Anubis hesitated as they stood at the ramp.
"What's wrong?" Christophe asked him. The kid looked worried again.
"uhm..y-your brothers going t-to be mad..i broke into his office and s-stole the report..."
"Never mind.." Christophe shrugged "ill deal with him cutie...you just concentrate on starting this new life of yours. and hey," he smiled "you've always got me ta give ya a hand! now lets GO already!"
Anubis winced as he stumbled after him. With all the thoughts raging round hiss head, he hadn't really noticed his injured ankle. Now he'd calmed down, it began to ache and sting.
Hearing the yelps of pain, Christophe sat him down. a quick check revealed it was luckily just a very bad sprain.
"We need to put some ice on the swelling...c'mon lets get back to the Vector.."
"Hey! There you are!" they both looked up as Mahad and Lena came running up.
"You OK?" Mahad asked. Anubis fidgeted then finally nodded.
"Lets go to the Vectors....I daresay you don't want to go to the hospital again bud?" Christophe asked.
Anubis shook his head "t-they'll yell at m-me again.."
"Then lets go...i know a back route!" Mahad suggested, and off they set.
The Vector was surprised when the small group showed up. One quick explanation later, and he'd bandaged up the injured robot, and sent a message to Aran Cortes, telling him to call the search.
"What did he say?" Mahad asked as the Vector came back.
"Well, he's relieved they found you, but the rest I'm afraid is too rude to ever repeat, especially in front of kids."
"I'm going to take a guess and say....90% profane language?" Christophe guessed.
"Close...more like 99%.." the Vector sighed, "he's been very irritable as of late.."
"You mean since i showed up..." Anubis uttered quietly.
"'ey, thought i told you not to let my brothers grumpy moods bother ya..." Christophe said "if anyone can turn an ordinary sentence into a lot of curse words...its my little bro..."
Anubis just sighed and lowered his head, staring at the suddenly fascinating floor.
"Don't let Cortes scare ya...he's not that bad...." Lena said, patting his shoulder, "his behaviour is partly down to the bird DNA thing. He get VERY cranky with anyone who comes between him and your brother...that's all"
"He does act...a little like a petulant child when he gets it into his head someone's in his way..." Vector added "he'll calm down once he's certain you're not a threat.."
"Why does he have those wings anyway?" Anubis asked at last. Mahad and Lena explained the whole story to him.
"wow...the sphere were a bunch of total..." Anubis trailed off.
"Arsemuffins?" Mahad suggested.
"...what's an Arsemuffin?" Anubis asked. Mahad sniggered "the seat of my pants this morning when i sat down in the tavern.."
Lena cracked up "i said i was sorry! i just put it on the seat beside me for a second..."
--Arse...muffin?-- Anubis fought not to laugh, and lost.
Lena smiled as she heard the guy laugh. Good, he'd cheered up a little.
"Vector are you here-OW,F**K-ME!"
"....watch out for the boxes captain..." Vector said silently. Which prompted more laughter from everyone there.
Cortes staggered up the rest of the way. He glared at Vector. "How many times have i told you not to stack stuff in front of the doors after its delivered!"
Vector just pretended not to hear him. Anubis started feeling scared right away. the bird-guy had a presence that sort of dominated wherever he was, he got the distinct impression people didn't dare mouth off around this guy.
"So what're you here for, aside to swear at the Vector?" Christophe asked.
"You got a transmission...from some woman who claims to know you..." he held out a sheet of paper.
Christophe took it and began reading it.
Cortes glanced at the fidgety Anubis, who was clinging fearfully to Christophe's sleeve, and avoiding looking up.
Christophe smiled as he finished the letter. "Its Marie, i haven't seen her in a long time..."
"Who's she? an old girlfriend?" Mahad asked.
Christophe shook his head "i used to go to school with her, she was a great cook, forever bringing cakes into class...we must've gorged ourselves silly..."
"So whys she looking for you now?"
"Doesn't say, she just said she found out where i was, and wanted to show off the latest batch she's been cooking. 'parently she's a chef now..."
"awright, cake!" Mahad cheered.
Cortes sighed and shook his head. Talk about a one track mind with that kid.
"Well, you know...that valentines day party the townspeople have been planning is coming up soon...maybe shed do some baking for us?" the Vector asked.
Christophe smiled, folding the letter up. "You can bet she'd love that...any excuse to use an oven...!"
Anubis listened to all this with fascination. Then frowned.
"Uh...what's a 'valentines party'?" he asked, confused.
"A smoochy load of-mmmph!" Cortes was cut off as his brother threw a cushion, which hit him in the face.
"stop cursing Aran." he turned to Anubis "its basically an earth ritual...mostly a couples thing really.."
"It's where you show the person you love just how much you truly love them.." Vector butted in. Anubis through about it.
