Chapter 6
Written By Illuminet
Disclaimer: Refer to the first chapter to view it.
"..."-Indicate Speech
'...'-Indicate Thought
:::xXx:::
[Preface]
Justice...
Justine Badguy was the soon to be betrothed to Frederick Mercury II. It could almost be said that it was destiny that played a hand in their meeting of each other. Frederick came from a prosperous family thanks to the efforts of his scientist father, Frederick Mercury. The ties between father and son began to slip away from each others grasps each year with the passing of Frederick II's mother. While Frederick II's father continued to strive on the path of knowledge as a scientist, Frederick II interests grew into helping the injured and the sick. He soon strived to become a doctor at around the age of eighteen and fulfilled his wish at the twenty three after having been in the shadow as a doctor's aid for five years.
Justine's life was much less prosperous in comparison to Frederick II's. Coming from a somewhat poor family, Justine's mother had grown very ill since giving birth to Justine. Her father had shortly passed away, killed while walking across a street and getting ran over by a car driven by some unknown drunkard. This meant that it was all up to Justine's mother to raise her child alone, yet her own state was growing steadily worse and worse with each passing day. Without her husband's support, Justine's mother was soon unable to keep paying for both the house and her child. Justine lost her home when she was only thirteen. Two years she and her mother had to survive on the back streets and alleys, with little food or shelter.
When Justine was fifteen, her mother's sickness had gotten so bad she could barely even stand or move. One hope remained in Justine. Frederick Mercury II at this time had become well known as a doctor for his compassionate demeanor, his attentive skills, and his thoroughness. Even though he had only been a doctor for two years, he earned great respect amongst both his colleagues and patients alike. Frederick and Justine lived far apart from each other, but Justine was determined to meet with him and get her mother cured. She practically had to carry her mother on her back in order to get to her destination.
Even with all her efforts and succeeding at getting all the way to the hospital Frederick II worked at, Justine was not able to prevent her mother's passing in the waiting room. Hearing about the child's tragic tale, Frederick decided to take it upon himself to adopt Justine, now that she had no guardian to look after her. He did not feel it would be a big deal for him at the time, considering he was ten years Justine's senior which made him old enough to pass off as a father figure to her.
Because of his own fortune, Frederick II was able to provide Justine with everything she could ever want in life.Yet Justine began to yearn for something more as she slowly grew into adulthood. Unfortunately, with his profession as a doctor, Frederick II was rarely home and so he would never guess of the secret feelings Justine began to harbor for him. Since she had learned that she was beginning to see Frederick II in a new light (she was eighteen by this time.), whenever Frederick II arrived home at a reasonable hour and wasn't feeling sleepy (which he tended to be often after working almost twenty four hour shifts at the hospital.) she would try to show him subtle signs of her growing affection towards him. Being the hopelessly naive person that he was despite his age, Frederick II missed all the signs easily.
Justine had waited patiently for two more years in hopes that she could make Frederick II understand her feelings, yet Frederick II remained naive up to the point where it was starting to annoy Justine to no end. Once her patience finally waned to the end at last, Justine stormed into the hospital late at night when she knew Frederick II would be nearing the end of his shift. Although greatly embarrassed, once Justine found Frederick II she practically roared her feelings out to him for just about everyone in the hospital to hear. Needless to say, Frederick II got the point of what she was she had been doing the past two years. After that little incident, Frederick II decided he would give Justine a chance to see if he really felt the same way. Now that he fully understood the circumstances behind Justine's (what he thought at the time.) odd behavior, he soon realized his own feelings to be the same as her's. The two decided to wait a little bit longer before becoming engaged.
While Frederick II was at the age of thirty three and Justine at the age of twenty three, Frederick II proposed to Justine and a wedding date had been planned. Unfortunately, things would not go as planned for the two lovers. Although he was hardly in contact with his father at all at around this time, Frederick II still sent an invitation of the wedding date to Frederick. While on their way to the small chapel where the wedding was to be held, both Frederick II and Justine went missing. It was a few weeks ago since they were reported missing that police had discovered the location of a destroyed car that had toppled down a steep cliff on the way to the chapel. The car was identified as belonging to Frederick II, and was cleverly hidden to avoid detection. Neither body had been found within the remains of the vehicle.
