Title: Untold Truths
Authoress: Ladya C. Maxine
Rating: PG-13
Summary: see chapter one
Warnings: see chapter one
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters. All unrecognizable characters belong solely to me and are not to be touched. I am not making any money off of this and write with the sole purpose to entertain.
"Long time no see."
Ray gasped at the familiar voice though he could still not believe his eyes. Lifting his head up a bit more from Kai's shoulder, he felt a single tear run down his cheek, the cold air freezing it but his attention was too focused on the beings that stood before them.
Never had Wolborg look as majestic as he did now. Fur bristled and fangs bared, the silver and blue wolf met Demon Dranzer's gaze with equal ferocity. Armor encased the wolf's forepaws and a metal collar hung heavily around the thickly furred neck. The base of the bushy tail was also armored and metal-spiked bands braced the high hind ankles. A long mane of shock-white fur ran down the wolf's head and neck, falling before wild eyes. With each move the wolf made, a shower of sparkling icicles took to the air. The great crystal wings gleamed with jagged edges.
Next to the reincarnated bit beast stood a person whose posture was confident and proud. At his feet spun the silver beyblade that fed Wolborg his energy. An automatic firearm launcher was held calmly in one hand while the other hand rested on a hip. Black jeans and orange sweater were both overshadowed by the sweeping black coat that reflected the dancing fire around them clearly. Flaming red hair fell before crystal blue eyes that shone with a new life behind the thin framed glasses.
"Wolborg, Avalanche Claw."
With a rumbling snarl, the wolf took a great bound and shot up into the air. With a speed unmatched, he began to slash out at the satanic phoenix with claws and fangs in one continuous attack, not staying long enough in one place for the satanic beast to counter attack. Dranzer Demon fought back, its heated rage slowly starting to melt the frozen wasteland back into a incinerating pit.
"DESTROY IT! DESTROY IT!" Voltaire yelled.
This wasn't possible! His sources were never wrong. The wolf had been killed. 201121 had been destroyed! What was this!
Fearing defeat for the first time, he ran over to where the massive beasts battled above them, quickly disappearing in the rising mist as ice and fire made contact.
The commotion roused both Dranzer and Drigger. Recognition flashed in Dranzer's eyes as they fell upon the blue-furred wolf. Her wings spread and with a great whoosh, she joined the battle, shooting flaming balls that were enough to distract the satanic phoenix. Grounded, Drigger aided by releasing waves upon waves of electrical spires.
"YOU IDIOT! USE DARKNESS FALLS!" Voltaire's eyes bulged with anger when Dranzer Demon appeared to ignore him, instead thrashing wildly in an attempt to catch Wolborg with its talons whenever the wolf came within range.
Ata watched as his bit beast and the others contained the monstrous beast but he wasn't going to kid himself by thinking that they would be able to defeat it with simple attacks. Only one person had the might to overcome the phoenix. The same person who had lived with it for so many years was the only one who could put an end to it all.
Turning away from the fight, he walked towards the small group, emotionless as he neared them though he felt his throat tighten at their disbelieving expressions.
Kai never looked away from the sky blue orbs as they neared.
That same stride, the one Ata walked in confidence. That same sense of calm, the one Ata radiated wherever he went. His breath faltered as he took in the fine features he had last seen while his best friend had been laying on a cold, steel table, serene and beautiful in death. Now filled with life, they outshone themselves.
Ray slowly loosened his hold on Kai as he watched as the one who had died in his very arms drew nearer. The mischievous yet highly intelligent eyes open once again. The ivory skin once more colored with life and warmth. With each step that Tala took, he became more of a blur to Ray's eyes as the tears built up. By the time the redhead stood before them he was barely discernable.
Allowing himself a brief moment to commit the new scene before him into his memory, Ata looked between the two and smiled softly.
"So I had to die to get you two together? What am I going to have to do to get you two to go out on a first date?"
Hearing the quieted humor in the soft voice, Ray caved in and pulled the Russian.
