(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val
Chapter 47
THE SLAYERS
"Who was that on the phone? Xelloss?" Filia asked through a yawn. Her parents had long returned home and gone to bed. Baby too. She and Val were watching bad movies on the TV.
"Yeah, um, I gotta go now, Fil. I'll call and let ya know how it goes," Val said quietly as he unwrapped his long legs and arms and stood up.
"And you're planning on getting Milgasia to take you for a drive at 2:00 in the morning?" Filia smirked.
"Yeah."
"I'll help. He'll open the door for my face," she insisted, using the couch to get up off the floor. "Go on. Get your stuff. I'll grab a coat."
Filia had left before Val could say anything. He was hoping that he'd not have to resort to blackmail tonight. He was having doubts about his ability to stoop that low anymore. This 'cause' was making him feel all noble and all, but his role seemed downright sleazy. Well, he was just a punk. The 'son' of a low-grade crime lord, possibly the bastard son of the most villainous, immoral woman he knew. It was a task he was well suited for, right? And, if Filia could be of use then so be it. So, why then was he feeling so dirty?
"You ready yet?" Filia called from the back door.
Val was still standing in front of the TV. "Yeah."
~*~
The Gas-N-Go was close; it had that going for it. Zel rolled up to an open gas pump. Gourry stopped him from getting out. "Let me take care of it. You better get him fixed up or someone might start to wonder and call the police, huh?"
Zel looked back at Xelloss. His swollen eye and generally roughed up condition could rouse suspicion. In fact, they were all dusty and worn, but even though Gourry's long blond hair was as grimy as Auntie Aqua's mop, he didn't look like he'd been in a fight. "Sure, Gourry. Good idea. I could use some water too. Hey, gang? I'm taking Xelloss to the men's room to clean him up. You ought to too. We'll meet in the fast food part, all right?"
"Just keep your priest's hood over your head and keep your face in the shadows. Yes, like I do, or did. I don't do that so much anymore, do I?" Zel flashed a little smile at his friend. They walked, at times painfully, out of the bathroom, greeting Gourry on his way in.
"Hey, all gassed and ready. Ah, an' here're the keys," Gourry said softly in passing. "Oh, and order me a chocolate shake, extra large with malt, if ya would, Zel? Mebbe some fries and…"
"And whatever else Lina orders, gotcha!" Zel added in Lina's style, then smiled and shook his head. They caught up with the Lina and Amelia at a couple tables, placed their orders, and found seats. Gourry soon joined them and the food and drinks were spread around before anyone said anything.
"I hope the old lady made it out," Gourry mumbled at last.
"Oh, I'm sure she did!" Amelia said full of hope.
"Actually, I am too," Zel agreed. "She and her sister are wise old women that survive everything. I'm sure she had her own escape route planned, just like she knew we were coming."
"I'm glad you said that, Zelgadiss. It makes me feel better," Amelia smiled a bit, and then closed her eyes.
Lina looked sideways at Xelloss who had been very quiet. "You know, I don't think anyone could have stood up to Gaav any better," she said kindly.
He shrugged his shoulders. "Doesn't matter, though. The contract's still open. We'll meet again soon."
Lina didn't like this disheartened version of Xelloss. He needed to talk, and it was going to up to her to get him going. "So… was all that stuff true? Was Gaav really one of your stepfathers? One nod for yes will do. Thanks. Why haven't you ever told us that? Val especially! Say, how does that work? He musta been married to two women at once, eh?"
Xelloss smiled grimly, "I was as surprised as you. I didn't know until I saw his eyes, and his eyebrows. As I said, he'd changed a lot, appearance-wise, and I hadn't seen him since I was only… pretty young." He glanced up at Zel, who was watching him intently. He figured that Zel had been doing some quick computations and arriving at the same inconclusive conclusions Lina was, plus the potential Val link. "I just kept thinking that they looked like a couple of mating caterpillars--his eyebrows, Lina-- and it took my mind off my troubles!"
But Zel remained mute. Let him keep his secrets tonight, at least.
Martina chose this moment to blunder in ranting at Xelloss, "YOU! You're one of THEM! Some evil henchman for the…"
Lina slapped a hand over the girl's mouth so fast it made her head spin. "Shuddup! Haven't you done enough damage for one night? Now, keep your voice down, or I'll hav'ta silence you forcefully. Got that? One nod for yes… Good. Now sit down!"
Martina was shaking with rage. She could barely contain herself long enough to hiss at him, "SSSSSSIN-di-cate! And you're a priest, too? I suppose with some kinda celibacy rule, right?"
Xelloss painted on a half-smile and answered, "Yeah, I'm afraid it's true."
"You LIED to me! I…I'll never love anyone AGAIN!" Martina wailed and ran out the door, crying.
"What about Mr. Zangalus?" whispered Amelia, certain that she had that couple right.
But Gourry was just shaking his head, "It looks like that was a real shock to her, huh?"
"I'll say!" cried Amelia. "But look how sad Mr. Xelloss is now! That awful Miss Martina! He doesn't have to be part of the syndicate! It's not too late! End your evil ways and become the priest I know you are destined to become!" She stood arms outstretched about to break into song.
"Um, even if you ask…" Xelloss smiled faintly.
