Chapter Forty-Five
"Hmupmh nermpf mutrumphs." Everyone turned and looked at the three prisoners and saw that Habiki was getting riled up. Lucy walked over from where she'd been looking out at the world and knelt beside him. He was eyeing her calmly.
"I'm going to remove the cloth from your mouth but remember; you may use whatever powers you have on me; but getting through everyone behind me; and those coming; isn't likely." He nodded and she reached out and carefully untied the cloth and pulled it out of his mouth. "And if you annoy me; it's going back in."
"Noted." Habiki murmured and cleared his throat. "I was trying to say; that something is coming. My barrier alarm is going off on my wrist."
"Any idea to know what direction it's coming in from?" She asked and he shook his head.
"Not without access to Eve's power."
"Eve's power?" Mirajean asked crossing her arms in distrust.
"He has a power called 'Archival Magic'. We incorporated it into the security system. So no-one could hack it."
"Because it's Eve. Short of brainwashing him; you can't make him do what he doesn't want to do." Lucy guessed and Habiki nodded. She leaned over and Gray grabbed her arm.
"We'll go look."
"Do you really think splitting up; if there is a chance that disturbance was Mard Geer, is the right choice?"
"Gah…" Gray reached over and grabbed Eve by the shoulders and shook him until he came to. Lucy stood up and kicked Gray, sending him flying into the wall.
"Stop being a punk!" She shouted and knelt back down and pulled the cloth out of Eve's mouth. "Sorry about Gray. I don't think he got the best nap when he laid down earlier."
"It's fine. What's going on?" Eve asked and looked over and saw Ren still unconscious beside him and then to the unmuffled Habiki.
"My barrier alarm went off on my wrist."
"Untie me. I promise to only pull up the barrier information." He said looking at Lucy with unease in his eyes.
"Okay. Okay. Calm down." She tugged on the ropes but they didn't budge. She pulled his arms up and pulled his arms as far apart as he could given being tied up. "Don't move."
He watched as she stood up and stepped back a few feet before uncoiling her whip. He closed his eyes and turned his head away but kept his arms where she'd placed them. She rolled her wrist a few times then snapped the whip forward. Within a second the ropes fell to the ground.
"That was impressive." Habiki gawked and Eve opened his eyes. He had no scratch or injury. He watched as Lucy recoiled her whip.
"Barrier alarm." She said and he nodded and threw his hands out in front of him. Lights appeared and they all saw what looked like a digital readout appeared in the air in front of him.
"There was something that passed through the quisk quarter."
"The what?" Levy and Lisanna asked in confusion. Habiki pointed backwards with his arms.
"West." Lucy said and but her lip. "Any idea what?"
"Possibly Shadowcrawlers. I still haven't figured out how to identify them when they're in their shadow stealth mode." Eve said and moved his handing a counterclockwise motion. "It looks like there were two or more of whatever it was."
"Could it be Natsu and Wendy's Magi-Hovers?" Gajeel asked and got up and walked over to the entrance.
"No. Magi-Hovers have a frequency that Habiki wouldn't have identified on his alarm band." Even said and moved his hands over the floating keyboard.
"Let's not get too worked up. It might not be anything." Lucy said and crossed her fingers. Lisanna wrapped an arm around her.
"Lucy's right. Until we know what it is; there is no need to panic."
"But if it was Mard Geer…"
"The reading would have been higher. I've only seen him with a bunch of militants. Why would he be with just one or two others?"
"Secret mission?" Bixlow suggested and shrugged. Freed crossed and uncrossed his arms.
"I'm messaging Laxus." He turned and walked to the far end fo the room. Mirajean nodded and she looked at Gray.
"Message Elfman and Evergreen to be on the look out, please?"
"Will do." Gray said and pulled his comms out and walked over to a quiet spot to do so. Levy put the book Bixlow had given her in the pack on her back and she looked up at Gajeel. He patted her shoulder and she nodded.
Lucy crossed her arms over her chest and raised her right hand to her mouth and nibbled on the nail of her thumb. She prayed that the creatures from the hardware store hadn't come this way. She wouldn't be able to protect them. If she tried she knew everyone here would tie her up; send her to the guild station as mentally corrupted, and then kill them. She could still see the way they had tried to comfort each other and it broke her heart thinking they were the things that had been picked up on the alarm.
