They took tentative steps into the dark room, lights flickering on for them the further in they walked. Large computers and notepad littered desks ran around the room, in the far corner a map of the planet lay stretched out, pins inserted into specific spots and connected with strings.
"This is creeping me out."
The door creaked closed behind them, gaining their attention for a split second before they returned it to the strange equipment scattered around them.
"This is marked over our camp." Kevin noticed, pointing to one of the three red pins on the map, all the other pins being a plain white. Leaning closer he followed the string connected to the pin, watching as it passed through a shortcut to the castle.
He checked another of the red markers, his eyes widening as he recognised the location.
"Those bastards!" He exploded, double checking to make sure he wasn't mistaken.
"What is it Kevin?" Lee asked, confusion written across his face.
"These are all the locations of our previous camps. This is how they knew where we were."
"What?" Kai asked, looking over the map with more interest now.
"We've had to move camp before, they always found us and whenever we tried to barricade us they always found a way in. This is how, they had the freaking shortcuts marked out on a map!"
"But what about the white pins?"
"That's where the towns are, they marked out all the civilian residents."
"I can't believe this. All that time we tried to strengthen our borders and protect ourselves and they had a fuckin' map on how to get in." Ray grit his teeth, grabbing at the map and tearing it down, scattering pins across the floor. Screwing the map up into a ball he tore at it, frustration of countless nights on patrol trying in vain to protect their camp coming out of him.
"Whoa, whoa Ray, calm down." Lee grabbed onto his wrists tightly, stopping his hands from tearing at the map any more. "We could have used that, but never matter." He sighed, as Ray released the map and it fluttered down in over a dozen pieces. "Relax, I know you're mad but take a breath. We need to keep a level head. We've been given something amazing, we can't squander it on hot-headedness."
Reluctantly he nodded, taking a deep breath and slowly releasing it. He could feel tension leaving his body.
"So this is where you idiots have gotten to." They all span to face the door, a blue haired woman stood there.
"Who are you?" Mariah demanded.
"My name's Mariam. I'm supposed to be out fighting but you idiots have gotten yourselves so lost I've had to come back."
"Lost? What do you mean? You were counting on us coming her?"
"We set traps on every corner leading to Lord Voltaire's room. We figured you'd be going there. But you went every wrong way and ended up here. Kinda pathetic really."
A slight embarrassed shuffle ran through the group at the revelation that they'd done everything wrong since entering the building. Ray often prided himself on his impeccable sense of direction, to find out that he'd done nothing but wander aimlessly nowhere close to their goal was a bit of a hard hit to his pride.
"But whatever. Just come out here, I'll kill you all and we'll call it a day." As she spoke with a cheery smile spread out across her face she withdrew the gun secured at her side, pointing it towards Ray and cocking it.
"What the hell are you doing?" Tala demanded, feeling his heart quicken at the prospect of being shot.
"My job." She pulled the trigger, Ray moving as soon as he saw her finger flex, but he wasn't quick enough. The bullet imbedded itself in his upper arm, barely missing the bone and wedging itself in the muscle.
With a cry of pain he fell to the floor, clutching at his arm desperately. Blood oozed out slowly, his nails imbedding themselves into his flesh as he tried to slow it.
"Ray! Are you okay?" Mariah asked, dropping to her knees and pulling the ribbon from her hair. While she tied his arm off the others gathered around him, pulling out their bits and pointing their own guns at her.
"You haven't got the guts." She laughed quietly to herself as they glared at her, trying to build up the confidence to do it.
Most people in the group were experienced fighters, but they'd never done anything with their bare hands, it was always their bits who did the dirty work. Having to do it themselves was a cruel reality check for them.
"See what I mean, you're all spineless. Take your big fancy bit beast or your all-star team away and you're nothing."
"Don't insult us."
"Or what?" She lowered her gun and leaned against the door frame, crossing her arms and looking nowhere near as worried as someone outnumbered seven to one.
"We'll make you eat your words."
"Oh no, so scary. I might cry."
"Shut up Mariam, we have guns and bits out numbering you several times. You still think you can win?"
"We already have."
"What's that supposed to mean? We're still standing, you haven't won yet or ever."
"You're best shot at beating us were the Majestics, they were taken down by Brooklyn. You're oh so special Susumu...well, he's not going to be much help."
"Brooklyn? You reactivated him? Are you crazy! That man's a psychopath, he'd kill everyone on this planet and not think twice about it."
"Of course. That's why we need him. We stay out of his way and he doesn't kill us. Boris can control him but no one else can. Not even Lord Voltaire to some extent."
"You guys are insane!"
"Are we, or are we genius."
"What about Susumu?" Kai asked, watching as the smirk she wore grew to that of a Cheshire cat's.
"Don't think too much on that Kai, she's just trying to worry us. Susumu's fine. I promise." Ray assured, standing once his arm had stopped bleeding so much and numbness was starting to set in.
"You think so? Well, alright, if you don't want me to tell you..." She trailed off, the smirk on her face mischievous, knowing she was drawing them in for a reaction. And sure enough Ray demanded an answer.
