Unlikely Heroes
Chapter 40: Beginning of the End
Chris led the way through the now opened door. The group noticed that this hallway wasn't as sleek as the one they had just gone through. There was only one path and everyone went down it and then up a small flight of stairs and through a small door. There was then more of the same type of hallway ahead, just the run down and ragged kind. The group kept going and then through another door and they found themselves in a place that had familiar looking metal walls for barriers and walkways made of the same stuff. "Have we been here before?" Uma asked.
"No, this is different," Cosmo answered.
"Wait… I smell enemies," Nicholas stated after taking a good sniff with his nose.
Shouts from Ajini were then heard and the group ducked behind one of the metal barrier walls to avoid the gun fire. As soon as a chance came, these were taken out. Going forward, the group then had to take out another of the cricket like enemies encountered before. More of both types were taken out until the humans and those from the nether reached a control box with a lever. The way forward was too long of a jump. Chris pulled at the lever. "No power again," Cosmo stated when nothing happened.
"Let's see…" Akito replied and saw a door the group hadn't been through nearby. "Maybe there?"
"Pachira and I will check it out," Napoleon said and the two vampires did. The power source was found behind the door in a room and turned on.
From there it took a couple of rides with a moving platform for the entire group to get to the other side. More enemies showed up, some even having riot shields. But even these things were no match for the group and all the Ajani were killed. From there it was a simple walk through an office like space and up some stairs to a door that took the group to the next area. What came up first was a hallway that was much more sleeker than the previous one. After going through everyone stopped for a second when they emerged from this. "Whoa, another one of these," Uma stated.
The place they had come to was like the same one with all the human hold containers where the monstrous spider like crab had been fought. However this was slightly different because the way to get to the center platform was higher up than the former and there was a small spiraling metal staircase to get to it. "Which way now?" Liru asked. "Do we go up or down?"
Cosmo did a quick scan with his sensors. Being an android, the guy had that ability. "The former," he replied.
The group made their way to the center platform and began to look for a way to get it moving in the right direction. Chris found two levers that were next to a green monitor of some kind in front of the main computer where one could access all the containers here. "Found it!" the male human stated and called Sheva over to help pull the two levers at the same time.
The two humans pulled these and the platform started moving up slowly going in a counterclockwise circle. "That did it," Uma said with a smile.
Then everyone spotted enemy Ajini appearing, all trying to stop them. "More enemies; take 'em out!" Nicholas snarled.
Some in the group were able to get these take care of. Even so, the ride up was just as slow as the other platform from before when that had gone down. And then more trouble came up as higher up the platform came to a stop. "What now?!" Uma groaned as more Ajini began to fire at the group.
"Something's stopping it," Chris stated.
"Wait, I see it; I'll take care of this," Cosmo said spotting an enemy Ajini across from them who was holding a lever, clearly the source of the problem. The male android managed to snipe the infected human who let go of the lever. The platform began to move up again.
"There, it's going up again!" Liru said.
The platform kept going up. At one point higher up, an enemy stopped it again with the same lever trick but that person was killed. Finally the group reached the top and after killing all the Ajini in the way, they went up another small spiraling staircase and across another metal walkway and through a hallway. At the end was a heavy metal door. Behind this was another hallways but as they kept going, the walls went from high tech to stone. The group then emerged and saw they were in a large cavern with more ruins and steel scaffoldings along with other construction stuff. "More ruins," Uma stated.
"You think Alexis is here?" Sheva asked.
"If we wanna find out, we're gonna have to lower that bridge," Chris stated and pointed out where it was up ahead.
"Then we need to locate the controls," Nicholas said. He took a look and saw a structure that wasn't part of the ruins. "Maybe they're in that building…"
Akio tried the door to get in. "It's locked from the other side," she told the others.
"Is there another way?" Nicholas said. "There has to be something."
"Wait, there's a small elevator shaft, I bet we can use that," Liru commented, pointing it out.
It turned out that it needed power and Uma found the box and pulled the lever to get the electricity needed to power it. "So who's going?" Napoleon asked. "I don't think we need everyone."
It was decided that Sheva along with Logan and Uma would go. "Activate the elevator for us," the female human told Chris.
The male human pulled the lever when the three were on board and the rest saw the trio rise up. "Leave it to us," the witch stated. "We'll check things out."
The rest of the group watched them make it and begin to walk on a pathway on the level above them. "Wait, can any of you hear that?" Liru then asked, her wolf ears twitching.
"Hear what?" Chris asked.
Nicholas then heard it to. "Wait…" he growled. Then the group all saw the source of the noise. From a couple holes and openings the enemies with the long tongues were coming by using their claws to climb and begin to make their way to the three checking things out.
"Shit, those things are back," Cosmo cursed quickly getting ready to snipe them as it was for Chris.
Sheva and her group saw them appearing to. "Guys, we're gonna need your help with those things!" the female human stated through her communicator.
"Just get to the door, we'll cover you!" Napoleon replied in his communicator. "Just get to that door!"
The ones snipping off the enemy were able to buy the three above enough time. Then they heard Logan's voice on their communicators. "Okay, the door is opened!" the male wizard exclaimed.
While those snipping the enemy continued, the rest in the group who weren't quickly went to the door Akio had tried and got in to find Sheva, Uma, and Logan repelling more of the same types of enemies. "Are you okay?!" Nicholas asked after firing at one of the monsters here.
"Perfect timing on your end!" the wizard answered.
It didn't take much for the enemies to be killed and the lever in here to be pulled. This caused the bridge that needed to be crossed to lower. Everyone then met up. "We all good?" Chris asked and the rest nodded. It was then across the bridge and through a metal door that had the Dricell on it.