"Tala…"
"That's me, Kitten."
"How?"
"No time to explain." He turned to Kai, offering his stunned friend a meaningful smile though said, "Dranzer Demon is free. He won't obey Voltaire for much longer."
It took all of his childhood training for Kai to keep himself in check. The time for reacquainting would have to come later. Right now they were all in mortal danger. And though Ata didn't say it directly, he caught the meaning in the words. And couldn't find it within him to believe in them.
"I know what you are telling me, but I don't know if I can do it."
Taking a step closer, Ata forced his friend to look him in the eyes.
"You don't have the choice. If you don't stop it then we're all in mortal danger."
Pained roars echoed through the arena followed by all three bit beasts crashing to the ground, their great mass shattering the icy layer beneath them. Dranzer Demon swooped down after them, targeting Drigger. Using its hooked talons, the demon grabbed the dazed white tiger and flung him against the wall, resulting in one of the armored spikes over the tiger's great shoulders to break off and lodge deeply into his back. The cat threw back his head in agony, roaring as he slumped to the floor.
"Drigger!" Ray cried out as he watched his bit beast go limp. Mind made up, he started towards him but Kai grabbed his arm.
"You go out there and you will get yourself killed!"
"I've got to help him!" He struggled against Kai's hold, eyes fixed on his feline friend.
Ata took Saskia from him and Kai was able to grab both shoulders of his teammate, regretting the use of such force when Ray hissed in pain as he placed pressure on the bullet wound. Still, he had almost lost Ray once. He wasn't about to risk it again.
"You can't help him, Ray! Dranzer Demon will only get you too!"
"I have to at least try, Kai! Don't you understand? I have to try!" Ray shouted.
'I have to at least try…Try…' Kai ran the words through his mind over and over again.
"Excellent, my pet!" Voltaire reappeared through the icy smoke, grin wider and madder than ever.
His usually neat hair was now wild and tangled as it fell before insane gray eyes. The wound on his arm was bleeding heavier than ever as the chip had burrowed deeper into the flesh to escape the biting cold that it hated so much. Old blood was frozen solid but fresh blood still flowed down the sickly pale skin of the senior Hiwatari's arm. Not deterred by his increased failing health, he shouted,
"And now, you shall make your first kill! Finish off the white tiger!"
"No! Drigger!" Ray tried to pull free but Kai wrapped both arms around him, keeping him out of death's path. "Let me go, Kai! I've got to help him!"
A voice intervened as Ata made a very important observation.
"It has already begun."
Dranzer Demon started towards Drigger, as Voltaire had commanded it to do. But then changed its mind and aimed for Dranzer.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING! I ORDER YOU TO OBEY ME!"
Voltaire's eyes bulged in rage as the satanic creature purposefully ignored his command. Of course he wanted all three bit beasts, and their bladers, dead, but no one ever disobeyed a demand from him!
As if to emphasize its newfound independence, Dranzer Demon belched up a flaming gas of burning smoke, effectively blinding the wolf as it caught him in the eyes. A quick flap of the wings hurled raining streams of lava that splattered against Wolborg's side, leaving considerable burns.
"DESTROY THE WHITE TIGER! KILL DRIGGER!"
His fists were clenched and his nails dug into his weathered palms, allowing more blood to join the already deep wound on his arm.
"It won't listen to you. You can't control it!" Kai shouted, trying to let the man see what he had so blindly gotten himself into.
"SHUT UP, BRAT! LET ME SHOW YOU HOW A REAL BLADER TAMES THE WILD BEAST!" Lifting his arm in Dranzer Demon's direction, he shouted, "Electromagnetic pulse!"
Amidst the red and orange and black of Dranzer Demon's fires, a bright blue light flickered between the winged shoulders for a second. Suddenly, an immense web of blue voltage crackled over the coarse body. It couldn't have been just any ordinary electricity as it obviously caused the demon phoenix agonizing pain since it threw back its head and roared loudly. The charge lasted for only a handful of seconds but the effect was no doubt lingering. Dranzer Demon shook its head and fluttered unevenly for a moment, dazed at the invisible attack.