Gourry gently pulled Amelia back to her seat and said in Xelloss' defense, "Come on, it's not like Xelloss WANTED to be born an evil, despised syndicate dude." He smiled, knowing that he was right this time.
Amelia frowned at him, "Mr. Gourry, what are you saying? The syndicate is the natural enemy of all who follow the path of justice and honor, of all who live! The syndicate causes terror and damage for no reason, over-throwing governments, fixing oil prices, and drug running! We can handle this without Mr. Xelloss being one of them! It makes him just as horrid as them!"
Xelloss cringed then looked beseechingly at her, "Please don't say that! I'm not as bad as all that…"
" Oh, I know, that, Mr. Xelloss. You can be a wonderful person full of hope and happiness. You can stop those despondent 'end of life' thoughts! I know, let's sing songs to cheer you up! Let's see, "Life is WOOOOOON-derful, for those who CAAAAAAAAAARE…"
Lina looked a bit sick and turned to Zel, "That could get to anybody…"
Xelloss' head sank to the table. Gourry took pity on him and everyone else, and, since he was closest, pushed Amelia back into her seat, "SHHHHH, he's got a headache, Amelia."
"Oh, okay, I'll stop singing then…So Mr. Xelloss tell us what's going on, then. You just let yourself get all beat-up by that awful man. You can't possibly be expected to keep taking that kind of punishment. And who is that Hell Master guy he was yelling about?" Amelia cried out insistently. She wanted answers!
Xelloss didn't budge. Zel was staring disconsolately out the window and checking his watch. Lina sighed wearily, "I don't think he's going to tell us anything more, Amelia."
~*~
Filia insisted that she preface their visit to Milgasia with a phone call. That was a good idea. The Cephied clan leader was unhappy to be disturbed in the wee hours of the morning/night, and it took some pleading on the young woman's part to get him to agree to speak with them.
Val was visibly uncomfortable as he sat in the man's Spartan living room on the thin, worn couch.
"SO? What is the problem that couldn't wait until the morning, the sun-lit morning?" Milgasia growled.
Val cleared his throat and looked the man directly in the eyes, "I need ya, that is, I'm askin' you to take me to the Katahto Mountains, now, immediately and, ah, help Lina find some information that's stored up there."
"No."
"It's very important that we do this, MR. MILGASIA. Our friends just tried to get it someplace else and… they got attacked by Gaav and are tryin' to out-run 'em and get this stuff before he kills them! Without that stuff, they can't destroy the syndicate! That's what we're tryin' ta do! But if Gaav stops them… they're on their way now! Xelloss called from a cellphone and there were sirens screamin' in the background and he said things were a mess…" Val explained rapidly, desperately trying to convey the importance of the mission.
"Xelloss!" the man spat venomously, "You had me listening until you mentioned his name. Of course it's a catastrophe, with that kid involved. It's no wonder he's led his closest friends into some disastrous situation. And now you want me to risk my life as well? AND turn over the most important data, data that's cost the lives of countless men and women to collect, to… to… that base creature? Val, I told you to stay away from him. This is why. He is no good, and will lead you all to your deaths. That is the way of the syndicate. Corrupt the good, destroy the incorruptible."
Val considered the words a moment, It wasn't Xelloss they all followed, it was Lina. We're doing it fer her, not just fer Chaos Kid or Zelly boy or anyone. But, 'corrupt'? Xelloss was becoming a priest. Sylphiel's father believed in him. Amelia's father believed in him enough to lend his dearest daughter to the cause. He was a goofy kid with and ugly past, but a good heart. That he was sure of. Well, he wanted to kill his mother and Gaav too, but who wouldn't?
"You're wrong about Xelloss, Sir. He's workin' to free himself from Zelas and me from Gaav and to return that Wolfpack Island place to you folks. The Mayor, the head shrine guy, that doctor dude, the police chief, they all believe in him. But he needs that information. Give it to Lina, Luna's entrusted her with its care and delivery," Val nearly begged.
"No, even with all that you've said; I cannot release that information to a bunch of unprotected kids, one of which is an avowed syndicate member. Now go, Val. Call him back and tell them to return to Seyruun and safety."
Val knew that he couldn't do that. He would not let down his friends like that. He would have to take the risk of losing his future as well to save the world. "Maybe you should have a look at this first, before you give me your final decision."
Val handed Milgasia a worn envelope from his black leather jacket pocket. Milgasia opened it and withdrew the folded paper. His hand holding the birth certificate trembled, his face paled, "Did HE give you this?"
Val nodded. GODS! Was it true? Was it even possible?
Milgasia handed him back the paper, and without looking him in the eye, picked up the phone.
Val couldn't hear the conversation, but he figured this was where the plan backfired. Milgasia would check with the hospital, verify the bogus document, and send him, Val, packing. That's when he noticed that Filia was standing in the room. He hadn't noticed her at all coming into the house. He thought she'd gone home. Great. Now she would be witness firsthand to his humiliation about to come.
His eyes met hers as he shook his head. He didn't know what to say to her. Her disappointment in him was plain.
"Oh, Val," she whispered and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Filia, ah, I'll be leavin' the settlement soon. Thanks for everythin' an' I'm sorry to have drug ya into this mess," he said folding her, he knew, in his last embrace. He knew she'd never clasp him close to her again, either in her heart or with her arms. He'd lost her forever. Well, it was a risk he had to take, right?
