Just a warning guys, there will be a pretty graphic scene around the end of the chapter.
"Now do you think I'm being paranoid?" Pearl sternly asks Garnet and Amethyst. Steven meanwhile left with his friends Lars and Sadie on some camping trip from what they could gather after the whole fiasco with the gem creatures that he, Pearl and Amethyst let loose into the temple by accident and had to go hunting for them. Now though its day five and Marcus still isn't back yet.
"Alright, maybe he's a little late." Amethyst drones out from the couch as Garnet reads a magazine.
"A little?!" Pearl states loudly, lightly startling the purple gem but Garnet remains indifferent. "It's been almost a week and we still haven't heard anything from him!" She worriedly says as she paces back and forth in front of them. "What if he got caught on a tree on the way down? What if his chute ripped and he got stabbed by some branches?! I've been looking into parachute accidents or injuries that may occur and-!"
"Pearl." The hysterical gem stops her pacing as her name is called out by their leader. Both her and Amethyst look to Garnet. "Can we at least give him to the end of the week? I'm sure he's taken some time to gather his thoughts about everything… or maybe he went to get some supplies." She says without looking up from her reading material. She looks to Pearl, "If in the near future he decides to go ahead with some space exploration, he doesn't want a repeat of what happened last time."
Pearl looks away in embarrassment at her brash actions involving the space ship. "Maybe… but-"
"Pearl, just the end of the week. That's all I'm asking." Garnet requests. Amethyst looks a little hopeful at the idea as well, mostly so she doesn't have to hear Pearl complain again and again.
She stares at the neutral looking gem for a few moments before letting out a sigh, "Fine. The week ends in a couple of days so if he doesn't come back till then, we go looking." She agrees albeit a little reluctantly.
"No problem." Garnet returns to reading while Amethyst gets up to grab something to eat.
With a slight head shake, she walks over to the window and sits down in front of it. "Where are you?" She mutters to herself, hoping that their friend is alright.
*Chirp*Chirp*
"Arrrrggghh." I let out a low groan as I weakly open my eyes. My vision is blurry again and my muscles feel sore as hell, more so in my left arm. I spot a little bird in front of me, chirping, but as I try to get up, it gets scared off and flaps away. I slowly but achingly try to get to my feet but I feel like a ton of bricks are weighing every part of my body down. I only manage to sit up as I wince a little as the sun hits my face so I use my hand to temporarily shield me from it as I pull out my phone with the other. I let out a frustrated groan as I remember its battery is still dead. "Fuck." I curse under my breath at still not finding anything out. "Well, I'm not gonna learn anything here." Preparing myself, I carefully get to my feet. I wobble a bit as I stand but I manage to steady myself enough where I can walk, albeit a little woozy but nothing too bad. I find where the road is and I am about to go out into the open but I duck back as I spot cop cars all over the place. "Shit." I start to quietly make my way back into the forest so I don't get spotted by the police.
'With how I look and act, they would have to be the densest police officers to put together that I was part of the wreck.' I remember vaguely of what happened to the van but not fully and I can't make any assumptions while I'm this close to getting caught. I go a few meters deep into the forest until I'm out of sight from the road. I soon come across a small clean stream and I can't help but collapse onto my knees next to it so I can drink from it. The cool water flowing down my throat as I cup my hands against my face feels divine as my throat was feeling a little dry. I grab another cup full of water in my hands and splash it against my face, alleviating me a little of my woozy demeanor but the rest of me still feels like crap. I let out deep breaths of air as water drips down my face and back into the water. When the water steady's itself again, I stare at my reflection as I notice my disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes. "Damn." I look to the skies as I get back to my feet. 'What happened?' Without a definite answer for me, I start walking in the opposite direction of where we were going last night.
It takes me some time but I eventually come upon a small gas station next to the road. After making sure no one is watching, I limp out of the woods behind the store before heading straight to the front doors.
The door makes the telltale chiming noise when it opens, immediately catching notice of the clerk behind the counter. "Hi. Can I help you?" I hear the guy say but I ignore him and head straight for the refrigerators in the back. Spotting a carton of orange juice, I take it out and start drinking it right then and there.
