Chapter 4:
Marked
A/N: I've fallen into a pretty consistent groove of a chapter a week now and I'm glad for that. Things are going to become increasingly complicated as I continue so it may be a little difficult to follow me, particularly with my writing style. If anyone has questions feel free to send me a PM and I'll answer as best I can. Thanks to all readers.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy or any characters used therein. The character Will does belong to me however.
Warnings: Blood, Gore, Violence (duh), Sexual Situations, Sex (Possibly), Offensive Language, Nudity, Torture, Objectionable Political Views, Rape (Implied) and Dark Humor.
Pairings: Zack Fair x Aerith Gainsborough. That's it for now.
Summary: Sora and Riku are separated from the group. An ancient power is awoken and old enemies resurface.
Special Thanks: CrystalMeltdown and Jade-Eyed-Jinchuriki for your reviews of the last chapter.
The splash of Riku falling in the water had the group scrambling to find their footing. Sora was the first up and without hesitation he dropped his pack and rifle to the ground and dove into the frigid river. The temperature shock forced Sora to the surface immediately, the current drug him quickly from the group who's cries he couldn't make out anymore. Forcing himself to dive once again he swam as fast as he could desperately searching for his friend. The brunette's thoughts began racing toward the worst scenario but Sora refused to surrender to the possibility that Riku had drown.
"Riku!" Sora shouted as loud as he could, the exclamation left him distracted enough to fall under the surface mid breath. Quickly coming to the surface Sora hacked the water from his lungs and looked about. He caught sight of a small blue orb in the water. Having nothing else to go on Sora quickly gave chase as it rounded a bend in the river. Amid the moonlit night Sora could begin to see Riku's body tumble through the current occasionally bobbing to the surface and then sinking back down.
"Hang on!" Sora called to his friend. Summoning the last of his strength Sora surged forward and was able to seize control of one of Riku's arms. Sora cut the pack loose from Riku's body so he could maneuver him more easily. Pulling the silverette to him, Sora wrapped an arm around the larger male's waist and swam to the surface. Despite having found his friend Sora realized that he had to get to shore quickly because he was too exhausted to fight the river any longer. Conserving his energy Sora moved slowly to the shoreline. Managing to grab hold on a boulder Sora clawed his way up the slick surface, finding hand and foot holds worn into the boulder. Cresting what seemed like a mountain Sora collapsed and tumbled a short distance to the rocky ground below, faintly he could feel a stinging in his right hand, looking at his palm as his vision blurred the brunette saw blood. Giving a small laugh Sora passed out, Riku by his side.
Far behind, the rest of the group was collecting their wits. Zack and Will redistributed Sora's equipment, finding a way to carry it all. They couldn't find any sign of Riku's M-60 or his pack and knowing the minotaurs were likely not far behind they made the decision to start down the river hastily. Zack was concerned about crossing the river, especially at night since Aerith was not a strong swimmer and he knew that Will was hydrophobic, even now as they were on shore he could feel Will's face contort in despair at the thought that they would have to cross the mighty river in the moonlight.
"It would be better for us to cross soon." Zack spoke. The silence that followed was charged, Zack knew that neither of his remaining companions could make the journey on their own, so he had to devise a way for them to have assistance. Digging through his pack Zack quickly located a rope. Thought it's intended purpose was to rappel down mountains and buildings, the Ranger knew he could improvise. Working quickly Zack secured the rope around himself and his companions.
"Alright. Will you're in the center since if you go under you'll need both our help to get back up. Aerith you're okay with leading?" Zack asked his fiance unsure of how she would react. She gave a hesitant nod and Zack sighed knowing he was putting the love of his life in a very dangerous situation when he had promised to protect her. The inhuman growling of nearby minotaurs closed the conversation to further discussion. Starting into the river Aerith let out a small shriek with the coldness, wading in Will remained stoic focusing on the task ahead. Zack having be in much colder water shrugged off what he considered a mild temperature change and the group started out.