"Lucy?" Levy's voice pulled her from her thoughts and she forced a smile. Levy walked over and rubbed her back. "I'm sure Natsu and Wendy are safe."
"Thanks Levy." Lucy said and patted her hand. She took a deep breath and walked back over to Eve. He looked up at her and pointed at the screen and she squinted.
"Three…there's three definitive heat signatures." She whispered and felt some relief wash through her.
"Yeah. They're signatures are similar to draconics but different at the same time."
"They're hybrids." Lucy said and everyone looked at her as it got deathly still in the room. "Laxus mentioned seeing two types dwelling together. It makes sense Mard Geer would try inter-breeding them."
"Oh shit." Levy swore and kicked some ruble and shook her head. Gajeel dropped his head back on his shoulders and growled.
"I never even considered that a possibility." Habiki shook his head. "He hasn't altered them in millennia. Why would he now?"
"Because our planet…our people…didn't fall." Lucy said slowly. "We proved that his creations weren't all powerful. He's trying to make something to bring down humanity."
"I've never wished the government was still around so much before." Mirajean said as she shivered.
"Yeah their weaponry and scientists would totally be useful right now." Her sister agreed but Lucy shook her head.
"Now isn't the time to worry about what we don't have. We need to speed up the rescues and retrievals." She bit her lip then looked over. "Bixlow; notify General Makarov. Tell him that I'll speak with Laxus and Natsu once they get here. They need to prepare the guild station."
"On it." He said and saluted and pulled out his comms. She turned to Levy and Gajeel.
"I need you two to head out now. Continue on your original mission; but if you pick up humans on your scanners; get them to the guild station."
"What? No…We need to…"
"Hybrids change things." Lucy said and put her hands on Levy's shoulders. "Trust me. Please."
"Alright. Let's go Levy." Gajeel said grabbing her by the arm and leading her to the hole in the wall. Levy looked back over her shoulder at her friend and felt tears welling up in her eyes. Lucy's face was stern, lines between her brows and her lips thin. Her stance rigid.
"Habiki, I'm going to free you. You wake up Ren. Get in touch with your General. We're going to need to notify the rest of the Alliance and I want to make sure that word gets to Erza and her convoy to Solarium."
"Whatever you say." He held his arms up and her whip cracked. As the whip's crack echoed; Levy felt Gajeel pick her up and she was about to scold him when he jumped.
"I hate when you do that!" She shouted as they touched down on the street. He chortled and set her on the ground. "I didn't get a chance to say goodbye."
"Lucy knows ya care. Don't fret about it." He said.
"What's going on here?" Natsu, Loke and Wendy took in the room. Lights had been formed by Freed's magic and Habiki, Ren and Eve had set up a small command center. On a large wall they were projecting the street some distance away. Evergreen and Elfman were talking with Bixlow in the corner while Lisanna and Mirajean were talking with Laxus in the opposite corner. Lucy was standing at the command center desk and was speaking into a comm device.
"Natsu!" Gray bounded over from where he'd been listening to Freed relay the information from the Guild Station. "It's a long story. But we have problems. Three big ones."
"What now?" Loke asked wearily and followed Gray over to the wall. The screen shifted and all three newcomers gasped. Their gasps pulled the attention of the others who had recently arrived and their muttered voices echoed the gasps.
"What are those?" Laxus demanded and pulled away from Mira who was shaking as she pulled her sister close.
"Hybrid draconics." Ren muttered and flipped his hair out of his eyes. "They're crazy. They've been trying to kill the insects on the street."
"And they like turning the ruins to rubble." Gray added bitterly. Sure enough, as if they knew he'd mentioned it; two of the hybrids unleashed attacks on two deserted vehicles and when they were done; they were smashed and melted almost flat.
"What's that reddish stuff they're spitting?"
"Lucy thinks it's acid." Lisanna whimpered and then pulled away from her sister. "A result of mixing Fireshooter flames and the poison all of them carry."
"Oh that is disheartening." Elfman shook his head.
"Eve, have you deployed the drones?" Lucy asked, pulling attention back to her. The shorter blond nodded and then the drones appeared in the frame of the video being broadcast. "Good, circle them. I want to try and get them to attack the drones."
"Why?" Eve asked surprised.
"I want to know if that acid can damage the metal of the drones. They're the same metal as the Magi-Hovers. Right now the known draconic claws and poison only cause mild damage."