After downing half the carton, I let out a loud breath of relief. "Oh man, that was heaven." I groan out before grabbing some snacks as well and dropping them onto the counter. The guy looks at me for a second before casually scanning the items. I let my head drop to the counter in a moment of respite.
"Fun night?"
"Huh?" I question looking at him.
"You must have had a fun time last night." He says with a smile.
"What are you-?" I begin to question but I take a moment to compose myself as to how I look. 'Look like hell, bloodshot eyes, woozy demeanor, tired self… he thinks I was drunk and I have a hangover.' "Oh, right. Yeah, I guess. Man, I feel like hell." I groan as I wipe a hand on my face.
"Well it looks like you had a great time. I mean, you're not the first person who came here after suddenly waking up in the middle of the forest alone and barely remembering anything." He says as he finishes swiping my items. "Do you… remember anything?" he asks hesitantly.
I look at him for a bit before I look down and close my eyes, trying to remember what happened. 'I remember I was tied up… then I grabbed my sword and…'
*Tires screech*
The van starts tumbling off the road and I go flying out.
I lightly grip my left arm with my right as I remember what happened and what I learned. "Somewhat." I say to him. 'Might as well stick to the assumption. Don't need him thinking about I was a part of that crash.'
"Do you need me to call someone or…?" He trails off.
"No no. I have some friends in town. I'll walk. Besides, I want to get some fresh air after last night." I tell him. He nods before ringing up my total.
"$9.75."
I drop a twenty on the counter and gather the bags of snacks and my carton. "Keep the change." I say and head out the door.
"T-thank you! Good luck getting back to your friends!" He calls out to me as I continue to walk.
'Oh don't worry, I'll get back to my friends… right after I deal with some people.' I think as I start to formulate plans.
It's night time now. After I finished eating all my food, I was able to find the warehouse I was stuck in so I decided to wait until the cover of night before I made my attack. I still have my new Beretta's and my FNX-45 Tactical but the Five-seveN was lost in the crash. I decided to just stick with what I have as my plan will get me some new weapons before I even start the attack.
Slowly, I crouch my way to the side of the warehouse before shuffling to the only open warehouse door. I watch as someone uses some chains to pull the door closed while talking to someone else. In quick movement, I roll under the door just before it closes and hide behind a crate in front of that trailer carrying that delivery I saw earlier.
"Can't believe that kid fucked up Mac like that." I hear one of them converse to the other.
"Yeah. I don't know what he used but man that was a lot of blood."
"Yep. Joe also told me how that fucker managed to knock him out and already the cleaners had to dispose of a few other body's."
"I know right!" One of them asks incredulously. Their footsteps start to retreat away from me. "I don't know who he pissed off but I'm glad he's out of our hair. Can't believe we actually lost guys to that son of a bitch."
"Maybe after the boss gets back we can ask him what they did to him."
"Yeah, I guess."
Their voices have diminished and I hear the sounds of a door opening and closing. Peeking out, I find the garage is a ghost town like before. This time all the cars I flattened the tires of have those very tires removed and looks like are in the process of being changed. I immediately head to two of the three standard doors that lead into the complex of the warehouse and start locking and barricading them. They all are steel and have square view ports to look through so I leave those open for my plan. Once the doors are locked and barricaded enough that it would take a team of football players to break through, I simply lock the last one and head to the trailer and open the back door.
As I open the door, I spot the clipboard that was placed inside and immediately take a more detailed look of the contents. Once I'm satisfied, I jump in and tear off the tarp cover to the car. I smile as I lay my eyes on the 1973 Ford XB GT Falcon that was meant for some rich person in Europe. If you want to feel giddy about it, it's also the car modeled by none other than what Mad Max drives. After taking off the straps holding the car in place, I get to work.