Believing a motive of murder, police conducted a wide spread investigation. Nothing of note came up for the police and the investigation was grinded to a halt. On the same day as the wedding of Frederick II and Justine, Frederick began leading and participating in the mysterious Gear Project which would last for several years. The project was so secret and secure, that almost no one, not even in the government knew of it's true purpose until the scientists working within the Gear Project produced their first complete slave like Gear, code named as Type 001 who, outside her armor, bore a striking resemblance to the Human Justine, who was reported missing several years earlier..
Once Type 001 regained the free will she had lost when becoming a Gear, she used her Command Ability she was programed with in order to give other Gears made after her their own free will. Just as she was the first complete Gear made, she was also the first one to be given a name by her fellow Gears. Justice's life revolved around her own name. She wanted her own kind to be treated as equals to their Human creators, yet with the Humans fear came war, a ditch effort to suppress the growing number of Gears that had been produced and blessed with free will by Justice.
Although currently revived by her own creator after her death that ended the war between the Humans and the Gears, Justice has regained the memories of her former life that were suppressed by That Man because of the capture of her daughter, Dizzy. Now the two plan to escape the clutches of That Man, yet if they are successful in reaching the Proto-type Gear, Sol Badguy, could they really be damning the world as That Man said...?
:::xXx:::
[Main Story]
Unknown...
"Justice...you forget that I fashioned that armor for you. Regardless of how its similar to your old armor, you won't be able to use it if I don't want you to."
That Man said. Justice nodded.
"I know that. Let's just say I could care less."
Justice said adamantly. That Man sighed.
"You know you could even be turned against your own daughter as well if I so ordered it. Give up this foolishness and forget about seeing your husband. He's a different person now, anyway."
That Man said. Justice shook her head.
"Piss off. Dizzy approves of whatever he has become and so will I. I won't let you take Dizzy from us again."
Justice said in a low, serious voice.
"This is so like you, Justice...never listening to reason. I've had enough of this conversation. If you won't submit in a peaceful manner than I'll make you and your daughter submit to me the hard way."
That Man said.
"You should have just done that in the first place!"
Dizzy said, getting her two cents in on the conversation. The two prepared to do battle with That Man, despite the hopelessness of the situation. That Man jumped to the ground level where Justice and Dizzy were. Not wasting any time, mother and daughter plunged into the attack. The came to either side of That Man, but with a wave of his arm he knocked the two back before they could get out an attack on him. Both Justice and Dizzy were sent flying back but recovered quickly and went for a long range approach instead. Dizzy started off by sending a trail of flames in That Man's direction as a distraction. Once That Man was hit and sent airborne, Justice transformed her metal arm into a sword and slashed out horizontally, sending a beam of energy lancing out from the attack to strike That Man higher up still. While he was still in a daze, Dizzy flew up after him. She struck him hard with her tail, then lashed out with her wings as they turned into axe shaped blades that cut into his cloak. She struck him as much as she could with her wings, but stopped when she realized something. Once Dizzy landed on the ground, That Man's cloak floated down gently.
"Mother, he's gone! There's no one there!"
Dizzy shouted as she grabbed the empty cloak. Justice looked around, seeing the illusion of the Stairway to the Heavens vanish and become an ordinary room.
"Damn it! Where are you?!"
Justice said as she looked about frantically.
"I'd be more concerned about what your about to do to your own child, Justice."
That Man's voice sounded from all around the room, so it couldn't be pinpointed. The safety clips on top of Justice's shoulder armor opened without her willing them to. Justice tried to bring her arms up so she could close them herself but realized she couldn't move them.
"DIZZY!!"
Justice yelled in a panicked voice. Dizzy turned towards Justice's direction as large amounts of concentrated energy began gathering within the compartments of her shoulders.
"Run...I can't control it..."
Justice said weakly.
"And you said you could care less...I can see how far from the truth that statement was."
That Man's voice sounded in the room again. Dizzy looked angrily towards the ceiling.
"Leave her alone!"
Dizzy ordered sternly. That Man chuckled.
