Chiro sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow. It had taken longer then he would have hoped, but they had done it. The reprograming was complete. With luck, there would be a rather large explosion in a few hours. He hopped down from the top of the ship, and smiled at his team.
"Done. Lets get back to everybody."
Meanwhile, in the other groups, the more tecnological of the kids, were finishing up their own ships, and heading the same way.
Alyss grinned at Gisir, who still had a determined look on his face, and slowed her pace.
'Lets just see what happens now.'
Chiro sighed in relief as Franny came in to view, glad nothing unexpected had happened, and, by the grin on her face, she had succeeded as well. He smirked as he noticed that she, along with the grinning boy behind her, were blushing. He was about to go up and just mess with the guy, like brothers do, when a hand stopped him.
"Faerahrn. Tell me. What are you going to do?"
"What are you asking?"
"The team. Your, family. What will you do about them? They are on their way. You can't do this alone."
Chiro sighed, disappointed, "You guys just don't seem to get it. I'm not alone anymore. I have the kids. And...I have her."
Gisir frowned, "You're not talking about Franny, are you?"
Chiro made no move to reply, and instead, plastered a grin on his face, ran up to Franny, and hugged her.
"Hey little sis."
Franny laughed, and hugged him back, "Hey Chi. Miss me much?"
Chiro laughed, "You know it."
Gisir watched his children, a sad look on his face.
"You did a good job."
Gisir started, "What?"
Alyss sighed, "You tried. You talked to him. Thats more then any of our parents ever did for us. So good job."
Gisir wasn't sure how to respond, so he settled with a nod, "Thank you." With what he was planning to do, he could only hope it was the right thing.
"Hey Chiro!" Dani called, "What are we going to do now?"
Chiro sighed, "We're going after the runaways."
Michael couldn't believe it. He just couldn't. Allen, who had been so careing, was one of them.
He was a formless.
Pain flashed through his side and he gasped, presssing his hand against the bloody slash found there. He gasped as he heard Allen get closer, and closer. Closing his eyes, he did the only thing he could think to do.
He screamed.
Gibson growled deep in his throat. It was the third time he had lead his leam into a dead and, and he as well as them, were getting tired if it.
Antauri coughed, "Perhaps, if you allowed someone to, assist you-""Antauri, please, not now."
Antauri fell silent.
Nove sighed, "How are we supposed to find him in here? He could be anywhere!"
Mandarin hummed, "I don't know, we'll find him when we find him."
Sprx growled, "Thats easy for you to say! You hate the kid. You'd probably prefer we didn't find Chiro!"
Mandarin closed his eyes, "It is not the boy, that I am worried about." Sprx winced.
Otto just sighed.
"It's to bad Gisir isn't here."
Their heads shot up.
"Thats right! Gisir, he went to Chiro didn't he?" Gibson said.
Antauri nodded, "Indeed. And if he succeeded in reaching him, he should be able to come back."
A voice spoke hesitantly behing them, "And...I have."
They whirled around.
"Gisir! Did you find Chiro?"
They hesitated to ask any more, as the look on Gisir's face told them of no good news, but Otto continued.
"He isn't, hurt...is he?"
Gisir made a sound in the back of his throat before nodding, and saying, as if it was a painful for him, "My son, has transformed...without me. The strain, is to great for his body, and the pain has returned. When I entered his mind...it was being torn apart. He wont be able to manage much more."
Sprx took a breathe before asking, "And, the kids? Did he...did he find the kids?"
"He did, and they are a truly interesting lot. They all have powers, like Faerahrn. Some can transform into weapons, the other, animals. They can shield and fight, as well as many other things."
Otto cheered "Thats good news! So he's had help then."
Gisir hesitated, but before he said more, he froze.
"Someones screaming."
They were gone in a second.
Reaching the source of the scream, they froze as well.
Apparently, they weren't the only ones to have heard it.
"Run now!" Chiro screamed to the kids, while Dani grabbed the unconscious form of Michael and slung him over her shoulder. The monkeys watched, stunned, as Chiro lead the children they had never seen, and succeeded in doing so.
