Meeting at Crossroads

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The hosts, the Medicis, the beastkin, and the projects rode in the same limo the two latter pairs came in. The air felt really awkward after what transpired in Little Innsmouth.

"…Tell me something, will ya?" Spike asked, tied in chains.

"Yeah, what?" Walker replied.

"Why the hell am I being dragged along for this joyless ride?"

Filia sighed "Are you always this sarcastic?"

"Yeah, got a problem?"

"We all do!" She retorted.

Spike scoffed "Tough luck, parasite meat. Oh, and you didn't answer my question."

"You didn't answer mine." Kage told him "If I must be dragged along for this, you're coming with me until you answer them."

"So either way, I'm stuck with you?" Kage nodded "Just freakin' great."

Walker scratched his head, then turned to Filia and a knocked out Painwheel "How's it-she doing?"

"She's still out. Whatever happened must've been bad." Filia answered.

"That's what happens when you get hit by 5000 volts and survive." Spike said.

"Shocking." Ms Fortune, who had her pieces separated and tied in chains, joked.

"I swear, another pathetic pun, and I'm zapping all of your nine lives!" Spike threatened.

Ms Fortune's head sunk in to the seat, afraid "N-no need to be harsh!"

"Would you have stopped?" Cerebella asked.

Ms Fortune pondered for a second "Not really." She replied with a smile.

"You're a weird-ass pussy." Samson commented.

"HAH. Good one." Ms Fortune commented.

"That wasn't exactly a joke." Samson replied.

"Grgh. When the hell can I get off and away from you idiots?" Spike harshly asked.

Walker, who was across from Spike, reached to him and grabbed him by his neck "Listen, you little punk, I'm trying to resist the urge to punch you, cuz' I'm about sick of hearing your bitching. Another whine out of you, and I'll crack your metallic head in two."

Spike scoffed "Just try it, meat head."

Walker pulled his fist back but Kage grabbed hold of him "What are you-"

"It's not worth it. Suppress your murderous anger for this demon." Kage glared at the project "Besides, if you're as strong as you claim, I'll never get answers from him."

Walker just stared at Kage before unclenching his fist "F-fine."

Kage nodded and let go of him "Thank you." He leaned back in his seat and noticed that Francis had been glaring at him the whole time "I see you're still not willing to listen."

"Tch." Francis looked to the ground.

Kage looked down and sighed "I have done many tasks, but this just might be the most difficult." He stared out side "Speaking of which, I haven't reported to the Master." He looked down and closed his eyes "Inu, relay this message to Sensei."

Spike sighed "Screw this, I'm taking a nap." He leaned his head back.

"At least he stopped whining." Walker thought.

Some where else, there's a convoy traveling to the destination of a certain threat. In a grey van was the princess and her Commander, while a carriage traveled alongside it, where the cartoon maniac and a magician traveled in.

Peacock twitched and Mage noticed this "Something the matter?"

"I just have a sudden urge to kill a sort of out-of-this-world writer." Peacock answered coldly.

Mage put on a blank face "...Huh?"

"Hm, probably nothing." Peacock said with a smile.

"Okay." Mage awkwardly replied.

"By the way, Max."

"What is it?" Mage asked.

"Before we got ambushed, you were about to tell me the identity of the Skullgirl."

Mage had a sort of worried look on his face "Y-yes, that's correct."

"I need you to tell me who it is."

The color on Mage's face drained "I-I-I thought you wanted it to be a surprise."

"I know, but I can't contain my curiosity, after all." Peacock leaned in on Mage "So, who is it?"

Mage gulped "Well-"

"LOOK OUT!"

Mage and Peacock directed their attention to a scream from the front of the convoy.

"Watch out!" Francis yelled to the driver.

The limo screeched to a halt, as did the convoy in front of them, as there were two people standing in between them. These are Valentine and Krauser "It seems we have their attention." The latter spoke.

Back at the carriage...

"What in the name of Sam Hill happened?!" Peacock yelled.