"Unfortunately, I can't do that. Justice doesn't need to worry, though. You'll survive her attack, Dizzy. You are a Gear after all."
That Man said. Dizzy looked back towards Justice. With a look of determination, Dizzy rushed over to Justice.
"No, Dizzy...DON'T!!"
Justice screamed, but Dizzy didn't listen. Dizzy tackled her mother to the ground, straddling the armored Gear as the Gamma Ray was about to be released. Dizzy quickly brought her hands over the shoulder clips and slammed them down on Justice's shoulders, successfully halting the attack from being set loose. Both mother and daughter let out heaving breaths of relief.
"That was a little too close for comfort..."
Dizzy said. Justice nodded.
"A little too close for comfort indeed."
Justice agreed. A looming shadow went over Dizzy.
"Dizzy, look out!"
Justice warned. Dizzy turned around just in time to bring up her arms and defend against That Man's fist. The force behind the attack sent Dizzy reeling back. Justice got up quickly, her hands transforming into talons as she thrust them forward, intent on impaling them in That Man's throat. His hands came up to grasp her's while they were just centimeters from hitting their mark.
"I'm growing tired of this. Give up peacefully and I won't have to make you do something else you'll regret, Justice."
That Man said. If he could see through her armor, That Man would see Justice smirking. She pulled back suddenly, bringing That Man with her. A pillar of ice jutted up from the ground, striking That Man hard in the chin. While That Man was dazed, Justice spun in a circle, whipping out with her tail to strike That Man hard in the face and sent him off his feet. That Man lay still on the ground. He got up slowly, but was pinned down by the neck by a massive crab like arm that Dizzy's arm formed into.
"I'd like to see you get out of this!"
Dizzy taunted. That Man shrugged.
"And so you shall, dear child..."
That Man said. His cloaked figure slipped right out of Dizzy's grasp.
"Damn, not this trick again!"
Dizzy said in frustration.
"Enough of these games..."
That Man said in a tired voice. Dizzy lashed out with her tail, which had transformed into a worm like creature. That Man evaded the biting appendage easily and stuck Dizzy very forcefully in the back of the neck, sending the young Gear in unconsciousness. That Man then turned to Justice.
"Your all alone now, Justice. It's time to be put to sleep."
That man stated with a snap of his fingers. Justice fell to her knees, her armor beginning to disappear, piece by piece. Justice could feel her creator's control taking over, but before it was complete, her lips showed a faint smirk.
"You should have dealt with me quicker. Freddie's already being informed of our location as we speak. So what if you knock me out now, he'll have the coordinates to track me and Dizzy down."
With that said, Justice no longer fought against That Man's control and fell to the floor unconscious. That Man scowled within the darkness of his cloak.
"Damn...I should have not recklessly decided to fight them. Now that he has the coordinates...no, wait...I might be able to use the very information against him."
That Man said to himself. He contacted Raven telepathically.
'Raven, the Proto-type may know where we reside. If he decides to head towards this location, have him assassinated.'
That Man ordered. Raven's voice soon came within That Man's head.
'Why assassinated, my liege? I thought you said we needed him alive...?'
Raven said.
'Don't be so naive, Raven. The Proto-type is too powerful to be killed. He'll become frustrated with the search knowing I'm one step ahead of him and placing so many obstacles in his path. We need to prolong his suffering for as long as possible, understand?'
That Man explained.
'Very well. It will be done.'
Raven said. That Man laughed.
"Good. Things are working better than I originally anticipated."
:::xXx:::
Baiken's Place
Sol opened his eyes. He heard something within the depths of his brain. A distress signal. Sol sat up,
remembering that he was at Baiken's house. It was in the middle of the night.
'Justice...!'
Sol thought. Information from a distant place poured into his head. In his mind he saw the fight
between That Man, Justice and Dizzy through Justice's eyes.
'That fucking bastard...so he's gone to that place has he...'
Sol thought, turning his head slightly to glimpse at the weapon of the Outrage set bestowed upon
him by Ky.
)))Flash Back(((
"I'll take this one."
Sol said to Ky.
"The Fire Seal? Your sure?"
Ky asked. Sol nodded as he picked up the one handed weapon in his left hand.