"Just keep up a steady pace." Zack instructed. Aerith was swimming slowly but it was as quick as she could go so Zack didn't pressure her needlessly, there was no reason to. Will was expending a great deal of energy to stay aloft and simply let himself be pulled by Aerith. To ease the burden Zack swam to Will's side and used one arm to help push him along. The blond quietly thanked his friend.
Less than a quarter of the way remained when a sharp screeching filled the air. In the sky winged figures could be made out, they dove for the group. Zack brought up his rifle and fired striking one of them, it tumbled through the air and smashed on the shore. The rest of the swarm backed off temporarily watching for a chance to strike. Zack kept the group moving, hastening their crossing. Another wave of attackers came, this time there were twelve and while Zack was able to strike a number of them and get near-misses on others, sending them racing away, one managed to get through.
"Duck!" Zack shouted. The creature went after Will, he was the biggest target. It was met by a ferocious fight that drug both of them underwater. Zack swam to Will pulling the rope to attempt to bring the blond back up, he was met with a severed end and no sign of his friend. Not stopping to allow himself to be targeted Zack shouted for Aerith to continue on to the shore. Making good time the pair pulled themselves onto the high bank and disappeared into the forrest.
Thrashing through the river, Will fought the creature. It let out gurgling screeches and attempted to pull itself up. Will wrapped his large arms around the creature's humanoid neck and squeezed with all his might, it struggled at first but soon it was lifeless. Releasing the creature Will clumsily swam his way to the surface, exhaling loudly. Looking around Will could neither see nor hear any of his companions and decided it would be better to remain quiet for the time being. Swimming slowly to the shore Will found himself covered in sand, having found a section of shoreline that was low in the river.
'Well, this could've gone better.' Will thought. The now familiar screeches sounded and Will moved into the forest. He didn't know what was amid the trees and bushes but he intended to have every advantage he could. Opening a pouch on his vest Will removed a long metallic tube and screwed it on the end of his pistol. Slinging both his shotgun and his rifle on his back he moved slowly pistol at the ready, Sora's rifle occasionally hitting him in the knee.
Sora felt the warmth of the sun on his back and flopped over. Groggily he rubbed his eyes half expecting everything to have been a dream. Looking to his right he saw Riku face down in the rocks, he didn't seem to be breathing. Sora turned him over hesitantly and saw that his lips were blue, his eye whites were stained red with blood from ruptured vessels, a deep gash on his forehead left Sora despairing. Unable to bear the thought of his friend dying the brunette removed Riku's vest and shirt. He poked and prodded attempting to get at least some kind of nerve impulse. None came, and Sora felt for a pulse along Riku's neck and wrist. Still nothing.
"Come on. Don't die on me." Sora spoke to his friend voice cracking. In a fit of anger Sora punched Riku's chest above his heart. Having nothing else he could do he began CPR his small frame powerfully compressed Riku's chest, the cracking of ribs sounded in the quiet morning air. Sora fought back his disgust at the sound and continued, tilting Riku's head back to give rescue breaths just like he'd been instructed. No response came and in the back of his mind Sora knew that Riku had been dead for hours. Tearily Sora stopped his efforts and hung his head in shame, he had always expected Riku to have his back and promised to have his, now when he actually needed him, Sora let down his friend. Sora felt like dying.
A warmth spread through Sora's body. His hands burned and his vision blurred, looking at his hands the were covered in a aura of green energy, like grass. Stunned Sora looked over his hands in wonder, the gash on his right palm disappeared leaving only a small whitish line where the wound had been. Sora placed his hands on Riku's cold, unmoving chest hoping that the same energy that just healed him could do the same for Riku. There was resistance at first and Sora became frustrated, then angry. That anger, broke through whatever barrier had been in place and in short order the world around Sora disappeared and he found himself in a long dark corridor. Faintly he could see the same blue orb from earlier and he knew it was Riku. Sora went toward that orb as quickly as he could, his efforts being slowed by a great wind that blew through the corridor. There were no lights, but Sora could feel eyes on him, watching his every move, looking back Sora could see a thread that extended into a large white door, the thread was the same color the energy on his hands had been.