It takes me over half an hour but I get everything set up. I pushed the car out of the trailer instead of driving it out because I don't want the roar of the engine to make anyone suspicious. I push it so it's backed against a large flat open trailer and I hook it up. I also grab a couple gas canisters filled with gasoline and place them I the trunk before taking a third and giving myself a full tank of gas. After making sure I have an engine and it'll work, and grabbing the keys, I proceed to ferry cases, crates and boxes filled with over a dozen or more weapons, dozens of parts, items and equipment I can make very much use of in the future, to the trailer along with large ammunition boxes filled to the brim with hundreds of bullets, and strap them all down to make sure they don't fall off when I drive. Needless to say, I also found a unique crate with the contents wrapped in plastic that should make sure that I no longer have a money issue. I also place the cars tarp over them and strap it down to make sure no one gets suspicious of my cargo and the elements don't damage anything. After opening the garage door, I take three guns, load them up and lay one each to two of the doors I locked. I take an M60 for one. With the narrow hallways that the doors lead to and the deep 100-round magazine that it carries, its perfect to hold them back at one of the doors. Another, I choose an AA12 shotgun to use. The Large drum magazines, plus the spread pattern, and the full auto capability ensures that no one is getting close or through. And finally, I choose an AK12 for my last weapon. The modernized version of the AK47 is what one could say about but it's also because I have double-taped magazines for it that should make sure that I can reload quick and because of the reliability it has, should any of the other weapons jam, break or I can't reload fast enough, I have a back-up to rely on.
With the guns placed, I take a few more gas canisters and head to the door I only locked and place them in the hallway next to a window. After smashing it open, I grab one of the canisters and start pouring gas all over the hallway floor and walls, including the other canisters, before leaving a trail to the garage. Once I lock it down again, I look around for something to light it easily. "Let's see… let's see… Ah!" I spot an acetylene torch nearby and drag it over to the gas puddle under the door. "Alright, now I just-… Oh." I cut myself off as I spot a fire alarm on the wall nearby. "Huh, that would have saved me some trouble."
Since I know who these guys are, and what it looks like they deal in, leading the police to them would be a perfect thing to do. Plus after having to deal with the police, this could possibly distract them enough from me so I can think of my next plan against them. I was going to set a fire and use the guns to hold them off until the authority's get here, but it looks like they refurbished the warehouse rather than built it themselves because the fire alarm system is still connected. 'After all, if you're dealing in some pretty illegal activities, the last thing you want to do is use a 911 service to your location. These guys either forgot or are really cocky of their operation.'
I walk over and grab the fire alarm switch, "Alright… let's do this."
*RING*RING*RING*RING*RING*RING*RING*
Instantly, the alarm goes off very loudly and I hear panicked voices inside the building.
"WHO THE FUCK TRIGGERED THE FIRE ALARM?!" I hear one guys yell down the hallway.
"Eh, one more for good measure." I shrug as I grab the acetylene tank and push it through the hole in the door. Grabbing the torch and reaching through, I turn on the torch, feeling the heat it gives off in an instant. Just before I drop it in the gas, I spot some guys at the end of the hallway.
"HEY!" One of them yells loudly before charging at me. I give him a salute before dropping the torch. I immediately duck back and head for another door as I hear screams. I spot guys heading down the hallway to me. Grabbing the M60, I push it through the hole and open fire. The weapon has a massive kickback to it but because of my strength and the fact that I'm using the door to brace it steady, bullets fly directly down the hallway. A few guys immediately get hit and go down, some duck to the ground while others bust into some side rooms. After a bit, I stop going full auto and instead send rounds downrange in short bursts to make them hesitate. Once half the magazine is done, I place it back on the table before bolting to the last door. I slide over a car's hood as I stop in front of the door and pick up the shotgun. Assessing the hallway, I see guys much closer than before. Not wasting any time, I fire in short bursts. Because of the buck shots, the pelts don't fly as far or hard as standard bullet, the shots are enough to injure some guys and force the others to seek cover. With them pinned down, I head back to the M60 and real quickly I send a short burst out before heading to the fire door. Grabbing the AK in case they got past the fire, I'm happy to see that they haven't.
"Good. That's one door that I don't have to worry about." I comment. Before I can go back to defending, I hear sirens blaring. Looking out a window, I see some fire trucks pull up on the road a little ways away. The warehouse isn't right next to the road, only a dirt road connects it to the paved one. "Yes." I mutter at seeing them respond. Unfortunately, I only spot firemen and no cops. "Shit!" I curse loudly and quickly think. 'Those firefighters will be slaughtered by these guys if they get close. How do I stop them from-' I look down at my AK and sigh. "I guess." I smash the window open and pop off a few rounds in the direction of the fire trucks. I don't aim for anything vital or anyone, just enough to make sure they know they are getting shot at. My quick plan works as I spot the guys run behind the fire truck for cover. To really seal the deal, I let out a long burst along the road so they know it's not a fluke. Satisfied with terrifying the responders, I go back to holding the enemy back. With each passing moment, the guys continue to push closer and closer to the doors and when I have to reload the AA12 or M60, they really make progress. Before long I am now hiding behind a car as the guys try to bust down the door while also shooting through the viewing port. "Shit! How much longer until they get here?!" I ask out loud as I reload my AK. I can't the others because they are still on the table and those jackasses have me pinned.