Behind this was more of the ruins that started with a large square like room. There were different doorways that were open that led to different paths. Two sets of stairs were at the far end that spiraled up that led to a second level of this place that had a railing that was also on the left and right. And standing in the middle with her back turned was Alexis. "Wait it's her!" Liru stated and everyone drew their guns.
"Stop right there!" Sheva ordered.
The enemy human turned around doing the slow hand clap to mock them. "Bravo!" Alexis said in a tone to match.
"Damn it, where is Jill?!" Chris demanded.
"Hmph! Jill? Maybe I'll tell you, maybe I won't."
"Bitch!" Nicholas snarled.
Suddenly everyone heard the sound of something descending and rustling cloth. They looked up to see the masked woman coming from above. This being landed in the middle of the large group in-between Sheva and Chris. The person than moved at lighting speed, striking at the female human in the group so Sheva couldn't fire her gun at the enemy. At the same time she kicked at Chris's head. The masked woman then struck at those from the nether. Chris recovered while those guys were knocked back a couple of steps. The male human fired at the enemy. She moved but the bullet caught the woman's mask, knocking it off her face. She began to move back with backflips while everyone fired. All the shots missed and the bullets stopped while the enemy landed on her feet, not moving in to attack. She did reach up with her left hand to find the mask was gone. "What is she?" Uma whispered in shock.
"She dodged all our attacks and is clearly able to fight," Logan said with a frown.
"Stop playing around, we want some answers!" Chris demanded.
"None of you have changed," went a male voice.
The group looked to the side and up to one of the stairs that led to the second floor area of this place. And there was Desker wearing black gloves, the same dark glasses, and slicked back hair. However his attire consisted of a stylish black combat shirt with the sleeves almost going to his gloves. His shoes and pants were the same style as well. Attached on his side was a gun. The enemy male smirked at the group. "It can't be…" Napoleon said.
"Desker!" Chris stated. "YOU are alive!"
"This is Desker?" Sheva asked.
"Yeah, no doubt about it," Cosmo quickly told the female human.
"We last met at the Lencer's Estate wasn't it?" Desker said slowly coming down the stairs. "Well, isn't this one big family reunion." He walked right behind the woman who had been masked and stopped. "I would expect you to be happier to see us."
"Us…?" Chris asked now confused.
"So slow to catch on." Desker reached up and moved the hood out of the way that the woman was wearing. And everyone but Sheva in the group were completely shocked seeing who it was.
"It's…" began Pachira.
"Jill…" Chris whispered in shock. His voice then got a little louder as he spoke to the female human. "Jill! It's me, Chris!"
"What?" Sheva asked now feeling the same as the rest of the group. "Are sure that's her?"
"The one, and only," Desker responded doing a bit of a mocking tone like he was doing a presentation.
Jill then moved, taking off her cloak to reveal a skin tight suit for a woman and meant for fighting. It was dull purple and in the same movement the human jumped forward with her feet out. She managed to kick at Chris who grunted and was knocked back. Jill used her other foot to get him on the ground and the moment sent her up into the air. Sheva fired at the former but Jill was able to angle her body into a backflip and dodge the bullets. "How in the hell?!" Logan asked stunned that a human could move like this.
Jill landed and kicked Sheva's gun out of her hands. The enemy then moved and faster than the latter could react had managed to climb the second human's body and had her legs around Sheva's head. Sheva was thrown back and onto the ground while Jill landed neatly. She looked up with a glare and saw some of the males from the nether coming in. But even they were knocked back but at least these males lasted longer than the humans. "Damn it; how is this possible for Jilly to be like this?!" Nicholas snarled. He was one of those knocked back and with a yell turned into his full werewolf form.
The enemy human then went after Chris. He tried to fire with his gun but Jill was too fast. The human blocked the male from firing, locked his arms, and grabbed his throat. Chris tried to break free but couldn't. Sheva managed to get by Jill and prepared to fire. Desker then moved and knocked her back while Jill knocked Chris back next to Sheva with a kick and shove. Those from the nether came to their human friend's side ready to fight this threat. "Now let's finish this once and for all," Desker stated. Everyone on the side of good had their guns at the ready. "I think the odds are fair for you, so many against two. Right, Jill?" She made no reply.
The enemy male then cracked his knuckles. "Seven minutes," Desker stated. "Seven minutes is all I can spare to play with you."
"Distract them!" Napoleon ordered, going in to attack.
"Can we really do this? Akiko whispered to Cosmo.
"We have to," he replied.
"Come on!" Nicholas shouted and went in along with Liru and Napoleon towards Desker.
Meanwhile Chris, Sheva, and the rest focused on Jill. "Damn it, she's like him to with dodging!" Logan stated.
Cosmo then spotted a metal door on the first floor. The male android got over it and tired it but it was locked. "Damn!" he stated.
"Your future hinges upon this fight," Desker taunted the group after dodging some more attacks. He then went after Cosmo and kicked the android through the metal door. The thing came completely off its hinges and the body made a huge impression in the metal.
"Cosmo!" Akio exclaimed, seeing this.
"We'll never win like this," Chris stated to those in his group. "Time to change tactics."
"Agreed, this isn't working," Nicholas said.
"We should hide," Sheva suggested.
The group split up with half going with Chris and the rest going with Sheva. The only ways were to the sides which showed stairs leading up to the second floor of this place. "There's no point in hiding," they heard Desker tell them. "You're merely postponing the inevitable."
"Now what?!" Liru whispered to Nicholas.
"We might be able to use the corners and small hallways here to our advantage!" he replied.
It turned out this was the right move because both Jill and Desker were more confined in these tight spaces. And it was so much so that the shots were able to find their mark. However only a few did because not only did this give away the group's position, it got the enemy more on guard. "Ah… there you are," the enemy human declared after dodging some more shots.
