A/N: Hello, my fellow readers. I'm back with a new chapter. Hard to imagine that it's August already. 2020 is going by so fast. Soon, the glory days of summer will go and fall arrives. The world is still in the pandemic, but I rather not focus on the craziness. Also, it was tough to think of a title for this chapter, so if anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears. In the meantime, sit back, grab some snacks or anything, and enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Killer Instinct nor Carrie.
Various seabirds called out in the sky, flying above the sea around New Zealand's coast. A massive rock formation remained tall, staring at the sea. Waves fluttered against the shore. Fresh and withered grass mingled with the sandy floor. A river flowed from the ocean and into a compact town. In a shaded area from a rocky crag, pebbles of sand rose until a swirling ball of light appeared, spewing out Kim Wu, Carrie, Jago, and Orchid.
As the colors vanished, Kim came to her feet. "Where are we?"
Orchid checked the map on the mini-computer attached to her wrist. "We're in Piha Beach, New Zealand. Jago's guardian spirit must've brought us here."
"What was that spirit?" Kim asked. "I've seen nothing like that."
Jago folded his arms across his chest. "I'll answer that question after you explain why Carrie is with you."
"Oh, um, right." Kim rubbed the back of her neck while she glanced at Carrie, who lowered her head. "Care, why don't you go shell hunting around the coastline, but where we can see you. Just don't grab the cone-shaped ones."
Carrie nodded and headed to the shore. She sat down, drawing her legs into her chest and resting her head on her knees. She was in no mood for shell hunting as she could not forget the expression on Jago once he and Orchid discovered her and Kim at the Tiger Shrine. Carrie glanced back at the meeting before she switched towards the sea. She sighed as tears brimmed in her eyes until something pressed on her back.
Yeo, in his human form, sat beside Carrie, with a soft smile; he must've detached himself from Kim so he could give her and the siblings privacy. "Is everything all right?"
"He's mad at me, isn't he?"
"Mad is a powerful word. I'd prefer it as 'upset.'"
"I should've never come."
"Oh, Carrie…" Yeo stroked the girl's back. "It'll be okay."
"…and that's that." Kim finished her explanation towards the half-siblings. "I believe her powers could help us."
"We get where you're coming from, but you're putting her at high risk," Jago said. "It also seems that you're not aware of the danger."
"I'm aware of the danger her power possesses, but Carrie saved my life. She even ripped a Mimic Aganos in pieces."
"Carrie made her first Mimic kill?" Orchid snapped her fingers. "Damn! I wish I was there to see it!"
"Sister…" Jago rebuked.
"I mean—it was a risky gamble, Kim. So, what's the way forward?"
Jago propped his elbows on his thighs, resting his chin on his entwined hands. "Carrie's old enough to decide for herself. I just don't want her hurt."
"Jago." The tiger skull spirit detached itself from the warrior-monk. "Can I have a word with you alone?"
"Yeah." Jago arose to his feet. "I'll be back."
Kim glanced at the spirit as Jago walked away from the women. "So…"
"The spirit's name is Baekho," Orchid said. "Jago got him at Kan-Ra's lair. The sorcerer also gave him a red vial, which claims can restore a person's energy. I advised him not to use it until we bring it back at the GCF base."
"I understand your concern for the child, but eventually, many will ask for her help," Baekho said after telling Jago of the suggestions.
"Still though, the risks—"
"The rewards will outweigh them. Carrie won't be involved in fights, but will defend herself and others if needed."
Jago glanced at Carrie, still comforted by Yeo. With a subtle nod to Baekho, he returned to the women. "Kim, can you call Carrie over?"
"Sure. Hey, Care, can you come over?"
Carrie approached the fighters, accompanied by Yeo. She wiped her eyes of any tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Have you been crying?" Jago checked Carrie's face, her eyes puffy and red.
"I'm sorry. P-please, don't lock me away. Please…"
"I'm not gonna lock you away. You caught me by surprise when I saw you at the temple with Kim, and these worse-case scenarios popped in my head. You're at the age where you can decide for yourself. So, if you want to help us stop Gargos, then I'll support it, but with a few conditions. First, don't partake on a solo mission. Second, for any mission you go to, it will be for help, but you can still defend yourself and others. Understand?"
