「Kaijudo Generation Arc: Team Zeta. 005 - Quest for Justice!」


The scene before the scientists was disturbing and distressing. Deeply so. Several had left the room, most of them women. Catharine Henderson was among them, she had a teenage son of her own after all, and before leaving she shot a look of utter hate toward Dr. Scrivener. The mother had to stop for just a moment as a pale-faced man ran ahead of her, with an urgency suggesting he was going to be sick. Then the door swung on its hinges behind them.

The truly brave medical workers with the ability to steel themselves were trying to do what they could. Nothing was working. Dr. Collins and a few other agents stood in a corner of the room, facing away from the medical stretcher. When their eyes turned to the guilty man in the corner they held the same deep-seated repulsion of everyone else. Dr. Scrivener's blank stare was kept low, though dazed he was beginning to understand the graveness of the terrible act he'd committed. There was nothing to do or say, so he just stood there and sweated.

"Dr. Collins," one of the tougher women appeared at his side. She was a professional paramedic, but even her experience couldn't keep her unaffected. "He's not responding to any of our sedatives."

Jonah could only give a solemn nod. A worker at his side caved, and made his way soundlessly out.

"If there was any doubt before I'd say it's gone now. Jeremy's K-waves have been tampered with," Jonah began.

The door burst open and in came Director Roman flanked by several agents. One of them grabbed Dr. Scrivener by his coat and threw the sniveling man against the wall.

"Orland," the director began with outrage "what have you done?"

When he couldn't find his voice another paramedic turned to answer.

"Jeremy's K-waves have reversed into himself. He won't die, but he won't lose consciousness either and nothing we do is helping. He's been like this for hours."

"Orland!" Director Roman fired up "Explain yourself!"

"H-h-his power has been fluctuating. I've not been able to stabilize it so the waves loop in cycles. Sometimes Jeremy's strong and sometimes-" an inhumanly agonized shriek made everyone stop and wince. "…sometimes he's weak."

Director Roman was a stoic man, but the lines above his brows quirked at the teenager's unbelievable suffering "…but he wasn't like this when his powers last ebbed, right? That means the K-waves are still accelerating."

"You weren't hiding him from us," Jonah began slowly "when he was strong you presented him. You wanted a pat on the back and a medal. You're a damn fool."

"You're finished, Orland." Director Roman declared. "You miserable man. Doing this to your own family. You're fired, and if Jeremy dies I'm making damn sure you get charged with his murder."

For a moment the scientist looked like he was going to blubber a protest. Then he sagged completely.

A few hours earlier, a panicked Jamie rushed to unlock herself from the apartment. Then while choking she fled down the hall from her would-be murderer. Tafiya was sitting as she watched the front door bounce then ease itself shut. The bathroom door beside her, which Jamie had crashed into, began to lean open and reveal Collin standing there with a stiff expression.

"Why didn't you help?" Tafiya demanded.

"Jamie's not involved in this."

"She's a witness, you idiot! Now it's not just gonna be Dad. The DCA and police will be after me too!" Tafiya struggled to stand before bending at the middle, groaning and then lunging to push Collin aside to throw up in the toilet.

Collin watched her blankly, wondering if he should be holding back her hair but being unable to move. Once Tafiya was finished she went to the sink to spit and wash her mouth out. She stormed past without looking at him, the cold-shoulder treatment he was used to receiving from her now. Like he wasn't even worth it.

"You shouldn't have freed me from the DCA. You and the baby could've escaped this."

"Then what?" Tafiya spun around to face him in the hall. "I wait for my Daddy to kill me? Or I run away by myself, with this fucking baby you put inside me that I didn't ask for? With nobody to provide for us?"

Collin had seen Tafiya just sit and stroke her tummy lovingly, many times. Last week she'd done it for half an hour. Now she was clutching it unthinkingly, like it wasn't a growing person but a thing attached to her. Of course he'd suggested an abortion at the start, but her reaction had been terrifying. Tafiya had attacked him, screaming and crying, his arms were still marked by the scratches from her nails.

"I'm just saying… I've not even finished high school. And if we're on the run, what kind of job am I supposed to get to support us?"

"Well I'm the pregnant one. So you're going to have to figure that out, aren't you?" she whipped back to the living room.

Upon thinking back to the early days of their relationship, Collin really should have seen this coming. Too bad he'd been completely enamored with her. Back then he'd never been able to properly talk to a girl without it being weird, then comes along a popular Senior who was inexplicably interested in him. He didn't care that they kept their relationship secret. Tafiya had been sweet, physically affectionate and didn't mind his awkwardness because she liked leading most of the time anyway. But even though she'd never said it, he was pretty sure she'd always wanted a baby.

