[DISCLAIMER: These are the characters of Hololive, and I'm only using them in this fictional story.
I have to admit: I love Korone. She will appear in everything I write for Hololive. I loved her Doom series, and everything she does. And so, I wanted to write this where she becomes a super doggo. I also love everything Pekora does, and so I wanted to write her in something. Wrote this really quick before my grueling work week – so sorry if its not very good.
Please let me know if you like this, follow, favorite, or review. Thanks for reading.]
Chapter Six
Okayu walked around, kicking the tires of the truck. It was just an old burnt orange and partially rusted truck. She'd gotten it to run again, and there was oil on her finger tips, and she had her jacket tied around her waist, having sweat with the labor.
Miko walked over, as the rain fell steadily across the shrine grounds. The sounds of the snapping and growling of those strange creatures had not let up. Okayu thought they seemed to be multiplying.
"Hey," she brought over a container with food just in case. "I should go with you. I'm not sure Botan will be up to the trip."
Okayu looked out at the creatures and then back to Miko. "Your place is here. I'll go alone. At least…" Okayu sighed, thinking over her entire life and decisions she'd made, and how she worked so hard to have an easy life. She really hated violence. "Koro-san hasn't returned any of my texts. We hadn't departed on the best of terms. With what's out there," Okayu pointed to the horrifying creatures, "I don't know how she'd still be alive."
"But you still need to go, right?"
Okayu nodded, despite wanting to desperately not leave. She might have been known as a prankster and all would be truthful as the one who trolled and left other's behind as a joke while playing silly games, but this wasn't a game. This was life and Korone needed her, and so she had to leave.
"I understand. I'll keep this place a safe haven. If you find anyone, bring them back here."
"I will." Okayu looked out at the dreary rain-drenched scene with strange creatures. "Mikochi?"
"Yeah?"
"Talk me out of this."
Miko laughed lightly. "Okay. Don't go Okayu."
"Yeah, it didn't work." Okayu tugged at her shaggy head of hair, scratching at her ears.
"You know you have oil on your ears now."
"Oh yeah… um war paint."
Miko kept laughing as she told her, "just a sec. I have something else for you." Miko ran back into the shrine, before returning. She held a charm in her hand, but first handed her a wet rag to wipe off the oil. "This should give you some protection and added with your luck, let's hope it helps."
"Let's."
Okayu wiped down her head and hands, and then placed the charm around her neck. Looking up to see Botan walking through the door, Lamy beside her.
"I'm feeling better. Ready to go?"
"I'm coming also," Lamy stated.
"Maybe you should stay?" Okayu didn't want Botan's wife injured if everything went bad.
"She won't take no," Botan added. "She thinks she'll be needed."
The cat girl laughed and grabbed Botan by the elbow, pulling her aside. "Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"You know," Okayu stepped back, letting go instantly. The white lion looked like she might bite off her face for touching her without permission. "If that was Koro-san, I would not let her go. Actually, Koro-san would not let me go."
"Lamy and I have an understanding. She tells me what she is feeling and I respect what she tells me. And…" Botan showed her fang, "…don't ever touch me again unless I tell you it's okay."
"Got it." Okayu placed her hands up in a surrender motion. "Got it. But Shishiron, I respect you too and I have to say this might be like a suicide mission. You sure?"
"I know. I know what you're thinking. But my wife believes she will be helpful."
"I can help, Okayu." Lamy walked up, holding around her wife.
Okayu looked over to Miko and she added, "I gave them charms too. But I also have another idea." She waved, "follow me guys."
They followed her to the back area of the shrine and building that looked like an old garage of wood and rusted metal.
"There was an underground tunnel at one time. It only leads up to the mine shaft outside this area, but it will take you a few miles closer to MoonaTech."
They agreed it would be best. They packed and loaded into the truck. Miko hugged them all and told them she gave them a blessing as a shrine maiden. Okayu had her doubts, but went along with it.
After the truck drove through and down into the underground tunnel, Miko locked up the gates, and walked back into the shrine. She stared out at the creatures, that seemed to be moving slower and slower, and were dissipating away.
"What's going on?"
She walked to the edge near the gate, looking out at them. "Why are they leaving?"
Miles Below MoonaTech…
Pekora stood there watching, forcing herself to watch her experiment to the end. She had amazing will power. She kept repeating under her breath, "Peko, Peko, Peko" and pacing back and forth.