Voltaire grinned victoriously at the teens.
"As you can see I took precaution when we had first created this bit beast. The voltage in the charge reacts with the heat in the beasts' body, causing a sudden imbalance that has devastating effects on it. I have more control over that beast than it would like. It has no choice but to obey me!"
"You underestimate it, Voltaire," Kai sneered the name in disgust. "A few shocks aren't enough to keep it under control."
"Silence! You--"
An angry squawk interrupted the argument.
Turning to look up, Voltaire's eyes widened even more to see the molten irises of the dark phoenix fixed on him, burning with malice. Breaking out of the hover it had been in, the bird landed with a heavy THUD on the ground, burning feet hissing and steaming as fire met ice. Making a terrifying hissing sound itself, it stalked over to the old man, coming to tower above him, watching him with a tilted head before openly roaring in the man's face, the burning breath causing the gray hair to singe and curl.
Kai's breath drew in sharply as he realized how this was going to end. Meeting Ata's eyes, he nodded and began to slowly back away, keeping an arm around Ray who watched the strained tension between Voltaire and his 'pet' with growing anxiety. It was with reluctant steps that he followed Kai to wherever they were going. Wrapping Saskia even tighter in the cloak, Ata followed, mind already formulating several plans of attack though the standoff was distracting even him.
The Voltaire Hiwatari the world knew would have wisely backed off too. The demon had straightened itself fully and its powerful wings were spread out in an obvious gesture of defiance and challenge. No being in their right mind would have remained in this fell creature's path but the man refused to back down from the towering giant of flowing lava. Instead, he stalked even closer, bleeding arm raised and fist balled as he waved it at the fire-spewing monstrosity.
"YOU STUPID PIDGEON! I DID NOT TELL YOU TO LAND! GET BACK OUT THERE AND KILL THE TIGER!"
The chip automatically gave the gigantic beast another high voltage wave of crackling blue lightning but the effect wasn't as drastic as the first. Dranzer Demon grunted in pain but either it had adapted already to this alien attack or it simply was too enraged to feel anything. But the idea of someone trying to control it seemed much more damaging to the creature and it wasn't going to stand for it.
The 'feathers' around the massive head bristled and puffed indignantly and the comb of flames flushed skywards more than ever. The great heat had melted all the snow in the surrounding area, leaving large puddles that steamed around the jagged ankles of the phoenix as it took another step closer, barely even flinching at the voltage punishment.
"I AM THE ONE WHO CREATED YOU! I AM THE ONE WHO HELPED YOU SURVIVE! WITHOUT ME, YOU WOULD BE NOTHING!"
Ray watched on as the elder continued to lash out and curse the phoenix. The sight of the hell-spawned phoenix at full rage, eyes widened and tails lashing, was enough to greatly dampen his anger, replacing it with a growing dread of anticipation. Whatever was going to happen next was going to be ugly and it was quite obvious who was going to lose this face-off.
Anyone there, except Voltaire, expected the worse but still it was an extremely difficult, if not impossible, task to keep their stomachs down when, after reaching a snapping point, the phoenix released an outraged roar and the flaming head swooped down in a single movement. With a great snap, the fanged beak clamped down onto the ranting man's body.
The angered shouts turned to screams of agony and fear as the phoenix lifted its head and snapped down again, breaking bones and tearing flesh, its acidy saliva already beginning to burn away at the man's flesh as he was jostled around in the clamping beak.
A small cord of regret struck Kai in his heart but it quickly passed. Instead, he lowered his eyes in disgust as the still struggling body was tossed high into the air with a flick of the demon's head before being caught and swallowed in a single gulp, smoke billowing out of the beak as the man's body was burned to ashes on the way down, putting an end to Voltaire Hiwatari and the chip that could have spelled disaster for them all.
Feeling Ray shiver in revulsion in his arms, Kai pulled him closer.