'I'm coming Riku.' Sora thought determinedly as he started toward the blue orb. He had no idea of what he was doing or the consequences that would result.
Bare feet slapped against wet stone. Looking around in the dark Riku could sense the confining corridor, though he could not see it. He felt icy all over his nude body and shivered violently. He trudged along toward the white light at the end of the corridor, his skin crawling all the while. He had tried to go back but a strong wind forced him to go forward. So long as he walked forward the wind let up, Riku tried to extend the time he had alone, un-tormented by walking slowly. Each step was like a one ton weigh being dropped on his chest. He knew he was dead, he simply didn't want to admit it to himself just yet.
"What's going to happen?" Riku wondered aloud.
"That depends." A voice called out. It rumbled like a storm and Riku felt his heart leap into his throat.
"Who are you?" Riku croaked, pulse pounding. He looked all around but only the corridor and the light were visible. Without warning the corridor evaporated away and a large desk appeared. It was wooden and had a large stack of ledgers and a inkwell. A figure materialized behind the desk cloaked in black, sitting, staring at him with dark eyes.
"I have many names. Some call me Reaper, others Charon, Anubis and so on. What I am dear boy is Death. More precisely I am the Gatekeeper."
"Gatekeeper?"
"Yes, I ensure that those who come before me are sent to the appropriate place and that it is indeed their time."
"Oh." Riku moaned. Despair hung in the back of his mind. The figure rifled through the ledgers and came to a halt and let out a snort.
"This can't be right. You're not supposed to be here yet." Death grumbled. Riku felt his spirits lift immediately in amazement.
"Really?" The silverette asked hopefully.
"I do not make mistakes and according to this paperwork here you are not slated to pass through my gate for another...one hundred and six years." Death spat annoyed. One hundred and six years, could that be right? Riku nearly fainted when he heard, all this time he'd been worried about living to see his twenty-third birthday and now he was being informed he was supposed to live to be a hundred and twenty-eight.
"Then why am I here?" Riku asked. Tilting his head the figure glanced at his ledger and gave a scoff.
"I see. It would seem this is a part of the grander scheme. You should be glad in some ways, I see poor lost youths such as you all the time and never are they granted a chance at redemption. You have been. It will be most difficult but you should be able to handle it."
"What do you mean, 'should'?" Riku challenged.
"Nothing is written in stone. However, your trip here was planned and it would seem you are scheduled for at least two more within the next two months. The plagues that have afflicted you will be removed one at a time, but know this to come back once is a miracle, thrice will require a test of willpower you cannot imagine. You'll be able to leave here shortly with no worry. Next time we meet, it will not be so."
"Okay. Tell me something. Why am I so special?"
"That is not a question I can answer. All life is special in its own way. You are intertwined with a unique destiny. Yes...it seems you and your friend Sora along with dear William are set to perform many great deeds. There are ten others as well, though they have not revealed themselves."
"What are we going to do that's so great?"
"Alas, that's a question for the next meeting. Your ride home is here." With that the figure evaporated. Riku was left alone for a moment. A strong grip around his waist and bright green light left him eased though he was worried. He felt himself being lifted and dragged backward at lightning speed, each second that past he felt renewed. The white door he had come through had swung open and everything went white.
"Come on!" Sora growled. A pulsation of white energy sent the brunette to the ground. Collecting himself Sora watched Riku's chest heave with an intake of air. Smiling Sora touched his friend hand to reassure him. Bolting upright Riku unleashed an earsplitting scream of agony. Blood ran down his face and he couldn't see. He was halted by a sudden need to vomit, which he simply let loose covering his legs and abdomen. It wasn't just food that came out, it was a mixture of blood and a strange milky pus as well. Hacking, a black sludge poured from Riku's mouth, it dissipate upon contact with the ground.