Hours had passed and Moona still hadn't come back into the room. She began to wonder where she had gone? There wasn't a lot of places to go outside the room. There were two corridors and then you'd end up facing the demons or the experiments, or even that turncoat might be out there.
She heard a groan, and looked back to see Korone waking up.
"You're awake?"
"Ugh," Korone looked over her surroundings, and realized she was strapped to a table, but she was still dazed and out of it. "What? Why?"
She began pulling hard at the straps. "Hey!" She kept waggling and struggling with being strapped on a table.
"Wait," Pekora motioned for her to stop. "Relax. Relax."
That's when she saw Korone had ripped part of the thick metallic material that held the straps. It was a special alloy that was created by her company and was able to keep demonic creatures from escaping, but Korone was making it tear.
"What are you doing to me?!" Korone was waggling like crazy, like a caged animal. "Let me go!"
"Okay okay, you need to calm down."
"Who are you?"
Korone stopped moving for a moment thinking this person looked familiar. "Wait a minute, aren't you Chairman Usada Pekora?" Korone looked over her surroundings. "Why am I here?"
"Yes yes – Peko. Sorry, I'm so sorry. I was trying to remove the demon venom from your system and I strapped you down in case you changed. I'm sorry. I can remove the ties, but I have to make sure you're not going to tear me apart first."
"Oh." Korone calmed down, looking over the lab she was in. "I guess that makes sense." She could see the IV and the fluids that were flowing into arm.
"What happened to me? Why do you think I'm going to change?"
"You were bitten – Peko. Do you remember?"
"Oh yeah. They bit my foot." Korone's eyes felt heavy, as she was so dizzy. "I feel strange inside."
"That's the medicine. It's helping you. Tell me what you're feeling inside – Peko?"
"Why…" Korone could hear things outside and her eyes could see every spot at the top of the ceiling, the cracks and fibers, and then she could smell that strange smell again. It was from the tunnel before and each sense was so keen.
"My heart is racing, I think, and my senses feel tingly and really aware – like I'm looking at the world with really good HDTV. I'm not in pain. I was in so much pain before, but I don't feel like that anymore. My skin, and my insides, they feel really tight."
"Tight. That's good. You sound normal."
"I am normal. Can you undo these now?"
"I'm sorry – Peko. But not yet."
Pekora watched her move her head back and forth, realizing she was acting like the creatures and she was terrified Korone was going to change into a beast. She had to call Moona, and wondered what was taking her so long. Also, her rabbit senses always made her slightly more fearful during stressful situations.
"I smell and hear them – outside."
"What do you mean… you smell and hear them?" Pekora turned to the door. She didn't hear or smell anything. "This place is sound proof."
"They're coming." Korone started pulling hard at the ties. "Let me go! You have to let me go! Oh my gosh, I hear them out there!"
She was actually ripping the metal cloth, and Pekora was panicking, something she rarely did.
Korone was waggling like crazy. "I'm not a beast – I promise. Those things that chased me. They're coming. They're going to come in here and attack both of us."
Pekora looked at the door and then back to Korone. "You… promise? Okay, wait, wait, wait, let me give you a quick test."
"Ugh, are you kidding me?"
"No – Peko."
"Okay quick."
"Who do you love most in this world and what time did you come to this building?"
"That's… like the dumbest question I've ever heard."
"No – Peko." The rabbit felt slightly affronted at being told her question was dumb.
"I love Okayu the most and… I think it was seven? Okay, I'm really bad with remembering time… maybe six'ish?"
Pekora laughed in her iconic laughter, and then said, "Okay, okay – Peko. You passed. I'll unstrap you."
She started to unstrap her ankles and legs first, and then began on the strap across her head, and then across her torso, and was finishing the last tie at her arm, when the door burst open, and she jumped backward, hitting the IV and ripping it out of Korone's arm, and nearly fell to the ground.
Pekora screamed, and Korone, in an instant ripped the last tie off her wrist, leaping up, growling, and grabbed the creature by the neck before it attacked Pekora.
Who let that in? Pekora thought to herself, and quietly, "Where's Moona?"
Korone, pushed the thing back, lifting it into the cabinets, and then smashing it through the wall. She then threw it across the room. An emergency ax behind glass was on the wall. She elbowed the glass and pulled the ax, and then as the creature ran toward her, she swung, taking off its head.
