Hudson stood calmly, eyes closed, as he patiently awaited Thomas to arrive
to tell him all was ready. Already he received word the recent regents all
were taken down, but Fox was rumored to have been alive. Footsteps slowly
approached, Hudson glancing behind him, as Thomas walked near him, into the
light, his face not to emotional, but a normal expression.
"Time to greet the guest Hudson ol' boy." Thomas remarked, as Hudson opened his eyes, turning around as he walked to where the crowd was seated.
"So Thomas, just which regents have made it?" Hudson asked, glancing around the room, seeing a few seated, but some chairs empty.
"Assassin Zuang, Firecracker Fou Pia, Blademaster Yu Lee, Steelshell Madd, Stealth Donte, Stallion Bros. Bartholomew and Rez, Missilehead Rudy, Underground Zeek, Tamer Artimis, Card Soldiers Maurice, Arsonist Fenton, The Elemental Sister's Flara, Sky and Nature, Infinite Elliot, Mechanical Master Glitz, and Sniper Thomas, present as always." Thomas addressed, announcing all who where there.
"Hmm, one sister missing, and those four party boys... only one amuses me and it isn't those men. Still, I hope your ladies can at least give her the message. Right now it appears two dragons still walk this earth, six of our regents were defeated by them and one of our own regents now is aiding a party. Nevertheless, onto business, I have a new agenda for the Fae group that our traitor now aids, I want not only the Fae alive, but her friends as well, I feel they will aid in giving what our master desires. As for Draco, he is to terminated at all costs along with that underground female, as for the little girl, capture her." He mentioned as the crowd remained silent.
"Bravo... sorry to be late, but I do have a schedule to keep." Fox mentioned, appearing behind Hudson.
"Fox, so you are alive... pitiful..." Hudson remained focused to the crowd, but Fox's eyes widen, as he grasped his throat telekinetically, already being choked by Hudson.
"This is only a warning, but next time, your going to die when I do this... understood, I only show mercy since you at least took care of that softie." Hudson said, as Fox gasped deeply for air.
"Underground Zeek, I advise you take care of the Fae, I'm giving you full advantage over the robots Glitz designed to navigate underground and with the ability to fight above ground. Firecracker Fou Pia, you also aid, but remember, I want them alive, not dead. Understood?" Hudson demanded, as the two replied with a 'yes sir' response.
"Good, Assassin Zuang and Tamer Artimis, I want Draco, the underground female, and the little brat taken care of, I want the little girl alive, but if she proves to be a problem, terminate her." He mentioned, running a finger along his throat.
"Yes M'lord." Artimis replied respectfully.
"Got it boss." Zuang replied.
"The rest of you report back to your duties, if things keep failing up, then I will contact you. Auron already is still holding it's ground, even with the sudden loss of funds... we will reign supreme in the end." Hudson replied, as he turned off, walking away, the regents getting out of their seats, exiting the meeting hall, knowing were to report.
"So far things seem to be already getting more dangerous then ever, this by far even makes that Dream-Diver a mere pebble then the dragons. I don't know what we'll do when the council finds out about this." Thomas said with weariness.
"They're already knee-deep in their own pit and sinking fast. Even if they do manage, I still plan to make sure they are taken care of." Hudson mentioned, smiling at the idea that ran in his mind.
Thomas said nothing else, he knew exactly what Hudson meant when he said 'taken care of', though the details still were sketchy. Like Hudson, he never had trusted the council one bit since they always were so arrogant towards the regents.
"Time will tell, I just hope they will die sooner then the end of this year." Thomas thought, really wanting the fools to die.
***
Dead silence, near evening and already the party was quiet, still pondering what exactly to do what they were going to do. Ryu laid down on the couch, still in his jacket, relaxing from the already still intense heat since the air conditioner broke. Nina sat at the kitchen table with Mai and Ichiro, trying to figure out just how to earn some money now that Wes had abandoned them.
She remembered his own tear stained face when Kiki was buried, how he mourn for so long over her death. She knew it was hard for the guy to cope with the death of a dear love that he only then had started to live with. Nina tried to speak, but Wes dismissed her, not wanting to even talk about it, even with the others. While Ryu planned to move on after the funeral for Kiki, Wes had other plans. Only a few minutes after the funeral ended, Wes was found getting into the drivers side of the Dune Buggy, he started the vehicle up, and drove out, leaving Nina and the others stranded, without any zenny or currency to keep their food supply up.
Now here they were, left stranded in Delfina, and now forced to find jobs to make ends meets.
"I can't believe he left us... without even a warning." Nina muttered sadly.
"Hush up about Wes, he's long gone and he might never come back. Right now, we have to find some way of making our zenny, and I already have found my way." Mai stated, pointed to the ad for a strip club.
"No way, I am not going to amount to giving my body to a bunch of dimwit, disgusting and perverted minded men." Nina said, making a more innocent glance.
"Yeah, though your bottoms gonna be sore at the end of tomorrow." Mai replied with a snicker.
"At least I ain't gonna be a whore like you." Nina shouted, standing to her feet with a angry glance flaring in her eyes and her red face.
"Your one to talk considering what your wearing." Mai said with a sly smile.
"I may show more skin, but if anyone is a whore, it's a spy like you who-"
"Enough, you two keep going at each others throats ever since Wes left... and its getting annoying." Ryu stated, shaking his head.
Ichiro only remained silent, he wasn't more of a leader, but he also had broken them up a couple of times earlier when Ryu was out trying to find a job, but had no luck. He though was able to find a job as a bouncer, but he was told to come back tomorrow morning, since already a few others took care of things during the evening.
"Well, if anything, I guess I should try a security guard for the nightclub, at least for backup incase Ichiro gets outnumbered." Ryu said, making a gun stance, with an eye closed.
"I hope you not in it for the girls Ryu." Nina remarked giving him a scowling glance.
"I see enough good things when I look at you, especially when bend over." Ryu said, Nina only flustering, embarrassed, pushing her flaps more against her.
"Your horrible Ryu." Nina replied with a giggle, Ryu only smiling before chuckling.
Mai only glanced at the two still puzzled at how they just acted.
"I never did understand these kids." She commented annoyed.
Ichiro slowly turned to her, hearing what she said. Something about how she mentioned it seemed to already cry out for help. Somehow, her face expression seemed to flint in a sort of way that gave a bothersome frown.
***
A snap of wood easily broke the silent town of Patrain, as a houndsmen was sent flying through, bloodied, and drenched with wine, he stood to her feet growling, but jumped to the side as a tough brute Haren was chucked out the window. Inside was fight, men grappled to one another or just plain beating one another with their fists or anything they could grab. In the middle of it all was the woren with a bad attitude and already was in a bad mood. Wes easily punched two drunk armadillo men right in the kisser, both already towered Wes, but were no match for his speed. Wes only snickered, as he glanced over to anyone free, finding a ox dressed like a biker, bandanna hat included.
Cracking his knuckles, he took a few steps closer to the man, before punching him in the shoulder. The ox growled, throwing a fist at Wes, who nimbly evaded with his body, and elbowed the ox across the jaw, before giving a fist to the gut, and a finishing blow of an uppercut that sent the large muscle punk through a table.
"C'mon, I fought a few damn girls who were tougher then ya dumbasses." Wes remarked, waiting to see who would attack, as a three humans ran towards him, another woren who was more bulk then agile, and a frog that was more of a fighter.
It was five on one, but Wes sent each down with a few kicks to the weak area's and a fist to the jaw that sent each one of them down and out for the count.
"If you're done messing up my bar, you can get the hell outta here." The barkeeper said, knowing the woren paid more then the money in damaging costs.
"I told you I was paying for the damages, didn't I?" Wes smartly commented, taking out a cigar and smoking it.
"I seen many types pass through and get drunk mostly by a loss, your one of those types woren." The bartender said wiping up the mess on the counter.
"When you lose someone you take dear, and all you know is to fight... what else is it you can do?" Wes asked walking out, not caring for any answer.
Deep down he was enraged, Kiki died only to save him. She had no regrets though, she was pleased to be with him in her last moments, just as she said. Wes didn't know what to do, all he had done was aid Ryu in protecting the Fae so far, but with two others, he probably wouldn't need him, even if they needed all the help they get.
"Damn it... why the hell can't I just end it all." Wes muttered to himself, shaking his head.
He felt full of sadness and anger, yet he was still alive. So far all he had done was cause a few fights, mostly with thugs on the street, a few punks, and now a bar fight. He didn't care what damage he caused, he just felt like beating the crap out of every person who got in his path. Opening the side door to his dune buggy, he took his seat, closing the door behind him, as he took one deep breath, before starting the car up and driving off.
"That damn fox... when I find him... I'll make him pay!" Wes though to himself, clenching the steering wheel tightly, still focused on the road ahead.
***
Day finally came to the town of Delfina, as Ryu woke up, getting himself dressed in his usual jacket and cloths. He already had doubts about being hired for the club, since according to Ichiro, their already were an enough of them there for the day. Slowly he walked through the hallway, towards the kitchen where the aroma of coffee tingled his nose hairs, the smell while refreshing to the nasals, the tongue only could taste the bitterness the coffee had.
"Morning Ryu." Nina said, as he walked in, glancing over to her.
He also noticed that she was the only one there, and seemed to be trying to cook, and failed, seeing the charred to a black food that was thrown in the trashcan. Nina sighed sitting down, taking a deep breath.
"I thought you were going to get a job." Ryu mentioned taking a seat next to her, as he smirked teasingly.
"I guess people do have some problems, seems they turned me down. Guess the wings really can cause problems." She sadly noted with a deep sigh.
"Guess they all now fear the trouble we bring." Ryu mentioned, taking a sip of his coffee, raising a brow, as he stopped, setting it down. "Hmm, tastes less bitter, what did you put in it?"
"Sugar, and a few drops of lemon juice." She said with a smile.
"Lemon Juice, why did you put that in the coffee?"
"Overload of sugar, I doubt you like things a tad too sweet with the stern attitude you have." She commented with a giggle.
"Well, at least you made this better then you did the food." Ryu remarked, looking over to it.
"I guess I really am not much of a housewife." She replied, giving a sly smile over at Ryu, who said nothing else, but sipped his coffee.
"You'll learn... eventually." He remarked snickering.
Nina giggled as well, but sighed, staring down at the floor, her one bright face now turned to sorrow, something was starting to bother her.
"It's Wes, isn't it?" Ryu asked, knowing it had to be the woren that Nina was worried about.
"I hope he is still alive... who knows what he's done since he abandoned us."
"He managed before to keep himself alive, he'll manage again. Although," Ryu said, brushing the small hairs growing from his chin, "the regents may know our vehicle by now, chances are... oh shit!"
Ryu's voice grew slower and edgy as he mentioned the last bit, before cursing loudly with his own fist slamming down against the table.
"Wes is in danger." Nina replied, her hands cupped near her heart, as she gulped slowly.
"Why didn't it hit me earlier... that Woren's already a target even without us." Ryu mentioned.
