Well, thought I might put up another chapter, seeing as I had nothing better to do. Please respond. Enjoy!
Cipher's Code Ch25
Cipher stared helplessly as a black shadow enveloped his dreams once more, until the figures of his friends appeared, one by one disappearing until Harley was left, alone amidst the darkness. His face seemed to be contorted in pain, but even as Cipher reached out to help him, he only got farther and farther way until he disappeared completely, shouting input two words, unheard by the blonde Advent.
Cipher woke up in a cold sweat, throwing off the side of the covers in an attempt to forget what had happened. Suddenly, the door swung open, revealing Raider's smiling face.
"You look terrible," he said cheerfully. "By the way, have you seen Venti?" He looked fretfully around the corner, as if he half expected the Advent to appear in Cipher's room at any moment with her two blades out, ready to slice.
Cipher groaned groggily when he saw that Raider had taken the last remaining can of E-crystals from his secret storage compartment. "No," he answered once the initial morning's black mood had faded. Then, sticking his ear to the wall, he asked why Harpuia and Zero were in the room outside. They seemed to be arguing. "Why is Harpuia here?"
Raider seemed unconcerned, as usual. "Don't know. Anyway, some party, huh?" Apparently he was referring to the time he wasn't strung up like a human piñata.
"Whatever. Could you see what the cook's fixing for breakfast?"
Raider took the hint to leave, to Cipher mild amazement. "Sure," he called back. "Just as long s she doesn't try to get fancy with the mystery meat again we'll be fine." Cipher smiled at that in spite of himself. It was as if the cook had taken lessons from Ciel; Cipher was the only one able to look at the food without puking for half an hour.
Outside, Harpuia and Zero were glaring at each other, but remained silent as Cipher came into view. He had the sudden thought that this must be what it was like to be stuck between a piece of prey and two hawks. "Leave," Zero ordered the green reploid.
"You forget that you only remain protected because of my precautions, Zero," Harpuia said. "Don't forget that, though you may be celebrated by the people, this is my city."
Cipher watched Harpuia leave before asking Zero what the argument was about, noticing the sudden chill in the air as the leader of Arcadia left.
"Just a simple misunderstanding," Zero said cryptically, much to Cipher's frustration. When Cipher tried to get ore answers out of him, Zero responded with another answer that still gave Cipher no clue to what it was concerning.
"So what's new," Cipher asked his father calmly. "Any news on Aranea's location, yet?"
Zero shook his head, the usual answer recently. It was as if the syndicate had disappeared of the face of the earth. "Colbur was looking for you earlier," Zero said. "He said he wanted you for a border patrol, but I told him that you should have your sleep."
"I'm fine." Cipher clearly saw that the red reploid was worried about him. "I just need some fresh air."
Cipher inhaled the crisp scent of the outdoors, relishing the freedom it gave. Finally some peace and quiet. Soon after his walk, however, he noticed a stranger in a large overcoat had been trailing him not very stealthily. Cipher swerved to the left, glancing back through a mirror someone had left out. Yup, still there. If he thinks he can mug me or something, he's got a whole other thing coming for him. Cipher clenched his fists in anticipation of a fight as he swerved into an alley.
The stalker at last showed himself, striding in the alley purposefully. "I've come to challenge you to a battle," he challenged unexpectedly.
"What the hell were you doing with an overcoat on, Flare? I was half prepared to call the police before slicing you in half." Cipher was not in a very good mood after being interrupted form the nice, peaceful walk he had imagined.
"Just duel!" Flare was already in full oversol, baring his wolfish teeth in anticipation, aiming the enormous cannon that, for some reason appeared whenever he was in full oversol.
Cipher let his saber slide out, not even caring about whether he had his oversol on or not. Rushing to Flare's unprotected back, he slammed his fist against his neck, instantly knocking the Advent unconscious. Wow, Cipher reflected. I've grown. To think there was a time when I would have struggled with just a simple maverick. Picking Flare up by the collar, he headed over to the base where the guardians presided, dumping the Advent unceremoniously on the steps where he would be fetched sometime or later.
