Outside the mansion
Baldor swung his Heimdall back into his hand, smirking as he gazed at first the smashed security camera that was his latest handiwork and then at the piles of unconscious Shooting Star soldiers lying around the courtyard.
"Ha!" He chuckled. "That Heartnet is awfully showy."
"He sure is..." Xiao Li noted thoughtfully as he gazed from a soldier whose mask had been smashed in to a whole pile of them who were butt-naked and covered in bruises. "It seems like the group of sweepers has done better than we expected them to."
"What else did you expect?" Lia asked dryly. "They had Black Cat and that girl with the power of the nanomachines with them."
Baldor glanced at her irritably, but Sephiria called in an even voice, "Let's go, too. To the battle that will determine everything."
Baldor's lips curved up into another smirk while Kranz stepped up beside his partner. Xiao Li and Jenos wore similar smiles of anticipation as they flanked Sephiria, who led the centre while Lia swung her Elysium behind her body as she stepped up behind her brother. Without needing any cue, the Chronos Numbers moved in together, the same thought crossing all their minds at the same time as they entered Creed's lair at last.
'Mission start!'
Second floor of the mansion
Train and Eve raced into an empty dining room down the corridor from where they had started their battle against Fudou and Mundock, quickly using the time before they were found to catch a breath and gather their thoughts.
River was out after Mundock pierced him with two bullets to the chest and shoulder, his broken ribs from his earlier fight with Shiki's minion having slowed his reaction time and rendering him unable to avoid the attack. Not to mention the young sweeper had been disinclined to fight his fellow sweepers, placing him at a very distinct disadvantage. Train had barely managed to save River from also being impaled by Fudou's spear before he and Eve had led the crazed sweepers away from their gravely injured friends.
Eve was still barely repressing tears, worried about Kevin, as she and Train caught their breaths. Train glanced at the young girl with concern, but they couldn't waste time.
"We have to think of a way to save them." Train said to Eve. "But in order to do that, you have to be calm. I'm sure you can think of a great idea. You know, like before."
"Before?" Eve repeated, confused, and that's when Train had a brainwave.
"That's right… what if..." He muttered as he looked at Eve, who gave him a puzzled look in return.
Her confusion only grew as Train brightened and the man said excitedly, "I need to tell you something, little princess! Just listen..."
Train whispered his plan in Eve's ear, taking care that Doctor (wherever the bastard might be and whom Train had no doubt was still watching them) wouldn't hear him.
Train leant back with a grin as he finished and Eve looked up at him with wide eyes. But that was all the time they had, and they were found out. The door smashed down as Mundock kicked it down with sheer brute strength, and the two crazed sweepers stepped into the room after Tain and Eve.
"We found you." Fudou cackled, and Train's gaze steeled.
"All right! Let's do it, little princess." Train said grimly.
Doctor's voice chuckled over the speakers and the man asked, "How do you plan on stopping them, Train? There is no vaccine for the Beserker nanomachine. Once someone is infected by it, they will stay that way until death."
"Shut up." Train shot back, not even deigning to look up at the camera toward Doctor. "You don't know since you've never tried, have you?"
"How stubborn..." Doctor's voice mused as Fudou and Mundock began their attack. "That stubbornness is quite a match for Creed."
Train ignored the other man - he had more important things to deal with.
As Fudou and Mundock charged them, Eve leapt out of the way while Train leapt back onto the dining table.
"Come on!" He yelled at the approaching sweepers, capturing their sole attention.
Mundock roared as he brought his steel club with spikes on it down on Train, who blocked it with his Hades. Fudou instantly took the opening Mundock provided, leaping at Train from the side. Train's own quick reflexes saved him as he leapt up and back, away from Fudou as the skilled sweeper's spear pierced the air where Train had been not a second earlier.
'Trying to keep them from moving when it's two against one...' Train thought to himself grimly as he watched his opponents. 'This is going to be difficult.'
Train dodged and deflected his opponents' attacks, the trio making their way swiftly across the dining table that didn't look like it had been used for years anyway. Mundock charged again just as Train reached the end of the table. Seeing his chance, Train suddenly switched up his moves, leaping up before bringing his foot slamming down on Mundock's head.
Momentarily stunned, the man collapsed under Train's foot just as Fudou came at Train. Train moved just slightly as Fudou stabbed at his chest, causing the spear to move into the space between his body and his arm. As the spear's head passed his body Train suddenly slammed his arm down, catching the spear and stopping Fudou in his tracks.
