Mission 4: Reunion

The underground is a maze. Alex isn't sure how long it takes her to find a way back into the house. She is outside in some yard. There is a sound of heels clicking. Somebody emerges from one of the pillars. It's Alexia.

"What are you doing here?"

She doesn't respond. Alexia stayed behind in the main land. Alex wonders if she took so long that the woman came looking for her.

"Everything's fine." She says.

Alexia doesn't seem to respond. She attacks. Alex jumps back. Dodges the fire. This is strange.

"Alexia!"

It doesn't work. Flames surround her, burn of her clothes. She is transformed fully. Grey skin, leaf like growths cover her leg, a vine like patterns on her chest. But there is something else. Something she hasn't noticed before. It's blinking red, whatever it is. Metallic edges. It seems unnatural. Not part of the transformation.

Alexia attacks. Full force. Doesn't hold back. Alex takes her gun, tries to shoot the thing on her chest. It doesn't budge. But for a moment, she can swear something is moving inside it. A barrage of fire surrounds her. Hardly any room left to dodge. Alexia is really trying to kill her. Reluctantly she transforms. The petals move like wings creating wind. Put out some of the fires. Tentacles grab Alexia. She tries to burn her way out. Alex attempts to rip off the thing. This time it works. She holds it in her hand. There is a needle, it's bloody, another hole, bigger. Something crawls out. It looks like a centipede, orange with many legs. It gets on her hand tried to burrow under her skin. Alex shakes it off. Crushes it.

Alexia is twitching. Screaming. She can see them now. Crawling under her skin. Rushing up to her head. Her heart. She understands. One eye on the wing half closes. The tentacle changes. Its tip now has a hole, it emits greenish smoke. The smoke is poison. Alexia stops twitching. There is little time to waste. But the poison is working. The insects are crawling out though the hole in her chest made by the device. They don't get far, drop dead soon after emerging. She needs to find the special serum. Alexia has the answers she needs. It would not be good to let her die.

She takes of her jacket. Covers Alexia who has now gone out of her transformed state and was completely naked. Turns back and goes into the maze of underground halls. The antidote had to be where the creature was kept. Considering how strong it was. She breaks into a run. Left, right. Straight. Another left. She has most of it memorized. Something enters her field of vision and she barely dodges in time. A black pole sticks into the wall. The black knight emerges from the darkness.

"Right now! Seriously?!"

The hall is narrow. Another pole comes flying her way. She dodges. Considers trying to lose him in the maze of halls. She needs to find the antidote. She can't fight him now. turns a corner. Jumps up and holds on to the pipes. Sees the creature walking beneath her. Waits. It stops. Listens. Alex holds her breath. It seems to hear something. Moves away. She drops down. Goes the other way. To where she recalls seeing some kind of lab. The door is locked. She breaks it down. Hurries. Searches. Finds a vial of bright yellow liquid. It seems to match the description Alexia gave her. Prepares to leave.

She hears them just outside in the other room. Heavy footsteps. The knight is in the other lab. And the way out is thought there. Alex looks around. Sees the grate covering the vent. Tears it off. Goes inside. Hopes it won't follow. It's a tight squeeze but just manages to fit. Crawls until a steep drop in the vent. Tries to land quietly but the impact causes the vent to fall. She is somewhere in a hallway.

Time has to be close to running out. So she runs. Hears something break behind her. Glass. Doesn't look back. Knows he might be chasing her. There is light. She has found the exit. Back into the yard that is scorched and blacked from the fight. Alexia is still unconscious. She picks her up. Pours the antidote down her throat. Carries her as she runs. Hides in a nearby room. The door was open. The window opens into the yard. She sees the knight emerge. It looks around. Doesn't notice her. Jumps over the wall. Goes somewhere.