"Lilly! Transform!"
They watched in awe as the smallest of the children transformed into a scythe, which was then caught by Chiro, and swung at the attacker.
"Why are you doing this? Allen!" Chiro yelled at the formless, confusing the monkeys, until Gisir said coldly,
"That was a child who didn't choose the right side, and has to pay for it."
Chiro swung his blade, cutting a deep gash in Allen's side, but Allen was quick to retaliate.
He lunged at Chiro suddenly, effectivly knocking him off his feet, and landed on top of him, causing Chiro to release Lilly.
"Chiro!" Before the monkeys had time to help, the children got to him.
Leo had picked up the fallen Lilly and was viciously attacking the formless, a transformed Dani at his side.
Christy and Jimmy were helping the now wounded Chiro to his feet, while Laira created a force field to shield them.
Alyss was constantly getting Allen's attention by attacking him, then immediatly teleporting away, Jane assisting her.
Kati was in Franny's arms, just trying to stay out of the way.
The Monkeys were speechless.
Allen fell.
And not one kid cheered.
Immediatly the children rushed to Chiro's side, who had blood dripping down his head, and into his lap, but was grinning from ear to ear.
"I am so proud of all of you! You were wonderful fighters, and I am proud to fight along with you all," he beamed.
The kids were speechless, but smiling all the same, while Lilly transformed back and jumped onto Chiro's lap, hugging him.
"We're just happy your alright!"
Chiro smiled and hugged her back, before looking straight at his team, who gasped silently.
"Come on out you guys."
They didn't hesitate.
They immediatly ran and jumped on him, effectivly making him topple over.
"You idiot Chiro! Why the hell did you leave you jerk!"
"We were worried about you Chiro!"
"Yeah kid, never leave without telling us again!"
Gibson was crying to much to talk and Antauri was happy beyond words.
Mandarin just coughed awkwardly and they all got off.
"So," Chiro said slowly, "I'm in big trouble aren't I?"
"You bet you are mister," Nova laughed, "Might just have to add a few hours of training."
The others watched as Chiro was reunited with his family, but for some reason, they couldn't bring themselves to be happy.
Alyss frowned, "Why didn't you help him?"
Leo growled, "I saw you all right before we started fighting. If you love him so much, you should've helped him!"
Each kid agreed with the two, making the monkeys feel uncomftorable and worse by the second. They looked to Chiro for support, but it broke their hearts when he was staring at the ground, doubtful himself.
They were spared answering when a groan came from Michael.
"Ugh, what happen-AH!" He curled into a ball, trying to stop his wound from hurting. Chiro immediatly leapt to his feet, and ran to him, tearing off a part of his shirt.
"Chiro?" Nova asked concerned.
He ignored her, straightening Michael out and began to clean the wound best he could, before bandaging it.
"He wont be able to stand with a wound like that." Chiro stated as he picked up Michael, who had fallen asleep, without hesitation.
He turned to his friends. "Are you all ready?"
Jimmy shuffled nervously, "For what?"
Chiro sighed, "To get the hell out of here. We'll fight Skeleton another day. For now, lets just go home, and heal."
They all stood nervously. "Chiro," Laira said, "We don't have a home."
Chiro pretended to be suprised, "Oh yeah! Now you do."
They looked at him, shocked.
"I didn't tell you? You're all coming with me."
The monkeys gaped as Chiro was hugged by each of the children all at once, once again throwing him to the floor. Softly scooting Michael to the side, Chiro began comforting all of the children, who were crying despite their happiness.
"Oh Chiro! Thank you! Thank you so much!" Alyss cried, the others nodding with her.
"H-hey! Kid, we never said-" " Sprx quieted as he felt Antauri's hand on his shoulder.
"My friend, what is the harm? Let them have a family again."
He nodded and stepped back, "I...I just, don't want us...to be replaced by them."