Having had no relations whatsoever with Voltaire, Ata was relieved, albeit sickened, with the man's gory end. One problem had been solved. Yet the biggest, and deadliest, one was still there, belching up a gaseous ball as its serpent tongue ran victoriously over its fangs. Squalling a caw of victory, it took to the air, blasting away as it circled above their heads.
Swallowing down the subsiding nausea, Ray asked,
"What's it doing?"
"Waiting." Ata adjusted his hold on Saskia as she squirmed slightly in her sleep. "It's waiting for our bit beasts to get up. It now fully understands its power and wants to use it in a worthy fight. Which means we have only a couple of minutes to think up a plan."
His blue eyes slid to the three downed bit beasts.
Dranzer was conscious but in obvious pain. Drigger was unmoving where he laid against the wall; chest heaving unevenly as it drew ragged breaths. Being the closest to the tiger, Wolborg nudged him with his long snout, trying to rouse him. The wolf's hind legs were badly burned and an ankle looked really messed up.
"There's got to be a way to destroy that thing. It can't be indestructible!" Ray whispered fiercely.
Kai and Ata shared a knowing look, the bluenette meeting his friend's shocking blue eyes right on. Searching the deep cerulean depths, he saw everything they had shared together; their triumphs and defeats, their laugher and tears, their learning and mistakes. Ata had returned from death for him and he knew the redhead would die again if it meant that his loved ones would live. He knew that Ray would fight by his side till the end if needed.
'I can't let that happen to you guys. I won't let it.'
Looking to his side he met Ray's piercing gold eyes that switched from watching them and watching the evil phoenix as it soared above. Their eyes met and Kai saw the burning love that only grew hotter with intensity as the seconds passed.
'…I have to at least try…'
Looking down at Saskia who remained motionless between them, he watched her as she slept. He had gone through and was in hell for her and would do it all over again if asked. But this had to stop now. And soon.
"I'll do it."
Ata nodded at the words but Ray blinked.
Do it? Do what?
"You know that it will be more difficult without the chip."
A huge piece of concrete suddenly crashed down a few feet next to them, shattering the ice that had collected on the floor and ricocheting jagged ice and crumbled debris in every direction. Kai didn't even flinch.
"I'm not going to try and detain it. That's no longer an option. It has to be destroyed."
"What are you going to do?" Ray intervened, not liking where this was going.
Brushing away the bangs, Kai cupped a hot cheek.
"I'm going to save the day," he said with a small smirk.
"How?"
He had known deep down that it would all come down to Kai in the end. Could he do it? And at what cost? Kai could die along with the evil beast. Who knew just how deep a connection he had with Dranzer Demon.
Instead of answering, Kai leaned in quickly and kissed the tiger teen deeply, drawing a startled gasp from the boy. Pulling away, he smiled slightly.
"I don't know how. All I know it that I can't let anything happen to any of you."
"I hate to break you two up, but we have to do this now," Ata said from where he had been following the dark phoenix's flight and checking from a distance on the recovering bit beasts. "That bastard isn't going to give them much time once it sees them up."
The night had worn on and the skies above were silent. However, the ground beneath their feet shook and cracked with every distant rumble and explosion. All around them machines were beeping out of control as the energy level in the entire ground was off the charts. Personnel ran al over as they tried to keep everything running though fuses were blowing and screens were cracking as the level heightened.
Looking up from where she had been overseeing the transportation of all arrested Abbey workers and guards, Raven frowned when a particular large explosion caused one of the standing video cameras to topple of and crash on the cracked ground. Most faces held nervousness as their eyes darted up at every sound but she calmly checked off the last person before walking over to where Mr. Dickenson stood with the head scientist looking at the screen.
"Something just happened--" she stated, knowing that she was right.
Mr. Dickenson nodded gravely.
"Something has indeed happened. This machine monitors every living person within the Abbey. We had been left with five. Yet one has just disappeared off the chart."
"Did they escape?"
"No. They are simply showing no more signs of life. What's more, an immense heat source, greater than everything else, was right next to them at the time of their death."
