(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val
Chapter 48
THE SLAYERS
Sunday Morning.
"Take him, take him outta here! NOW! Phibrizzo's insane! There's nothing Xelloss can do here but get killed, and he's about half dead already!" a frantic Val cried in anguish. "I'm goin' in…that lunatic has Gourry!"
Dr. Adams had rushed to the scene, and just caught Xelloss' limp body as Val thrust it at him. The valuable staff had been left behind in Amelia's safe keeping. The doctor lowered Xelloss to a waiting gurney, took his pulse, and checked his pupils. Wads of folded cloth had been pressed to Xelloss back and upper chest wounds to control the bleeding. "Val-son, hold up just a second," the doctor called to Val and caught hold of his jacket sleeve. "What can you tell me about Xelloss?"
"Milgasia said, 'Banged up, punched, gunshot to his shoulder and bloodied his hand', I think, and ah, then he fainted,"
RING… RING! Val's cellphone interrupted.
"Ah, obvious face injuries, some head trauma, Zel said on the phone that he'd complained about blurry vision earlier, but maybe that was just dirty contacts…"
RING!
Val had finished ticking off the damage report and then answered his insistent cellphone. "WHAT? Rezo? Now? I…I…I…yeah, I just talked to Zel as he faded away. His cellphone batteries died."
Filia waved wildly, "Where! WHAT?"
Val listened to the phone, and then yelled at Filia, "WOLFPACK ISLAND ASAP!!!!!"
Val returned to his cellphone, "Zel'd come but…he's not here yet! I figure he's still headin' for the shrine here in Sairaag. He was drivin' before we got cut off. I was in the helicopter so I got here first with Xelloss…yeah, but he's hurt bad and is goin' to the hospital…I…I but… Gourry's been kidnapped by that madman Phibrizzo! Lina's in danger, I gotta… Yeah, lot's of police on the way and there's some dudes in black…sharpshooters creepin' 'round…"
Val listened carefully to Rezo's words. There really wasn't much he could offer Lina here, but Zelas was on that island with Rezo, and Rezo needed him, the man trusted HIM.
" All right, I'll be there…You want me to remember 'AutoDial #6'? I will, and thanks," Val screamed over the roar of the beating rotors.
CLICK!
"I'm ON it! You stay with Xelloss, doctor!" Val shouted. Val started to run to the helicopter. Filia was chattering nervously to the doctor, telling him that he might have his hands full soon so he should send Xelloss to the hospital before he tried to run off to Lina-- when Milgasia put a hand on her shoulder and guided her after Val.
Dr. Adams called over two medics to load Xelloss into an ambulance and pulled out his cellphone, "Officer McGywn? Rezo called Val for help at Wolf Pack Island. That's correct. His friends from the clan are heading over via helicopter."
"Okay. I've got officers on the mainland a'ready to close in…You said that the Val boy is one of the clan kids a'goin? Thanks. Yeah, I got his number," the officer snapped.
RING!
"Val? Officer McGywn here. Hold the ride, I'm a'sneakin' on board!"
Val convinced the pilot to wait for McGywn, and then they took off and headed west to Wolf Pack Island, the early morning light to their backs. He was glad Xelloss was gone…in better hands. He didn't hate the guy, he was a good friend, maybe more; it wasn't his fault…but why didn't she look at HIM the way she had looked in that guy's purple eyes? 'Course the guy was dying…she'd probably never looked death in the eyes before…
"He'll be okay, ya know. He's like a cat with nine lives. He's used up four, so he's got at least five ta go," Val said to Filia.
"Four near-deaths that we know of…and, I didn't even trim his hair…" she said sadly and continued to stare out the window as the distant shoreline came into view.
~*~
The rising sun seemed cold and insensitive. How could it ascend on a day like this?
In the back seat, Martina was mumbling incoherently about how she only thought they were going off without her to make a CD, not engaging in some sort of violent gangster war. Nobody paid her any mind, though, not even poor Amelia who'd given up her front seat next to Zel to spare Lina the torture. Amelia was left holding the staves and swords, wishing they were switched with her absent friends. It was so quiet and calm without Xelloss' antics, so cold without Gourry's big, sunny presence! She looked up at Lina's stiff, frozen form. Did she feel it, too? Why wasn't she saying anything? What was wrong with Lina?
Zel didn't have time to worry about her, at least not consciously. He was busy feverishly trying to drive and make status calls on his cell phone simultaneously, not to mention warding off complete exhaustion with will power alone. He was losing, however, and it was becoming apparent in his driving skills. After the second swerve out of his lane that he only barely avoided barreling into a ditch, it was divine intervention that his cell phone batteries finally died, just as he was finishing his phone call to Val. Furiously, he threw the now useless gadget at the car door beside Lina, and it hit the plastic handle and bounced off onto the floor as a testament to his fervor.
Technology was failing him. The computer, his phone--at least his car was still working!
Amelia stared wide-eyed at the back of Zel's chair. He was angry! Everybody was so unhappy! She just felt so scared, so shaken, and there was nobody to comfort her.
A sudden whimper caught her attention. Martina was crying!
"Oh…" Amelia let it out, as well, and the two girls cried together in a much-needed hug.
Lina stared vacantly out a window, right at a point where the sun hit the glass and made a blinding flash. She couldn't think. She couldn't feel. The last sleep she'd had was that wink earlier when she had the dream about Gaav and D.K. Aqua, when she'd leant against…
Clouds rolled out from the vanishing line of the sky and wept rain down upon them. Drops pattered against the windshield and the wipers kicked in with their rhythmic whoosh.
