Chapter 23
True to his word, a car arrived the next day at four o'clock to pick up the brothers. With a deep breath and a nod, the two got in and were driven out of the city. "I wonder who she married?" Knuckle said aloud.
Street appeared to be in his own little world. "Bro… you okay?"
He would shutter and break himself from the train of thought in his head. "Yeah, fine… been having weird ass dreams, I've been dreaming a lot about dad and what he would have done in the past had we been there." He explained.
"Oh yeah, you did get dreams like that, didn't you? Your mind goes over what happened, and how it would have been if we were there or dad had been there…" Knuckle said and chuckled. "At least that part about you didn't change!"
"Yeah… except I've been dreaming of that guy Garou, and what dad would have done when the guy was rampaging and hero hunting… Dad would have tried to hook him up with Melee!"
Knuckle snickered. "I don't doubt it!" he said.
"Dad never would have like the guys she brought home, I have little doubt he would scare them off the moment he met them. Yet, that Garou guy… he would have held his ground. The skills he possessed would impress the old man, not to mention, he was a lot like Melee. She was a loner, always out to prove herself…"
"Huh, never thought of that before." The car suddenly came to a stop.
"Here we are" the driver announced.
Knuckle rolled down his window and peered out. There was no house on either side of the street. In fact, they stopped at the foot of a mountain. "Uh… where's the house?" he demanded.
"Look, I was told to drop you off here. The other thing is Amai told me to tell you to take the stairs."
"That's a shit ton of stairs! I swear to God, if he is pranking us I am going back and belting him!" Knuckle growled as he got out of the car. Street followed as they stared up the mountain. "This for real?"
Street shrugged. "Let's get going."
The two began their trek up the steps, halfway up a quake occurred, and they could feel the mountain shake underfoot as they nearly lost their balance. "What the hell…" Knuckle wondered.
There would suddenly be a burst coming from the top. Dirt and dust plumed into the air before settling once more. "Is someone… fighting?" Street wondered.
Whatever was going on, it quickened their pace. They began to jog up the steps until they reached the final foothold. They saw a boarded up dojo, but nothing more. "We were pranked," growled Knuckle.
"COME ON, THAT ALL YOU GOT!"
They froze to the voice. "There IS a fight going on… hey, does that look like a path to you?"
Knuckle peered and noticed a worn trail, with a nod, the brothers followed it down through the woods, thicker and darker the forest became until the sound of the fight grew louder, and the ground tremble only intensified, as they got closer. Then, in a clearing, it stood.
A massive Japanese style mansion!
"What is this doing here?" Street whispered.
"Don't know, but look over there."
There was another clearing, Knuckle saw a fight going on, but it was merely sparring. "Whoever is over there, they can spar yet make the earth quake under foot!"
"Best we knock and see if anyone is home…"
They approached the front door. Knuckle was hesitant in making the first move, yet his brother was more than willing to knock on the door.
"I swear to God, if it's a door to door salesman I am going to eat them!"
"Isn't that…" Knuckle whispered.
The door flung open, the human monster appeared and yet he wasn't quite focused on the brothers just yet. "You know I would too!" yet as his head crooked to the side, he must have caught a glimpse of them from the corner of his eye. He froze for a moment. "Hey…"
"Hi… does… Melee live here?" asked Street.
"They're here already!?" She appeared from the left side of the room. She smiled to them and was quick to invite them in. The brothers walked in slowly, taking in everything, but were stunned to see the house was quite lavishing and spacious. "Street… Knuckle… welcome to my home… I take it you met Garou already… he's my husband." She explained as her face flushed red. There was a moment of panic that came over her as well, perhaps wondering if they approved of him.
Street however laughed aloud. "I knew it,"
"Good thing we didn't bet on this." Laughed Knuckle. He stuck out his hand. "Pleasure to meet you again."
Garou merely nodded, his face remained stern as he shook his hand. "Like wise. Sorry I didn't mean to hit you so hard before."
"Really? I expected more from someone calling themselves the human monster!"
