Chapter 7: Go South, young man!
It was snowing.
Soft flakes of the white stuff spiraled down from the sky, coating the earth in a layer of icing. Christmas was fast approaching, and the city bustled with life. People flowed in and out of shops, repeating the cycle of buying and selling again and again.
In the houses, warm lights shone, cheering all watchers with their glow.
Already, there was talk of a massive celebration, one that would stretch for a week, to mark the end of a millennium.
Yes, this would be the best winter ever.
***********
"Damn snow," Ryan mumbled, chilled hands barely holding on to his drink. His teeth chattered together, distorting his speech.
He sneezed, feeling utterly miserable.
"The stupid bastard who runs this hotel isn't gonna crank the thermostat up!"
"WE KNOW!!!"
His teammates, all in similar states, chorused their assent.
"So, maybe we should head back to the place we left, and get ourselves a nice, fresh meal, and maybe call our parents or something."
"And tell them what? That we're pinned down in a slum area, due to the fact that we've been attacked by escapees from The Matrix?"
"Andro, you've been watching way too many movies."
"It doesn't change the fact that we WERE attacked. The moment we show our faces in public, we'll be hammered into the ground."
"True."
An atmosphere of gloom descended upon the group.
Ryan set his cup down, and stood up.
"Tell you what. Why don't I head out, and get us something decent to eat?"
"Yeah. It seems like a good idea."
The boy turned, and began heading towards the door.
"WAIT! We're coming with you."
"Him? Why?"
"The last time you went out, you ended up drinking. And I had to pay the bill!"
Ryan's face flushed with sudden color. He remembered that all too well.
"Okay. You win."
Chan exchanged a smug smile with Andro.
"Told you he would crack."
Grudgingly, the other boy handed over several coins.
***********
After four helpings of roast duck, Chan was suddenly glad that he had brought the rest of the team along.
There was simply no other way he was going to able to foot the bill.
Their shopping trip had taken them as far as the nearest restaurant…and ended right there. Ryan had shouted something to the effect of "Food…FOOD!" and ran for the door.
Well, there was a brief interval after that, where no planning whatsoever was possible. The rest of the team, realizing that if you couldn't beat 'em, join 'em, promptly dug in too.
They had torn through a whole chicken, four slabs of pork, and ten bowls of rice at a speed that would put Iori Yagami to shame. Of course, considering they had been living on instant noodles for two weeks, the pace was actually almost understandable.
Almost.
Chan set his empty bowl down, wiping his hands on a paper napkin. With a contended sigh, he leaned back in his chair, contended. For a moment, he actually didn't care about the bill.
Instead, with his stomach full, his mind began to wander.
"Hey, he's thinking funny thoughts again!"
"Huh…I think I know what's going on in his head. Must be that girl again…"
"Hey! It's nothing like that!"
"Oh? Then what, exactly, were you thinking about? You had that spaced-out look on your face…"
"Well, I was wondering about our final battle. We're coming up against the Hero Team, the winners of the previous year's tournament. They're supposed to have new members, though, and…"
"Did any of you guys notice something? Our first battle was against a hardened mercenary squad. We kicked their asses. Then, there was that group of singers. MUCH more difficult, but we still won. And then…this weird team consisting of karate freaks and a bartender, and they almost killed us."
"And your point is?"
"The less formal training they actually had, the tougher they got to beat. Weird, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Well, let's not worry 'bout that, okay?"
"But…"
"It ain't important."
Ryan decided to seize the break in the conversation.
"Waiter! A bottle over here, now!"
Chan sighed, and buried his face in his hands.
***************
In the shadows just outside the restaurant, a figure watched the boys eat, eyes gleaming in the dark. Something like fingers snapped. Something like a red flare of flame ignited.
Around it, falling snow hissed, and evaporated.
"Huh. And we're supposed to face them? They're pathetic."
This was delivered in a tone of scorn, and complete derision. The fire flared brighter, reflecting off a leather jacket. Somehow, the flame seemed to come right from the hand of the figure, but of course, that was impossible.
Behind the figure, something else moved, much bigger than the first.
"Don't underestimate them, Dash-man. They've beaten everyone else."
K' smiled, red light glinting off his teeth.
"As have I, Maxima."
"Huh. Your overconfidence is going to be the death of you, K'."
There was another snap, and the flame flickered out.
"I'm never overconfident. I know I can't lose."
Maxima decided to leave it as that.
***************
Somewhere else, at the north corner of the city, a massive merry-go-round was in operation. Bright lights flashed, and a cheerful tune played. The wooden horses were in constant motion, fusing into a single fluid flow.
Next to the ride sat a statue of metal. Most passer-bys took a single look, and shrugged, dismissing it as just another entertainer, on his lunch break. Others snapped brief photos, then left.
For a long time, the statue sat there. It watched the ride complete a circuit again and again, unblinking eyes watching it all. Slowly, minutes slipped by, dragging on into hours.
Finally, when a brown-haired girl disembarked from the ride, a massive smile across her face, the statue spoke. Or at least, a voice seemed to come from somewhere within it.