'Sairgaag-5 miles' read a battered green sign. Amelia pointed it out. Zel grunted acknowledgment.
Lina watched the rain splatter itself against her window, drip down in quivering, tortured paths to be flung off at the bottom off the pane. It was gray now, and cold. She was ice and…and she could feel nothing. For the first time, she understood Zel. Sometimes, a feeling is so strong, so confusing, that to unleash it would be as to let a flash of lightening free. It would break her. And so she had to petrify, become stone. Then she wouldn't think about Xelloss bleeding in a helicopter, or Amelia crying in the back seat, or Gourry…
Didn't he just tell her that he was going to stick around forever? Then where was he now? "Why did he have to go and get himself kidnapped!" she said out loud.
"M-miss Lina! How can you say that?! It-it wasn't his fault! He was…"
COUGH COUGH WHEEEZE…
CHOKE CHOKE WHEEZE…
The car came to a puttering halt.
"*@#$%!" Zel cried, and let his head crash onto the steering wheel in utter despair. "#$&*%! There's my karma kicking in…"
"No, that was your car kicking the bucket!" Martina corrected, missing the point as usual.
"Yes, yes! That, too!" Zel cried, pounding the steering wheel.
It was a minor crisis, but everybody was losing it. Martina, Zel, and Amelia all competed vocally trying to give advice as to what to do. Chaos ruled. It was exactly what Lina needed to awaken.
Lina threw open the door, letting a torrent of wind and rain into the vehicle that shocked them all into silence.
"Well, anybody else gonna help me get out and push?"
They all got out in a daze and helped the frighteningly cheerful Lina shove the fallen car out of the middle of the road, into the very ditch Zel had attempted to avoid just prior. "Heave! Heave!"
It only took about five minutes, but it was especially taxing after the previous night. As soon as the hulking nuisance was out of danger, all four kids sank into the muddy, churned-up turf, leaning their backs against the car.
Rain battered them, running down their faces and dripping off their chins. Lina began it. It was a long, maniacal release, starting with depraved laughter. Zel joined in without thinking, and the others couldn't help it, either. Suddenly, tears were pouring down their faces, mingling with the rain. The laughter had become sobbing, a release of the intense emotions they'd been bottling up inside. Eventually, it died down, and they all felt infinitely better.
"Lina! A coffee shop across the highway! Let's get dry and…" Amelia said excitedly.
"Something to eat!" shouted Lina crossing the road before Zel had the car locked.
Exhaustion seeped from every pore, but rolls and coffee were providing everything to mask it but the sleep they really needed.
"Well? What do you think we should do now?" Zel asked seriously. "We won't accomplish anything just waiting around here."
Lina gave him a worried expression, "Hnn? That's right…" and returned to thinking.
Martina smashed her hand on the table, "I've had my innocent heart cut to shreds here!" she said with no small amount of irritation, raising her fist for another smash. "I say we find that little creep Phibrizzo right now and…"
Amelia shook her head sadly, "That's not what we're talking about."
Martina turned her angry gaze on the younger girl, "Then what ARE you talking about?! You're not worried about Xelloss, are you? He's a goner for sure!"
"What? How can you say such a thing, Miss Martina!" Amelia cried out.
"Well, from where I stood, he got shot through the heart and was bleeding to death on the rocks," Martina sniffed.
"Not exactly," whispered Lina. "When Val picked him up, he was alive. There wasn't enough blood on him to have hit his heart…I think it was higher." She looked to the side somber and grim, "Well, Zel, when you think about it calmly," she took a deep breath and crossed her arms over her chest, "We're facing Hell Master Phibrizzo… and he's as powerful in the syndicate as they get. Forget how young he looks, for the time being."
Her order of eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and toast arrived and were placed invitingly in front of her. Her face lit up and she squealed, "Now this is the perfect way to start a morning! This is ALL for me, so no taking any Gourry---" Her voice faltered as she rested her eyes on the empty chair, the one that would be his ordinarily.
"Miss Lina…" Amelia gasped tenderly. "Lina you…"
Zelgadiss held his serious expression without emotion. He hadn't seen Xelloss receive that serious injury. He had no idea. Now two of his best friends were… gone! He couldn't come to grips with it all.
Lina looked downcast, but had more to say, "You see, I don't think going there… is going to save Gourry… And he never said he'd release Gourry safely if I went… either… Which means, if I just show up…" she grasped her mug firmly, "he just might kill Gourry once his purpose has been served. Now look at it from the other way. The safest thing for Gourry as a hostage would be for me NOT to go there." She looked into the mug and caught her reflection staring in disbelief at herself, "So, you see, to just keep on running and never go to Sairaag… would be the smartest thing to do." Lina closed her dispirited eyes and waited.
"So," Zel began in a soft voice belaying gentleness he so rarely imparted, even among his close friends, "You're just going to leave him there?"
Lina hid her eyes with her bangs to further compose herself before saying, "Except the guy is the best bass player a band could have and he promised to be my protector on this trip, after all, so I just can't ignore him."
Amelia had kept her thoughts to herself, especially when Lina's words seemed contrary to how she was feeling, up until now. Jubilant with hope she cried out, "So then, you're saying…"
"I'M GO TO SAIRAAG!" Lina shouted.
"Yes, Miss Lina. You're exactly right!" Amelia jumped up onto her chair and raised her fist high, "Now that we've decided that, let's leave right now!" And with that, she hopped to the floor and ran to the door.
Lina, however, was not finished. She hung her head, unable to meet any of her friend's eyes, then frowned. "Hold it! I'm going to Sairaag alone."
Amelia, Zel, and Martina all gasped, "WHAT?" or "Eh?" And flooded the room with a mood of disappointment.
