Chapter ten. Needed answers


"Tearing a hole from earth to hell!?" Poch exclaimed, flabbergasted by what Dundy told them.

"Yes. That's what the device picked up," Dundy told them.

"Dundy, you're gonna have to elaborate," Jack told him.

"...You know how we usually detect the coming of The Purge?"

"Yeah. They have an item that detects the looming presence Angel's. They use the rise of its detection to determine the time they come."

"Do you know how it's detected?"

"Not really."

"Well, let's say there's a...dent in space, an outward dent, that slowly gets bigger till it becomes a hole, allowing the Angel's access. Through that hole they also create the subspace. This new device was able to detect that dent the corps have recently started using it to get a better understanding of thePurge, however they only use it to detect the outwards dent and have it stop reading when the Purge starts, mainly due to fighting in the subspace causing distortions. Though if they had a way to widdle through the distortions they'd find that, in these recent purges, there was an inward dent in space."

"An inward dent?" Poch asked.

"Yes. You see, an outward dent means coming from, inward means going out. See what I'm saying?"

"So the Angel's come in through a spatial hole during The Purge to go to hell to start an early Cleansing?" Jack surmised.

"That's nuts! Creating a gate that big for the Angel's to cross over from would destroy the subspace! For me it's different since my portals only work for me and are much smaller, but for them it's much more wide scale!" Poch added.

"You sure about this Dundy?"

"Positive. Jared and I went through the data together. During The Purge, another tear in space was being formed. He's asking if anyone has seen anything strange during it," Dundy elaborated.

"Well I guess the other question to be asked is why? Why tear a hole from earth to hell?"

"That is the question, but right now we should focus on the how," Poch suggested. He pondered for a moment. "Yknow, Blitzø and the gang go to earth through a grimoire. Maybe the Angels have the same thing?"

Dundy shook his head. "That way of opening is different. The grimoire doesn't tear through space like the Angels and you, rather it makes a doorway, a less forceful path. I'm sure the Angel's have a pathway to earth themselves but it's apparently noticeable or something they cannot use along with subspace. It may have something to do with the chaos they are infused with."

"Could be. Does that mean we're gonna have another early Cleansing?"

"I do not know."

"I got a question," Jack asked, "is there a possibility of an early Purge? Like leftovers from the Cleansing hopping over to earth."

"That is a good question, but I doubt so, given the different conditions of hell and earth."

"You gonna be over there during?"

"No, I'm going to stay here. I came too close to being discovered. Jared and Albest will handle the rest."

"Maybe with this info they can convince the Corps to come to hell."

"Would be nice," Poch admitted, flexing his arm.

"Your arm ok?"

"Yeah, it's getting better. Got a small shoulder cramp."

"Maybe using that Chaos beam slash increased the amount of strain?"

"Chaos beam slash?" Dundy questioned.

"You named it?" Poch added.

"Duh, someone has to," Jack shrugged.

"Well, maybe it definitely increased the feedback."

"Wanna keep training but with normal daggers?"

"Hmmm…" Poch opened and squeezed his hand, feeling the tension of his muscles. "Yeah, but let's not go crazy."

"Sure, I'll hold off on Imp Parade!"

"I'll ref," Dundy told them.

Poch got up and went with Jack and Dundy back to the field. Loona noticed them and approached Poch. "Hey, you ok?" She asked him.

"I'm fine," Povh smiled at her, "we're gonna train some more but I'm not gonna use my Chaos Blade, and we're gonna take it a little easy."

"That's good."

"Hey, remember that movie we watched at my place?"

"The one I picked out? Yeah."

"Turns out there's a sequel on Netflix. Wanna watch it at my place tonight?"

"Really? Yeah, why not, sounds fun." Loona smiled.

"Sweet! I'll make us something. Any requests?"

"Surprise me."

"Alright, tongue melter it is."

"What?"

Poch chuckled. "I'm joking, I can't handle spicy stuff."

"Phew, I can't either."

"I'll make something with shrimp."

"Sounds good."

"Alright, see you there." Poch walked off to meet up with Jack.

Loona walked back and came face to face with a smiling Blitzø.

"Going on another date, sweetie?" Blitzø asked.

"Blitzø, it's not a date! We're just friends!" Loona groaned.

"But you've been hanging out with him so much!"

"Yeah, that's what friends do, they hang out, and that's what I'm gonna do tonight, with my friend!"

"...y'know I've never seen you do something other than mess around on your phone, besides working of course, let alone hang out with someone. He really is your friend, huh?"

"...yeah...he is."

