"Code Red!" Tsukasa hit the alarm button, the sirens began to ring.
Andy looked around quickly, "What's happening?"
"There's been an incident and your tiger is in it up to his tail." His face was grim.
"What's the situation exactly?"
"He supposedly went on a shooting spree at Headquarters. Word is, three Generals are dead and multiple others are in the hospital."
Daiki came in with a set of scans. "No more supposedly about it." He handed the scans to the dragon.
Smoke started billowing as Tsukasa flipped through them. "What the fuck is going on?"
Andy frowned, "This has to be some kind of set up."
Tsukasa shoved the papers toward her. "Security camera photos."
She looked through them as she shook her head, "He wouldn't do something like this."
"At Branch, maybe.." Daiki grimaced.
"The reports are he stole a car and ran afterwards. We have to find him before he gets shot."
"I'll figure out what's going on," Andy said before leaving the room. She walked down the hall a bit as she tried to figure out what could have happened before she finally stopped and closed her eyes, focusing on Tet and teleporting to his location.
She found herself in a bunker, Tet chained to the floor. He lay unconscious, cuts and bruises adorning him. A shoulder wound was crusted with blood, the skin red and angry.
She knelt beside him, saying some healing spells to help with the wounds. "Tet?" She said softly, unsure if he'd wake.
His eyelids twitched and he stuttered her name weakly.
"Come on, let's get you out of here," she sighed before holding onto him and teleporting him to her house. She got him into a bed before sitting next to him.
A few hours later, his eyes opened. "Where am I?"
"You're at my house," Andy said softly.
His eyes slowly met hers. "I wasn't dreaming?" His face was feverish, minute tremors shaking his frame.
"No you weren't dreaming," she said before reciting a few more spells to help him.
"I'm a dead man..if the military doesn't kill me, the poison will. If I could have stopped him.."
"Poison?" Andy cursed before going to grab some supplies. She took a blood sample before teleporting to the infirmary lab to work on an antidote. Ten minutes later, she was back in her house, injecting it into him. "Tell me what happened."
"The night after I got to headquarters, I was contacted by someone who said they had info about several Branch scientists who are missing. When I arrived to meet them, I was shot. When I woke, I was in the bunker with a masked man. He told me that there was going to be a shooting.
I said I'd stop it, but he just laughed and said I was going to be doing it.." He closed his eyes tiredly. "Then he stuck me with a needle and said I was going to die in 24 hours.."
"There's photo evidence of you shooting people at headquarters..." Andy sighed.
He began to breathe fast. "I didn't do it.. You have to believe me..I've been in the bunker since.." His eyes were desperate as he looked at her.
"I believe you. I just need to figure out what's going on.." She sighed as she tried to think of a plan.
"I have to leave.." He began to push himself up slowly. "They're going to come looking. I can't put any of you in danger."
She helped him up, "You're not leaving this house. But I do have a room you can hide in," she said quietly. "You're going to wait here until I figure out what's going on. Okay?"
"They're going to arrest you as a precaution. Probably are at the base already. You can't help me.." He grimaced as he shakily stood.
"Arresting me won't do anything if I can easily escape it," she said softly. "I'm going to try to help you whether you want me to or not. Just accept that." She led him to a wall with a removable panel. She moved it, revealing a small room set up with a sleeping bag and some canned food.
"They have ways to counteract porting.." He was struggling to remain conscious in his weakened condition. "I don't want any of you hurt.." He began to sway.
She moved him into the room before kissing him hard, "I'm going to figure this out. Just wait for me." She moved out and replaced the panel. She then teleported to the base, keeping an eye out for any sign of the military as she worked her way to Tsukasa's office.
"Tell me you found him and cleared this up." Tsukasa was grave, Daiki scowling as he watched the security cameras. "Otherwise in ten minutes we're either going to be in the brig or dead."
"I found him, he's safe for now but I haven't figured out what exactly is going on yet. He was locked in a bunker during that time, he couldn't have done it." She said quickly. "I'm going to go back to the bunker and see if I can find out who did this."
"Good luck. Doubt we'll be able to help." Daiki sighed as he reached for his gun. "They want Boss, you and Kiba. The rest of us weren't mentioned in the warrant, so there might be trouble."
Tsukasa looked at her. "Get out of here. Find out who's behind this. I'll stall the search for you as long as I can."
A gunshot rang out from the monitor, Daiki's eyes going red. "Bastards!"
Tsukasa stood, pushing Andy toward the hidden exit. "Go now!" He racked the slide on his pistol, nodding to Daiki to open the office door. "Protect Tet. Don't worry about us."
Andy took a deep breath and nodded before leaving. She took a moment before teleporting to the bunker. She started to look around for any clues.
There wasn't much to look at, the rusty chain laying on the floor where Tet had laid. Then she spotted a usb poking out from under a bloody shirt that must have been used to staunch Tet's shoulder.
She took the usb before teleporting home, checking for any military people before plugging it into her computer.
A security dossier appeared, listing five high ranked Branch scientists. All were listed as missing or dead.