"Dranzer Demon." She shuddered though not from the cold. "Can you tell who it was?"
The scientist shook his head.
"Afraid not. This only monitors body heat. All we know is that their are only four left."
They fell silent but Raven asked the question they were all thinking.
"So who was it? Who was Dranzer Demon's first victim?"
Ray crouched down behind the large slab of concrete that hid him well from view of the phoenix flying overhead. They had been forced to plan quickly as Wolborg had taken a heavy blow to his ribs when he had tried to rise to his feet a few minutes ago. Dranzer Demon was growing impatient.
A few feet away, he could see Tala studying the dark phoenix too, though with more calculating eyes, mind spinning as he searched for the best way to carry out his attack. Next to the redhead and well protected from debris by a large sheet of thick steel, was Saskia. They had wrapped her up in all their coats to protect her as much as possible. Now she slept and they were thankful for it.
'None of this should have happened to her in the first place,' Ray thought, 'None of this should have happened to us.'
"Stay sharp, Kitten," Ata warned when he caught the thoughtful look on Ray's face.
The nickname brought him back to reality and with a thumbs-up he acknowledged it, holding back a smile. He couldn't believe he actually missed being called that.
Turning to more serious matter, he silently crept in closer to where Drigger laid panting on the ground. His white beyblade was spinning dangerously unstable nearby. If they wanted this to work they would have to do this very fast and precise. One mistake from any of them would be the end.
"Drigger," he whispered as loud as possible without alerting Dranzer Demon.
The cat's head lifted at the sound of his master's voice and he tried to roll over to see the Chinese blader, over whom he had been worried as the battle had kept them separated far longer than the tiger's liking, but Ray stopped him by placing a hand on the wide back, wincing when he saw how deep the armor spike had pierced the skin.
"No, Drigger. I need you to stay totally still." He stiffened when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye but it was only Tala making his towards Wolborg, who lay nearby. "We have a plan, but it's very dangerous. Can I count on you?"
Remembering to remain quiet, Drigger growled softly in agreement.
"I am going to have to re-launch you. When Kai gives the signal, I need you to return to your blade and return to my hand. Got it?"
Again an affirmative growl.
"Alright. Let's give this our all, Drigger."
In the meantime, Kai had found Dranzer, following the sound of her beyblade spinning, very unevenly but spinning nonetheless. She raised her head as he came nearer but the relationship between blader and bit beast was so great that he didn't have to talk for her to understand. Making only a small chirp, she laid her head back down, resting as much as possible to recover her strength for the possible final showdown.
'This is it. This is what I've been training for all my life.' He slowly crouched down as the large bulk of the dark phoenix flew in low but didn't see him.
Looking across the ruined arena, he saw both Ray and Ata awaiting his signal. Both were crouched down, hands ready to grab their blades.
"Get ready, Dranzer."
The phoenix raised her head slightly before slowly moving to lay onto her stomach, flattening herself though her eyes watched her darkened counterpart flying above them with barely contained vengeance.
"On three…"
He raised his hand to alert the others.
"One…"
Kai met Ata's eyes and they felt the rush of adrenaline rush through their bodies.
"Two..."
Ata counted down to himself, switching his gaze to Ray who gripped his shooter tighter.
Ray took a deep breath before opening his eyes, feeling a strange calm wash over him.
'No matter what happens, we did our best.'
"Three!"
"Dranzer, return!"
"Wolborg, return!"
"Return, Drigger!"
In a blinding flash, all three bit beast broke down into glittering light particles that quickly absorbed into the barely spinning blades. With renewed vigor, the blades shot up and into their masters' waiting hands.
Sensing something it didn't like, Dranzer Demon screeched and with a great cartwheel, it rocketed towards them, picking out Ata and amassing a large ball of flame in its beak.
While many would have fainted at the sight of a huge demon of fire swooping towards them, Ata's eyes narrowed. This beast had been bred and raised in the Abbey. Experimented on and treated like a slave. Just like him.