"So they can be hit but it doesn't seem like it's slowing Desker or Jill down!" Pachira stated.
"We gotta move again!" Napoleon snarled.
The group did so and found them in a section that had coffins with open tops. Inside each was the dead body of the natives that had once lived here, perhaps rulers but there was no time to take a closer look. "I tire of wasting my time with you," the group heard Desker say.
"Keep moving!" Logan stated to those with him.
"You can't hide forever!' the enemy stated.
Jill had still not spoken a single work during this whole fight. The ones fighting against her were having just as hard a time hitting the female human as those fighting against Desker. "It still doesn't make sense how she's dodging like him!" Akio said.
Meanwhile those going against Desker had been caught by him. "Found you!" the enemy male human said with triumph.
"Shit," Napoleon growled and was barely able to dodge the gun shots the opponent sent his way.
"Poor performance indeed."
"Doesn't he realized we've hit them a few times already?" Liru asked with a tone of disbelief. "Seriously?"
"Let's stick it to the son of a bitch!" Logan commented.
And it turned out the group was able to injure both Desker and Jill again but it still didn't slow the enemy down. "Self-righteous fools!' the male human spat.
"Keep it up with this, we can take them down!" Cosmo said as he managed to block a blow from Jill and then threw her to the ground.
"So tell us, how does it feel to be beaten this time?" Nicholas taunted Desker.
The enemy human just fired and began to move faster to try to catch the male werewolf and the rest. Chris and Sheva made sure to stay back as best as they could. "Come on, that's all you got?!" the male with glasses shot at Desker.
The enemy human moved and Nicholas did get hit in the face and was knocked to the ground. "Okay, now I'm impressed," the werewolf replied after shaking off the pain and rolled onto his feet.
It was time for a tactical retreat and that's what Nicholas did. "Here I am offering you my precious time and you waste it by running around," Desker said.
"How much longer now?" Akio then asked Cosmo. "He said seven minutes."
"Can't be that much more," the male android told his girl.
And the guy was right because Desker did end up retreating and to the second floor of the main area where the group had first entered. Everyone followed him and found the enemy at the balcony like area. "It seems most of you have done better," the second male human stated. "But you Chris? I expected more of a challenge from you after all this time. How disappointing." This was only due to the said guy and Sheva staying back during most of this fight.
"Don't worry," Liru whispered to the two humans on the side of good. "You'll get him next time."
Suddenly the phone Desker had in his pocket went off and the guy answered it. "Yes," he said and began to walk out of the area.
"Go!" Chris ordered and everyone went after the enemy.
They climbed up the spiraling staircase and found Desker was just about to leave this place. "Desker, stop!" Chris stated with everyone having their guns at the ready.
The guy stopped to turn and look at the group with a smirk. Just then Jill suddenly appeared from around a corner. Everyone turned to see her and just in time for the female to start kicking and knocking them back. Sheva went down first and those from the nether were quick to follow leaving only Chris left. The male human tried to fight back but was no match for Jill who quickly had him on the ground and in an arm lock. Her knee was pinning the male's body down on the neck. The gun the male human had was knocked to the side. Chris was grunting from the pain. "Jill, come on!" he stated through gritted teeth after a few seconds and breathing hard. His hands were up trying to free himself. Jill's grip go tighter. "It's me, Chris! Snap out of it!"
The rest who had been knocked down were slowly getting back to their feet. Desker approached Chris and Jill to stand over them. "Nice move, Chris," the enemy mocked. "But now that your 'partner' has arrived, I'll leave you two to catch up."
Jill's grip and knee got even tighter causing the male human in the group to grunt loudly from the pain. "Come on, Jill! Get yourself together! Wake up! Jill Realentine!"
Suddenly something in her eyes changed. "Chr… Chris…" Jill struggled to say like the real her was fighting back against whatever it was controlling her.
The female human rolled off of the male struggling even more, shaking her head as though to rid her body of something. "Jill…" he stated realizing his old partner and friend was still somewhere inside.
"Remarkable!" Desker said. "Still resisting at such an advance stage." The human grabbed his phone from his pocket. "Commendable, but futile!"
The guy hit a button and Jill began to make sounds of pain while clutching at something in between her chest that couldn't be seen on the outfit. The female human then went on all fours now truly in pain. Chris was looking at her, wondering what was wrong. "No more time for games Chris, I've got work to do," the enemy stated. "Have fun watching Jill suffer."
He went through a doorway that turned out to be an elevator that would lead elsewhere. "Wait! What did you do to her?!" Chris demanded rising up and trying to go after Desker. But the doors to the elevator closed so the enemy managed to get away for now. Jill then let out a cry of pain and rising up with her back arched, she reached up to the top of the outfit and pulled it open revealing the source. Right below her neck where the collar bones were was some kind of device that was somewhat orbed shaped and crimson red in color. What was keeping it attached were some kind of rods that were inserted into the skin. Jill then went on all four again but quickly rose up in a crouching position, her eyes in glare at the group like when the fight had first begun. The rest had managed to reach Chris.
"What's that on her chest?" Sheva asked seeing the thing as did the rest.
"We have to get it off of her!" the male human stated.
Nicholas and Napoleon cracked their knuckles. "It's round two then," the male vampire said.
Jill moved towards where the group had first entered this area. "If we can remove that device on her chest, she might return to normal!" Sheva commented.
"Alright… then that's what we're gonna do!" Chris stated.
He led the way down one of the stairs. "Look out; she's firing!" Uma warned the others.
Everyone was able to avoid the gun fire and get close to the enemy. "Jill! What are you doing?!" Chris stated. "Stop this! Jill! Answer me!'
