Chapter 10: Steps to undertake
06:48 AM (Bangkok Time), Saturday October the 15th…
"… I apologize if I summoned you two at too early of an hour yet I thought that the sooner we met the better."
"I care not, XY. I barely sleep to begin with. What about you, Kuroban?"
"I'm an early bird, anyway. And we're at difficult times! Sacrifices will be needed."
"Good philosophy, young Kuroban."
"Thanks, Helios. So…"
"Wait. There is one more guest… Arriving now."
"Sorry if I'm late."
"Hmpf. Solo… Should've expected it."
"Same for you."
"Ahem, ahem. I hope we can leave historical differences at bay for a few hours and focus on our common enemy?"
"Of course. I'm mature enough to know that. Let's get on with it."
Slur, Kuroban and Solo had gathered beneath a gray stone dome with eight thick arches stretching from it.
They were sitting in stone armchairs set towards the center of the dome.
Set beneath its center was a cubicle formed by golden curtains, which fluttered by the wind but which was empty.
There were another two stone armchairs placed in front of the cubicle and two persons were sitting on them.
The one on the left, XY, was a Net Navi who looked very similar to Slur yet their face was that of a man on his 30s.
His eyes had golden irises to them.
The Navi had that same pattern Slur had on her forehead, painted there, and some black bands spiraling around the neck.
He didn't have the stars on the shoulders, though.
"Maybe we should begin by discussing about what they intend to do with the stolen report…"
"Stolen report?"
"I forgot to report to you, Master Helios, that they stole a report from the Net Police Cyber CID."
"And I assume they want to use it to extortion someone?"
"Indeed."
Helios, the one sitting on the right armchair, was a man on his late 50s or early 60s dressed with a strange tunic covering the whole of the body and head, which had an "arcane" or "alien" look to it.
The tunic was colored in several shades of blues and whites.
He was currently looking at XY with a calm and composed facial expression: XY slightly bowed before explaining to him.
"So. Who is the target?"
"… Hikari Netto and Rock Man…"
"And why is there such a report in the first place?" Helios wasn't surprised in the slightest.
"My Master. There was a group of cowards, who feared Rock Man's abilities. They saw the apocalypse on him and his Operator. They tried to convince the previous Chief to take action against them. Luckily, the man did not because he was but a pencil – pusher and did not dare to do something without asking Superintendent Oda. He told him that those reports were unbiased. He did nothing and Superintendent Oda archived it after censoring it, because he did not have the permission to destroy it… Shortly after that… That tragic incident you know of happened. So it drew attention away." XY summed up so that Helios would remember.
"I know. So Shadow Nova got a hold of that report and plans to use it to keep both them out of their affairs…"
"Maybe they will not do that. Maybe their aim is subtler and they aim to pressure us instead." Slur replied.
"But it is censored, is it not? Classified, too Media should not be able to access it. They would be committing an infraction." Helios argued.
"It is censored, obviously enough. However, anyone could dig around to try to figure out whom it means. With the descriptions of the happenings, then it would not be too hard to figure it out. Even if the Net Police were to complain, I am sure that they could just pick a scapegoat and place the blame on them while gloating that their audience ratings peaked due to their "exclusive" material that triggered a scandal or controversy. Media can be pretty greedy and arrogant when it is convenient to them. We have an agent that works on that world and this is their view of the behavior of the top brass of the media." Slur warned.
"Guess we'll have to prepare a list of counter – arguments to debunk those or make it look like it's a fake." Solo suggested.
"The ones who wrote it committed a crime, anyway. They're on prison. Petty lot like them shouldn't have too much credibility especially when they're not being rational." Kuroban added.
"And, besides… We do not know how they will attack next! We have been hunting for all possible information but it is possible that they use means that we cannot intercept. Maybe they have gone back to unused communication means like letters or messages hidden in newspapers adverts…" Slur fumed.
"We do not know where they come from, either?" Helios asked.
"We sent the images of "Spiral" that one of those weaklings had to the Interpol and other agencies but we've got no reply yet. I added the voice data from the battle the guy had with Gray, too. I think that it should be possible to ID him through that… Unless that the force the man belonged to is unwilling to disclose details." Kuroban sighed.
