Nothing Is Truly Impossible
On such short notice during lunch Tony brought both Maximus and Kolt to his regular seat in the cafeteria, "Tony what's going on?" Kolt asked tapping the table with her fingers in a wave motion.
"It must be important to drag us over here, literally." Maximus said recalling his collar being pulled without question and seated down.
Tony brushed off Maximus' remark, "Details details, Guys I have confirmed presence the of Impure." He stated in all seriousness and a stern facial expression.
The statement made the teaching duo silent, "Suddenly that's not surprising." Kolt said breaking the ice. She knew something else regarding the situation.
"It's not?" Tony asked scrunching his face in question and confusion
"No, well not really." Maximus responded next. He too knew something.
"Why?"
"Seeing that WE are here then surely there must be Impure to kinda balance things out. It's weird how the world works." Maximus explained. True, wherever Tony, Maximus, or even Kolt were Impure would most likely follow them.
"Even so we must take...Elizabeth what're you sitting here for?" Tony was about to explain the best course of action until Elizabeth took the seat beside him and intruded on their conversation.
"I can sit where I please." Elizabeth responded with little emotion.
Tony shook his head, "That's not what I'm saying, You usually sit over there." He then pointed to the third year's table at the other end of the cafeteria
"Routines can change." Elizabeth replied with a sly expression
Tony knew this game and turned to Alexis, "Ms. Kolt, How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?" He asked a tongue twister in a dunce attitude
"Well, If a woodchuck could chuck wood, a woodchuck would chuck all the wood that a woodchuck could chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood." Kolt answered he tongue twister with the answer. Maximus couldn't help but facepalm and shake his head in disbelief.
"You don't have to play that dunce persona anymore." Elizabeth stated fully aware of his act and persona, "I know very well that it's an act to fool everyone and you're actually more intellect than you appear."
Tony slowly turned to Elizabeth in emotionless state, "How does she know?" He asked turning to Kolt.
"Everything." Kolt bluntly replied, "Who we are, What we are, What we do, What we fight, etc. etc."
"And the fact that you are actually a ranked officer: A Commander." Elizabeth said, "I find it hard to believe despite your cryptic nature."
"Thanks for the complement, but I'll have you know that this is a private conversation and..." ; "Elizabeth is fully aware of our situation." Tony tried to explain but Kolt interrupted him in mid-sentence. Tony gave Kolt an irritated look afterwards
Kolt shrugged the look off and spoke, "She's agreed to keep her mouth shut IF she's involved." Implying Elizabeth attempted to blackmail them.
"That's wasn't what we agreed upon." Tony quickly responded with distaste.
"That's what I said." Maximus butted in.
Elizabeth didn't know what they were talking so she spoke up "What's going on?" She asked curiously
"You knew about this?!" Tony abruptly shouted turning his full attention to the young science prodigy.
"She told me first."
"She told you first?!"
"Yup, and frankly I feel privileged."
"Enough squabbling! What was not agreed upon?" Elizabeth shouted interrupting the two's minor dispute. She made it clear that she wanted to know what the three's agreement was.
Silent, Elizabeth felt a sense of intrusion as the three looked amongst themselves not wanting to be the first to speak, "We agreed upon: to kill anyone who figured out or was on to us for suspicious behaviour regardless of who they were." Tony broke the silence and explained their agreement. Indeed the three were suspicious and anyone who figured out why would pay the price.
"The reason behind it, is because of information from our world should stay with us and not anyone else. This kind of information between us would cause a panic and get the government involved." Kolt explained. True, Chevalier would get involved and do their best to gain an advantage over the three if they figured out if they were from another world.
"What're you talking about? You three have potential and...André, can I kindly ask you to sit else where." Elizabeth tried to say but her Limiter came to sit beside Elizabeth but was kindly told to sit else where.
"Yes, M'lady." André responded with a nod.
"Smart move, better for him not to get involved." Tony commented
Elizabeth responded to Tony with a frown, "What's that supposed to mean?" She asked glaring him down.
"The less people know the less they get involved, now back on track regarding the Impure." Kolt said and returned back on topic.
"Those things are here?" Elizabeth asked already knowing what the topic was.
"Yes, as I was saying the Impure are here and it's just so happened to be Skar." Tony explained with little emotion and a cheery mood.
Kolt and Maximus fell silent and gloomy as Elizabeth went into confusion, "Skar?" Maximus asked slightly dropping his head in disbelief.
"Yeah, why." Tony replied
"Is he alone?" Kolt reluctantly asked
"More or less." Tony said.
"Wait who's Skar?" Elizabeth asked. She had no idea what they were talking about regardless if she knew what was happening between the trio. What's more confusing she didn't know who Skar was other than the fact hat he was an Impure Monster she had heard about.