"It's no good she's not answering!" Nicholas snarled as he tried to get the female human. Jill was too quick and dodged but that allowed Sheva to grab and restrain Jill.
"We have to get that device off of her chest!" the one holding said.
Chris took aim and was able to hit the device with a shot without hitting Jill. It began to shoot sparks and caused the female human pain. That was enough for the male human to grab her right arm and throw her onto the ground. "Now! Hold her down!" Liru exclaimed.
Chris tried to but Jill recovered too quickly and rolled onto her feet to continue the fight. "It's me, Chris!" he stated. "Don't you recognize me?! Come on! Snap out of it! Don't do this Jill!"
"She's still not listening!" Pachira said.
"I've got her!" Cosmo stated who had been able to sneak up on Jill. Chris shot the device again and managed to get into position to pull it off. The human found thanks to the wires it would take some tugs. But before he could do a good pull, Jill managed to slip between his legs and get back on her feet. The controlled female human tried to kick at him but Chris managed to roll out of the way.
"I don't want to hurt you!" he exclaimed.
"Don't worry about that; we've got to do this!" Nicholas told the male human and managed to grab Jill from behind after dodging a kick from her.
Napoleon shot at the device on her chest and the female human was once again thrown on the ground. The vampire attempted to remove the thing but Jill managed to slip away again. "Damn, I almost had it!" he snarled.
The one under control moved but then stopped as the thing on her chest sparked causing her pain. Jill was quickly thrown to the ground but the thing still didn't come off. She also managed to kick a few in the group to the side. Chris then managed to get ahold of her body and Nicholas hit the device again. Jill went down and this time when the male human pulled, he was able to get it with an almighty tug. The female human let out a yell of pain as the device was ripped and fully removed. Chris rose up and dropped the thing which was promptly shot at and destroyed by Cosmo and Logan. "I think that's done it," Liru whispered. Her guy turned back into his more human looking form.
Jill went on all fours and rose up and stumbled, clutching at the area that had been covered. She was grunting and moaning in pain before reeling and falling to the ground. "Jill!" Chris stated and ran to her.
He picked her up in his arms. "Are you alright?" the male human asked.
Jill slowly opened her eyes and raised her head, now back to normal. She let out a shaky breath, trying to recover. "Chris…" she whispered. There was a few seconds where there was a pause, the two humans happy to be reunited at last. "I'm so sorry…"
"It's okay," Chris told her gently.
The rest approached these two. "Looks like you're back to us," Nicholas commented with a smile.
"You guys…" Jill said softly, happy as well to see the ones from the nether. She then saw the other female human in the group. "You're Sheva… right?"
"Yes," the said person replied.
Jill took another shaky breath before speaking again. "I couldn't control my actions, oh, but god I was still aware. Forgive me."
"It's alright," the second female human reassured the first one.
"Thank you," Jill whispered.
Chris then got the second human up on her feet by supporting her with an arm around his shoulder. She then managed to stand on her on. "Listen," Jill stated a bit stronger in her voice as she was about to say something serious. "I'm gonna be alright. You guys need to stop him."
"We can't just leave you here!" Chris insisted.
"You have to. This is your only chance! If Desker succeeds, Drodoros will be spread across the globe! Millions will die!"
"Well yeah, but-"
"I'm alright!" she insisted placing her hands on his upper arms to make him pay attention. "You need to stop him!' Christ didn't reply but by the look in his eyes Jill could tell he was torn between her and what needed to be done. "Chris! You and the rest are the only ones that can! Before it's too late." Here Jill pulled back. "Don't you trust your partner?"
There was another pause a Chris looked to Sheva and the rest before letting out a breath. "Alright," he replied now knowing what had to be done.
The male human slowly began to walk towards the elevator that would take him up, his eyes not breaking contact with Jill's. The two then did and the female human turned to Sheva and the rest. "Take care of him," she told them.
"Leave it to us," Nicholas replied. He then noticed that some from the nether were reluctant to go, namely Uma, her guy, Akito, and Cosmo. Liru did as well.
"You're not coming?" the female werewolf asked.
"Not this time," Uma replied. "I… I don't feel I'm as good for fighting against someone like Desker. But you guys are. It's not a lack of confidence, it's more the truth."
"She's right, as a smaller unit you have the better shot," Logan agreed. "Now go and give him hell for us."
"Alright," Napoleon stated and the remaining nether beings boarded onto the elevator with Chris and Sheva, the doors closing and taking them up.
"You guys are our only hope to survive this," Jill said softly.
The group in the elevator made it to the top and they walked out to a walkway that had a railing. They could see the sun was setting. What lay out before them was water and the mountain like range around them. Chris was silent and a bit slower. It was enough that Sheva took notice. "Chris…?" she asked.
"…I'm alright," he replied.
They walked out and saw to their right a huge ship, the kind that was used to carry large containers. "Over there!" Sheva then stated, pointing at something.
Looking showed Desker with Alexis as they boarded the ship. "It's time to put an end to this," Chris said. "Let's go."
The group made their way down some steps towards the loading dock area and by the time they got on night had fallen and lights had been turned on. "So far so good," Liru stated.
"This ship is huge," Sheva pointed out. "Do you think they're planning to use it to spread Drodoros?"
"No, using a ship like this would give away their position too soon," Chris stated. "They must have another plan."
"Then let's find what it is and stop them," Nicholas said.
The first item of business was to scan the area as there were high points on the ship. A few enemies were snipped and then the group began to move forward. They did noticed that a couple of the killed Ajini would explode like bombs when killed. "Hmmm that could work to our advantage," Nicholas said.
