It took quite some time and a rather long battle between Train and River and the Taoists Maro and Preta Ghoul followed by an even more gruelling fight against Shiki, but Train finally regrouped with Eve just outside of the mansion at the centre of the island.
The girl was accompanied by a somewhat injured Kevin (though the Sweeper waved off his injuries as scratches, especially after he glimpsed River's much graver injuries, sustained during his battle against Shiki's minion) and her dress was strangely shredded. However Eve refused to say anything other than that she thought the boy, Leon, would soon be leaving the Apostle of the Stars and Train wisely dropped the subject, sensing that she was unwilling to discuss the topic but satisfied with whatever had occurred between her and the wind Taoist. He thought he could understand… after all, he'd had a similar encounter with Shiki. It had cost him all of his railguns for the day but Train didn't regret saving Shiki from the hate and pained past that had ruled the Taoist's life until now.
What was concerning, however, was Shiki's revelation to them that Creed was waiting on the fourth floor of the main house… and he had likely already completed his infusion of the immortal nanomachines.
Train's eyes narrowed as he, Eve, and their new friends walked into the mansion courtyard at last.
It was heavily guarded by more of Creed's Shooting Star Squad, but even with their heavy armour they were no match for the four sweepers. River's Garbell Commando allowed his powerful punches to break the squadron's bones through their armour while Train and Kevin's superior marksmanship even in the face of outmatched odds meant their bullets hit the soldiers right in their armour's weak points in the joints, bringing them down for the count. But it was Eve who was the true winner when she took on the remaining squadron with a newly developed weapon.
Manipulating her hair into twin blades with points the size of a nanomachine, Eve had easily cut through all the Shooting Star Squad's armour with her thin and sharp blades. The unfortunate outcome had been that it left the Shooting Star Squad completely naked but still armed and fit to fight… but Eve's embarrassment had soon taken care of that as she transformed her hair into twin fists and punched the living daylights out of the naked men.
"Are you all right, Eve?" Kevin asked tentatively once she was finished and the Shooting Star Squad were rendered completely unconscious and likely infertile.
"I'm fine."
Kevin didn't look like he believed her, but he didn't comment on how red Eve's face was nor on how heavy her breathing was. Instead, he walked with her, Train, and River up the steps of the mansion at last, and Train murmured as he pushed on the doors, "Right. Let's go!"
But they stopped immediately in the doorway as they found an unexpected figure waiting for them right in the middle of the entrance hall, before the giant staircase that led to the second floor.
"You again, huh?" Train asked, eyes narrowing slightly and Echidna just gave him an equally distasteful glare as she greeted sarcastically, "You seem well, Black Cat."
"Could it be…?"
Eve glanced back as Kevin stared at Echidna, apparently stunned.
"You're Echidna. Echidna Parass!"
Eve blinked in surprise while Train looked back at Kevin.
"Echidna Parass?" Train repeated blankly, and Kevin screeched incredulously, "She's a famous actress! You didn't know that?!"
"Nope, not at all." Train admitted and Kevin gaped, flabbergasted.
"With her natural acting ability and good looks, she quickly rose to become the queen of the film industry!" Kevin explained, still looking stunned. "She has starred in over twenty films and won numerous awards!"
'An actress…?' Eve thought, looking at Echidna. The woman was definitely beautiful enough but… how had she ended up here then?
"I know her too." River confirmed. "I don't watch movies much, but I know Echidna. There was some news several years ago about her disappearance."
"Hm…" Echidna sniffed. "I'm thrilled that there are some people who know me here, but those things were of the past. They are nothing."
"Are you… a member of the Apostles of the Stars?" Kevin asked dubiously.
"No..." Echidna replied slowly, and Train chimed in, "Do you intend to fight us?"
"No." Echidna replied. "I don't have any intentions of the sort right now. The only reason I'm here is because he has something he'd like to say to you no matter what."
She raised her hand as she spoke, a talisman between her fingers. With her power, she called forth her Gate. The talisman burned up as the portal opened, and Eve's eyes widened as a familiar shadow appeared within the Gate.
"Could it be?" She gasped, while Train tensed as Creed Diskenth stepped out right in front of them.