Blitzø hugged Loona. "I'm proud of you Loonie!"

Loona rolled her eyes, but didn't mind the hug so much, making a small smirk.


Loona knocked on Poch's door. He came to open it, greeting her. "Hey Loona."

Loona waved. "Hey." She walked in.

Poch closed the door behind her and walked into the kitchen, grabbing two plates. "I made something new," he handed her one plate, on it was a large wrap of bacon strips with something inside and a fork and knife on the plate, "I'm calling it a meat wrap."

"Meat wrap?"

"Name's a work in progress." Poch went to his couch, setting the plate down on one of the two tv trays set there, and turning on the tv. The movie was already set.

Loona sat next to him, setting the food on her tray, taking her fork and knife and starting to take a piece. She stabbed the first bed and as soon as her knife cut in, the juices of the meat slid down the sides of the wrap. As she cut deeper and took off a piece she found the inside was stuffed with seasoned fried eggs, and mini grilled shrimp. She took a bite and the as she bit down the juice of the bacon exploded inside, tasting a bit sweet, the eggs also having some soaked up bacon liquids, adding to the explosive flavor slightly sweet meat also adding a soft texture to its crunchy outside while the shrimp added a bit of s tangy aftertaste. She munched slowly, savoring the flavor. "This is good."

"Thanks!"

"So...where'd you learn how to cook?" She asked between bites.

"Taught myself actually. When I was home alone I'd watch some things, see the food there, look up how to make it, make it but I'd experiment a little."

"Oh yeah? Guess experimenting was worth it."

"Definitely, it also helped that I had some brutally honest taste testers."

"Who were they?"

"...Tom and Celis. They didn't pull any punches, and I was glad for that."

"...why don't you live with them anymore?"

"Why?...because I made a decision not to."

"What made you decide that?"

"Something….something I did…"

"Did you do so-"

"Let's just leave it at that...please?"

She noticed a sour look on his face and decided that's all she'd get from him that time. "Ok...let's start this movie up."

"Thanks."

The two enjoyed the night of a movie and dinner before Blitzø called Loona, signaling it was time to go home. She did slightly hope she could stay over but she didn't say anything and the locks weren't locked yet, so she just headed home.


The next day, the workers of I.M.P. were in the meeting room, discussing clients.

"Alright! We got about eight targets!" Blitzø explained.

"Sweet! I'll take five!" Jack said with enthusiasm.

"Always the high reacher Jack! Keep it up and you'll replace ol Mox here as employee of the month!"

"Really!? Alright! So what do we got?!"

"Well first, were gonna have you go it alone fore these guys," Blitzø handed jack four folders, "M&M you got these two," he handed the two imps two folders, "I got this one," he waved a folder, "and Poch and Loonie get this one!" He slid a folder to the hellhounds.

"Wait, you want us to go together?" Loona asked.

"Of course Loonie! I know how much you like to hang out with your first friend, and Poch is a good body guard, so I don't see an issue!"

"I...ok." Loona had no argument.

"Can I just say, with us spreading out like this, it feels like we're in a covert ops! Like some governmental assassination group!" Jack analysed.

"I know right! It's exciting!" Millie said.

"Calling agents M&M! Target is in sight!"

Moxxie rolled his eyes. "Sir if we're all going separate ways, how are we gonna come back when we're done?"

"Easy! Dundy will be our doorman for the human world!" Blitzø explained.

"Huh? Dundys not-" Poch was cut off by Dundy entering the room.

"I am here," Dundy announced.

"Were you just waiting out there?"

"Perhaps."

"Dundy and I talked yesterday and he agreed to be our doorman for today!" Blitzø explained.

"He told me how to use the grimoire. I am prepared."

"Alright! Now is everyone ready?"

Jack pulled out his scythe, twirling it around before grasping it with both hands. "Let's rip some heads!"


"Have fun," Dundy told Poch and Loona before closing the gate behind them. They were in an old parking lot.

Poch cracked his knuckles. "Apparently our target's here selling something. The client wants him dead for selling him a product that got him killed."

"What was the product?" Loona asked.

"No clue, Blitzø took shitty notes."

"Sounds about right."

"Let's do this without disguises. I don't think it'll matter who sees us."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"It'll be fine, trust me. We're in an old parking lot after all."

"Hmmm alright. Let's go find that target."

The two wandered into the lot, going down via its runway, walking through its dusty, trash riddled, cigarette smelling environment. They eventually spotted someone in the corner and hid behind the nearest wall.

"That our guy?" Poch asked.

"I don't think so," Loona answered.

