Chapter 28
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It was the next morning and it was 8:30 A.M. Ichigo and Heller, as well as Kisuke and Byakuya were going to watch the controlled release while Kenpachi wasn't interested and Yoruichi was going to try and help Orihime draw out Rukia from her shell of depression. Renji was still resting from yesterday, and Rukia had been at his side every second she could, even resting in his room, and only after being forced to eat something.
The group left with good byes and Ichigo got a quick peek on the lips from Orihime before the group left to the point where the release would take place. They saw there were only about 3 guards standing near the tank, the other were a fair distance away. There was also one scientist in a blue hazmat suit standing next to the tank, looking over it one more time before the order to open the tank came in. Heller and the group were overlooking the set up rom a building about 20 feet away, being careful to not be seen. Heller shifted to a commander disguise and said "I'll take care of this, you guys be ready to run or fight." Everyone nodded and then Heller flash stepped to ground level, but did it out of sight of any Blackwatch to avoid raising the alarm. Then he went walking to the group.
Heller's P.O.V
I went walking up to the group of grunts and the egghead. They turned as they heard me approaching and the soldiers snapped to attention. The scientist only gave me a fleeting glance but I didn't care.
"At ease." I said in the commander's voice. "I just got word from red crown that we're doing a small release prior to going zone wide. Open the tank." I directed this to the scientist.
The scientist sounded shocked as he said "what? But this goes completely against protocol! I can't just…!"
I cut him off and pointed at a solider and said, "You, open the tank now."
"Yes sir." Was the response as he shoved the scientist to the side and pushed a few buttons to open the tank.
The tank powered up with a whir and began to blow out a light red colored gas. It was spreading rapidly as everyone began coughing. He guard said through his coughs "filters aren't…working… What the fuck is happening!?" he finished in a shout as he and everyone else fell to the ground in spasms. I could feel something, but whatever it was wasn't affecting me. But as I was watching in shock, the soldiers were changing. They were growing blade arms while the masks lenses were changing from the light blue to a deep orange tinged with red. And they were looking right at me as they stood up and readied their blades.
"This won't be pretty!"
General P.O.V
Heller instantly shifted his arms to sword and claws as the newly evolved soldiers flash stepped to engage. Heller quickly leapt upwards and used his spirit energy to make a platform 40 feet in the air. The rest of the gang flash stepped to meet him while looking down. Heller said "get ready, these bastards are going to hit hard and fast."
The words barely left his mouth before the group was engaged. The evolved had leapt upward while the others rushed down to meet them. Ichigo was fighting one with his Shikai while Heller and Byakuya used their sealed blades, all of them managing to deal some good hits before they disengaged for reprieve. This whole time, Kisuke was simply watching with his eyes in scientist glare. Then he looked at the tank, flash stepped to it, and quickly closed the tanks. But the gas was spreading and from what they could see, it was infecting or killing everyone in the streets, the people going down in spasms and writhing on the ground like they were being burned alive.
Heller heard over Blacknet "RED CROWN, THE WHITELIGHTS BEEN COMPERMISED, IT INFECTED RATTLER 2, 3, AND 4."
"Copy that. All bases, whitelight release is now on lockdown. Secure all whitelight."
Heller shouted "WE NEED TO TAKE THEM DOWN FAST!"
Byakuya looked and said "then let's take them down. Scatter Senbonzakura." He finished, releasing his flower petals around him.
Ichigo nodded and said "Heller, you might want to stand back a little."
Heller shook his head and said "no way. Take one each, on my mark."
The evolved had been standing back healing, but now were finished and flash stepped to engage again as Heller shouted "NOW!"
Heller and Ichigo charged up a Getsuga Tensho in their blades and charged forward to meet them while Byakuya swung his sword handle and sent his petals at the enemy.