"Oh…" Habiki nodded and nudged Eve who moved the drones forward. They started circling like flies. Soon the hybrids were irritated and started trying to bring them down by tail and claw. None of which caused anything to happen. Eve dropped the drones down and the smallest hybrid reared back and spat. The acid hit the drone and the others pulled back and they watched with bated breath.
"Oh no." Wendy murmured. Sure enough the acid was melting the drone's exterior shell.
"Fuck." Laxus spat out and Lucy nodded in agreement.
"Eve, are the audio components picking anything up?"
"Just growls."
"Only growls?" Lucy asked and he nodded. She looked over at Natsu, and he saw her expression change. "Where's Happy?"
"He's in my Magi-Hover." Wendy said softly and Lucy's gaze slid to her. "He was hurt badly but he's been healed. He's just resting."
"Alfie?" Lucy called out and Natsu jerked when Alfie's voice came out of the command center.
"Yes Lucy?"
"When Happy wakes up; send the audio recordings to him please. Tell him I want to know if they have developed a language. Please and thank you."
"Of course." Alfie hummed and Lucy turned back to the screen.
"Oh no." They turned their attention back and watched as a trio of dogs ran across the street; scared from their hiding spots when the hybrids had started trying to get to the last two drones. She turned away as the yips echoed. Eve turned the volume down and apologized.
"Its an unfortunate part of life." Lucy said and turned back. "Pull the remaining drones back. Make sure to lose the hybrids before they return here."
"Of course." Eve said and Lucy tapped on the comms and started to speak. Habiki walked over to Natsu and grabbed his shoulder. Natsu looked at him. He'd met Habiki once before and respected him; but he was unsure of why he was there or why he was grabbing his shoulder.
"Your growlkin is intimidating, magnetic and also gentle. You are lucky."
"I know." Natsu relaxed a bit and looked at Lucy. He'd felt her roller coaster of emotions as he'd been on his way to the location after the message to met had gone out. But now it all made sense. As well as the overarching calmness that had settled over the other emotions. She had become resolute in her actions over her emotions. "Where's Lug Nuts and Levy?"
"Lucy sent them on their mission. She wants Gray to head out soon to continue on with his as well."
"She's barking orders and people are jumping?" Laxus asked and everyone nodded and he looked around. "I think I might be losing my title soon."
"I don't want anything to do with titles. Thanks." Lucy said waving him off and he shook his head despite himself. She signed off of the comms and turned to look at him. "And I need you to decide what Bixlow, Freed and Evergreen are going to do. Their original mission is now on hold."
"It is?" Ren looked up surprised and her eyes narrowed on him and he immediately looked away. Natsu noticed how the air had changed and he looked at Habiki.
"What was their original mission?"
"Helping us get back to Blue Pegasus." He glossed over the truth and Natsu saw Lucy roll her eyes as she turned back to the command center.
"Try the whole truth." He lit his right fist and held it up.
"General Bob was encouraged by the other generals to get Lucy and run tests on her. When he refused they threatened him and the guild. We offered to come down and collect her; if they promised to leave him alone." Habiki stated slowly and closed his eyes as he waited for the blow to come. After a few moments, when nothing happened; he opened his eyes. Natsu's fist was lowered and the flames extinguished.
"I would have done the same for Gramps…but I bet Lucy made you regret that decision." He said when Habiki was looking at him with his mouth open. Natsu moved around him and wrapped his arms around Lucy's waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. Lucy rested her forehead on his and they stood there in silence for a few moments.
"Incoming transmission from a Fairy Tail ship." Eve announced and both Lucy and Natsu rolled their heads and looked at the screen.
"Hello beautiful!" Ren gasped and Gray punched the back of his head. Erza raised an eyebrow on screen and her eyes moved around.
"You holding a party and forget to inform me?" She finally asked and Lucy shrugged and grinned.
"You know while the cats away the mice will play."
"Are we the cats or the mice?" Habiki asked Laxus who shrugged.
"How should I know…I don't know what a mice is."
"Mouse is the singular term." Erza grinned again and held her hand up. "Small little rodent that cats on Earth like to hunt and eat."
"Ahhh… I still don't get it." Bixlow frowned.
"Lucy just meant that since authority, me; is gone than everyone else will do as they please."
"Ahh…that makes a lot of sense." Bixlow nodded and he grinned, unfurling his long tongue. "Lucy's also been taking command. So your role may be in jeopardy."