She continued to scan through the information before unplugging it and sticking it back into her pocket. She teleported back to the bunker and slowly climbed up the ladder, working on opening the door.
She emerged, shocked to see their home base in the distance. Tet had been here, dying, a few miles away? They would have never known.
She started searching around the area for any other clues.
She found a discarded ski mask in the dirt, blood dried around the mouth. Nothing else was visible.
She thought for a few moments, trying to figure out where to go next. Her only thoughts were the Branch base or headquarters. She decided to start with Branch, praying it was still empty from when they got the books back. She teleported there, starting to walk through the building carefully.
The building was silent until her ringtone began playing. It stopped after several minutes, then the notification of voicemail chimed.
Andy cursed, taking the phone out to see who had called.
Hey, it's Yamae. Guess you're busy with Shere Khan right now.. Just wanted to say thank you for everything..
He paused several times to cough, something crackling in the background. Finally he spoke again, his voice weak.
I know you'll solve this and clear his name. We want you to tell him we appreciated everything he ever did for us. Be happy, okay?
The crackling sound became a roar, he gave a sharp cry, then the call ended.
Andy stared at her phone in shock and confusion. She shook her head and took a deep breath before continuing through the building. After not finding any noticeable clues, she knew she had to go to headquarters to figure out what was happening. She teleported herself inside, starting to sneak around.
A hand closed around her mouth as she was dragged backwards. "Damn MPs are worthless. You were supposed to be out of my hair." She felt the prick of a needle, then she was dropped. "I guess you want to join your boyfriend."
She looked up at the speaker as she tried to push herself to her feet.
"You're strong. Wonder how long you'll be able to keep that up as the pain worsens?" Tet's face stared back at her.
"How..?" She looked in confusion.
"This?" The man pulled it off. "Pretty good huh? Fooled you and those idiots in security." He tossed it in a trash can nearby, smoothing his hair back. He gave her a cold smile.
"Why did you do all this?"
"Money. Someone paid me to take him down. It was good money, so I took his reputation and his life." The man leaned against the wall. "Wish I could have seen him die though." He gave a shrug. "That's just the way it is sometimes. Didn't expect the military to take out the whole unit though."
Andy growled, "You're not getting away with this." She took a deep breath as pain started to race through her.
"Think I already have. Say hello to your boyfriend when you see him on the other side." He waved at her and vanished.
She grabbed the mask from the trash before teleporting to the base to see what was happening.
Ryusei lay on his back in front of the gate, a single shot to the heart. She could see several more bodies beyond and gasped as she saw the rec room burning.
She rushed in, trying her best to avoid the flames as she looked for her teammates.
There was a knot of them huddled together by the far wall. Yamae lay facing her, melted phone in his burnt hands. They were all bound and still. Ryon was slumped halfway to his brother.
Andy moved to them, ignoring the pain of the poison and flames until she got to them, then teleported them outside. She went through the bodies, trying to see if anyone was still missing.
The phoenixes and Jade were absent, as well as Tsukasa and Daiki.
Andy took a deep breath, finding Akasa among the bodies and knelt down to heal and revive him. She knew she'd need help if she was going to have to heal and revive everyone else. She then moved inside to try to find the missing men.
Jade staggered into sight, blood drenching his front. His eyes were unfocused, his breathing erratic.
She caught him, saying some spells to try to help heal him. Leading him outside, she helped him sit on the ground. "Stay here and rest, okay?" she said softly.
"They killed Taka and Akira. Daiki too..took Boss out to the range..I heard shooting.." Tears streamed down his cheeks.
"It's going to be okay, just relax and let me take care of things." She went to check on Akasa to see if he was conscious yet.
He stared at her in disbelief. "How are you here?"
"Long story. Just when you get the chance, start healing everyone up, okay? I'll be back out soon," she said before going to find the others.
Taka and Akira lay near the base exit to the range. Each had an iron spike stabbed into their chests. Daiki lay outside the door, his throat slashed.
Tsukasa hung from one of the target poles. Multiple gunshot wounds were visible, the fatal one to his left temple. There were still tears on his cheeks.
Andy took him down gently, carrying the men all out to the front where the others lay.
She started working on healing the men as she spoke to Akasa, "I don't know exactly who framed Tet, but I met him. He had a mask thing that looks just like Tet. I got that as evidence. He was paid by someone to do it."
Akasa growled. "If I get my hands on him.." He looked down at Ryon, gently touching his cheek. He fought tears, muttering a spell.
Andy started reviving the ones that were healed. After a while, she collapsed to the ground, the exhaustion from reviving mixing with the poison. Her body trembled as she struggled to breathe.
"Andy! What do I do?" Akasa cradled her, his face desperate.
"Keep working on the others... I'll be alright to help them.." She looked thoughtful for a moment before shaking her head, "There's a recipe for an antidote on the computer in the infirmary.. Go make some?"
He gently lay her down, racing for the infirmary. Ten minutes later, he was back and administering the antidote. "Please be alright.."