~*~
They all followed Zel's eyes to the view. Even in the darkness, the highest point, known as Dragon's Peak, was visible. To get there, they would need a road map of the area, something Xelloss didn't have.
"Zel? Time to move on, huh?" Lina prodded him with a finger to wake him up.
Zel nodded and rose, fatigue marring his sensitive eyes, "Yes."
Gourry stood also and offered to drive for awhile.
"So, what about Martina? It's late to just dump her in a pit like this, isn't it?" Zel muttered.
"I vote to leave her," Lina said, giving Amelia a 'don't you dare disagree with me' look.
"That won't be necessary," snipped Martina, returning from using the payphone. "I'll find my own way! I have a job in town in my Aunt's restaurant. I have to WORK unlike little Miss Princess Amelia. Oh, there's my ride now!"
Martina left in earnest.
"That was easier than I expected," Zel sighed and pushed open the door.
Lina stood by the fork in the road on the edge of town staring up at the peak. "We need a guide."
Zel folded his arms. They had been kicked out of the car and told to 'settle their differences' before getting back in. Gourry left the motor running, using up gas, just so they'd hurry up. "We should just go! How difficult can it be to get up there?"
"Spoken JUST like a MAN, Zel! A stupid, pig-headed man who hates to ask for directions. I'm going to go back to the service station and ask, if I have to walk the entire way ALONE!"
Zel stood wide-eyed, rolling her accusation around in his mind, 'Just like a man!' She said it like I had a disease or something!
Lina swirled around and stomped off into the darkness and POW! PLUNK! she ran headlong into a kid about her size and landed on her rear end. Gourry and Amelia got out of the car to see what was going on.
"Oh…" Lina moaned, raising her hand to her head.
"It's just a little boy!" cried Amelia.
Lina noticed that one of the amplifying bracelets was missing. She furiously scrabbled around the ground looking for it, when Gourry grabbed the boy. "It's pretty late for a kid to be out. Hey, I know you! You're Joey's friend! Hey, everybody it's okay, he's my brother's friend ef-something!"
Lina's attention was distracted by the bracket peeking out of the kid's pocket, "Why, the little THIEF!"
"THIEF?!" the kid cried out. "I, ah, just needed a ride out of town. I was staying with a cousin but…things didn't work out. I know my way around here good. Maybe if you promise to take me back to Seyruun, I'll help you out. And, ah, the name's Phil. Hi, Gourry!"
"The car's crowded already," Zel said curtly. He wanted to tough it out alone.
"Well, I do have a map…" Phil confessed. He jumped a bit as Lina striped him of his stolen merchandise, while she made a dive at the map as well.
"Gimme!" screamed Lina. But he clearly wanted something in return. "Okay, Amelia! Give him some money for a bus out of town. Oh, I don't know, $20 ought to do!"
Phil happily accepted the money and waved them on.
"Don't you think it was kinda odd, him being right there when we needed him. I mean it's 3:00 in the morning!" Amelia whispered to Zel, who was pouring over the map in his hands using a tiny penlight Amelia had stashed in her purse.
"Odd doesn't cover it. Suspicious would, but I'm frankly too tired to care," Zel sighed and called out to Gourry, "Take the next turn right, then right hard up the hill."
~*~
"Get whatever you need. We go in ten minutes," was all the tall, handsome man said as he left the room for another.
Val lost his balance and stumbled back into the bookcase behind him, carrying Filia along and mashing her into his chest. What had Milgasia just said? We're going?
OOMPH!
"God, Val! When did you become such a klutz? Or are you trying to make more out of this 'comforting a friend' hug?" she asked with one eyebrow raised, but didn't really try to free herself.
"Oh, ah, sorry 'bout that. I was ah… must be tired. So, I'll walk ya back to the house," he said shakily, guiding her to her feet and to the door. He did keep an arm around her. He knew good karma when he felt it!
~*~
Martina jumped into the back of the cab and yelled, "Do you know the road to the top of that peak?"
The driver shook his head, "No, Ma'am, I can getcha to the mountains, but I gots no cause to drive them roads in the dark!"
"Move it then!" she ordered.
~*~
The winding road was treacherous in the dark and the wisps of fog blinded them when the car sank into dips. The map was okay, and, if they hadn't just happened to pass up one the cross roads or markers (which would make them hopelessly lost), they were only half an hour from their destination—whatever that was.
Amelia and Xelloss were asleep.
Lina and Zel were nervous wrecks as they helped spot markers and decipher map details for Gourry in order to prevent an actual car wreck. Lina had the window rolled down and was half hanging out, "You're over the lane line, again!" she shouted to Gourry. To herself she worried, We'd better not be lost…
~*~
"This is where I stop," declared the worn cab driver.
"Ooooh, I have to get up there tonight!" Martina wailed out the open window and shaking her fist at the man.
"What if I said I could guide you?" asked a young-sounding voice outside the vehicle. "I know exactly where to go. I'd be happy to show you. Their car was too crowded, Lina said, so they left me here… alone…" sniff '
"That's terrible, a terrible thing to do to a little boy. Hop in. I'll drive, if you tell me which turns to take," grumbled the driver.
"So…you don't like Lina? Humph! I like you already! Hi, I'm Martina."