"During the Crusades, a Knight used this weapon to battle with me. I always thought this was a cool
looking Outrage ever since I saw it in battle."
Sol said. Ky nodded.
"Very well then, suit yourself."
)))Flash Back(((
'Hope I can use you well, Outrage. Well, I better get going. I'm sure if I go by myself, it won't be some traitorous act against the boy that'll cause my ass to get roasted like a chicken."
Sol thought to himself. He rested the blade on his right shoulder. He slunk out of the house soundlessly.
'I don't care if the boy does want to work together, it's my family so I should be the one to rescue them.'
Sol nodded to himself, resolve burning in his eyes. There was no way he would be stopped, knowing Justice was for the time being free and Dizzy was still safe. He rushed away from Baiken's house as quickly and stealthily as possible. He didn't really have to worry too much about the public since Baiken lived very far away from others. The only person who could probably detect him if he made a wrong move in his getaway was Testament.
"Hello there again, Sol."
A familiar voice called out. Sol sighed.
'Damn it. I just know Testament heard that.'
Sol wanted to break Faust's neck for coming on by and talking when he did. Usually Faust came around at good occasions. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of them. The doctor being mentioned floated down to the ground on his trusty umbrella.
"How's it hanging?"
Faust asked in a cheerful manner. Sol gritted his teeth together in annoyance.
"Damn it. Why do you have to be here?"
Sol asked in an irritated manner. Faust stared more closely at Sol.
"Those eyes...that ambition...your heading out to battle, aren't you Sol?"
Faust asked seriously, surprising Sol, who thought the good doctor didn't have a serious bone in his body.
"And who are you heading out to battle with? The creator?"
Testament asked, coming up from the ground. Sol sighed. So much for wanting to save Dizzy and Justice by his own strength. Testament, Sol felt, had a right to be here because Dizzy was his girlfriend after all. Faust was another case.
"Look, Justice's has broken free from the control of That Man briefly. She was able to give me information on where she and Dizzy are located."
Sol told Testament. Testament looked surprised briefly before his expression went neutral again.
"We should get the others, but I too desire to rescue Dizzy by myself. I'll go with you then, Sol. Let's get this over with so our lives can be brought back to normal."
Testament said. Sol nodded.
"No use in arguing when your just going to follow me anyway."
Sol said.
"I'll go with you two as well."
Faust volunteered. Sol shook his head to this.
"Hey, it's a doctor's job to cure, not injure. Leave this to the professionals."
Sol said seriously, but Faust declined to do so.
"You speak the truth, but don't think I'll hinder you at all. I can hold my own well in a fight."
Faust said, using that same serious tone. Sol shrugged. That was fair, as long as Faust didn't waste time, Sol could tolerate him.
"Where do we go?"
Testament asked. Sol turned towards him.
"I'm pretty sure its America we're headed to...now all we have to do is figure out a way to get their from Zepp without me being seen by the public, or things could get messy."
Sol said. Testament brought his hand to his chin in thought.
"Hm...The airport is out of the question. They'd never let you on. I don't suppose you have the ability to travel underground as a mass of liquid, do you?"
Testament asked. Sol shook his head.
"If I may be so bold...I may have a solution to our predicament. Wait here."
Faust said, pulling a piece of green cloth from his doctor hand bag. By some unexplainable means, Faust's tall, lanky frame disappeared under the cloth when he put in over his head.
"What the fuck...?"
Sol muttered as he looked at the discarded piece of cloth on the ground.
"An interesting trick, but I don't see how it will help..."
Testament began, when he was suddenly hit in the face and knocked to the ground by an opening door that appeared out of nowhere.
"Come on in."
Faust said. Sol and Testament looked warily at the door.
"What kind of trick is this?"
Testament asked as he got up off the ground.
"Since Sol knows where to go, all he needs to do is think of the exact location he wants to end up and viola! Just open the door at the other side and were there."
Faust explained. Sol whistled loudly.
"Wow, that's one hell of a door."
He said. Deciding to trust the doctor, both Gears went through the door, finding themselves in what looked like a doctor's office.
"Okay, so let me get this straight. All I have to do is envision the place I want to go and I'll be there, right?"