"What are you talking about, tell us. You think you have something on us that you clearly don't."
"Hmm, alright. I'll tell you. Susumu's dead." The smirk on her face was infuriating as it grew, but to her surprise she didn't get the answer she was expecting.
"No he's not."
"Yes he is."
"Prove it."
"W-Well I can't. I wasn't the one who killed him." She wasn't sure what she was expecting but she supposed she expected instant acceptance. It hadn't occurred to her they might refuse it. She supposed that may have been naive of her, but after years of being instantly believed the notion that someone might refuse her hadn't occurred.
"I told you guys, she's just messing with us." The slight tension in everyone's body dropped and they relaxed instantly. "Let's beat her and carry on, we know what to do now. Completely ignore my sense of direction."
Faltering slightly she called on her bit beast, a large shark leapt from her blade, hovering slightly in the air as though he were swimming in a pool of water, his bright multi-coloured body swaying in the air and radiating power.
"Sharkrash, I don't care how much they try to throw at you, you'll win."
"What's a fish doing on land?"
"He's not a fish he's a shark!" Mariam defended, well aware of the face that she wasn't allowed to battle in this room due to all the expensive equipment. "Step out into the hall and fight me!" She commanded, pulling Sharkrash back with her giving them room to leave. Except they didn't move. "What are you doing?"
"Why do you want us to leave? You've got us trapped."
"I'm giving you a fair fight."
"We outnumber you badly, we could split our group in half and still outnumber you, most of us could leave and we'd still outnumber you, and you want a fair fight?" Kai asked, staring at the woman oddly, he thought for a moment before staring down at the large computer besides him. Using all his strength he smashed his fist down on the keys, watching as she jumped in shock.
"Stop that!"
"You just don't want us to ruin the machines."
Tala followed his lead, slamming his own fist down on the computers and watching as she and her bit stood helpless to stop it.
"You don't know what you're breaking!" She insisted, trying to barge through only to be stopped by a large monkey bit beast, the creature emerging from Kevin's hand much to the boy's surprise.
"Galman, what are you doing?" Kevin asked, watching as the monkey blocked Mariam from passing, holding her back and keeping the shark at bay.
The rest of the group followed the twin's lead, smashing the computer screens and pressing any button they could reach, the screens flickering on and off as they were changed and altered in ways not even Mariam knew existed.
"Stop, you're going to break it!" As though on cue the screens flickered black and the castle's lights shut off, leaving the room in pitch darkness except for the slight light the two bit beasts gave off.
Long silent seconds passed before the sound of electricity ran through the room and a small generator switched on, lighting everything in a small, weak but tangible light.
"You broke it!" She cried, looking panicked. "Now all the guards won't be functioning." She grasped at her hair, tugging at the strands harshly. "Since there's nothing to lose, Sharkrash attack!"
The shark charged for the monkey only half-heartedly holding him back, knocking him from his feet and sending him crashing onto Kevin. The small boy tried to scramble out from under his bit beast, the monkey trying to hold the shark's jaws from his throat.
"Sharkrash, use your teeth." Mariam demanded, pointing her gun to the other members of the resistance who were readying to release their own bits. "Don't think about it, this is a one on one match."
They stood frozen as the monkey and shark duelled it out. Galman managing to throw him off of him and pounce out into the halls were he had more space, his long lanky arms stretched out and blocking the shark from re-entering the small computer room.
Kevin ran out into the hall, watching the fight with wide eyes. He didn't know what to do to help, turning his attention to Mariam he pointed his gun to the woman.
"How about we duel it out too?" A look of surprise crossed her face before a cocky facade fell into place.
"Of course, though I must warn you, I'm second to no one at accuracy with this pistol."
"That's good cos I'm not using your pistol." He smirked at what he perceived to be a smart comment. He watched as her brow furrowed before a shot was rung off and he dived to the floor, the bullet grazing the top of his shoulder. A short cry of pain left him as he grabbed his arm before pushing the pain away to level his gun on her.
It hadn't hurt as much as it stung and the shock had done most of it, his short stature usually helped when he was in shoot outs with burly or just taller people. She hadn't been lying. She was a good shot.
Pulling his trigger he watched as his arm faltered a second before firing, the pistol that had been aimed at her head dropping to her neck.
It barely grazed her, nicking her skin and pulling little more than a hiss from her.
The two shot and the bit beasts fought, both pairs completely oblivious to their surroundings.
"This is our chance." Ray whispered, his voice hushed and nervous, fearful she'd hear and prevent them from moving again. "Everyone move silently, if you make even a spec of noise you'll be out."
Nodding in understanding they slowly inched their way out of the small room and back the way they came. Their nerves were on edge, their eyes darting back to them, Kevin seemed to have noticed and was slowly drawing her even further from them, his shots designed to make her dodge them easily while looking real.
Ray took the head of the group, motioning them to hurry up and managing to quickly get them around the corner and sprint silently away.
Mariam turned at the lack of noise, her senses on edge. A loud gasp left her as she realise they'd disappeared but before she could run for them a bullet struck the side of her foot.
"Where do you think you're going? I'm not done with you yet."
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