"Good to meet you. I'm… just call me Phil," he smiled innocently. That always worked well.
"I'll tell you right up front, I can't pay you for the help, but I can promise you future royalties from the CD I'm making…with the Slayers, you know," Martina shouted with maniacal certainty. She then mumbled under her breath, "Though I can't for the life of me figure out how we're going to do this up there at this hour…"
~*~
"This should be it. Last turn coming up. Unless of course we're hopelessly lost…" Zel said in a low voice to Gourry driving beside him.
Gourry slowed as they passed a sign saying 'Vista Point— turnout 100 feet-- Valley of the Dragons'. Sure enough, there was a turn and a parking lot with viewing telescopes and a placard describing the area. A simple map pointed out the famous Dragon's Peak, looming to their right, and the valley. The 'dragons' these days were nesting condors, the largest birds of prey on their continent.
"It says here that in the morning we could see hundreds of birds catching the warm updrafts and soaring over the valley," Amelia made out using her tiny penlight.
"Well, it's too damned dark and misty to see anything. So, now what?" groused a tired and cranky Lina to a tired yet patient-looking Xelloss. He was thinking how glad he was that they'd thought to stop and feed her first. "We just stand here in the dark and wait for…"
"Helicopter!" Zel said. "I hear one coming from… over there! See anything? A light maybe, Gourry? Xelloss, could it be Gaav or Val?"
"Hard to say, little brother, but if it gets closer we might be able to make out the Seyruun logo. Damn, I have to clean my contacts. Everything's getting blurry. They're not made to be worn this long," Xelloss grumbled and stalked back to the car to change them.
When he returned, Lina asked, "So what is this place really? What's up here besides birds?"
"Ah, Lina, good question," Xelloss smiled. "This is a secret Cephied clan land grant which the syndicate has yet to take away from them. But, what with Gaav working from Atlas City, Zelas from Seyruun and Hell Master from Sairaag…"
"Hell Master! That's the guy Gaav was so worried about, huh?" Lina asked smugly. She'd just extracted information from Mr. I've-Gotta-Secret, and she was proud of herself.
"Ah… yes…him…"
"And he accused you of working for him. But you are working for Zelas, right? So what's going on?" Lina pressed harder for more answers. Like a starving animal at times, Lina could only nibble at tasty tidbits for so long. Eventually she needed and entire meal, a seven-course one with all the extras!
Gourry had been straining to see the helicopter, which Zel had claimed to hear. No one else had heard it, but they all had acknowledged Zel's superior hearing from the past, and so, gave credence to his words. Gourry's vision was like that. His vision was in no way diminished by hours of reading too many books. For that reason, he was the first to spot the flying white spot.
"There! It's coming this way! I see a light-colored blob…with a smudge on the side. Hey! It's flashing some kind of a signal! Write this down, Zel! Let's see… long, long, short, short…" Gourry continued reading the tiny blinking light to the others, until they could read it as well.
Xelloss shook his head, "Too bad I never was a boy scout and learned Morse Code..."
"But Gourry was!" grinned Lina.
Gourry turned to Zel, who was writing down the rest of what had been said, "Then it just repeats from here on…" Zel began.
"Ah… it's Val. It's the 'tiny, shiny wings, I will follow you' part of that song, Lina!" Gourry smiled triumphantly.
"OKAY! Good job Gourry!" she grinned in return and clapped his soundly on the back.
Xelloss nodded, "Lina, power up those amplifiers and call him back!"
Xelloss stood in the center of the parking lot and did something, because suddenly his staff glowed and a bright red light emanated from the ruby orb. Zel herded the others out of the way, while Lina called out in a BIG VOICE and Xelloss glowed with the flares on his staff. In that way, the helicopter was guided to the empty parking lot without incident. While the machine hovered a few feet off the ground, Zel placed a few calls, notifying Rezo, the Mayor, and McGywn of the safe arrival of Milgasia.
Milgasia leaped from the helicopter to the group standing off at the side then waved the pilot to take off with the other two passengers.
Xelloss stepped forward to greet him, "It's been…only a week? Seems like a long time, Milgasia."
"Yes, but not long enough, Xelloss," Milgasia frowned down at the priest-clad kid.
"Let Lina see the books, all the evidence that's been collected. Hey, it's Hell Master's idea, not mine! But it'll be our job to keep it out of his hands, eh?" Xelloss smiled placidly.
"And if I refuse?" Milgasia asked, concern written across his brow in magic marker.
"Something other than negotiations…" Xelloss growled menacingly, which startled Amelia so much that Lina had to silence her with a glare.
Milgasia looked over at Lina and back to Xelloss, then nodded, "Very well…"
~*~
"…I mean, he doted on me all the time! I had to change schools to get away from him, he was coming on a bit too strong, if you get my meaning…" Martina smirked and winked over at the captured…ah, captivated audience of Phil.
"And now he's come back for me and guess what? He's some priest or something with celibacy vows and, get THIS, he's a member of that hoodlum outfit, that vile syndicate bunch!" she whispered so loudly that even the driver could hear her.
"You don't say?" the boy said warily, sweat dropping as she snuggled closer to him.
"But, enough of him…How old did you say you were?" she grinned.
"Well, ah… I didn't…Oh, look! We're almost there! Do you see the lights?" Phil pointed out to the driver hastily and readied himself to hop out.