Carrie nodded. "I do. You still haven't introduced that spirit to us."
"Oh, you mean that tiger skull head?" Kim said. "His name's Bake—Bah—Dammit! How do you say that word?"
"It's Baekho," Jago said.
Upon hearing that name, a strange vision encroached on Carrie's mind, showing herself as a small child talking to a tiger skull spirit. Carrie shook her head, resting her hand there. "What's that buzzing sound?"
Orchid tuned her ears as a minor buzz echoed in the air. "I hear it too. Where the—oh."
The buzzing grew louder as an Ultratech drone flew towards them, projecting a hologram image of ARIA.
"Greetings," the hologram spoke. "This message is for Kim Wu. You're summoned at the Pinnacle for help. Should you accept it, this drone will create a portal that will lead you to your destination. For anyone else not involved, it will form another portal to the Global Corruption Force HQ. You're also allowed to bring forth any aid if need be. What is your decision?"
"Kim, I'm going with you and Carrie," Orchid said. "I still don't trust ARIA, but I owe you one for saving Jago and me back there. No offense, brother, but you need to rest."
"I have no complaints," Jago said. "Just keep Carrie safe."
Near pitch-darkness surrounded ARIA's office, with only the blue holograms lining through the floor and walls providing light. Tiny sparks flickered in the space until a portal appeared, roaring. Once Kim, Carrie, and Orchid set foot inside the office, the portal shrunk and vanished.
An ARIA hologram emerged from the floor, buzzing slightly. "Mimics have overrun the Pinnacle. I will provide information about Tusk if you defeat them."
"What are the Mimics doing here?" Kim asked.
The hologram faded out briefly before it gleamed again. "The Mimics seek the secrets I have discovered over the decades…secrets they would give to Gargos if not stopped. Beware. The Mimics are nearby."
Once the hologram vanished, a green beam emerged from the darkness. Carrie reacted quickly with a barrier, blocking it until the laser shrunk to fade. A low growl soon followed as three Mimics resembling Riptor, Fulgore, and ARIA revealed themselves.
Kim and Orchid shifted into their combat stances, keeping Carrie behind them. "So, any strategies? Since Carrie's a rookie, three against two isn't an even fight."
*"Tsugini, sore o hitoshiku shimasu," a voice said as a black portal formed on the floor. With it, a bladed pole sprouted, along with Hisako as though she climbed from it.
"Destroy them!" The Mimic ARIA pointed at the fighters as its comrades charged towards them.
Kim, Orchid, and Hisako did the same, with Carrie standing back as a backup defender. The brawl grew intense from the opposing sides. At first, the Mimics were getting the upper hand, but with Carrie's help, Kim, Orchid, and Hisako fought back harder. With the fighting sides backing off, the Mimic Fulgore fired its beam, but before it could reach the fighters, an invisible wall blocked its trajectory.
Carrie extended her arms as she pushed back the beam. Despite the slight burning in her heart, she brought her hands together as the barrier shrunk, confining the Mimics until the beam exploded from within, destroying the Mimics. In their hazy remains were the Astral Gems.
The ARIA hologram emerged from its usual spot. "Well done on destroying the Mimics. As promised, I will tell you about Tusk. I analyzed the structure of the sword he calls War-gram. The sword contains an unknown element and appears to be connected to the Astral Plane, which indicates that the weapon is a living thing. Tusk can be an important ally if you prove your worth." The hologram then vanished.
Kim groaned as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Not what I was expecting. So, what now?"
"You must confront Tusk again." Yeo emerged from Kim's body in his dragon form. "There's only one place he would go to, and where he started his own quest: Icehaven."
"Where is that?" Kim inquired.
Orchid approached the central computer and typed on the keyboard. The screen showed a map with a red ripple spreading at the location. "Icehaven is in Norrbotten, Sweden, and from the looks of it, a cold region."
"Ugh, I hate the cold, but if Tusky's there, we better go."
A/N: So it's time for Kim and her crew to confront Tusk, but will they be successful this time? Time for my brain to rest, and I'll see you later.
*Translation in Japanese:
*Then, we'll make it equal.