When they'd gone for walks together, in very early days, she'd always pointed out babies in their prams whenever they passed them. Sometimes she approached the mothers to say hello, dragging him along with her. When they were in a clothing store she'd shown him tiny baby clothes she thought were adorable, like she was fixated on the topic. He'd nodded in agreement, thinking that okay, maybe she's just one of those girls that really likes babies.

Then when Tafiya tried having sex with him for the first time, Collin was so nervous his fingers were shaking too much to open the condom packet. Tafiya had laughed at him, leaned up to snatch and toss it across the room, then pulled him on top of her.

It was a question Collin had asked himself more than once: Did Tafiya want to be pregnant? What kind of seventeen-year-old wants to be pregnant? It was messed up. Especially since her Dad was so crazy strict. Tafiya didn't think ahead though, and the evidence for that was her belief that he could give her any kind of life she wouldn't hate. If Collin were to get a menial job as a brick layer it would be long grueling hours with little pay and he lacked the physique for it anyway. Tafiya was used to having money and she was always shopping.

Collin's parents had told him and told him how important it was to respect women. His Dad had sternly said that he must never ever hit a woman. So he hadn't fought back when Tafiya went crazy after he suggested an abortion. And now she was having a baby. It was his fault, he'd put it in her. Tafiya was convinced her Dad would kill her and so it was up to him to provide for his woman. His baby. Even though Tafiya's attitude toward him was mostly hostile she was still the only girl he'd ever had, and he supposed he loved her.

The living room was trashed, but he'd expected as much while overhearing the duel. Tafiya appeared from her bedroom with her schoolbag packed, almost like they were leaving for a sleepover instead of running away.

"You ready? Come on, we have to leave."

"What if the police find us?" Collin asked.

"Well that's what these are for, aren't they?" Tafiya flashed her deck then pushed past him "let's go."

It was dark when Nate, Heidi and Team KG were having dinner at the ramen restaurant. Their orders were taken and the teens were quietly restless. This time they'd opted for a booth in the corner, the cold left a sheen of moisture on the window-wall. The air smelt spicy and there was the noise of metal scrapes and clashing as chefs hastily prepared dishes. Overhead lights filtered through red paper lanterns.

"It's been confirmed that Tafiya was responsible for the seven-eleven explosion, and that Collin was more or less an accomplice." Nate began.

"Oh yeah?" Dylan asked while stooped on his stool. He was flicking an origami-ed napkin at Heidi who was flicking it back.

"The victim who was in a coma woke up and after questioning described a creature resembling Fort Megacluster."

"I see," Jake began, sitting upright and listening intently.

"But we weren't the only ones who found this out. Karon did too." At Nate's explanation the teens looked at their older peer.

"…I walked to the area. Paid some homeless people and got a few stories. A few different fellows said they saw blue light on the night of the explosion. Blue meaning water civilization, that's what Tafiya plays." Karon explained.

"Hey good work buddy." Dylan praised.

"It also seems Jeremy has no involvement at all," Nate began. "When asked about it he said he was sick in bed when Tafiya came by to see him. Since he couldn't get up she searched his top dresser for something then left. Turns out she came by to take his Dimension Gate. That's how she freed Collin."

"So she didn't have one already?" CJ asked. "Then how did she- the water!"

"Yes. It wasn't a water main burst like we thought. Tafiya used Spiral Gate, a much less efficient way of transport than Dimension Gate. For one it can't take you anywhere instantly, it carries you along with a large volume of water. She used it to escape through the sewer line after the explosion."

"This is sounding like an action movie." Jamie commented. She was wearing her hair out, the bruises on her neck were dark and noticeable. Jake glanced at them again and his fist clenched on the table.

"So any idea where Tafiya and Collin are now?" The jock asked.

"We got agents looking for them. There was K-wave activity across the harbor so it's getting looked at. Honestly though, with that Dimension Gate they could be anywhere. And if they continue to cause havoc we could have a real disaster on our hands."

"So what about Jeremy's relapse?" CJ asked.

"From what I heard it's not pretty. Not at all. Dr. Scrivener might be getting locked away as well." Nate answered.

"Imagine getting experimented on by your own Uncle…" Heidi remarked.

"This isn't like what happened with Jake's Dad and the survivor uprising. We're not dealing with clever plans or people, but that can make them even more dangerous. We are all in agreement though: Team Zeta does suck."

They were silent for a minute and then their orders came. For a while it was just the sound of chopsticks against bowls and noodle slurping. Heidi found New York's night life just as fascinating as in the day. Everything was lit up, it truly was the city that never sleeps. Once everyone was finished with their satisfying meals they wiped their faces and dropped scrunched napkins.