~*~
Milgasia reluctantly led Lina along a path illuminated by the dim beam of his flashlight. "The entrance to the offsite storage facility is hidden here, through this cave."
"I think you have something of value to us, LINA INVERSE!" shouted a rough voice nearby.
"SAYGRAM!"
Xelloss held his syndicate staff as he would his karate bo and stepped onto the path between Gaav's general and Lina, "I will fight Saygram. Go both of you! Hurry Lina!"
Lina nodded and ran to catch up with the head clansman.
~*~
The cab pulled up to the entrance to the parking lot, "This is where I stop. That'll be $12, plus tip, lady!"
Phil was out. Martina ransacked her purse for the money, "This is all I have, take it!" She flung a bill at him and flew out of the cab.
He unfolded the bill. "Five bucks, figures! I'm outta here," he grumbled and sped off into the darkness leaving his cheap fare to her own devices.
Martina could see very little of what was going on beyond the helicopter, but she did see Lina and some tall, good-looking blonde dashing off toward the cave's entrance. "Humph! I'd better see what they're up to!" she muttered to no one in particular, and hurried off to the cave.
Xelloss was countering the larger man's moves effectively, but he was no fighter. His plan was to keep the goon busy until Lina was done, then get the hell out of there. That's when he noticed a boy, a short, dark-haired boy out of the corner of his eye, NO! Couldn't be! No, not him… HERE!
That small distraction gave Saygram the break he needed to call in reinforcements. Before Xelloss was aware of it, two more of Gaav's minions were bearing down on Zel, Amelia, and Gourry.
~*~
"Sure is dark in here," Lina said to cover her rising fear. She hated slugs and other slimy things, though no one but Zel knew that about her… so far. She wanted to keep it that way, but this place oozed slime. "EEK! Something's got me!" she cried out and whacked away at the offending object.
SLAP!
"OUCH! Lina! That's MY hand!"
"Martina! You idiot! Beyond idiot! What are you doing here! Let go and go back NOW!"
"B-b-but it's sssssso daaaaark!" wailed the green-haired girl.
Milgasia stopped in his tracks. "It's too late. If she goes back now, she'll get lost and probably fall to her death. For now, you'll have to stay close or get lost forever…
"… too late …"
Lina froze in her tracks, "TOO LATE????"
Milgasia looked down at the two terrified girls and turned the corners of his mouth upward, some, "Just kidding."
Lina frowned, "Grrrr, just get on with it!"
Milgasia replied casually, "I can see why Xelloss puts so much faith in you." He didn't explain why. Instead, he asked her, "Why do you suppose I'm helping you?"
Lina became more relaxed now that they were talking and the cave appeared drier and less slippery, "Well, I know you and Xelloss aren't friends, but…"
Milgasia sighed then said, "Because I'm afraid of him…and his connections and what they are capable of destroying."
He then told her the story, which Lina remembered from Filia's rant that day, ages ago, when Zel was sick and Xelloss was about to be. Filia had dumped the revelation on them all about how the clan was snookered out of Wolfpack Island and that it was Xelloss' fault. She must have memorized it by rote, because Milgasia told it identically, altering no details.
"Yeah, yeah, I heard it all, but Xelloss just learned about it from Filia last month. He was very disturbed about it. Yes, really! He has promised to give it all back to you, when this is over, you know. Yeah, I BET you didn't know that about him. He's very sad inside, but goofy and smart, just a kid, ya know? You might try actually talking to him sometime," she said meaningfully. She didn't like to be judged by her cover either!
Milgasia said nothing. Maybe he was pondering Lina's words, or just trying to recollect where they were headed. Materializing out of the gloom was the bent form of an old woman.
"It's the old lady!" shouted Martina!
Lina's heart leaped She DID make it out alive then!
~*~
Zelgadiss and Amelia could debate and win word-play battles hands down, but this fight was mute and getting physical. Gourry was a pretty good shot with a rifle, picking off rats at the dump, but he didn't have a rifle, and these rats were bigger than what he was used to. What they had were two swords, fencing training, and courage, oh yeah, and a janglly priest's staff. In short, they were mediocre fighters, certainly not killers, with a lot of heart. The three kids were up against trained thugs with weapons of mass destruction, who had orders to hold, but not kill, the kids until the important data was recovered.
The stand-off was uneasy. Zel and Gourry kept Amelia between them and the overlook fence. If a goon approached too close, Gourry would take a swipe or two until they backed off. Once, Amelia batted one of Saygram's minions hard over the head with the staff, "Yes! Its time we SHOWED THEM how powerful JUSTICE is!"
~*~
"Auntie Aqua! I came here like you told me! I need to collect all the evidence fast, just so me and my friends can survive out there!" Lina cried out.
The old woman smiled, "Just what I'd expect you to say… Let's go now."
As they clustered near filing cabinet lit by a single overhead, bare light bulb, Lina pointed and asked, "Is that it?"
Milgasia whispered to Lina, "Yes, go ahead. I'll keep the meddling Martina girl out of the way. There's a single notebook of discs, which hold the evidence against the syndicate going back to D.K. Aqua-- before he died. It includes updates by your father, Laurence, your sister, Luna, and myself."