Pekora was pressed against the wall watching, her eyes wide, still shaking at the almost attack by one of the creatures.
Two more entered, and Korone with ax in hand, attacked them both just as efficiently, ripping at them with the ax and her claws.
Blood splattered everywhere, and Pekora fell to the ground, covering over her head. Amazed watching what Korone had become.
"Come on Chairman – more are coming."
She held the axe in one hand, and reached out her hand to Pekora. "Come with me if you want to live," and then she laughed, "always wanted to say that."
"You're laughing – Peko?"
"I feel really strong, and we have to get out of here. I don't know what you did, but I've never felt this good before. Wowowowow."
Pekora grinned, proud of herself. "It worked – better than I had hoped – Peko, peko, peko. I just made a super hero."
"Just stay behind me…."
"Wait – Peko. I have to grab some stuff." Pekora quickly grabbed her sack, and some supplies, and then went over to the vials of blood she'd recently drawn of Korone's blood. Those could be the answer for a serum, and she placed them in a container. She carefully put that in her sack, and then threw it over her back. "Okay."
Korone nodded. "You tell me which way to go and let's get out of this place."
"Wait – we can't go yet."
Pekora walked to the door and Korone knew she would have to take the lead and so she opened it slowly, glancing across the area.
"They're not here yet." Korone sniffed the air. "But I can smell them that way."
"You're really amazing." Pekora laughed to herself in her usual cadence. She then looked over the area and there wasn't blood. "Where's Moona?" She called quietly, "Hey Moona?"
"I don't hear anything other than those creatures," Korone stated. The corridor was dark.
"We can't leave yet. We have to find Moona."
"She can't possibly be alive."
"Well…" Pekora thought over the fact the one who caused all these problems was Moona's partner and realized she might have taken her alive.
"I know you 're going to think this is not a good idea, but I always have good ideas."
Korone knew this rabbit girl was the only one who really could help, and she'd helped her so far, so she agreed to hear her idea intently as she explained what they needed to do. It entailed them not leaving yet.
"I'd really rather just get out of here as quickly as possible."
"But…" Pekora didn't know how to convey, "but she's a good employee."
"Just an employee?" Korone sensed it was more than that.
"Yes – Peko."
"Hmm," Korone listened to the creatures further down where she wanted them to go. She really wanted to leave, but she also didn't want to leave if she could help. She couldn't leave Dr. Hoshinova Moona.
"I'll go with you if you tell me everything about what's going on here. I want first interview once we get out of here. I want to know what those things are and why are they running around this unknown area so far underground in MoonaTech. I want full disclosure."
"Peko, peko, peko." The rabbit girl groaned in consideration. "Okay – deal - Peko."
"You saved my life. And so… I'm going to trust you Chairman."
"Please, call me Pekora"
"Okay, Pekora." Korone suddenly turned to the rabbit girl. "Wait a minute – do you know Okayu?"
"Yes, we went to the academy together."
Korone turned to her growling.
"We were just friends. She's not my type."
"How come?"
"Too… much like me – Peko." She kept laughing. "But not as smart."
Korone laughed along with the chairman.
Pekora thought over that she asked Okayu to look over her notebook and realized she might be headed to where they were. She wasn't about to tell Korone that fact.
They were going to head further down into the facility.
"Also, do you have any better weapons I can use?"
Pekora lit up. "Oh yes – lots. Let's head over this way. I think there's a crossbow. I'm actually not that bad of a shot - Peko. I shot archery in high school and a little in college – Peko."
She pointed, but stayed closely behind the enhanced doggo, holding to her shirt.
As they walked down the hall Pekora stated, "I was down here with Moona for a while, but I'm letting you take the lead."
"I'm thinking she was more than just an employee."
"She was married." Pekora thought over the fact her wife had betrayed her, and would have killed her if Moona hadn't stepped up and saved her in time. Moona chose her instead of her wife and Pekora still didn't understand why.
"I just admire her and my work is my life. I don't have time for affairs and such."
"I see. It sounds like you like her a lot."
"I… owe her."
They continued down a tunnel until they reached a fork, and Pekora pointed to the right. Korone heard a few creatures down that way. She gripped the ax.
"Okay – let's go."