"Alright, Jason's coming by to take me home. See you guys." Jamie stood.

"You don't want to come back with us to TCG Towers?" Dylan asked.

"Nope. It's still a school night." Jamie answered.

Heidi sighed and turned away, lowering her voice "…you would say that."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jamie snapped.

CJ started laughing.

When everyone was leaving Dylan seemed to change his mind about TCG Towers. He waved everyone off then turned to Jake, the only one remaining.

"Okay, what? Why'd you text me under the table?" Dylan asked.

"We need to sort this out before more people get hurt." Jake said with an adamant expression. "Of all the agents we have the best chance of finding Tafiya and Collin. I need your help."

"You've been off the moment you found out something happened to Jamie." Dylan shook his head. "This isn't about justice, it's revenge."

"Sometimes they're the same. You in or not? I couldn't trust anyone else with this." Jake watched Dylan tilt his head back, eyes going up before he sighed in surrender.

"Fine... Let's do it."

Forty minutes later Tenshi was sailing above the harbor. The Alcadeias stayed clear of ferry lights, its image reflected in the black glassy surface beneath them. Behind them city lights lit up the dark, and ahead were a million more lights. They were in-between in a long void of black. The boys clung to the angel command's shoulders, night air rushing through their hair and the wide feathered wings. It was freezing but they endured.

"Can you feel those?" Jake ducked back so he could be heard over the wind. "Multiple K-wave sources in different places. Tafiya and Collin can't sense them yet. We're familiar with them so see if you can find Tafiya's water. I'm going to see if I can feel out Collin's location."

"If we get caught by an agent instead we're so busted." Dylan yelled back.

"I know…" Jake admitted.

Dylan rolled his eyes and turned forward "you better appreciate me more after this."

They continued across the Hudson on the overcast night.

That night. The night when everything went terribly, irreversibly wrong.

Collin had been with Tafiya in the seven-eleven without even a thought to rob the place. They were just hanging out late like they normally did, either cause Tafiya's Dad stayed back at work or cause she'd managed to sneak out. She'd mentioned a few times they'd have to run away together, but for the most part she didn't bring it up. He wasn't sure who'd started the fight between Tafiya and the pretty woman, but Tafiya obviously escalated it. She probably misunderstood a look or was in one of her bitchy moods. Either way Collin went to her side, he remembered being exasperated but ready to step in.

Tafiya was the type who if in a staring contest with another girl in the classroom, would never ever be the one to look away first. Her eyes would go pitch-dark and she'd straighten like a live-wire. Collin recognized the look and way her body stiffened, but instead of lashing out with her nails she reached for her deck. Her K-waves spiked with her unstable emotions, then suddenly everything was a chaotic explosion. For an instant it occurred to him that she was the worst kind of girl to have powers like these, lacking entirely in self-control.

He came to sitting on the floor, leaning against the counter, blinking. Fort Megacluster had appeared over them, shielding them with its body while the other customers got buried in rubble.

"Baby, wake up." Tafiya was calm, same as she'd been after Jamie got away. "We got to do it now. We got to run away."

"What?" Collin was still unsure of what the hell was happening.

After seeing the till she went over to get the cash for them. That's when the woman Tafiya had argued with woke up and started dragging herself across the floor.

"We can't have a witness…" Tafiya decided and followed after her.

"What… Tafiya, what are you doing?" He was still too dazed to sit up and didn't process what was going on. He remembered seeing his girlfriend hunched over and predatory, her bushy hair twittering like leaves.

Then some time after that she was in front of him again and saying they had to go. Collin stared around at the wreckage that'd killed people. He shook his head, unable to move.

"You want the mother of your child to go to jail?" Tafiya asked. "You want your baby to be born in prison?"

"You go," Collin finally managed to say. All of this was manslaughter and he wanted nothing to do with it. When Tafiya saw he wasn't going to get up she looked around then turned and left him.

Fresh tears welled in his eyes as he recalled the memory. Sitting on a park bench by hedges and an overhead light. A cobbled gap behind a little shopping center while Tafiya was washing up inside. There were a few spiky trees and nobody around, or so he'd thought.

"Collin Hoxham. You're under arrest, again."

The slim guy jumped up and turned, seeing none other than Team KG's leader Jake Wilson. A young light prodigy of the DCA he'd always looked up to.

"You…"

Jake slipped out a pair of cuffs from his back-pocket "don't make this difficult. Surrender now."