"By the way. You all are sure you were not followed?" XY asked.
"Absolutely. My transportation means across the Cyber World are too advanced. Not even Zero is able to track my movements." Slur affirmed with a nod.
"I warped to the nearby city and reverted out of Denpa – Henkan to assume my civilian ID. Since it's not recorded anywhere then they wouldn't recognize me. My "DH" has a different signature altogether which that rascal's scanner can't catch. I transformed again when I reached the coordinates you told me." Kuroban explained next.
"I made sure to alter my DH program so that the power signature would be different and put the PET on "flight mode" so that it wouldn't emit or receive signals either making it impossible to locate me. I used my portable stealth field to walk until the coordinates too." Solo finished.
"We must make sure that this remains one of the most secretive and safer places on Earth. If not we could meet up on Kyutora instead. There we would be sure that they would not be able to follow us. Let us save it as a last resource. That aside. What can we do?" Helios got to the core of the matter.
"That's the problem. We don't know what to do! Except to wait for their next move." Kuroban sighed.
"Anything might become a hint. Even something that would irrelevant at a first look." Helios reminded them.
"Amongst the data that Zero and I went over this night, there was nothing unusual…" Slur muttered.
"Anything will do. Even if it seems something vulgar." Helios insisted as if he felt there could be something.
"If you insist… A UAV base in Oklahoma sent a note from a Sergeant to a Commander saying that one of the operators had fallen ill but that a replacement had already been assigned." She distractedly recalled.
"Sounds like regular stuff."
"That could be it. They might plan on stealing an UAV and using it to commit an attack. Thus sparking controversy about the security on them and the background checks on the operators." Helios warned.
"So that would mean an action on foreign ground because an UAV in Oklahoma cannot have so much fuel… Or can it?"
"I think not. Then again those details are not of public domain."
"Maybe it's aimed to Barrel…" Kuroban suggested.
"Colonel?" Slur fumed at the mention of the name.
"Slur. I know you can't stand the man but leave it asides for now. Else we'll be made fools of."
"I know." She fumed.
"I am not fond of military forces either but it is not like we will let those fools get away with it, am I right?" XY argued.
"So we should warn them? How? They do not believe us."
"Colonel might not but I think that his subordinate Tomahawk Man is more open-minded. He did get along with Rock Man in the past. I will handle it. I will send them an untraceable email. I do not think an UAV can damage a base built inside of a mountain so easily." XY announced.
"Shit. Maybe they'll alter it to make it deadlier and more destructive. Wouldn't surprise me!"
"Annoyance blinds judgment." Helios warned them.
"And without judgment… Disgraces happen." XY added.
The visitors seemed to know they meant something that had happened, given how they shortly shivered.
"We will use our central compute to gather data. My 4 warriors, though, using disguises, could move around and gather info. Do you approve, my Master?"
"I approve. Time is of essence. Let us go!"
20:16 PM (Indianapolis Time), Friday October the 14th…
"… Colonel. You there?"
"What's up, Tomahawk Man?"
"I got an anonymous mail…"
"And? What of it?"
"It says that we be on the lookout for the radar because it's possible that an Oklahoma UAV has been hijacked by a terrorist group and it might be sent to crash into this base…"
"Did you try to track it down?"
"I did but the trail got cold in an Ohio router…"
"Hmmm… Sounds possible and sounds like a fake…"
Tomahawk Man reported to Colonel inside of their base's Cyber World as Colonel walked down a corridor.
"Warning! Warning! All personnel head into the bunkers! This isn't a drill! Repeat! All personnel head into the bunkers! This isn't a drill!"
"This is Colonel. What's going on?"
"This is Radar Center! UAV heading towards the base at max speed! It's coming from Oklahoma given its IFF signature but no – one answers at its origin base! It seems to be have been hijacked!"
"Devil. So it was true." He didn't lose his cool nevertheless.
"Dingo! You heard that. Take shelter, quick! This isn't a drill, you heard the announcement!" Tomahawk Man sighed.
"Follow me." Barrel calmly ordered.