"A-alone? Miss Lina, did you say alone?"
"It looks like I'm the only one Hell Master wants (and I'm sure as hell not going to let him rope the rest of you into his trap). There's no point in having the rest of you go too."
"You're right," agreed Zel quickly. "None of us had the strength or training to even scratch him." Zel's face fell. Sadly, he knew this was true. "If we went with you, we'd only get in the way."
Amelia's expression turned from one of sorrow to that of anger in an instant, "Mr. Zelgadiss!" For a second, it looked like she might just smack him.
He sighed, and continued talking, ignoring her indignation, "However, if by some miracle Lina IS able to win on her OWN… she'll never let us hear the end of it." He looked down at his hands which were laced with bruises and abrasions, "And…I find that prospect far worse than anything Hell Master might do. That leaves us with only one option—" He peered up at Lina through his messy, wiry bangs and saw two red shocked eyes gawking back at him.
"That's right!" Amelia shouted with determination. "We ALL go to Sairaag! And if we fight with courage and justice, we'll make our hopes come true!"
Zel closed his eyes, cutting off his connection with Lina, "Exactly."
Lina smiled, "Zel…"
But he cut her off, "However, before we do, there's something I want to clear up." He was serious. "Hell Master's objective."
He folded his arms over his chest and said, "Lina, it's clear he wants to have you do something for him. I know that this wasn't all about knocking off Gaav. I know Xelloss switched from working for his mother to Phibrizzo, but that he would never place you in any mortal danger without some knowledge of what you were getting into or without having some way of getting that information to you. Without him here to…beat the story out of… I want you to explain what then…"
Amelia screamed, "WHOA! STOP! We don't have to hear what Hell Master is up to!"
Lina gazed at her sweet friend in wonder, "You don't have to hear it? You, Amelia, Miss Truth and Justice?"
"That's right. Look, we know whatever he's up to it's for no good, right?" Amelia asked.
"Well… I guess so…" Lina mumbled.
Amelia continued, eyes closed and a finger raised to further her point, "And…if I hear what his plan is, then I might have to stop you, Miss Lina. Even,"
Lina, startled at her friend's admission, waited hear her out.
"Even if it means abandoning Mr. Gourry. And I absolutely don't want to do that!"
"I see…" Zel nodded. That was pretty much how he'd felt about it all along. He didn't want to know too much from Xelloss. "Then I don't want to know either. Besides, asking won't affect our enemy either way."
Lina stared at them both, "Are you guys sure about this?"
Amelia answered, "It doesn't matter if we're sure or unsure! We're ALL going to save Mr. Gourry. Isn't that reason enough?" She gave Lina her biggest grin of confidence.
Lina returned a smile at the girl who was growing up right before her eyes, "Amelia…"
Amelia thrust her arm forward, fist toward Lina. Lina nodded and covered the steady fist with her scraped-up hand. Zel stood, and added his on Lina's. All for one, and one for all! In a sudden movement, Martina smashed hers on as well.
"Let's go to Sairaag so I can have my revenge!" To which she added, sheepishly, "And, maybe rescue Gourry, too…"
Standing outside the coffee shop watching the traffic flow by and the rain fall down, Lina stretched and grinned at Zel. "I really gotta do something to get my stress level down before we get to Sairaag."
Zel flinched beneath her ruby gaze. Please don't let it include me…
Lina grinned and flung an arm around him and started to sing,
"'…Just one slip and to hell you go, so ya better not get in my way!'"
Amelia and even Martina, off-key but in rhythm, joined in and stopped traffic. It was a good thing, because one of the cars was carrying their friends.
"Zangalus, stop! That's… LINA!" Sylphiel cried out, rolled down the window of the slowing car and yelled in a very un-ladylike way, "L I N A !"
With the extra manpower Zangalus and Nels Lahda offered, they rolled Zel's car into the nearest gas station, while the girls drove with Sylphiel. The problem turned out to be wet spark plugs and a sorely needed tune-up, which Amelia gladly paid for. Soon they were on their way to the Shrine. Zangalus driving Martina, Lina, and Sylphiel, and Zel driving Amelia and Nels Lahda.
Sylphiel asked Lina seated beside her in the backseat, "What will you do when we rescue Gourry, Lina?"
"Huh? What else? Go home, take a shower, check up on Xelloss and Val and Filia…"
"That's not what I meant. Lina, you once told me that Gourry-dear was just a friend and musician in your band, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I did…"
"Is that still the reason you hang around so much together?"
"Eh?" wondered Lina.
"See, if that's the case, then I…"
Lina was saved from listening to any mushy drivel, by Zangalus' interruption, "So, why was Gourry taken hostage? If that guy's really as strong as you say he is… wouldn't just killing you all have been a lot easier?"
Lina sighed. She was tired of having to be the one with all the answers. Curse that Xelloss anyway for getting out of the explaining part! "The one he's after is me. He wants me to do something for him," she muttered.
"In exchange for Gourry's life?"
Lina thought about her 'dream', where she was almost responsible for enrolling her buddies as Phibrizzo's lackeys and turning over YEARs of incriminating evidence to be destroyed by the syndicate. Her face clouded with anger, "Let's just say that doing what he wants…is the last thing I want to do. Anyway, don't feel like you have to help us. You aren't mixed up in this, Zangalus."
"Heh! Naturally I hadn't intended to come with you. I'll just go after Gourry myself," the dark young man said with the face of a stoic. "I want my fencing team back together and I will fight anyone who gets in my way! That's all I'll say. Besides, I don't really work well in groups…just let me do it my way."