"That face!" River gasped, both he and Kevin recognizing the newcomer instantly.
'What a chilling look in his eyes.' Kevin thought, goosebumps running up his arms from just looking at Creed's face. 'Despite the fact that he shouldn't have the intention to kill us here… that look can freeze your spine!'
'This is… a double S-class difficulty.' River thought at the same time, while Creed's lips curved up into a smile.
"Yo, Train." He greeted casually. "It's been a while. The last time was Storktown, wasn't it? I've been worried ever since Lucifer made you look like a kid."
His smile widened as he looked Train up and down, and he added calmly, "Well, I always believed that you could recover from that."
"You 'believed'?" Train scoffed. "Say it the right way. You're always making things you do sound like someone else did them."
Creed chuckled at that, but it was then that Eve noticed something strange.
'His left arm...' She thought, eyes widening as she stared at the arm in question. 'But I'm sure that Rins said he lost it in the fight with Julia and the other Chronos Numbers.'
"Well then," Creed was saying. "The reason I came out to see you is because I'd like to know what you came here to do."
His eyes were solely on Train as he spoke, his gaze and tone intent, "Have you made up your mind to join me and partake in the revolution? That's not it at all, is it? I didn't think you'd be willing to tell me… but-"
Creed's eyes burnt with mad confidence as he stared at Train hopefully, recalling the night already half a year ago when Black Cat had returned from the dead at Lunafort Tower to fight Creed to the death. He was almost tingling with anticipation to see the same dark look and killing aura Train had had back then once more today.
"I'm sure that you came to avenge Saya Minatsuki, right?" Creed asked, almost giddy in his excitement.
Train stood with his bangs covering his face, his head bent slightly and he didn't reply instantly. But when he spoke, his voice was controlled and calm… and confident.
"Wrong." Train replied. "I'm not here for revenge. I came here to make you a promise."
Train raised his gaze to look at Creed squarely in the eye, a slight smile on his face as he swore, "As a sweeper, I will stop your broken-down revolution."
Creed's eyes widened in shock at Train's expression, and he suddenly screeched, "WHAAAAA!"
Everyone except Train flinched, and Echidna asked in alarm, "Creed?!"
"What's wrong with him?" River wondered, watching Creed warily as the man grasped his face with his hands, trembling with horror and disgust.
"J-just now… Train's eyes..." Creed hissed, his voice shaking as his emotions ran wild. "His facial expression… It wasn't the face I was expecting… No, not just that… for a moment… he was the double of that woman!"
Creed's gaze lifted and he stared at Train with renewed horror.
"She was the worst!" He screamed. "When we met at Lunafort Tower, you still had potential! Your face then looked like it could have returned to the callous face of an eraser in ten minutes! However, now you seem nothing like that! Your expressions seem to indicate that you have been completely taken in by that woman's curse!"
Train just remained staring impassively back at Creed with only a hint of distaste in his gold eyes. 'Curse, huh...' Train thought to himself. It was the same word Creed had used two and a half years ago, and Creed seemed to continue to believe it was Saya that had changed Train. That was good. And to think he blamed Train's latest change of heart on Saya once again… 'Sorry, Saya. Your spirit must always be suffering because of me… but please, for her, please forgive me for not setting things right.'
Creed stared back at Train for another moment, before he shocked them all yet again as he abruptly turned away.
"Echidna, let's return at once."
Train started. As Creed made to step back into Echidna's Gate, Train demanded, "Are you running away, Creed?!"
"After this, I don't want to see you again." Creed replied coldly, not turning around. "It makes me feel like I'm talking to that woman."
Train blinked, startled at the effect this was having on Creed, while the madman continued raspily, "I'll be waiting for you to come upstairs. Until we meet again, I will have faith that you can break yourself away from that woman's curse. Should you be unable to… I will kill you."
Creed stepped into the Gate, and he murmured almost to himself as he disappeared with Echidna, "Even if you're a corpse… I would have taken you back from that woman. Then all would be good..."
The group stood, stunned, as Creed and Echinda disappeared with the Gate. Kevin and River gaped at where the Gate had been, while Eve glanced at Train.
