[DISCLAIMER: This is a fictional story only using Hololive characters – not the actual actresses who play these parts.
Some new characters are introduced, and other stuff. I'm having difficulty writing this one, and so I hope you all like. I was trying to get a B-movie vibe of the 70's and 80's in this story. Let me know how it goes.
Thank you for the follows, faves or especially reviews.]
Chapter Eleven
Marine watched outside as the storm continued the downpour. Rain was predicted for the next few days. In the distance, it gave Sora's Mountain a distinctly eerie look. Plus, she could have sworn she was seeing strange shadows further up through the trees.
The door chime went off as two more patrons entered.
"Fu-tan – Danchou," Marine ran from around the counter to hug them both, "how you two doing? Fighting crime?"
Flare and Noel laughed at the greeting and Noel answered, "Well, it's been a very quiet day so we came in for an early dinner."
They were dressed in their deputy outfits. Only two other patrons were inside, Mayor Fubuki and Mio, who waved them over to join and sit with them.
Everyone greeted one another and Marine took orders and then yelled to her cook, "two more house specials."
Rushia yelled from the back, "I GOT IT!"
Marine bristled at how loud she could be.
"They're on me, always ready to help the local police."
"Thanks, Senchou," Flare said.
"Whoa," Fubuki asked, "why aren't ours free?"
"You're wealthy and they work for a living."
"I'm sorry, but I work hard."
All were quiet and then burst out laughing. "Sure, you do," Mio patted Fubuki's shoulder, as Marine went back to the bar.
Mio suddenly became quiet. "Something feels wrong." She closed her eyes.
"What is it?" Fubuki asked.
"Something…" Mio waved her hand around the air, "…something is unsettling in the universe."
"She's always like this," Fubuki said, "You need to lay off that palm reading and paranormal stuff. It's going to give me nightmares."
Just then the phone went off on Noel's side which made the four jump in their seats.
"Hello?" Noel answered. "Sheriff, where have you been?"
She looked to the others as Botan shared the information about what was happening on Sora Mountain to her deputy.
The others watched attentively, as Noel's expression showed the situation was dire. She kept nodding and saying, "of course," and "sure, sure."
Once she hung up, she told the others they wouldn't believe what she was about to tell them. And once she told them all there was a mix of "no way," and laughter. They thought Botan was pulling a prank.
But then Fubuki had considered the reports she read earlier on all the digging they'd been doing at MoonaTech, and with Comet Corporation, and how she had warned Sora.
"I think Botan is telling the truth," she told them. "That means we need to warn the residents."
Noel then told them to be careful not to let them scratch, because the creatures held poison, and if they were bitten it was worse – they could all change into monsters.
"That can't be real," Marine added, "I mean, it sounds like a zombie movie." She laughed – mostly because she was growing frightened, "I mean… seriously?"
"Sounds possible," a voice said and all turned, nearly jumping again. It was Rushia. "I can feel the shift and those things are waking up."
The five looked at her and then Noel added, "Botan said that its best we don't cause a panic," Noel told the Mayor, "but we have to let the residents know to stay in until we get it under control."
"You know," Fubuki started, "Years ago, Primals in the Demon Realm are the reason we closed our borders to the north. We always feared the possibility." She got up from the seat, "I better call them to turn on the sirens so everyone gets inside."
"I don't want to cause a panic,' but…." Mio's eyes suddenly grew large as she saw something walk past the window outside. "I believe it's a definite possibility this is real."
She pointed and the others looked out to see one creature and then another, moseying down from the mountain, having a wild and crazed look in their eyes.
"Quick, lock the doors!" Fubuki ran to the doors. She was always fast on her feet. She grabbed a nearby pole from a flag by the door, placing it across the door handle just before a creature hit at the door, and then others followed, all growling and scratching at the glass.
Marine's eyes were wide, as she looked out. Fubuki instantly called the emergency center, wanting them to turn on the sirens.
"We have to help the people out there," Noel yelled, and she and Flare gripped their sidearms. "Can we go out the back?"
"You can't seriously want to go out there?!" Marine shrieked.
"It's not really a matter of want," Noel stated.
"Yes, we kind of have to," Flare added.
"They're right," Fubuki added, "I'm the Mayor and I'll go with you both. I just tried to call the emergency broadcast center and there was a dead tone. It's further up and they might have done something to communications. We need to get to the main building and send out an emergency broadcast, start the siren."