"NOW, little princess!" Train yelled.
Eve was already moving, having sensed the moment, and her hair extended as the young girl leapt toward Train and the immobilized sweepers. Her hair connected with the men's foreheads and Eve's brows furrowed as she exerted her powers on the men, forcing herself to transfer her natural nanomachines into the two sweepers much as she had with the game console ten days ago. It was draining but her body naturally replenished the lost nanomachines and Eve forced herself to focus. One mishap and she could accidentally make the sweepers' bodies shut down, killing them.
There was a blinding light and Train released the men at the same time that Eve's hair retracted.
Fudou fell off the table as his consciousness failed him, and Doctor cocked his head from within the security room where had been watching them avidly.
"What's this?" He asked. "You tried to finish them off without killing them, and in the end you took their lives anyway?"
The man began to laugh.
"This is great! Hahaha!"
"Idiot."
Doctor cut off his laughter at Train's smug scoff.
Train glanced at the camera with a smirk as he said, "Take a closer look."
Doctor's eyes widened as Mundock and Fudou both sat up, looking dazed and confused as they looked around the room where they had no memory of entering.
Train grinned back at Eve, and he called as he sent her a thumbs up, "Great job, little princess!"
Eve smiled and, despite her own exhaustion, she sent him a thumbs up back in relief.
Some time later
"We're sorry." Fudou and Mundock said for the upteenth time as they crowded around River and the unconscious Kevin, who would live despite the terrible wound to his chest. They were still near the stairway leading up to the next floor, but Train and Eve had no thoughts on moving just yet as they looked over their injured friends.
"We'll tend to your injuries." Fudou offered contritely before he corrected, "No… please let us treat them."
His gaze went to Train, seeking forgiveness while Mundock nodded along with equal apology as he looked at River and Kevin. Train nodded, agreeing, "Got it."
He nodded at Eve as he added, "Then the little princess and I will go on ahea. We've got to kick that Doctor bastard's ass."
"Right." Fudou nodded, and River piped up, "Hey."
Train looked at the younger man in surprise.
It was clear River was still suffering severely from his injuries, but despite the bleeding from his mouth River gave Train a cheeky smirk and he pulled his middle finger as he said, "Kick his ass for me too. And you've got to defeat Creed!"
Train grinned back.
"Sure." He agreed and River nodded, satisfied.
Their moment was ruined however as a half-dozen of Creed's followers suddenly turned the corner at the end of the corridor.
The group looked over sharply as one of the Shooting Star soldiers shouted, "Look, over there! Fire-?!"
The soldier was cut off as a lithe figure sprang up from behind.
With a flash as the light reflected off of dark metal, a curved blade sliced expertly right at the armour's weak point at the soldier's neck, killing him instantly. The rest of the soldiers barely had time to blink before the Reaper got them too. The group of sweepers were left to stare in stunned silence as a blue-haired woman straightened up after killing all six soldiers in less than five seconds, most of them taken aback at the sheer skill and ruthlessness of the woman's kills.
"That's-"
River gaped, the first to react as he instantly recognized the curved blade with the VI mark that the woman carried. Although he had never actually seen the infamous Reaper before, the weapon she carried was as legendary as Black Cat's had been in the underworld. In fact, it was the only thing that was really known about the deadly Number given that few ever saw her and lived to tell the tale. River found he was rather stunned to discover she was much younger than he could have imagined, especially given her reputation.
But Train cut the younger man off as he stepped forward, calling incredulously.
"Lia?"
Lia turned at Train's call, her gaze cool as she looked from him to the other sweepers behind him. Her grey eyes rested on River briefly, making him flinch at their cold and calculating expression ('No doubt, with that killing aura, it's definitely the Reaper.' He thought to himself), before she swept her gaze over Fudou and Mundock and finally settled on Kevin and the medical supplies littered beside him.
"Treat him quickly and get him and that one outside quickly." Lia ordered Fudou and Mundock, nodding slightly at Kevin and River.
Fudou and Mundock flinched as Lia's icy gaze met theirs once more, but her words were kinder even if her tone was not as she added, "Hurry. Things will get uglier the longer you stay inside. Leave now while you can, and do not worry - you will be looked after as you make your way."
"What?" Fudou asked, puzzled, but it was Train who spoke next.
"Thanks to No. X, right?" He questioned, his gold eyes fixed on Lia.
She turned to meet his gaze unflinchingly as Train went on, "It was him, wasn't it? The one who planned all of this. 'Glin'."