"Moving on… I have a lot to explain to you both, and I hope you are ready for it and understand…"
"MOMMY, IT'S THE MAN WHO SAID HE WOULD APOLOGIZE!"
The little girl with the white hair came running in the moment her eyes locked on them. Knuckle smiled to her, yet froze at the same time. She said mommy… didn't she? It suddenly hit the brothers abruptly. The children of Garou… are her children too… which makes them uncles… she grabbed Street by the hand and forced him over to Melee. "You are going to apologize right now, aren't you?" she demanded.
"Luna, he doesn't have to…"
Street smiled, he did a respectful bow and said sorry. Luna smiled and nodded her approval. "I should warn you, she tends to run rough shot here." Garou muttered. "No swearing… or she will let you have it."
"Okay…" Knuckle said with great uncertainty, but something still confused him greatly about the sight before him. "How old is she? I mean, she's eight right?"
Melee laughed. "This is part of what I need to explain…"
"HEY! No one said we're having company over!"
Knuckle turned yet jumped rather abruptly. As a very long and rather large serpent man slithered into the house. "You… must be Snek"
Snek slinked into the room as he began to take in the sight of Knuckle and Street, his tongue whisked out but froze. "No… way… Melee…" he said as he began to peer around them, she nodded her head to him. Snek gave a nervous half smile to it all. "Ah… I think I'll hold off on any sort of conversation right now."
The house then trembled.
"What the hell!" Street demanded.
"HECK!" scolded Luna.
"Oh, that's the kids sparing with Boros." Garou said without an ounce of concern to the fact the whole house just shook! "Come on outside, let me introduce you to the rest of the brood."
They were a little reluctant until Melee insisted. "I am almost done making dinner, go ahead, the kids won't bite… hard." She warned.
"I'll come out too, I'll run interference if that happens." Said Snek.
As they made their way out, Street kept turning to Snek oddly. "Do… you remember our father?"
He nodded. "Just when I was getting into the hero line of work, your old man kept appearing when I face off against a monster. I thought he was stepping on my toes and trying to get the credit, turns out… he was coaching me. I didn't realize it until later, he never interfered unless I was knocked out. But when I fought, he was yelling stuff… advice, weak points… I took his kindness for granted. I'm sorry for your loss…"
"Yeah well… apparently we were part of that loss that day too… still trying to make sense of it all," said Street.
Suddenly, Garou's arm went out. "Hold it or your in the pit."
Knuckle didn't realize they were on the cusp of walking over into a pit! Yet down below they saw these young teenagers sparring with one that appeared to be giving off a blur aura. They were going all out! "Whoa…"
Garou turned as his chest swelled with pride. "The red one is Garou Jr. But we call him Pac, his twin brother is Hunter who has the green scales. On the other side of the pit watching is their sister Alley with her husband Suiryu. Waiting on the side lines in the blue is Goliath, and his twin in the dark brown scales Draven." He explained.
"How… how can they be this old?!" Knuckle asked in great confusion.
"They are monsters after all… technically speaking." Said Garou. "Each of them grew rather quickly, but their growth into adulthood is brought on by stress. Usually in a situation that needed great strength, they aged themselves according to the threat, they grow strong enough to fight back and hold their ground. Since then, the five haven't aged. The new ones, you met Luna. She has a sister Eclipsa and a brother Akira. They are only a year old." He explained.
Street was scratching his head in great confusion. "I… don't get it… I really don't."
"Meh, we don't either. Oh, I should explain that one that they are sparring with. Boros. He's an alien, and so far he is my daughter's adopted son per say."
"Huh?" the twin muttered.
"Welcome to life here, trust me it gets crazier." Said Snek.
As the kids finished up, they took notice of Street and Knuckle.
In the blink of an eye, they stood before them, staring with great fascination. "Whoa… it's true, you're mom's brothers!" said Goliath.
"You are the spitting image of your grandfather… without the beard!" said Street.
Goliath blushed to the compliment.
"So you finally figured out who we are huh?" asked Hunter in a bitter tone.
Street nodded. "Yes, I am sorry for what you went through. I didn't know the Neo Heroes had it out for the family this badly!"