"All troops! Follow me into the shelter as well! You never know! The impact might damage the power lines and some sections may lose power thus making us unable to exit the Cyber World! Move it! Quick!"
"At once, guys!"
They all orderly ran down some stairs and into a lower level.
They crossed the entrance to a bunker and the armored doors shut behind them as they sat down on the benches and tensely awaited.
"UAV in close approach! Less than 40 seconds to impact! It'll blow up into pieces at this speed!" The radar operators announced.
"Devil! Who could be doing this?" One soldier cursed.
"Maybe "Shadow Nova", who were on the news the other day…"
"10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! Impact!"
There was a loud sound coming through the audio input followed by vibrations and the lights flickered yet they remained stable.
"Damage report!" Barrel ordered.
"The UAV hit the top of the base so the helicopter hatch is blown up and some of the hydraulic and electrical systems around there are broken as well! It was low on fuel so little fuel has been scattered! One or two small, contained fires are present as well! Over 97% of the UAV has been destroyed upon collision." A soldier reported.
"I see. Radar! What's the status?"
"Oklahoma still won't reply to our calls either via radio or phone, sir! It'd seem they've been sabotaged. We called the city police and they're going to see what's going on."
"Alright. We can exit the bunkers! Threat's gone."
Colonel and Tomahawk plus the other soldiers exited into the Cyber World base main area, which has unharmed, yet they found those bulky Navis that had attacked Burai the previous day there and there.
"Security! How did these guys get in?" Colonel grumbled.
"What guys? What! W-where did those come from? Thompson! What are you doing!? Where did the guy go to!?"
"Someone find Thompson. On the double!" Barrel ordered.
"Seal all exits!" Colonel ordered.
"This is southern garage! A Jeep's missing!"
"This is southern door! A Jeep driven by Thompson broke through the barrier and ran off in the direction of the city! It was too fast and we didn't have time to react!"
"DESTROY! DELETE!" The Navis roared.
"Stand back! Tomahawk Man and I will suffice." Colonel ordered.
Tomahawk Man leapt into the air and curled while he began to spin at a mad speed.
"Tomahawk Rolling!"
"Screen Divider!"
He hurled at one of the bulky Navis and the armor jumped off from the impact while shattering into pieces.
Colonel swung his saber and a bolt of green energy travelled across the ground thus splitting another of those in half.
More began to run in through a hole in a wall.
"Thompson turned off the firewall and rewrote the permissions! What a damned rascal!"
"Can you hear me? Barrel." A familiar voice called out.
"Who are you?"
"Spiral."
"Hmpf. Shadow Nova indeed. So Thompson is one of you."
"A mere double agent. Even if you were to catch him he knows nothing relevant. Experience has helped me structure the org so that there wouldn't be fools who knew too much."
"So you're some former special ops or intelligence agency man! Like the Interpol said." Barrel was unimpressed.
"Correct. Man of lame baits." Spiral taunted.
"Damn." He grumbled.
"I'm sure Washington must've scolded you over a billion times by now, am I right?" He sneered.
"None of your damned business." Barrel grumbled.
"And there you have that "avenger"…" He put emphasis on "avenger" as if to provoke Colonel.
"Sheesh." He grumbled.
"Oh man." Tomahawk Man rolled his eyes.
He formed a spinning tomahawk which drew an orbit and hit one of the enemies from behind, splitting through the armor and stabbing into the core: it growled and blew up (like the others) so Tomahawk Man rushed towards the next one.
"Army officials shouldn't be allowed to fulfill petty revenges! It gives a bad example to the troops and it looks like an abuse of authority. We would have rather demoted you immediately once you showed those signs no matter the competent or strong you are. There was no place for fools in the army I was at." Spiral lectured.
"HMPF!" Colonel tried to act the unimpressed.
"Which means that you know something about those Washington hypocrites that stops them from sacking you. Interesting! An officer extorting the politicians." He sneered next.
"Get lost." Barrel tried to shake him off.
"I'm not done with you yet, Barrel. Just wait for your turn like you were in the bakery." Spiral replied.
"You think you're FUNNY. Don't you?" Barrel taunted.
"Who knows? Are you funny? As for that neophyte over there…"
"Neo-what? That being me?" Dingo gasped.