"Yes." Lia replied impassively, her expression unchanging as she met Train's gaze evenly. "And you were the ones who still took the mission despite knowing the risks."
She then ignored Train again as she looked at Fudou and Mundock.
"What are you waiting for?" She snapped sharply. "Move!"
They started but quickly did as she said. Fudou bent down to treat Kevin's injuries while Mundock knelt beside River, who kept his eyes fixed on Lia as he asked Train in a low voice, "You know the Reaper?"
"Of course." Train replied shortly.
River wasn't fooled however and he pointed out shrewdly, "She appeared after the Black Cat was said to have died."
"Even messengers of death were people before they earned a name and the burden of a mantle." Train answered.
River nodded as he recognized Train's closure on the subject… or so he thought. Lia had reached them by this point, but instead of stopping she turned and started up the stairs.
"Uh..." Eve muttered, glancing at Train; but he was already in movement.
Reaching out, he made to grasp Lia's wrist as he called, "Wait-"
Train cut himself off at the same time he pulled his hand back as Elysium's blade swung back, barely missing his fingers - and Eve wasn't entirely sure in that moment that Lia had intended to miss. Lia didn't pay any attention to the young girl as she simply glared at Train from over her shoulder.
"Don't touch me." She hissed and Train raised his hands in surrender although he was far from dissuaded.
"What are you doing here?" He asked in an even tone, not wanting to argue with Lia but needing answers.
"To kill Creed." Lia replied as though it were obvious. Which, really, it should have been. "To get my revenge and avenge Saya."
Train's gaze turned serious and he shook his head.
"Don't get involved." Train advised seriously. "You don't have to go after him. I'm going to find him, and I'm going to bring him down."
"Of course you are." Lia returned coolly, her silvery-grey eyes condescending as she looked down at Train from her place atop the stairs. "You're still as baselessly confident as ever, I see."
"And you're not?" Train shot back. "You think you can take on Creed alone?"
"You doubt me?" Lia returned, a condescending smirk now gracing her features as well even if no emotion entered her eyes.
"You think I am still the girl you left behind, don't you? You severely underestimate me, Heartnet - that, or you are delusional. The girl you knew is gone."
"You're wrong." Train answered, his gold eyes serious as he looked up at her.
"I know you, Jules."
Her eyes narrowed at the affectionate nickname but Train pretended not to notice.
"And I know your capability. But you don't have what it takes to win against Creed. Only I do."
"And why is that?" Lia sneered.
"Because I have something that I can't afford to lose if I don't win." Train answered.
"Your life?" Lia shot at him snarkily.
But Train replied without missing a beat.
"Ten minutes of your undivided attention."
Lia tensed while River's jaw dropped. Mundock and Fudou were similarly shocked, but Train kept his eyes on Lia alone as he reminded her, "You promised me ten minutes."
"We agreed it was only if you came looking for me and managed to find me. Running into each other while we're chasing the same target is not the same thing." Lia retorted and Train smirked at her.
"Once Creed is taken care of?"
His expressions changed into one of utmost seriousness, his lips grim even as his gaze softened with emotion.
"There won't be a single force on this planet that will be able to stop me from coming back to you."
Mundock and River's mouths were now hanging open while even Fudou glanced up briefly from where he was treating Kevin at Train's bold declaration. Eve too watched as Lia's eyes widened slightly before they narrowed dangerously.
"You're an idiot!" She hissed harshly, spinning on her feet and stomping her way up the stairs. "More so if you think I'll simply let that happen!"
The Number strode swiftly up the stairs, not looking back once as she walked away, but Train was unsurprised. Instead, he glanced at River and the other sweepers.
"Take care of yourselves." Train told them seriously. "And get out quickly - Lia's right, it's not safe to stay inside."
"Right..." River said weakly, and Fudou confirmed, "We will make sure they are safely taken care of."
"Thanks." Train grinned before he looked at Eve. "Ready, little princess?"
"Yes." Eve agreed quietly but determinedly.
Together, the pair hurried up the stairs after Lia - only to find the blue-haired woman standing still at the top of the stairs, unmoving as she stared at what was waiting for them.
Train and Eve stopped as well, staring at what they found. Right opposed the staircase was a door, similar to a hospital emergency doors. Above the opaque doors, was a sign that was currently unlit that read 'Operating'.
Lia's jaw clenched and Train instantly looked at her with worry while Eve said warily, "An operating room? Why is there an operating room here?"