Martina, sitting beside him went all starry-eyed, thinking, He's so cool and nihilistic! That slightly upturned hat…and that stylish trench coat, too! Stop it! STOP IT! she argued to herself and shook her head, You swore you wouldn't trust anyone anymore with your heart again! But still… still… remember the play? He was so romantic…
Sylphiel recognized that 'I've got a crush on you' gaze of youthful yearning. She leaned in close to Lina's ear and whispered, "I've wondered about her taste…"
But Lina cut her off, "Just leave her alone…"
Zel was deep in thought and silent as he concentrated on his driving the 'scenic loop' around the town's centrally located crater. Sairaag. Sylphiel's birthplace. The place my grandfather destroyed and home of the lives he took with him…Lina's father, Sylphiel's birthparents, half the city…The second time I've been here. The first time, Xelloss and I… He felt his chest tighten in pain. Xelloss. That odd guy had really gotten to him. His 'brother' and best friend. He couldn't believe that he might not have survived all this… Xelloss. Gourry…At least Xelloss had had the chance to say 'goodbye' to everyone he cared about, but Gourry… How would he ever be able to face Joey, Chuckie… his mom…?
"You can park over here, Zelgadiss," Nels Lahda pointed out. Zangalus followed them into the semi-empty parking lot. Two firetrucks, one with the letters EMS on the side and three unmarked sedans were visible at the farthermost corner. "There is more support here than you think," he continued as the kids re-joined at the steps to the shrine. "Orders are to stay out of sight. No one knows what's going on or what to expect, but they don't want to spook that Phibrizzo character. I'm going over to speak to someone and see what information I can get you about your friends."
Zel nodded, only his eyes revealing how grateful he was.
They had a problem: they couldn't get in. The shrine was locked up with a complicated series of electronic locking devices. Amelia and Martina watched Zel tinker away, while Lina and Sylphiel walked around looking for another entry point. Zangalus, true to his word, was on his own…someplace.
"Phibrizzo wants me to join him. He thinks that will get Zel and Val, at least, to join also. I'm not sure what edge that gives him, but it must have something to do with their inheritances. He also wants all that information that's been collected against him," Lina confided in her shrine-maiden friend.
"What will we do?" Sylphiel worried, "Even if he releases Gourry, if you give him that data or join him…"
"Honestly, I don't know…" Lina shook her head. "Before I know the true nature of the kind of agreement I'd have to commit to, I'm not sure if I can pull off a lie. But I can't let Gourry be held hostage either!"
"AH HA!" Zel cried with barely contained glee.
"Progress, Mr. Zelgadiss?"
"Yes. I got past the first layer of locks. The door is still sealed by something, but I'm on top of it now…"
"Zel?" Lina asked as she and Sylphiel returned from their unsuccessful tour.
"I just need to figure out the password here…" he muttered.
"How many letters?"
Zel gave Lina a quizzical look, "Eight."
"I got it!" she pushed him aside and typed rapidly on the miniature keyboard.
BUZZ! Entry allowed.
"So what did she type?" Amelia asked Zel, who was smirking.
"GOTOHELL."
"Okay, time for the main course!" Lina shouted.
It was agreed that Zel, Amelia, and Martina would wait outside a few minutes to direct the dark ops, while Lina and Sylphiel snooped around inside. They'd all meet in the main rotunda if the entry hall appeared safe. Zangalus slipped in behind the girls, shadowing their movements.
"Why do you think he's trying to be so sneaky?" Amelia whispered to Zel.
"He's afraid to go it alone, I guess," he shrugged.
"He's so mysterious," Martina sighed.
Amelia and Zel shared a 'Give me a break' thought.
Phibrizzo was seated behind the priest's rostrum. Gourry, bound and gagged by several high-tech, electronically controlled metal manacles, lay at his feet. The powerful syndicate boss seemed pleased and was speaking to himself, "So, you've made it into my temple, have you? I was hoping to have a little fun with you first. But now playtime is over… Lina Inverse."
Lina moved determinedly, keeping up her spirits by focusing on the goal, Gourry, I'm coming to save you! She opened a door to the main hall of the rotunda and…
Phibrizzo's disembodied voice greeted her. "Hello! Welcome to my temple! You've finally made it. I've been waiting a long time for you."
Sylphiel nudged Lina and pointed up at the chief priest's lectern. Zangalus joined the gathering, "Who's THAT arrogant little brat?"
"That's Phibrizzo," Lina growled, her eyes never leaving the kid's face.
"WHAT?!" Zangalus croaked in alarm.
"Heh, heh, heh," chuckled H. M. Phibrizzo with a grin.
Sylphiel looked horror-stricken, "I...It can't be…this child?"
Lina was angry and spat, "He uses his youthful looks to trick people, the jerk… but he has double or triple the power of any other syndicate member we've ever seen."
"I see…" Zangalus muttered. "If YOU say he's that bad, then…"
To Phibrizzo, Lina said, "Exactly… And what's with all of this?" She gestured to the robotic 'henchman' loaded with constraints for many more people.
Phibrizzo smiled showing no concern and waved his hand making a broad movement, "You see, many of my servants aren't here. What with the Middle East crises these days, I need them to watch over my oil holdings. So I brought this along to restrain you, as needed. Too bad Xelloss was hurt. I had looked forward to having him help me here."
"Too bad about that…" Lina growled without sympathy. "And you thought something like this would make me join forces with you?"
Phibrizzo smiled demonically, "Perhaps. However… I prefer to keep you from escaping, nonetheless."
Zangalus spat, "You fiend!"
"Hold it!" Lina cried out. "One more thing before you do that…Where's Gourry?"