"Kula. Could we leave now? ***BEEP*** It has been several hours since we first arrived. And in all that time, you have repeated the same activity again and again."
Kula pouted.
"Aww…So soon? Could we stay a bit longer, Candy? Pleassseee…"
Candy remained silent for several seconds, as the request flowed through its electronic brain.
"No. Your superiors are already waiting for you. ***BZZT*** And you must prepare yourself for your destined purpose."
Kula blinked.
"What? Already? When?"
"Soon. I am not authorized to disclose any more details. We will leave now."
"Okay."
The two walked out of the amusement park, looking just like another happy family. Strangely enough, they seemed to vanish into the light snow, fading away, as though they had never been there.
***********
"Damnit, Andro, you're heavy…"
"Shut up. I can't believe a fat-ass like you said that…"
The DHS Team, royally drunk, staggered down the road, heading back to their room in the slum areas. All were inebriated to one point or the other, some far worse than others.
Ryan had drunk enough for all four, and was barely in fit state to walk. Chan supported Andro, who was busy making a valiant attempt to remain vertical, but failing miserably. Ogion was attempting to carry Ryan, who was already more than partially comatose.
All the while, Ogion was grumbling, muttering something about how a well-aimed mental blast would end all their problems instantly. When Ryan began croaking to the tune of "In The End", Chan seriously considered homicide, or at least suicide.
"That's the last time we let them touch alcohol…"
***********
That night…
The attack came suddenly, but not entirely unexpectedly. After all, the boys had been operating on a razor's edge for a week now, one standing guard while the others slept. However, the fact that half of the team was still recovering from a really bad hangover lessened the effect somewhat.
Still, when the windows exploded inwards, and smoke poured in from the door, the attackers didn't come in unchallenged.
The bullets came first, sending red flashes of light cutting their way across those entering from the window. The soldiers who had taken the more conventional entrance were pelted by various items of furniture, darting under riot shields, and bludgeoning again and again.
Then, lightning crackled from outside, as it began to rain. Random bolts jagged down, striking the small building. The roof exploded, causing the cold rain and snow to pour in.
The soldiers fired back, sending gas grenades hurtling into the room.
Choking noises emanated from the centre of the cloud, ending with a shout of, "They've got gas…***Cough***"
The second row, armed with gas masks and batons, promptly rolled in, expecting no resistance. What they got was a screaming, slashing terror, steel blades flashing in the light. Their comrades were too packed together to swing, and those behind didn't dare to fire, for fear of hitting their friends.
That was just the way Andro liked it. He moved through the ranks like a specter, hacking away at the oncoming tide. Very soon, he had cleared a respectful distance for himself, as he quickly incapacitated all around him.
A freak wind blew, sending the cloying gas right back into the faces of the soldiers. Andro, his back to the wind, wasn't that badly affected. He staggered, shaking his head to clear the cobwebs away, and promptly leapt for his next victim.
In the room, Ryan stood in a classic charging-up pose. One hand was glowing with blue fire, while the other was pointed at the doorway. He was tired, from calling down both lightning and wind, but sure as hell didn't intend to show it.
Ogion was at the back of the room, with everything not nailed down circling him. He had thrown almost everything, except the kitchen sink (As a matter of fact, he WOULD have thrown the sink, but it was just too heavy.)
Chan crouched behind an overturned table, grimly reloading his handgun. World-Eater held its shield in front of all his friends, keeping them safe…for now.
There was a brief standoff. The team couldn't fire through the protective shield, but neither could their opponents. Andro prowled near the front, keeping all at bay with his weapons.
Then, one trooper, far larger than the rest, stepped forward.
"Resistance is futile! Surrender, K'!!!"
Chan dropped the shield for a moment, and planted a bullet through his helmet. The man toppled, smashing into the floor. His second-in-command swore, and yelled an order.
"THAT'S IT!!! ATTACK!!! ATTACK NOW!!!"
A massive firefight began.
************
Outside of the chaos, K' and Maxima watched the spectacle with curious eyes. They couldn't actually see very much. All that was visible was smoke, and the occasional curious flare of light.
The small room was being thoroughly trashed. The walls were cracking: Anyone could see that from the outside. More and more black-suited soldiers entered the house, and were promptly repulsed.
A small smile spread across K's face. The team was putting up an incredible fight. He could tell that much, at least. And, that was good. He always liked a challenge. However...They were slowly overwhelmed by the sheer weight of numbers being brought to bear against them.
There had been three squads of extermination teams outside. One was already defeated, and sporadic battle still raged with the second. Very soon, the third would soon charge in. And that would be the end.
K' realized that he didn't really enjoy that thought. It just seemed completely unfair, for a small, elite group to be brought down by an undisciplined mass. With a snap, he made his choice.
"C'mon, Maxima," he said, donning his sunglasses.
"We're going to help them."
************
The place was in shambles.
Everything breakable had been broken, and then some. All around the room, bodies lay sprawled like confetti, most in various stages of unconsciousness.
Andro was still on his feet, clutching his broken ribs, and bleeding heavily from a boot to the head.
Chan, mildly deaf from a concussion grenade, was attempting to drag his body behind the beds, the last source of cover.