Now that that oaf spoiled my mood, what should I do now? Cipher smiled as a place appeared in his head. Of course! Cerveau's.
Shortly after consulting his mental map, he headed towards the prestigious mechanic. As usual, the front was as unimpressive as ever, but Cipher knew not to be fooled. "Hello?"
Cerveau walked outside with a greasy black cloak on that stunk of the countless hours of standing in front of the thousands of pieces of metal. "Well, if it isn't Cero! Ciel told me the news," he explained. "Besides, word travels fast here. Did you know that they've made shirts with your face n it?"
"Er, no I didn't," Cipher said, self-consciously. "When was this?"
Cerveau acted as if he had never heard the question. "So why did you come? Is there a lot on your mind?"
"Yeah," Cipher responded wearily. "I know I should be happy knowing who I am, but something seems… missing, somehow."
"You don't have to push yourself so hard you know. Zero and Ciel did the same thing too; it's only natural that you'd inherit their bad habits. They'd end up hurting themselves in the end if they didn't get some rest some time later." Cerveau looked concernedly at the Advent.
"I guess you're right," Cipher agreed reluctantly. "Thanks, Cerveau." Cipher left the shop, feeling slightly better than he had before, then staring at an old shooting range. Cipher dimly remembered that it was where the three of them, Sorra, Skie, and himself had met up at times. Subconsciously heading towards the range, he noticed that a familiar face was already there.
"Hey, Cero! Get over here!" Skie waved Cipher over to his booth; where his target's bulls-eye was littered with tiny pellets.
"So you've heard the news, too," Cipher greeted his old friend. "When did you get back from that mission up in the mountains?"
"Just got back. By the way congratulations on the victory on that imposter; he got what was coming to him." Obviously, Skie was referring to when he had destroyed the East Sentry, and any chances of his life ever turning normal again. "By the way, did you hear about the situation across the border? Apparently something big happened; they've cut off all access for civilians, and called in Venti, Mist, and Specter."
"Thanks," Cipher told his friend hurriedly. "I've got to go, though."
"Got it. Just tell me what happened, all right?" Skie thumped Cipher on the back, their usual way of 'good-luck.'
Cipher felt an aura of fear enter his body, and suddenly his stomach turned over with butterflies as he remembered the situation with what they thought was Shadow. Not again. Cipher hurried over to the area where Colbur was, lurching inwardly with dread as a large area was filled with blockades, and rowdy crowds of people seeking refuge were held back. Whatever had happened at the gates where the refugees came. And from the look of their faces, it was something bad. Really bad.
Ignoring the paramedics and enforcers alike, Cipher zoomed towards the area where Colbur's team was. Struggling against the arms of several people who tried to force him down, Colbur showed up in time to rescue Cipher. "It's okay," he told them, "he's with me."
"What happened," Cipher demanded. Colbur's face was deathly pale, and his leggings were covered in dried blood.
Before Colbur could answer, someone from his team walked in drunkenly. "What a nightmare," he slurred. "Everyone, cut in half… what a mess." He slumped to the floor, where Colbur summoned the paramedics.
Colbur shook his head as the resistance fighter was carried away, a tormented expression still haunting his features. "It's not pretty," he said at last. "I thought this sort of thing would be over with when D. Cero was silenced, but…" His voice broke and he sat there, trying to compose himself. "I'm getting too old for this," he said finally.
Cipher's heart sunk as he saw Colbur's expression. Whatever was out there was enough to scare the veteran fighter; that was cause enough to worry. "Was anyone hurt? Where's Specter and Venti?"
"The question is who wasn't hurt," Colbur said. "When we got there, it was too late. All that they left was this." He pulled out a paper with the words "I have not been forgotten" on it.
Specter saw Cipher and set off towards him at a breakneck pace. "What is it," Cipher asked him.
Before Specter could answer, Cipher saw the lone survivor of the dreadful massacre was pulled out on a gurney, dead to the world. It was Harley.
Poor refugees… Well, I hope you liked it. Just so you know, it wasn't D. Cero who did it. Well, tell me if you like it or not, or if you have any ideas about the story. Please PM any possible theories for spoilers, because I don't think I'd be able to erase them. Thanks!