Lina began stuffing her coat pockets with discs and shook her head, "So tell me, why did Gaav turn against the syndicate? Do you know?"
Milgasia nodded and offered an explanation, " Once there were three brothers of wealth. The eldest, D.K. Aqua, was an ancestor of the shrine caretaker of the same name. The youngest was named Gaav, just as his namesake is called today. The middle brother was Shabrinigdo. They were unhappy sharing the vast company holdings, and so they fought.
"In the end, D.K. Aqua used his superior power to defeat Shabrinigdo, divesting him of his fortune and splitting it up amongst his descendants-- some of whom you've heard of, like the Red Priest, Zelas, and Xelloss and Zelgadiss' connections through their parents. D.K. Aqua then imprisoned Shabrinigdo in an undisclosed place.
"He sent Gaav to live with the Cephied clans where D.K Aqua's influence was strong. The intention was to rob Gaav of his evil connections, because he was still young and impressionable. But Gaav's twisted mind and crude methods seemed to reborn over and over reappearing in his progeny, until his darkened soul was reborn into the low-life, small-time criminal boss you met last night; a man filled with hatred for the syndicate consortium."
Milgasia hardly finished his sentence before he was interrupted by the man himself, "YOU! Yuh protect that girl? She's sent by Hell Master, that makes yuh allied with HIM!"
Milgasia stepped back and glared at the giant man in the dirty trenchcoat, then answered, "NO!"
"Why do protect Lina, then?" Gaav roared in frustration.
"So she can go on living," Milgasia said simply. He carefully worded his answer so as to conceal her actual purpose.
Gaav backed down a bit, "I see then, you give me no choice. We restart the war of the brothers!"
While the two men talked shop, Auntie Aqua maneuvered Lina and Martina to the exit route. She forced a flashlight into Lina's hands telling her, "Follow the glow-in-the-dark plastic stars on the foot path, you'll not get lost!"
Lina and Martina ran like scared rabbits, found the cave exit, and raced out to find their friends in mortal danger. Martina frantically looked for a safe hiding spot, and, spying the boy, Phil, behind a rock, fled to his side and hid.
Amelia was crying out, 'Taste the fists of JUSTICE!', while Gourry and Zel simultaneously landed blows to one of the thugs.
"VICTORY!" she cheered.
Another goon jumped behind Amelia, and before Lina could shout out a warning, he'd knocked the cheerful girl to the ground.
Ooooph!
Lina growled under her breath, "That was low. I wish Sylphiel was here to help her!"
Milgasia saw Amelia take the blow as he exited the cave mouth. He rushed to her side, administering first aid. Xelloss, who was still holding off Saygram, heard Amelia's cry and turned to look— that was a big mistake. Saygram knocked the wind out of him, and he fell and rolled out of sight.
Saygram advanced on Lina, pulling out his concealed gun.
CRACK!
He pistol-whipped her, sending her careening into the rocky cliff. Lina groaned as her knees folded and she slid to the ground. She could still move her hand. She felt out a fist-sized rock, and when he'd closed in on her again, she slammed the rock into his face, knocking him out. Xelloss had crawled over to Lina to protect her, but it seemed she had just saved them both!
But he was unable to thank her before Gaav burst onto the scene and pulled the trigger. A bullet passed through Xelloss' left shoulder and out the front. Xelloss automatically pressed his right hand over the wound to stop the flow of blood.
The huge man reached down and yanked Xelloss to his knees. Xelloss lolled his head toward Lina and croaked, "You did well, Lina!"
Gaav sneered into the boy's pained face, "I'm impressed, even with serious wounds, that yuh is still talkative."
Xelloss forced a smile, "Although this time it'll take me a while to recover from what you just did!"
"Exactly right! Now accept defeat and tell me Hell master's plans. WHAT IS HE UP TO?" Gaav roared in his face.
Xelloss gasped at the noise and searing pain, "They are…"
Gaav tightened his grip, "Yes!"
Xelloss closed his eyes, took a deep, shuddering breath, and looked toward the boy, hiding with Martina in the distance. He glanced down at his hand and noticed his own blood seeping between his fingers, then quipped, "… a secret!"
His purple eyes closed and he lost consciousness.
Zel and Gourry couldn't see exactly what had happened, but a feeling of dread washed over them both. Xelloss was out of sight, blocked by Gaav's huge back against a dark jumble of rocks. They had heard a gunshot, his voice, but now…nothing.
Gaav snarled and dropped the limp form. He turned his deadly gaze onto Lina nearby and strode her way, "Now then, I may not know Hell Master's plans, but I will stop him!"
Zel and Gourry had been transfixed by the surreal play being acted out before them. Gourry, as if released from a spell, sped toward Lina, knocking a minion out of the way.
"L I N A!" Gourry screamed, worried to death for her.
Gaav chuckled humorlessly, "And I'm impressed by how yuh all have been able to confound mah plans so well up until now. Sorry… but now yuh must die!"
Gourry stood over Lina, drawing his sword, "I'm that girl's protector! I can't stand by and let you do that!"
You idiot! You can't fight that guy! Oh, well, if we're going to die, might as well go out protecting Lina, eh? So, I'll just make the count two idiots, then… Zel thought to himself as he ran to Gourry's side.
"Me neither! I can't just go along with what you're planning. I have no syndicate ties to protect, like Xelloss. Just my best friends!" Zel snarled in a strained voice.