"Sounds nice...I've never heard of it before..."
"Kid...there's a LOT you don't know..." Cortes added, throwing the cushion back at his brother, who ducked.
"Don't be mean Aran, ya grouch..where's the other half of ya, you're ALWAYS grouchy when you're stuck on your own.." he lobbed another cushion at him.
Cortes caught it at lobbed it very fast, so it bounced off his brothers head. "busy, that's what!" he folded his arms an scowled.
"How long has it been since you actually got some sleep Cortes?" Vector asked, peering at him. "You look like a wreck.."
"The last few days I've hardly slept at all...and i don't know why before you ask!" Cortes snapped. But he DID know...well for last night anyway. The nightmares. the memory of this guy. Triggered by his sudden re-emergence, and a bit of overwork. End result; insomnia.
He realised he was subconsciously glaring at Anubis again. and sighed. abruptly he turned and stormed off.
Vector frowned. Anubis sniffled.
"Hey..its OK kiddo...just ignore him..it's like what i said before...it takes time.." Christophe patted Anubis' hair gently.
"he looks exhausted.." Lena said quietly "i could sense it, he's angry about whatever keeping him awake..."
"I'm sittin' right here..." Anubis said softly.
Mahad sighed "he's usually not this bad...its not mating season again soon is it Vector..hes always get grumpy about then.."
"No, its not....not for a long time...the last one occurred tat time when...ah well.." since Anubis was right there, he didn't want to mention it.
"Mating season?" Anubis asked, baffled.
Mahad sniggered and explained the issue. That it was yet another DNA problem.
"He basically has to stay indoors in his rooms the WHOLE week...he always gets grumpy when its close to that time.."
"What happen if he went out?" Anubis asked.
"Well, let me put it this way...your brother would lynch roughly...half the town, for trying anything with the captain..."
Anubis twitched "hes...a little possessive..."
The Vector smiled "yes, he is a bit...but its only because he's so attached to the captain. Personally, ive never seen him smile as often as he does with your twin around..."
Anubis smiled, but inside he envied his brother. Smart, confidant...he was the total opposite of him. He himself was scared of talking to people, convinced he was a nuisance ..and worried he was causing trouble for Christophe by wanting him around all the time.
--Bird-guys gonna hate me when he finds out...-- he sighed.
His stomach began to ache again, and he sighed softly. Would it have been better if they hadn't found him?
Cortes was pissed off. Mostly at himself, and still pertly at the kid. He had a feeling his dimwit brother was getting attached to him. --Of all the people...he wants to date a total fruitcake...a guy that's scared of his own freaking shadow..-- he punched a wall irritably, leaving a small dent in it. Why couldn't he get used to that guy being here?
He believed Sirus when he said his twins files no longer existed, but he just had a bad feeling...
With the sphere gone, it was every block for itself, people fought for water same as always. Yet you inevitably got those that were just plain greedy. Much like Mac's bunch of crazy degenerates. Sadly they weren't the only ones. Another loopy group had set its sights on puerto angel as a target. Had they known the surprise they were about to get, they wouldn't have bothered...
After they all left the Vectors, Anubis and Christophe walked back towards the tavern. The robot angel was still very quiet and withdrawn, he didn't really know how to talk to people, he was afraid he'd mess up...
--He's looking depressed again...better make 'im smile~-- Christophe grinned and suddenly started tickling the angel. Anubis stopped in his tracks, doubled over giggling.
"Gyah, stoppit! hee.." he couldn't help laughing.
"There, you look cuter when you smile..stop being so down.." the older Cortes grinned, poking his nose, "cheer up eh?".
Anubis was all set to respond when a loud warning siren blasted through the air.
"What's going on?" Christophe asked, and began running towards town centre. Sadly so was everyone else. In the rush, he somehow got separated from Anubis, who was pushed along by the panicky crowds, until he finally pulled free, looking up at the sky. A huge ship was blocking out the sun.
[This is a raid, don't bother resisting, your firepower wont be any good against us..]
Looking up at the ship Anubis sensed the shielding...it was giving off an unusual pattern. That must be what they're on about...some new gadget to protect that ship..
People tried firing, even a few mosquitoes tore at them a few seconds later, but it didn't seem to be doing any good.
--They're gonna blast the place!!-- Anubis began to panic. He felt a sharp pain i his head...then he had an idea.
--If I could just control it...-- he barged through the rapidly vanishing crowds, spotting a ladder propped up against a wall. He scrambled up it, running the rooftop until he reached a high vantage point he could get a good aim at the ship from...
He glared at the ship as it began charging its main weapon. --You're gonna destroy the one place i want to call home?! NO WAY IN HELL!!--
The fury mounted, and a .familiar pain began to get bigger and bigger....until..
