Chapter 11: Trap
Hunter and Ganta stood in the elevator room. Ganta was looking back to the door where they had left Karako to deal with the robot on her own.
"We could have saved her..." Ganta said looking down. Hunter then put a hand on his shoulder and said.
"We would have just died trying to help her, this is more important Ganta, then any of us." Ganta looked down but understood as he turned towards the elevator as a Bartender with grey hair said.
"Now we just wait on Nagi and the others."
"What? Alex I don't understand. Why would you do this." Alex said nothing as he looked down at Nagi watching him for any hint of movement. Rokuro then jumped in saying.
"For once I'm with Nagi, why did you attack him? My nod meant you were supposed to let him pull it." Alex now annoyed turned to rokuro and snapped.
"Well if you gave half a clue about what you meant I probably wouldn't have attacked him!" Nagi then Lunged at Alex grabbing his gun as he tried to fire a shot at Nagi. The two then struggled for the gun with Nagi trying to force the weapon upwards and Alex bringing it to Nagis gut. Thanks to the lack of broken ribs Alex seemed to be winning until Nagi slammed the gun and Alex's hand into the wall over and over until Alex dropped it and they started to simply try and overpower each other. But the the sound of metallic clicking was the only warning they got as they both looked just in time to see a large metal object heading right for them. Pushing off one another Nagi fell back to the floor and Alex jumped back as what was now evidently a blade struck the wall creating a dent in it. Then the small soft voice of Hibana spoke up.
"My, my what a naughty boy we have here." The blade then retracted into a large segmented greatsword that was bigger than a person was in length. This sword also had the glowing blue lights on each segment. Topping all of this off however was the fact that she wielded this weapon with one hand. Alex then looked over to her and asked.
"What are we doing boss?" Nagi then looked up in shock at the girl.
"Boss? What's going on?" Rokuro then started laughing before cracking his neck into place.
"Oh you poor fool, allow me to introduce you to the Undertakers latest trainee. The Demon of New York" He said motioning over to Alex who reformed his claws. Nagi looked at him in shock.
"You'd betray us, and Hunter for these monsters?" Alex sighed before explaining.
"Well to be fair you can't betray someone who's side you were never really on. And Hunter joined you all after I had already joined up with the Undertakers, Also I tried getting him to leave but he was dead set on helping." Nagi stood up and readied his branch at Alex who rolled forward recalling his blood into his back before grabbing the gun and turning on Worm-Eater just as Nagi sent the balls of blood at him. With a single swipe of the pistol all of the balls were disintegrated much to Nagi's shock.
"My branch!" Before he could get another word out Hibana struck him with the blunt side of her blade sending him into the wall creating a much larger dent.
"You should really pay more attention to your enemies mister." Nagi struggled to stand but when he finally did he looked right at Rokuro.
"You edited the footage didn't you?" Rokuro just smirked and pointed behind him at Alex who Grabbed Nagi from behind putting him into a full nelson.
"Oh I just remembered a punishment I wanted to try out! Alex hold him very still." Hibana said with a gleeful look in her eye and what looked like an innocent smile. "I can't kill you so we're going to try the lingering death!" Hibana then proceeded to explain in graphic detail how this worked. ALex honestly thought it was sick. Cutting someone slowly in very thin pieces until they died from whatever they were lucky enough to be killed by. as she finished explaining she cut of a very thin slice of Nagi's chest, then another from his arm, then his leg, then his stomach, then more and more pieces were cut off all the while Hibana was prattling on about how this would make Nagi better somehow truth is Alex didn't tune in for that part he did manage to catch the end when she said. "After it is a Lady's duty to punish the disobedient." Nagi seemed to scoff hearing this.
"A lady? Please, you are under the best of circumstances a psychotic little brat!" Hibana froze up at Nagis statement before mumbling something under her breath. Alex seeing this applied more pressure to Nagi's neck before speaking up.
"Hey boss are you alright?" She didn't hear him only seeing Nagi with murderous intent in her eyes.
"Hibana is a LADY!" She then swung the entire blade down trying to slit Nagi down the middle. It would have worked too had Alex not let go and dogged out of the way the moment she raised her blade. Nagi was less luck as the blade came down on his arm nearly cutting it off as it was held on by a few remaining strands of muscle. Alex's eyes grew wide as Nagi then stood up and ripped his own arm off saying.
"Is that what you call punishment? Pathetic!" He then threw the dismembered limb at her before tuning on Alex and punching him into the air. Before he hit the ground Nagi had already ran over to Rokuro and slammed his head into one of the screens. He let go and Rokuro slumped to the ground. Alex then hit the floor landing on his shoulders with a thud. By now Hibana had turned over to Nagi and shouted.