"It's okay. I'm here." Sora tried to soothe. Riku ignored him too pained to do anything but thrash and scream. Sora was at his wits end and couldn't hear the rustling of the bushes behind him as a pair of zombies shuffled out. They appeared to have been forest service agents, clad in green police type shirts, with badges and Stetson hats. They nearly reached Sora and Riku when a pair of off sounding shots darted through the forest striking each one in the head. Dropping to the ground the zombies let out a quiet moan as the air escaped their lungs. Whipping his head around Sora searched for the source of the shots.
"Can't take my eyes of you two for a minute." The familiar sound of Will's voice was a strange relief to Sora. He seemed to be in a playful mood as he broke through the brush and strode over to the pair. He seemed even more inundated with gear than before. Will laid his hand on Riku's shoulder and a brilliant red energy surrounded the silverette. Riku's screams subsided and the wound on his head sealed up, the crunching of bones meshing back together made Sora's stomach churn. Riku passed out exhausted from the exertion.
"Thank you." Sora breathed.
"No prob. I did the same for Zack."
"Wait. You healed his knee?"
"Well, it sure as hell wasn't Mahatma Ghandi."
"What is all this anyway?"
"Mana, spirit, magic there's a lot of names for it. Important thing is that everyone has the capacity to unlock it."
"Really? And that's what I just did?"
"Yes and no. You didn't simply unlock your magic you used it in a way that's never been heard of before." Will handed Sora his rifle glad to be rid of some of the weight on his person. Sora was quiet for a moment and the pair let Riku rest rather than move him.
"Saving a person's life is unheard of?"
"Not saving. Resurrecting. Normally bringing a person back results in zombies or wraiths. You brought him back to life completely. In fact I bet you got a mark on yer heart."
"A mark?" Sora gasped, he had felt a strange burning concentrated in his left breast but he had paid it no mind. Lifting up his shirt and jacket Sora found that Will's suspicion was confirmed. On his chest was a green shield with a golden oak tree carried by a raven. Sora ran his hand over the mark it gave a small shimmer of energy as he did so. The mark glimmered in the light changing shades slightly. Will smirked at the shorter male who looked back with wonder.
"What is hell is this?"
"A mark of a Guardian Knight."
"And just what is a Guardian Knight?"
"Short story is that there are seven Guardians: Isis, Artemis, Odin, Baal, Leviathan, Fu Xi and Fenrir. The first six anoint two knights to represent them on earth, they are polarized concentrating in either white or black magic. Fenrir anoints only one knight, since he is the leader of the guardians, his knight is the leader of the knights and utilizes both black and white magic."
"Those are all mythical figures, not even from the same myth." Sora grumbled.
"Trust me, things are never what they seem and just because we know something, doesn't mean we know the truth. Anyway, thing'll become more clear as we go on. Just try not to overexert yourself."
"Why?"
"If you try and use too much magic at one it'll kill you."
"Oh. How was I able to do that then?"
"Dunno. Maybe you have a particularly strong connection with Riku."
"He's not my boyfriend." Sora hissed.
"Not what I said anyway. You're linked to each other for some reason, what that is I don't know. Maybe you do end up boffin' him in the ass. I don't know. What I do know is that we're gonna need to move soon." Will knelt down and hoisted Riku up on his shoulders in a fireman's carry.
"Can't we let him rest for-?" Sora was cut off by a loud screeching, it was not distant, in fact it seemed to be very close. The pair started in the opposite direction, downstream. Carefully they navigated over the rocks and snags. Riku muttered incoherently in his sleep, his limbs bobbed limply as Will walked. The blond still had his pistol out in his off hand, his strong hand held Riku's wrist to his knee. Sora grumbled as they squished through sand and mud.
"Hey. You should have a suppressor for your M-4 in one of your pouches." Will whispered hoarsely. They halted for a moment. Sora dug through the pouches searching for the object, he knew what they were and had been surprised to see Will with one. Finally, he located the suppressor and removed the three pronged muzzle break from the end of his rifle revealing the threads, he screwed on the suppressor and put the muzzle break in one of his zip up pouches.
"Where did you get all this stuff anyway?" Sora asked quietly as they started underway again. Will chucked softly behind the brunette.