"Oh yes! That guy…" the kid yawned and snapped his fingers. A light focused on the form at his feet.
"Gourry-dear!" Sylphiel cried out in anguish.
"Don't worry!" Phibrizzo smiled in her direction. His smile became an evil glare as he added, "He isn't dead…for the moment, anyway."
Lina repeated under her breath, "For the moment…"
"Yes. A living thing locked up without water and food and hope slowly dies. Leave him there too long and…" Phibrizzo began.
"No!!!" Sylphiel wailed.
"You've GOT to be kidding!" Zangalus gasped. Maybe the seriousness of the madness he'd stepped into was finally soaking into his brain.
Phibrizzo smiled, "To save him, you must join me, turn over your friends to me, and give me those discs. That's the only way." His eyes grew wide and bright with insanity.
Zangalus stepped forward, drawing his sword, "Then that simplifies things! I'll slice you in half!" He ran toward the raised lectern and swiped at the grinning kid with his best fencing move. Remarkably, the sword bounced off an invisible, bulletproof glass barrier shielding Phibrizzo.
The annoying boy shook his head at his attacker, "You still don't know how powerful I am, do you? Very well…" He stepped down from the rostrum.
~*~
The helicopter settled on the marked landing pad of the exclusive Wolf Pack Island Resort. It was dark. Mist hung over the island like a damp hug. As the three passengers sprinted away from the noisy rotors spinning over their heads and blowing their hair in their eyes, they could see the darker outlines of armed men on the fringes of the pad and hear the mournful call of a roaming pack of wolves. Filia remained with the pilot, cellphone in hand to relay information and keep a line of communication open.
Zelas' thugs surrounded them.
A few hundred yards offshore, uniformed police and part of the Seyruun Guard were landing their boats. The thunder of the surf, crashing against the jagged rocks covered up the noises of the light boats scraping over the pebbled beach and of the trampling of dozens of heavy boots. McGywn's boys didn't fool around.
McGywn pushed Val to the ground, Milgasia following by example. The sharpshooters had taken strategic positions around the compound. On a silent signal, all Hell broke loose.
Val broke away from the melee in the encampment and fled up the rock staircase to an upper landing. Where was Zelas…or Rezo?
McGywn saw Val out of the corner of his eye, and nodded toward the stone steps. "That way. Go! Stop him," he ordered a younger, fleet-footed officer at his elbow.
"What was that?" Zelas asked nervously.
"Sounds like gunfire. You stay here. I'll go find out. Don't worry, I'll be right back," Rezo said trying to sound calm and in control. He set his cellphone down on a table by the door and walked out, leaving the door open a crack.
He moved quickly for a man unable to see. Down the stone corridor, around the next, down the staircase and the winding side exit. He stopped and listened…someone running, but not fast…muttering… That's the Val boy, I'm sure of it! I'd better be sure he's got reinforcements behind him! Rezo opened a door onto a wide patio. It was quiet. He stole across the imported pavers to another door.
.
Rezo was halfway out the door, when an officer placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sir? Better leave this to the professionals."
Rezo froze. With an air of elegant equanimity he replied, "Of course. Then you had better hurry that way, before that boy, who is out to be a hero, is killed or turned into a killer!"
"Professor! You know where Val is?" grumbled McGywn, catching up to the two men.
Rezo nodded, "You must be the officer my son spoke so highly of. Yes. I've visited this resort many times. Zelas is alone in her room and I am sure I heard Val thundering that way only moments ago. Up the stairs, left corridor, last door over looking the sea. She'll be there. Stone floor. No carpeting. Easy to mop up blood."
McGywn was out the door before the word 'sea' reached his ears.
Rezo smiled. He knew another way. A faster way. He listened for other officers, and when he knew there was no danger of being seen, he dipped into the passageway, unlocked a door marked 'Danger Electrical', and disappeared inside a hidden corridor.
Milgasia moved silently from his hiding spot and slipped unperceived through the door marked 'Danger Electrical'. He could read the signs as well as any blind man.
Val whipped out his cellphone and punched AutoDial #6. Two doors down on his right he heard a cellphone buzz, "Gotcha! Rezo is the MAN! Now I see where Zel got his smarts, heh, heh…"
RING! RING!
Zelas' eyes moved to her husband's cellphone…ringing. That's all Val needed, some direction. Val flew into Zelas, feet knocking the gun from her hand. He was strong, tough, and taller than she was. In a split second he was holding her in a headlock with the gun to her head. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't pull the trigger right now," he purred into her ear.
~*~
Zelgadiss finished talking to two officials outside, explaining, as best he could, what the 'plan' was. He knew that they wanted him to go in and help direct his friends out, ASAP! Fine with him. Leave the dirty work to the professionals.
"Wait for us!" shouted Amelia and Martina, scrambling through the door.
"What was that!" wailed Martina. "I heard Zangalus…screaming!"
"We'd better hurry, then," grumbled Zel, picking up the pace.
"Ahhhhhch!" Amelia cried as she tripped over Martina's feet and fell, grasping her ankle. "Ooooh, that same one I twisted last fall!"
Zel looked back, "Amelia? Are you all right, Amelia?"
Martina was trying to lift Amelia to her feet, but the petite brunette, sniffing a bit, shook her head, "I don't think this is going to work!"
Without thinking, the young man ran back and hauled Amelia up, "Damn, at this rate…" He lifted Amelia in his arms and took off, "Come on, Martina! This way!" In a gentler voice he whispered to Amelia, "You'll just have to heal yourself. I can't carry you like this for long."
A blush spread across Amelia's cheekbones, "Right!"