Collin didn't believe he stood much of a chance against Jake in a duel, but expanding a duel field would trap them here and give Tafiya the chance to run when she returned. Being locked away didn't sound like it would be much worse then being on the run with Tafiya all his life anyway. And it would be a fitting punishment for him letting a murderer walk free. Collin felt like a baby needed its mother, as strange as its upbringing would probably be.


Darker Than Black OST- Total Eclipse


Jake was quick to follow suit when Collin streamed his energy up into a yellow dome around them. Their tables appeared and Jake was the first to set mana, a strong determination on his face. Collin lit up with yellow as he also charged mana and passed back.

"La Ura Giga, Sky Guardian!" Jake announced as the silver jet hovered with engine humming.

La Ura Giga, Sky Guardian

Civilization: Light

Power: 2000

Collin merely charged and ended. Jake summoned again "Jil Warka, Time Guardian!"

Jil Warka, Time Guardian

Civilization: Light

Power: 2000

"I'm battling your guardians now. As expected, the so-called impenetrable defense of the DCA's youngest cadet." Collin noted.

"We know why you took the fall, Collin. It doesn't matter, we're here to take her in before she hurts anyone else." Jake stated.

Collin drew a low-cost blocker so played it "Sarius, Vizier of Suppression!"

Sarius, Vizier of Suppression

Civilization: Light

Power: 3000

Jake charged and passed his turn. It was a slow game of setting defense to start, as expected of two light players. Collin charged and now he had enough mana to begin locking down Jake's movements.

"First lockdown, I play Nariel the Oracle! Creatures with power 3000 or more can't attack!" the card shone yellow in his hand and he set it down.

Nariel, the Oracle

Civilization: Light

Power: 1000

"I cast Lightning Charger to tap Sarius," Jake began. "Jil Warka attacks."

Jil Warka, Time Guardian: 2000

Sarius, Vizier of Suppression: 3000

A gold ship flew forward, its metal claws extending. The gear mecha expanded an electric field that dismembered the attacker.

"Now Jil Warka's effect taps Nariel!" Jake continued. "La Ura Giga attack!" His silver flyer gunned down the floating orb.

La Ura Giga, Sky Guardian: 2000

Nariel, the Oracle: 1000

Jake watched the card bounce off his opponent's table "lockdown disrupted. You're not dueling CJ now. You're dueling me, another light player."

"I see… I cast Glory Snow and add two mana from my top-deck."

Jake only held two cards and couldn't afford to exhaust his hand early game. He skipped adding mana and his six mana cards turned "I play Siri, Glory Elemental!"

Lightning flashed as a bigger creature entered play, an ornate mecha surrounded by gold strips of metal.

Siri, Glory Elemental

Civilization: Light

Power: 7000

Collin had three cards in his hand, he charged then eight mana cards tapped as he played "Mihail, Celestial Elemental!" It wasn't quite as large, but the shining silver mecha was still impressive. "Lockdown, again! Other creatures can't be destroyed."

Mihail, Celestial Elemental

Civilization: Light

Power: 4000

Jake drew and realized that to disrupt another lockdown he'd have to empty his hand "I summon Miele, Vizier of Lightning and tap Mihail!"

Miele, Vizier of Lightning

Civilization: Light

Power: 1000

"Next I cast Protective Force to boost La Ura Giga to 6000!" Jake declared.

La Ura Giga, Sky Guardian: 2000-6000

"Siri attacks!" At Jake's order his strongest soldier charged up before firing a bolt of lightning.

"Sarius blocks! No damage happens!" Collin swept his arm.

Siri, Glory Elemental: 7000

Sarius, Vizier of Suppression: 3000

While his smaller blocker swerved to take the hit it remained unharmed.

"La Ura Giga, go!" Jake ordered and his jet took off once more. Mihail exploded. "Lockdown disrupted, again."

La Ura Giga, Sky Guardian: 6000

Mihail, Celestial Elemental: 4000

Collin slowly drew and examined the pair of cards in his hand. Jake will try using Diamond Cutter to attack me all at once. I need to keep his creature numbers down and try for a counter-attack when he goes for my shields.

Collin raised his head "I summon another Sarius then evolve it into Sieg Balicula, the Intense!"

Sieg Balicula, the Intense

Civilization: Light

Power: 5000

"Attack La Ura Giga!" The bulky machine held together by electricity hovered forth then pulverized the machine.

Sieg Balicula, the Intense: 5000

La Ura Giga, Sky Guardian: 2000

Jake drew then smirked. His six mana cards tapped "Descend upon us prince of the skies and let justice reign! Siri evolves into Alcadeias, Lord of Spirits! Let's do this Tenshi!"