Hunter nodded but didn't say anything more. "I… still don't quite understand all of this." Knuckle muttered. "I mean, how did you become that? How did Melee become what she is? How did you have so many kids? Not to mention girls! Girls are rare in our family! And Snek! What happened to Snek? I can only assume it happened to Suiryu too?"
"There's a lot to explain, but first, let's get some dinner. Melee said she was making something familiar for the both of you."
#
"Udon noodles with shredded beef and cabbage." Street said as he took in the smell. The family sat at the table, he was a little startled to Lightning Max when he came home and was surprised to see the young Neo Hero Drax also lived with the family, not to mention his father is Snek! Yet as dinner made its way to the table, Street knew if this tasted as he remembered, there was no doubt this was truly his sister.
He still had a little skepticism in his mind about it, yet he took his first bite of dinner.
"Oh God!" he moaned. It was everything he could want and imagined. It tasted just like home and how his father would want his meal. He and Knuckle began to devour the massive bowl before them, it wasn't long until seconds were called for and given. In fact, the whole family ate like they did! Large amounts of food and it all vanished within a few minutes. They truly were family!
When everyone was satisfied. Street took a deep breath he turned to Melee and said. "I want to know everything that's happened to you… I want to know how you met him, how you fell in love, and had this wonderful family… I want to know it all!"
Melee was stunned, however she nodded. "Where do I even begin?"
"Oh, I can help with that mom… this may freak you two out a little though." Said Alley.
"Whatever you think will help us understand!" announced Knuckle. "What did you have in mind kiddo?"
Alley stood up from her chair, carefully she revealed the other set of arms she had around her waist, it stunned the brothers to say the least. Yet they were quick to settle at the sight. "I have strong esper powers, I can transfer all of mom's memories into your minds, so you can see what happened. If I go too fast or if it's too much I can stop at any time. But I need the three of you to sit closely to do this."
The brothers were up for it. Melee was reluctant. "It's a lot for them to take in Alley…"
"Sis, we can handle this. I mean, we found out we were clones for goodness sake! You don't think we can handle what you've been through since we were gone?" asked Street.
She sighed and gave in. They moved the chairs about and had them set up in a half circle. Street, Knuckle and Melee sat before Alley, with care she gently placed a hand on each of their heads, Street peered behind to see what she was doing. Her eyes closed but was stunned as a third eye opened in the middle of her forehead. "That's something…" he muttered.
"Is everyone ready?" she asked.
"Let's do it!" Knuckle announced.
She began. Street saw fleeting images at first, but then, it revealed what happened. Everything Melee went through, her job with Amai, her training and when she decided to quite. The memories flew by as she encountered Garou, his reveal about the monster organ growing in his body and how he was changing against his will. She believed him, one of the few that did.
Street then witnessed Garou's transformation. It was so fast, so sudden that not even he could control himself at time. Yet through it all, Melee was there for him, and refused to leave his side.
He cringed when he learned of the Wyrm God attack, Melee was bit in various parts of her body, a cure was all but impossible as the monster was made from thousands of snakes. She would have died, had it not been for Garou. He devoured the beast to make anti venom, her skin became infectious and yet the medicine given would have done nothing to save her. When he used his own skin to cure her, it was perfectly clear as to where her scales came from.
The scales spread through her body granting her power, yet changing her DNA as well. She was no longer seen as a human being, but a monster along with Garou. The two made certain to use their power for good, bounty hunting mainly. Yet no one saw them as heroes, thanks to Garou's past.
They saw how the M Class started, the births of Pac, Hunter and Alley. The torment they endured and the hunting of Metal Knight for his actions. Alley however stopped for a moment. "The next memories are mine, it's how the three martial artists here became what they are. Mom didn't see it, but I did, this happened when she just learned she was pregnant with the twins, Goliath and Draven."
It was a mad scientist that started it, hoping to test Pac and Hunter only to have his tests diverted and consumed by four others. Snek, Max and Suiryu have since lived with them, trying to understand what they are and how to continue to be heroes. "Okay, back to mom's… is this okay?" she asked.