"Not legally, obviously." Will grinned. Sora snorted in both amusement and disbelief. They continued on for a few moments in silence, then froze in place. Not thirty feet from them crossing wading in the river was a group of ten minotaurs. They hadn't noticed their quarry just yet and Will patted Sora on the shoulder and pointed to the forest to their right. Like ghosts they disappeared. They held their breath in and let it out as silently as they could and moved so that no sound came from them.
'Holy hell that was close.' Sora thought to himself. However, they were stopped once again by a group of minotaurs, this one was bigger and was being ordered around by some strange cloaked figure. The minotaurs were facing away giving the Sora and Will time to hide beneath a large fallen tree, it was rotten and covered in moss and mushrooms. There was a small dip in the ground where they could see what was transpiring. They carefully laid Riku on his back and when he started coughing Will placed his hand firmly on his mouth to muffle the sounds. Riku's fit quickly subsided.
"What are they doing?" Sora whispered.
"Training."
"What? Like soldiers?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, shit."
"Agreed." The minotaurs marched around the forest and spared. Some were patrolling and carried large double bladed axes. Will and Sora decided it was best to leave and picked up Riku and started into some waist high grass. The were able to slip by the minotaurs who seem distracted by the presence of the cloaked figure. Slowly, methodically they crouch-walked through the grass and into a dried up creek bed. Lying on the muddy ground they started dragging Riku on his back. Occasionally, Riku twitched and moaned softly.
The trio's luck did not last for just as they came to the end of creek bed they were spotted. With a mighty roar a minotaur leapt on them, it held Sora and Will down with its arms and tried to come down and bite them. The pair were deadlocked with the creature, using all their might to keep the creature from biting their faces off. The loud resounding of hoofs on the ground and shouts in a strange language neither of them knew sent panic through their veins. Several gunshots echoed in the forest and for a second everything was quiet. The minotuar collapsed, twitching in death. Looking at each other Will and Sora noticed Riku had woken and had a grim expression on his face, he clutched Sora's revolver tightly.
"Move!" Riku shouted. The three jumped to their feet and ran deeper into the forest crashing through tree limbs and bushes. Riku was far ahead of both Sora and Will who had been stunned by Riku's sudden waking. The silverette tossed Sora his revolver and went to grab his own pistol when Will tossed him his Saiga shotgun and several magazine.
"Can you handle that?" Will asked smugly. Riku glared.
"Of course I can, novice." Riku answered, his voice was deeper and harsh. The way he carried himself was different too, much more postured. Riku stuffed the Saiga magazines into the pouches on his vest, which he had reclaimed from Sora who had been carrying it. He had no jacket or shirt at the moment but he wasn't concerned about that right now. Behind them the trio could hear the minotaurs close in.
"We gotta fight." Riku commanded. The other two nodded. Taking cover behind trees and rocks the three waited for the creatures to appear. Will took the scope off his M-14 and placed it in a case and stuffed that in his pack. He removed a couple of pipe bombs and clicked open his lighter. Their plan was simple: on Riku's command Will and Sora would begin firing giving Riku the opportunity to flank the creatures. Everything counted on Will and Sora holding their ground.
"They'll be coming straight at us." Will advised.
"Just wait." Riku hissed. Not long after the first of the minotaurs appeared, a scout who bellowed and soon a large group began closing in. Through the trees it was difficult to get a specific count but Will was sure it was above a hundred. Will breathed deeply and rhythmically to slow his racing heart. He was nervous even scared but he wasn't going to let his newest friends down. Sora glanced over at Riku who had hid himself about fifty feet from the pair, he nodded quietly.
"Die!" Sora shouted and started firing. The shots of his rifle were overshadowed by the much louder shots coming from Will's M–14, being a larger caliber it smashed into the minotaurs and knocked gaping holes in their chests and heads. Sora fired much quicker, his rounds were weaker and it took more shots for him to kill a single minotaur and he knew he wasn't a good enough shot to hit them in the head as they darted frantically from tree to tree, so he simply used his own shots to funnel them to where Will could shoot them.