An evo crystal descended and yellow brightness forced Collin to shield his face with an arm. He squinted through to see a blue-gold armored angel with heavenly wings.

Alcadeias, Lord of Spirits

Civilization: Light

Power: 12,500

"Yes, let's bring these runaways to justice." Tenshi agreed.

Collin's eyes widened as the entire dome was filled with light. How amazing to see the prodigious Jake duel with his synced creature, but how unfortunate that he was the one going up against it.

"Alcadeias attacks Sieg Balicula!"

"Sarius blocks!"

Alcadeias, Lord of Spirits: 12,500

Sarius, Vizier of Suppression: 3000

The holy onslaught finally tore his gear mecha into pieces.

Jake pointed, hungry for justice "Miele breaks your shield!" The droplet-shaped creature fired a disc of light through a shattering panel.

Collin

Shields: 5-4


Darker Than Black - Ryuusei no Gemini - OST - 07 - Karura's Flame karuraen


"Damn… I summon a second Nariel, the Oracle! Don't forget Sieg Balicula gives all my creatures 'blocker'!"

Nariel, the Oracle

Civilization: Light

Power: 1000

The gold orb returned, forbidding Jake's stronger creatures from attacking. If Collin could only maintain a lockdown for more than a single turn he could start covering some ground here.

Jake drew "I summon Dia Nork, Moonlight Guardian! Miele breaks another shield!"

Dia Nork, Moonlight Guardian

Civilization: Light

Power: 5000

A pearl flyer arced around before parking itself. Small Miele fired another disc of light.

Collin

Shields: 4-3

Collin didn't try to block. He wanted more cards, and probably Jake did too hence why he was speeding the game up for them.

"I summon Petrova, Channeler of Suns! Initiates get 4000 power so now Miele can't attack."

Petrova, Channeler of Suns

Civilization: Light

Power: 3500

A mecha with glowing wings descended into play.

Miele, Vizier of Lightning: 1000-5000

Sieg Balicula, the Intense: 5000-9000

"You still have to get through all my blockers," Jake was unimpressed. "You can't stall forever. I summon Aeris, Flight Elemental!" Another shining battleship comparable in size to Alcadeias shimmered into being.

Aeris, Flight Elemental

Civilization: Light

Power: 9000

"I summon Nastasha, Channeler of Suns!" Collin countered. A blue mechanical throne hovered up sitting a statue, four light-beams shone outward.

Nastasha, Channeler of Suns

Civilization: Light

Power: 6000

Truthfully, Jake was right. Collin didn't have much choice but to stall. Jake was doing much better, as expected. Collin could only hope Tafiya was far away by now.

Jake drew Diamond Cutter and passed his turn. He knew all Collin's creatures were blockers and Nastasha was like gaining an extra shield.

Collin drew Diamond Cutter and realized his only chance was here "I cast Solar Ray to tap Dia Nork, your only blocker! Then I cast Diamond Cutter! Now I can break all your shields! Nastasha, double-break!"

Jake

Shields: 5-3

"Shield triggers: Holy Awe and Kolon, the Oracle. It's over."

An orb from above fired a pillar of light that expanded to fill the entire field. There was a low humming that raised in frequency until Petrova, Nariel and Sieg Balicula lowered. Their cards on the tabletop were forcefully dragged sideways. Then a gold sphere with cords attached joined Jake's army of creatures.

Kolon, the Oracle

Civilization: Light

Power: 1000

"Now I cast Diamond Cutter. Kolon attacks Nariel and both get destroyed." Jake ordered.

Kolon, the Oracle: 1000

Nariel, the Oracle: 1000

"Aeris, attack Nastasha!"

Aeris, Flight Elemental: 9000

Nastasha, Channeler of Suns: 6000

"Alcadeias, double-break!" Tremendous fire rocketed into Collin's table and his shields burst, glass flinging into a storm overhead. He got a Glory Snow shield trigger that couldn't help him. "Dia Nork break his last shield!"

Collin

Shields: 3-1-0

"Like I said, you're coming with me. Miele, direct attack!" The smaller gold creature charged and hit the frightened boy. Collin flew and turned over, hitting the ground with a wince before blacking out.


⟨author's note⟩

I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter, Shuriken. A few times you have said this hasn't gone the way you were expecting, but I don't know what you were expecting so who knows if this turn of events is still surprising. In other news, I have decided that I will not let myself stretch this arc to ten chapters. In fact, if it ends up taking that long I would rather make it go for eleven chapters. If I stop at an even ten I'll be locking myself into a pattern and I got to keep AUgmented casual. I have come up with some ideas for next arc so Acuma is sure to be happy about that. Until next time ~