"My, my. Subordinates with little brains don't have a bright end! Some end up 6 feet under. And you know what that means."
"YEA~RGH! MOMMY~! SAVE ME~!" Dingo yelped, terrorized.
"Dingo! Don't let the guy's taunts get through! Sheesh."
"Hmpf. Whatever. You're nothing. Barrel is my prey. So! Barrel… Do you think your little game will hold on forever? When Internal Affairs get a hold of this they'll be coming for your neck." Spiral threatened.
"Threats and whatever." Barrel scoffed.
"Trying to play the cool man won't get you out of your current predicament. Just that you know. I'll leave it at here for today! Enough battle data too! I'll have to reward you for providing me with it! Do you accept checks?"
"Scram." Barrel was getting annoyed.
"Blank checks?" Spiral tried to taunt him further.
"GET LOST!" He exploded.
"Anger! Hatred! Grudge! Throw them at me! They'll make me stronger…"
"Not Star Wars next… How childish." Barrel grumbled.
"Don't get the wrong idea, Barrel! That childish product is unrelated. You'd better not underestimate us, Barrel. Or you'll find yourself 6 feet under. He who warns a traitor is not. Farewell!"
His voice vanished along with the bulky Navis, so Tomahawk Man sighed in relief and saw Colonel brandishing the left fist as if trying to keep a hold of his anger.
"Damned filth." Barrel cursed.
"Wait, you lot… I'll cut off your necks…!" Colonel hissed.
"Lovely. Just what we needed!"
"Sheesh. Are we fated to be unlucky forever or what?"
09:54 AM (Japan Time), Saturday October the 15th…
"… Those rascals are getting serious, man…"
"The Crimson Lobby was nothing compared to these."
"First the City Hall now this…"
"I know. It's getting dangerous."
Leon sighed as he sipped a cup of water in the Purgatory cafeteria and saw Kage, Andy, Zarashe and Beta X discussing on another table as the TV showed imagery of the assaulted base.
Two soldiers were standing guard in place of the broken barrier a few meters behind the man reporter on the scene.
"I don't like them but they didn't deserve that." Kage muttered as he drank some coffee.
"It'd seem the agent they had in the Oklahoma base sabotaged all phone lines and radio systems before running away. Hard to say how far their reach extends to." Zarashe added as he drank apple juice.
"Money…" Beta X fumed.
"Surely…" Andy grumbled.
"These indeed are quite difficult times…" Dark Man muttered.
"I need some air. Going to the deck." Kage stood up.
"I'm coming too." Andy stood up as well.
"Join you later. Still got half an apple left. I'll finish it up…"
"You mean half a cup…"
"It's a saying, man!" He tried to cheer him up.
"Guess that." Beta X shrugged.
Leon finished his cup and followed them, as they remained silent because they surely didn't want to start a discussion.
"You know what? Some M & F should do to shake off the tension."
"Why. That sounds like a plan, man. Let's do it."
"Might I join you?" Leon asked.
"Leon. Sorry. Hadn't seen you. You OK?"
"Pretty much." He shrugged.
"That's the spirit."
They climbed into the elevator and exited into the deck, where Yamato Man was discussing with Cosmo Man and Freeze Man.
"It's Yamato Man… Guess he's back from his meditation and training trip to Kurashiki…" Kage muttered.
"Guess that. He must be arguing about the happenings. No wonder knowing the guy's nature and behavior." Andy guessed with a shrug.
"…coward lot that shall face the wrath of Lord Serenade and Lady Slur and…!" He was grumbling.
"We know." Cosmo Man sighed.
"It's no wonder you're annoyed, Yamato Man, but annoyance won't solve anything. I'm sure Lord Serenade would argue the same."
"You have a point, my comrades." He rubbed his chin with the left hand and looked like he was thinking about it.
"How about we continue inside of one of the rooms? This way we won't be bothering others who come here to relieve stress."
"Let us do so!" He lifted his spear and hit the ground with it.
They headed inside of the building and closed the door as the group reached the bow and found President Hades sitting on the ground while leaning his back against the left handrail.
"Good morning, Mr. President."