Zangalus made another run at the barrier, trying to break it with his sword.
Phibrizzo smiled evilly, taunting the weaker kid, "And?"
Lina couldn't stand the tension much longer, and whispered to Sylphiel, "He's almost too powerful for us to take on. He's just one guy, but he's had time to prepare. Will I have to join him after all?"
Sylphiel shook her head, "I have an idea. Maybe if I offer to join, too…the power of the Shrine comes with me. Maybe he'll accept just you and me and release Gourry, before Zel and Val get here? Val is coming too, isn't he?"
"Val? He should have been here a long time ago. Hmmm, maybe your plan will be enough," Lina considered her plan. "Oh, all right…"
The girls stepped forward.
"So, you're finally getting into all this?" the evil kid chuckled.
Lina kept walking closer, "We have a counter offer…"
"It won't work!" Phibrizzo smiled.
Sylphiel shouted in a shrill, wavery voice, "Take me as well…as an innocent shrine maiden with all the power of the SHRINE behind me, but free Gourry!"
"Let me think about that…" he grinned, turned, and left the dais. He was no longer in sight.
"Right, let's go get Gourry," Sylphiel cried.
Lina climbed the final steps and sank to Gourry's side. His eyes were open, but appeared glazed, as if he were drugged. The mouth gag included a metal ring encompassing his chin; locked electronically. His legs were clamped together at the ankles similarly. When Lina checked his arms, pulled back behind his back, she found that the wrist manacles were also fused electronically. "He didn't release him at all!"
"He's a liar as well," spat Zangalus hoping up alongside the two girls and Gourry.
"Oh, I wasn't lying… You just haven't given me all I asked for yet!" Phibrizzo chortled as he reappeared on the dais from a side door. "I wasn't expecting a shrine maiden, as well…Still, you surprised me. And for that, I'll now have to punish you as well!"
Zel, Amelia, and Martina burst into the shrine's main rotunda.
"Yes! You're all here. Now, Lina, you can watch them die one by one!"
Lina growled, "What did you say?"
Phibrizzo pointed at Amelia, "Wonder why they call me Hell Master? Let me show you! Let me start with you!"
Amelia was balancing her weight on one leg and leaning slightly on Martina when she felt an electrical sizzle –like an aura— around her. She stiffened as the metal armature locked her legs and arms securely. Her knees bent and she fell. Zel's quick reflexes enabled him to catch her, "Amelia!"
"I…I'm okay, I'm okay…" she whispered as a robotic arm lifted her weight and swung her body beside Gourry's. The mouth guard snapped in place to silence her further.
Phibrizzo laughed, "The controller of death, that's what I am and you are my toys. Lina Inverse, until you join me and give me what I want, I will imprison all your friends and put them to death!"
Sylphiel received the robotic lock down next.
"Sylphiel!" Lina cried out. Her friend had been so brave. She didn't deserve this--of course, none of them did, but what could she do? Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw movement in the pews by the entrance. Zel nodded imperceptibly and whispered to Lina, "Help for us…"
"Ha, ha! Oh, how…terrible! So, feel like joining me now?" Phibrizzo shouted maniacally.
Zelgadiss noticed his attention was again focused on Lina so he lunged at the kid, sword drawn, hoping to catch him off-guard. Alas, the robotic locks encircled his legs mid-stride, and before his gag was in place, he yelled, "You son of a…"
SNAP!
Lina screamed, horror-stricken as her dearest, oldest friend joined the tied-down heap, "Zel! ZEL!!"
Martina became hysterical, "Come on Lina! Do something! What are you waiting for?! He's really going to kill EVERYONE!"
Zangalus stepped forward. He'd give it one more try, "HOLD IT! Hold It! I know when I'm beat…I surrender. I surrender. I was just passing by, so let me go, okay?"
Martina's face fell in disappointment, "Zangalus?"
The lanky kid bowed low to the Hell Master and said, "Please, I beg of you…" and then he slowly moved in closer. Without warning, he leaped at Phibrizzo, bringing his sword down full force onto the shield. Cracks appeared in the barrier's surface.
Restraints flew out from the robotic arm locking down Zangalus' arms and legs. As he fell, hard to the ground, he choked out, "Nearly got you!"
"Zangalus!" whimpered Martina, running to cushion his head.
"Convince Lina… I know you can do it…" he sputtered as he handed her his prized sword and swooned from the hard collision with the barrier.
Martina wasn't called Mad Martina for nothing. Like most nicknames, she had earned it along the way of life. Her eyes lit up in a crazed way as she gripped the 'Howling Sword'. "LINA!" she screamed as she swung the blade wildly at the young hoodlum. But Lina didn't move. "What is this?" Martina cried. "This isn't like you!"
"Martina!" Lina cried, grieving for her friends, as the last one fell to the electronic manacles. Lina caught Martina before her head hit the stone floor. "Don't try to talk, Martina."
Martina shook her head, "You want to save him…don't you? Gourry? You love him…don't you?"
Lina stared back in surprise… Love?
Phibrizzo wanted this to end, but if the idiot girl could convince Lina to ask, so be it. The gag hovered in space, waiting for her to finish.
"Now stop this…Be honest with your own feelings. Even if the entire world is destroyed it doesn't matter…does it?"
CLAMP! She too was silenced.
"Martina! Martina!" Lina she cried out. Now, she had run out of options. That 'help' had better materialize real quick.
"Feel like joining now?" Phibrizzo mocked her. "If you're still not in the mood…You do realize what I'll do next, don't you?" He raised a handgun, which had been concealed behind the rostrum. "If I shoot, then they will die. It's so lovely to watch… Wouldn't you like to see?"
