A/N Phew boy… Time to figure out who to jump in with… I was going to start with Jet but then I realized nothing really interesting's gonna happen until the brawlers get to the hospital.
So instead we'll have some fun with our dear Viki and Spectra.
Chapter 56
Everything had been a whirlwind of activity and a raging hurricane of emotions surrounding Viki since they'd landed.
Shun was hurried off the airship and transferred to a gurney by the paramedics who had been waiting at the Marukura's home for them. They wheeled the unconscious ninja out of the building with the brawlers trailing behind.
Dan stayed as close to Shun as possible, and though he occasionally glanced up to make sure he didn't walk into something, his eyes were focused on his stricken friend. Marucho and Alice trailed slower after him, Marucho relaying what they knew about Shun's illness. Although, the paramedics looked extremely perplexed/disbelieving of the 'story' about Victor draining Shun's 'powers', which had Marucho and one of them locked in a heated argument as they hurried down the halls. Alice trailed a bit behind, her hands clasped together murmuring prayers to whatever caring deity chose to listen and help their friend.
With the three accompanying Shun to the ambulance, it left Viki and Runo sitting in the living room; seated on one of Marucho's plush couches.
Right across from Spectra and Gus.
Spectra was leaning onto the right arm of the couch, one hand supporting his chin as his mechanical blue eye seemed to trail over Viki and Runo. Despite the fact that he should've known that Viki didn't belong, he'd made no motion, or expression to demonstrate that he was thrown by it.
Instead he'd just sat there studying her and Runo, as Gus sipped nonchalantly from a juice box.
So the guy did have an odd love for juice boxes, huh, who'd have thunk.
Viki had struggled with summoning words for the past five minutes that they'd spent staring at each other, not saying a word. And though it was hard to tell who Spectra was looking at with his mechanical eye, she just knew, knew he was looking at her. She could feel his eyes roaming over her-
"You know," Runo cut in snapping Viki out of her thoughts. Viki flushed as she realized how close her head had been to screwing sanity, and diving into the gutter. The bluette rose from her chair. "I kinda need to go to the bathroom, so I'll like be back in a bit after I find it." She said and then left without a wave to either Viki or Spectra.
Viki turned her head craning her neck to follow the bluenette girls movements, and for the first time that she'd arrived, wishing that Runo wouldn't go. Because the last thing Viki wanted was to be alone with Spectra Phantom.
"I don't bite you know." Spectra said smoothly, voice coming from beside her, making Viki jump and look to her side to see the pyrus brawler reclining calmly in the spot where Runo had just occupied. "Although," He sat up and moved closer to her, Viki's heart beginning to drum against her ribcage. "I can make an exception… if you want me to." He purred.
Viki's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, her mouth dropping open so abruptly she thought for sure her jaw had come unhinged. For a moment her mouth opened and closed. "Uh…. That's…"
"Too forward?" Spectra asked tilting his head, before moving back. "My apologies, different planet, different customs. I understand." He said frowning slightly, before smirking. "But I couldn't help but fall under the spell of your entrancing appearance. So forgive me." He said holding up his hands in surrender.
Viki once again struggled to find words. She glanced around, anywhere but at Spectra as her brain failed to produce anything for her to say in response. The pyrus brawler seemed to merely settle himself and continue to look at her expectantly for a response.
"Um… Thank you?" She said weakly flushing and looking down at her hands. She wrung her hands as they fell into silence. As she began to fidget more and more under both Vestals gazes, Fireblick popped out of her pocket and flew onto her shoulder. He nudged her cheek gently with his plastic head in an attempt to sooth her.
Spectra's gaze turned to focus on Fireblick, "Ah so you're a pyrus brawler, a fine choice… I'm sorry what was your name again?" He said tilting his head resting his chin on his hand.
Viki swallowed. "My name's Viki Long, and this is my partner Pyrus Fireblick." She said and tried to school herself. 'Come on Viki, Jet was able to not only talk to Masky, but snark off at him too. Just channel your inner Jet… Yeah. That'll work,' She swallowed and licked her lips. "So what about you? Who do you have as a guardian?" She asked not bothering questioning Gus who looked to be enjoying his juice box far too much to want to talk.