"Good morning. Gentlemen." He calmly replied.
"Did you even sleep? Sir?" Kage asked.
"Am I that readable, Kage – kun?" He asked with a sigh.
"Excuse me, but… Yes, sir." He timidly replied.
"Don't be timid. I won't be offended by that. Yes, I know. I thought I could contribute to the effort Ms. Slur and Mr. Zero were doing."
"Sir. Nobody questions that you devote your efforts to Golden Star and to the company that you also work with yet… Trying to ignore your health isn't good either." Andy added.
"I know… After all the struggle we've gone through… Starting with chasing that man and all…" He muttered.
"Do you mean XY? Sir?" Leon asked.
"What? No. I meant the Seraphs. It took us several months of work to finally get a working lead."
"True. It was frustrating, even. Say! Couldn't these guys be using channels and assets the Seraphs had? The police caught the leaders but didn't have time to go through all of the links and influences they'd built during their 50 years of existence!" Kage realized.
"Devil!"
"Maybe they're leftovers of the Seraphs to begin with!"
"How didn't we…? By my blood!" He cursed, for once.
He drew a smart-phone and dialed a number while impatient tapping the ground.
"Mademoiselle? Where are you?"
"I am with Zero, looking back at the data. Did something else happen apart from what we expected?" Slur calmly replied.
"I was talking with Kage – kun and company. We had a flash of inspiration! These folk could be using remains of the Seraphs' influences and networks!"
"True. We never got to track them all: too much job and since they had been dismantled then we shifted our attention elsewhere." Slur realized.
"Then what we need to do is look back at all the data we have on the Seraphs! Try to trace their branches, dummies, and proxies that still exist! Maybe these agents were actually placed there by the Seraphs and Shadow Nova hired them." Zero muttered.
"Let us get to work! Immediately." Slur ordered.
"Aye, aye! Boss. You guys! Bring me all data on the Seraphs!"
"YESSIR! AT LIGHT-SPEED AND NOT SOUND-SPEED! YAY!"
"What is that?" Slur sounded baffled, for once.
"Serenade told them the other day."
"Serenade…!" She got annoyed, even.
"Isn't it fine, Boss? It's good for the morale."
"We shall see!"
"Now, now! Mademoiselle! Let us be rational." Hades tried to calm her down while sighing.
"You have a point. Fine. I shall report to you once we have something solid."
"Please do so. I'll be on the cafeteria."
"Roger."
"Thank for the help, gentlemen."
"It's nothing, sir… It just popped up." Kage admitted.
"Thanks nevertheless. Just you wait…!"
Hades ran off at top speed, fueled up, and the three of them smiled since they'd helped him get back to full energy.
"OK. Time for some M & F!"
"Alright."
"…V! B! N! Today… The nightmare! Chapter 4 part 1! This chapter's the last chapter! Like chapter 1, this is more than 8 pages! We'll be splitting it up!" Video Man announced.
"I see." Leon calmly muttered.
"…Phone rings! "M! Answer the phone already, you bald lazy…!"…"Just when I was testing my left tonsil disguise!"… "As you order, sir! It was Mr. Super! Says we gallop there! Run, "Babieco"! * smack * "Sheesh! If we had to gallop someone had to do the horse role!"…"Alright! I called you to test these pills designed by Professor Bacterio that…!"…"The usual folk! Search them through land, sea and air! Use a bazooka if you need to!"…"
"Never trust anything made by the Prof. It'll always bring bad luck to whoever tries it out." Kage grinned.
"Obviously." Andy was unimpressed.
"Oh boy." Leon muttered.
"…"We sweated to catch 'em! They were running around in outer space!"…"I see! They stole a last-model jet?"…"No! Mere muscles! They used the arms!"…"Each one of us will try one of these pills!"…"No! I prefer to gas myself! To hang myself! To zap myself!"…* smack *…"Don't get annoyed! I'm listening!"… "I insist! These pills are to prevent sleep and protect us from the Freddy rascal… Because they'll keep us awake, lucid, alerted, ready…!" * snores *…"
"That was a "flag" indeed!" Kage laughed.
"Anything by Bacterio always has the opposite effect to what it's supposed to do."