They crept closer, getting a better view of the person. It was a young man, about seventeen in age. He wore a dirty blue shirt with a small hole in the sleeve and ripped jeans. He was shivering, slowly panting, crouching down, eyes wide, looking everywhere fearfully as he hugged himself, sweating like crazy.

"What's up with that guy?" Loona wondered.

"..." Poch didn't respond, he looked at the man with a mixture of sympathy and anger.

"Poch?"

"...look near his feet."

Loona did so and saw an empty needle vial. She looked at the man again and understood. "Oh shit."

"Barry!" A voice of a man coming up to the young teen said. He came from the other side, not seeing the hellhounds. He was tall, had on a red jacket, nice khaki pants, and sharp boots. He smiled at the teen he called Barry. "You complete that run?"

"Y-y-yes sir!" Barry looked up to the man. "I d-did c-c-c-com-complete it!"

"Good boy!"

Loon heard the sound of nails dragging across concrete. She looked beside her to see Poch clawing the wall, glaring at them.

The teen took a crouching step forward. "C-ca-can I have I-I-I-it please?"

"Hm?" The man knelt down. "You want the special stuff?"

The teen nodded rapidly.

"Wanna feel good?"

He nodded even faster. "Yes! Yes!"

Poch began to growl, rage filling his being.

The man pulled out a needle full of clear liquid. "This what you want?" He said in a patronizing way.

The teen's eyes lit up. "Please!"

Poch got up, his fingers flexing.

"Poch?" Loona looked at him concerned.

"Well, since you did a good job on that task, I say you deserve it!" The man tossed it to the teen.

The teen grabbed it and quickly scrambled to roll up his sleeve, happily panting, pulling out a tube to tighten it on his arm before injecting himself with the contents given to him, feeling a sense of bliss as the drug entered his blood stream.

The man smiled at the teen with a hint of sadistion, standing back up. He heard the sound of footsteps behind him along with an increasing growl. He looked behind and was startled to see a brown dog, walking on two legs and wearing clothes. It glared at him, baring its fangs, showing intense rage. "The hell!? Where'd this dog come from!?" He asked himself. It freaked him out how it was looking at him, so much so that he pulled out his gun.

Poch took out his dagger and cut off the man's hand as soon as the pistol came out. Blood spattered out and the man yelled in pain, stepping back. The teen didn't register what was happening, already high on the stuff he was given. The man gripped his stub in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding. He saw Poch step forward, his rage still there. The man felt fear run through his being, he turned to run, only making it a few feet before getting grabbed by his ankles. He looked back to see a brown furry hand on his leg sticking out of a blue portal. He tried kicking the hand off but Poch, whose arm was in a blue tear in space, wouldn't let go. He saw him write X+ßøœ in the air. The letters disappeared into his shadow, the shadow rising and breaking apart into fragments. He doubled his kicking efforts when he raised his arm, the fragments forming into a giant bone arm.

Poch reaches for the man, the bone hand grabbing him around the chest, before lifting him up. He squeezed, slowly but firmly. He grunted in pain, trying to get out of the bony grip, feeling his own bones start to break. He struggled and twisted around, trying to break free, hearing the cracks of his ribs. His muscles squished and began to rip. The grip only got tighter. He tried to speak, to plead for his life, but his lungs could barely bring in any air, a broken bone piercing them. The grip only got tighter. Blood filled his throat, he coughed it out, the amount spat out quickly being replaced. He punched at the wrist bone, a futile but desperate attempt, vision becoming blurry due to lack of oxygen. The grip only got tighter. He could feel his heart beating squeezed on, the beats of it rubbing against the inside muscle that was being crushed. His struggle lessened, his strength failing, his life slipping. The grip only got tighter until finally, everything was crushed in one last squeeze. Blood splashing out like a balloon full of liquid being popped.

Poch let go, letting the corpse fall, dismissing Shiva.

Loona looked at him, afraid but more concerned, having seen this rage before. "Poch?" She called out.

"...he's dead." Poch said, not looking at Loona.

"...yeah."

He turned to the teen. "...I should kill him too."

"Wait what!?"

"I should. It's for the best."

"Poch, no! He's not a target!"

He firmly grasped his blue dagger. "It would save him."

"Save him!? Save him from what!? Poch you can't kill him!"

"Either I do it or he's gonna look himself in the mirror, realise he's already dead, and try and slit his throat with his own dagger!" Poch yelled, panting.

"...his own dagger?" The end of that sentence made Loona deeply worried.

Realizing what he said, Poch began to pant even harder, looking down at the blood splattered on him and his weapon. He began to hyperventilate.