Otto nodded sadly, "What can we do? It's our fault in a way."
Nova was on the verge of tears, when she saw Chiro look at her. He smiled and beckoned her over, and she burst. Crying, she ran and joined the pile atop Chiro.
The kids, who were calming down, parted so Chiro could wrap his arms around his yellow, softly patting her head and whispering to her.
"It's alright Nova. Everything's going to be ok. I wont leave again. I'm sorry. I love you."
She cried harder and burried her face in his shirt, hugging him tighter. He smiled sadly and stood, Michael on his back, Nova in his arms.
"Is everyone fit to continue?"
Lilly whimpered and turned to her sister, "I'm tired. Can you carry me?"
Jane chuckled and nodded. Picking up her sister, she looked to the others, silently asking. They all shook their heads, despite the fact that it was obvious they were exhausted.
Suddenly, Chiro froze, as an explosion rocked the ground they were standing on, the source to close for comfort.
"What was that?" Gibson asked frantically.
"There's no time to explain! The formless are coming! Everyone run!" Chiro yelled. Everyone ran, but Chiro waited. Nova looked up at him worried.
"I have to make sure everyone gets out," he said simply.
As soon as all the kids and monkeys had passed him, he started running. A second explosion sounded, and they stumbled, but did not fall.
Gibson at the lead yelled "We should almost be out! The exit should be right about-" He froze when they came face to face with a dead end.
"Shit!" Sprx cursed.
Chiro growled and turned to Franny, handing her the child on his back. He looked down at Nova.
"I need your help."
She nodded, and hopped down.
"We need to break through!"
The others stood back, and watched.
Nove brought out her fists and started punching the wall, as Lilly changed into a club, and Chiro did the same.
Little by little, cracks started appearing, and finally, they broke through, a smiling face greeting them.
"Hey," Chip waved, only to fall to the ground as Chiro punched him in the face.
"Where the hell were you! You ass!"
Chip chuckled and stood, the kids looking at him warily, thinking, 'If Chiro doesn't like him, he's not a good person.'
"Sorry Chiro. I had some...loose ends to tie up." Chiro's eyes widened and he punched Chip again.
"You...don't tell me you..." He trailed off, tears forming in his eyes, and stood.
Chip smiled sadly, "I did what I had to Chiro."
Chiro growled and stared Chip in the eyes, "You're lying."
Chip stuttered, "What?"
Chiro took a step forward, "You are lying. You would never be able to do that. Not to her." His red eyes grew brighter and his wings darkened, "Now who the fuck are you!"
Chip smiled a cheshire smile, and spoke, "Never thought you'd get it through that thick skull of yours. Sadly however, I am, Chip. The one and only." His tale swished back and forth, ears twitching, "Just, not the one you thought I was."
Chiro growled, "What are you talking about!"
Chip laughed, "You fool! Ailis talked sence into me. She told me that she loved me! Only me! She told me that we could always be together, if I only got rid of you!
As long as you still desire her, she can never be mine!"
Chiro stared at the ground, everyone else staring at him, "Then why did you hurt her?"
"She lied! I heard her plans! She was going to run to you! Seduce you! And I couldn't let her!"
Chiro sighed sadly, "You are being corrupt Chip. Everything your saying is false. You never talked to her, did you?" Not wanting nor waiting for an answer, he said softly, "And you can have her."
Chips eyes opened wide, and he stuttered, "What?"
"She..." he trailed off, "she's not worth it." He walked past Chip, the others hesitantly following him.
"When you're better again, come and see me. I'll wait for you."
The monkeys stared worried at their leader, who had taken Michael on his back once more, and was walking at the head of the group. Nova walked besides him.
"Chiro? Are you alright?"
"Yeah."
"But Chip..."
"That wasn't Chip. Well it was his body, but not mentally."
"What do you mean?"
"Chip is gone. Skeleton king has him."
AUTHOR
YAY! Another chapter! Hm...I think...there will be either 2 or three chapters after this to complete the story...then a sequel. That fine with everyone?