Ichigo and Heller slashed through the one they were going after at the waist, then spinning around and slicing those halves into fourths with a downward slash, all in less than a second while Byakuya used his blades to burrow through the evolved body, shred the internal organs, then explode out his head in an explosion of red, white skull shards, and pink petals.
They all flash stepped away, Kisuke joining them, while Heller called up father and said "father, we've got bigger problems than we thought."
"What's wrong?" father said sounding concerned.
"The whitelight turned the solider into evolved and then killed or infected everyone else in the area."
"I checked the whitelight." Kisuke said "Mercer used his connection to make the whitelight nothing more than food for the virus. The tanks are nothing but breeding grounds now.'
"That's not good. But if Blackwatch knows, then they'll have put the stuff into lock down. Mercer's plan is ruined."
"no, no there's something else, something he can do…" Heller trailed off as he thought. Blackwatch now knew whitelight was compromised. Then red crown called for all whitelight to be put into lock down. Lockdown…
Then it hit him. "Father, where's the largest whitelight facility in the city?" he asked in an urgent tone.
"I can send you the address but why…?" then he stopped in mid-sentence and Heller knew he had followed the same train of thought.
"If he can rupture those tanks, all of NYZ while be infected! He'll have an entire army at his disposal!" Ichigo realized.
They heard furious typing at the other end then father said "I sent you the address! Get over there before he opens those tanks!"
"Will do!" Heller said as he hung up and then lead the way to the facility.
They arrived in less than 3 minutes. They stood on top of one of the building that was just outside the perimeter of the facility and saw a entire industrial yard full of tanks like the one that had been at the test site.
Heller looked out at the sight and thought "if mercer ever opens these, then the whole city while be crawling with evolved."
Kisuke asked "so what now?"
Heller shook his head and said "don't know. Guess we just make sure mercer doesn't open these."
Then Heller looked up as he heard a whish. And he was greeted with the sight of mercer falling towards them with his right arm in hammer fist form.
"LOOK OUT!" Heller shouted as he shoved everyone back, forcing them to skid from the force.
"MERCER!" Heller shouted as he and Ichigo charged forward. Mercer looked up with rage filled eyes before shifting his arms to an odd new form. It was some odd arms with a metal spike looking thing where the hand would be while the rest of the arm up to the shoulder was made of a coiled muscle lined with small metal studs. Mercer rose both arms and pointed them at Heller and Ichigo and they shot forward like snakes to hit them both in the solar plexus, driving every last breath from their body and forcing them backwards before they fell to their knees to take gasps of air.
Kisuke and Byakuya appeared on either side of him and tried to cut him with their swords, but he vanished as they swung only to appear with his knees level with their heads before he snapped out his legs to kick them both in the head and sending them flying away to crash into building over 100 yards away and go through them,
Mercer landed on his knees and then stood and walked to them as he said "it's not often I'm this…disappointed… in someone Heller."
He and Ichigo tried to stand up, but he simply hit them again with his whip fists, causing them to go skidding on their backs before stopping.
"You disrupted my plans, wasted all that precious white light." Mercer countered as he walked over to them and looked down at them. He stomped on Ichigo's chest, causing spider web cracks to shoot out from under him and him to yell while coughing up blood.
Mercer shifted his arms to claws while keeping his foot on Ichigo's chest and lifted Heller up by his throat as he said "and now after everything I've done for you, everything I've given you."
He brought Heller into his face as he finished "you're not even capable of appreciating it."
Heller finally got back enough breath and strength to snarl "I don't know what the fuck you're talking about."
Mercer looked at him and shook his head as he said "what a waste. Well, at least I'll get some valuable knowledge from you, and your friend here. Good bye Heller."
And with that, he stabbed Heller through the chest with his other hand while his leg on Ichigo's chest began to shoot out tendrils to cover his body. (Now for the interesting bit.:-). )
Heller felt the tendrils overcoming his body as they spread through mercer's claw embedded in his chest and thought "so this is how it ends."