My moment of worry is gone as I also hear the sounds of another type of siren. "Time to go." I say. With a new magazine, I pop out of cover and spray both doors, making the guys retreat a little before sliding into the driver seat. I place the AK in the passenger seat and turn the key.
*VRRROOOOOMMM*
With a satisfied smile, the car turns on with a monstrous roar. Not wasting a moment, I hit the gas and peel out of the garage as the doors behind me bust open. The guys try to shoot at me but I'm already gone and now they have to deal with the authority's.
A bunch of police cars race down the road I was traveling on towards town but it's futile. Turning the headlights on, I drive out from within the woods and continue on my way home in the opposite direction casually.
I let out a sigh of relief at the situation I just went through and am glad that I'm finally heading home. I plug in my phone to charge before setting the cruise control and relaxing.
Rain hits my car as I drive down the road like the night of the crash, the droplets hitting my windshield with heavy splats; I glance to the side as I pass the crash site of the van, my mind recalling what happened vividly.
I have a headache again as I slightly open my eyes. The area around me is completely dark and it takes a second for me to adjust. From the slight rumbling around and under me, I can hazard a guess that I'm in a moving vehicle, what with my limbs tied up again. This time my legs are in the same boat as my hands tied in front of me. Slowly but carefully, I glance around until I see the front seats of the vehicle I'm in. There are three guys, the driver, the passenger, and the third guy behind them leaning over the seat. My guns are gone but I still have access to my swords but I can only pull one out.
I try to formulate a plan for me somehow get out of this without me dying. I have no idea what weapons these guys have and chances are they're a bit more cautious after my impromptu escape from my cell.
One idea does stick out, the result will be less than satisfactory but it should guarantee total chaos and maybe some lives lost or incapacitated, hopefully not mine. As the rumble of the van continues down the road, I slowly yet carefully slide my way to the back of the van without them noticing. It only takes me a few pulls to pull me to the back left side of the van where I know the tire is. Carefully, I sit up and reach with both hands to the right side of my shoulder. The familiar sound and feel of my sword appearing in my hands is instant.
"Hey!"
Unfortunately the guys took note of my action. I twirl my sword in hand before holding it above me in stabbing motion to ground. I stare into their eyes with anger.
I stab down.
The sheet metal covering the bottom of the van gives way easily to my sword and almost instantly my sword is torn from my hands, cutting through the more of the floor as the blade remains embedded into axle of the tire. The vehicle shakes and shudders soon after and the driver tries to fight for control of the vehicle but utterly fails. A loud metal tearing sound accompanies the back left part of the van smashing and scraping along the paved road and swiftly turns off the road.
The rest is a blur of movement and flipping as the van flips over and rolls for I don't know how long. All occupants are thrown all over the place like ragdolls, except the driver who is wearing his seatbelt so he gets whiplash, until the doors start opening up and some of us are thrown out.
"Ahhhhhhh!" I yell as the van rolls over onto my left arm a bit below my gem. I try to push the van off but I don't have proper leverage to add enough force. My arm is caught between the metal outer shell of van and a large flat rock, ensuring that I can't wriggle myself free.
"Uhhhhh…" I look to my right and watch as another one of those jackasses tries to crawl away from the wreckage and me. I reach for him in an effort to stop him but I don't reach.
To my horror I immediately smell the distinct odor of gasoline. Looking around, I spot a puddle forming through the rain under another part of the van but it rapidly continues to grow towards me. In my haste, I use my free arm to summon one of my swords and jam it under the van next to my trapped arm. I try to use my sword to lift the van off me but I can't. I still don't have proper leverage for me lift the fucking thing off of me. I pull my sword out and watch as the guy continues to crawl away and the puddle of gas grows larger. 'Shit! Shit! Shit! What do I do?! What the fuck do I do?! I can push this thing off! I can't wrench my arm out! How do I free myse-…!'
