Joshua is battling a monster that wasn't intended for him and the sisters are scrambling to rectify the problem. It wasn't part of Ebony's plan (but it was for a certain character's.)
Don't own CC
Chrono Crusade: Horns of Time
Chapter Seven: Promotion
"Fighting wars is not so much about killing people as it is about finding things out. The more you know, the more likely you are to win a battle." –Tom Clancy
The Astaroth roared as he swings his axe around and around. Despite his size and strength, he couldn't hit Joshua who was dodging each attack. His frustration showed as with each blow he made became quicker and more unpredictable.
Joshua thought to himself, "What are these sisters trying to do to me! If these are the tests everyone goes through then I better finish this guy quick before he does me in!"
Back at the control room, the sisters panicked and pushed all sorts of buttons in order to fix the problem.
"No good, this didn't work!" Ebony shouted.
"This doesn't work, either," Abigail shouted back, "What are we going to do!"
Caitlyn just stood there, in deep thought. Ebony looked at her, "Caitlyn, this isn't the good time to do nothing!"
"I know," Caitlyn folded her arms, "But running around like maniacs isn't my idea of helping Joshua."
"Helping Joshua? Please," Ebony scoffed, "I don't really care about that guy. I just worried about my own hide!"
"Ebony!" Caitlyn scolded, "How could you say such a thing!"
"Okay, I care about him too."
"We have no choice," Abigail said turning to the girls, "we have to call Sister Azmaria."
"NO!" Ebony shouted at her, "If she found out about this then we're all in trouble!"
"Even if it means one dead Joshua? I'll take my chances!" Caitlyn ran out the door while Wolf was standing there, smiling.
"I don't see anything funny about our present situation," Abigail warned.
"Oh, nothing is funny," Wolf said, "I'm just thinking about how things are right now."
"Humph!"
"Ignore him, Abby," Ebony said, grabbing her arm, "We've got to fix this problem before Sister Azmaria gets here!"
The two sisters went back to the controls, leaving Wolf laughing in his head while wearing a smile. Back to where Joshua was, the battle had become fiercer. Joshua fired some scareds at the monster however they were ineffective.
"Damn. It's not working. What to do…"
The Astaroth roared, "IT WILL RAIN BLOOD TODAY!"
"I didn't know idiots talked!" Joshua shouted back.
"GRRR…PRETENTIOUS LITTLE BUG!" He took a swing of his axe and nearly hit Joshua with the blade. However it did sent him flying and landing on his back.
"Ahhh! You got lucky!"
The Astaroth charged at him, roaring. Joshua turned to his gun. One bullet and it was a gospel.
"Another gospel. If I can just pull the same trick the last time then I can beat this guy." Joshua stood up and aimed his gun, the Astaroth roaring and charging. Suddenly, the same sharp pain returned to him and he briefly stalled for a moment.
"No. Must concentrate. Must defeat monster. Can't lose…won't lose!" He shook it off and fired. A blue orbed light fired straight at the Astaroth.
He roared as his body disappeared, "WHAT! I CANNOT BELIEVE I LOST TO THIS…SCUM!" The blue light dissipated and the Astaroth was no where to be seen. Back at the control room, all the systems returned to normal. Ebony sighed relief,
"Everything is returning to normal!"
Abigail looked at the screens, "Looks like all the systems are operating perfectly now." At the same time, Azmaria and Caitlyn entered the room, "What's going on here," Azmaria asked.
"Did you guys fix the controls?" Caitlyn inquired.
"No. But someone did." Abigail said with relief.
"Hey guys," Wolf directed them to the training grounds, "looks who's standing there."
Everyone looked and to everyone's surprise, they saw Joshua standing there with his gun.
"Looks like he defeated the Astaroth," Abigail said. Then she covered her mouth quickly, "Whoops!"
Azmaria's eyes widen, "An Astaroth? You have him face an Astaroth?"
"No ma'am. You see…we had some trouble with the system."
"Oh really," she looked at Wolf, "I wonder who it could be…well, no matter. Call Joshua up here, I want to talk to him."
Ebony got to the microphone, "Joshua! Get yourself up here. Sister Azmaria wants to talk to you!"
"Will do," Joshua responded. He made his way back and inside the control room. Once he got there, Azmaria shook his hand.
"Congratulations on your successful test, Joshua. I knew that you could do it."
"R-really? But Sister, you weren't here."
"I had my best sisters report for me everything that happened. And how you handled that final monster. That was fantastic!"
"Thanks. That guy wasn't really hard." Joshua blushed.
"I have no doubts now. As of right now, you are now a militia. Congrats are in order, wouldn't you agree, sisters?"
"Yeah, great job Joshy!" Abigail slapped him on the back.
"You did well," Caitlyn said. "Even after all the training time, you've still got a long way to go. Do remember that."
"You're good, Joshua. But don't expect that much praise from me," Ebony mumbled.
"Thanks you guys," Joshua said as he stoked his hair, "I really couldn't do it without you helping me."
"Okay, that enough," Azmaria said as she escorted them to the entrance of the control room. "Get some rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day!"
"What's going to happen tomorrow?" Joshua asked her.
"Don't worry, Joshua. Everything will reveal itself. Now, run along. I would like to have a word with Wolf."
"Wolf?" Joshua questioned.
"Don't worry, I'll catch up. I'll meet you in your room."
"Okay…" Joshua and the sisters hurried outside of the room. Azmaria closed the door and looked at Wolf.
"Wolf…"
"They wanted to cheat Joshua into quitting. I couldn't let that happen."
"I don't want you using your powers like that. You could have seriously hurt Joshua."
"I know."
"By the way…did you take a good at Joshua's power?"
Wolf took out a compact electronic notebook, "Power levels are off the chart. I recorded this…" He played a clip where Joshua was firing his shot at the Astaroth. Azmaria's eyes widen.
"I see…so he does have the same technique."
"I'm afraid so."
"Hmmm…Now I'm certain. Keep tabs on Joshua and make sure he's safe from harm."
"What am I, his mother?"
"No. But you're the only family he's got. We're the only family he's got."
"Understood." Wolf quickly walked out of the room but stopped at the entrance. He asked Azmaria, "When are you going to tell him the truth."
"When the time reveals itself," Azmaria replied.
"The High Council wants to keep this under wraps until they figure out a way to handle this. Do remember this."
"Indeed this is a delicate situation. However…"
Wolf finished her sentence, "he has a right to know. She was one of the greatest Order officers here. A shame that no one even remembers her."
"She was my best friend. My…predecessor; taught me everything I needed to know."
"Yes." He walked out leaving Azmaria alone inside the control room.
She thought, "In time, he'll know. And when he does, what will happen?"
A secret kept between Wolf and Azmaria raises suspicion. I promise, the action will happen after this chapter. Please R&R.
