Chapter Two: New Species

As soon as the girls, Sonika and Kaz, finished their shooting practice, the alarm sounded. Sonika suddenly had a strange feeling. Kaz caught her, as well as Nicholas. "What's the matter Sonika?" Kaz asked, "You already missed everyone back in Station Square?" "Or maybe she had something against little girls." Nicholas suggested. "I don't have the edge to continue the practice." Sonika answered. "Why's that Sonika?" She asked. "You know what I'm talking about Kaz." She answered. "Oh yeah…" She said. "You girls done with your practice?" He asked. "Yes." They answered. They stepped out of the practice room as he and Parasite stepped out of the control room. Parasite jumped to Sonika's shoulder. "Konichiwa Parasite." She smiled. "Pika!" He answered. Suddenly Nicholas heard the phone ring. The girls heard it too. "I'll get it." He said. He went near the phone. He placed the headphone then answered. "Nicholas Parker on line." He said. He listened carefully. "I understand…" He said. He hung up then placed the headphone down. "Who is it?" Kaz asked. "It's Agent Commander Kali Jordin." He answered, "The LA officers reported that there's some kind of weird slime located in Acropolis Tower. Apparently, there are three people inside, all are safe. Two of our agents went there to investigate, suddenly one of them went missing and was held captive." "The Acropolis Tower?" Said the girls. "Pika?" Parasite added. "Yes," Nicholas said, "the Acropolis Tower…"

"Commander Jordin wants you girls to go there and search for the five people inside the tower. He already gave information that you two will be there. Will you accept?"

"Yes sir!"

"Pikachu!"

"Don't get cocky you two. First, you've got to make sure you've got the right guns and ammunition. I'll head either to the garage or to the workshop. I'll mostly be at the workshop, so I'll see you there."

He left the girls and Parasite then they headed to the Firearms Control room. Inside, they saw Rookie-in-Trainer, Alyssa Jane. "Hey girls!" She said, "You must be Sonika and Kaz. My name's Alyssa. Since this your first time, I'll give you ammunition for free." She handed them ten boxes of ammunition, containing different kinds. She also got out two belt pouches. "These are for holding your guns and ammunition." She said, "There's already a gun and a first aid kit there." "Thank you." They said. They headed out of the room then looked for Nicholas.

At the workshop, Nicholas saw Bruce making something. "Agent Bruce Carter, special technician and engineer." He said, "What're you doing?" "I'm making something for the girls." He answered. "What is it?" He asked. "Air boards." He answered.

"Air boards? Why air boards?"

"I check their profile that GUN gave me. According to this, they ride some kind of extreme gears."

"Really? We don't have those in LA."

"They only had this in Station Square. I'm almost finished doing the second gear, the first one's finished."

"This is really interesting…"

They suddenly heard the door opening then turned around. Then they saw Parasite coming in, follow by the girls. "Hey Sonika, Kaz." Nicholas said, "Done with the guns and ammunition?" "Yes." They answered. "We only did the ammunition." Kaz added. Then they suddenly saw two boards on the table. "Are those air boards?" Kaz asked. "Yup." Bruce answered. "This is Bruce." Nicholas said, "He's a technician and engineer. He made these for you." "Are they ready?" She asked. "Not yet Kaz." He answered, "You have to wait. You go to the garage and wait for the boards. I'll give them to you two." The girls left while Parasite remains in the workshop.

At the garage, the girls were browsing around. Sonika got out Gunblade from her back then looked at it. "Jerick…" She sighed. Kaz suddenly caught her. "Something wrong Sonika?" She asked. "I missed them already." She answered. "Don't worry Sonika," She said, "we'll go home when the mission's complete. Then I'll be a hedgehog again…" Suddenly Sonika saw something from the corner of her eye. She put Gunblade on her back then headed to the item. She picked it up then showed it to Kaz. "Kaz look what I found." She announced. "What is it?" She asked. "It's an empty bottle." She answered. "You might use it for picking up samples." She said. They suddenly heard running steps. They turned around then saw Parasite. "PIKA!!" He shouted. "Parasite!" Sonika shouted. He jumped in the air then landed on her head. Then they saw Nicholas with the boards. "Air boards are ready." He said. He gave them to the girls. "You girls ready?" He asked. "We're ready!" They answered. "Pika!" Parasite added. "Great." He replied, "You girls prepare while I open the door." They activated the board. Nicholas opened the garage door. "Countdown starts!" He shouted. They hold the boards tight. "Five…four…three…two…one!" He said. Then he went silent. "GO!" He shouted. The girls started to run then placed their board down. They hopped on then zoomed out of the garage.