'But you loved it. You craved it.'
Moving to keep the monster away from Saskia, he climbed onto a heap of still glowing metal. Raising his launcher, he waited as the beast streaked closer. Its body heat was extreme in its anger but his eyes were as cold as the ice that refused to melt before it.
'Fight fire with ice…'
When the phoenix was close enough for him to see its dilated pupils, he gritted his teeth and launched his blade with all his strength, rocketing the white blade out at great speed.
"Wolborg, Glacial Pass!"
Wolborg exploded from his blade, ice particles flying like frozen shrapnel, lodging themselves into the phoenix's broad chest, prying between the lava plates and freezing the flowing lava with an iciness never before felt on earth.
"Tiger Claw attack!" He felt the link between him and Drigger grow into the strongest it had ever been as he placed all his faith and heart in his attack. "Shred it open!"
The entire arena turned an eerie green as the White tiger emerged, great head roaring as he too had regained considerable strength from his master. Breaking out into a sprint that made his beyblade disappear altogether, the tiger zigzagged to and fro, tearing up the ground beneath him. With a coiled pounce, Drigger sent his blade flying straight towards Dranzer Demon, who had still been preoccupied with Wolborg's chilling attack. Enormous claws bared, Drigger's eyes glowed white as with a single slash he removed an enormous piece of molten chest plate that had burned out due to Wolborg's glacial attack. Dranzer Demon roared in pain and surprise as the large hunk of its molten flesh fell to the ground, shattering and crumbling into mere ash.
The tiger's green was soon swallowed up by a blood red. A ball of fire completely engulfed Dranzer as she joined in, a life-time of hatred for the demon she knew had been brooding in her young master now finally made possible to vent out on the very origin of her rage. Below her, Kai approached the injured monster.
'You threaten everything and everyone I love, you freak of nature,' Kai took a step closer to the battle, eyes fixed on the battling beasts above. 'Because of you I have lost my parents. Because of you I almost my best friend. Because of you my little sister and the person I love were placed in mortal danger.'
Drigger body slammed the dark phoenix with enough force to drive it more into Wolborg's attacks. While both were doing a good job, it was only temporary.
"And now, after having hidden in me for 16 years, you show your face and honestly expect me to be scared? You expect me to fear you?"
Hearing the voice it knew too well, Dranzer Demon turned its flaming head to see the lone boy. Understanding the boy's motive, it shrugged off the attacking bit beasts and started to collect another immense ball of fire in its mouth.
"Kai!"
"You have forever scarred my loved ones. You will haunt them for the rest of their lives." Closing his eyes, he focused on every shred of anger he had ever felt in his life. "I won't let you hurt them anymore than that."
"Get out of the way!"
"You won't harm anyone."
"Kai, please!" Ray watched on helplessly as the bluenette refused to move. This had not been part of the plan! Kai had purposefully left out his true intention to make sure that he wouldn't try to stop him.
"You are my responsibility and I refuse to see another person fall victim to your anger."
Drigger and Wolborg growled loudly as tendrils of energy started to flow from their auras into Dranzer's. Green and blue intermingled with red to form a bright array of colors that grew more and more. Soon the phoenix was engulfed in a swirling aura that began to flicker dangerously.
"I am going to do what should have been done a long time ago."
Dranzer cried out as her energy levels were pushed beyond their limits by the unfamiliar flow of power. Meanwhile, the blazing fireball was almost complete and Dranzer Demon would soon release it, more devastating than ever as it had grown bored of their bothersome tactics. It wanted out of this confined area and would do anything to get access to that freedom. Not even Wolborg's freezing attacks would stand a chance against this growing force.
Kai opened his eyes, which burned and flickered in the fiery heat of the room.
Knowing the inevitable outcome, Ata quickly grabbed Ray, who had been torn between helping Kai and risking becoming an ill-timed distraction. Calling back Wolborg, Ata moved them back to where Saskia laid and yanked the Chinese blader down.