"Train-" She began, but Train cut her off.
"He's a selfish bastard as usual." Train's gaze hardened. "But at least we know he's here without a doubt."
He looked at Eve.
"Let's kick his ass."
Eve nodded in agreement, but she caught Train's shirt as he started forward.
"Creed… he didn't mention her. Julia." Eve said in a low voice, and Kevin and River watched them curiously as Train glanced down at Eve. "He's never once brought her up either. Why do you think that is?"
Train stared at Eve for a moment before he looked back toward the space where Creed had disappeared.
"Probably because he saw what he wanted to see." Train answered in a low voice. "He saw Saya supposedly bewitching me into changing my ways and he never considered any other possibility."
His eyes narrowed.
"His obsession with that idea is what has kept Jules safe for now… and I intend to keep it that way for as long as possible. The last thing I need is for him to change his kill target to her now."
Meanwhile
On the outskirts of the island
"Che. How boring. There's nothing here. It's just a plain old island."
Sephiria ignored Baldor's complaints as she led the way further up the beach where her small team of Numbers had rowed ashore. Baldor was looking around the quiet beach with a disgruntled expression and he glanced back at Xiao Li as he said scathingly, "It looks like things are going according to your plan. Creed's eyes are all on that group of sweepers."
""We don't know that for sure, Baldor." Xiao Li replied calmly. "We could also be walking into a trap."
Baldor harrumphed while Kranz walked silently behind his partner, and Jenos piped up, "At any rate, we can't go back now so let's get going. Right, sis?"
He grinned at Lia who just gave him a deadpan look.
"Hmph, let's just hope the little girl doesn't panic and cry when she sees Black Cat." Baldor muttered condescendingly.
Jenos's eyes narrowed instantly and Xiao Li also shot Baldor a quick look. But Lia was calm as she replied, "And let's hope you continue to remember why we're here Baldor, and that you won't become embroiled in a grudge match that you lost against a child."
"What was that?" Baldor snapped, glaring at Lia, but Sephiria cut in sharply.
"Enough."
Baldor went quiet instantly while Sephiria looked back at her team seriously.
"We've come this far, we've got to keep moving forward for as long as we can. We cannot afford to become distracted or to fight amongst ourselves."
Lia lowered her gaze in submission as Sephiria gave Baldor and then her a stern look. Satisfied, Sephiria addressed the team at large once more.
"Let's get going… to eliminate the enemy of the world."
Inside the mansion
Train and his team dashed down the corridors, having escaped another squadron of Creed's followers.
"Look! A staircase!" Kevin called as he spotted a flight of stairs that would lead them up to the third floor.
"Now we can finally go to the next floor!" Train agreed hopefully, but River called sharply, "Wait!"
The group skid to a halt as a figure appeared around the corner, right next to the stairs, and they watched as a man with a mohawk collapsed right in their path.
"You're!" Kevin gasped, recognizing the stranger instantly. "Mr. Mundock!"
Kevin knelt quickly beside the injured man, who seemed barely able to breath and almost unconscious though Kevin couldn't see what was immediately wrong with the man.
"What's wrong? Hang in there!" Kevin called in alarm as he checked the man's pulse while scanning for any clues as to what was wrong with the man.
"Who is he?" Train asked as he bent down behind Kevin to peer at Mundock, and Kevin yelped in disbelief, "He's a sweeper who came in the same alliance we did!"
"He was in the alliance?" Train asked River in surprise, and the other man shrugged, "Nope, I don't remember him at all."
How cruel… Kevin thought as he stared at the two idiots incredulously.
Turning to his last hope, he beseeched, "You remember him, right, Eve?"
"Yes." The girl confirmed as she too peered down at Mundock. "But there's something strange about him."
Something caught her attention from the corner of her eye, and she pointed down the hall.
"Mr. Kevin, there's another one over there!"
"What?!" Kevin gasped, looking up and down the corridor that Mundock had appeared from.
"Fudou!" Kevin cried, recognizing the other man easily.
