Chapter 4: Meet Shatter Squad
[After the intense battle with the Meta Syndicate, Luz was unconscious after receiving the mysterious power granted to her. She wakes up in a dark limbo where everything around is enshrouded in darkness]
Luz: Where am I?
[She observes her surroundings and begins shouting names]
Luz: Eda? King? What's going on?
[a glowing white light appears in front of her]
Luz: What? What is this?
[The light begins to take form]
Luz: Who are you?
[After asking, the white light before begins whispering giving thoughts into her head, frightened by the voices Luz begins to ask more questions]
Luz: (frightened) I don't understand, what is going on? Who are you?! What are you?
[The light changes into the form it desires, it transforms into a humanoid whose appearance is similar to the human girl. It walks towards her, and as she moves closer, the whispers begin to get louder. Luz begins to become terrified of the scenario in front of her and memories begin to flash before her eyes, memories that did not seem familiar to her.]
Luz: What is this?! What are you trying to tell me?!
[The figure of light begins hurtling towards her, Luz screams in terror as the events play out]
White Light: WAKE UP!
[Luz suddenly wakes up from what seemed to be a nightmare, but she looks at her surroundings. From her observation, she knows she is in some sort of hospital room similar to the ones they have on earth. Luz notices she is lying on a hospital bed and connected to one of those patient monitors with bags of medicine hanging from a pole. She looks around some more and notices Eda and King sleeping on a chair and Lilith lying down on another.]
Luz: *weak* guys?
[a lady where a white dress and a metal arm enters the room with a chart in her hand]
Coco: Alright time for a little check-up. So let's just...
[She sees Luz is awake]
Coco: *excited* ah you're awake! That's good news!
[She runs up to her]
Coco: So how are you feeling, do you feel sick, nauseous, feel like you need a psychoanalysis, or do you feel like you need more rest…
[Luz tries to keep up with her but is confused with all the question being asked by the woman in front of her]
Coco: How did you end up in a fascinating world like this?
Luz: uh-
[The Doctor puts her finger on Luz's mouth]
Coco: No don't talk yet, you still need to rest, although I feel like I'm talking too much, am I talking too much? Nah it's fine, I just want to know how you're feeling because if you weren't feeling okay then it's bad news for me as a doctor. So let's just do a little checkup.
[The woman keeps on chattering and causes Eda and King to wake up.]
Eda: Ugh, can you keep quiet I'm trying to sle-
[She sees Luz is awake]
Luz: Hi.
Eda and King: LUZ!
[They both give her a tight hug, The tall doctor looks at them and begins to have tears in her eye]
Coco: *happy* aw what i touching reunion, although I wouldn't suggest holding her for so long.
Eda: Why not?
Coco: Well it just so happens that Miss Noceda might suffer from minor internal pains like she is right now.
Eda: Huh?
[Eda sees Luz in pain and realizes she is suffocating her]
Luz: AGH, EDA! YOU'RE KILLING ME!
Eda: Oh, whoops.
[she lets go of Luz]
Coco: If I may Miss Clawthorne, would it be okay if I do a little checkup on Miss Noceda? It will only be for a short while. You may stay in the room if you like.
Eda: Yeah, sure. Just be careful. This is "my kid we're talking about.
Coco: Don't worry, it will be fine.
[The Doctor begins her checkups, checking her reflexes, then her blood pressure, and then her mouth and ears, she also flashes a light in her eye and asks her to follow it, and even checks her weight. The tests end and the doctor begins to study the results on her desk next to Luz's bed].
Coco: You seem to be in peak condition, you are free to go.
Luz: Oh, wait, how long have I been out?
Coco: Three days.
Luz: What?! That long?!
Coco: Well at least you got your rest right.
Lilith: I've never understood these human healing rituals, is this how they usually go?
[Coco walks up to Lilith]
Coco: Yes I'm sure, if you want to understand things more, I'd be happy to show you personally.
[The doctor closes in on Lilith's ear and begins to whispers in her ear]
Coco: *seductively* And I'm really good at understanding unique specimens.
[Lilith has chills run down her spine.]
Lilith: Not, now, but another time.
Coco: Sure, sure.
[Luz suddenly remembers the man who rescued her]
Luz: Wait, what happened to the other guy?!
Coco: Other guy?
Luz: The one with the sword. I never got to thank him.