"I see."
"…"Did you check out my pill, Mr. S? Do you feel awake? Doesn't seem to!"… "Did you take it, F?"…* snores * "You had a CAT eat it!"…"This is what happens when I try to help you! Hmpf!"…"And you? Whom did you give the pill, M? What are you looking at?"…"
"…"Haven't you ever seen a coffee cup? Coffee? You surely haven't stuffed into the COFFEE! You little…!" * snores *… "M! Where do you come from? What did you to B?"…"Don't mind it, Boss! Personal stuff!"… He abandoned him in Greenland inside of a block of ice! Mr. S begins to dream! "How nice! A funeral with its pine box and its deceased inside!"… Freddy jumps off from within the coffin! "HELP!"… "Wha~t?"… Turns out the soul of a guy named "Help Perez" answered! He falls into an open and yet empty grave! A random citizen walks close and looks down then steps away! "What miserable times! Not even a box!"…"Do you believe in reincarnation, Don Servando?"…"Not at all, ma'am! Superstitions! Nobody comes back from…!"…"I say they come back! And he owed me 20,000 pesetas, the…!"…"
"Trouble at the graveyard. In the morning." Leon muttered.
"Curiously enough! Guess it's a parody of the belief that graveyards are dangerous at night!"
"…"Why! I know this guy!"… M's weeping in front of a wave! "What happened? Some relative?"…"No! O's left us!"…"Why! Now's Mr. F? Who is it?"…"B! Said he took his last invention with him to the grave so that he may sleep in peace and appeasement, without sudden…!"… BOOM! The invention exploded! "Mr. Universe's after me!"…M tries to outrun Freddy! "An empty cavity! Let's hide inside! Devil, the floor broke!"… A young window brings roses to the niche of her late husband… "Pepe! Two years! Without listening to you! Tell me something!"… "GEMME OUTTA 'ERE~!"… The widow suffers a hysterical crisis and needs to be taken away while a worker breaks the cover and allows M out!"
"That guy…"
"…"Freddy wants to finish us off! I'll hid! I'll be safe inside until he gives up…!"..."The incineration guys and their rush to get rid of the job!"… The inside of the grave had a still-burning coffin! "There's another empty grave so let's hide there!"…"
"Really…" Kage chuckled.
"Black humor indeed." Andy wasn't surprised.
"Maybe too much of it, even." Leon criticized.
"…"I'm so smart, really! It's SO deep!"… He lands on a metro platform labelled "Line 6"! He climbs up the stairs to leave! "D-did you see Freddy around?"…"Nope! The guy's hidden somewhere!"…"Look over there! That pantheon's open! He must be inside!"… "Let's finish the guy off! Since it's a terrific existence then we'll have to go Dracula – style with a stab into the heart! Allow me! I'm so gonna turn the guy into wood!"… "Knew it! Open coffin! There's the rascal! Have at ya, burnt jerk!"…"Boss! I finished the…!"…"This guy was hiding behind a tree! Hit 'im with the hammer!"… M looks back at the building and faints from the realization!"
"So he killed a real Dracula instead?" Leon was surprised.
"Maybe it was unlit and he couldn't see who was there." Kage guessed.
"Sounds like it."
"…"Forget the siesta, you worm! The guy's catching up!"… "I know! I'll disguise as something far more horrific and give 'im a scare!"…"Got you!"…"NO~!"…"Stop yelling, you lot! One cannot even rest 200 years!"… A ghost pops out from a grave! "Help me!"…"I shall…!"…"Excellent, M! The guy's running away!"… We leave it here for today! Look forward to the conclusion!"
"V! B! N! Off Air!"
"How ironic! Freddy is running away and feeling the fear on his ugly hide!"
"Ironic indeed." Andy drily muttered.
"Very ironic." Leon wasn't surprised either.
"Oh come on. Try to put some more energy and don't take it with so much skepticism! Else you lack energy on life!"
"I'm sorry, but I don't feel like it." Leon admitted.
"Maybe it's the residual annoyance."
"Speaking of which… Those 3 are still discussing?" Kage wondered as he looked at the building.
"Seems like it." Andy muttered.
"But they won't fight each other, right?"
