In which the remaining Seekers get into a tight spot...
Exiel slowed the boat to a stop at a small wooden pier that sat, pitifully bland beside a large glass building. "I hope you don't mind Dante. I need to report…you know." The burly man explained still unwilling to say the 'D word' as he dismounted the boat. "You can wait here is you want." It seemed that the loss of his counterpart had brought about Exiel's speech. Sophie and Lok nodded, leaning back in their seats with their respective family's book. Dante and Zhalia however got to their feet, hopping off of the boat and following Exiel into the glass building. Once inside they quickly made their way over to the small desk in the centre of the room where Exiel was talking to the young redhead behind it.
"What can I do for you Sir?" She stammered as she recognised the man and neither Foundation member could restrain their grin.
"I want to terminate the records of Alice Astra." The redhead flinched lightly but her fingers began tapping away at her keyboard.
"Then she's…"
"Dead. Yeah." It was the first time it had been said aloud and the word weighed heavily in the room.
"I'm sorry." Exiel bowed his head.
"She went down fighting. It's what she wanted at least." Dante placed a comforting hand on the other man's shoulder as the receptionist finished typing.
"Sir?" Exiel looked up. "Miss Alice had a mission that she had yet to finish. What shall I do with it?" Zhalia raised a delicate eyebrow at the signs of respect from the redhead but said nothing.
"I'll take it." Exiel decided without hesitation. The receptionist pulled out a small card simply labelled by a dark mountain. He turned it over in his hands, eyes scanning the coded notes on the back before letting out a quiet chuckled. "Always chasing rabbits." Exiel sketched a brief bow to the redhead, who blushed, before leading the way back outside.
"Sir? Miss Alice?" Zhalia asked with a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"The people who work for us are under the impression that we command respect. I don't see how; we're not here often enough to command anything." Dante moved to walk at Exiel's side not seeming surprised at learning that the man and his childhood almost-friend were at the head of Valkyrie.
"Would you mind is we joined you on this mission?" The larger man smiled warmly, eyes sparkling.
"Of course not. I'm Allie wouldn't have minded either."
//
"I don't see why we had to leave Lok and Sophie back there." Zhalia said trailing behind Dante and Exiel as they reached the base of the mountain depicted on the card. Exiel turned to face her.
"Alice took this mission alone for a reason. Probably because the Organisation was involved and didn't want to risk me getting my punishment for deserting them." He flipped the card from his pocket, barely giving Alice's untidy notes a glance before replacing it and throwing a glowing hand towards the mountain. "Whatever the reason it's safer for them to stay." Exiel added as a door opened in the face of the rock. "Let's go." He strode through the newly opened passage but the Huntik Seekers did not follow. Dante placed a gentle hand on Zhalia's arm.
"Are you ok?" The woman raised amber eyes to look at him.
"I killed her Dante. And now I'm carrying out one of her missions. Tell me how I could be ok?" She let her head fall, eye closed so he could not see the tears there. The man's thumb caressed her arm lightly.
"You had no choice." He murmured but Zhalia pulled away.
"She was still in there." She wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to hide the shudder that accompanied the memory. "And I killed her." Dante shook his head.
"She wanted you to invoke Kilthane. She wanted you to stop her. It's ok." He swept the young woman into a hug. "It's all going to be ok."
"It is really Mr Vale?" A heavily accented voice joined the conversation as Rassimov stepped out of the mountain's shade and Suits surrounded the duo. Dante released Zhalia to face the man.
"How did you find us?" The moustached man smirked snapping his fingers. Two Suits stepped forwards, unceremoniously throwing an unconscious Sophie Casterwill and Lok Lambert to the ground. Dante clenched his fists, angling his body to shield Zhalia.
"What? No clever banter?" Rassimov feigned disappointment as he raised a hand. "Shadow Tomb." A dark bubble encased the Seekers and oh so slowly began to contract.
"Metagolem!" Dante cried, hoping that the Titan would be able to break the bubble that would soon become their tomb. Metagolem flew from his amulet but could do nothing and Dante only ended up crushed against the Titans, air flying from his lungs as Zhalia went limp against him. As the world swam before his eyes the Foundation Seeker saw Exiel leave the mountain, presumably to look for them, only to be set upon and subdued by the crowd of Suits.
...and I probably get told off because the chapters so short :p