Then something began happening. He felt something in him shift and he heard a voice say "fight back Heller!"
Heller heard the voice of his spirit, shadow shifter, who counted talking and said "you swore you would avenge your family and protect your friends! Fight back Heller!"
Heller's eyes sharpened as his spirit said that and to provide motivation, his spirit unleashed a flood of memories, of times spent with his family, at Maya's 4th birthday, his wedding, the love he had felt for his family. He also saw memories of his friends, Ichigo's group laughing and fighting besides him, providing someone who accepted him for what he was, someone who helped him grow strong. And he felt a power grow in his body as he shouted out loud "NNNOOOO!"
Ichigo's inner world, general P.O.V, same time.
Ichigo opened his eyes and sat up, looking around to see he was in his inner world. He groaned and rubbed his chest as he felt where mercer had stomped on him. He rubbed his chest to dull the pain as he stood up.
"Ichigo!" he heard, and turned to see Zangetsu looking grim, beside him his inner hollow, also grim.
"What's wrong?" Ichigo asked, seeing the looks.
"We have an unwelcome visitor." Hollow Ichigo said as he was looking behind Ichigo.
"Well, well."
Ichigo whirled around, his Zangetsu at the ready as he saw who had spoken. Walking towards them along the side of the sky scraper was Alex Mercer.
Ichigo snarled "how did you get in here?!"
Zangetsu answered as he and hollow Ichigo came on either side of him. "You may not feel it, but he's trying to consume your body, and since he's doing that while you're unconscious, he entered here."
Mercer was looking with interest at the 3 of them and said "interesting. None of the other people I've consumed had anything like this in their minds. Who are you two?" he directed this question to Zangetsu and hollow Ichigo.
Zangetsu and hollow Ichigo glared as Zangetsu said "I'm not going to grace that with an answer. You're an intruder in Ichigo's mind. Leave."
"Or do we need to use force?" hollow Ichigo asked as he summoned his photo negative Zangetsu.
Mercer chuckled and said "you have guts, I'll give you all that, but do you think that you can fight me?"
Zangetsu and hollow Ichigo stepped forward as Zangetsu said "not alone but we can…
"…if the two of us…"
"…are one."they said at the same time. Hollow Ichigo raised his hand to his face as Zangetsu summoned his sword, an exact copy of Ichigo's Zangetsu, then pointed forward and shouted "BANKAI!"
There was a small explosion of smoke and energy as Zangetsu and hollow Ichigo were covered. Ichigo took the distraction to quickly activate his Bankai and tried to attack mercer. Mercer brought out his claws and traded a few hyper speed blows with him before he got past Ichigo's guard and dealt a kick to his chest, knocking him backwards until he hit another building.
Ichigo managed to pull himself out in time to see the smoke around Zangetsu and his hollow clear, both of them in a different form. Hollow Ichigo was in a Bankai form like Ichigo's but it was opposite in color, with the robes and sword being pure white. And he had a mask over his face, but it was different from Ichigo's hollow mask. The mask featured two long black forward-pointing horns, with white strips extending from their center towards the tips, with white vertical lines going over the eye holes, and the rest all black.
Zangetsu was gone, replaced with Tensa Zangetsu, Ichigo's Bankai Zanpakutō spirit. He was a younger man, around mid-20's early 30's with black hair that fell to his jaw line, and piercing blue eyes. He was around Ichigo's height and wore the same clothes as Zangetsu, but with white lining and a hood that was currently down.
Both were looking at mercer with hard eyes as he looked at them. Mercer broke the silence first and said "not bad transformations, but your power isn't anything special."
Tensa Zangetsu said "maybe not alone, but…"
"…we did say we would fight you…" hollow Ichigo said
"…as one."They both finished. Then Ichigo saw what they were planning. Something they had done only once before.
As he watched, both of their bodies began to fragment into wisps of smoke that began to meet in the center. Mercer was watching with wide eyes before both fighters finally finished merging into the most powerful form they had. Hollowfied Tensa Zangetsu.
