudder, finding herself staggering to her feet. She cast a glance over at her fallen companion, Draco. His body was now regressing back to its original human appearance. His neck was twisted at an odd angle, hiding his face from her. Freak won't be missed, she thought, grinding her teeth as a flash of anger ripped through her, twin to the fire in her stomach wound. Grabbing hold of a nearby table leg, she began to pull herself up so that she could try to assist Tank. She heard him shout something when she was hit, and then he went down. What was going on?

Her questions were shut down as she was suddenly hit by a wave of pain that knocked her back down. A thousand bells went off in her head and she clamped her hands down around it reflexively, instantly recognizing it for what it was. A suppression field.

Damn it! she swore, rolling over to get a better look at the situation. This whole mess is going to shit! Draco…! Prying her hands away from her head—an act that took a great deal of effort—she took a deep breath and felt her concentration throw itself into her F.S. Field. The suppressor wasn't focused on her, as near as she could tell. She could still feel the tickle of power around her body. As long as she felt that, she could still access her powers.

But did she have enough time?

Through the table legs, she saw the Monitor raise one hand and take aim at Tank's fallen form. The air warped heavily around him as the effects of the field were most focused on his person. The robot's palm started to glow. She wasn't going to make it in time…

The Monitor's charge up was abruptly interrupted by hunchback Casses as he—it, even Sabet couldn't tell for certain—fell upon the machine, slashing with its spindly claws. Sparks flew as the robot staggered backward, but a swift blow with its arm was enough to send Casses hurtling away, smashing into the wall next to where a pair of young girls knelt, having not attempted to escape as the others did when the Hall Monitor appeared. They screamed in surprise and fear, catching Casses' attention. Before they could try to escape, its pincer hand lashed out and caught one of them by the arm. The girl screamed all the more loudly and aimed a punch at its face, but Casses squeezed down on her forearm and hissed, bending it backwards until she was on the floor. She was sobbing hysterically now, and her friend was pressing herself against the wall, trying to keep as much distance as she could from the deformed creature.

"Release the citizen," the Hall Monitor ordered, approaching. Its eyes shone blue as it did a quick scan. "Subject exhibits immense physical mutations akin to an insect. Analysis: Delta class, level 1-2."

Casses hissed and pulled the girl up harshly, aiming a pincer at her throat warningly. The Monitor's eyes gleamed red, taking in the situation, flexing its hand by its waist and turning its palm outward.

A beam of light slashed outward from the orb on its palm, connecting itself to Casses' chest. The hunchback jerked backward, and a fire scorched a path northward up its shirt. With a shrill screech, it released the girl and struggled to rip the hoodie off.

That was all that the Monitor needed. Altering the power of its laser, it pressed its attack, this time burning Casses' shoulder, raising its arm as it carefully took aim to maximize the effect, driving the heros back. The girl, now released took off at a run, and her friend quickly followed in short order.

Casses fell to the ground, squirming on the ground, shrieking all the while. Its clothes were on fire, and it was desperately trying to tear them off while simultaneously attempting to get away from its tormenter.

"Surrender," the Monitor ordered, finally ceasing in its attack. "You will be given treatment if you do."

Casses took a heavy breath, its squeals becoming weaker. It was no longer even bothering to put out the flames on its clothes. The flames danced and writhed…and took shape into a ferocious firebird before leaping from their owner and at the Monitor.

"Fucking golem…" croaked Sabet from off to the side as she stood up. "Let's see how you like it…"

"Classification confirmed," the robot simply stated as the flames swept across its body, scorching metal and causing sparks to fly around its spinal column. "Beta level-2. Adjusting suppression field to compensate."

"Just try it, you bastard!" she shouted, tears rolling down her face now. Skipping around the table she flung more fire balls at the Monitor. "Just try it!"

Behind the Monitor, Tank suddenly started screaming and in response the floor groaned. Cracks splintered their way across the surface of the tiles, forming an intricate spider web connecting together before finally shattering, sending the Monitor, Sabet, Casses, and Tank all plummeting to the floor below.

###

"What…was that?" asked Takato in a weary voice as the mall shook from the massive explosion from the food court. His eyelids felt heavy and every fiber of his body ached, but his head was finally starting to clear.

"Forget about it," Kazu said, still dragging Takato. His eyes fell upon the cloud of dust that was now seeping toward them and he picked up his pace. "How're you feeling?"

"Terrible." Takato planted his feet on the floor and shook his friend off. "What the heck is…?"