"Alright, move it people!" Cortes yelled as people tore past, screaming and panicking, "get to shelter before they-" he was cut off as a bright white flash exploded over his head, flooding the whole sky. The shielding on the ship started cracking, then began to show gaps, as if something was eroding it...a second flash, weaker this time, but still, it had the same effect..
Grabbing his radio he yelled for all mosquitoes to launch attacks NOW. Before the shielding regained its stability...
While the ship suddenly had to deal with its brand new shielding suddenly proving a total failure, Cortes ran towards where he was sure the flash had emanated. Only one person could have done that. And it WASNT a saijin..
Barely able to stand, and feeling about to be sick, Anubis staggered towards the roofs edge, intending to find the ladder again...but he was facing the wrong direction..
A step later, and he felt thin air take place of roof tile, and he panicked, realising too late his mistake...the ground came rushing up towards him. Then stopped, as someone grabbed the back of his sweater and stopped his fall. Whoever it was lowered them both onto the ground, then let go.
The tired robot just let whoever it was prop him up against the wall. He could barely think straight...
Blearily he opened his eyes, catching a glimpse of whoever his rescuer was. Big wings....white...ginger hair..
Cortes waved a hand in his face, trying to gauge if he was even paying attention.
"How many fingers am i holding up?" got the answer:
"Thursday?"
"You're fine.." Cortes muttered, shaking his head. --Seems to me the kids not as dumb as id thought..he was able to set that blast off deliberately--
He heard the sounds of guns readying, and swore. In the time he'd been checking on the kid, the attacking force had surrounded him. Some must've landed during the commotion.
"Well well, lookit what we got here....skyland's very own sideshow freak! The boss'll pay us good money to catch you as a trophy...ere," he turned to the one next to him "did 'e say dead or alive?"
"No preference.." the second one sneered. Cortes snapped the wings back, aiming to shield the kid as much as possible.
He glared at them, he was gonna wipe their smug grins right off their faces...
One pulled the trigger, but the shot misfired, pinging of a roof edge as Cortes moved quickly, barging him out of the way, the wings force sending the guy skidding. A second shot whizzed by his face, shearing a few strands of hair. But he paid no heed. He was to pissed to pay attention.
The whole lot of them were surrounding him now, and it was taking all his concentration to avoiding close range pot shots and still beat them senseless. He didn't see the first guy getting back up. He didn't see the serrated knife flash through the air. But he heard the meaty thunk of it impacting with someone's body. But not his.
Knocking the attacker away from him, he turned, seeing that somehow the addled Anubis had gotten to his feet, and whether deliberately or by accident, had come between the knife and him.
"Kid MOVE-!" he was silenced as someone grabbed his collar and slammed him into the wall. Pain stabbed through his head, enough to make him feel sick, nearly black out. He could feel blood trickling into his collar. With a final burst of effort he pushed the guy away, hitting him with one massive wing and knocking him out cold.
The guy that had thrown the knife had tried to finish the robot off, but even wounded, a scared Anubis was not something a sane person messed with. The guy laid one hand on him, and the resulting shockwave caused instant lights out..
"Kid...move....now.." Cortes took a few stumbling steps forward, but the blow to the head had been more serious then he'd thought. The concussion, the pain it caused was unbearable...he couldn't stay on his feet any longer. He felt the world fade, then everything went dead...
Anubis slumped against the wall, shaking. He'd pulled the knife free from his shoulder where it had lodged itself, and was now trying to stop the dizzying flow of blood. He heard Cortes voice, and turned round in time to see him collapse. Panicking he stumbled over to him, using his sleeve to mop at the bleeding head wound. Then he tore the sweaters sleeves into makeshift bandages, and tied these around Cortes' head to ease the blood. Now how to get him to the hospital?
He paid little attention to his own injuries, he was more concerned with bird guy. If the guy died because he'd been trying to protect HIM, the people of puerto angel would kill him. He had to make sure bird-guy was OK...
In the end he somehow managed to carry the guy on his back, piggyback fashion. The wings added extra weight, and the extra pressure pressed down on the wound, causing it bleed even more. But he ignored it, focusing on staggering through the backstreets to the hospital..
"Any major injuries?" the Vector asked.
Wayan shook his head "only a few so far, we got lucky.."
They were standing in the hospital, helping the doctors deal with the flow of patients.
"Where's Cortes? Last i seen he was helping people get to cover..then he vanished?" Wayan asked. Vector shrugged.
"I'm afraid i have no idea..i wonder where that bright light came from...it made swiss cheese out of that shielding apparently.."
Wayan shook his head "beats me..looked like a flash bomb...wait..." his mind drifted back to the tavern incident "of course, ANUBIS!"
Vector opened his mouth to ask what the heck Wayan was on about, but was interrupted by a sudden appearance in the hospital doorway.
