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Transformation
Chapter 9
Mimori's P.O.V…
They were in shock, just as I had been when Cougar had told me the news.
Carefully watching both Kazuma and Ryuhou, I pressed another key on my computer to initiate the next screen. A map of the Lost Ground appeared a myriad of miniscule red dots. Using my index finger, I pointed to one of them. "This," I stated, "is one of the detonation sites. It's the one that is closest to us at the moment."
"Tell me again what the hell this bomb will do," Kazuma said, looking more serious than I have ever seen him. "I never got passed the word 'bomb'."
Cougar took over for me. "It is designed to send out an electromagnetic pulse that will render all Alter users outside the main city immobile. In short, its frequencies have been set to shock the nervous system of an Alter user. The immediate effect will be total paralysis."
"This is what HOLD has been using the Native Alters for," I added, pressing yet another button. A web of data covered the screen. "They were experimenting with the exact frequency they would need."
Ryuhou ran a hand over his face and then pushed his hair back from his forehead. Looking down at the floor, he asked, "How many?"
"Hundreds of small beacons that will carry the signals and project the pulses farther are already installed in various strategic positions around the Lost Ground," Cougar told his commander, "There will be five main bombs that will be set off. Those too have already been set up."
"Five!" Kazuma exclaimed in anger.
"And fifteen secondary bombs that will be set off by the main pulses," the orange-haired Alter user finished.
"That's insane!" Kazuma yelled. "How the hell do we stop this?" He shoved himself out of the wooden chair and paced around the kitchen. "There is no way we can take out all five! They're on opposite sides of the fucking island!"
"Calm down, idiot," Ryuhou instructed, "You're panicking will get us absolutely nowhere."
"Don't you give me orders! It's your organization who is going to go through the damned operation!"
"Would you shut up?" I screamed, "We don't have time for this! Don't you get it? We have six hours! Six! Now sit down and shut up, because we need to make a plan!" I slammed my hands down on to the table, feeling the surface crystallize with ice.
Kazuma sat down.
Expelling a long breath, I tried to pull myself together. The time constraint was a new curve ball that Cougar had thrown at me when he'd opened the files. "Alright, now that I have your attention again," I glanced at Kazuma and Ryuhou, then at Cougar as I continued, "There might be an easy solution to all of this. We only need to disable two of the five devices in order to crash the whole system. But they must be opposite each other, exactly. That leaves only these two stations." A click of my space bar brought up two side by side images.
Identical metal platforms that supported identical white cylinders filled the screen.
"They are located on the eastern and western coasts of the Lost Ground," Cougar reported quietly. "We would have to destroy them at the same time for it to work and we'll have only once chance at it. Each bomb is guarded by HOLY's best officers and…experiments."
"Good God," Ryuhou murmured, "Can this get any worse?"
"Probably, but let's not think about that right now. Cougar and I already have a plan outlined." My voice was steady, thank God, but my hands shook like leaves in the wind. Ice was still spreading slowly over the top of the table. "We would split up into two teams, one for each bomb. The only way to disable the devices successfully is for the main electromagnet to be removed and then destroyed. That means that Cougar and I have to be on separate teams. We are the only ones who know how to take the machines apart." I made sure to look at Ryuhou when I said this. He needed to realize that we couldn't pull this off if he tried to lock me away from the action.
Cougar closed the file and shut the laptop with a ringing finality. "Whoever goes with me will be going to the west station, since it's farther away and I can get there quickly." He smiled wickedly. "If my opinion counts for anything, I think that Kazuya should be the one to come with me."
This left me with Ryuhou.
"Why me?" Kazuma asked.
"Because Sheris' team is one of the many guarding the eastern station," I replied softly.
"When do we leave?" Ryuhou inquired, just as quietly.
Without looking, I beckoned Aunt Naria from the doorway. "Ria, how long would it take you to evacuate the Alter users into the Alter Forest?"
"I don't have a clue. It depends how fast I can get from town to town."
"Cougar?" I said, turning to him.
"What do you want me to do?" Radical Good Speed answered.
"Take my aunt and Kazuma to every village in the Lost Ground. Get every Alter user to make their way to the Forest. You will have four hours." Slowly, I sank into a chair. "That's all the time you can use. After that, head for the western station. When you get there, contact me and Ryuhou. We will be waiting for your transmission at our position at the eastern station. We will strike at the same time." My eyes were closed as I added, without thought, "We will strike and pray that we can still use our powers that close to the bombs."
"…Wait a minute. Come again?" Kazuma demanded.
Ryuhou looked up at his rival. "What she means is that we may not be able to use our Alter abilities that close to the bombs." He looked at me. "That's what you meant when you said 'let's not think about that now', isn't it?"
"You hit the nail on the head, as always, Ryuhou," I told him.
"Great. Just great," Kazuma muttered, standing once again. "Well, we'll just have to deal with that hurtle when we come to it. Come on, Cougar. Grab the old lady and let's get rolling."
The Shell Bullet walked out the door with a confidence, or maybe it was stupidity, that I envied.
Naria wrapped me tightly in her arms. "Don't you dare get yourself killed, Mori. Or I just might have to resurrect you and beat you senseless. Do you understand?" Her eyes were watery.
"Yes, ma'am," I responded, kissing her on the cheek. She pulled away and then Cougar grabbed me in a bear hug.
"Be careful, Mimori," he told me.
I smiled up at him. "Hey, you finally got my name right." Cougar grinned back. "Good luck."
He and Naria walked out the door and joined Kazuma in the car. They sped off in a cloud of dust and I had the horrible feeling that I might never see them again. My fear was so strong that my entire body shivered.
Arms pulled me back against a warm body, and I sank into Ryuhou, boneless.
"We might all die, Ryuhou," I whispered fearfully, "I may never see you or Ria or Cougar or Kazuma again."
Turning me around, he pressed his lips against mine. Against my lips, he murmured, "Then we will use this time."
"For what?"
He gently kissed my neck, and I knew immediately what he meant.
(A.N.) There will be a LEMON next chapter. I decided to let you all have a nice little cliffhanger type thing again. So, if you want to see this lemon, you all better review!