Coco: Oh you mean Arthur. I knew I forgot something, he told me to tell him when you woke up. Seems he wanted to talk to you personally. Him and others.
Luz: Others?
[Arthur then enters the room]
Luz: (What does he want with me?)
[Arthur walks up behind her]
Arthur: Wondered when you would wake up.
[Everyone turns back and sees a man in a red hoodie]
Coco: Ah Arthur, didn't see you there. Lemme guess, you "logically" knew she would wake up at this time.
Arthur *smiles* yeah, figured now would be a good time to introduce myself.
Luz: *blushes* oh hi. I'm-
Arthur: Luz Noceda, I know, your guardian told me all about you. Plus, Raymond read your profile. Anyway I need you to come with me, someone wants to meet all of you.
[Everyone begins to follow Arthur, and during their walk Luz once again observes her surroundings and sees that they are in some sort of military base, a bunch of motorcycles, cars, targets and lots of tech and some airships. They stand in front of door that Arthur opens and behind it are 4 other people, a small tubby man wearing a lab coat and baggy shorts tapping on his computer, a short girl in a kunoichi outfit sharpening her sword, a dark man with dreadlocks reading papers, and a 6'5 ft man standing in front of the computer]
Arthur: Hey boss, she's awake.
[the big man turns around and looks down on her]
West: So you are the girl who Arthur told me about. Raymond!
[the scientist pulls up his wrist band and opens a profile on Luz Noceda]
Raymond: Luz Noceda, on earth, a weird girl with a wide imagination who would get into a lot of trouble at her school. Incidents include use of fireworks, making scenes in public areas, and ants.
[Luz becomes embarrassed and everyone gives the scientist angry looks]
West: *grunts* Raymond!
Raymond: Sorry I'm getting there. On the boiling Isles she shows excellent prowess when it comes to magic, and even took on the emperor of this realm without getting hurt. What she lacks in being a "true" witch, she makes up for in magic glyphs. See no need to be mad, I'm only reading what's on the profile.
West: Anyway, Arthur here tells me you were able to unlock a spirit and take on those people that attacked you. Is that true?
Luz: Spirit? You mean Azura? I mean yeah I did, and I kicked butt while I was at it.
West: Can you show us?
Luz: Oh, uhm, sure?
[Luz stands still and focuses]
Luz: Spirit Power! Good Witch Azura!
[The purple aura flares from her body and the staff she used last time appears in her hand.]
Luz: Hey it worked!
[both Arthur and West look at her, West has a sort of serious look on his face though]
Arthur: What did I tell you?
[West walks up to her]
West: *serious* Well now that that's settled. It appears introductions are in order. I am Commander West Hercule. But in battle you must call me Slayer.
[He points to Arthur]
West: The one who saved you is Agent Arthur, former member of Project Roundtable, and now an agent that works for us.
Arthur: Hey.
[he points to the Doctor]
West: The one who took care of you while you were out, is Doctor Coco Grey, Agent Crystal. Our Golden Girl, Doctor, and Weapons expert.
Coco: I knew I forgot to introduce myself.
West: The dumbass who read your profile out loud is Raymond Dex, Agent... Raymond. Our Scientist, mechanic, strategist, and someone who desperately tries to fit in with the rest of us.
Raymond: Wait what?!
[Everyone except West the occupants of the Owl house laugh]
West: As for the man with the dreadlocks, his name is A.X.E.L., agent Animal, Our combat expert, chef, and my first lieutenant.
A.X.E.L: Hey there kiddo.
West: And last but not least, our wild ninja, and competitive punk, Shimada Kotoha, Agent Kami.
[Kotoha says nothing but just looks at her]
Luz: uh hi.
[Kotoha grunts and continues to sharpen her blade, Eda interrupts and begins to ask questions]
Eda: Alright the introductions are nice and all, but who the hell were those guys that attacked Luz, no one attacks my kid and gets away with it.
[Arthur then walks up to the table and begins to tap it projecting picture of the people who attacked them]
Arthur: To answer your question Miss Clawthorne.
Eda: *annoyed* Enough the formalities kid, just call me Eda.
Arthur: *sigh* Okay Eda, those guys attacked you were members of a group called the Meta Syndicate. That big man Luz and I fought yesterday was Tank. Their Muscle.
King: How about that girl who had those weird claw things? She just came out of nowhere like it was nothing.
Arthur: The one you speak of is called Viper. One of their most skilled assassins. Both with very powerful Spirit Powers.