Sol asked. Faust nodded.
"Okay...here goes."
Sol said slowly, closing his eyes and began envisioning the room he saw Justice and Dizzy fighting That Man. Sol opened his eyes. Sol opened the door and stepped through it.
"What the fuck? Hey, baldy, were still in the same place as we started out when you first came here. What gives?"
Sol asked angrily. He had really hoped he could have saved Justice and Dizzy with Faust's technique, but it ended up not working. Faust scratched the back of his paper bagged head in thought before his fingers snapped in realization.
"That's it! The place you must be trying to locate most likely has a distortion field that prevents dimensional forces from going within the location. As long as that field is up, dimensional space openings like my technique won't allow us to go to where we'll need to and just send us back to where the dimension was first opened. Whoever your trying to get to is pretty darn clever."
Faust said. Testament nodded.
"The creator has thought of everything to keep others out. Sol, couldn't we head to an area close by? You sounded so certain of where Justice and Dizzy are being held. If we are able to get close to where they are held, we could just walk through the back door of wherever they are."
Testament suggested. Sol shook his head.
"No, that won't work..."
Sol said lowly.
"Why not?"
Faust asked. Sol shook his head.
"That place can't be accessed by normal means..."
Sol said, bringing his hand to rub his eyes. He seemed to be thinking hard about something.
"Where is it exactly? You said to head to America. Where exactly to though?"
Testament asked.
"It's an area under the lab I was born in...that's right, it does have a distortion field that prevents access to anyone outside of it...but there's an opening somewhere...damn it, where was it?"
Sol said, talking more to himself then his companions.
'Damn...that was so long ago, but all Gears are given a photographic memory, so I should be able to remember...wait that's it!'
Sol snapped his finger.
"Its come back to me. Hey Doc open your door, I know exactly where to go now."
:::xXx:::
Baiken's Place
"Hey, where's Sol?"
Johnny asked. He had gotten up to go to the bathroom, passing by the room Sol had been in. The shoji door had been left open and Johnny found Sol's futon without Sol in it and no Fire Seal. He had just informed Ky, who was shaking his head in disbelief.
"Damn. So much for cooperation."
Ky said with a sigh.
"Testament's gone as well."
Anji informed.
"Hm...what does that mean? If both of our Gear allies are gone...?"
Chipp said as he walked in on the conversation.
"Damn Gears. I'll bet they knew where That Man was hiding all along. We won't be able to track them either. Unless..."
Baiken said. Ky nodded.
"Sol's only weapon is the Fire Seal Outrage. If we track down Fire Seal, chances are we'll find Sol. Him and Testament."
Ky said knowingly. Baiken nodded.
"Maybe we should just leave them be, dad. They seem so determined to save Dizzy by there own power, you know?"
Bridget said, walking into the room.
"Bridget, when did you wake up? You should be in bed."
Ky said in surprise. He had hoped his family wouldn't get involved.
"Sorry, dad. But we are only a few rooms down from this one., and you guys were talking so loud and..."
Bridget apologized sheepishly.
"So what's our plan of action, dear? Do we just follow Mr. Badguy or do we wait and do nothing?"
Jam asked as she got into the conversation. Ky looked at her in surprise.
"Whoa, you two aren't getting involved in this in any form what so ever. Please leave this matter to me and me alone."
Ky said. Jam frowned at her husband's choice of words.
"Don't make me do it darling, because I will."
Jam warned him. Ky's face fell a bit.
"He still seems hesitant, mom. Should we go for a double dose?"
Bridget asked as he turned to Jam. Ky's eyes widened.
"Okay, okay, when you two put it that way, I give up. Please don't give me the...Look."
Ky said desperately. Jam and Bridget gave a high five for each other. Chipp brought his head closer to Anji's.
"His wife and child got him wrapped aroung their fingers."
Chipp whispered. Anji nodded.
"I agree."
{...To Be Continued...}
Note: Somewhat of an early update to commemorate having finally gotten a new computer. Not much going on in this chapter, but things will pick up eventually. I'm having to get used to using Word Perfect over both Microsoft Works and Word so please just bare with the slowness of these last couple of chapters I've written.