She places Alexia down on the carpet. She is still breathing. Alive. Very warm. Like fire. Alex leaves her there. Goes to inspect the building. No undead. No monsters. She has already figured this whole thing was a trap. But it didn't suit her brother at all. He would have shown himself already. Somebody else must want her dead. But who? She had been fighting her brother for all these years. It never occurred to look out for those he had worked with. He used people, lied to them, and made promise to make them like him. To give them power only to leave them for dead once they weren't useful anymore.

The hall ends with another door leading outside. It's another yard. Decorated with a fountain. Emerging from the torrent of water is the black knight. It makes a weapon from the black matter of it's body. Dashes forward. Water splashes, the concrete breaks. The fountain is shattered. Alex does a backflip. The attack still coming. Lands both feet on the weapon, knocking it down. The knight stumbles. She is faster now. She smiles. Plants a kick to its face. It moves back. Waves the weapon around, tries force her off. She jumps back. Aims another kick, to its ribs times.

"This is payback."

The kick lands. The creature grabs her foot and pulls her closer. Alex bands her back, tries to grab on to something. There is nothing in sight. She grabs on to its leg. Attempts to kick it's with her free leg. It won't let go. Its other hand manifests another pole. Aims to stab at her. She lets go. Dodges. Swings her body up using its hold as leverage. Head-butts it. Hears the bones crack in her own skull. Sees red in her vision. Blood running down her face. It lets go. She drops to the ground. The knight is kneeling on one knee. Holding a hand to half of its face. She takes a piece of concrete from the fountain. Swings it at the creature. It grabs hold of the concrete with one hand. Crushes. the large piece breaks apart. Crumbles. It raises its head at her. If it had eyes, she would think it was glaring. Still down one knee, it lunges forward at her. The gust sends dust and sand and bits of concrete at her. She is blinded for a moment. It tackles her to the ground. Knocks the air out of her lungs. Punches her in the abdomen. Alex feels everything start to go dark.

When she opens her eyes she is in a room. It's more like a throne room. There is man with his back to her. She feels something against her back. Around her body. She can't move. So kind of restraints. The man seems to notice she is awake.

"Awake at last."

She cannot believe the voice she is hearing.

"Spencer?"

The man turns around. He is old but still younger than she remembers him being at the time of his death.

"Surprised that you little scheme failed?"

"How are you still alive?"

"Your betrayal came little surprise to me. I was hoping to use you to gain immortality, yes. But did you really thing I would just leave it to the two of you? That I did not have my own plans in motion?"

"You were alive this whole time?"

"Yes. I wanted to see what these no good children of mine would accomplish on their own. As amusing as it was, watching you squabble with each other, I admit I expected more from both of you. Both of you fail to grasp the potential you hold or how to use it. So it falls to me to set things right. I will become a god and rule this world. You need only follow my lead."

"As great as that sounds, I'm not interested." Alex said.

Spencer laughs.

"You don't have a choice. Much like your brother. "

"Where is he? What did you do to him?"

"You've met him already."

The black knight walks into the room.

"Albert?"

It doesn't respond. Spencer walks up to it.

"Say hello to your sister." He commands.

The black mass covering its face melt away. She can see him. It is indeed him. An expression of unbearable pain on his face. The red glow on his chest. Under the armor like substance. She remembers Alexia. Understands.

"Soon you will be joining him and help me bring about my new world."

"Like I said. I'm not interested."

She pushes against the chains full force. Still dizzy. Something in her body that makes her slow, dizzy, weak. But she had something just for this. Deep down. She reaches. Her power responds, back at full force. Another push and the chains break. The chair falls to the floor.

"Seize her "

The helmet is back on. The knight attacks. Alex dodges. Grabs the remains of the chains from the floor and swings. Wraps them around it's neck. Pulls it down. Punches the hard material on the chest, tries to break it open.

"Did you really think it would be that easy?" Spencer questions.

The knight grabs her fist. Flips her over it's head. Get's up. Alex is now on the floor. The stab was expected. She rolls away. Takes her gun out. Aims at Spencer. The knight dashes to block the shot. Takes a hit. Spencer laughs.