Spectra didn't even look as Helios popped out from somewhere within Spectra's coat to perch on his shoulder, "Greetings, I am Pyrus Helios, the strongest bakugan ever. No one can stand the heat of my flames." He said.
Fireblick growled. "Big words for a new comer," He said.
"Blicky…" Viki began.
"No, I think Fireblick is right." Spectra said standing up. "If Helios were to make such a claim we should deliver clear proof of our abilities, so that there is no question."
"Wait-"
"Yes, a quick one on one fight between myself and Blicky should suffice to prove who is the stronger dragon." Helios said lifting his head.
Fireblick growled and Viki sighed rising as well pulling out her field card. "Well, I guess…"
"Oh is there something wrong?" Spectra asked tilting his head as he messed with his gauntlet. Viki briefly wondered if she should point out the odd device but had all thoughts chased away when he smirked at her. "Oh, is it maybe that the stakes aren't high enough?" He inquired.
Viki blinked. "What?"
Spectra heaved a heavy sigh as he turned away placing a hand over his eye that was already hidden by the mask. "I mean, you're used to fighting harder when you risk losing your bakugan to the Doom Dimension. And though its important to our bakugan to fight their hardest, that's not reason enough for you to put your best foot forwards."
Viki's eyes widened as she grasped Fireblick and held him tightly in her hand. "You're not taking my Fireblick!" She snapped eyes narrowing. "So you can forget betting your helios for him!" She said stepping forwards jabbing a finger at him.
Spectra frowned and held up his hands in surrender. "Whoa easy." He said, before reaching out and grasping her hand and pushing the accusing finger away from him. "I wasn't suggesting we play for bakugan, I was offering a wager, but nothing that dramatic."
Viki blinked and lowered her finger. "Oh," She flushed and looked abashed.
"Yes," Spectra said with a huff lowering his hands. "Eesh are all human females this jumpy?" He muttered.
"Sorry." Viki mumbled glancing away before she looked back at him. "But, there's a reason I really don't want to brawl right now."
Spectra studied her for a moment. "Oh and why is that?"
"Because not only is Shun badly injured, my friend Jet is also injured and lying in some hospital," Viki said looking down. "I haven't seen her since Masquerade took her." She added.
"Hmm." Spectra said rubbing his chin. "This Masquerade character seems to be quite the bad sort based on what I've heard about him."
Viki nodded. "Oh he is." She said sadly. "He takes people's bakugan and sends them to their deaths in the Doom Dimension. He sent my Fireblick, Jet's Skylord, and Marucho's Preyas there a while back. Luckily when we stormed his mansion we were able to get them back." Her expression saddened as she swallowed. "But although I escaped along with Dan and Marucho I-"
"Stop." Spectra said holding up a hand. Viki pausing to look up at him. "I understand that Masquerade is a bad sort but you cannot allow your sorrows to hold you like this." He said softly. "This is why we must brawl. I will fight you with everything I have to chase away your sorrow."
Viki blinked. "You can do that?"
"I intend to, in fact how about this for a wager? We will brawl, if you win not only will Helios concede that Fireblick is the better." Helios let out a hiss that Spectra ignored. "I will also allow you to drone on and on about your woes. I am told it is good to have someone to let out all your feelings and sorrows towards. However if I win." He leaned forwards and gently cupped Viki's cheek. The girl freezing at the older boy's touch. Spectra grinned as he tilted her chin up so that their faces were mere inches apart. "You will go on a date with me." He said.
Viki's eye's widened and her mouth dropped open. "But-I-Don't you have to-" Spectra put a finger to her lips.
"Come now time stops when we brawl, it'll only take a second in the real world." Spectra said as he stepped back with a swish of his cape like coat before he adjusted his gauntlet. It took Viki a few moments he wasn't holding her chin for her to flush and quickly lower her head to look at him. Spectra smiled coyly. "So will you brawl with me?"