"What are we going to do Ryu?" Nina asked, not much on finding solutions for anything.
"Nothing... he's on his own..." Ryu hesitatingly said, "I don't know if he will live or not, but chances are he's a goner, especially when he still is coping with Kiki's death." Ryu noted, Nina knowing who he meant.
"I guess we better just stay here, we don't have much else to do." Nina said, sitting down in the chair.
"For now we should, but the regents may still strike, they won't stop at nothing until you're within their custody." Ryu replied, shaking his head.
***
Ichiro and Mai already were well on their way to the club, by foot at least, the town so far was normal as usual, even after the recent incidents.
"Mai... mind if I ask something?" Ichiro asked.
"Shoot." She replied, not very intense on anything.
"Children... love'em or hate'em?"
Mai remained silent for the first couple of minutes, for once he had hit a spot she really was uncomfterble with. She closed her eyes taking a deep breath, while she didn't tell many, Ichiro she felt she could trust, unlike the judging Nina or Ryu, though he might have taken it lightly.
"I don't hate them, I just find them highly annoying. Possibly since when I was younger, I had to take care of my baby brother and sister. My father died when I was young, shot to death by a few outlaws, so my mother had to work long hours just to keep our family support. I had no freedom when I was young, I had to care for my siblings. The crying, the longs hours... I barely had time for myself, even when my mother returned, she still had no time. I grew tired of it, I wanted freedom, but all I got was more pressure. I decided to run away when I was thirteen years old, traveling and meeting up with him, Magnum Fox. He helped me become a spy and become intelligent as I am." She said smiling.
"Yet you and he are enemies now." Ichiro pointed out.
"Yes... but I guess that is the reason why I took this job... I can't stand a child's whining, it just brings me to my knee's hearing it. I never want to deal with a child at all." She mentioned, her voice getting more hoarsely then before.
"We are what we decide to be... there's nothing wrong with your view." Ichiro remarked still walking in his excellent posture.
Mai smiled, she had only got a response like that from few people she told of her little weakness. She was truly relieved by Ichiro's reply, he didn't seem to even care that Mai hated kids, mostly for their relentless whining. Though, maybe she did give more reasoning, considering her hard past was not one of pure joy, but more of work and repetition with feeding, changing, and caring for the babies. Those days are what made her become so stern, having no freedom, and having no free time for herself in her childhood years.
She finally decided to run away, fed up with the slavery, the endless ours, the bickering of her younger siblings wanting this and that. Mai was not old enough for such things, it was her mothers job, but her mother just worked, trying to support them, and never did once take a time off to give Mai a break. Mai didn't care though, she wanted a life of freedom and leaped at it when she was fed up with being in the ever so hellish one she lived with.
"Thanks Ichiro." Mai said, a smile nearly pursed upon her lips.
Ichiro only remained silent as the two approached the adult club, seeing as kids were not aloud it could be referred to that.
"You must be the recently hired... humph, nothing new to the eyes, anyhow, just report in, then you can start. And Miss... be careful, scoundrels have been harassing most our staff... few of our best quit when those bastards tried to sexually harass them... hope you have more guts then them." The bouncer said, welcoming them.
"They even try, and I will give them pain they will never forget." Mai replied threateningly, as she cracked her fingertips, walking inside, Ichiro closely behind.
It took only a few minutes, before both of them were finally allowed to start working, Ichiro remaining outside, with a nice cold thermos to quench his thirst when he needed it. Mai though, choosing an attractive outfit, a schoolgirl like one, that covered most of her body, though left room for her panties to be seen. Though knowing how it was, she put on many layers; she was told that you had to keep the men in suspense, in order to get the best money. Main intended on it, she didn't care how degrading it was, it was a job that paid well, and she would go as far as strip just to make a profit.
"Well, it's a little odd to wear so much... but as long as the money is good, I don't really care." She thought, going out, where a few men were, but still enough to offer money.
She could see their eyes already undressing, but wanting to see her skin, a few zenny coins already being offered, as she took each, placing them in her bra, as she undid the first part of her upper body cover, revealing her bare mid area, a few of the customers howling, offering more zenny to her.
"Such pigs they are, but they are the only source of income for me." She thought, still holding the passonate face of lust, as she slowly removed her panties, revealing the string thongs underneath.
She continued to snatch the zenny, knowing the more she had, the better the profit.
***
"Glitz... hey weirdo, I know your in here!" yelled the midget sized mole, while possibly an adult, by default he was reduced to a very small height.
"Who dares call the great mechanic guru Glitz a 'weirdo'?" A irritated voice snapped back at the mole, as a slim hornsmen in a short sleeved stained t-shirt, and several holed jeans walked into view, removing his goggles to reveal his dim blue eyes, he glance agitated towards the mole, a unwelcoming smile pursed on his lips.
"You really don't get out much, do you?" The mole commented, pointing at his cloths.
"I feel more comfortable here... and with my most trustworthy students. Now then, I presume you're here for the ground units?" Glitz mentioned with a creepy smile.
"Why else would I come to a dump like this... just give me the damn bots so I can be on my way!" Zeek growled, already sick of having to even remain in this filthy area.
"What's the hurry, the woren is already on the move... the others are in town... theirs no need to rush." Glitz replied sneeringly to him.
Zeek leaped forth, even if he was half or a fourth the size of the hornsmen, he didn't care, anger boiled in his veins, he wanted to right then and there tear the hornsmen open, but he did still have control over himself, kept his weapon from piercing the 'weirdo's' throat.
"Game over you self-absorbed fuck... now give me the main control, or I'll pry it from you after I slit you damn throat!" Zeek yelled, moving his sharp tipped claws at the throat of the hornsmen, his eyes already flared with bitter annoyance, ready to kill in a moments notice.
"Fine, here... just remember, to-"
"Shuddup already... I know how to program them and I know how to activate battle mode. Sheesh, I learned that already from one of my co-workers in the mines... someone who has the screws not so loose in their head like a crackpot such as you!" Zeek insulted, as he tapped a few buttons, initiating the bots 'follow the leader' command, as each bot activated and followed.
With a two mini drills for hand, and a large one as the nose, the bots clearly were created for mechanical work. Their oval shape inner frame did do well in the underground areas. The bottom area already a three part desert terrain tank tread rover. Only with a few sensors where the bots able to calculate the path, but with Zeeks expertise of digging, he easily would be able to do anything.
Though they were 'more then meets the eye' (yes... Transformers quote) to anyone, as they could morph into a battle mode, a full body mode that served mostly for combate (think Megaman Zero types, the soildiers from the intro stage). Each around the height of five feet tall when in their robotic mode.
Zeek left the area, along with the bots, leaving the nutcase scientist alone once more.
"Dimwit, he won't be able to use their combine mode... pity... after all the effort I put in, they never will be used at full potent. Humph, still, that gives more chances that he will fall to a hundred percent failure... mahahahaha." Glitz spoke to himself, laughing like any impulsive scientist would.
***
A woren remained within the plateau trenches, peering out to find a vehicle approaching, a smile spread upon his face, knowing who it was.
"Bird or not, he still helped the fae out. Hudson said he wanted the party alive, and I plan to do it." The rusty colored haired woren mentioned, taking out a pack a explosives, mostly dynamite, but still something just like fireworks in his eyes.
His rust colored fur easily helped him blend into the mountainside, as he smirked preparing his sticks of explosives, throwing them in a crack, knowing full well the blasts would block the path of the woren's dune buggy. He already had several of them strapped to his body, mostly like feudal era armor, several strips covered like a washboard over the worens upper body portion, his arms and legs were bare. Average muscle expansion, he was built more for speed then he was for fighting.
Carefully taking out the lighter, he set the tiny flame around the coil of the dynamite, the flame slowly moving toward the end of the rope, the woren jumped back, hopping a safe distance from the explosives.
A loud boom rang throughout the canyon side, a rockslide now rumbled down, large pebbles piling up, before the bolder sized rocks slammed into place, Wes slammed on the breaks, slowing down to a dead halt, only a few yards from sudden impact. Large dust filled the area, slowly settling down to the ground. Opening the door, Wes glances around the area, peering for anything unusual.
Loud swoops easily caught the worens keen senses, as his eyes shot from one side to another, keeping a sharp eye out for anything.
"Well-well-well, if it isn't the badass woren with the piece of shit coffin... so tell me, whaddya doing driving 'round these parts?" The woren asked Wes with an evil glance.
"I don't give a damn... you got's a nerve to even try to kill me in a rock slide!" Wes growled, clenching his fists.
"Ya mistakin', I just trying to get ya attention. See, my boss want's ya alive, so I got's to bring ya back in one piece, otherwise I'm gonna be a dead man buried six feet under in explosives." The woren replied.
"So whaddya want, a fight... 'cause I'm 'bout ready to kick your ass." Wes growled, cracking his knuckles.
"The names Fou Pia, firecracker fanatic, and a fight we gonna have. So get that weapon of ya's and meet me on the other side. Don't wanna dent ya car, right?" He asked with concern.
"What makes you think I'm gonna trust you!?" Wes scornfully demanded.
"We're of the same race, can't we even get along. Sides, a regent has his morals and I ain't no outlaw." He said, picking at his teeth with his nails.
"Not good enough, you guys are dead, specially that damn fox, when I find'em, he's gonna pay dearly for who he took from me," Wes ranted, as he grabbed his coffin, arming it to battle mode, "as for anyone else, well, your about to find out."
With that, Wes unleashed the hellspray of bullets, rapid and fast, easily echoing throughout the canyon. Fou Pai jumped from one side to another, fleeing from the are where the car is, and onto the other side of the rock pile up.
"So... finally decided to stop talking? Good... cause I'm through with chatting." Fou Pia replied, taking out a bottle rocket, lighting the coil as he sent it screeching towards Wes.
Wes evaded with a ground role to the side, flipping his coffin over to return fire to the woren by his own built in missiles. With one blast, they exploded on impact upon the area where Fou Pia stood, but not a trace of him remained.
"Pathetic!" He yelled, chucking a few firecracker sticks at Wes, with a sinister laugh.
"Bastard!!" Wes muttered, running away from them, as a powerful blast rang throughout the canyon.
***
Ryu and Nina decided to take a look, even though they knew the town by a few shops and sights, they still needed to get out of the house for one day, being in their can drive one insane.
"Please tell me your still not all emotional about Wes being dead." Ryu said, not liking to hear her sobbing babble of how poor Wes was a goner.
"How can you be so heartless Ryu, he's our friend, our ally, how can you treat him like he's another dead person in life!?" Nina asked, feeling more disgusted with Ryu's comment.
"Unlike you, I have seen death so often happen that I just think of it as the sun, it always comes and goes... but unlike it, here I still stand, someone who continues to walk and fight for a world that has some control in this pitiful place. Wes abandoned us Nina, and if he's dead, good. Get over it already... Ichiro and Mai are perhaps the only two we can trust, as for Wes... we can only hope he comes back alive... right now... he's trying to cope with a loss that words may never explain." He mentioned, for once telling how he didn't care much for anything when it was people.