"We can get you there, and make sure we pick up anyone out and about. Fortunately, weather is bad and most are inside right now at the dinner hour," Flare said.
"And we're a small berg."
"That's fortunate."
The five and Rushia headed to the back.
That's when a loud crash hit, and when they turned, they saw the creatures were breaking through the glass.
"The van!" Rushia yelled, "My van can take us out of here."
Flare and Noel stepped forward shooting at the creatures as one after another entered.
Marine grabbed her shotgun from behind the bar, and shot a creature simply because they were wrecking her place.
Rushia quickly ran out and unlocked the van. Fortunately, the creatures were occupied out front. She waved them all to jump in the side sliding door, shut it and then jumped into the driver's side, as Marine jumped to the passenger side.
Once all were inside, Rushia hit the gas and Noel yelled, "Take us beside our truck, and we'll split up. You all head to the emergency broadcast building with the Mayor, and we'll head through the streets and try to find anyone we can."
Rushia pointed to the front dashboard. "I have a CB unit here, and you all set it to channel two. We can communicate with that."
"You're quite impressive," Marine was surprised.
"I'm a big horror fan and… I've always prepared for a zombie invasion. I mean, who doesn't these days?"
All chimed from the back, "we don't."
Mio asked, worried over the citizens, "Should I take another car and go another direction looking for others?"
"We should try to stay close together, despite that being a brave gesture hon." Fubuki held to Mio's hand.
"I'm sorry," Marine cut in, "Are you two?" She pointed between the Mayor and Mio. "Seriously, you're together too?"
Both were surprisingly quiet.
"Never mind. I guess I'll be the only one who dies alone."
Rushia laughed, "if we don't die, I'll date you, boss – I don't mind younger women."
"I guess… if you'd like."
She secretly wanted to date Rushia anyway.
The van parked beside the deputy's truck.
Noel and Flare nodded once, and then jumped out of the van. Fortunately, the creatures were mostly around the restaurant, and had just noticed they were out front.
The two leapt out and into their truck, just before the creatures surrounded, slamming the door.
Two slammed into the side, and another climbed onto the hood.
"What's with these things?" Noel shouted, as Flare turned the ignition.
She looked over, to see the van pulled back and did a three-eighty, spinning tires.
"We should look into asking her to join the force when she's through being a cook," Noel laughed.
Rushia drove toward the ocean, the broadcast building and sirens were that direction and up another side road at the edge of the mountains.
A voice came over the CB, and Rushia picked up, "Zombie Van One - Over."
"Is that seriously your handle?" Flare asked.
"You're supposed to say over," Rushia stated, "or, I'm hanging up."
"These kids - Over. Look guys, we don't see anyone on the streets and the few we've seen are…" she grew quiet "well, they're gone – either being eaten or turning. It doesn't look good - Over."
A moment held still as they grew somber.
Noel continued over the radio, "Once we make it across the main street, we'll head across the side streets and then we'll meet you all at the emergency broadcast building. It's built so that nothing can get in I think - Over."
"Got it - Over." Rushia placed her handset back down.
"Let's hope Okayu and the others are faring better," Marine said quietly.
She glanced over to Rushia.
Mio and Mayor Fubuki sat on the floor in the back of the van, as it bounced along the road, getting bumpier the further out they went.
Fubuki was considering her earlier conversation with Sora regarding the digging that MoonaTech and Usada Construction were involved with, and wondered how much they were involved in what was going on.
She knew Comet Corporation had bought up quite a bit of land, and said they would be environmentally friendly, but she voiced her concern to Sora who assured her they were being monitored closely.
This couldn't be happening again. It was why so many demon-half breed immigrants came through and lived in Holios, escaping the constant battles between the two groups that wanted to rule.
An earlier breech had caused so much panic the more xenophobic and extremist groups tried to take over rule and close off the Demon Realms, and there were the more diplomatic groups, that Holios and other allies fought beside. Demon Realms were simply a constant battleground for the last 20 years between factions.
Once they stopped, she was going to give Hoshimachi Suisei a call.
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Okayu had kept the notebook tucked into her jacket and pulled it out, placing the map Pekora had sent on the table.
The group looked over the map.
Miko pointed out where the Hell Realm must be. They would have to go there, and then she'd have to enter and do a ritual that would take 20 minutes. She would need 20 undisturbed minutes to close the gate.
