Forgive the recent slowness of updates. I've been working on my summer job, and it's been brutally hot recently, nearly 100 today, so I'm finding it real hard to work up the energy to type chapters.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 13: Iron Rematch
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'' He said that he would be here…'' Butch muttered, scanning the depot. It was three days later, at the agreed upon time. The day was a Sunday, so the depot was practically abandoned save for a few sleepy engineers clustered around the entrance to a rest house. The rebels were hiding behind a large metal container which was destined to be loaded onto a flatbed truck.
'' Hey! Over here!''
Kurogane was walking towards them, a sack of some sort over his shoulder.
'' Ah, Kurogane-san!'' Slate said gratefully, '' We were afraid that you wouldn't come.''
'' I was getting ready for my run.'' Kurogane explained. '' The first stop is Ironsould, which is why I'm offering you guys a ride.''
'' So, we're going by train?'' Karla asked.
Kurogane nodded. '' Yes. It's the fastest way to travel around these parts.''
He led them over to a train headed by a red locomotive. It was modeled after the train engines from the 21st century.
'' It's not automonus?'' Lloyd asked. So far, his demeanor hadn't changed a bit, even though the rebels were keeping a close eye on him.
'' No.'' Kurogane said, answering his question. '' Those drones have no personality at all. These things are the best.''
They climbed up into the control cabin. Once there, Kurogane laid his sack on the floor, took a seat and glanced at a status display screen. '' How're the diagnostics going Chargeman?''
The steam engine like navi appeared on the screen. '' Everything is operating at optimal performance Kurogane-san. We can leave at any time.''
'' Alright then.'' Kurogane said in satisfaction and began to manipulate the control panel. '' We'll depart right away.''
After a few minutes, the engine began to emit steam and the train began to advance, pulling its cargo behind it.
Kurogane leaned back in his chair as the train began to accelerate. '' We'll be there in around a half hour.''
'' Thank you very much.'' Slate said gratefully.
'' By the way, why do you want to go to Ironsould anyway?'' Kurogane asked.
'' Someone… is releasing viruses out onto the net. Stronger ones.'' Slate said plainly.
'' Well, it can't be anyone in the town itself.''
'' Why's that?'' Vick asked.
'' Because the most intricate device in the town itself is an icebox.'' Kurogane answered. '' The only computers are at the depot and in the administrations building, and I can assure you that it's not where you're looking for, as Dullaq is very loyal to T-Corp.''
'' Well… Maybe something is hidden on one of the mountains.'' Karla suggested.
Kurogane shrugged. '' Maybe.''
Eventually, Kurogane began to slow the train down, as trains couldn't stop suddenly like cars could.
'' There, there's the depot.'' Kurogane said, pointing torwards a collection of buildings and warehouses up ahead, where several additional tracks split off from the main four.
'' You better get off now. We're not going very fast at all; you can simply jump off.''
'' Thank you again for bring us.'' Slate told him.
'' I'm just doing what's right.'' Kurogane said in response. '' Now go! Or else you'll be discovered!''
The six rebels thanked him and jumped off. The ground was not very rough, and the train wasn't moving all that quickly, so they were unhurt. Afterwards, it was only a short walk to Ironsould.
It was a quaint town. The houses were built out of wood and were of decent size, giving the town an appearance similar to towns depicted in old cowboy movies. It was obviously not dirt poor like Kyotoro, for there were bars, saloons rather, convience stores, and the people looked rather fit, abeit a little grim. None of them were paying the six much mind as a crowd of people were streaming towards the depot to unload the train.
'' Uh, excuse me…'' Terry said, attempting to catch some attention, but he was ignored. '' Hey!'' he finally shouted, this time causing one man to stop and fire off a short bit of Japanese at him. Whatever he had said was probably very rude, for Slate shook his head and muttered something to himself.
'' Man, doesn't anyone here speak English?'' Terry sighed.
'' Probably.'' Slate said. '' I'll take over.'' He was, after all, a native speaker.
Instead of going to a worker, he went to a man who was sitting on the steps of one of the stores and engaged him in a conversation. After a little bit, the man pointed to a small group of boys playing what looked like marbles. Slate thanked him and walked back to his companions.
'' Well, what did he say?'' Lloyd asked.
'' I asked him if he had seen anything unusual.'' Slate began. '' He told me that a boy named Hideki had been on the mountain and was claiming that there is a scientist up there. I think he should be a good place to start.''
'' Well, where is he?''
'' Over there.'' Slate said simply, pointing over to the group of boys.
He began to walk over to them. Most of them fled at the stranger's approach, but one black haired boy stood his ground. '' Who are you?'' he asked in English.
'' I am Iwasaki Akira.'' Slate answered. '' I was told that you were up on the mountain. Was there anything strange up there?''
'' There's a guy living up there, Arman-hakase. He let me stay there for the night when I got lost. But no one believes me…''
'' So this is the guy we've been looking for.'' Terry said, walking over.
'' He's… he's doing something to navis up there!'' Hideki blurted out.
Slate raised an eyebrow. '' Really? Well we believe that he's doing something even worse. Do you remember where he is?''
'' He has a lab of some sort, up there…'' Hideki said, pointing to a rocky portion of the mountain, just above the trees.
By now a crowd of people had gathered around the rebels and Hideki, forming a semicircle around them. Most of them had unfriendly expressions on their faces.
'' This doesn't look too good…'' Karla muttered, moving closer to Terry.
But then some of the people let out alarmed shouts and ran or dived out of the way as a rouge, unmanned forklift, probably from the depot, plowed forward towards the rebels. They scattered as the thing hit the building next to them, creating a resounding crash.
'' W- what's this!'' Vick said nervously, as he continued to back away.
'' Sit still so that I can crush you!'' a high pitched voice said in frustration.
'' Oh no… That's Circusman.'' Terry groaned.
A new voice spoke. '' You won't gain anything by defying usde-aru.''
'' I'd recognize that dialect anywhere. Diveman's in there too!'' Butch exclaimed.
'' That means that their operators are around here…'' Slate muttered.
Sure enough, Chirol and Kurohige came running in the wake of the forklift, both out of breath.
'' You two…'' Butch muttered.
'' You mean those are the guys from the dock?'' Lloyd asked.
'' Right!'' Kurohige shouted. '' We've been given another chance to destroy you!''
'' And we have to.'' Chirol added. '' I don't wanna go to Sharo!''
'' What are you talking…'' Butch began. '' Wait! How did you know that we were coming?''
But of course, they already knew the answer.
The errant forklift backed up from the dent it had inflicted on the building and swung around for another pass. '' Plug in! We have no choice!'' Slate shouted. '' Vick, Lloyd, try to bring this thing to a standstill, we'll handle the navis!''
Lloyd looked a little disappointed at missing another fight, but he plugged in anyway. The others followed suit.
In a shower of pixels, Dash, Tyria, Crushman, Zero, Ryn, and Beta materialized in the forklift's cyberworld. Ryn and Beta quickly vanished, teleporting to a different part of the network. Circusman and Diveman were standing before the other navis.
'' Whee! I'm gonna delete you this time!'' Circusman said gleefully, hopping from foot to foot as Diveman crossed his arms. '' This is the end for you de-aru.''
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Savor (or curse) that cliff hanger while I go put some cold liquid in me; preferably a soda.