After a few minutes of this Riku ran through the woods heading around to the rear of the creatures. Soon he thought better, realizing he might be caught between two group he decided to start into their left flank. Opening up with his Saiga he quickly laid waste to several minotaurs who were cowering behind a massive stump. He then signaled to Sora and Will who rushed forward to better positions and kept fighting. Will lit and tossed his pipe bombs at a group that was trying to take their own left flank, not understanding what the device was a minotaur picked up the bomb and carried it leading his troops in a charge. In an instant he disappeared in fire along with several of his troops, many more bellowed in agony, wounded. Another explosion to their front caught the group's attention.
"Get some you mother fuckers!' Zack's distinctive voice called out. He appeared opposite to Riku and shot into the now retreating minotaurs. Zack shouted for everyone to stop shooting and the group came together and started running in the opposite direction of the minotaurs. Zack was sure it would be a while before they gave chase. They kept up their run until the sun was high in the air and shone directly down on the forest. Panting heavily, Will collapsed incapable of going any further. It was decided they would rest where they were amid the thickets of blackberries and fir trees.
"Whoo. That was some pretty sketchy shit back there." Zack breathed. Taking a swig from his water bottle he gave Aerith a hug. Sora sighed as he sat and cracked his neck. Riku glanced around with slight confusion, he wasn't sure what had come over him earlier and no one was saying anything. Will laid on his back, his large pack next to him. Riku felt bad suddenly.
"Sorry I lost the M-60." Riku apologize aloud. Everyone gave his a sideways stare.
"It wasn't your fault." Will assured. Riku crouched and bowed his head in shame.
"You fell in a river." Sora spoke firmly.
"Yeah I guess. What happened to my pack though?"
"I had to cut it loose." Sora answered sheepishly. Dread filled Riku's heart, his medications had been in that pack and now it was somewhere lost in the river. His face went pale and he suddenly felt ill. Lying down on his side to soothe his now curdling stomach he faced away from the group not wanting them to seen just how distraught he was. Tears threatened to leak out of Riku's eyes but he managed to suppress them.
"Where are we?" Sora asked letting Riku have a moment to himself.
"Well that was the McKenzie river so the highway should be just a little north of where we are. From there it shouldn't be too difficult to find a replacement vehicle and head to that compound your little bro was talking about." Zack responded drinking more water. Aerith wiped sweat from her forehead and rubbed her wrists in discomfort.
"Guess we got a plan at least." Will grumbled. Distantly they could hear the bellows of minotarus on the move. It occurred to the group that they needed to leave so they collected they belongings. Will traded his shotgun shells and Saiga magazines for Riku's belted ammunition since his M-14 fired the same rounds. Riku offered to carry Sora's pack just as a favor between friends, he wasn't sure what to make of his earlier experiences both living and dead and he was hesitant to discuss it with anyone, the loss of his medication further weighed on the male.
Soon the group found the highway, it was laden with vehicles that were torn to pieces or flipped over. Some vehicles were still burning. Bodies littered the asphalt, dismembered, mutilated and rotting. The hot sun bloated many of the bodies and a foul stench hung in the air that is beyond description. The group held in retches and continued on looking for a car or truck or something that wasn't complete scrap. Instead they were greeted by a loud shout.
"Stay back you freaks!" The voice was male and defiantly frightened.
"It's okay we're humans." Zack called out. The group now walked, weapons raised toward where they heard the voice come from, a small sedan that had it's engine ripped out. It was coated in blood and gore and had been partly burned the windows were gone. As they closed in a tanned hand popped up palm out. The person then opened the car's door and rose from the back seat where he was hiding, a small pistol was clutched in his hand, the slide was back.
"Seifer?" Sora couldn't help but ask aloud. The man, blond hair hanging limply from under his beanie smirked and held out his arms in a hug and walk toward Sora laughing. His blue sleeveless tee and baggy black pants were covered in a fine mist of blood. Sora made no move to hug the man, instead he scowled deeply.
"Small world isn't it?" Seifer asked. Sora's face went red and flashes of the blond attacking him went through Sora's mind. Seifer was the reason he'd come to Oregon in the first place, the blond never knew when to leave well enough alone and they'd both paid for it.