Viki flushed. "Yes." She squeaked before she coughed into her hand and then gave a much clearer "Yes of course, I," She cleared her throat. "I accept your challenge Spectra Phantom."
"Good, I hope you have something nice in red for our date, although you do look tantalizing in that outfit as well." Spectra said as he activated his gauntlet.
Viki flushed beet red and hastily held up her card. "Field open!" She squeaked.
Spectra smirked. "Oh you're so mine." He said quietly before he shouted. "Gauntlet power strike! Field Open!" The card in his gauntlet glowed as light flashed all around them. The system might've been trying to decide whether to freeze time around them for their battle or to open the field. Eventually the attribute circle appeared around them and they appeared in the multicolored space with the white land extending far into the viewable horizon.
/-/
Meanwhile as Viki engaged in a brawl with Spectra that would determine far more than she realized. Poor Jet was struggling to figure out what she should do in the regards to the fate of a different masked blonde.
Jet lay in her bed, frowning her eyebrows furrowing as she looked towards Julie and Jewls who continued to gleefully discuss all the questions they would ask of their 'prisoner'.
"First thing we should do is take off the mask." Jewls said. "I mean, I have to know, is he as hot as everyone thinks or is he like disfigured or something?" She mused Julie murmuring her agreement.
Jet's stomach clenched as she glanced sideways. What would the girls say when they removed the mask from Masquerade only to find Alice beneath the façade. She closed her eyes and saw not only the two girls horror but Alice's pain and Masquerade's humiliation at having his secret unveiled in such a way.
Clenching her fists beneath the blankets Jet forced herself into sitting up without the help of the comfortable supporting pillows. She was relieved at the lack of an IV now or any other tubes sticking in her person preventing any horrible discomfort in her movements.
"Whoa! Easy Jet!" Jenny said moving forwards and resting a hand on her shoulder. Julie and Jewls turned to look at the girl.
"I need to see Masquerade." She said firmly turning herself sideways and letting her legs dangle over the edge of the bed.
"But you're still not well." Jenny protested.
Jet ignored her and pushed herself to her feet only to nearly fall over from dizziness.
"Yeah Jenny's like right." Julie added going over to Jet allowing the girl to lean against her for support as she tried to recover her bearings.
"I'm fine." Jet said through gritted teeth gently pushing Julie away as she straightened herself up and lifted her chin. "I just need to see Masquerade. Now." She said firmly.
Jenny frowned. "Well okay, we'll come with you." She said.
"I'd rather, Julie and Jewls stay here for now, for when the brawlers get here." Jet said. When the girls looked at her quizzically she went on. "I mean you did contact Dan, and he said he and the others were coming with Shun to meet up with us here. So one of us should wait for them here."
'And I need to be able to get Masquerade out of here before they show up.' She thought privately.
Jenny frowned at her while Jewls and Julie merely smiled.
"Okay, we'll join you guys when Dan and the others show up. Make sure to leave some masked blond for us." Jewls said before she and Julie went back to talking.
"I'll do my best to hold back." Jet said managing a smile before she and Jenny made their way into the hall and headed towards Masquerade's room. 'Sorry but I'm afraid Masquerade will be long gone before you guys get there.' She thought as she lifted her chin pushing away any nausea and ignoring the slight pain from her shoulder. 'Masquerade's secret won't be revealed, as long as I've got something to say about it.'
A/N Finally that's done. It was another chapter that was like pulling teeth to get out.
More build up. Honestly if I could I'd just jump ahead and go right to Masky vs Spectra fight. But I can't theres stuff that needs to be set up and built up. And I'll do my best to lighten the build up with stuff but this was just… Hard.
Also congrats to Breezyfeather! She is working on a group pic for the main OC's in this story (Tyler, Mike, Jet, Viki, Aidan, and Alica) and has shown me the preliminary picture that looks simply stunning. She intends to go back and make it better. But it is already amazing so I will award her first place in the fanart section of the contest!
Congratulation to Breezy!