Blood dripped to the floor from the angels injury, the once white sweater now soaked crimson. Then his attention was drawn to what Anubis was carrying on his back.
"CAPTAIN!" Wayan gaped, then ran over, carefully taking to unconscious bird-guy from the bloodied angel. He carried him to a couch and with the Vector, began checking him over.
The old man looked back at Anubis "you look like you've been in the wars, what happened?"
Anubis blinked "I-it was...a w-whole bunch of them...i cant remember...i only remember one of them trying to kill me...then it was...o-over.."
"That explains all the blood...Cortes must've beaten them senseless.." Wayan added. Neither of them had noticed the stab wound in amongst all the varying bloodstains, dirt marks and tears in the angels sweater.
Cortes stirred, coughing and spluttering. Wayan pulled a water canister from his belt, the Vector helping to prop the captain up so he could get him to drink.
But Cortes shook his head, turning away from it.
Wayan frowned "stay still sir, you need to get some fluids or you'll black out again..."
"I'm..fine..." Cortes sluggishly waved one hand in Anubis direction "'s him...see..."
Wayan blinked, looking from Cortes to Anubis "what about him-oh.." he blinked as he seen fresh blood droplets hitting the floor. When the kid had come staggering in, he'd assumed the blood was from Cortes.
The kid blinked, tried to step back, and collapsed to his knees. Cortes gave Wayan a shoe in Anubis' direction, telling him it was "an order damnit". He seen the Vector and Wayan surrounding the kid, calling for a doctor...
With a relieved sigh he began to drift away..
Spying Cortes about to pass out again, Wayan knew he had to keep the man awake or it could be next stop coma land. Spotting Mahad dashing by he caught his attention.
"I need you to keep an eye on the captain..don't let him fall asleep!" he asked him.
Mahad nodded and ambled over to the couch where the semi-awake Cortes lay.
"Don't go sleepy now Cortes!" he grinned, poking the captains shoulder.
"Bah...feck off Mahad.." Cortes whined "i wanna sleep.."
"No, you gotta stay awake dopey mcsnoozey..." Mahad said grinning "and I'm gonna make sure ya do!"
"Soon as i can see straight, you and your twin are dead men.." Cortes pointed out.
--He's really out of it..he musta hit his head pretty hard...-- Mahad worried.
"Well...this is a total flamingo-up..." Cortes added weakly.
"Flamingo-up?" Mahad asked, baffled.
Cortes nodded wisely, his zonked out expression making it even funnier "yeah..s'like a cock-up...onlysh mush biggeh!"
Mahad cracked up laughing. "Man you're a few nuts short of a health bar aren't ya Cortes?"
"...no, maybe itsh a turkey-up?" Cortes wondered, feeling sleepy again.."my apologies for the fowl language.." he sniggered at this last bit, then trailed off coughing heavily.
"Gah, breathe man!" Mahad grabbed for his water can, and this time the captain was persuaded to drink a little.
"urgh...why is the room spinning...i think m'gonna be sick.." the winged human mumbled.
"Just try not to, you'll feel worse if you throw up.." Mahad pointed out to him.
Walking down the hall, Mila spotted her son trying valiantly to keep Captain Cortes awake.
"How bad is it Mahad?" she asked, kneeling by them.
"Pretty bad i think...he's out of it..and those bandages are soaked already!"
Mila rummaged through the supplies bag she was carrying, pulling out some medicinal alchahol and fresh bandages, along with some ice.
"Hold still Aran, this'll ease the swelling..." she instructed, while Mahad continued trying to keep him awake.
"Where's..the kid...the spazzy one..?" Cortes asked.
"Spaz?" Mila asked Mahad.
"Oh..i bet he means Sirus' twin...he must be around here somewhere..."
"find 'im..i wanna make..sure he s'okay..." Cortes pleaded with Mahad.
Leaving his mother to take care of Cortes, Mahad set about finding Anubis. He eventually found him in the serious injuries ward.
"Is he ok?" he asked the Vector.
"He should be..he's lost a lot of blood as well as power...but his brothers in there fixing him up."
Speaking of the devil, Sirus came out the door a second later. He looked relived.
"He's gonna be fine..I've got him connected to a generator to restore his power...a few hours and he'll be good as new.." he looked at Mahad. "Where's Aran? Wayan said he'd been hurt..."
"He's in the main lobby, he hit his head pretty hard..he was making JOKES..somethings definitely loose there..." Mahad added as he took off down the hall, Sirus in tow.
Wheeee, at last! ^^ Sorry for such long delays....ive had a whole load of stuff just crop up all at once. _
Random Fact: I sleepwalk..and sleep eat. Im used to waking up realising ive raided the fridge with my eyes shut again..