The path forward required the small band to climb up a couple of ladders as well. They then passed by a container where the doors flew opened and out jumped infected dogs. "Really?" Liru asked and took care of them quickly along with Pachira. "Is this the best they can do?"
"Honey, I wish you hadn't said that," her boyfriend stated. "You might jinx us."
The group then went forward and kept taking out any enemy that got in their way. They even had to push a couple things in order to open a way forward. But it wasn't until after climbing up a couple of ladders and over some containers that the difficulty in this increased. The small band reached an area and an enemy Ajini pulled a lever from a point that was higher up on the ship. From a crane some kind of large metal cage that was square in shape fell and trapped Chris, Napoleon, and Pachira in it. "What the hell?!" the male vampire stated after everyone got over the shock and saw what was going on.
"Are you three alright?!" Liru asked.
"Never mind them; we've got company!" Nicholas then snarled as containers nearby burst open with enemy Ajini coming out of them.
Finally when all the enemies were killed, the group could gather their thoughts. One of the things left behind was a card key needed to operate the crane. "We'll never be able to move this," Chris said, referring to the cage. "We gotta find something that can."
"Stay put, we'll get you out," Liru told him and the vampires.
Sheva led the way for those who weren't trapped. They found a button to shot at. The human did the task which opened a way forward. The trio then found where the card key could be used and unlocked a gate. From there it was a small way forward and up some ladders to reach the controls for the crane. This was used to lift the cage up and free the others. "Thanks," Napoleon stated through the communicators.
The group met up again and continued forward. They took out whatever enemies appeared before making it to a door that took them inside the ship. The room they entered was a small sleeping area for some crew members and stairs that went down. After grabbing the ammo here everyone went down the stairs. This led them into some of the inner bowls of the vessel. "Just like what we had to do with those other ships," Pachira mumbled. Those from the nether and Chris knew what she was talking about with the last adventure.
"This tanker is so big," Sheva pointed out as the group went down some more stairs. "It won't be easy finding Desker."
"That won't be a problem," Chris stated. "Once he knows we're here, he'll find us."
"And how do you know that?"
"Let's just say we have a history together, and he's not the type to let grudges go."
"It's the same with us and dealing with Desker," Nicholas added.
"You guys must have done something to really piss him off," Sheva said.
The rest in the group let out a small chuckle. "It goes a bit beyond 'pissing him off.'" Chris stated.
"So are you going to tell me what happened?"
"Maybe… But not until after we've put an end to all this. Deal?"
"OK, but I'm holding you to that."
The group then reached the bottom of the stairs by this point. Then it was down a small hallway to a door that had a button that would needed to be pressed in order to get it open. But Nicholas and Liru stopped walking and sniffed the air. The male werewolf let a growl. "I smell someone up ahead," he stated with a glare. "I think it's Alexis."
Everyone got on guard and entered the room after the door was unlocked. Chris led the way past more tanks holding the special flowers seen from the ruins in a kind of liquid. Looking showed they appeared to be in some kind of lab. And Alexis herself was at a table top fooling around with something that was to be placed in a briefcase. "Freeze!" Chris ordered loudly.
Alexis jumped and quickly turned to face the group while hastily closing the briefcase. Those with the male human had their guns at the ready. "What's going on here?" Sheva demanded.
"Nothing that concerns any of you," Alexis shot back.
"We're not giving you an option, now spit it out!" Napoleon snarled.
Alexis glanced to her right quickly to see her escape route. "Tell us what we want to know and you won't get hurt," Nicholas stated while the female human began to slowly inch down the table to get away. Her right hand slowly grabbed one of the brief cases.
"Where's Desker?!" Chris demanded.
"If you can behave yourselves, maybe I'll tell you," Alexis said and then fully grabbing the brief cases, she ran for the open door as best as she could due to wearing high heels.
The group all fired and their shots missed. One however did hit a briefcase that was in Alexis's left hand which caused the enemy to drop that and fall to the ground open and spilling its contents on the floor. The female managed to get away and slam the door shut behind her. Chris slammed his left fist on it in frustration. "Damn it!" he stated with anger.
"She's tough," Liru said with a frown. "I'll give her that much."
Sheva then looked down at the brief case on the ground and saw the contents it had been carrying. "What's this?" the female human asked and walked over to pick one of the objects up.
Looking showed it was a bunch of injections, the same type Alexis had used on Desker earlier. Sheva picked one up and everyone else gathered to look. "Guys, is this…?" the female human began.
"Whatever it is, Alexis seemed protective of it," Chris stated. The other human pocketed the item.
The group then went through the door and a small hallway to the next section of the ship. This part was a large area similar to the factory like place they had been to before with many large containers, a metal walkway, and places to duck behind in order to avoid enemy fire. There were even cranes to help move the containers. "I smell Ajini in here," Nicholas said with a slight growl.
"Let's see…" Napoleon commented and got his sniper riffle out as did Sheva. "Yeah I can spot them. Let's take out what we can before going further."
The vampire and human shot at the ones in the area, each shot blowing the heads clean off in a gory explosion and mess of each Ajini. "Great shots there!" Chris told them.
"Okay, I think that's the last of them," Napoleon said after taking a final shot. "Or at least the ones I could see here. There might be more in hiding."
The group then went forward but then stopped when they heard a loud warning sound blaring from an intercom system in this area. They then noticed more enemy Ajini starting to come out, including from a ladder that led to a lower level here. "I'll go on ahead, you cover me!" Nicholas told those with sniper rifles.
The male werewolf made it to the end of the walkway and jumped down the level below which wasn't that far of a drop. Liru of course went with him. More enemies began to come out of the containers here. "More of them," the female werewolf said.
The group took out whatever came there way before going down the ladder here. That led to a passage bellow the main area. A few more Ajini were killed before the other ladder was reached and climbed up to a different section. "Anymore here?" Pachira asked.