"Ridiculous! Yuh risk yur lives when yur know yuh can't win!" Gaav spat.
"SHUT UP!" Zel cried in a mass of nerves and anger. "We are fighting for our lives here!"
"I see…just as I am figh'n for mah life against Hell Master's plans. We're not so different, me an' yuh!" said Gaav in an amused tone of voice.
Zel quickly sneaked a sideways glance to Lina and said in a low voice, "Lina, there is no way we can beat this guy no matter what we say. Our only hope is to get you outta here safely! Hopefully Milgasia can call back that helicopter and get you, Amelia, and Xelloss away."
"That's right. Zel and I will buy you enough time to get on board," Gourry agreed, teeth clenched in determination.
Zel and Gourry attacked, swords drawn with all their skill. Gaav flung Gourry against a rock wall as if he were a rag doll. Next, Zel received similar treatment.
Meanwhile, Milgasia's first aid was helping Amelia. Her eyes were open and she was attempting to sit up.
Zel clutched his ribcage and wheezed as he stood his ground against the evil man. Gourry shook the rubble out of his hair and scrambled in place beside his buddy.
Gaav glared down at them, "All good things must come to an end!"
Amelia pushed Milgasia away whispering, "Check on Lina and Xelloss!"
She picked up the largest rock she could manage, silencing her groans, and threw it with all he strength at Gaav's head. It connected with a wet
THUNK!
"JUSTICE will ALWAYS triumph!" she cried.
He hardly registered the offense (He was often considered to be one in a long line of thickheaded Gaavs). Instead, he blinked, scattering his eyebrows about for a few seconds, then said, "Listen ta me. As long as Lina knowingly aids Hell Master's plans—which are the source of upheaval and chaos in the world—then yur good friend is a villain as well!"
Amelia choked, Lina wouldn't do that, would she? No, no, she doesn't even know what that guy's plans are!
Gaav used her moment of hesitation to advance on her and Zel, who was nearest her. Zel dove in front of Amelia, shielding her from the brutal beating aimed at her, taking it himself. He collapsed bleeding from open contusions to the face and chest.
"Oh, Zelgadiss!" she cried falling at his side and raising his head to her lap. She smoothed his wiry hair off his pale, scarred face and bent over, clasping him tightly. She heard Gourry attack Gaav, only to be knocked into the rock pile with a sickening SLUNK! . When she sat up, her petal-pink and white top was soaked in Zel's blood.
"No matter how 'JUST' yuh may consider yur cause or yurself, in the face of overwhelming power, yur is helpless!" Gaav laughed pitilessly down at the wounded group.
~*~
"I can't believe he did that to us!" Filia spat at nobody in particular.
Val had long worn-out his curse-rich vocabulary describing Milgasia-- his ancestry, what he could do with his various body parts, and where he was destined to wind up, not to mention descriptive passages about how he could do it. Now Val sat taut with more pent-up aggression than he knew what to do with. But he just had to sit. The pilot adjusted his headphones and ignored the outbursts. He was to circle until there was only enough gas to return or land again when notified by Milgasia. He just had to sit. Just sit. And sit. So he sat…
~*~
"What's this?" Gaav growled, noticing that his gun was out of ammunition and his pockets were empty. He grumbled and growled about the 'problem with hired help', then slumped off to the van parked further down the road.
"Looks like we did it," Gourry groaned, as he and Zel used Milgasia's flashlight to wave down the helicopter.
Milgasia was arguing with Amelia and Lina, "You both must get in. I'll take you to safety…"
"No way am I gonna leave my friends in the lurch, buster!" Lina yelled pushing his hand off her shoulder. She remained kneeling by Xelloss, adjusting his shirt.
"Besides, Mr. Xelloss is REALLY hurt!" Amelia cried from the rock pile. "H-He's bleeding like mad! I…I don't know if there's a pulse even!"
This time Val jumped 15 feet out of the hovering Helicopter to where Lina, Amelia, and Milgasia were arguing over Xelloss.
"There's NO TIME for this," Val growled as he scooped up Xelloss and stumbled back to the waiting ride.
Milgasia shook his head and caught up with him, shouting directions, "I'll hold him, you get in first and together we'll…"
His voice was cut off my Martina's hysterical screaming, "Where's the little boy? He's GONE!" She clutched at Amelia and dragged her off to look for Phil.
Gourry had limped over to Lina and wrapped her in a hug, "You should go…"
Zel shouted, "Too late! Gaav's coming back!"
"Everyone, RUN!" Gourry shouted. Seeing that Lina was hurting, he simply picked her up and starting running—no apologies made. Lina blushed to think he'd automatically sought to protect her in such an intimate grip. Zel caught up to Amelia and Martina and pushed them ahead. "Gaav's coming to kill us, run into the cave!"
The helicopter took off with its wounded passenger, Xelloss, Milgasia, Val, and Filia, and disappeared into the darkness.
Gaav aimed his weapon, preparing to eliminate all witnesses, when a blast from a semi-automatic weapon lit up the dark from atop a large boulder outcropping. Multiple bullets ripped through Gaav, reducing his trenchcoat to shreds and his body to a bloody pulp. Could that be the end? How could such an abrupt, sudden moment end everything?