"Poch?"

He made a blue portal before jumping through it, leaving her.

Loona acted quickly, taking out her phone and running back to where they entered. She called Dundy.

"Hello?" Dundy answered.

"Make a gat for me back! Now!"

"O-ok." The gate to I.M.P. opened and she came through, yanking the book away from Dundy. "Loona, what are you doing? Where's Poch?"

Loona didn't answer. She made a gate, tossed the book back at Dundy, and entered Poch's living room, the path closing before Dundy could say anything. "Poch!?"

"HLURRRG!" Poch threw up in his sink. His heart was beating in his ear so he didn't hear Loona. His whole body was shaking and sweating profusely. He felt his lunch come up again, spewing it into his sink.

Loona didn't know what was going on with him, but she was worried for her friend. She stepped closer. "Poch?" He gasped and turned around, facing the hellhound with fear. "Hey it's ok. It's me." She carefully walked forward. He shrunk back when she reached out. "I'm not gonna hurt you." She assured him, coming closer. She reached further, slowly and softly making contact with his head. He was shivering as if it was freezing cold and he had no fur. She could also feel his sweat. She ignored it, too busy focusing on his well being. She rubbed her palm on his head, calming him slightly. Poch slowed his breathing before stepping forward, embracing her. She held him back, rubbing the back of his head as he slowly relaxed himself.

They stood there for a few minutes before he eventually regained himself. "...sorry." He told her.

"You ok?"

"Yeah...I'm alright now...hate panic attacks."

"That's what that was?"

"Yeah...seeing that guy...reminded me of my old handler...the one who drugged me…I lost it when I saw how he treated that teen….I'm so sorry if I scared you."

"It's fine….just...glad you're ok."

"...I think I'm done working for the day….think Blitzø will let me have the rest of the day off?"

"...let's ask him."


Blitzø shortly came back after Jack, Millie, and Moxxie did. Jack came up to him. "Boss, who'd you have Poch and Loona go after?"

"Some guy who sold our client something that got him killed. Why?" Blitzø questioned.

"Would that something be drug related?"

"Possibly."

"Oh no," Dundy sighed.

"Oh boss, I wish you said something about that," Jack groaned.

"Something wrong?" Blitzø was confused.

"Poch has a...traumatic experience with drugs...this probably gave him a panic attack."

"What!?"

"Oh no!" Millie gasped.

"We...I should've told you, I just didn't think this would happen," Jack said.

"Would explain Loonas actions," Dundy said.

"What about Loona?" Blitzø asked.

"She rushed here, took the book, made a gate, gave the book back, and went through. I think she went to Poch's place, where he could be right now, riding out his attack."

"Think she can help? She's not a medic," Moxxie asked.

"She doesn't have to be. Having a friend around helps," Dundy elaborated.

"Oh shit…" Blitzø felt a wave of guilt. "If I had paid better attention then I-" The sound of Dundy's phone cut him off.

"Hello?" Dundy answered. "Loona!...sure thing." Dundy hung up and made a gate.

Loona and Poch came out of it. "Hey guys." Poch greeted with a weak smile. "OOF!" He was tackled by Blitzø.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't know you'd have a panic attack! If I knew I would've given you something else!" Blitzø apologized, hugging Poch tightly.

"You ok, sugar?" Millie asked.

"It's fine, it's fine. I'm good now." Poch reassured them.

"Hey, Blitzø? Mind if we take the rest of the day off?" Loona asked.

"Of course! In fact, everyone takes the day off! I'll handle any new clients!" Blitzø told them.

"We'll handle new clients," Jack assured. "I'm not done ripping heads. We can make a tag team out of it!"

"That sounds awesome!"

"Moxxie," Millie grabbed Moxxie's arm, "we can do that double date with Shelly and Solis! I'll give them a call now!" She said, grabbing her phone.

"Sounds great, dear," Moxxie agreed.

"We'll, I'm going back home," Poch told them.

"Want some company?" Loona asked him.

"I'd like that." He smiled.

The two went back through the gate. Blitzø and the others telling them to take care. They walked to the couch.

"Wanna watch an anime called Dorohedoro?" Poch asked Loona.

"Sure." Loona sat down. Before Poch could do the same she stopped. "Hold on." She grabbed his arm and pulled him onto her lap. "Just in case you still got some more panic in you."

Poch smiled at her, leaning back. "Thanks. This is starting to become a thing between us."

"Don't make me push you off." She smirked.

"Heh, alright, I'll shut it." He turned on the tv and started up Netflix.


End.

Next chapter. Double date, double kill.