"I will leave the two of you to catch up."

He is leaving. The knight blocks her way. The only door is behind him. She knows she must get it off. But the armor is too hard to break. She needs a plan. But he doesn't leave her time to think. Attacking restlessly. Manifesting a second weapon. Stabing at her with both. She grabs one with one hand and the other. Lifts herself up. Kicks at it. Not strong enough. But he takes a step back, the black armor holds. Spencer is getting too far. Her chance to get more answers is gone. Now she can only think of escaping.

The helmet will block the poison. And there was only a small amount of antidote left. It might not be enough. She can't break him out of Spencer's control. Not directly. Escaping is the only other option. She dodges. Guides him closer to the wall. His attacks make it crack. Weapons leaving marks. She grabs his weapons again. Pushes herself up into the air. Swings. Lands behind him. Back kicks. This time he hits the wall. The wall is starting to give way. She lunges forward. The knight turns, moves aside, and expects her to attack it. She goes for the weakened wall instead. It breaks under her fist. She is outside. Falling. Prepares to drop down. Rolls into the bush.

He looks down from up above. Alex slows her breath. Moves just a bit. Slowly. A pole lands inches away from her. But she doesn't react. Doesn't give way where she is. Hears the knight drop down. Something moves in another bush, further away. It goes to inspect it. She moves in the opposite direction. Rounds the corner of the house. She recognizes the place somewhat.

When she gets back to Alexia the woman is just waking up. She sits up with a yawn. The coat sliding down her chest. She blinks. Looks at Alex confused.

"Mind telling what's going on?"

"You first." Alex says, crossing her arms on her chest.

"Well, I don't remember much. I was being controlled."

"By Spencer. I know." Alex says.

"I had to bring you the island. Oh god. It was horrible. Part of me was aware of what was going on, but my body moved independent of my will. It's like I had no control over what I was doing. We need to get out of here. Spencer need you to complete his plan. You need to get out of here."

"I can't. I need to finish this."

"You can't. They're too powerful."

"I know but I won't run. I need to get my brother out of this. Together we could take the old man down for good."

"How?"

"I'll find a way. I got you out didn't I"

Alexia looks down at her chest where the red device used to be.

"You did. Thank you."

She gets up. Picks up the coat and hands it back to Alex. Still completely naked. She has a lovely shape.

"You owe me. "Alex says." Any idea what those things were?"

"From what I can tell it's some kind of parasite."

"Parasitic bugs. Looked like centipedes."

Alex takes the device from the coat pocket. Tosses it to Alexia. She moves it to her face. Sniffs it.

"It smells. Pheromones perhaps?"

"To control the bugs. Right."

"They might look like centipedes" Alexia says" but they operate more like ants or bees. A hive mind. And every hive has it's queen."

"So we take her out."

"We need to locate her first." Alexia says.

"Any ideas."

"Well, she is probably in the island somewhere. Pheromones don't travel very large distances and if a constant supply is needed then it's the only logical thing. I can figure out move if I analyze there in the lab."

"Alright then. You might want to put something on before we go." Alex suggested.

She puts on old lab coat. They make it to the lab. The window that opens up from the hall is smashed. Alex waits. Some creatures wander around. No sign of Spencer or her brother. Alexia works on the device.

"I think I can retrace it back to the source." She says, typing away at the computer." It's a cave somewhere on the south end of the island. I can give you directions from here. "

"Are you sure? This place isn't safe."

"I can take care of myself. "Alexia says.

Some long armed creatures crawl in through the broken glass. Alexia quickly melts them with her flames.

"See. Piece of cake."

"Alright. Once we have Albert we can work out a plan to take out Spencer."

"Are you sure he will want to help you?"

"Oh. I'm sure."

Alexia gives an ear piece. She puts it in. Takes off.