"You can't help him anymore. Call back Drigger and take Saskia," he ordered.
Ray did as he was told, returning his bit beast to his blade and stuffing it into his pocket. Using his body to protect the unconscious girl, he found himself pushed down to lay flat on the floor beneath the protective slab of metal. Tala wrapped his arm around his shoulder to protect him in turn. What happened next took but seconds but it seemed to happen so slow in Ray's mind.
"Go back to the shadows. Dranzer, Igneous Inhalation!"
Dranzer Demon released its own attack; a fiery beam of dark energy and blazing flames. With a deafening thunder, it barreled towards Kai, the air around it shimmering from its great power and heat but Dranzer, releasing her own energy, effectively countered it. The collected energy from herself as well as Wolborg and Drigger used its light against the evil bit beast's darkness. The two beams met midair in an ear-shattering explosion that almost blasted Kai off his feet. There the two forces remained, locked in a battle of supreme power as one tried to force back the other.
"I could control you. I can control. I am your master, Dranzer Demon. And I will defeat you the same way I have kept you alive. With all my strength. Dranzer, Igneous Blaze Inferno!"
Her great wings beat faster to keep her grounded in the air as with a booming roar, she doubled her attack power, increasingly the radius of her beam more than double and completely destroying the dark beam. The darkness scattered like broken glass and her attack flew straight and true, slamming squarely into the unprotected chest, cracking the surrounding plates as it started to burn its way through. The entire arena started to collapse as the booming cry of defeat rang out from the fanged beak.
Kai watched in complete silence as the molten eyes turned on him, meeting his equally red ones. Behind the anger, malice, and hatred, he saw a small light of something flicker before dying out, dimming from deep within the dark one's soul. Somewhere inside him, he also felt something die out and realized that it was the cursed link that had bound him to this creature since his birth.
"Burn in hell, Dranzer Demon."
The Igneous beam had spread into every crack of the plated skin until the entire body of the phoenix was glowing with light that quickly blinded them all. From behind the bright light, Kai heard a last cry of pain before the entire arena went white, followed by a thunderous boom.
Ata saw the oncoming heat and grabbing the other two he threw himself over them, covering as much as possible as the choking cloud billowed over them, quickly obscuring sight. Hissing as the hot particles stuck to his skin, Ata's mind was only on one thing though it was Ray who voiced their concern.
"KAI!"
There was no response beyond their small shelter and soon his cry was drowned out when the building collapsed, burying them all under tons of wreckage.
"Good heavens!" Mr. Dickenson grabbed onto the side of the truck as an immense quake threw everyone off their feet. The initial quake lasted several seconds but the aftershocks lingered long after.
Rising to his feet, Mr. Dickenson looked around at the damaged done. Several pieces of equipment were ruined and two trucks had fallen into the torn gaps in the ground. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt, only shaken.
"Are you okay, sir?" Raven asked, running over.
"I'm fine. But…" He turned to the scientist who had been attending the monitoring machinery. "Is the machine still functional? What just happened?"
"System is still up and running...Scanning area now..." The man's eyes widened and he checked the readings again but they didn't change. "Temperature core within Abbey sector 8 no longer burns!"
Everyone fell silent at the words, daring to hope that this meant what they thought it meant. Raven herself took a deep breath as the news registered. The scientist confirmed their hopes with his following words.
"Temperature core had been extinguished. Dranzer Demon is gone!"
Another moment of silence before the grounds broke out into cheers and applause, and even some tears. People hugged each other in relief or patted each other in a job well done but Raven's concern was far from over.
"What about the others? What about the bladers and Saskia?"
"We don't know. There's too much interference."
"Sir?"
"Send in rescue units. Move as quickly as possible!" he commanded to the S.W.A.T. team who snapped to attention, minds once more focused on the task at hand. Turning to the young woman, he smiled. "Bring them home, Raven."
"Yes, sir."
Synching her bullet belt, she signaled to the waiting rescue team and they ran towards the ramshackle building.
Tbc…
Read & Review, please.