"Still heartless as always... yet you still protect me." She said, giving the ever so innocent eyes as she snuggled against him.
"Why I put with you I may never know." He stated, crossing his arms, but stopped hearing a sudden scream.
Turning around, he found a few robots drilling out from the ground, before transforming into robot droids with arms, legs and a head, each armed with a laser shooting projectile.
"I'm guessing only one force behind this..." Ryu remarked drawing out his gun, loaded at max, making a full six shots out and sending each one directly to the heads and other area's of the bots.
The bullets easily tore through the armor, each robot falling to the ground, their own main program chips shattered by the bullets that were used.
A few more appeared behind Ryu, transforming, and ready to opening fire. In a split second Nina closed her eyes, gathering all the elemental magic she would need, before opening her eyes, casting a heavy wind spell, with full emotion intact (dunno who I got this from, but maybe if she is reading, just tell me in a review) with a howling blast that sent the bots flying an crashing to the ground.
"Seems you took care of the lacky droids... but your gonna have to do better against me... Underground Zeek, miner veteran of all time." He said, sharpening his claws, a wicked grin pursed on his face.
"A Regent, we were expecting you, though why bring a few bots, can't handle us... yet you can handle a few dragons?" Ryu snapped, knowing the best way to victory was to piss off the enemy.
"Dare mock the ones who killed your race, pitiful... I will not let you win the war Ryu... though if it wasn't for the order to bring you in alive, I wouldn't hesitate to kill you!" he remarked, as he chucked a blade to Ryu who sidestepped, taking aim to find the mole gone.
"Damn it, he fled." Ryu remarked, knowing they were at a grave disadvantage.
"Ryu, he's underground, but where he is going to pop up is the big concern." Nina mentioned, already aware of the tactics.
"With the bots he has aiding him, things are a bit more tense then usual." Ryu added, knowing now he was going to deal with more then one opponent.
He took a deep breath; a few people already fled the area upon the first sighting of the droids. Now all was calm, giving a advantage, he slowly opened his gun chamber and reloaded his gun. In a split second, he turned, firing at the area where the mole was now at, but his shot missed by a hair.
"Missed me... " Zeek remarked, as he threw a shuriken to Ryu, who leaned back, easily avoiding an impact, but leaving a slash along his face.
"You'll pay for that mark!" Ryu remarked as he took a shot, this one while a crooked aim, as he opened fire, but his bullet missed, thanks to the regents ever so popular auto defense shield.
"Yep, a shield, it's the only way we work when the objective is to take our targets in alive." Zeek remarked with a snicker.
"Some regents you are, cowards to use damn shields to protect yourself!" Nina muttered, easily insulting him directly.
"Birdy, haven't you learned a damn thing yet? We regents are not only superior in skill, but also technology... therefore, your just mere fools who cannot achieve our level of superiority." He replied, as he took aim with his mini-handgun at Ryu.
At that moment, Nina opened her eyes, doing a short dance, as she screamed loudly "TORNADO!" She yelled out loud, sending a furious wind of fury towards the mole, it smashed furiously against the ground regents shield, but didn't blast through the regents shield.
"Magic huh? Then take this!" He replied, his hand glowing brightly as he slammed the ground, several spires sprouted from the ground.
Quick to the air, Nina leaped from the ground, flapping her wings furiously to gain altitude, the spires not bursting high enough to even touch her. Ryu only leaped aside, ground-rolling away from the huge pointy spires, glancing over to where the mole once stood, not had vanished.
"Nina, he's underground again... keep an birds eye view of the area, he's bound to pop up somewhere." Ryu shouted up, as Nina gave a thumbs up to him.
She glanced below herself, keeping a good eye out for her. She was easily shot at, a few more of the underground-robots now were above the ground, morphed into attack mode, aiming at the airborne fae's wings. She moved away, slowly charging her magic, she combined a medium powered wind and water magic spell, fusing both together, to form the intermediate lightning spell, Thunder, the shock overloading the electrical power within and the water of the element shorting out the circuit boards, the bots falling to the ground from overloading.
Ryu kept his guard up, a few more robots now were surrounding him, taking aim at him. Ryu pulled out his magnum, reloaded while he had a chance, mostly in a second after the mole vanished. In three swift pulls of the trigger, he delivered three bullets to the bots own robots eyes, destroying their main scanners and radars, rendering them useless and blink.
"Ryu, three o'clock sharp!" Nina cried out, as Ryu turned firing upon where the mole was.
Zeek only stood, as the bullet was stopped dead center as the defense shield halted the bullet.
"Fool, your gonna need more then that to take me down!?" he stated laughing.
At that very moment, Nina unleashed a magic spell, master type wind and water spell, "TEMPEST!!" She shouted, unleashing the strong lightning blast upon the mold, the large blast creating a huge dust wind the surrounded him.
He coughed a loud beeping alarm coming form where Zeek was still positioned, within the dust cloud. That magic blast shorted out the shield generator, leaving Zeek vulnerable as ever.
"Guess that means your shields gone... time to die!" Ryu said, but only to find Zeek gone, with the dust slowly settling.
"He's gone underground again?" Nina asked as she descended slowly to the ground.
"Yeah... final round... he's gonna try to get me next shot... doubt he will." Ryu said, grasping his gun tighter.
A loud rumble shook nearby, earthshaking but not a natural quake.
"I got a-"
"It's more then obvious, Nina." Ryu mentioned as a huge drill burst right nearby, two legs morphed from the side, along with two guns, that fired along the ground.
While triple their sides, nothing to astounding, though armed with dual machine guns and a few missiles, it was a force to be reckon with.
"How do you like my new toy?" Zeek said loudly through his intercom.
Ryu and Nina only gazed in despair, now they were at a great disadvantage, now with the machine backing him up; he was more bullet resistant then ever.
"So whats the plan Ryu?" Nina asked taking a deep gulp.
"I'll get back to you when I figure out a weakness." Ryu mentioned, as Zeek shot several more shots along the ground, teasing and scowling them, as his boss wanted them alive.
"You can run, but you can't do it forever, Bwahahahaha!" He cackled over the mic.
***
Ichiro had so far had a slow and boring first day as a bouncer. So far nobody seemed to dare try to resist, possibly since they were not the outlaw type. He was almost ready to fall asleep, when the crowd of fleeing people ran past, fear flashing in their eyes.
Ichiro gazed in the opposite direction of where they people were running from, remaining calm even as he saw the dangerous bot marching forth. The bots targeted him, raising their firearms, and fired away. Ichiro quickly blocked each of the shots, as he took a deep breath.
"Temporary withdraw is my only option..." He thought to himself, bursting through the doors, as he dashed into the main dance stage.
"Ichiro, what are you-"
She was unable to complete her sentence, as a few shots rang through the walls, a few customers and other employees caught in the crossfire, though Ichiro helped block a few shots that were zooming in towards Mai.
"Regents?" Mai asked, hopping off stage.
"Yes... sending their machines to do the dirty work." Ichiro noted, blocking the last shot, sending it to one of the bots outside.
"Glitz... must be his." She muttered, knowing Ichiro meant robots then human- disguised droids known as 'androids'.
"Get me to the back, I brought my gun with me and it looks like I had a good hunch to bring it." She noted it.
Ichiro only nodded, as the two dashed to the hallway leading to the back rooms. The robots broke through the front door, scanning the area, finding a few people dead, but not one of them matching the targets they were after. Glancing over to the hallways, they marched with directly to the path leading to the back locker-room area's where the stripper's locker rooms were.
"Two-targets-fleeing-to-the-back. Following-targets-body-heat." The robot complied, marching over to where the hallways was.
Breaking into the locker-room, where a few other girls were already alerted and frantically packing what they had, Mai went over to where she got dressed, grabbing her casual cloths and putting them on. Taking weight that would be a burden to carry into battle, the zenny being placed in a pouch and tightly closing the pouch up.
"Their heading this way." Ichiro mentioned, grasping the hilt of his katana tightly, focusing his attention towards the door, waiting for the enemy to enter.
Mai grabbed her handgun, loading a clip, as she glanced to the door, her gun taking aim. Her eyes glanced to Ichiro, giving a slight nod, telling him to open the door by a gesture. Not replying back, he swiftly opened the door, as he dashed out, Mai ground-rolling out and turning to the path that lead to the main lobby. Ichiro already was ahead, slicing and dicing the bots apart, as he finished the last one off, cutting it vertically in the mid area, right in the half point, the bot falling to both ends, now completely put out of commission.
"Hog all the fun I see." Mai mentioned, as Ichiro didn't make a reply.
In only a few seconds, did more approach towards them, double the last batch of five, they now were already taking aim to them.
"Allow me!" Mai said as Ichiro took his fighting stance.
Mai only sent a few shots, blowing several holes in most of the bots, her bullets tore through the bodies viciously, the impact throwing their aim off by several degrees. Her second shots blowing the bots main radar out and sending them into the scrap pile like the others.
"Mai, who is Glitz...is he the regent attacking?" Ichiro asked, very curious.
"Could be, but these bots look like the type Zeek would use... we better get to Ryu and Nina, they might be in enough trouble as it is." Mai noted, running off, Ichiro closely behind.
***
Loud ear piercing rockets screeched throughout the canyon, rapid shots following. The two worens continued their fire-powered fight, Wes using his dual gattling guns, and Fou Pai using bottle rockets, fireworks and anything that was gun-powder-loaded to blow up.
So far the two were at a match, not one had made a hit, since both were skilled in agility, and though Fou Pai was a wee bit faster then Wes could ever be. Fou Pai repeatedly tossed several firecrackers down at Wes, who only moved away from them, avoiding the explosive force the came directly after. The two now were out of the canyon and now in the paths of the mountains, moving from one slope to another, dangerously they were near the deepest area, one rumored to go all the way to the darkest pits of the planet, where nobody returned.
"Tired out woren... there ain't no chance a cigar smoker like ya can keep this up forever." Fou Pai muttered, as he remained up on a trench of the terrain.
"I'm just warming up." Wes cracked, and fired a few shots nearby, Fou Pai didn't flinch, but remained standing.
Wes smirked, this time firing at his location, Fou Pai jumping a split- second too late, as the bullets struck, though the green shield repelled the bullet from impacting the woren.
"Always with the shields huh? Well, lets see how it can take my missiles!?" Wes remarked, as he once more fired the seekers, each one slamming into the firecracker maniac, who leaped away, but was struck by a few throwing him down to the canyon.
Wes slowly walked to the edge, glancing down, seeing no trace of the woren. A sigh of relief was all he got, before a loud screech and a figure came flying directly towards Wes. The woren jumped back, glancing up to find Fou Pai standing on the ground once more, but this time he wasn't one bit to happy. His lips furrowed down, his eyes flared in anger, he screamed loudly, as he slowly changed, his body mutating with larger muscles that tore his upper and lower body cloths off, leaving his boxers on, more fur covering his body with more thickness, and his eyes now a dark red, Fou Pai changed indeed, from being his once normal self to a now bulked up and monstrous creature Wes knew was the legendary 'Were-tiger', the disastrous beast known only to be a killer.