"I can see everything clearly, and my mind doesn't hurt, continue, please." Said Street.
She did just that, Street began to understand why Melee didn't reveal herself, he could pick up her feelings as Alley transferred the memories into his mind. The house of evolution was after them, and they weren't stopping until they got what they desired. They were stunned when the family was nearly killed by this mad scientist, yet Street wondered why it looked a lot like Genus he met just a day go?
They saw their struggle with Amai Mask, and the eventual peace that has since befallen upon the family. "Remind me, to punch him one more time for doing that to you guys." Said Knuckle.
"No problem," snickered Garou.
It then came to the Neo Heroes, how they teased the family, stating they could wait for the association to fall so they will become the hunted. She stopped then and there. "That's all we have until recently."
Street sat there, soaking it all in for a moment. He took a deep cleansing breath before his eyes set on Garou. "That's why you came…" he said. "You came to the Neo Heroes… upset because they brought us back without telling her…"
Garou sneered as he looked away, almost too proud to admit it. "Yeah…" he said. "I only regret that they have revoked the promise made to Drax, Snek's son. As long as the family didn't rampage… they wouldn't hunt us. I blew it."
Knuckle then opened his eyes after taking everything in, he nodded his head oddly as he rubbed his hand over his head in thought. He took a deep breath as sell before stating. "We're going to fix that."
The table froze. "Knuckle… we don't have that kind of power…" Street began to say.
"Oh no, we do," a stern look came over Knuckle. "They brought us back without asking Melee for permission or her blessing to do so. They hid us from her, refusing to speak to us about it, lied as to how we came to wake in their care, tricking us into becoming Neo Heroes and still not tell us anything about what happened, where she went to or how we survived…" he paused as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "The ball is in our court now, they either play by OUR rules, or we will go against theirs."
"Street, Knuckle, you have to be careful though!" pleaded Melee. "I fear that if the house of evolution is behind this too… I could…" she froze as the tears wielded in her eyes once more.
"Mommy, don't cry!" Eclipsa pleaded. The triplets quickly went to her for comfort, trying to say she is okay. She braced the children tightly as she turned to them once more.
"I can't lose you again…" she whispered.
"Well… this is going to sound weird, but what if they clone us again?" asked Street.
"It's tricky to say the least," explained Alley. "You need to understand, clones minds are difficult to predict and control. The last memory you could recall is the first one you obtain. If someone were to take your blood at the wrong place and time, it could trigger a bad reaction, resulting in a loss of one's self."
"What if it's taken now?" asked Street.
"The blood of a clone is never as strong as the original. It could work yes, but there could be aspects where the cloning process will fail. For example weakened immunity or bone density. I could if you want me to, but mom doesn't want me cloning."
"Melee?" asked Street. "We're okay with it…"
"But I'm not." She said. "How could I be? If something happens, you die and come back… you die and come back again… my heart cannot take that kind of punishment. As I said, I lost you both once before. I cannot lose you again"
"That is how Melee feels, but how do you feel about it?" asked Snek. "Considering someone could take your blood and clone you for their own needs. Never telling Melee about it and you're used as some sort of weapon or lab rat."
"I never thought about that," whispered Knuckle. "I just don't want her to lose us again… I mean… with everything going on, I can understand her concern, but we can't just vanish from her life to keep us safe!"
The room went silent.
The quiet then broke from a small laugh from Melee. "As foolish of a dream that is, you two will always be Brawlers, stubborn in the way that nothing will stop you from doing what you have to or need to do. I think no matter what happens, there will always be someone, out there waiting to take advantage of us or the situation. Street, Knuckle… do what you want to do, you're going to anyways. But, just be careful, and don't be afraid to ask for help."
Street gave a solemn nod. "We will, we have to, got to keep little bro in line!" he announced as he stared at Garou.
"I ain't so little!" he snapped back.
"Ah little bro is getting mouthy…" chimed Knuckle.
"You are seriously going to let them talk to me like this?!" Garou demanded.
Melee smirked. "It means they like you, if they didn't, you would be getting the third degree by now."