A piece of the storm above moves, revealing the moon as its shine reflects off my sword, cutting me off. I stare at the blade gripped tightly in my right hand, a horrible idea filling my thoughts.
I sigh and breathe in calmly.
"Extremis Malis… Extrema Remedia." I say lowly. Carefully, I maneuver my sword above my arm…
And bring it down.
"AHHHHHHHHH!" I scream loudly, the feeling of the blade cutting through the flesh of my arm below my gem. Blood starts flowing out the wound. 'Can't stop… can't stop…' I bring my sword up for another chop. "AHHHHH!" I yell as the blade hits bone. Without losing my momentum, I bring my sword up again multiple times and hit the bone, the feel of it cracking under the stress until it finally breaks. "Ahhhhh… haaaa… ahhhh… oh god." I groan out at the feeling going through my entire body.
The tearing of the nerves sent waves upon waves of pain coursing through my brain, the bone cracking sent reverberates all throughout my entire skeletal system, and large spurts of blood immediately start coating my sword and everything all around me. 'One more… one more…' I think with tears flowing down my face and my entire body shaking. With one last hurdle I bring my sword up… and down. "Ahhhhhh!" I scream again as more of my flesh is torn. At the same time, I pull myself away from the van, what little is left of my arms nerves tear off as muscle and skin is pulled apart.
I roll a couple times away from the van until I land squarely on my back. I breathe in deeply but quickly as my body gets pelted with rain. Weakly, I look at my severed arm. My mind starts to take in the fact that I have permanently lost my arm and I start freaking out a bit… but one other feeling overwrites them.
You know how sometimes people say that when they lose their limb, they can somewhat feel it's there… I have that. I know my arm is stuck under the van and I'm staring at the stump… but the feelings still there. I want to move it… but I can't.
"Holy shit." The new voice causes me to look to my right, allowing me to spot the guy crawling away before, now staring at me. Anger now filling me, I struggle to stand up for a second but I manage to use my sword to push myself up. Once standing, I hobble over to the guy and stab my sword through his thigh. "ARGHHHH!" He yells out in pain.
"Who are you?" I ask with no emotion.
"Fuck yo- ARGH!" I twist the sword.
"Wrong answer." I tilt the sword along his leg slightly. "I'll ask again… who are you guys?"
"I'm not telling you-!"
"Nope." I bring my right leg up and slam it onto the guys kneecap on his uninjured leg, shattering it.
"AHHHHHH!"
"Again!" I tear out my sword before stabbing him again in the same area. "Who! Are! You?!" I yell each word, punctuating them with another stab again and again. "TELL ME?!" I scream in his face.
"AHHHHHH!... THE IRON KINGS!"
I freeze, stopping my sword from stabbing him again. "…What?"
"Argh! The Iron Kings! That's who we are! I don't know how but you pissed off my boss enough to get us to come after you." He manages to say through the pain I inflicted on him.
'The Iron Kings?... but who did I…?'
"What the fuck?!" The guys screams out, interrupting me from my thoughts. I stare at him to find out what's got him so freaked but he's staring at me. More specifically, I follow his eyes to… my arm.
My eyes widen as I see something happen to the wound. The blood has completely stopped flowing and there are slight sparkles emanating off wound. Right before my very eyes, I watch as the bone starts to grow back. Achingly slow, the bone grows more and more until it reaches the elbow, forming the joint before continuing along my upper arm. The bone grows to my left hand, the wrist forming, then the palm, and finally all five of my fingers grow back at the same time. There is a momentary pause, which I use to flex my hand and watch in amazement as the fingers move as well. "What… the…?" I breathe out as more continues.
Next, I watch as lines of red and blue start to go out from the wound and snake their way faster than the bones growth up and around my arm. The veins and blood vessels finish connecting the circulation throughout my arm before it pauses again.
Next up, the muscles start bulging out from the wound and slightly bubbles its way up my arm, perfectly forming against the bones and veins before stopping at my finger tips.