"If he's here then that means more are here as well. It's nothing the three of us can't handle." Kolt explained tapping the table with her fingers.
Elizabeth process that statement and realized she was only talking about the trio, "Wait, what about me?" She asked.
"What about you? I'm sure you're able to handle yourself in Close Quarters Combat but when it's a 8-9 foot monster the results are different." Maximus explained, "I may be a nerd and scientist but that doesn't mean I can't fight."
"On top of what Maximus said I'm not even sure if Volt weapons can do the same amount of damage as we do." Tony added. The trio stared at Elizabeth as they would an intruder of a conversation.
Feeling the intrusion, she stood up and spoke, "I see, well, as you were." She stated before turning around and leaving. It became clear that they weren't going to let Elizabeth get involved in any operation they planned for the near future.
Silent, the trio watched as Elizabeth walked away, "What now?" Maximus asked breaking the silence.
"This isn't the place to be meeting." Kolt stated.
"THANK YOU!" Tony bursted with an outcry. The other two facepalmed as he was the one that brought them there.
Kolt's Office
Eventually the trio made their way into Kolt's office once more. Their meetings have become more frequent since the unknown dark pulse. Kolt sat in desk loke always looking towards the two others Maximus and Tony "Let's explore our options." She said starting a meeting.
Maximus snickered a chuckle straight away, "Yeah, Send Tony in and be done with this situation." He stated jokingly. To some extent this was true, Tony would have this situation dealt with.
Tony folded his arms unamused, "Try to keep in mind that we only one Tony." He said emotionlessly and glaring towards Maximus
"That's where we come in. Tony's the front while we're support behind him." Maximus explained defending his statements.
"Motivating, good job" Tony again said emotionlessly and unamused at Maximus' joke, "Skar mentioned a split group he arrived with so I think it's safe to say..." he was about to explain Skar's arrival but the door opened and walked in a familiar bob cut blonde bombshell. "...Doesn't seem to knock, Madam President this is private."
The blonde stood firm by the door, "I'm fully aware of the situation regarding your...monsters" she replied.
Kolt looked more curious than surprised, "How'd you find out?" She asked frowning in question
"A little bird told me, why? Is something wrong?" She stated and asked.
Just as Maximus was about to speak up Tony spoke first, "No, Come sit." He said pointing to a folded chair resting against the wall.
"Thanks Commander." She said taking the chair and set it up between Maximus and Tony who gave courtesy by moving apart from he other.
"That title has no meaning here." Tony abruptly said, "as I was saying I think it's safe to say is that downtown is the point of interest." He continued his explanation.
"Downtown?" Chiffon sounded slightly lifting her head.
The trio turned to Chiffom in response, "You sound like you know something. Enlighten us." Kolt kindly said leaning back as if she were ready to listen to a story.
"Well, there's an urban legend that involves downtown of the city nearby. It tells of a story of a boy and girlfriend who was walking downtown late at late. The two just finished a late dinner and for whatever the girl felt like they were being watched. Deciding to take a shortcut the couple went down an alley but when the boy stopped mid-way the girl became frightened. The boy starting saying "He who creeps, stalks, and preys. He who is without name. Shadowman, Shadowman, Shadowman...here he comes". And that's when a hand from the shadows grabbed the girl and pulled her into the shadows. Later on the police got involved and he says he had nothing her disappearance and claimed he was possessed by Shadowman." Chiffon told the urban legend like it was nothing and no more than a statement, "I believe it's a made up story."
"Made up stories are often metaphysical." Kolt assured her with a convincing tone, "Did this little bird of yours mention that we deal with metaphysical?" She asked
Chiffon thought about her answer for a brief pause, "More or less." She replied innocently
Kolt smiled with delight, "Where is the highest activity of said Shadowman?" She asked leaning in onto her elbows
"Mainly in back alleys or dark areas at nighttime. People who say they have survived the encounter were from the Downtown area." Chiffon replied
"That's all we need. Tony..." Kolt said turning to Tony in question, "...when night falls go downtown and call him out." She ordered
"Yes Ma'am" Tony acknowledged the command with a nodded of his own.
Chiffon began wondering and had a question she wanted to ask, "I've been wondering, if Shadowman's metaphysical then what kind is he or what would you classify him?"
"Shadow manipulation is a common amongst High Ranking Impure we call Imperialists." Kolt explained the ability of shadow manipulation amongst Impure, "They're the Chevalier to Pandora. The Elites." She also compared the hierarchy to power level.