The four fleeing kids froze in their footsteps. "Ohmigod!" gasped Lina. "Th… that kid just blew Gaav apart!"
Zel was glad the body was shrouded in darkness, he felt woozy enough as it was.
The kid called 'Phil' stood grinning down at them, triumphant at his achievement accomplished with minimal activity. Then he spoke, and sent the kids rising hopes crashing down. "Nobody recognized me but Xelloss. I'm Phibrizzo, but you can call me Hell Master!"
"W…w…What? Another syndicate underworld leader! Oh!!!!!" cried Martina, tearing at her hair.
Lina mumbled, "And Xelloss didn't let on….he didn't warn us..."
Phibrizzo continued to speak to the dying, if not totally dead, Gaav, "I couldn't tear the low-life, gangster thug out of you, Gaav. You know that you never could live up to the demands of true syndicate leadership. And I doubt you'd swear loyalty to me now…which means the only course left to me is to kill you outright."
He blasted out the man's brains, splattering the rocks with flesh and blood.
Phibrizzo turned to Lina, smiling, and told her conversationally, "I let it slip out to Gaav's riffraff that I was planning something that involved Lina Inverse."
Gourry had released the squirming, fuming Lina and now she exploded, "So you sent Xelloss to point us in the right direction and mess up Gaav's plans FOR YOU! WE WERE USED AS BAIT TO TRAP THE TRAITOR GAAV!"
Now, deep down she knew that Luna and Xelloss, and to some extent Milgasia, had orchestrated their own plan that overlapped with 'Phil's', but she wasn't about to let on about it to him. She could act the 'personally insulted' role if need be.
Hell Master chuckled at her apparent outrage, "That was one of the reasons …oh, I thought you'd figured that out! Especially Lina Inverse, who has handled the treasured D.K. Aqua files … who can destroy everything and help the syndicate achieve its ultimate goal! And for that, we need you, Lina Inverse. I had hoped that you'd play that final card when you were fighting Gaav…that was a disappointment. I guess you weren't desperate enough…"
Phibrizzo hopped down from his boulder rostrum, ran up to Gourry, and pointed at him, "You'll do!"
Five of his henchmen appeared out of the mists, grabbed poor Gourry and dragged him, kicking and screaming, into a sleek, black limousine, which had been parked out of sight.
"If you want him back… come to Sairaag!" Phibrizzo yelled as he climbed into the car and it buzzed off, leaving Zel, Lina, Amelia, and Martina in shocked silence.
~*~
"Hello?" Sylphiel greeted the lanky dark-haired kid at the door.
"Zangalus," he introduced himself. "Sorry 'bout the hour, but I'm desperate…looking for Gourry. There wasn't anyone at his house…did they go on a trip or something?"
"A trip? I don't know…Gourry's gone for…the weekend, maybe most of the week. I don't know about his family, though… I don't know when he'll get back really, either…" she answered, voice wavering with worry.
Zangalus sank into a chair, "Well wouldn't ya know! There's this crisis about to mess up everything and I have to get him--and Zelgadiss, too--to rally 'round."
He looked so low that Sylphiel sympathized with him. She knew most of her band was involved in a crisis of their own. What if this was part of it? "He might call me though... I'll listen, if you'd like to tell me about your problem?"
He sighed and nodded, "Yeah, thanks… There's some girls starting a revolution, they call it that, with petitions and all? They want to make the fencing team co-ed! Co-ed! That Utena Amazon and scary Umi! Do you know what that means? Do you?"
Sylphiel's eyes narrowed. She was worrying about her dear friends in… were they still in Atlas City? Xelloss seemed to believe it was a life and death situation! And here was this…idiot moaning about his fencing team going co-ed! She smiled to think what Lina's say to him. She shook her head, "No, Zangalus. What does it all mean?"
"They'll kill us! They are REALLY good! The guys will never get into the finals!"
She frowned, "Isn't that good for the team? Doesn't that make the team that much better in the long run?"
"Well…yeah, but… I wanna be in the finals!" he cried.
RING, RING!
"I gotta get that…" she said to excuse herself. Sylphiel picked up the receiver from the entry phone, "Hello, Lahda residence, downtown Shrine… Oh, Zel! Where are you? How are you? Ooh My God! Not him!! WHERE? You want me to meet you WHERE? SAIRAAG? NOW? Okay, I will…I WILL!"
CLICK!
"Zangalus!"
"Sylphiel! A…a…are you all right?"
"No! Do you really want to see Gourry? H…he's been kidnapped and taken to Sairaag! I'm letting my father know I'm going and I have to collect my … oh, I already did that…I'll be right back!" A distraught girl flew out the room leaving a stunned boy in her wake.
Minutes later she returned with her father helping her secure her priestess cloak and handing her a healer's bag. The man was speaking to his treasured daughter in a low voice, instructing her, advising her, and emboldening her as best he could.
"Oh, Father! Gourry, why Gourry? Oh… I don't think I can drive, will you?"
"Of course, I've got the keys right here. Oh, hello?" he noticed the tall boy standing uncomfortably in the room for the first time.
"I just filled my tank…and my 'Howling Sword' is in the trunk. I'd be honored to drive you…"
"Fine, son…Let's get going then…" Nels Lahda muttered as he guided the two kids out the door to greet the dawning of the new day.
(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val