Ogion was popping pills with trembling hands, robe spattered with psychic frost, and burned with the backwash of pyrokinesis.
Ryan was clutching his club, a baton snatched from an opponent. His clothes were tattered and torn, and he had the look of a man who had seen horrible things.
The noise had been incredible. It was a wonder that no one had alerted the police. (Considering the kind of neighborhood this was, maybe it wasn't so wondrous after all.)
Outside, the last team was forming up for the final charge.
This would be the final one, all knew. They simply didn't have the strength to repel the last squad.
"Get back…" Chan said to them all. "Just get outta here…There's nothing we can do…"
"We fight…" Ogion croaked. "We fight…them…till we drop…"
Psycho-thermic energy, amplified by his weary mind, spat from his hand, tracing a long arc of sizzling flame. He swept it along the front row, scorching some. He kept it going, till it turned from red to blue-white. The blood vessels in his throat and nose opened, and crimson fluid began to flow from there.
Ryan, in a defiant pose, prepared for one last lightning bolt.
Chan prepared his Stand, and told it to lunge forward, swinging its massive sword two-handed.
Andro spat, leaned against the wall, got up, and almost fell.
"Just…Bring it!"
It was a dramatic last stand, a real change-of-underwear moment. Fortunately, that was not to be.
"BUNKER BUSTER!!!"
***KA-BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM***
A massive flaming meteor crashed down from the sky, annihilating those directly in front of the door. Stone shrapnel flew everywhere, mowing too-eager soldiers down. They were the lucky ones. Those behind were about to have even worse problems.
"HEAT DRIVE!!!"
The carnage was incredible. It was as though a white-hot line had been cut through the ranks. The unfortunates in the way flew, burned, or collapsed like puppets with their strings cut.
"VAPOUR CANNON!"
Another massive explosion. More bodies took sudden flight.
"Retreat!!! RETREAT!!!"
There was the sound of sudden scampering of feet, as those who could run did so.
The boys, unable to believe their good luck, simply stared.
Slowly, a slim man, dressed in a leather biker jacket, began walking towards them. He had a head of white hair, and the red glove on his hand was glowing with a tongue of fire.
***************
"My name is K'. It's good to meet you."
Chan returned the proffered handshake to the best of his ability.
"Thank you. My name is Chan…and those are my…"
Here, he briefly hesitated, wondering what to say. Finally, he decided to tell the truth.
"Team. We're the DHS Team."
K' raised an eyebrow, releasing his hand.
"Oh? What a coincidence. We're the vaunted 'Hero Team'. May I ask why the NESTS extermination squads are after you?"
Warning bells began to ring in Chan's head.
The second, burly man came in from outside. Green light from his eyes scanned Chan up and down.
"Uh…Who's he?"
"He's Maxima. An old friend."
Suddenly, in a low, rumbling tone, Maxima spoke.
"The boy isn't what he seems, Dash-man. He bears a tracker on his right hand."
"The hell?"
Chan involuntarily glanced down at his right hand.
"There's nothing on it."
"It is extremely small. There does not seem to be any way to remove it, beside amputation."
Chan didn't like where this was going.
From the corner of his eye, he could see his friends move into strategic positions.
"Leave my arm alone, okay?"
"Hmm…Maybe we should kill them, and dump the bodies somewhere else."
K's hand flared to fiery life once more, following his words.
"Hey, cool it, Dash-man. We didn't come here to fight. Besides, they'll probably draw some pursuit away from us."
"Fine."
With that, the strange duo turned, and promptly left the area.
"Chan, who were they?"
"I dunno…But I do know we're going up against them in the finals."
***********
"Was that a good idea, Maxima?"
"You know I don't like unnecessary killing."
"But still…"
"What's wrong, K'? Afraid that they'll beat us?"
"No. Their leader feels…different."
"Oh?"
"There's something about him…something that's not quite right."
Maxima stopped in his tracks.
"You really think we should head back to finish them off?"
"No. It's not important. Besides, did you hear what that soldier said when he saw them?"
"Yeah. He said, 'Surrender, K-Dash.' Or something like that."
"They think that those boys are us. Ain't that funny?"
"I think I see your point."
***********
Airport, 7 a.m.
Slowly, the plane taxied off the runway, and soared into the sky.
With a sigh of relief, Ryan leaned back in his seat. Finally, Tokyo was behind him. Finally, they wouldn't have to worry about any more weirdoes. No, they were going to a nice, normal city, where they would win the final match, and go home with the cash.
Then, he felt a tapping on his shoulder.
"Excuse me. I need to get a drink. Please move."
Ryan turned, wondering who the speaker was…
And looked straight into the face of K'.
For a long moment, they stared at each other, neither moving, barely breathing.
Then, a long, horrible scream resounded through the air. Some shuddered, thinking it was a sign of impending doom. Others wondered whether it was simply engine trouble.
No one would have thought it was Ryan.
(Right, this chapter marks the beginning of the end. Now, I'm sorry if it seems a little…predictable, but it's a necessary chapter. Once again, I'm glad for all your support and suggestions. Don't worry, as things will pick up very soon. Until then, as always, please R&R.)