"What? You don't remember me? Or are ya embarrassed about your old friends?' Sora's expression darkened and he felt himself fighting the urge to shoot him right in his face. Seifer smirked confidently, he was sure he could talk himself into the group and then Sora was all his. Zack noticed that not only was Sora acting strange but Will and Riku were too, both glared intently and their muscles tightened ready to strike.
"You gonna introduce me? Gimme a gun or something? Want me to tell them how we know each other?" Seifer mocked not understanding that he was not in control of the situation. He started laughing, and pulled out another gun from his waistband. Before he could say another word a Sora shot. The back of Seifer's head exploded, bits of bone, blood and brain matter coated the sedan in a fresh coat of macabre paint. Seifer flopped to the ground twitching slightly. His gun lay next to his corpse and Sora claimed it as his own, stuffing the shiny pistol in his pack.
"What was that about?" Zack demanded.
"Nothing that concerns you." Sora shot venomously. Everyone else let it go and started down the road. They didn't want their pasts to tear the group apart, though they all knew that it was inevitable that their pasts would catch up with them as Sora's had. A sense of foreboding dread hung over the group as they trudge along.
High above them the rumbling of jets echoed. A massive, wing shaped, black jet flew in a northerly direction. On board the two man crew communicated with their commanders on a secure frequency. They knew what their target was and what their payload was, they were only waiting for the authentication codes at this point.
"Valkyrie Five this is Air Force One confirm." The radio in the pilot's helmet came to life.
"Roger that, Air Force One. We read you loud and clear." The pilot responded.
"You are to proceed with mission. Confirm."
"Roger that. Beginning launch preparation." The pilot and his partner began flipping switches and entering codes into the plane's computers.
"Air Force One we are prepared to launch. Requesting authentication codes."
"Wait one Valkyrie Five." The response came. The two crewmen exchanged looks. They couldn't believe they were really doing this.
"We are a go Valkyrie Five. Codes are Apha, Echo, Six, Six, Zulu, Niner, Whiskey, Lima, Three, Eight, November, Fife. Confirm."
"Roger that. Alpha, Echo, Six, Six, Zulu, Niner, Whiskey, Lima, Three, Eight, November, Fife. Confirmed."
"You are cleared to deploy Valkyrie Five. Good luck." The transmission ended and the crewmen entered the codes into the computer. Massive doors on the bottom of the plane opened up and a missel dropped out and raced toward its target. The plane banked away and headed back to base.
"I feel bad for those poor SOB's Colonel." The planes weapons systems controller informed the pilot.
"I know Peter. Lucky they won't feel a thing when that goes off."
"Still can't believe that we're dropping a nuke on Eugene."
"Gotta slow the spread of this lunacy somehow."
"Yeah I guess so." The missel came to its target and detonated about a thousand feet above ground and even though the city had been largely reduced to rubble the portals that were causing the expansion of the creature's numbers were still active. The ensuing white light and mushroom cloud vaporized all that remained for a distance of five miles. The shockwave and ensuing firestorm destroyed what was left of Eugene and much of Springfield. What wasn't destroyed caught fire and the screams of those who were blinded and burned by radiation filled the air.
"What the hell was that?1" Sora shouted. The roar of the explosion caught the group by surprise and they fell to the dirt as the ground shook violently.
"That was an atomic bomb." Zack breathed in disbelief.
"Looks like we got out just in time then." Will chucked darkly.
"Let's go. Nothing left for us that way." Zack spoke. The group started in a northern direction and felt a strange tingling over their bodies. They suspected that it was radiation, but they couldn't don anything about it so they carried on. Riku couldn't help but think of how ironic it was that he died of drowning and was brought back just to die slowly from radiation poisoning, or would it be the illness he was sure he still carried. He didn't know, at least he didn't see the cloaked man anymore, that was a plus.
A/N: That's it for chapter four and as we can all see things are becoming all the more complicated. Any feedback is appreciated.