It was very dark. Lights already opened. They felt wind chills in their faces. They saw a huge tower from afar. "It must be Acropolis Tower." Kaz said. "Let's move!" Sonika called out.

Acropolis Tower. It's full of LA officers, firefighters and a bunch of reporters outside. Everyone chatted waiting for the two agents to arrive. Suddenly they all heard a loud explosion. They looked up then saw a helicopter in flames. They scrambled away from the burning copter's distance as it crashed down to the cars and fire trucks. The vehicles were damaged when the burning copter crashed. Few minutes later, the girls arrived. They got their gear from the side then landed. Parasite jumped down from Sonika's shoulder. The girls looked at each other. "You ready Sonika?" Kaz asked. "Ready." She answered. They bring along their gear just in case. They saw an officer approaching them. "Agent Hedgehog and Officer Echidna." He said, "We were expecting you." "Did Commander Jordin tell you already?" Kaz asked. "Yup." He answered. He stepped aside to the let the girls in. Parasite went ahead first. The girls followed. As they head to the entrance, they saw the burning copter. "What happened to the helicopter?" Kaz asked. "There's a terrible accident when they looked around." Sonika answered. "Could be." She replied. "It's sad when no survivors are alive…" She sighed. Then they went to the officer, guarding the entrance. "You must be the agents Commander Jordin sent." He said, "All of the civilians have evacuated. The missing four are still nowhere to be found. One of your agents is patrolling the corridors." "I see… Thank you." Sonika answered. He let them in. Suddenly the police sergeant approached the officer as the girls went in. "Who went in?" He asked. "The NMC Hunters." He answered. "From MIST?" He asked.

"Yes sir."

"Agent Sonika and Officer Echidna?"

"Yes sir."

"Agent Hedgehog defeated the mitochondria leader MAY two years ago. She's one brave rookie. A great heroine of Station Square too."

"Everybody in the world heard on what she did since the incident. They start to do tributes about her."

"She married the ultimate life form and had four children together. Since the ultimate life form is skilled with the shooting and aiming, he let her practiced. This is how she's excellent with her shooting and aiming skills."

"Some say that she has rare blood. She didn't have that shooting and aiming skills from her parents or any relative she knows. Others say it's the gift from God."

"One Japanese scientist says that she had mitochondrial powers from her sibling who died from an attack. She had a defective left eye when she's ten then they transplanted her dead sister's cornea to her eye. I'm not sure if I'm right about that."

"Everyone has many reasons about her, but her friends and family back in Station Square and some of her friends in Japan really know about this…"

Then they saw the girls on the elevator. "I wish those two good luck." Said the officers.

Top floor where the incident happened. The elevator doors were opened. Parasite went out first, looking around if everything's alright. The girls stepped out with the gun in their hand. No one was here. They placed their guns back then looked around. Parasite smelled a familiar scent. He pointed the glass door then saw officers on the cots. The girls opened the door then went in. They saw dead SWAT officers everywhere. "What happened to them…?" Kaz asked. Sonika was suddenly scared of the smell of blood. She felt her heart beating hard, trying to get out from her chest. Then she felt a bump on her left thigh. It was Shadow's ring. "Shadow…" She said in her thoughts. She gains a little courage then starts to look for the missing civilians. Kaz and Parasite searched right as Sonika searched left. She suddenly felt a strange presence from the other side of the room. She opened the door then went inside. A man appeared from the side of the vending machine with a gun ready to shoot. "Freeze!" He shouted. She was startled from the voice then shouted, "I'm not those creatures! Don't shoot!" He looked at her shortly then lowered the gun. "Are you…the heroine of Station Square…?" He asked. "Yes…" She answered, "I'm called Officer Hedgehog inside of Station Square. I'm called Agent Hedgehog outside of Station Square." Then she looked at him. "Are you one of SWAT?" She asked. "Yes I am." He answered. "You're hurt." She said, "Are you okay…?" "It's nothing serious." He answered, "I'll be fine…"

"The other SWAT team that I saw few minutes ago. Are they…"

"Yes… All those creatures killed all of them…"

"What about the missing civilians…?"

"They're still fine. We've put them in the cafeteria to be safe."

"Did you see any of the two agents?"

"Only one. He's a man. He's patrolling the corridors, looking for the missing agent."

"I see…"

"Please… you've gotta save those civilians. Take this key. It's the key to the cafeteria."

"I will get them. I promise."