"You think that evil side of yours is gonna scare me... please... your probably weaker then ever." Wes said, as he pulled on the missile trigger, getting a empty click.
"Fuck!" Wes muttered as the behemoth monster leaped forth, delivering a slash from its left side, sending the coffin into the earth, before slashing at Wes chest, three bleeding cuts now visible on the worens cloths.
Wes tried to get a blow, but was utterly useless, as the weretiger came at him with vicious punches, and slashes, each cut marking Wes from arms, legs, abs and face, blood already soaking his cloths.
"I'm gonna be a dead woren if I don't find a weakness." Wes thought, as he flinched from the claws digging into his skin.
Wes though was able to make a sweeping kick that send the weretiger off his feet, Wes jumped reaching for his gun, but was stopped short when the woren pounced onto him. Wes flipped himself over, facing the monster, as he grabbed both of the beasts wrist as it swung, grasping them with might, he took a deep breath, trying to move his legs to kick him from the abdominals area and throw him off. The weretiger though was more then able to restrain his feet, its paws pressing down on the worens.
Wes clenched his teeth, for once he felt the end near, the beast had him down, with all the rumors known about the were-tiger, it was possible this would go as far as tear him limb from limb with its shiny pearl teeth. Wes though knew he had one chance, he was always said to never have used it at times with his manner, but now was his chance. He closed his eyes tightly swinging his head up, as the weretiger slowly inched closer, growling onto Wes's face. In a full force swing, Wes rammed the weretiger in the face, surprisingly giving a heavy blow that forced the beast to release its grasp. Wes kicked it back, as he reached for his coffin; he took aim as the weretiger recovered, and shot forth, the bullets tearing at the skin of the beast, sending him down fast.
Wes took a deep breath, watching as the tiger returned to normal, Fou Pai breathed with a trembling gasp. He glanced up at Wes in disbelief.
"How... nobody... except the regents... have been able to defeat my weretiger form..." Fou Pai remarked, surprised that he was defeated by such a mere woren without the weretigers strength.
"You did nearly kill me, trust me... this may be a draw." Wes said, feeling wearier with the loss of blood.
"I never caught yar name, all I know is ya're the woren that hauls around a coffin... just who are ya?"
"Wes... Wes the gravemaker." Wes remarked with a toothy smile.
"Wes aye... well... farewell." Fou Pai addressed, as he rose staggeringly to his feet, walking to the edge of the cliff, as he fell off purposely, falling down to his death.
Wes stood there, he didn't know why the man did that, but it didn't matter, the regent was gone, but he was slowly getting dizzy, and growing weak, he picked up his coffin, slowly and staggeringly walking down the cliff, heading back to his car, if he could make it.
"Damn it... will I die... here?" he thought, feeling himself growing weaker.
***
Ryu and Nina took a few deep breaths, as they were inside one of the shops, hiding behind the shelves of foods. So far Ryu had no luck at finding the vital critical spot on the mech that Zeek was driving.
"Ryu... we can't... run... forever..." Nina said, taking gasps in between her speaking.
"Gee, you think I didn't notice." He remarked, taking he last breath, as a loud crash easily distracted him, the loud electric drilling of the huge drill Zeek had on his mech already plowed right through the front, as it moved sideways taking down the entire front.
"Come out, come out wherever you are." Zeek remarked with a cackle over the intercom.
Ryu slowly got to the ground, crawling towards the back, knowing it would buy a few seconds, but they would be worth it. Nina followed, keeping as quiet as she could the mech entering the place, still searching around, searching for the two with his heat sensor, finding them crawling away.
"Trying to escape are we?" He mentioned, this time not out loud, as he once more took the trigger for the guns, and fired away, a few feet ahead of the two to scare them once more.
Ryu stopped, already he knew it was in the area of danger, he couldn't keep this up forever.
"Nina, use a electric spell on him... it may buy us some time to recuperate and to find a weakness." Ryu whispered.
Nina nodded, slowly gathering the energy needed to cast the spell planning to short the mechs electrical operations out for a few minutes, focusing slowly on controlling the spell to the beast scale. She kept her eyes closed, as she concentrated creating two spells of different elements, master spells that she knew might be enough to perhaps blow every circuit on the mech in one big shot, the tempest spell that would take all the magic strength she had.
She opened her eyes, merging both spells together, and yelling at the top of her lungs.
"TEMPIST!!" She cried out loudly, a huge bolt of electricity coming down striking the bot dangerously, the circuits overloading as the bot jerked in every which way, electric sparks discharging as it shifted one way to another, overloading.
Ryu smiled, knowing it was his chance; he climbed up one of the shelves, looking along the exterior, searching for an opening that could prove to be a weak point to defeating this regent. He spotted something, looking to be a scanner, possibly used to help Zeek see around the area. Ryu took an accurate aim, one eye closed and with a deep breath he opened fire, destroying the sensor, the bot now blind, unable to see where it was.
Zeek though had his own problems, trying to find a way to revive the bot, but having little success as the last attack really overloaded the charges and the electrical engine.
"Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!!" Zeek spat, smashing the control panel, teeth clenched as was now struggling to keep the system active.
His hands shook, teeth clenched down that any more pressure added would bury them deeper in their own roots. He glanced over to his remote, smiling deviously, his anger faded, hope beating in his heart.
"The bots still are an option, and can buy some time. Though that Fae can tear them to shreds if-" His self-speaking plan was cut short when the control started beeping rapidly, his eyes gazed upon the status, widening with terror.
"No... how can only a few remain..." He demanded, as the numbers slowly went all the way to zero. "Rats... this isn't good..."
"Awe, whats the matter Zeek, did the Fae's guardians smash your poor, poor robots to smithereens... your poor mole, if you had listened, you might have had the better advantage... those robots could combine, and create a far more powerful robot, but you as usual repulsed my offer. Looks like its your end, a bitter one at that... ta-ta." Glitz mentioned through the intercom.
Zeek remained silent, before bashing at the controls once more, just as the power came back in the machine, his temperament slams easily entered as commands sent the machine into a dangerous state. Ryu had searched for a way in, but was unable to find one, as the mech jerked up, throwing him off and onto the floor, as it turned ton one direction, north, then south, then several others, before quivering in an overload mode, its feet rapidly moving as it advanced forth, breathing through another wall, and damaging the as well. Its rampage was a unbelieveable, smashing through one place, then another, continueing its dangerous movement.
"What... no... No... stop...STOP!!" Zeek pleaded, pressing every button on the board.
The front drill spun wildly, cutting apart anything that it came into contact with. Several houses, shops and offices were ravaged by it, as the drill tore through walls, leaving bits of debris scattered across the ground, shards of glass thrown all over the ground, the out-of-control mech wrecking anything in its path, as it finally left town, going only a few thousand yards out before blowing up. Zeek spent most of his last moments panicking, still trying to get the mech back in control.
***
The four met up, glancing at the wreacked town, the damage beyond overwhelming in cost.
"All this... this destruction..." Ryu mentioned shaking his head.
"You said the regent did this?" Mai asked, wondering if it was the one she predicted.
"Yes, he was an expert underground... though he finally brought out this... but when it was hit hard by Nina's Tempest, it was shut down, for the while, I dunno what happened afterwards, but I think we just better leave." Ryu mentioned, turning away, as he walked to the east, not knowing where to proceed.
Nina trotted behind, sorrow beaming in her eyes. She knew Ryu felt pity for bringing all this disaster onto the town, this by far had to be the worst one of all. All the shops, homes, most of the area's now were a wreck, nothing could atoll the damage, even with the zenny they had, they could never pay it back.
"Ryu, stop blaming yourself... sure we may have brought this to them, but we are not the ones who are responsible for this damage." Nina noted, begging Ryu to cheer up.
"Whats the point in denying it... with all the trouble we bring we can be considered walking typhoons, with all the trouble we caused." Ryu shot back, walking a bit more faster, not wanting to hear this.
"But-"
"Hate to say it Nina, but the guy's got a point. Everywhere you have gone there has been nothing but trouble that has erupted... he has tolerated all that happened, but this one is the icing on the cake, the worst so far. It's better we leave, far as I know, Auron has enough cash to cover this damage." Mai cut in, as she followed Ryu's trail.
Nina glanced to the ground, so far feeling exiled from them. Tears already formed in her eyes, she was the reason all this happened. Was she nothing but a disaster, was this all that she would bring to every town she visited. Taking a deep breath, she looked to Ichiro who stood near her, watching the two who were leaving.
"Ichiro..." Nina said, knowing he had something on his mind.
"Disaster... we are suspects... but we are not the criminals... people have no control when angered... we are better off fleeing then staying to fight." He mentioned, walking off to where Ryu and Mai were heading.
Nina took a breath of relief, he was right; for once they did bring a real storm through, one that took a toll on the damage scale. Ryu told how hard it was to live, and how most damages were already off the wall in repairs. She understood why they had to leave; her heart finally relieved then feeling full of guilt. She raised her head, folling the silent Ichiro, into the near evening sky, she knew things were never easy, but she hoped eventually they would never deal with such disasters in the future.
***
A trial of blood marked a long path, as Wes continued to walk, breathing deeply, sweat beading his forehead, his eyes wondered from her to there. His body was slowly growing tired, the loss of blood was now taking its toll, straining Wes down until he dropped down to the ground, and gave in to the pain. Wes knew it was not going to be long, he would die soon enough, and become nothing but a rotting corpse for the birds.
"Cherry... sorry... looks like I'm going... Kiki... I'll be joining you... very soon..." He said, a shiver in his voice as he spoke.
Taking one last step, he stopped, falling the sandy ground, depleted of the energy to even continue, his body gave out.
"I had a feeling you would end up like this." A familiar voice spoke, he glanced up, a blurred vision is all he saw, before he finally blacked out.
The red haired girl walked over, taking a deep breath, as she shook her head, kneeling down, as she placed a hand over his shoulder blades.
"Hang in there Wes... just a bit longer..." She begged, rubbing his back, she patted his back softly, before standing back up and turning to where her car was parked. "Get a doctor on the line, now... he's slipping away... please..." She pleaded, while trying to remain tearless.
"Please Wes... don't die on me now." She though, holding her hands to her throbbing heart.
"Keep yourself alive... I still need you."
**************************************************************************** **********
Next Time:
Draco: Outnumbered, several bests to three of gunslingers, the odds are not good, when you add an assassin; the odds are truly at our throats. While I have dealt with this before, i never have been dealt with ferocious lizards, wild vicious currs and airborne creatures, things really are a danger. Though it looks like the regents have a quarrel between themselves as well.
Next Chapter: Dispute
Authors notes: Yeah, a bit late, but I need to take a break. Anyhow, if you didn't get some things, mostly the robots, the idea is they look like their from Megaman... which ones, I don't know, but not Legends, definitely not Legends. Mostly if anything, the X and Zero series, since the enemies resemble more human like features or frames. Also, it is copywrite to capcom, the same people who did Breath of fire. Mostly, I guess I am more into action games, then stuff like Metal Gear Solid or something more... realistic, but that's how I do things, with inspiration from the games that give me it.