"Stop right there!" Nagi didn't seem to care about the threat as he pulled the switch saying.
"You have more important thing at worry about then me." Hibana looked over to the discarded arm to see the balls of blood rise us and fly at her. "I think what you need is to go to bed." The balls then exploded knocking Hibana out cold. Nagi then took a breather using his remaining arm to support himself on the control panel. A gunshot then rang out and he felt an awful pain in his chest. He then turned around to see Alex standing up again and pointing a smoking gun right at him. He fired again this time at Nagi's leg finally bringing the man down. Alex then approached keeping him aim on Nagi's head in case he needed to put the man down.
"You're one tough son of a bitch you know that?" He said rubbing his chin as he got closer. Nagi looked up at Alex not seeming very intimidated but sounded sad as he said.
"So this is how I die? Shot in the back surrounded by traitors." Alex kelt down placing his gun against his temple.
"Please Nagi my orders are to take you in alive, I bet those shots hurt like hell but they're not lethal." Rokuro then stood back up and walked over.
"He's right, you aren't getting out that easy leader." Nagi wasn't worried about himself however asking.
"You sent the Undertakers after them didn't you?" Rokuro watched the camera as the group got on the elevator.
"Of course I did." He said sending it up.
"Tell me, what are their chances of getting the data chip out?"
"About zero point three percent."
"More than enough." Rokuro then laughed.
"But I feel you should know, the chances of escape are a flat zero. I made sure of that myself." Alex then spoke not moving his eyes off of Nagi.
"Wait what are you talking about?"
As the elevator moved up some members started talking.
"Hey Hunter what are you gonna do when you get out of here?" Hunter smiled at the thought, he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
"First thing im doing is running straight back home and getting a nice home cooked meal from mom." He smiled thinking to himself. Af far as he was concerned his mother made the best food in New York. He then started to get lost in thought about home, His dad had saved up days on leave from the military to spend with him and mom, but instead he used them for his trial. His thoughts were abruptly cut off when
"Oh sweet merciful buddha! I could smell your stench from the bottom."
"It's that damn monk again!" Genkaku seemed to take offence at that saying.
"Dude, UBER MONK!" Before opening fire on the group again. Hunter ran off to the side around some shipping containers. He turned a corner and had a clear shot at Genkaku. All he had to do was bleed and get a shot off and he'd be dead, or at least down. Before he could however an Undertaker dropped down in front of him and before he could react punched him in the gut sending him to his knees. The Undertaker then spoke to him with a voice he knew he would never forget.
"Truth is I can't even be mad at Tamaki for this one, you went and joined these fools all on your own. And now I have to come in myself and make sure you don't waist what I gave you by getting yourself killed." Hunters eyes widened at he looked up and glared at the Undertaker.
"Y-you!"
"Yes." Hades said bending down and grabbing Hunter by the throat. "Me." Then lifting him off his feet.
"So you're one of these people huh?" Hades responded looking up at the boy.
"No, well. Truth is I serve a similar purpose as the Undertakers but for something far more dangerous." It quickly clicked in Hunters head just what the man meant.
"Zeus."
"Exactly Hunter, the truth is you're far too important to die here, you need to stop him or..." He trailed off before shaking his head and forming his pointed claws. "It's better if I just show you." He then plunged the claws into his chest once more but this time he was awake and it hurt. He screamed as images of death and destruction flashed all around him, the sky was red, buildings were collapsing then a figure in a glowing red exoskeleton started walking towards him before lifting him up. Then a young voice that Hunter didn't recognize called out. "Please stop, you can't do this what would they say if they could see you now?!" The other figure then replied in a very similar voice but the tone was completely different almost emotionless as it spoke.
"They wouldn't understand, like you they're ignorant to what must happen. But im not! I know what must be done! And I will do it with or without you!" The figure then threw Hunter back before stepping on his chest causing the unknown voice to scream. "Little brother." Then the vision stopped and Hunter was dropped to the ground as his chest once again repaired itself from the attack.
"Those... were your memories weren't they?" The man in armor said nothing as he started walking away before stopping and looking over his shoulder.
"You're the only one who can stop that Hunter, your hatred towards me and the Wretched Egg is warranted but right now there is a far bigger threat" Hunter stood and looked down in thought. It was true, he hated the man but if that was really what was at stake he needed to find Zeus first.
"Fine, I'll help you kill Zeus. But once im done with him, I'm coming after you!"