Nicholas then saw something coming down some stairs that would be taken to get out of here. "Uh oh," the male werewolf said.
"Not good," Napoleon stated after seeing what Nicholas did.
What had been spotted was a large Ajini. But he was bigger and thicker in terms of muscle mass than the regular ones. On his back was a large rectangular pack that was storing bullets attached together. Some were wrapped around his body not so tight that they couldn't be used but not so loose they would fall off. And these were all to be used with the huge Gatling gun the enemy was wielding. This stuff did make the Ajini move slowly though. He was wearing military like clothes with the sleeves cut off for his shirt, wore shade over his eyes, and had a dull colored cap on his head. There was even a cigar in his mouth. The Ajini fired his gun to intimidate the group. "Looks like they're bringing out the big guns!" Chris stated. "Take cover!"
Luckily right in front of this enemy there were some areas to duck behind and avoid the gun fire. "Quick, grenades!" Nicholas snarled and got one that had been picked up along the way ready. When there was a clean shot to do so, he and Napoleon threw a couple. They landed perfectly at the feet of the Ajini and exploded. This didn't kill him but made the enemy stagger and stop firing.
"He's open, now's our chance!" Liru exclaimed and everyone fired.
It took quiet a lot of firepower as this enemy clearly was able to take a lot of punishment. But thanks to how slow his recovery time was every time the male Ajini grabbed his head with one hand from the pain, the group was able to use that to their advantage. But then the enemy succumbed to all the damage and fell to the ground, dead. "Did we get him?" Pachira asking looking with caution.
"Think so," Liru answered. The group went to the body and took a key card from it.
"Tanker keycard A," Nicholas read the writing on the back of it before pocketing it. "This should come in handy."
It was then looking a bit more around this place which resulted in finding another key card. It was a good thing this was acquired because the door the group had to go through required both card keys at the same time to unlock it. Nicholas and Liru got it opened. The group entered the new room and then stopped quickly in their tracks when they saw what was ahead. "Rocket launcher!" Chris exclaimed seeing an enemy Ajini with such a weapon.
The enemy fired it and the projectile made contact with some of the containers in front of the group, destroying them. The Ajini then placed the weapon down to reload it. The group looked from behind where they had taken cover. "Shit; get down, there's another one!" Nicholas shouted spotting a second Ajini with the same kind of weapon.
The enemy fired and another explosion happened. "Take them out now!" the werewolf snarled to those with sniper rifles.
The ones that had those quickly fired and were able to kill these Ajini. "Great work, that could've been bad," Liru sad.
The enemy had a couple of valuable treasures left behind which were taken. From there it was across the area and up some more stairs. Then came a small hallway and finally an elevator with the enemy symbol on it. "Another ride on these," Napoleon mumbled, pressing the button to get the doors opened.
They got in and began to descend down. Little did they know they were being watched by Desker. He was in some kind of control room with monitors and systems to whatever was in this room and to observe things that happened on this ship. "So, despite splitting up you've made it this far…" the enemy stated with a bit of interest. Desker could see the small group in the elevator on one of the monitors. "Too bad you won't make it much further."
His mind then drifted to the past. It was to a specific moment, the mansion where Lencer had been hiding at. The same time before fighting against the group and when Jill had tackled him causing both to go out that window. Desker had been listening to the other human talking while pacing a little. "…a new superior breed of humans given birth by the Drogenitor Virus," Lencer stated. Due to his advance age, he was in a wheel chair and had a several tubes inserted into his body. One was for the head, one going into his neck, and the third his left arm that were attached to some kind of monitor that showed Lencer's vital signs that was attached to the wheelchair. He was wearing some elaborate looking robes and slippers to.
"The Desker children were entrusted with endless potential." By those Lencer meant the list the group were about to find that had 13 names that Albert was on. "Out of them, only one other survived." Desker by this point had gone up to the window he would soon be thrown through. "You were the other."
Albert paused, turning his head slightly to look back at the old decrepit male human. "Are you saying I was manufactured?" the person with shades asked, showing no signs of anger yet. That was Desker for you; capable of hiding true emotions and intent which made him deadly.
"I was to become a god…" Lencer continued but then let out some coughs due to his old age. "…creating a new world with an advanced race of human beings. However all was lost with that city incident." The elderly man didn't see Desker flexed and clench his right hand into a fist with the intent to kill in anger. The male with shade looked up, the lighting that was going on briefly illuminating his face and showing is eyes were glowing orange as his power flared up for an instant. "Despite that setback, your creation still holds great significance. More than hers." Lencer let out some more coughs.
"Now my candle burns dimly…" the male groaned as he weakly stood up. While his back was towards Desker, the second human began to approach the first. "Ironic, isn't it? For one who has the right to be a god!" Lencer then turned to come face to face with Desker. "To face his own mortality…"
"The right to be a god…" the second human said and looking like he was just thinking over what the elderly human had stated. Desker then snarled and his eyes glowed again. In one motion he grabbed Lencer and with inhuman strength, stabbed straight through his heart and out the back with his left hand. Blood came out and the first human let out sounds of pain and shock as lighting flashed again.
"That right is now mine," Desker said softly into Lencer's ear. The male with shades withdrew his hand and the elderly male fell to the ground, already dead.
"The right to be a god? You?" Desker stated while looking at the corpse. "Arrogant even until the end. Only one truly capable of being a god deserves that right." The human then went to the window and then it would happen with that fight.
Back in the present the human with shades had finished remembering that moment. "The right…" Desker said softly. "With Drodoros, I have that right."