Lina felt more like crying than fighting anymore. What 15-, no make that very nearly 16-year-old (it was almost her birthday), would want to be put through this torment? She gritted her teeth and answered with a controlled voice, "Who'd like to see that?"
"Well? Then join… There's a chance you'll enjoy the work. You are tough. Hmmm? Seems you won't join until I really kill some one." He turned to look over the bound kids stacked at his feet. "So, who do I begin with? Maybe this scarred boy here? Oh, yeah, he's one of the one's I'm recruiting… I know, let's start with HIM!" He kicked Gourry hard, waking him up. He grinned at Lina, "Unless you do something, he's about to die!"
Lina stood gaping. Phibrizzo cocked the trigger, aimed…
"G O U R R Y!" she cried. "Okay, I don't care what happens to me…I'll become…"
"At last, you're finally ready!" he grinned.
"Right now I choose Gourry over the entire world." Lina closed her eyes and whispered, "Gourry, give me the strength I need!"
To her confusion, Phibrizzo began a crazed rant, "Now let your body be pierced by the souls of the dead!" His eyes looked wide his face insane.
The lights flickered and went out. Electronic interference waves cut off the signals controlling the locks on the kids, freeing their hands and feet and mouths.
Phibrizzo didn't seem to notice. He was laughing and raving as a man demented, "YES! I'll take those discs now! Denounce everything in this world! Now I have you and all your followers!"
Lina stood shaking her head. "Those discs are long gone, out of my hands, in possession of the authorities (I hope…)."
"No! NO!" he screamed in panic. "Then all is lost! I must die! I'll take you all with me!"
While Lina tried to keep his attention on her, Zel was trying to move the others to safety. "You, who stand before me desiring destruction—It's my friends who shall destroy YOU!"
Phibrizzo wrenched his body around looking frantically for an open exit, but all the pathways were blocked by armed police and open doors were jamming under some electronic direction other than his own. He screamed in terror as his dreams changed to nightmares.
"No…that can't be true! Once you join me they will all… How did you get rid of that data? The only one close to you who's not here was Xelloss…would he betray me?" He shook his head, "I should have listened to the old man after all. I honestly never expected this to happen. After finally having my wishes so close to being fulfilled…to have this sudden reversal waiting for me at the end!" He fell to his knees whimpering, "My plan…my plan…to have this happen to it…All my calculations…My plan, with all my perfectly set schemes…so close to fruition!" He set the gun by one knee and slammed both palms onto the stone floor with a resounding
SMACK!
"I W A N T T O B E D E S T R O Y E D !"
"I W A N T T O B E D E S T R O Y E D !"
"Destruction… Yes, it's the ultimate wish of the syndicate. That's what we were created for… Isn't it? Isn't it? That's what we were created for?" He looked up plaintively, hoping for some divine answer. He must have heard something. His eye shone with a kind of mad enlightenment and he picked up the gun, stood and waved it around. But his other hand was in his pocket.
"Come on Lina," Zel whispered across the narrow space separating him and Lina with Gourry. "This way out! Can't you hear me? Come on?"
His voice was drowned out by that of the crazy kid.
"But my destruction shall consume this shrine, all things…it shall consume the world! I understand now…Xelloss…Lina… just vessels, too weak…I'll free the destructive force. I'll set it free! All the world, let it be destroyed with me!"
All eyes were on the hand with the gun, when the other pulled out a mechanical triggering device. Wires (now visible) connected the detonator, which wrapped around his waist to a ribcage of plastic explosives. He was a walking bomb holding a detonator in one hand and a gun pointed at Gourry in the other. "But you, you who have destroyed my plans, my hope—Xelloss was loyal to you in the end, wasn't he? He was willing to doublecross his heritage, his OWN MOTHER for YOU! He double-crossed me for YOU! I HATE YOU! You made me do it, remember that! I'll make you suffer more than anyone! If your friends are so important to you, I'll take them away!"
He pulled the trigger.
Gourry squeezed his eyes shut. Lina leapt wordlessly. The explosion of the gun broke their hearts.
"LINA!" screamed Gourry. "She's been shot!"
All the others had been successfully shunted out of the rotunda, all but Zel, at the door leading out, and Gourry who had caught Lina's collapsing body.
"OUT! RUN!" Zel shouted to Gourry pushing the taller kid carrying his dear friend. "He's going to blow up himself and us too if we can't get out!"
They ran.
Time stopped.
The roar of the explosion knocked Zel senseless, but he kept on running. Gourry could no longer see or breathe anything but smoke, but he kept on running.
Somehow they had cleared the building as the wreckage pelted them with debris. Amelia must have seen Lina's limp body in Gourry's arms, "Oh, Miss Lina!"
Zel could see her lips move, but heard nothing…just a roar…"Lina! What about Lina now?" he screamed, but couldn't hear his own voice. Maybe he hadn't said a thing.
Ambulances, lights…he saw flashing lights, Where was that awful, roaring cacophony of noise coming from? It drowned out everything else. Look, Sylphiel's talking, what's she saying? Can anyone else hear? What's wrong? Zel felt nauseous and weak. Panic took the place of reason, which for him was more terrifying than the events passing in front of him. He felt hands, strong hands grasp his arms and lead him to a clearing. Anxious faces with moving soundless mouths stared at him. He tried to tell them not to worry, he looked like a freak way BEFORE this happened, but nothing came out. Confusion, why was there so much confusion? Then, thankfully, all the chaos became still, dark, and floaty.