"I don't know, let's check." Mage said as he exited.

"Uh, hey, wait!" Peacock ran after him.

At the same time, Parasoul and Arselite exited the van "What is going on?" Parasoul demandingly asked.

Mage noticed the princess and replied "I don't know, but we were going to check."

"So haul your asses!" Peacock ran ahead.

"That's one smart-mouthed project." Arselite commented before they ran after her to the front.

Back at the limo...

"The hell?!" Walker cursed.

"What happened, I was having a good nap." Spike said calmly.

They all got out of the van and saw the two in their paths "Who the freaking hell are you guys?!" Walker asked crudely.

"My, my, is that anyway to talk to a lady?" Valentine replied.

"Walker, let me handle this." Francis pushed Walker aside and coughed "Hello, mademoiselle." He said in his French accent.

"Oh, crap, not this again." Walker facepalmed.

"I guess it's better than having him kicking our asses." Stalker said.

"...That's true." Walker replied.

Valentine giggled "What a gentleman."

"Yes, better than that ruffian over there." Francis pointed to Walker with his thumb.

"Who the hell are you callin' a ruffian?!"

Kage blinked "I'm going to assume this is his usual character."

"Yep." Cerebella replied.

Krauser ignored them and looked to Spike "So this is where you ran off to."

"Eh, these guys were being too damn persistent."

"Where's Painwheel?"

Spike tilted his head towards the limo "In there."

"Good." Krauser approached the limo, but was stopped by Walker and Kage.

"Where do you think you're going, Ass Face?" Walker asked.

"To pick up a package."

"That girl?" Kage calmly asked.

"HAH, you think that thing's a girl? It's nothing more than an abomination now, and a rebellious one at that."

"I guess we can agree on somethings." Spike stated.

"Hey, she may look terrifying, but she is still a girl!" Filia yelled at the two.

"Keep your mouth shut, Meat Legs." Spike insulted.

"Meat Legs?!" Filia ran and kicked Spike in the head "You take it back!"

Spike, who lied on the ground, launched himself back up "I don't do take-backs." He turned his head towards Krauser who picked up Painwheel in the midst of the confusion "You mind taking these things off?"

Walker noticed this "Hey, put her down!"

"Not likely."

"Do it, or I'll shove that mask straight up your ass!" He threatened.

Krauser scoffed "A challenge, then? Very well." He turned his head to his nurse companion "Valentine."

Valentine approached him "What is it?"

"Take Painwheel and Porcupain back to the Labs, I have pests I need to deal with."

"Really, but I'd rather stay and fight too. These guys look fun to play with, especially the boys."

"Damn, Valentine..." Spike muttered.

"Is that so, madame?" Francis flirted.

"I don't know how I should respond to this..." Walker muttered.

"Same here, bub." Stalker replied.

"Enough of this, give the girl back. It's obvious that she doesn't enjoy being in your custody." Kage demanded.

"Well, Krauser..." Valentine asked.

"...Very well, free Porcupain."

Valentine nodded and took out her cleaver as she cut the chains surrounding Spike "Thanks, Valentine." He sprouted his spikes "And for the last goddamn time, Krauser, it's Spike."

"Doesn't matter, and I freed you so you can take Painwheel back to the Lab."

"What, leaving me out of the fun?"

"Do you honestly want to stay and fight?" Valentine asked him.

Spike retracted his claws "Heh, good point. Don't take too long." He picked up Painwheel and walked away "Let's go, freak."

"Wait!" Walker was about to after him when Krauser smacked him away "Grgh, freaking hunk o' junk."

"Hm." Krauser eyed him for awhile "You'd make a great testing subject."

"What?"

Krauser softly chuckled in a menacing way "Yes, I already have many experiments in mind to perform on you."

Walker cracked his neck "Sorry, I don't intend to be anyone's guinea pig, especially not yours."

Valentine was looking around "Now, who should I take on? How about you?" She said as she pointed to Filia.

"Huh?" Filia was somewhat caught offguard by this.