She blinked her eyes open weakly and whispered, "Don't worry.. Work on the others."
He nodded hurriedly, moving away and beginning to say spells over a set of bodies.
Her phone rang, breaking the silence.
She stared at the phone to see who was calling.
Her home number displayed.
"Hello?" She answered quietly, unsure who was using her phone.
"You're good, I'm impressed. Hiding him in a wall? I might have to use that trick myself." The assassin chuckled. "It wasn't good enough though."
Andy growled and focused on her home, teleporting to the location.
Her phone dangled off the hook, the room empty. The wall panel was tossed aside to expose the hidden room. She saw blood smeared on the opening.
She climbed in to try to find Tet.
He lay face down on the floor, a trail leading from the blood drenched sleeping bag. A large knife jutted from his back.
Andy transported Tet back to the base and removed the knife, starting to heal him up. After healing the rest of the men, she focused, gold light surrounding them all at once. She swayed as she focused but continued her work until the whole team was back to breathing.
She helped Akasa get everyone into the infirmary after she made sure the fire was stopped.
She sat on a chair, leaning her head back, exhaustion from the revival and leftover symptoms from the poison wearing her out. She tried to think of how to catch the assassin. He obviously was quick at disappearing, so would she be able to port and get the jump on him?
Jade was in the lab muttering to himself as he squirted something into a test tube. A puff of smoke erupted and he sighed, reaching for another tube.
Andy dozed off in the chair, the exhaustion finally getting to her.
"Come on Akasa.. Teach me the spell." Jade whined.
"Not a chance. You're not wrecking Andy's work." Akasa's voice was irritated.
Andy groaned at hearing her name, pushing her head up to look at them.
"Fine. I'll get one of the porters to help me then." Jade scowled and headed for Yamae's bed.
Akasa rolled his eyes. "They won't help either. They like living."
"What's up Jade?" Andy said sleepily.
"I heard what you told Akasa. I know who the bastard is and I know how to stop him. So I just need a porter to get me there."
"Tell me your plan."
He waved a pair of syringes. "Get close enough to stick him with one if not both of these. Watch him die. Knock back a few beers." He grinned at her.
She took a deep breath, "Alright." She stood, still a little shaky.
It was Akasa's turn to groan. "Don't encourage him."
"Well, I need to take this guy out anyway. If his plan works.."
"Your funerals." Akasa sighed, leaving the room.
Andy shrugged, "I've already almost died today, so why not." She looked at Jade again, "What's in the syringes?"
"A drug to kill reptile shifters. That's what this bastard is." Jade's voice was hard.
She nodded, "Alright. I'll get you there and distract him while you get him with those. Ready?"
He nodded silently, taking her hand.
She focused on the man's face and teleported to him. She looked around at their location.
A large office overlooking the ocean, a desk facing the door. The man looked up in shock and anger. "How did you find me?"
"I'm just good like that," she gave a small smirk. "Who hired you?"
"Himself. Isn't that right, Alassadi? You sure can't take losing can you?" Jade sneered.
"Then why?"
"Cause Tet kicked his ass in front of his mercenaries. His empire crumbled because he played dirty and lost their respect." Jade's voice was icy. "I guess you thought you could do the same thing to him again?" He pulled one of the syringes and ran toward the man.
He'd almost made it when suddenly Alassadi sprouted fangs and sank them into the arm holding the syringe. It fell from Jade's hand as he went white. The assassin then threw him out the window with a laugh.
Andy growled, pouncing as she turned into a panther and attempting to claw him apart.
He gave a cry, falling over before baring his fangs at her. "You want to die that badly?" He hissed and shot toward her attempting to sink his fangs in.
Andy hissed back, turning into a snake and slithering out of the way.
He screamed in rage, shifting into a rattlesnake and moving to attack.
They kept avoiding each others attacks, almost moving in a circle as they faced each other. Finally she jumped and shifted again, this time into a hawk, grabbing onto him with her talons.
He hissed, thrashing violently. Suddenly he stiffened and then went limp.
A pale hand dropped the syringe weakly. Jade gave her a shaky grin. "I hate climbing.."
Andy reverted back to her human form before grabbing Jade and teleporting them back to the infirmary. She worked on checking him over, caring for the bite and getting an antivenin.
"Arigachu." He gave her a sleepy grin before he drifted off.
"Andy? Didn't I tell you not to worry about us?" Tsukasa sat up with a frown.
"Yeah.. I didn't listen though.."
"Obviously.." Kiba blinked his eyes open. "Is it safe for Tet to be here?"
"We've figured out who did it and just took him out. We just need to clear everything with the military," Andy updated as she moved to sit, closing her eyes for a moment as she took a deep breath.
"I'll take care of that. You look like you're going to drop." Tsukasa rose and picked her up, laying her in his bed.
"Well I had been poisoned earlier and had to revive almost the whole team," she said quietly as she closed her eyes again, falling to sleep in seconds.
Tsukasa and Kiba exchanged looks, then the dragon headed for his office.