"Time to greet the guest Hudson ol' boy." Thomas remarked, as Hudson opened his eyes, turning around as he walked to where the crowd was seated.
"So Thomas, just which regents have made it?" Hudson asked, glancing around the room, seeing a few seated, but some chairs empty.
"Assassin Zuang, Firecracker Fou Pia, Blademaster Yu Lee, Steelshell Madd, Stealth Donte, Stallion Bros. Bartholomew and Rez, Missilehead Rudy, Underground Zeek, Tamer Artimis, Card Soldiers Maurice, Arsonist Fenton, The Elemental Sister's Flara, Sky and Nature, Infinite Elliot, Mechanical Master Glitz, and Sniper Thomas, present as always." Thomas addressed, announcing all who where there.
"Hmm, one sister missing, and those four party boys... only one amuses me and it isn't those men. Still, I hope your ladies can at least give her the message. Right now it appears two dragons still walk this earth, six of our regents were defeated by them and one of our own regents now is aiding a party. Nevertheless, onto business, I have a new agenda for the Fae group that our traitor now aids, I want not only the Fae alive, but her friends as well, I feel they will aid in giving what our master desires. As for Draco, he is to terminated at all costs along with that underground female, as for the little girl, capture her." He mentioned as the crowd remained silent.
"Bravo... sorry to be late, but I do have a schedule to keep." Fox mentioned, appearing behind Hudson.
"Fox, so you are alive... pitiful..." Hudson remained focused to the crowd, but Fox's eyes widen, as he grasped his throat telekinetically, already being choked by Hudson.
"This is only a warning, but next time, your going to die when I do this... understood, I only show mercy since you at least took care of that softie." Hudson said, as Fox gasped deeply for air.
"Underground Zeek, I advise you take care of the Fae, I'm giving you full advantage over the robots Glitz designed to navigate underground and with the ability to fight above ground. Firecracker Fou Pia, you also aid, but remember, I want them alive, not dead. Understood?" Hudson demanded, as the two replied with a 'yes sir' response.
"Good, Assassin Zuang and Tamer Artimis, I want Draco, the underground female, and the little brat taken care of, I want the little girl alive, but if she proves to be a problem, terminate her." He mentioned, running a finger along his throat.
"Yes M'lord." Artimis replied respectfully.
"Got it boss." Zuang replied.
"The rest of you report back to your duties, if things keep failing up, then I will contact you. Auron already is still holding it's ground, even with the sudden loss of funds... we will reign supreme in the end." Hudson replied, as he turned off, walking away, the regents getting out of their seats, exiting the meeting hall, knowing were to report.
"So far things seem to be already getting more dangerous then ever, this by far even makes that Dream-Diver a mere pebble then the dragons. I don't know what we'll do when the council finds out about this." Thomas said with weariness.
"They're already knee-deep in their own pit and sinking fast. Even if they do manage, I still plan to make sure they are taken care of." Hudson mentioned, smiling at the idea that ran in his mind.
Thomas said nothing else, he knew exactly what Hudson meant when he said 'taken care of', though the details still were sketchy. Like Hudson, he never had trusted the council one bit since they always were so arrogant towards the regents.
"Time will tell, I just hope they will die sooner then the end of this year." Thomas thought, really wanting the fools to die.
***
Dead silence, near evening and already the party was quiet, still pondering what exactly to do what they were going to do. Ryu laid down on the couch, still in his jacket, relaxing from the already still intense heat since the air conditioner broke. Nina sat at the kitchen table with Mai and Ichiro, trying to figure out just how to earn some money now that Wes had abandoned them.
She remembered his own tear stained face when Kiki was buried, how he mourn for so long over her death. She knew it was hard for the guy to cope with the death of a dear love that he only then had started to live with. Nina tried to speak, but Wes dismissed her, not wanting to even talk about it, even with the others. While Ryu planned to move on after the funeral for Kiki, Wes had other plans. Only a few minutes after the funeral ended, Wes was found getting into the drivers side of the Dune Buggy, he started the vehicle up, and drove out, leaving Nina and the others stranded, without any zenny or currency to keep their food supply up.
Now here they were, left stranded in Delfina, and now forced to find jobs to make ends meets.
"I can't believe he left us... without even a warning." Nina muttered sadly.
"Hush up about Wes, he's long gone and he might never come back. Right now, we have to find some way of making our zenny, and I already have found my way." Mai stated, pointed to the ad for a strip club.
"No way, I am not going to amount to giving my body to a bunch of dimwit, disgusting and perverted minded men." Nina said, making a more innocent glance.
"Yeah, though your bottoms gonna be sore at the end of tomorrow." Mai replied with a snicker.
"At least I ain't gonna be a whore like you." Nina shouted, standing to her feet with a angry glance flaring in her eyes and her red face.
"Your one to talk considering what your wearing." Mai said with a sly smile.
"I may show more skin, but if anyone is a whore, it's a spy like you who-"
"Enough, you two keep going at each others throats ever since Wes left... and its getting annoying." Ryu stated, shaking his head.
Ichiro only remained silent, he wasn't more of a leader, but he also had broken them up a couple of times earlier when Ryu was out trying to find a job, but had no luck. He though was able to find a job as a bouncer, but he was told to come back tomorrow morning, since already a few others took care of things during the evening.
"Well, if anything, I guess I should try a security guard for the nightclub, at least for backup incase Ichiro gets outnumbered." Ryu said, making a gun stance, with an eye closed.
"I hope you not in it for the girls Ryu." Nina remarked giving him a scowling glance.
"I see enough good things when I look at you, especially when bend over." Ryu said, Nina only flustering, embarrassed, pushing her flaps more against her.
"Your horrible Ryu." Nina replied with a giggle, Ryu only smiling before chuckling.
Mai only glanced at the two still puzzled at how they just acted.
"I never did understand these kids." She commented annoyed.
Ichiro slowly turned to her, hearing what she said. Something about how she mentioned it seemed to already cry out for help. Somehow, her face expression seemed to flint in a sort of way that gave a bothersome frown.
***
A snap of wood easily broke the silent town of Patrain, as a houndsmen was sent flying through, bloodied, and drenched with wine, he stood to her feet growling, but jumped to the side as a tough brute Haren was chucked out the window. Inside was fight, men grappled to one another or just plain beating one another with their fists or anything they could grab. In the middle of it all was the woren with a bad attitude and already was in a bad mood. Wes easily punched two drunk armadillo men right in the kisser, both already towered Wes, but were no match for his speed. Wes only snickered, as he glanced over to anyone free, finding a ox dressed like a biker, bandanna hat included.
Cracking his knuckles, he took a few steps closer to the man, before punching him in the shoulder. The ox growled, throwing a fist at Wes, who nimbly evaded with his body, and elbowed the ox across the jaw, before giving a fist to the gut, and a finishing blow of an uppercut that sent the large muscle punk through a table.
"C'mon, I fought a few damn girls who were tougher then ya dumbasses." Wes remarked, waiting to see who would attack, as a three humans ran towards him, another woren who was more bulk then agile, and a frog that was more of a fighter.
It was five on one, but Wes sent each down with a few kicks to the weak area's and a fist to the jaw that sent each one of them down and out for the count.
"If you're done messing up my bar, you can get the hell outta here." The barkeeper said, knowing the woren paid more then the money in damaging costs.
"I told you I was paying for the damages, didn't I?" Wes smartly commented, taking out a cigar and smoking it.
"I seen many types pass through and get drunk mostly by a loss, your one of those types woren." The bartender said wiping up the mess on the counter.
"When you lose someone you take dear, and all you know is to fight... what else is it you can do?" Wes asked walking out, not caring for any answer.
Deep down he was enraged, Kiki died only to save him. She had no regrets though, she was pleased to be with him in her last moments, just as she said. Wes didn't know what to do, all he had done was aid Ryu in protecting the Fae so far, but with two others, he probably wouldn't need him, even if they needed all the help they get.
"Damn it... why the hell can't I just end it all." Wes muttered to himself, shaking his head.
He felt full of sadness and anger, yet he was still alive. So far all he had done was cause a few fights, mostly with thugs on the street, a few punks, and now a bar fight. He didn't care what damage he caused, he just felt like beating the crap out of every person who got in his path. Opening the side door to his dune buggy, he took his seat, closing the door behind him, as he took one deep breath, before starting the car up and driving off.
"That damn fox... when I find him... I'll make him pay!" Wes though to himself, clenching the steering wheel tightly, still focused on the road ahead.
***
Day finally came to the town of Delfina, as Ryu woke up, getting himself dressed in his usual jacket and cloths. He already had doubts about being hired for the club, since according to Ichiro, their already were an enough of them there for the day. Slowly he walked through the hallway, towards the kitchen where the aroma of coffee tingled his nose hairs, the smell while refreshing to the nasals, the tongue only could taste the bitterness the coffee had.
"Morning Ryu." Nina said, as he walked in, glancing over to her.
He also noticed that she was the only one there, and seemed to be trying to cook, and failed, seeing the charred to a black food that was thrown in the trashcan. Nina sighed sitting down, taking a deep breath.
"I thought you were going to get a job." Ryu mentioned taking a seat next to her, as he smirked teasingly.
"I guess people do have some problems, seems they turned me down. Guess the wings really can cause problems." She sadly noted with a deep sigh.
"Guess they all now fear the trouble we bring." Ryu mentioned, taking a sip of his coffee, raising a brow, as he stopped, setting it down. "Hmm, tastes less bitter, what did you put in it?"
"Sugar, and a few drops of lemon juice." She said with a smile.
"Lemon Juice, why did you put that in the coffee?"
"Overload of sugar, I doubt you like things a tad too sweet with the stern attitude you have." She commented with a giggle.
"Well, at least you made this better then you did the food." Ryu remarked, looking over to it.
"I guess I really am not much of a housewife." She replied, giving a sly smile over at Ryu, who said nothing else, but sipped his coffee.
"You'll learn... eventually." He remarked snickering.
Nina giggled as well, but sighed, staring down at the floor, her one bright face now turned to sorrow, something was starting to bother her.
"It's Wes, isn't it?" Ryu asked, knowing it had to be the woren that Nina was worried about.
"I hope he is still alive... who knows what he's done since he abandoned us."
"He managed before to keep himself alive, he'll manage again. Although," Ryu said, brushing the small hairs growing from his chin, "the regents may know our vehicle by now, chances are... oh shit!"
Ryu's voice grew slower and edgy as he mentioned the last bit, before cursing loudly with his own fist slamming down against the table.
"Wes is in danger." Nina replied, her hands cupped near her heart, as she gulped slowly.
"Why didn't it hit me earlier... that Woren's already a target even without us." Ryu mentioned.
"What are we going to do Ryu?" Nina asked, not much on finding solutions for anything.