The others watched from afar "Should we help?" Cerebella asked.

"That'd be wise, but we have other matters to attend to." Kage said as he pointed to Parasoul and the others.

"Don't move." Parasoul ordered them as the Black Egrets aimed at them.

"I got this." Francis walked forward and used his French accent "Princess, I assure you, this is nothing more than a mere understanding. Perhaps we should explain over some drinks." Parasoul looked to Areselite and nodded. Arselite shifted his arm to a machine gun and aimed at Francis "So much for peaceful communication." Francis muttered.

"We were following the Skullgirl's path, and we find a couple of Medici along the way." Arselite said "I don't know if that's good or bad."

"Either way, now that we found you, you're coming with us." Parasoul said.

"Guess everyone likes the French man-OW!" Cerebella smacked Francis across the head "Was that necessary?"

"Not really, I just wanted to do it."

"You..."

"Now, will we do this the easy way, or the hard way?" Arselite threatened.

"Oh, oh, I vote hard!" Peacock said as she raised her arm.

"Uh, Patricia, this isn't exactly up to you..." Mage told her.

"It does not matter, either way." Kage said as he walked forward "It is obvious that you won't listen to our explanations. So defending ourselves is the [ath we shall take."

Francis marches forward and grabs Kage by his scarf "Don't go deciding that on your own."

"Pretty-boy, he's got a point." Cerebella reminded him.

Francis scoffs and lets go of him "Fine, guess I'll get this over with."

"Hey, what about mew?" Ms Fortune rolled up to the other three with her pieces...somehow.

"Can I trust that you won't run away?" Kage asked.

Ms Fortune pondered for a moment "Cross my heart and hope to die...which is impossible for me."

"Fine." Kage snapped his fingers and shadows sliced around the chains letting Ms Fortune reassemble her body.

"Much better." Ms Fortune went up to her temporary comrades "I would run, but I don't see a reason to pass up a chance like this."

"4-in-1 deal. Not bad." Arselite said as he put his mask on. Mage also had his hat and mask magically appear on him.

"An illusionist, I see." Kage commented on Mage.

"I'd prefer it if you called me a magician." He made his wand appear and had the blade come out.

"Very well then, Magician. Let's if your tricks can beat mine." Kage drew his short sword and took a stance.

"Hey, a putty-tat!" Peacock yelled as she pointed as Ms Fortune "Is it true that cats have nine lives?"

"Yep."

"Alright, let's see how many I can take." Peacock drew her revolver.

"Don't pet on it."

Francis and Cerebella stood side-by-side "Guess that leaves you and me with them, eh, madame?" Francis said in his accent.

Cerebella groaned "Let's just get this over with." She put Vice-Versa on her head as it expanded.

"Hm, fine." Francis pounded his fists together "As long as I get to vent out a little steam." He thought as he looked at Kage. he turned back to his opponents and entered a boxing stance "Bring it, hotshots."

"Ready, Commader?" Parasoul whipped out her pistol.

"Ready." Arselite twirled his knives and rushed forward.

Spike was casually walking on the road towards the Labs "I guess it's a good thing I got out of there. I don't wanna deal with them anymore, and I've already wasted enough of my napping time." Spike scratched his helmet "I swear, sometimes I really wish I was an only chil-" He suddenly stopped "What did I just...only child?" He tuned back to where the fights were. Suddenly he held his heads as images and voices flashed through his mind of a young Spike with a man, a woman, and a boy slightly bigger than him, all three who's faces are blurred.

"Happy Birthday, Spike."

"Happy Birthday, Son."

"Happy Birthday, Little Bro."

Spike pulled his hand away from his head and looked at it "I...I have a brother." He looked back from where he walked from "And he's over there."

Notes: Oooooh, I wonder who this mysterious brother is? Anyway, once again, major apologies for the long updates. Sometimes I get really lazy, and I usually ave to wait a few days after writing a chapter for other stories. I don't why, but it works. Once again, please review, it would help if there's some stuff I can improve on.