Chapter 30 Part 2: Airborne Skirmish
Tsugumi was sitting in the Cargo Hold together with the rest of Spartoi. From the corner of her eye she noticed Maka tensing up beside her. "Maka, is it time?" Tsugumi said. Maka's jaw clenched as she stood up.
"I can sense two clowns approaching. Someone needs to warn the bridge." Maka said. Tsugumi stood up as Death the Kid pushed his way through the crowd promising to rally the aerial group.
"Can you tell what they intend to do?" Kim said. She and Jacqueline stood up together. Together with Death the Kid and Maka, they were the only members of Spartoi in the aerial group.
"Maybe..." Maka said. She kneaded her tense forehead with a hand. "One's approaching us quickly, while another is powering up at a distance."
"So they decided to send one to board us and one to attack from a distance then." Anya said. She was looking up at Maka, kneeling on the floor beside Aaron.
"We'll pass the warning on to the bridge." Ao said. She was grinning as she gave Maka thumbs up. "You and Kim should go meet with the rest of your group."
Tsugumi transformed for Maka and Jacqueline did the same for Kim. The two meister pushed their way through the crowd of Agents to the Aerial Group waiting to be dispatched at the Cargo hatch. Death the Kid was already at the front of the group. "Prepare yourselves. We knew the enemy would force an air battle. Your orders haven't changed, make your way to the ground and secure a landing zone for the airship. Watch out for long ranged attacks as you make your way to the ground. Leave the clowns to the Spartoi members who have flight." Death the Kid said. The group roared in agreement, making Maka wince. Death the Kid already had Liz and Patty transformed in his hands, his flying skateboard held under his arm. Behind him the Cargo hatch began to open, revealing the clouded air surrounding the moon. "Let's move out!"
Death the Kid ran down the hatch and leapt out of the airship. Agents ran after him, leaping out without hesitation. Tsugumi was sure she'd seen Aunty charge out right behind him too. Tsugumi hadn't known she'd be here too. "Guess it's our turn." Kim said. The crowd blocking their way beginning to clear. "Lead the way Human Radar." Maka pouted at the mention of Black*Star's favourite description for her. Tsugumi giggled, knowing the trust Kim had shown by admitted she didn't know where the clowns were.
"I'll lead the way if you can keep up!" Maka said. She ran down the Cargo Hatch as Kim opened her mouth to respond. As Maka leapt out of the Airship she twisted in the air giving Tsugumi a twirl. Tsugumi's heart pounded as they began to free fall. She brought out her wings as Maka repositioned in the air to sit on her. Using Maka's Soul Perception as a guide, Tsugumi started flying in the direction of a clown hovering just out of Azusa's range.
"Wait up!" Kim said, shaking her fist at Maka. She was flying behind them on Jacqueline, a trail of fire left behind them.
"No time for that, their getting ready to fire." Maka said. She leaned forward, reducing drag as Tsugumi picked up the pace. From beneath the clouds a series of lasers shout towards the Airship. Tsugumi gasped as the lasers bent around the Airship without hitting it.
"Dinga's light bending can even manipulate lasers?" Tsugumi said. She'd been briefed on her fellow Death Scythe's abilities by Spirit ages ago, but the scale of this was something else.
"It's impressive but they'll be in trouble if the attacks start coming from every direction." Maka said. Her eyes narrowed. "I see the clown!" It was floating in the air below them. The clown's head was a crescent moon with smaller moons circling it. Tsugumi supposed at least this one didn't look as creepy as the first one she'd met.
"You will not reach the moon!" The clown said, crescent head looking in their direction. The disks aimed at Kim and Maka as they flew straight at it. Lasers shot out from the clown's moons, Maka parrying the attacks making them dissipate. Kim swerved around them and flew behind the clown while it was focusing on Maka.
"That's enough!" Kim said. She twirled Jacqueline around and slammed the lantern into the clown's head. The lantern let out an explosion of flame as it connected. The clowns hollow soul vanished from Maka's senses as the explosion faded. Kim settled back onto Jacqueline with a grin.
"Target down. Let's head to the surface!" Maka said. She settled herself back onto Tsugumi as Kim agreed. Tsugumi and Jacqueline began flying towards the surface.
"It seems Kid has company." Jacqueline said. Tsugumi searched for him with Maka's Soul Perception. Death the Kid was further down flying on his skateboard, a female clown heading straight at him.
"Is she naked?" Tsugumi said. While this clown looked human, her skin was whiter than should be possible with black lines drawn over her body. An oversized cloak hovered around her shoulders but did nothing to hide her figure. There was also a small fire hovering above her head, reminding Tsugumi of a candle.
"Not for long!" Maka said, narrowing her eyes. Below them Death the Kid and the female clown had began to fight. The clown was winning, kicking him in the head. The two weapons sped up to join the fight.
Death the Kid wiped the blood from his face and looked up towards them. "Reinforcements! Keep our position secure until the land!" Death the Kid said. Below him several agents shouted in agreement. He fired a barrage of shots at the clown, who covered herself with her cloak. The cannon blasts exploded on contact, but didn't leave a single mark behind.
"An attack of that level won't defeat my Heaven's Raiment." The clown said. A piece of her cloak enlarged and slammed into Death the Kid.
"Then how about I heat things up?" Kim said. She aimed Jacqueline's lantern at the clown and let off a flamethrower. The clown hid behind her cloak as the flames reached her.
"Are you trying to make me strip? You must be desperate to see my body!" The clown said. Hidden from the clown's vision Tsugumi closed in on the clown from above.
"Perverts can go die!" Maka said. Tsugumi released her wings and switched to Shining Blades. With a roar of effort Maka cleaved through the clown's cloak and cut her in half. A heartbeat later Tsugumi switched back to her wings and Maka sat back on her.
"Thanks for the assist." Death the Kid said. He smiled at them as they flew down to his eye level. Kim and Maka grinned at him.
"We're already 2 for 2. You better give us a nice fat bonus after this Mr. Reaper." Kim said. Tsugumi was sure she could hear the sound of a cash register coming from Kim. It was nice to know somebody was sure they'd survive.
"I'll pass on the money... But it would be nice if my Security Clearance was raised to Level 4." Maka said. Tsugumi sighed, Maka didn't have any sense of tension either. Death the Kid grinned back at them.
"I'll see what I can arrange." Death the Kid said. He looked down below, the agents had already cleared out a small landing zone, but were besieged by clowns. "We have arial control for now, let's move on." The two girls nodded, Tsugumi and Jacqueline humming in agreement. The battle of the moon had only just begun.