"Nothing... he's on his own..." Ryu hesitatingly said, "I don't know if he will live or not, but chances are he's a goner, especially when he still is coping with Kiki's death." Ryu noted, Nina knowing who he meant.
"I guess we better just stay here, we don't have much else to do." Nina said, sitting down in the chair.
"For now we should, but the regents may still strike, they won't stop at nothing until you're within their custody." Ryu replied, shaking his head.
***
Ichiro and Mai already were well on their way to the club, by foot at least, the town so far was normal as usual, even after the recent incidents.
"Mai... mind if I ask something?" Ichiro asked.
"Shoot." She replied, not very intense on anything.
"Children... love'em or hate'em?"
Mai remained silent for the first couple of minutes, for once he had hit a spot she really was uncomfterble with. She closed her eyes taking a deep breath, while she didn't tell many, Ichiro she felt she could trust, unlike the judging Nina or Ryu, though he might have taken it lightly.
"I don't hate them, I just find them highly annoying. Possibly since when I was younger, I had to take care of my baby brother and sister. My father died when I was young, shot to death by a few outlaws, so my mother had to work long hours just to keep our family support. I had no freedom when I was young, I had to care for my siblings. The crying, the longs hours... I barely had time for myself, even when my mother returned, she still had no time. I grew tired of it, I wanted freedom, but all I got was more pressure. I decided to run away when I was thirteen years old, traveling and meeting up with him, Magnum Fox. He helped me become a spy and become intelligent as I am." She said smiling.
"Yet you and he are enemies now." Ichiro pointed out.
"Yes... but I guess that is the reason why I took this job... I can't stand a child's whining, it just brings me to my knee's hearing it. I never want to deal with a child at all." She mentioned, her voice getting more hoarsely then before.
"We are what we decide to be... there's nothing wrong with your view." Ichiro remarked still walking in his excellent posture.
Mai smiled, she had only got a response like that from few people she told of her little weakness. She was truly relieved by Ichiro's reply, he didn't seem to even care that Mai hated kids, mostly for their relentless whining. Though, maybe she did give more reasoning, considering her hard past was not one of pure joy, but more of work and repetition with feeding, changing, and caring for the babies. Those days are what made her become so stern, having no freedom, and having no free time for herself in her childhood years.
She finally decided to run away, fed up with the slavery, the endless ours, the bickering of her younger siblings wanting this and that. Mai was not old enough for such things, it was her mothers job, but her mother just worked, trying to support them, and never did once take a time off to give Mai a break. Mai didn't care though, she wanted a life of freedom and leaped at it when she was fed up with being in the ever so hellish one she lived with.
"Thanks Ichiro." Mai said, a smile nearly pursed upon her lips.
Ichiro only remained silent as the two approached the adult club, seeing as kids were not aloud it could be referred to that.
"You must be the recently hired... humph, nothing new to the eyes, anyhow, just report in, then you can start. And Miss... be careful, scoundrels have been harassing most our staff... few of our best quit when those bastards tried to sexually harass them... hope you have more guts then them." The bouncer said, welcoming them.
"They even try, and I will give them pain they will never forget." Mai replied threateningly, as she cracked her fingertips, walking inside, Ichiro closely behind.
It took only a few minutes, before both of them were finally allowed to start working, Ichiro remaining outside, with a nice cold thermos to quench his thirst when he needed it. Mai though, choosing an attractive outfit, a schoolgirl like one, that covered most of her body, though left room for her panties to be seen. Though knowing how it was, she put on many layers; she was told that you had to keep the men in suspense, in order to get the best money. Main intended on it, she didn't care how degrading it was, it was a job that paid well, and she would go as far as strip just to make a profit.
"Well, it's a little odd to wear so much... but as long as the money is good, I don't really care." She thought, going out, where a few men were, but still enough to offer money.
She could see their eyes already undressing, but wanting to see her skin, a few zenny coins already being offered, as she took each, placing them in her bra, as she undid the first part of her upper body cover, revealing her bare mid area, a few of the customers howling, offering more zenny to her.
"Such pigs they are, but they are the only source of income for me." She thought, still holding the passonate face of lust, as she slowly removed her panties, revealing the string thongs underneath.
She continued to snatch the zenny, knowing the more she had, the better the profit.
***
"Glitz... hey weirdo, I know your in here!" yelled the midget sized mole, while possibly an adult, by default he was reduced to a very small height.
"Who dares call the great mechanic guru Glitz a 'weirdo'?" A irritated voice snapped back at the mole, as a slim hornsmen in a short sleeved stained t-shirt, and several holed jeans walked into view, removing his goggles to reveal his dim blue eyes, he glance agitated towards the mole, a unwelcoming smile pursed on his lips.
"You really don't get out much, do you?" The mole commented, pointing at his cloths.
"I feel more comfortable here... and with my most trustworthy students. Now then, I presume you're here for the ground units?" Glitz mentioned with a creepy smile.
"Why else would I come to a dump like this... just give me the damn bots so I can be on my way!" Zeek growled, already sick of having to even remain in this filthy area.
"What's the hurry, the woren is already on the move... the others are in town... theirs no need to rush." Glitz replied sneeringly to him.
Zeek leaped forth, even if he was half or a fourth the size of the hornsmen, he didn't care, anger boiled in his veins, he wanted to right then and there tear the hornsmen open, but he did still have control over himself, kept his weapon from piercing the 'weirdo's' throat.
"Game over you self-absorbed fuck... now give me the main control, or I'll pry it from you after I slit you damn throat!" Zeek yelled, moving his sharp tipped claws at the throat of the hornsmen, his eyes already flared with bitter annoyance, ready to kill in a moments notice.
"Fine, here... just remember, to-"
"Shuddup already... I know how to program them and I know how to activate battle mode. Sheesh, I learned that already from one of my co-workers in the mines... someone who has the screws not so loose in their head like a crackpot such as you!" Zeek insulted, as he tapped a few buttons, initiating the bots 'follow the leader' command, as each bot activated and followed.
With a two mini drills for hand, and a large one as the nose, the bots clearly were created for mechanical work. Their oval shape inner frame did do well in the underground areas. The bottom area already a three part desert terrain tank tread rover. Only with a few sensors where the bots able to calculate the path, but with Zeeks expertise of digging, he easily would be able to do anything.
Though they were 'more then meets the eye' (yes... Transformers quote) to anyone, as they could morph into a battle mode, a full body mode that served mostly for combate (think Megaman Zero types, the soildiers from the intro stage). Each around the height of five feet tall when in their robotic mode.
Zeek left the area, along with the bots, leaving the nutcase scientist alone once more.
"Dimwit, he won't be able to use their combine mode... pity... after all the effort I put in, they never will be used at full potent. Humph, still, that gives more chances that he will fall to a hundred percent failure... mahahahaha." Glitz spoke to himself, laughing like any impulsive scientist would.
***
A woren remained within the plateau trenches, peering out to find a vehicle approaching, a smile spread upon his face, knowing who it was.
"Bird or not, he still helped the fae out. Hudson said he wanted the party alive, and I plan to do it." The rusty colored haired woren mentioned, taking out a pack a explosives, mostly dynamite, but still something just like fireworks in his eyes.
His rust colored fur easily helped him blend into the mountainside, as he smirked preparing his sticks of explosives, throwing them in a crack, knowing full well the blasts would block the path of the woren's dune buggy. He already had several of them strapped to his body, mostly like feudal era armor, several strips covered like a washboard over the worens upper body portion, his arms and legs were bare. Average muscle expansion, he was built more for speed then he was for fighting.
Carefully taking out the lighter, he set the tiny flame around the coil of the dynamite, the flame slowly moving toward the end of the rope, the woren jumped back, hopping a safe distance from the explosives.
A loud boom rang throughout the canyon side, a rockslide now rumbled down, large pebbles piling up, before the bolder sized rocks slammed into place, Wes slammed on the breaks, slowing down to a dead halt, only a few yards from sudden impact. Large dust filled the area, slowly settling down to the ground. Opening the door, Wes glances around the area, peering for anything unusual.
Loud swoops easily caught the worens keen senses, as his eyes shot from one side to another, keeping a sharp eye out for anything.
"Well-well-well, if it isn't the badass woren with the piece of shit coffin... so tell me, whaddya doing driving 'round these parts?" The woren asked Wes with an evil glance.
"I don't give a damn... you got's a nerve to even try to kill me in a rock slide!" Wes growled, clenching his fists.
"Ya mistakin', I just trying to get ya attention. See, my boss want's ya alive, so I got's to bring ya back in one piece, otherwise I'm gonna be a dead man buried six feet under in explosives." The woren replied.
"So whaddya want, a fight... 'cause I'm 'bout ready to kick your ass." Wes growled, cracking his knuckles.
"The names Fou Pia, firecracker fanatic, and a fight we gonna have. So get that weapon of ya's and meet me on the other side. Don't wanna dent ya car, right?" He asked with concern.
"What makes you think I'm gonna trust you!?" Wes scornfully demanded.
"We're of the same race, can't we even get along. Sides, a regent has his morals and I ain't no outlaw." He said, picking at his teeth with his nails.
"Not good enough, you guys are dead, specially that damn fox, when I find'em, he's gonna pay dearly for who he took from me," Wes ranted, as he grabbed his coffin, arming it to battle mode, "as for anyone else, well, your about to find out."
With that, Wes unleashed the hellspray of bullets, rapid and fast, easily echoing throughout the canyon. Fou Pai jumped from one side to another, fleeing from the are where the car is, and onto the other side of the rock pile up.
"So... finally decided to stop talking? Good... cause I'm through with chatting." Fou Pia replied, taking out a bottle rocket, lighting the coil as he sent it screeching towards Wes.
Wes evaded with a ground role to the side, flipping his coffin over to return fire to the woren by his own built in missiles. With one blast, they exploded on impact upon the area where Fou Pia stood, but not a trace of him remained.
"Pathetic!" He yelled, chucking a few firecracker sticks at Wes, with a sinister laugh.
"Bastard!!" Wes muttered, running away from them, as a powerful blast rang throughout the canyon.
***
Ryu and Nina decided to take a look, even though they knew the town by a few shops and sights, they still needed to get out of the house for one day, being in their can drive one insane.
"Please tell me your still not all emotional about Wes being dead." Ryu said, not liking to hear her sobbing babble of how poor Wes was a goner.
"How can you be so heartless Ryu, he's our friend, our ally, how can you treat him like he's another dead person in life!?" Nina asked, feeling more disgusted with Ryu's comment.
"Unlike you, I have seen death so often happen that I just think of it as the sun, it always comes and goes... but unlike it, here I still stand, someone who continues to walk and fight for a world that has some control in this pitiful place. Wes abandoned us Nina, and if he's dead, good. Get over it already... Ichiro and Mai are perhaps the only two we can trust, as for Wes... we can only hope he comes back alive... right now... he's trying to cope with a loss that words may never explain." He mentioned, for once telling how he didn't care much for anything when it was people.
"Still heartless as always... yet you still protect me." She said, giving the ever so innocent eyes as she snuggled against him.