All glanced back and forth between the others.
"You know," Botan stated, "I hate to say this, but we're going to need some bigger guns." Her jaw clenched. "There are really big Primals there."
"I have an idea, and I've considered this – Peko."
"Of course," Botan sighed, rolling her eyes, "the rabbit always has a plan."
"But…" Pekora laughed, "I need to pick it up from Usada Corporation's warehouse under Joseph's Village."
"Wait a minute, that's on the other side of the mountain."
"I created it in case we would ever need something to fight monsters… peko?"
They all looked to Pekora in disbelief. She said it so matter-of-factly.
"Hear me out – Peko. I had a plan C scenario in my mind. Korochan was Plan B and Plan A was myself, but then what if I couldn't get a Plan B, then I'd need a Plan C, and that's when I had built the robot."
"You built a Gundam?" Okayu asked.
She and Korone smiled between them.
"That's super cool!" Okayu was beside herself.
"I know, right?" Korone was wagging her tail wildly. "Can I ride in it?"
"I want to ride in it too."
"You can drive Okayu."
"WAIT – Peko. I actually built three."
Pekora was laughing, enjoying how much they liked the idea. "But only I can drive the PekoDam."
"I like then name," Korone said with Okayu fully agreeing by nodding her head.
"Whoa," Botan held up her hand, "you built three PekoDams?" She then shook her head. "I can't believe I just said that out loud."
Miko crossed her arms. "This is a logistical nightmare," she said plainly. "Why didn't you have the giant robots here already? You always think ahead."
"I kind of got absconded by Iofi until Moona saved me."
"When?"
"When I was in the Demon Realm. The leader there sold me to Iofi and I thought for sure I was dead, but then Moona helped me escape and we hid down here, and then…" Pekora considered what happened, "I think it was a set up to get me here and work on…" She paced back and forth, "Peko… peko… peko." She looked at Korone. "I think they were going to get you to me, but it didn't quite work as they planned, but you still ended up with me and Moona and I was able to…" She continued pacing. "They're behind everything. Moona knew all of this." She suddenly felt so betrayed. "She knew all along."
She then looked to Miko. "Actually, the Hell Realm is directly beneath the shrine. We need to head that anyway – Peko."
"How do you know that?"
"Doesn't matter. There's another place where they were digging. You said Suisei had a device that looked like a watch?"
Miko nodded.
"Did you happen to see the face on the watch?"
"No, not at all."
"We need to make use of the tunnels that you know about and have sworn never to tell another, but right now we need those tunnels - Peko."
"Where do you get your information?" Okayu asked.
"I read a lot. There is a library in the Demon Realm that I paid a lot of money to sneak in… and read some ancient texts."
Okayu and Korone were laughing. "I get dibs on riding in a Gundam."
"It's not a Gundam – Peko. It's much better." The three laughed. She added, "I also have the MikoBusterDam and Bo-Tanx 2." She looked to Botan. "I built you one also."
She stared silently, unbelieving the Chairman had this pre-planned.
Miko quietly considered what Pekora asked her to do. She'd have to go against her vows.
"Pekora, you built a robot for me?"
"Yes, it's a really cool one. I incorporated a special staff/spear on it just for you."
"I suppose you want my thanks?"
"It would be nice." Pekora smugly smiled.
Miko sighed loudly in reply.
She walked to the map and pointed out dark spots with nothing around. "Okay, these are actually serpentine tunnels that go deeper to that entrance. MoonaTech dug the most recent, but we can go another way – the back way. They are not easy to see, but we can go there. And it just so happens its closer to Joseph's Village."
"Through the bathroom?" Okayu asked.
"Yes, through the bathroom," Miko frowned, "this is a sacred entrance."
"Through the bathroom?" Korone asked.
"Yes, the bathroom just happened to be built in the wrong spot," Miko was growing flustered. "You two are like Frick and Frack."
Okayu and Korone laughed, which caused Botan and Lamy to also snicker.
"This reminds me, I have to go to the bathroom now," Korone said, causing the rest to realize they wanted to use the facilities if they were about to embark on a long trip.
After everyone finished up, they followed Miko back to the lower tunnels under MoonaTech and through Holios' underground labyrinth. They would stop by the shrine on the way to Joseph's Village.
[END NOTE: Thanks for reading and I hope the next chapter gets more exciting.]