Train and River quickly moved to carry the barely breathing man over to where Kevin was leaning Mundock against the wall beside the stairs. As Kevin checked over the two men and they slowly recovered some consciousness, River murmured thoughtfully, "I remember this one. How did they get a veteran like you? What happened exactly?"
"We… were captured." Fudou explained through laboured breathing. "By a man… from the Apostles of the Stars… called Doctor. He… kept us from moving by using sorcery."
"Sorcery?" Kevin repeated and Train asked thoughtfully, "The… Tao?"
Suddenly Fudou gasped, his eyes widening before they slammed shut and he hunched over as though in pain.
"Ungh!" He groaned, hands clutching his chest, and River yelled in alarm, "Hey, what's wrong!"
Suddenly, a thump ran through Eve, followed by a hot heat - a familiar sensation she had only felt once before. 'This feeling… there's a feeling like something is stirring in their bodies.' She thought as she clutched her own chest. 'I've felt this before!'
"Th…That Doctor guy… he injected us with a strange drug earlier." Mundock heaved out between gasps. "I'm sure… it's because of that. My body… is so hot… like it's… on fire!"
"Drug?" Train repeated questioningly, before he jerked as Fudou began to grunt and snarl and heave saliva like a rabid animal.
Suddenly, the man lifted his head and began to snarl and growl viciously at them, all the veins popping on his face while his eyes were rolled over to show only the whites. The others reared back, shocked, as Fudou's sightless eyes roved about while his hands clutched his sheathed spear. His eyes locked onto Eve's, and it was like he suddenly lost all control.
With a howl, Fudou suddenly lunged forward, the cap of his spear clattering to the ground as he unsheathed it and held it in his hands. Eve gasped as the spear's head came straight toward her as Fudou sprang at her, and Train shouted, "Little princess!"
He started forward, but he was too late. Eve stared with wide-eyed horror as blood spurted onto her face as Fudou's spear pierced right through Kevin's chest from where the younger man had lunged to protect Eve. Kevin grunted, blood dripping down his lips and chin as blood filled his punctured lung and he gasped out, "Fudou… why…?"
Fudou pulled out the spear, and Eve could only watch in frozen horror as Kevin fell forward without the support of the weapon buried in his chest.
"Kevin!" Train gasped and River snapped, "What's up with that moustache guy all of a sudden-?!"
He broke off as his eyes fell on Mundock, whose eyes had rolled back and whose veins were now also popping wildly as he too slowly got to his feet.
"Hahaha..." Mundock laughed maniacally, saliva dripping down his face while Fudou giggled gleefully behind him.
"What the..." River gasped, taking a step back from the two rabid men. "What's gotten into you guys?"
"Hehehe."
Train and River looked up sharply as delighted laughter floated down from the mansion's PA system.
"How does it feel to see people who were once comrades stare back at you with the intent to kill?"
"That voice..." Train growled, glaring up at the PA system. "It's that bastard with the glasses, the one they called Doctor."
"Oh!" Doctor said with amusement. "I'm honoured that you've remembered my voice."
"What the hell did you do to these two?" Train snapped, in no mood to chat.
"What?" Doctor feigned innocence. "I injected them with a nanomachine is all. I call it 'Berserker'. It's a nanomachine I made to increase physical strength."
"A nanomachine?" River repeated incredulously, and Doctor explained, "The 'Berserker' manipulates the brain to overproduce adrenaline and dopamine among other functions. The person injected loses all rational sense but they have an extremely heightened ability to do one thing..."
They could almost see the smile on Doctor's face as he finished.
"Cause destruction!"
Train's jaw set. Beside Kevin's fallen body, Eve remained kneeling and she murmured, "Ke… Kevin..."
"Well, the only way that you can stop them now is to take their lives." Doctor went on casually. "But they are still first rate sweepers… so it won't be that easy. In the end, it all comes down to: can you kill your friends who have committed no crime?"
He started laughing again, and Train hissed, "You bastard!"
But it was Fudou and Mundock who charged at him and River, and Train's jaw clenched as he tensed in preparation to fight the men who had been in the same alliance as him just hours earlier.
*A/N Song of the Day: Planetarium by Ai Otsuka from the drama Hana Yori Dango. The link is: /MXvGjw4J5g4