"Why I put with you I may never know." He stated, crossing his arms, but stopped hearing a sudden scream.
Turning around, he found a few robots drilling out from the ground, before transforming into robot droids with arms, legs and a head, each armed with a laser shooting projectile.
"I'm guessing only one force behind this..." Ryu remarked drawing out his gun, loaded at max, making a full six shots out and sending each one directly to the heads and other area's of the bots.
The bullets easily tore through the armor, each robot falling to the ground, their own main program chips shattered by the bullets that were used.
A few more appeared behind Ryu, transforming, and ready to opening fire. In a split second Nina closed her eyes, gathering all the elemental magic she would need, before opening her eyes, casting a heavy wind spell, with full emotion intact (dunno who I got this from, but maybe if she is reading, just tell me in a review) with a howling blast that sent the bots flying an crashing to the ground.
"Seems you took care of the lacky droids... but your gonna have to do better against me... Underground Zeek, miner veteran of all time." He said, sharpening his claws, a wicked grin pursed on his face.
"A Regent, we were expecting you, though why bring a few bots, can't handle us... yet you can handle a few dragons?" Ryu snapped, knowing the best way to victory was to piss off the enemy.
"Dare mock the ones who killed your race, pitiful... I will not let you win the war Ryu... though if it wasn't for the order to bring you in alive, I wouldn't hesitate to kill you!" he remarked, as he chucked a blade to Ryu who sidestepped, taking aim to find the mole gone.
"Damn it, he fled." Ryu remarked, knowing they were at a grave disadvantage.
"Ryu, he's underground, but where he is going to pop up is the big concern." Nina mentioned, already aware of the tactics.
"With the bots he has aiding him, things are a bit more tense then usual." Ryu added, knowing now he was going to deal with more then one opponent.
He took a deep breath; a few people already fled the area upon the first sighting of the droids. Now all was calm, giving a advantage, he slowly opened his gun chamber and reloaded his gun. In a split second, he turned, firing at the area where the mole was now at, but his shot missed by a hair.
"Missed me... " Zeek remarked, as he threw a shuriken to Ryu, who leaned back, easily avoiding an impact, but leaving a slash along his face.
"You'll pay for that mark!" Ryu remarked as he took a shot, this one while a crooked aim, as he opened fire, but his bullet missed, thanks to the regents ever so popular auto defense shield.
"Yep, a shield, it's the only way we work when the objective is to take our targets in alive." Zeek remarked with a snicker.
"Some regents you are, cowards to use damn shields to protect yourself!" Nina muttered, easily insulting him directly.
"Birdy, haven't you learned a damn thing yet? We regents are not only superior in skill, but also technology... therefore, your just mere fools who cannot achieve our level of superiority." He replied, as he took aim with his mini-handgun at Ryu.
At that moment, Nina opened her eyes, doing a short dance, as she screamed loudly "TORNADO!" She yelled out loud, sending a furious wind of fury towards the mole, it smashed furiously against the ground regents shield, but didn't blast through the regents shield.
"Magic huh? Then take this!" He replied, his hand glowing brightly as he slammed the ground, several spires sprouted from the ground.
Quick to the air, Nina leaped from the ground, flapping her wings furiously to gain altitude, the spires not bursting high enough to even touch her. Ryu only leaped aside, ground-rolling away from the huge pointy spires, glancing over to where the mole once stood, not had vanished.
"Nina, he's underground again... keep an birds eye view of the area, he's bound to pop up somewhere." Ryu shouted up, as Nina gave a thumbs up to him.
She glanced below herself, keeping a good eye out for her. She was easily shot at, a few more of the underground-robots now were above the ground, morphed into attack mode, aiming at the airborne fae's wings. She moved away, slowly charging her magic, she combined a medium powered wind and water magic spell, fusing both together, to form the intermediate lightning spell, Thunder, the shock overloading the electrical power within and the water of the element shorting out the circuit boards, the bots falling to the ground from overloading.
Ryu kept his guard up, a few more robots now were surrounding him, taking aim at him. Ryu pulled out his magnum, reloaded while he had a chance, mostly in a second after the mole vanished. In three swift pulls of the trigger, he delivered three bullets to the bots own robots eyes, destroying their main scanners and radars, rendering them useless and blink.
"Ryu, three o'clock sharp!" Nina cried out, as Ryu turned firing upon where the mole was.
Zeek only stood, as the bullet was stopped dead center as the defense shield halted the bullet.
"Fool, your gonna need more then that to take me down!?" he stated laughing.
At that very moment, Nina unleashed a magic spell, master type wind and water spell, "TEMPEST!!" She shouted, unleashing the strong lightning blast upon the mold, the large blast creating a huge dust wind the surrounded him.
He coughed a loud beeping alarm coming form where Zeek was still positioned, within the dust cloud. That magic blast shorted out the shield generator, leaving Zeek vulnerable as ever.
"Guess that means your shields gone... time to die!" Ryu said, but only to find Zeek gone, with the dust slowly settling.
"He's gone underground again?" Nina asked as she descended slowly to the ground.
"Yeah... final round... he's gonna try to get me next shot... doubt he will." Ryu said, grasping his gun tighter.
A loud rumble shook nearby, earthshaking but not a natural quake.
"I got a-"
"It's more then obvious, Nina." Ryu mentioned as a huge drill burst right nearby, two legs morphed from the side, along with two guns, that fired along the ground.
While triple their sides, nothing to astounding, though armed with dual machine guns and a few missiles, it was a force to be reckon with.
"How do you like my new toy?" Zeek said loudly through his intercom.
Ryu and Nina only gazed in despair, now they were at a great disadvantage, now with the machine backing him up; he was more bullet resistant then ever.
"So whats the plan Ryu?" Nina asked taking a deep gulp.
"I'll get back to you when I figure out a weakness." Ryu mentioned, as Zeek shot several more shots along the ground, teasing and scowling them, as his boss wanted them alive.
"You can run, but you can't do it forever, Bwahahahaha!" He cackled over the mic.
***
Ichiro had so far had a slow and boring first day as a bouncer. So far nobody seemed to dare try to resist, possibly since they were not the outlaw type. He was almost ready to fall asleep, when the crowd of fleeing people ran past, fear flashing in their eyes.
Ichiro gazed in the opposite direction of where they people were running from, remaining calm even as he saw the dangerous bot marching forth. The bots targeted him, raising their firearms, and fired away. Ichiro quickly blocked each of the shots, as he took a deep breath.
"Temporary withdraw is my only option..." He thought to himself, bursting through the doors, as he dashed into the main dance stage.
"Ichiro, what are you-"
She was unable to complete her sentence, as a few shots rang through the walls, a few customers and other employees caught in the crossfire, though Ichiro helped block a few shots that were zooming in towards Mai.
"Regents?" Mai asked, hopping off stage.
"Yes... sending their machines to do the dirty work." Ichiro noted, blocking the last shot, sending it to one of the bots outside.
"Glitz... must be his." She muttered, knowing Ichiro meant robots then human- disguised droids known as 'androids'.
"Get me to the back, I brought my gun with me and it looks like I had a good hunch to bring it." She noted it.
Ichiro only nodded, as the two dashed to the hallway leading to the back rooms. The robots broke through the front door, scanning the area, finding a few people dead, but not one of them matching the targets they were after. Glancing over to the hallways, they marched with directly to the path leading to the back locker-room area's where the stripper's locker rooms were.
"Two-targets-fleeing-to-the-back. Following-targets-body-heat." The robot complied, marching over to where the hallways was.
Breaking into the locker-room, where a few other girls were already alerted and frantically packing what they had, Mai went over to where she got dressed, grabbing her casual cloths and putting them on. Taking weight that would be a burden to carry into battle, the zenny being placed in a pouch and tightly closing the pouch up.
"Their heading this way." Ichiro mentioned, grasping the hilt of his katana tightly, focusing his attention towards the door, waiting for the enemy to enter.
Mai grabbed her handgun, loading a clip, as she glanced to the door, her gun taking aim. Her eyes glanced to Ichiro, giving a slight nod, telling him to open the door by a gesture. Not replying back, he swiftly opened the door, as he dashed out, Mai ground-rolling out and turning to the path that lead to the main lobby. Ichiro already was ahead, slicing and dicing the bots apart, as he finished the last one off, cutting it vertically in the mid area, right in the half point, the bot falling to both ends, now completely put out of commission.
"Hog all the fun I see." Mai mentioned, as Ichiro didn't make a reply.
In only a few seconds, did more approach towards them, double the last batch of five, they now were already taking aim to them.
"Allow me!" Mai said as Ichiro took his fighting stance.
Mai only sent a few shots, blowing several holes in most of the bots, her bullets tore through the bodies viciously, the impact throwing their aim off by several degrees. Her second shots blowing the bots main radar out and sending them into the scrap pile like the others.
"Mai, who is Glitz...is he the regent attacking?" Ichiro asked, very curious.
"Could be, but these bots look like the type Zeek would use... we better get to Ryu and Nina, they might be in enough trouble as it is." Mai noted, running off, Ichiro closely behind.
***
Loud ear piercing rockets screeched throughout the canyon, rapid shots following. The two worens continued their fire-powered fight, Wes using his dual gattling guns, and Fou Pai using bottle rockets, fireworks and anything that was gun-powder-loaded to blow up.
So far the two were at a match, not one had made a hit, since both were skilled in agility, and though Fou Pai was a wee bit faster then Wes could ever be. Fou Pai repeatedly tossed several firecrackers down at Wes, who only moved away from them, avoiding the explosive force the came directly after. The two now were out of the canyon and now in the paths of the mountains, moving from one slope to another, dangerously they were near the deepest area, one rumored to go all the way to the darkest pits of the planet, where nobody returned.
"Tired out woren... there ain't no chance a cigar smoker like ya can keep this up forever." Fou Pai muttered, as he remained up on a trench of the terrain.
"I'm just warming up." Wes cracked, and fired a few shots nearby, Fou Pai didn't flinch, but remained standing.
Wes smirked, this time firing at his location, Fou Pai jumping a split- second too late, as the bullets struck, though the green shield repelled the bullet from impacting the woren.
"Always with the shields huh? Well, lets see how it can take my missiles!?" Wes remarked, as he once more fired the seekers, each one slamming into the firecracker maniac, who leaped away, but was struck by a few throwing him down to the canyon.
Wes slowly walked to the edge, glancing down, seeing no trace of the woren. A sigh of relief was all he got, before a loud screech and a figure came flying directly towards Wes. The woren jumped back, glancing up to find Fou Pai standing on the ground once more, but this time he wasn't one bit to happy. His lips furrowed down, his eyes flared in anger, he screamed loudly, as he slowly changed, his body mutating with larger muscles that tore his upper and lower body cloths off, leaving his boxers on, more fur covering his body with more thickness, and his eyes now a dark red, Fou Pai changed indeed, from being his once normal self to a now bulked up and monstrous creature Wes knew was the legendary 'Were-tiger', the disastrous beast known only to be a killer.