"Of course not."
"Who's that!?"
"What, where!?"
"How odd. I thought there was someone there looking towards here... Or maybe there wasn't?"
"Maybe it was Napalm Man pulling a joke. Knowing the guy!"
"Guess that."
Leon signaled atop the building but when the others looked there, there was nothing.
"By the way… We should be careful! Those guys might try to board this ship, even. If some KCK agents were able to a year ago then they surely can do it too." Kage suddenly warned.
"We should tell Boss and we could set buoys with sensors that detect if anything tries to approach…"
"Good point. They could be coming by plane or chopper as well. They might get their hands on a stealth plane or chopper that isn't caught by radars, even. I remember that there was a Bat-man comic that involved a fleet of silent choppers patrolling Gotham to try to hunt out Bat-man and his allies and annihilate them." Kage recalled while glancing at the skies.
"Maybe we could close the covers at night-time when we know that no – one will be coming or leaving?" Andy suggested.
"Guess that. Focus the guard on the central tower… Another weak point is the windows. I know they're bullet-proof but if we leave those open then they can intrude through those! Just like it happened a year ago…"
"Dimensional Area shields should be able to defend those and, at the same time, allow air in and out."
"Maybe we could the same for all air inlets and outlets! tTey could be desperate enough to gas us and force us to exit."
"If we tell Legato he should be able to take care of that with the others."
"Let's go meet Boss and discuss this with him. It might turn out nothing happens but we better be prepared if it happens."
"Roger. See you, Leon – kun."
Both raced away so Leon sighed and sat on the box to look out at the sea.
Seagulls were flying close by and one dived to catch a fish and then ascend back into the skies.
It's creepy, really… All of that talk… Sounds like a war is about to begin…
His PET rang and Napalm Man's face was on-screen, chuckling.
"Golden Leo! I beat Marchando Man's record by 3.58 seconds! Talk about sweat and flames!" He laughed.
"I see." He wasn't too surprised.
"What's with the long face? Cheer up, man! I'm gonna go and blow up that giant cheat puppet!"
"What giant cheat puppet?"
"That Shu-something thing! Has the name as the gang that lil rascal belongs but I don't remember it…"
"Oreichalcos Shunoros, you mean. That was one hell of a cheat indeed. Followed by Sieg's Deck. The Valkirie combos and the 3 Goddesses plus other things were ABSOLUTE cheats!" He rolled his eyes.
"We're gonna bring Chaos Emperor Dragon! Burn 'em to cinders!"
"But make sure not to drag others into it."
"Don't worry! We're gonna arrange for a Smash Bros. stage and go as wild as we want there! Oh yeah! My soul's on fire, man! Let's bust, crush, and turn 'em into DUST!"
Napalm Man ran off, laughing, and Leon formed a weak smile as he stood up and looked at the sea.
He felt the wind coming on his direction, and his hair and clothes flickered.
"I like this feeling! It erases the tension! If we get depressed then they win! I should think of them as I did of that Demon of my life! If I am happy and strong… They lose! That's it! Else the stuff I told Raito – kun becomes pointless."
"… Burnin' and ragin' and rampagin' goes my soul! Oh yeah!" Napalm Man was telling Burner Man off-screen.
"Don't overdo it, man!" Burner Man laughed.
"Those 2 are too hyper-active, anyway." Leon grinned.
"Shudder and rattle! The mop has come!"
"Mop that will pop with a hammer!"
"Is there a point to that?" Leon rolled his eyes.
"You were listenin', Golden Leo? Sure! The point is that it's COOL and RAGING!" He laughed.
"Maybe. Don't get overconfident either, though."
"Agreed! You two! Don't rage so much and focus on training! Those rascals aren't gonna make things easy!" Legato scolded.
"Yikes! Commander! R-roger, sir!" Burner Man gasped.
"Yikes! Gotcha, Danna!" Napalm Man gasped next.
"And provide good results, else Slur – sama will scold you too!"
"YIKES!"
"Finally! At last some peace!"
Feeling in higher spirits, Leon headed back towards the entrance to the ship and, as usual, failed to spot the white figure silently looking at him from atop of one of the buildings…