"Very well." With that an explosion rang out Hades walked off then Hunter turned and ran to investigate. As he approached he was everyone standing around Shiro who was looking around confused and looking a little scared
"How could you? That was our last hope." Ganta said his fists shaking with rage.
"Wait what happened? Whats going on?" Hunter said getting back to the group as a man with a bandana on his head turned and yelled
"She destroyed the goddamn data chip!" Hunters heart sank at that he then turned to Shiro his face a mixture of hurt and disbelief. And with a pained voice said.
"Shiro, come on please tell me you didn't." But She didn't say anything just backing up looking confused.
"But th-they said the chip Ganta was carrying was dangerous!" Ganta then grabbed Shiro shouting.
"We all knew what! Damn it shiro I knew what I signed up for! They were all counting on me!" In response Shiro pushed him off and started yelling at him even louder.
"NONE OF THAT MATTERS TO SHIRO! YOU'RE TOO WEAK TO BE INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THIS-" Ganta cut her off with a punch to the face. He wanted to keep going, he probably would have to if Hunter didn't step in between them them holding Ganta back.
"Ganta that's enough we need to get out of here there could still be some around!"
"Don't show your goddamn face around me again!" And with that they left as Shiro sat hurt and confused.
"But.. why?"
Alex stumbled back to his room, the pain in his jaw was starting to be too much to handle and he needed to rest. As he opened his door he was met with the sight of Shiro crying her eyes out as she lay on her side facing the door.
"A-Alex..." Alex walked forward and knelt down next to her as she sat up looking down hiccuping.
"Oh god what happened is-" Out of nowhere she threw herself onto him and started crying into his shirt. Alex sighed and rubbed her back doing his best to calm her down. "Hey its ok, shh come on sweetheart you're alright." His mom usually told him those very words whenever he cried as a child and it would work most of the time calming him somewhat. Thankfully this seemed to help Shiro as she wiped her face and was able to get out.
"Ganta hit me!"
"What, Why?" Alex said sitting down next to her and putting a arm around her shoulders trying to comfort her. He didn't knock why but seeing her cry like this... hurt a lot he was also enraged at the thought of Ganta hitting her but right now this felt so much more important.
"I-I don't know I tried telling him that the chip was too dangerous but he didn't listen. Then...Then." That was all she got out before fresh tears streamed down her face and she buried her face into his chest and wailed. Alex sighed again and once again rubbed her back trying to calm her.
"Hey come on snowflake you're...wait...Snowflake?" Something felt off about his pet name for her it felt too affectionate for how little he knew her like, it meant far more than it should. He then laid back bringing Shiro down with him as he held her using one arm to hold her and the other to wipe the tears from her face. "Come on let's just get some sleep okay sno...Snowflake?" The word still felt wrong on his lips. She nodded before laying her head on his chest and closing her eyes as Alex looked at the ceiling and began to drift off.
A few hours later he woke up and rubbed his eyes feeling no weight on him he looked around to find Shiro was nowhere to be seen. Sighing he got up and switched his t-shirt out for one of his dress shirts. Then Rokuro's voice rang in his ear sounding very irritated.
"Alex, meet me at Scarchain HQ those fuckers survived somehow!"
"Wait what how did that happen?"
"I DON'T FUCKING KNOW!" Rokuro then took a second to compose himself before continuing "Just get down there and wait for me Genkaku still has use for them." Alex sighed and stepped out of his room. Only to then immediately bump into Senji who know had an eyepatch.
"You again?" they both asked in unison.
Hunter sat at one of the booths in the bar. No one had gotten any sleep that night. Karako had come back and was now effectively the leader. Ganta had tried to apologize but that went poorly so now everyone sat in silence. Then Rokuro walked in and looked everyone up and down. One member then walked over to him.
"Holy crap Rokuro you're alive! Where have you been? where's Nag-" Rokuro then snapped slammed his fist into the wall screaming.
"WHO. THE FUCK. FOUND OUT. ABOUT. THE BOMB?" He slammed his fist into the wall with every word. Now everyone was looking at him confused and murmuring amongst themselves. "You people actually got rid of the data chip by accident?" Karako now stepped forward looking just as confused as everyone else.
"Rokuro calm down, it's us." Rokuro seemed to ignore her saying.
"You know what, it doesn't really matter Genkaku has his own use for you all anyway." He then snapped his fingers and Alex walked in. Hunter was about to run over and help before Alex pulled out his gun and pointed it right at Karako. On of the other nearby Scarchain member tried to run at Rokuro but Alex quickly aimed at him shooting him in the shoulder before he once again turned the gun on Karako. Hunter was in shock as more Undertakers flooded the room.
"Alex, how could you?"