"You think that evil side of yours is gonna scare me... please... your probably weaker then ever." Wes said, as he pulled on the missile trigger, getting a empty click.
"Fuck!" Wes muttered as the behemoth monster leaped forth, delivering a slash from its left side, sending the coffin into the earth, before slashing at Wes chest, three bleeding cuts now visible on the worens cloths.
Wes tried to get a blow, but was utterly useless, as the weretiger came at him with vicious punches, and slashes, each cut marking Wes from arms, legs, abs and face, blood already soaking his cloths.
"I'm gonna be a dead woren if I don't find a weakness." Wes thought, as he flinched from the claws digging into his skin.
Wes though was able to make a sweeping kick that send the weretiger off his feet, Wes jumped reaching for his gun, but was stopped short when the woren pounced onto him. Wes flipped himself over, facing the monster, as he grabbed both of the beasts wrist as it swung, grasping them with might, he took a deep breath, trying to move his legs to kick him from the abdominals area and throw him off. The weretiger though was more then able to restrain his feet, its paws pressing down on the worens.
Wes clenched his teeth, for once he felt the end near, the beast had him down, with all the rumors known about the were-tiger, it was possible this would go as far as tear him limb from limb with its shiny pearl teeth. Wes though knew he had one chance, he was always said to never have used it at times with his manner, but now was his chance. He closed his eyes tightly swinging his head up, as the weretiger slowly inched closer, growling onto Wes's face. In a full force swing, Wes rammed the weretiger in the face, surprisingly giving a heavy blow that forced the beast to release its grasp. Wes kicked it back, as he reached for his coffin; he took aim as the weretiger recovered, and shot forth, the bullets tearing at the skin of the beast, sending him down fast.
Wes took a deep breath, watching as the tiger returned to normal, Fou Pai breathed with a trembling gasp. He glanced up at Wes in disbelief.
"How... nobody... except the regents... have been able to defeat my weretiger form..." Fou Pai remarked, surprised that he was defeated by such a mere woren without the weretigers strength.
"You did nearly kill me, trust me... this may be a draw." Wes said, feeling wearier with the loss of blood.
"I never caught yar name, all I know is ya're the woren that hauls around a coffin... just who are ya?"
"Wes... Wes the gravemaker." Wes remarked with a toothy smile.
"Wes aye... well... farewell." Fou Pai addressed, as he rose staggeringly to his feet, walking to the edge of the cliff, as he fell off purposely, falling down to his death.
Wes stood there, he didn't know why the man did that, but it didn't matter, the regent was gone, but he was slowly getting dizzy, and growing weak, he picked up his coffin, slowly and staggeringly walking down the cliff, heading back to his car, if he could make it.
"Damn it... will I die... here?" he thought, feeling himself growing weaker.
***
Ryu and Nina took a few deep breaths, as they were inside one of the shops, hiding behind the shelves of foods. So far Ryu had no luck at finding the vital critical spot on the mech that Zeek was driving.
"Ryu... we can't... run... forever..." Nina said, taking gasps in between her speaking.
"Gee, you think I didn't notice." He remarked, taking he last breath, as a loud crash easily distracted him, the loud electric drilling of the huge drill Zeek had on his mech already plowed right through the front, as it moved sideways taking down the entire front.
"Come out, come out wherever you are." Zeek remarked with a cackle over the intercom.
Ryu slowly got to the ground, crawling towards the back, knowing it would buy a few seconds, but they would be worth it. Nina followed, keeping as quiet as she could the mech entering the place, still searching around, searching for the two with his heat sensor, finding them crawling away.
"Trying to escape are we?" He mentioned, this time not out loud, as he once more took the trigger for the guns, and fired away, a few feet ahead of the two to scare them once more.
Ryu stopped, already he knew it was in the area of danger, he couldn't keep this up forever.
"Nina, use a electric spell on him... it may buy us some time to recuperate and to find a weakness." Ryu whispered.
Nina nodded, slowly gathering the energy needed to cast the spell planning to short the mechs electrical operations out for a few minutes, focusing slowly on controlling the spell to the beast scale. She kept her eyes closed, as she concentrated creating two spells of different elements, master spells that she knew might be enough to perhaps blow every circuit on the mech in one big shot, the tempest spell that would take all the magic strength she had.
She opened her eyes, merging both spells together, and yelling at the top of her lungs.
"TEMPIST!!" She cried out loudly, a huge bolt of electricity coming down striking the bot dangerously, the circuits overloading as the bot jerked in every which way, electric sparks discharging as it shifted one way to another, overloading.
Ryu smiled, knowing it was his chance; he climbed up one of the shelves, looking along the exterior, searching for an opening that could prove to be a weak point to defeating this regent. He spotted something, looking to be a scanner, possibly used to help Zeek see around the area. Ryu took an accurate aim, one eye closed and with a deep breath he opened fire, destroying the sensor, the bot now blind, unable to see where it was.
Zeek though had his own problems, trying to find a way to revive the bot, but having little success as the last attack really overloaded the charges and the electrical engine.
"Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!!" Zeek spat, smashing the control panel, teeth clenched as was now struggling to keep the system active.
His hands shook, teeth clenched down that any more pressure added would bury them deeper in their own roots. He glanced over to his remote, smiling deviously, his anger faded, hope beating in his heart.
"The bots still are an option, and can buy some time. Though that Fae can tear them to shreds if-" His self-speaking plan was cut short when the control started beeping rapidly, his eyes gazed upon the status, widening with terror.
"No... how can only a few remain..." He demanded, as the numbers slowly went all the way to zero. "Rats... this isn't good..."
"Awe, whats the matter Zeek, did the Fae's guardians smash your poor, poor robots to smithereens... your poor mole, if you had listened, you might have had the better advantage... those robots could combine, and create a far more powerful robot, but you as usual repulsed my offer. Looks like its your end, a bitter one at that... ta-ta." Glitz mentioned through the intercom.
Zeek remained silent, before bashing at the controls once more, just as the power came back in the machine, his temperament slams easily entered as commands sent the machine into a dangerous state. Ryu had searched for a way in, but was unable to find one, as the mech jerked up, throwing him off and onto the floor, as it turned ton one direction, north, then south, then several others, before quivering in an overload mode, its feet rapidly moving as it advanced forth, breathing through another wall, and damaging the as well. Its rampage was a unbelieveable, smashing through one place, then another, continueing its dangerous movement.
"What... no... No... stop...STOP!!" Zeek pleaded, pressing every button on the board.
The front drill spun wildly, cutting apart anything that it came into contact with. Several houses, shops and offices were ravaged by it, as the drill tore through walls, leaving bits of debris scattered across the ground, shards of glass thrown all over the ground, the out-of-control mech wrecking anything in its path, as it finally left town, going only a few thousand yards out before blowing up. Zeek spent most of his last moments panicking, still trying to get the mech back in control.
***
The four met up, glancing at the wreacked town, the damage beyond overwhelming in cost.
"All this... this destruction..." Ryu mentioned shaking his head.
"You said the regent did this?" Mai asked, wondering if it was the one she predicted.
"Yes, he was an expert underground... though he finally brought out this... but when it was hit hard by Nina's Tempest, it was shut down, for the while, I dunno what happened afterwards, but I think we just better leave." Ryu mentioned, turning away, as he walked to the east, not knowing where to proceed.
Nina trotted behind, sorrow beaming in her eyes. She knew Ryu felt pity for bringing all this disaster onto the town, this by far had to be the worst one of all. All the shops, homes, most of the area's now were a wreck, nothing could atoll the damage, even with the zenny they had, they could never pay it back.
"Ryu, stop blaming yourself... sure we may have brought this to them, but we are not the ones who are responsible for this damage." Nina noted, begging Ryu to cheer up.
"Whats the point in denying it... with all the trouble we bring we can be considered walking typhoons, with all the trouble we caused." Ryu shot back, walking a bit more faster, not wanting to hear this.
"But-"
"Hate to say it Nina, but the guy's got a point. Everywhere you have gone there has been nothing but trouble that has erupted... he has tolerated all that happened, but this one is the icing on the cake, the worst so far. It's better we leave, far as I know, Auron has enough cash to cover this damage." Mai cut in, as she followed Ryu's trail.
Nina glanced to the ground, so far feeling exiled from them. Tears already formed in her eyes, she was the reason all this happened. Was she nothing but a disaster, was this all that she would bring to every town she visited. Taking a deep breath, she looked to Ichiro who stood near her, watching the two who were leaving.
"Ichiro..." Nina said, knowing he had something on his mind.
"Disaster... we are suspects... but we are not the criminals... people have no control when angered... we are better off fleeing then staying to fight." He mentioned, walking off to where Ryu and Mai were heading.
Nina took a breath of relief, he was right; for once they did bring a real storm through, one that took a toll on the damage scale. Ryu told how hard it was to live, and how most damages were already off the wall in repairs. She understood why they had to leave; her heart finally relieved then feeling full of guilt. She raised her head, folling the silent Ichiro, into the near evening sky, she knew things were never easy, but she hoped eventually they would never deal with such disasters in the future.
***
A trial of blood marked a long path, as Wes continued to walk, breathing deeply, sweat beading his forehead, his eyes wondered from her to there. His body was slowly growing tired, the loss of blood was now taking its toll, straining Wes down until he dropped down to the ground, and gave in to the pain. Wes knew it was not going to be long, he would die soon enough, and become nothing but a rotting corpse for the birds.
"Cherry... sorry... looks like I'm going... Kiki... I'll be joining you... very soon..." He said, a shiver in his voice as he spoke.
Taking one last step, he stopped, falling the sandy ground, depleted of the energy to even continue, his body gave out.
"I had a feeling you would end up like this." A familiar voice spoke, he glanced up, a blurred vision is all he saw, before he finally blacked out.
The red haired girl walked over, taking a deep breath, as she shook her head, kneeling down, as she placed a hand over his shoulder blades.
"Hang in there Wes... just a bit longer..." She begged, rubbing his back, she patted his back softly, before standing back up and turning to where her car was parked. "Get a doctor on the line, now... he's slipping away... please..." She pleaded, while trying to remain tearless.
"Please Wes... don't die on me now." She though, holding her hands to her throbbing heart.
"Keep yourself alive... I still need you."
**************************************************************************** **********
Next Time:
Draco: Outnumbered, several bests to three of gunslingers, the odds are not good, when you add an assassin; the odds are truly at our throats. While I have dealt with this before, i never have been dealt with ferocious lizards, wild vicious currs and airborne creatures, things really are a danger. Though it looks like the regents have a quarrel between themselves as well.
Next Chapter: Dispute
Authors notes: Yeah, a bit late, but I need to take a break. Anyhow, if you didn't get some things, mostly the robots, the idea is they look like their from Megaman... which ones, I don't know, but not Legends, definitely not Legends. Mostly if anything, the X and Zero series, since the enemies resemble more human like features or frames. Also, it is copywrite to capcom, the same people who did Breath of fire. Mostly, I guess I am more into action games, then stuff like Metal Gear Solid or something more... realistic, but that's how I do things, with inspiration from the games that give me it.