Meanwhile with Chris's group, they had finished up their elevator ride and made it outside to a different section of the ship. This appeared to be the main deck area with a lot of containers. These formed a sort of pathway and walls. Mist caused by the body of water here was rolling in and onto the ship but in bits so it wasn't like fog. The male human in the group led the way forward down some stairs and to the right. But what lay ahead made everyone stop in shock. "What the hell happened here?" Chris asked.
Before them was a huge pile of dead bodies. They seemed to be Ajini that had died. And even more bodies were scattered around the area. Many had blood on them to. "My god…" Nicholas whispered.
Suddenly someone stepped out from around the bodies with a moan of pain. The group looked to their right on guard as the sound got louder. It was Alexis and her arms were around her stomach and clearly was in pain. The enemy human then let out a couple of coughs before panting. It was like she was going to really throw up something nasty. "Alexis…" Chris stated. Everyone drew their guns at the ready.
"What's going on?!" the male human demanded.
Alexis didn't seem to hear him. "Why…" she groaned in pain. "When I've done so much… All for you…" She then let out a sound of pain and clutched her stomach area again almost double bent over.
Suddenly Desker's voice came out and on a speaker system. "Chris!" the enemy human stated. "How nice of you and the others to join us…"
"Desker!" the said male stated.
"Don't worry, your mission is at its end. Drodoros is on the eve of its appearance! Six billion cries of agony will birth a new balance!"
"Sorry Desker, but not on my watch!"
"Albert…" Alexis stated with a painful moan. "You said we'd change this world together…" The female human let out a groan of pain and went on all fours. "…Why?!"
"I thought they were partners?" Sheva said to Chris.
"Desker doesn't give a damn about anyone but himself," the male human told her.
"Soon even you and the rest will understand, Chris," the enemy human on the speaker system continue. "One glimpse of my new world and it will all make perfect sense!"
"Show yourself!"
"Unfortunately, it's too late for you. You and the rest will not live to see the dawn!" Desker then spoke on the system towards Alexis. "Sorry Alexis, but it appears Drodoros has rejected you." The said female human was still on the ground and groaning loudly in pain. "Though you have been an excellent asset, I have one last task for you."
"ALBERT!" Alexis cried in heartbreak. The female human then arched her back as suddenly from here mouth the tentacles of Drodoros erupted out of her mouth.
"What the hell?!" Sheva asked.
The bio weapon quickly consumed the enemy human. "Farewell, old friend," Desker stated on the system.
The group saw as quickly the tentacles of Drodoros began to spread toward the massive amount of Ajini bodies here. They were grabbed and pulled towards the center mass which was rapidly growing and expanding. And then the creature somehow let out a sound close to a roar. Black slimy substance like cruel oil was coming off the tentacles. This thing had quickly grown to be taller than the highest point on this ship. The tendrils and tentacles that made up the mass were in constant movement and the black slimy stuff fell around the group's feet like disgusting raindrops. They all took a step back in shock at how quickly this thing had grown. Everyone then looked up and saw one of the huge limbs of the monster rise up to slam onto them. Those from the nether and the two human were able to roll out of the way and get on their feet still in shock at what was going on. This thing clearly dwarfed the other monster that had been fought before. And fighting here wouldn't work. Chris got the attention of the others and jerked his head back. The group began to run as there was no time to use the ruins that those from the nether had. Looking back showed this huge enemy was after them and trying to consume their bodies. The group got up some stairs and onto a metal walkway. At a corner they had to jump to avoid getting hit by the mass that was after them. The humans and nether beings were able to dodge the blow but had to keep moving. The males grabbed the arms of the females, one each, to help them get up quicker. "It's still coming!" Nicholas snarled as they ran again.
"Incoming!" Pachira shouted as they looked back and saw a different limb coming in to hit them from above.
This time the dive was a lot smoother as everyone in the group rolled into the jump to avoid the blow. They had to do the same thing again a few seconds later. And then they had to jump back to avoid another crushing blow. "This is ridiculous!" Napoleon snarled as the group quickly picked themselves back up.
They all ran ahead and saw there was a huge container in the way but not unpassable. "Quick, let's get some up there!" Nicholas barked.
The males boosted the females up fast so they could help pull the guys up. A good thing to as if they had taken a second slower, the enemy monster would have gotten them. The group jumped down and ran up some more stairs, barely dodging another blow. Picking themselves up, they made it to the top. Their eyes frantically search for a way out. "This way!" Sheva exclaimed spotting a door that would lead inside the vehicle and up to the control area that allowed one to pilot the ship.
Everyone ran for the door and got inside to catch their breath for a second. "At least we should have some minor protection here, right?" Liru asked.
The group then felt the ship shake as the thing was still trying to get him. "You had to say that love," Nicholas told his girl.
"Persistent son of a bitch," Chris added.
"Here, let's keep moving," Napoleon suggested and the group began to move down the hallway.
"So now what?" Sheva asked. "Do you think our weapons can hurt that thing?"
"I dunno," the male human answered. "But we gotta get the hell outta here before it destroys this place."
"Yeah, I'm not dying from something like this," Nicholas growled.
As the group started down the hall, they could see the walls were leaking the black goo produced by Drodros. It was like an infection penetrating the ship to get at them. And then at one point before turning a corner, some of the tentacles busted through the ceiling to grab at them but thanks to quick reflexes, that didn't happen. Looking around the corner saw more of the tentacles blocking the way. "It's ripping the ship apart!" Chris stated.
It only took some gun shots to make these things retreat. But this wasn't the last of them and a couple more popped up and had to be dealt with. "Holy… how did it grow so fast?!" the male human asked after the third time and also seeing parts of the enemy outside through some windows the group passed.
"Those damn amount of bodies we saw from before I bet!" Napoleon said.