The officer closed his eyes then went to sleep. She placed her hand on his head then secretly healed him. Then she left him. At the plaza, she saw the two by the statue. "What'd ya guys found?" She asked. "We found two guns and a box of ammunition." Kaz answered, "And apparently this ammunition box has the name Christopher Thorndyke in it." "Who got this anyway?" She asked. "It's not Shadow…or is it?" "Who knows…" She said. "Pika…" Parasite agreed. She gave the ammunition box to her. "We've also found this potion lying about." She added, "What about you Sonika?" "I found an officer that's hurt badly, no serious injuries." She answered, "He said that the SWAT team recently found the missing civilians, but they haven't found the missing agent. He gave me this key that opens to the cafeteria door." "Well, that's our mission in the first place." She recalled, "Let's get them out safe!" Parasite sensed something then starts to follow it. Sonika sensed it also. "Follow Parasite!" She shouted. They went down the stairs then saw him snarling at the creature. The girls were shocked when they saw a strange creature attacking the officer. "Kaz," She said, "you kill that creature while I open the door." She said. She got out her gun then started to shoot it. The shot got the creature's attention then went near her. She starts to shoot it again. Then its dead. Sonika went to the cafeteria door while Kaz went to the officer. "Sir, are you alright?" She asked. "Yes…" He answered faintly. "Sonika!" She shouted. She turned around. "Sonika, he's badly injured. You've got to save him." She pleaded. She went near him then placed her hand on her forehead. Then he recovered, but his wounds aren't healed. She got out a roll of bandage gauze from her belt pocket then wrapped around the wounds. She got out scissors and tape from the belt pocket. She cut the bandage gauze then cut a small piece of tape then placed it at the edge. "Thank you…" He said warmly. She went back on the door then got out the key. She placed it on the keyhole then turned. A click was heard then opened the door. Parasite went in first then the girls.

In the cafeteria, they saw the three people, safe and sound. "I'm so glad you found us." Said the cabat. "We saw a bunch of strange creature roaming around." Said the hedgehog. "Well, at least you two are safe." Kaz said. Then she looked at the young woman looking at her journal. "What's wrong with her?" She asked. "She's been quiet for sometime." Answered the cabat and the hedgehog." Sonika slowly approached the woman. "Ma'am, you're safe now…" Sonika answered. Parasite felt something not right about the woman. "PIKA!!" He shouted. Sonika caught his attention. "Parasite what's wrong?" She asked. Then the woman collapsed. She suddenly steps back then got out a gun from the belt pocket. The girls looked at her.

They suddenly saw her fingers twitching then saw her arms shrinking. The woman was on her knees. They heard her breathing panicky like she was in labor. Then they saw her legs swelling. Her clothes starts to rip as the spikes were shown on her back. She slowly lifted her face. Her face was a bit greenish, feeling like that she's gonna throw up. She starts to twitch as her mouth was extending. Her eyes went red then to black. Her hair fell to the ground. The transformation was complete. Then she starts to roar.

The girls screamed in fear. "You girls evacuate!" Kaz shouted, "Sonika and I will handle this!" The girls left the cafeteria. Parasite followed to know if they're safe. Kaz started to shoot first. Sonika was next. She starts to get a little angry then starts to charge right at them. They quickly dodged then shoot her again. As Kaz was busy shooting, Sonika switched the gun to Gunblade then the energy starts to flow through the blade. "Kaz! Move left!" She shouted. She jumped to the left then she charged to her. A direct hit. Then she got her Gunblade out from her stomach. "That was close…" Kaz said. Then they saw the journal that's about the mitochondria and how it works. Kaz got the journal then placed it on the belt pocket. Sonika went to the woman that transformed. Then she saw something shining. She slowly picked it up. "This must be the reason of her transformation…" She said in her thoughts, "A metallic implant…" "Sonika!" Kaz said, "Let's go and check the girls." She went to her. Then the creature woman got up then was about to attack. Kaz was shocked. Suddenly a man appeared with a gun!" "Sonika duck!" He shouted. She quickly duck then he shoot the creature woman. Then she died. "Who are you?" Kaz asked. "I'm Derick Olsen," He introduced, "I'm one of the agents of MIST. I was patrolling to find the missing agent until I heard two girls screaming. I thought it you girls, but it was the missing civilians. You must be Agent Hedgehog and Officer Echidna." He approached the creature woman then shot it again and again to make sure she's completely dead. "We've never seen these mitochondrial creatures before." Sonika said. "They must be new species." Kaz suggested, "Can they be mimicking the humans?" "What do you mean?" Derick asked. "Well, she actually transformed into a mitochondrial creature." Kaz answered. Then they saw another one by the counter. Sonika went near then sliced its head off. "Shit! There might be more of them." Derick announced, "We'll need bigger guns. I'll call for backup. You girls better look for the missing agent." "Roger!" They answered. They stepped out the cafeteria then headed to different directions.