Luz: So they can use this Spirit Power stuff, what is it exactly.
Raymond: I have the answer for that.
[Everyone turns their attention to Raymond]
Raymond: Imagine deep down in your heart an inner personality that is locked inside. It could be a God, a god beast, or a character from a story, or maybe even a real person. Deep down this is your inner spirit that dwells inside waiting for the right moment to come out. And when it comes out, they give you boost in powers, some give you fight prowess, some give you elemental powers, or others, may help you be smarter. The possibilities are endless. Like as we saw the footage in your spirit, Azura just so happens to give you magical powers and can let you do anything a witch can.
Luz: Oh, and everyone here has them.
A.X.E.L.: Pretty much.
Luz: So when Arthur summoned King Arthur and the Dragon.
Arthur: you basically got a glimpse of my power in action.
Luz: Is there a reason why I have one?
Arthur: Well everyone has one. Just so happens that a lucky few are able to unlock them.
[Eda interrupts again]
Eda: But that still doesn't answer why those guys attacked her?!
[West grunts]
West: It's because you guys just happened to have something they wanted.
Luz: The gauntlet?
Coco: Yeah, it turns out the gauntlet Eda stole, just so happened to belong to the store she stole it from.
A.X.E.L.: And those guys attacked it leaving only one survivor.
[Luz and Eda gasp in shock after hearing about the incident]
A.X.E.L.: That survivor is in our care as of now. Still unconscious, but alive.
Luz: But what did they want with the gauntlet?
[raymond speaks up and gets Luz's attention]
Raymond: Well we're trying to figure that part out. Luckily it's in our custody in a secure room. But as of now we know that they are after these armor parts. And we don't know what they do. Since they don't really work.
Luz: But I used it. I worked for me to punch that guy yesterday. How did it work then?
Raymond: That part I'm not sure.
[Arthur gives a worried look to Luz, which Luz does not notice]
Raymond: But all we know is they are after it, and we need to get them before they do.
A.X.E.L.: And if they are still out there, it's possible more people will die if we don't do anything.
[Luz thinks to herself, she thinks about her friends, Eda, King, and Lilith, the thought of them being murdered by the Meta Syndicate leaves her terrified beyond comprehension.]
Arthur: But this is where you come in.
[Luz looks up at Arthur]
Arthur: We want you to help us Luz. At least until we can get rid of these guys.
Luz: How can I help?
Arthur: Well the way you fought with Tank yesterday showed you have what it takes to fight these guys. It may not be the best option. But we want to stop these guys. And we know you have friends here you want to protect. And it's possible that they might take the fight to your world.
[All six of them stand up around her]
Arthur: We can train you to master your Spirit, and save this world. We understand if you don't want to. But we saw how powerful that Azura Spirit is. With her power trained up enough we might have the edge we need.
[Eda gets mad and stops Arthur from convincing Luz]
Eda: Stop it, my kid is not taking part of this fight!
Luz: I'll do it!
[Eda turns around in shock by her answer]
Eda: What?!
Luz: If it's to protect my friends and my family. I'll do it. It's what a good witch does after all.
[Eda grabs Luz]
Eda: Can we have a minute?!
[Arthur looks confused]
Arthur: Uh sure?
[Eda kneels down to Luz's level]
Eda: Look kid, I know there are some decisions you made that were good for you. But doing this means you could actually die.
Luz: But Eda you heard him, people will keep dying if those guys are around. And I can't lose my friends. And I don't want to lose you too.
[Eda reminds herself of what happened to her at the Emperor's castle]
Luz: Look I know this may be dangerous, but I want to save the world I dreamed of. And if those guys are out there. I want to help stop them before they hurt anyone else. So please, let me do this.
[Eda stands up and walks to Arthur]
Eda: *serious* If you train her. You have to promise she will never get hurt. Because if she does. I'll hunt you down.
[arthur puts his hand on Eda's shoulder]
Arthur: You can trust me. I won't let her get hurt.
[Eda sighs in disappointed in herself]
Eda: Well I guess I have no choice. Luz can train here. But only if King, Lilith and I come with her.
West: I'll allow it. If you're worried then you can come here to watch her train.
[the team except for Kotoha gather around Luz]
Arthur: Well Luz I guess this settles it. Your training starts tomorrow.
[Luz clenches her fist and smiles with an eager face.]
Arthur: Welcome to Shatter Squad.