"I don't know..." Train replied slowly, watching Lia as she kept her eyes hidden beneath her bangs. "I can feel he's in there though… the guy called Doctor."
"Yeah." Eve agreed also looking at Lia. "What should we do?"
Train glanced at Eve before looking back at Lia, and he began hesitantly, "Lia-"
"You can leave." Lia replied coldly as she lifted her chin to face the doors. "But I have a mission to complete. And bringing down all the Apostles is a part of that task."
With that she strode forward, pushing the doors so that they swung back as she entered the room. Train was right behind her, his posture defensive, while Eve followed last, her stance wary but ready. What none of them noticed as they crossed the threshold was the way the light on the operating sign switched on.
Instantly, a bright light flashed all around the trio, and each of them threw up their arms to shield their eyes from the sudden brightness. Lia and Train recovered first, naturally, though Eve wasn't far behind. And the little girl gasped in surprise while Train and Lia tensed as they stared out at the desert all around them.
"Wh… what is this?" Eve wondered, and Train guessed, "An illusion?"
"It's a damned good one then." Lia muttered tightly as she felt the blistering heat that gave them no reprieve while sand blew into their hair and clothes.
A slight movement behind them had them glancing back, and Lia's jaw snapped shut in irritation while Eve cried, "The door!"
They watched as the door they'd entered through simply disappeared into thin air, leaving them stranded, and Lia growled.
"It was a trap."
"There has to be a way out." Train countered and Lia scoffed.
"Of course there is." She replied irately. "But it'll be difficult and not everyone might make it out alive."
She looked toward Eve meaningfully, and the girl bristled.
"I'm not weak." Eve said angrily, and Lia raised a brow.
"I didn't say you were." The older woman replied. "But I know your limitations - the limitations of the nanomachines. And I'd bet that if Creed has been researching them, he and this Doctor will know them too."
Eve tensed while Lia's eyes flickered over to Train.
"And that's also how I know what's coming next."
Train's expression was hard, and it was clear he knew as well. Eve was still clueless, but then she noticed the sandstorm coming their way.
"Huh?" Eve gasped while Train lunged forward and grabbed both Eve and Lia's wrists.
"Don't let go!" He yelled at them just as the sandstorm hit. Train was relieved when he felt Eve's hand tighten around his briefly; but then, she slipped away as if turned to sand herself. In his left hand, Lia's hand fell away the same way, and Train grasped for her as he yelled, squinting through the sand in a futile attempt to search for his comrades.
"Jules! Little princess?! JULES!"
The storm blew out, and Train raised his head to find himself alone. Except he was no longer in the desert either, and Train slowly straightened, expression wary as he looked around at the sterile white walls.
Lia breathed softly as the sandstorm blew out around her.
She'd felt Train disappear beside her and noticed when Eve's presence had mysteriously disappeared as well. It was to be expected, after all; if Doctor wanted them truly trapped and unable to escape, he would separate them and drive them mad with the illusions he could create as reality in this strange space he apparently controlled with ease. But as Lia lifted her head from the sandstorm, what did surprise her was how smoothly and swiftly Doctor apparently could control their environment.
Nowhere to be seen was the desert they had first found themselves stranded in; instead, she was in a dimly-lit street somewhere. She frowned, looking up and down the cobbled street that could be anywhere in the world - when movement caught her attention from the corner of her eye.
Lia swung Elysium quickly, drawing her weapon defensively just as a ball of energy came barreling toward her. The attack crashed into the blade of her weapon, but the Orihalcon was unscathed as was its wielder as Lia glared around Elysium and toward her attacker.
"Durham." Lia hissed, grey eyes dark with hatred as she watched the man step out from the shadows just as he had two and a half years ago. "In case you missed the memo, you're supposed to be dead."
The illusionary man just smirked behind his damned beak-like mask.
"Not in here, I'm not." The Taoist gunman replied, just as Lia caught sight of another figure emerging from the shadows.
An icy feeling trickled down her spine as the figure stepped out and she saw the newcomer's face, and Lia couldn't stop herself from taking a step back in shock.
"You." Lia whispered despite herself as she stared with wide, traumatized eyes at the dark-haired figure before her. "You're dead. I killed you!"
Katashi Touma just smiled widely and he repeated Durham's words with that cocky, deranged smile she loathed.
"Not in here, I'm not. Never will be..." He tapped his temple, indicating Lia's mind, as he let out a gleeful cackle. "In here."