This form combined some physical aspects of both spirits, Hollow Ichigo's white Bankai coat, black horn mask remnant on the left side of his head, white-colored hair, and left Hollowfied eye, along Tensa Zangetsu's appearance, right blue eye, and black Bankai sword; though the sword's guard was white, like Hollow Ichigo's
Mercer looked at them and laughed as he said "you may look different but you can't beat me out of his mind."
Hollow Ichigo looked at him and said in a mixture of the two spirits voices "then let's raise the power level."
And the next thing mercer knew was a blast of energy that sent him flying backwards through 8 buildings before he came to rest on another one, having plowed a crater through it. Mercer sat up and looked to see Tensa Zangetsu standing there. He gave mercer no chance for a counter attack and used his high speed strikes to slice mercer's body into nothing, driving him out of Ichigo's mind. After they were sure he was gone, the two spirits split back into two and head back to Ichigo.
Ichigo was helped up by Tensa Zangetsu while his hollow had left to wherever he went inside Ichigo's mind.
Ichigo sighed and said "thanks, but I could've beaten him too."
Tensa Zangetsu looked at him with his eyes and said "I don't know Ichigo. He may have been beaten by us, but only because we defeated him before he could use his true power."
Ichigo was shocked as he said "that wasn't his true power? But…"
Zangetsu cut him off and said "you need to return to the real world. Your friends will need you."
Ichigo's eyes widen. He had forgotten about them. He quickly thanked Zangetsu again and left his inner world at the same time Heller cried "NNOOOOO!"
Real world
Ichigo snapped his eyes open and shouted as he rose his spirit energy to it's max to blast away mercer. Mercer was blasted off him and also sent back by the punch Heller delivered to his face. Mercer dropped Heller as he was sent back and skidded before stopping and looking at the hand he had plunged into Heller and the foot he had stomped on Ichigo. Both had been cut or blown off, but both regenerated with no trouble.
Heller looked up from his knees and said "you can't kill us. You can't kill us, MERCER."
Ichigo stood up and cracked his neck as he snarled "let's see if that goes both ways."
Mercer looked at them under his hood and said "it would've been quick. But now… now I'm going to make you suffer." He disappeared in a blur, leaving them alone.
Both of them took a minute to heal them self's before they split and found Kisuke and Byakuya. Kisuke had been kicked a few blocks away while Byakuya had been knocked into an infected area, which had prevented him from being discovered. Ichigo was performing medical kido on them while Heller was sending out pulse after pulse, trying to find mercer, but no luck. The bastard had gotten fast and was out of Heller's range before he could even figure out direction.
It took about 10 minutes, but Ichigo managed to heal Kisuke and Byakuya, with the only damage left being to their pride for being taken out so fast. They were brought up to speed on what happened and Kisuke said "interesting stories on both ends, but the last thing mercer said bothers me. And why would he leave the white light facility?"
Ichigo shrugged and said "he might have been weakened from trying to consume us. He did seem like it after wards."
Heller shook his head and said "no, the way he said that parting line made it sound like something else, something like…"
He never finished as they suddenly felt a thud. They looked around as they felt another. On the 3rd one, they heard screams and guns fire.
"that doesn't sound good." Heller said, feeling like his bones had turned to ice for some reason.
They all flash stepped to where they heard the sounds and were greeted by a horrid sight. An entire street was full of craters, twisted metal that were cars and a few tanks, and several bodies that were crushed and twisted until you didn't know they were human. And in the center of it all, with black watch firing at it with tanks and machine guns, along with rocket launchers, was the culprit of this destruction. A Goliath.
Heller shouted "DEFIANTLY NOT GOOD!"
And that's a wrap. Sorry guys, cliff hanger, but I need a break, I just typed this up for several hours and my brains fried. Need a break. Review and let me know what you think.