"Forget about it," Kazu interrupted, grabbing at Takato's shoulder. "That robot in there is kicking their butts and this place is going to be swarming with PlanPol's eight balls any time now. This isn't going to look good if they catch you here."

As the cloud continued to creep toward them, two dust-covered girls raced through, their faces streaked with tears running down their face.

"Whoa, hey!" Takato began, trying to catch one of them, but he moved too slowly. Neither girl spared him so much as a second glance as they continued to race off, leaving the boy to stand there, a perplexed, exhausted expression on his face. After a moment, Kazu tugged on his shoulder.

"Come on…"

Takato looked back at the dust, and then, finally, followed his friend as they both followed the girls toward the freedom of outdoors.

###

Jeri's mind was abuzz with activity. The situation was just…completely beyond the scope that she was designed to handle. I…I need a moment to sit still and process this information.

Unfortunately for her, she would not get that moment.

"Companion Module 847826-31-d4137a," came the PlanPol voice that had contacted her earlier. "PlanPol has arrived on location and cordoned off the area. You and your charge are to exit the building and surrender yourselves to the nearest authorities and await for extraction."

"Ah! Central Command! This…This is not the time! I…I mean, we are attempting to exit the building now. I…I will acknowledge the directive and…and…"

Had Jeri a head to shake in frustration, she would have done so. Already the changes in her programming was rising up in her, causing her voice to clam up and push against the directives that she was ordered to follow. In the eye of her artificial mind, she saw Takato lashing out against the Delta class heros and, for a moment, just a moment, she felt herself draw toward obedience.

"Heroi only know destruction," came the mantra that had been programmed into her from before the moment her electrical eye was activated. "Your task is to help us guard against such behavior. Keep a watchful eye on your charge, and always be ready to report should he or she act against society. Watch. Record. Act. Watch. Record. Act. Watch. Record…"

…An image of Takato sitting on the roof of his home, speaking to her about trees…

"Act…" Jeri finished aloud, feeling something change within her programming. Her mind thought quickly, weighing her options, and upon making a decision, she acted.

###

Sabot staggered to her feet, her balance unsteady on the shattered remains of the upper-level floor. She grimaced, wondering if anyone was trapped beneath the rubble.

This didn't go at all the way it was supposed to, did it? All this and not a single Guardian Orb to show for it.

A cruel smirk crawled across her face and she started moving.

Ah, hell. I'm fine with that…

"Sabot…"

"I'm here!" she called back to the voice, recognizing it instantly as belonging to Tank. She instantly regretted doing so as the dust particles immediately flooded her mouth, causing her to cough harshly. Covering her mouth with her shirt to filter the dust, her gaze was already swiveling around to locate where she heard Tank. "Where're you at?" she called again, her voice muffled.

"Right here."

Her spine froze at the dull, mechanical tone behind her companion's voice, but before she could do anything, a savage blow fell upon the back of her head, causing her to collapse to the rubble-strewn floor in a heap. The Hall Monitor, eyes gleaming red, stepped over her and placed a hand to her neck.

"Target unconscious." Standing up, it took a look around. "Searching for remaining targets."

It paused at the sound of rubble shifting and followed the direction of the noise, just in time to see a number of broken floor rising into the air around it. They hovered there for a moment, as though giving the machine time to digest what was about to happen to it before they flew toward the Monitor, smashing into it from multiple angles. Machinery sparked and shrieked from the impact. A blue liquid trickled down from its chassis and dripped down to the rubble below.

"That was for Casses…" rasped Tank as a pile of concrete lifted away from him. Letting the rubble fall away he took a step toward Sabot's unconscious body.

A shadow fell over him. Correction: shadows. Each of them sphere shaped. Looking up he saw a flock of Guardian Spheres swarming in through the mall and in his direction. Grimacing regretfully, he looked down at where Sabot lay.

"You'll be better off with them," he said before using his power to propel himself backward and away from the broken floor. The orbs, spying his motion, moved to pursue him while behind them, a group of PlanPol agents flooded in after them, guns drawn.

Agent Coleman was the first to come across Sabot's body. Dropping down, he pressed his fingers to her neck, checking for a pulse. Satisfied with having found one he turned to his fellow agents behind him.

"We've got a live one over here! Hida! Bring the restraints over and radio a medical team down here. The rest of you Sweep the area and close off all exits! There are two more near here. Be careful. One of them is a Delta!" He returned his attention to Sabot, brow furrowed. "All right," he said, turning her over. "Let's see what you have to tell us."

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