"A single Imperialist is all it would take to kill everyone in this facility." Maximus added to the explanation, "Tony here can take on several." He pointed out
Tony let out a reluctant sigh "Not something I like to brag about but yeah, I can." He stated.
Later, Ingrid's Dorm
Ingrid looked out her window, wearing nothing but there under clothes contemplating to the night cloudy sky. "The life of a pandora is a structured one, astricted heirarchy insures order is preserved. That our lives are no lost in vain, but you don't think much of preserving order do you, Satellizer"
She told an individual standing at her door.
"All I know is if you're a pandora without a limiter, you would well to face your opponent when she doesn't have hers either." Satellizer replied back.
"Really?" Ingrid asked sarcastically turning around with a smirky smile. Just as she was about to step into a acceleration turn to grab Satellizer she felt a sudden drop in temperature and before she realized it Satellizer had the upper hand. Ingrid suddenly felt jolt to her back and her face being gripped.
Satellizer sped into and acceleration turn and grabbed Ingrid's face also bursting through the dorm's wall. She held Ingrid out in the open with a big drop to the ground. Much to Ingrid's dismay, she couldn't help but feel like she's being watched and on top of that she caught a glimpse of a silhouette standing behind Satellizer cloaked in shadows.
Ingrid widened her eyes in both surprise and shock but felt a forceful push and fell. Flailing her arms she had no control over her body during her flight down. She hit the pavement on the right side of her body with such force the impact shattered several bones including her arm, shoulder, and thigh.
Many on lookers rushed to help the fallen third year but as Satellizer appeared over Ingrid they stopped and didn't want to interfere with the skirmish, "Shouldn't let your guard down so easily." Satellizer said gripping her Volt Weapon's handle. Ingrid let out a long agonizing groan and rolled over to her back in severe pain.
Downtown, Tony
Tony was waltzing down the street with smooth suavely motions and singing a tune to himself, "I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad I got sunshine, in a bag I'm useless, but not for long The future, is coming on. I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad I got sunshine, in a bag I'm useless, but not for long The future, is coming on, It's coming on, It's coming..." He trailed from the song and felt a strong dark pulse.
The dark pulse surged through Tony's body and consumed his nerves with nothing more than a hollow feeling for a brief and short second. Right away he felt that it definitely wasn't Impure in anyway.
"That felt like it came from West Genetics!" Tony sounded looking in the direction of West Genetics, "So close yet so far away." He commented and dashed into abnormal speeds
West Genetics
Ingrid wasn't doing so well, in fact she was being toss around by Satellizer as couple dozen onlookers refusing to get involved. Satellizer threw Ingrid to a pillar, her body impacted and hit the floor, "How dare you...upset...the established order..." Ingrid muttered using the rest of her strength to sit upright. She felt like she was being watched but not from the onlookers and bystanders but from something dark and malevolent.
Satellizer stepped into an acceleration turn but instead tripped over into a face plant to the pavement. In everyone's confusion including Ingrid they watched as Satellizer recuperated on the ground. Turning to see what tripped she see something she couldn't believe, "What the..." She sounded upon seeing a black silhouetted hand holding her ankle. She looked in disbelief to the shadow holding her down
Ingrid also watched in disbelief as the Shadow continued to hold Satellizer to the ground. Unbeknownst to Ingrid the shadows surrounded the area around her, "That's...That's impossible!" She stated still looking over to Satellizer. The bystanders and onlookers watched also in disbelief.
"Ingrid!" A familiar voice called out to Ingrid. Snapping out of her moment she look towards the voice and noticed Tony running towards her quickly decreasing the distance between them but before she knew it a hand sprouted out from the shadow underneath her and grabbed on to her leg.
"What the..." She sounded and winced to the cold feeling of the hand, "Hey!" She called as more hands sprouted up and held onto her. That's when it hit her that she was being taken by the Infamous 'Shadowman'. She looked towards Tony and held out her hand, "Help!" She cried as the hands pulled her into the shadows and through the ground.
Tony leaped towards Ingrid and slid on his stomach a short distance but by the time he was in reach she became cloaked in shadows and faded. Tony positioned a kneeling crouch for more comfortability and brushed the ground where he shadows were, "Dammit!" He crused and drove his fist into the ground. Turning around, he noticed the bystanders and onlookers in shocked, baffled, and confused expressions. He looked to Satellizer who looked stunned the most from watching something unnatural and the fact that something touched her. This wasn't going to be easy to coverup due to the dozens of witnesses including several known members of West Genetics.
Flashnotes
It's relatively short but the fast paced suspense should make up for it. I intended for this to happen seeing how as I have the next chapter the way I wanted to go
Can Tony to find Ingrid and indentify Shadowman before it's too late? Find out next time on Nothing is Impossible!