It was then up some stairs and to the next level. Then in front of the group a dead Ajini body was flung in front of them. Looking around the corner in the next part of the hallways showed there were a few more. "Please tell me they're dead, we don't have time to deal with this shit," Nicholas growled.
It turned out it was a pipe dream as a few did rise up but were quickly killed. One of them did leave behind a keycard for the bridge which was taken. The door for it was just ahead and after going passed it, it was up some more stairs and into the main control area. They could still feel the enemy shaking the ship. There wasn't much of anything useful except for a piece of paper that had directions about a satellite canon that could be controlled by a device that was just ahead and outside. "I think we could use this to help," Liru commented after everyone quickly read the directions.
"Considering what we're dealing with, we'll need all the firepower we can get," Pachira added. The group then went up some final stairs and made it to the door that would take them outside.
The group found themselves in a small outside area and went forward through a gate to a platform. They went a bit forward and then the monster they would fight against rose up to face against them. They could see the mass that made up the huge enemy was writhing and moving with the tentacles and that there were four limbs. Two of them suddenly sprouted open like flowers revealing orange like orbs, similar to what the other smaller versions that had been fought had. "That thing is huge," Sheva said. "Do you really think we can kill it?"
"We have to or die trying!" Napoleon replied.
"And we have that satellite to help!" Nicholas added as they all drew their guns.
Now despite the fact the ruins those from the nether had, especially the ones that could create weapons, there was still a limit to what they could have done for this situation. They could not produce a weapon that was massive like the satellite canon that had been mentioned in the directions the group had found. Luckily such a weapon did exist so the group wasn't totally helpless. Everyone fired at the orbs, noticing sometimes the parts surrounding them would close up to protect them at points. But even without a face, this thing definitely could tell what was going on and capable of fighting back. "Watch out!" Sheva stated. "It's firing off some sort of projectiles!"
Looking showed that these were small tentacle masses that could move and be a nuisance. "You two fire on the orbs; Liru help me take these out!" Nicholas barked.
It took only one shot to get rid of these small enemies. "Over here; we found the satellite's targeting device!" Pachira then said since she and Napoleon were closer to its location without realizing it and had happened to look behind them and spot the thing.
"You get it, we'll cover you!" Nicholas shouted to Chris while he and Liru cleaned up the rest of the smaller enemies.
The two orbs were then destroyed which caused a new even giant one to emerge on the center stalk of the mass that made up the enemy. Chris went to where the vampires were and found a place to use the Bridge key card. This guy had grabbed and held onto it when first found so it was a matter of quickly taking it out and swiping it into the card reader here. This was next to a panel that had the Dricell logo on it. This retreated revealing the device. It was similarly shaped to a bazooka with a screen to look through and target something. The male human grabbed the thing. "It's all on you Chris!" Sheva told him. "We've got your back!"
The male human took aim with the device and pulled the trigger. A beam of blue light descended from above and right on target with the new orb. The hit shook the boat as there was an explosion and bits of the enemy went flying. "Oh yeah!" Napoleon exclaimed. "That packs one hell of a punch!"
Chris then saw there was a charging period that needed to happen so the guy went up a ladder that was behind the group to place the targeting system down and in a safe place. The enemy in the meantime responded by having four large orbs burst out on the stalks that made up the limbs for it. And from their position they were locked onto the male human. "Chris! Above you!" Sheva warned him.
The male fired at one with one of him more powerful guns and it was a direct hit that caused all four of the orbs to back off and the creature to roar despite not having a mouth. "Thanks for the help," he replied to her.
"Come and get some you ugly son of a bitch!" Napoleon yelled and everyone began to fire at the orbs.
"Look out!" Liru shouted as one of the limbs pulled back and swung itself to get the group. Everyone was able to duck under it to avoid getting hit.
Chris grabbed the targeting system as its charging period was finished. The male human fired at one of the orbs and it was destroyed in one hit. "That's it!" Sheva exclaimed. "Hit it again!"
"Here come some more of those projectiles!" Pachira then said seeing more of the smaller masses being launched and landing in the area the group was at.
"Take 'em out; get ready to fire again!" Nicholas told the male human as the rest in the group took care of the small fry.
The targeting system still took longer to charge up but when it did, Chris fired at the second orb. More smaller enemies came out and those were dealt with. But the main monster began to try to attack with one of the larger limbs it had a bit more. Even so, it couldn't touch those in the group. The third orb was then destroyed and followed by the fourth. That caused the orb in the middle of the mass to emerged once again. "Let's get this son of a bitch!" the male werewolf in the group shouted.
Chris fired at the orb and there was another massive explosion. "Did that do it?" Liru asked after the light disappeared.
The answer to that was more orbs that had to be hit. "That thing is still kicking, are you shitting us?" Napoleon asked with a groan.
"How much more can that thing take?" Pachira groaned.
"Never mind, let's move!" Chris ordered.
Once again everyone else covered the male human who fired with the satellite when the targeting system got through the cooling off phase. The group also had to duck to avoid the blows from the limbs. It still took a bit of taking out the four other orbs before the main one appeared again. "Now, blow it up and end this!" Liru stated to Chris.
The male human fired and the laser beam came down. The monster let out a roar, the weak point melting away. The limbs stopped moving, and now the thing appeared to be some kind of large grotesque structure on the ship. There was no doubt this thing was dead. "So that's Drodoros," Sheva said after the group took a breath to steady their nerves. "I fear for the world if that ever gets out."
"God damn it Desker!" Chris stated. "He's actually serious about destroying the entire planet!" The group decided to head back to the control room they had passed through earlier. But some of them couldn't help but wonder how Jill and the others were doing. Little did they know that it would be thanks to her that they would learn some valuable information.