Finally, the skin starts to form but this time it grows out all over my arm instead of starting at the wound. Splotches of my skin start to form all around my arm before everything completely sets. As soon as the last bit of my arm forms, I instantly feel the water hitting my arm as well as feeling in the rest of it. I flex my fingers a few times before rolling my arm around checking every bit of it.
'It's… back… My arm is… back.'
"What are you?" I look down at the guy under me who looks at me with almost pure confusion and fear. I stare at him for a moment before I sniff my nose and twirl my sword in my right hand, making him flinch. Looking to his side, I spot my Beretta's on the ground nearby and my FNX-45 Tactical on his person. After taking both sets, I start walking.
"You'll never know." I say firmly to him. To his confusion, I walk past him, almost like I'm going to leave him alone… at least until I slice a rock nearby, creating a spark. The guy watches in horror as the spark flies through the air and lands in a puddle trail of gasoline… right next to him.
I continue to walk away, not bothering to look back as my kidnapper screams in agony at the flames engulfing his entire body; the rain fall not hitting as much or hard enough to put him out. The flames travel along the trail of gas until it hits the van.
*Boooom!*
I can feel the heat and force of the van exploding lightly hit my back but I continue to walk away.
I follow along the carnage trail of the vans rolls back to the road. I stand on the paved roadway as I look both left and right, trying to figure out where I should go.
"Ugh!" I groan loudly for a second before violent coughs start racking through my entire body. I bring my hand to my mouth to try to stem my coughing but I continue to cough violently. When I pause, I look at my hand to see it almost completely covered in blood. I start to lightly cough and my breathing becomes labored as my body starts to go numb. I start hobbling across the street to the woody area across from the crash site. My vision begins to blur as I make my way through the woods. 'Oh god… what's happening?!... It hurts… hurts so much…' My thoughts start to weaken as pain goes through my entire body, numbness starting to set in for multiple parts of my body and pieces of me start to shut down. 'Fuck… am I dying?... I can't… tell...' I collapse onto my knees before falling forward roughly, my body shutting down as my vision starts to go. 'Steven… Amethyst… Garnet… Lapis… Pearl...'
"H-… heeeelllp." Everything goes black.
I shake my head of the memory and continue on my way down the road past the police. They've already erected some sort of crime scene area but I have no idea if they'll link me to it. I set myself off the grid for years and I've done what I could to make sure that at scenes where I fought monsters at wouldn't be able to link me to them. I don't know if my severed arm disappeared when my new one appeared but hopefully it got so charred up that they couldn't get any useable DNA off of it, especially with the forest, fire and rain probably contaminating everything there. Hopefully they'll chalk it up to an accident but I better keep tabs on this, just in case, as well as other things.
'The Iron Kings… who are you to want me?' I ask myself. I remember some guys I've fought and killed in the past, some I took their lives, others I led the police too. I need to find out more about these guys because if they were able to grab me outside of town after my parachute journey, they must have been waiting for an opportunity. I'm gonna have to really do some digging around to find their agenda.
*Ding*
Looking down, I spot that my phone has gotten enough charge for me to browse through it now. After making sure that no cops are nearby, I quickly look at the calendar to find out how long I've been gone.
"SONE OF A-!"
*Honk*Honk*
"Shit!" I curse as I quickly turn my car back onto my lane of the road. In my surprise, I drifted onto the oncoming lane and almost collided straight into another car. I was able to dodge the car in time and right myself. I have also started breathing a little erratically at how much time I've been gone and the near head-on collision. "Fuck… six days… I've been gone for almost a week." 'These guys were able to have me captured and incapacitated for almost a week. If the guns and this supposed delivery were any indication, these guys obviously don't fuck around.' Making sure to keep myself sturdy, I check my location in tandem with where Beach City is. It takes a few taps but I find that I'm really far away. "Damnit." I place my phone back down and shift gears, my car jerking forward with increased speed.
"I gotta get back home." I say firmly as I drive off into the night.
One day later…
"See ya later Peedee!"
"Bye Steven!" The two kids wish each other goodbye. Steven continues on home with the Crystal gems after the debacle with Ronaldo.
"Well that was… fun." Amethyst says, trying to find a proper word to describe Ronaldos brash actions and almost dying after he tried to fight the gems.
