"NDS: Book 12—Neon: Chapter 85: Shut Down"

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Odd as it is, I have nothing to say, let's just go on with the story.

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Along the gray and cold streets of Neon City there was great commotion as the two ex-Drifters and members of the Maxwell Gang known as Jet Enduro and Emilia kept A-Type Drones off their backs. Emilia turned at one and let out a shout, "Razor Kick!" Unleashing a blade of wind from her leg as it flung forward in a kick the attack hit the spot where the drone's torso met it's pelvis and the drone was ripped apart. To finish off the matter, Emilia's blade soon ran through the head of the drone in a downward motion. "That's five for me." She remarked as she and Jet reconnoitered.

Jet was not about to let the woman defeat him and grasped his Raven's Wing tightly. "Raven's Wing!" He declared as he swung, but there was nothing except a gray-haired carpenter swinging a large blade through the air. Looking like a huge fool. "Why?" He questioned as two drones approached him. "Why won't it work?"

"Think about that later!" Emilia shouted as she stared at the approaching enemies.

In anger Jet put his arms through the process and let out his anger in a roar, "Positive Cannon, Fire!" The attack is able to rip half of the drones apart as they are left to fall upon the other now without their second legs. "Six." He calmly let out.

"Ever since we've found they are weakest at the pelvis and head we've really been going through them like popcorn, eh?" She questioned with a laugh.

"Still, they don't get tired…"

"Good point. I feel ready to rest for a half hour at least, and we've only dented their numbers."

Jet planted his Raven's Wing in the ground out of anger. "I don't get it!" He bitterly said. "If my Raven's Wing could do more than just turn to it's zanbato form I'm sure I could wipe them all away…but…"

"So…it hasn't worked since fighting Nobuo?" Emilia honestly questioned.

"Only once after I fought him…I used the Raven's Wing to save us."

"What?" She eagerly wondered. "Y'mean…"

"The collective will between Virginia and I to protect the sandcraft saved it from being obliterated like Eon was…"

"How is that possible?"

"It was…the Raven's Shield. The zanbato glowed light blue and Virginia and I thrust it into the ground. It was a lot like my Lion's Shield, but with the Raven's Wing." He explained. "And in all the chaos we were flung aside and then we left…"

"And it hasn't worked as well since then?"

"Well…I never had a reason…the Raven's Wing…it's not meant for petty battles…it's meant to protect." Jet explained. "I don't need it to fight unless it's something like Nobuo and Eon."

"Maybe…maybe the Raven's Wing decided these battles were unworthy…but…then it wouldn't make sense…because why would it even turn out of it's katana form?" She sat there a moment. "Maybe…"

Jet nodded. "…The problem is with me."

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Pike ran through the halls with all his might in hopes to finish his task quickly and not be caught by any drones along the way. It was simply terrifying to him at the moment. He was no hero after all, and definitely not a fighter. Why did he have to be involved in all of this?

"Pike!"

"Huh?" Pike stopped as he noticed Gallows, who he remembered from the past. Beside him were two unfamiliar faces, but he knew they were allies as well. "What are you doing here?"

"Everyone else was here so I decided to join the fun." Gallows grinned before he noticed the vacant stares between Adven and Pike. "Oh, these two are good friends. This is Adven Bok, and that's Sakura Ryokai. This is Pike." They all said their hellos. "What a place for an introduction."

"Have you seen Clive Winslet?" Sakura anxiously questioned. "He came here two days ago."

"He did?" Pike questioned. "Virginia and I came that day as well…but all we were met by were drones. Not Clive." Pike swallowed as he closed his eyes and took a breath. "All of the Neon citizens were killed by the drones. Some tried to hide and stop them, but all of them died except for Virginia's friends…but he's not long off either." He opened his eyes. "They went to shut down the city's power."

"And where is it you're going?" Gallows wondered.

"To shut off those drones. They run on another place in this building."

"You won't be able to do that alone. The drones will kill your first." Gallows commented as Pike's face went pale. "Uh…I better come with you."

"Fine, but I'm going to find my father." Sakura instantly remarked, determined.

"Then I'm going to protect her." Adven said after.

Pike just gave them both an odd stare, and then they ran off their separate way. "Uh…what's with those two?"

"Beats me what's gotten into Sakura, but Adven is hopelessly in love with her."

"Ah…that explains it."

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Staggering into a room that was only lit up by computer screens, Virginia and Samu quickly looked for the center console and moved for it. As they came to it Samu let go of Virginia and some of his blood fell on the console. The rest had been on Virginia's new winter coat she had worn for the journey.

"All…the power in Neon aside from the generator that runs the drones control room comes from here." He said quickly, before taking in a deep and ragged breath.

Virginia moved to his side. "Hold onto your strength." She recommended. "I can turn off this thing." She quickly started to push the buttons and the screens soon went blank as darkness overtook them. There was only faint light from the emergency lights that ran from their own sources painting the room a blood red color.

"There's…there's one…more thing…I must…do…" Samu commented.

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On a lower floor a B-Type drone is ripped apart as nuts and bolts threw about the metal hallways as Gallows lowered his arms. His arcana came in handy once more. Pike observed their location and looked a nearby door as he pressed a button on the door panel and it slid open. "This looks like where the drones are getting their orders from." Pike noted as they walked in. "This room is run by a separate generator, which is why the hall lights are off but this place still runs."

"Does it look like I really care?" Gallows questioned as they found the main console. "You just like to sound like your smart."

"…Whatever."

"I see where the old Jet has rubbed off." Gallows mused.

Pike whacked him over the head and then started work on the computer. "Let's just finish this up. Some reason I've started to dislike you."

"Move aside. I can do this easy." Gallows said as his broad shoulders moved the smaller Pike aside. "Devastate!" The console sputtered apart as Pike felt like he was in the middle of the war zone. "That'll do it." Gallows proudly said.

"Uh…next time, aim at that generator over there." Pike pointed out the large machine making noise and moving.

Gallows let a nervous sweat drop as he awkwardly directed his attention to the generator. "Er…I knew that. Devastate!" That machine blew apart just like the one before.

"Y'know…we could have just unplugged it from the other machines." Pike noted as he held onto the unconnected cord as the lights went off.

"Now you tell me…"

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Some reason, Pike and Gallows don't get along. I don't know why. But I like it.