"She's not…breathing!" gasped Sylphiel as the paramedics pushed everyone aside to get to Lina. "She sacrificed all that she was…to save Gourry's life!"
Gourry would not release her. "It can't be true!" he shouted. He leaped inside the waiting ambulance cradling Lina in his arms. "I dunno what's goin' on here, but…I want it all undone! All undone!"
IV tubes were inserted into her arms; monitors attached and turned on.
"That's right!" Martina running up behind him and shouting in nonsensical agreement. "What's the point of you saving all of us and Gourry…if you aren't here anymore!"
The technicians worked as the vehicle sped off on its way to the hospital, carrying Lina and Gourry, and leaving behind a cluster of very distraught friends.
"Lina! Wake up, Lina!" Gourry demanded.
"Zelgadiss! Where did you go? OH!" called Amelia, hopping on one foot and brushing away a medic attempting to apply first aid to her arm, sticky with fresh blood and dust. "I need to see him before…"
"Don't worry, Miss. You're all being taken to the hospital. You'll see him there. Now, you can't walk so the sooner you climb on this gurney and cooperate the sooner you go," a kind young woman said.
~*~
"Lina wake up! Lina! You belong here with me! Lina! Lina! Lina…
"You think I'm gonna let you take Lina away like that?" Gourry argued with the hospital personnel. "This time I'm gonna save you! I'm gonna save YOU!"
They had wheeled Lina into the Emergency room and reattached the lifesaving equipment. Gourry stared from the wrong side of the glass-windowed door.
"I won't let you go!" he shouted.
The heart monitor flattened and redlined. NAAAAAAAAA!
Dr. Adams ran down the hall, pushed Gourry through the door into the room with Lina and a host of emergency medical personnel, "We're losing her!" someone shouted to him. Gourry loped to Lina's side in two strides.
It was all dark,
dark and formless.
Silent. Scentless.
It was nothing, nothing at all…
A light…
a glowing…
and a voice calling…
aaaw, let me sleep, why doncha?
"Lina, maybe you were stubborn and sort of defiant. Maybe you tricked people with your charm. Maybe you looked down on folks weaker than you, but…But I…I NEED YOU, LINA!"
Oh, yeah…
Definitely a glowing ball of light.
Yep, and that was my name,
For sure…
"LINA! Don't leave ME!" Gourry pleaded. In desperation, he grabbed her shoulders and drew her near. Nothing.
I bet if I reach out,
I can get that ball.
It's probably valuable.
Why else would it be yelling my name
and waking me up?
Might as well go for it, eh?
"Lina…" he moaned.
She opened her eyes. She blinked, "Gourry?"
"Lina?" he gasped unsure what was real.
She blinked again and smiled.
Gourry leaned closer and drew her into a kiss.
For the briefest of moments, they touched, and something beyond words and reason passed between them. Then Lina regained consciousness.
"Gourry! What were you DOING!" she cried, and punctuated it with a slap.
"Lina! You're back!" he laughed, and rubbed the cherished spot where his cheek was turning red.
"Ah, I think she's stabilizing, doctor. Lucky thing that bullet lodged in her breastbone … and missed her heart…That heavy jewelry must have diverted the bullet." the staff rattled on.
"She needs a sterile room and surgery, Gourry. You need attention, yourself. Nurse! Get this kid in a room and check him over…" Dr. Adams called. He turned back and continued to administer to Lina. "Where did you put that jewelry? Good, I'll take care of it for her."
"All your friends are staying over the rest of today and tonight for observation and protection. The police will be in later to interview you and the press is about to go ballistic—that's my job, to protect you, my daughter in particular, and all you kids while you have a chance to absorb the impact of your experiences and injuries." Mayor Phil of Seyruun was in command.
"Thank you, daddy," the young lady smiled wearily. "I'm so tired, but I have to know about my friends first."
He nodded, "Understandable, darling daughter. I'll give you the basics then you must sleep and I must run back to the cleanup duties. Sylphiel has a broken arm and bruises, and is in the room next door with her father right now. Maybe later we'll arrange to move her in here with you, but you both need rest first, I repeat. Martina and…Zangalus are scratched up and bruised and in shock, but they'll be fine. Martina in sleeping a few doors down. Gourry has some serious bruises, a cracked collarbone, and probably saved Lina's life. He's across the hall and sleeping."
"So Lina's alive? And Zelgadiss?" Amelia cried.
"Lina's…in critical condition following surgery to remove a bullet from her breastbone. Dr. Adams is monitoring her constantly and gives her a good chance of recovery. She did regain consciousness, thanks to Gourry somehow, but she'll be drugged out through tonight anyway. Her sister, Luna, is with her. Zelgadiss. Well, dear, he had some internal bleeding and cracked ribs…serious contusions, like Gourry. The most serious problem is with his hearing. He'll be receiving more tests this evening I understand, but he's sleeping now a few doors down from Gourry."
"Have you heard from Mr. Val or Miss Filia?" Amelia asked, her eyes closed with exhaustion, both physical and emotional.
"I'm trying to get more on them, but the last update I heard was that they'd landed safely on Wolf Pack Island," her father sighed and brushed her bangs off her forehead. A tender gesture revealing his affectionate nature beneath the gruff exterior. "You haven't asked about Xelloss."
She nodded, eyes closed, "I was afraid to…"
"He's alive. He suffered a great deal…blood loss…he's in a coma, but alive. The doctor says…that's good. It's the brain's way of healing. So, now dear, rest and heal that fractured ankle of yours and sleep well knowing your friends are close and out of harm's way and receiving the finest care possible."
"Thanks, Daddy," she whispered.
"I love you, darling," he whispered back and left the room.
(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val