"Yeah, it was pretty cool." Steven replies with a smile.
"Cool?!" Pearl asks the young gem incredulously. " You do realize that you were kidnapped and we were attacked by that human?"
"If you can call that attacking." Garnet comments on the conspiracy hungry humans way of fighting.
"But it all worked in the end." Steven replies.
"Buuuut aren't we back where we started? You know they guys still crazy or something like that?" Amethyst asks.
"Regardless," Pearl interrupts them, not wanting to continue this round of debate when another matter is more important. "The week passes tomorrow morning Garnet. Now you promised that when it ends-"
"We go searching. I know. A deals a deal." Garnet finishes up for Pearl.
"Great!" She says with excitement and hands clasped together in front of her. "Now I remember the general direction in which Marcus drifted off too. I'll draw up a map and set a grid search pattern within a 5 mile radius. Then we can-"
"What's that?"
"Huh?" Stevens interrupting question confuses Pearl for a moment until she sees where he's pointing to. All eyes take note of the brand new car attached to a trailer with a tarp over the back parked next to Marcus's truck. "Who's is that?"
"Mm-mm." Amethyst shrugs.
"Garnet?" Pearl asks the gem.
"It's-"
"Maybe he's back!" Steven interrupts the neutral gem with an excited shout before running off to the house.
"Wait Steven!" Pearl calls out to the excited kid before running after him.
The other two watch as their friends race to the house to find the mystery guest. "You knew, didn't you?" Amethyst asks her tall counterpart.
"Hm hm… maybe." Garnet lightly chuckles before answering innocently, emphasizing it with a slight tug of her visor. Amethyst lets out a sigh at the crypticness of her leader. "C'mon, let's go see how he is."
"Alright." The both of them casually walk towards the house after the others. It isn't long before the two make it up the stairs where they see Seven and Pearl standing together in just in front of the door. "Hey guys. What's everyone standing around… for?" Amethysts question trails off as she spots the guy sitting on the couch.
"Marcus?" Garnet questions in confusion. She knew he would be back, her future vision told her so, but in what condition was another matter.
All members stare at the hybrid sitting on the couch, casually looking over a KRISS Vector CRB Carbine while his feet remain propped up on a square object covered by small blanket. He looks over to the visitors he's been waiting for. "Hey guys. I'm back." He says with a smile.
"W-we can see that." Pearl answers uneasily, a little worried and confused at seeing the state their friend is in.
"Marcus," He looks at the tall magenta gem, "What happened?" she asks firmly.
With a sigh, Marcus places down his Vector SMG on the table before taking stock of how he looks. It's only until now that he's noticed how disheveled he looks, from the torn pants, ripped and bloody shirt, tired expression, and the fact that the entire left sleeve of his clothes have been ripped off. Looking back to the others, he takes his feet off his makeshift footstool… and kicks it.
Stacks upon stacks of fifty to one-hundred dollar bills wrapped together fall off the pile and from under the blanket, spilling out until a quite a few almost completely slide over to the gems. Surprise is immediately etched onto the faces off all four members of his audience. They stare at the thousands of dollars worth of bills in front of them for a few moments until they look up to their friend who was missing for a week.
"As it turns out, you girls… your enemies are gems… Me…" He grabs his Vector and holds it up before leaning back, "Turns out… mine are also human."
Before you guys flame me and say that Marcus is too OP now with that regenerating ability, take note that minutes after his arm reformed, he fell completely unconscious and his body went into a complete dormant state for a full days worth of time. I don't know about you but in the middle of combat, that's something that wouldn't be helpful in the moment you know? Just wanted to make that clear.
Now for the scene itself, I'm really debating to set this story to the M rating now but I'll need you guys to confirm if I should or not. Something like that I've seen plenty of before in many anime's, movies and games so it doesn't faze me but I don't know for others. If you think I should stick to T or M, go ahead and say so. I just don't want any backlash you know. I'm very paranoid like that.
Now it also looks like Marcus no longer has a money issue and doesn't have to regularly steal to get some. Now with a new ride, new weapons… new enemies, let's see how things turn out.
Next up, Marcus expands a little more on the situation with the Iron Kings and he meets some parents. Those of you keeping track of the episodes choreography, you know who they are.
As always, have fun reading.