"Again, I'm not interested in roles or whatever." Lucy shook her head and pulled free of Natsu, but grabbed his hand. "What's up Zaza?"
"We're nearing Solarium and found a straggler." She reached out of frame and when she leaned back in, she was holding Romeo up.
"Romeo!" Wendy gasped and the lizard-esque boy's scales shifted to a darker hue.
"I wanted to know if I should notify General Makarov or just lock him in a closet?"
"Both…both options sound good." Lucy said and Romeo's eyes widened. He looked up at Erza.
"Please don't lock me in a closet! I came because I can help."
"We're going to a planet of giants. You barely reach my waist…what are you going to do?" Erza asked and he crossed his arms.
"Not my fault your super tall." He pouted and Lucy's lips quirked at the edges. Natsu chuckled softly.
"I'll notify Gramps. And Romeo's father." Natsu offered and looked at the young boy. "But don't lock him in a closet. Last time he was trapped in a tight spot he caused a fire and nearly burnt down the station."
"Then what do we do with him? It's not like this is a ship on earth; there's no chores for him to do as punishment."
"Why do we need to dole out punishments?" Romeo asked and Bixlow, Gray and Laxus chuckled at the kid's outrage.
"Because you snuck on board a ship that is trying to hold a diplomatic venture without authorization and could have potentially gotten hurt or worse."
"You don't have to look at the dark side of things." He said and held up a hand and a small flame appeared. "The light side is better to look on."
"Name one good thing of you being on this ship." Erza challenged and he got quiet and screwed up his little face. "That's what I thought. What am I going to do with you?"
"Where are Rouge and Sting? Make them keep watch over him. With their Dragis sense of smell they should have realized he was on board sooner than now." Lucy suggested and Laxus threw his head back laughing hard. Erza's face shifted into a grin and she turned, screaming out the names of the two younger Dragis. Romeo started thrashing as she headed away before the message closed down.
"Oh I would love to know how that ends." Evergreen said with a grin.
"Not well for anyone but Erza." Gray shuddered and shook his head. He looked over at Lucy. "Did you have to give her that specific power that only adds to her threatening aura?"
"I didn't even know I had powers to share!" She shouted and started to march over to him but Natsu wrapped his arm around her waist and spun her around and smiled down at her and snapped.
"Fang snapping isn't going to save Gray." She said; but then snapped back and he snapped again. She shook her head, a smile on her lips. She snapped again and then head butted him, gently. He let go to grab his head and she side stepped and made a beeline for Gray. The darker Dragis was trying to get away but Freed, Ren, Habiki and Bixlow were blocking his way.
"You traitors! Damn you all to hell." He snarled and Lucy grabbed his ear and twisted. He howled in pain and followed as she dragged him away from everyone else and started giving him a tongue lashing. Laxus crossed his arms as he laughed and shook his head.
"She's a power all her own. Isn't she?" Mirajean asked as she watched the younger girl give the larger than her male a piece of her mind.
"That she is. I thought that even before realizing she was half Zodiacrian." He admitted and looked down at her. She had her bottom lip between her teeth and a frown line between her brows. He reached out and pressed his forefinger into the line and didn't remove his finger until it went away. When she looked up at him in confusion he shrugged. Lisanna slid over and started humming something that made her flush bright pink.
"Luce?"
"Shut up Natsu!" Mirajean yelled and turned on him as he laughed and dodged her. Eve, Habiki and Ren shared a look at there was a sudden light feeling in the air. As if the chaos and danger had been erased.
"I heard General Bob once say where Fairy Tail goes so does light; but I didn't think he meant it like this." Ren said as Wendy tried to get between Mirajean and Natsu but was picked up by Elfman and carried out of the way.
"Tell me about it." Eve looked at them and then at the screen. He sighed. And suddenly the laughter faded away. He looked back and saw everyone looking at the screen. "I didn't mean…"
"No. It's not you." Lucy said and stepped forward. "This world…this life…it always pulls the joy away. But; we'll always find it again."
"Perfectly said." Natsu said and nuzzled her head. She slapped at him and walked over to the command center.
"Where are the drones?"
"Lushee!" Happy tackled Lucy as she straightened from looking at something with Eve and Habiki. Her arms immediately wrapped around him and she smiled down at him.
"Happy! Are you feeling okay? Wendy and Loke filled me in on what you did."
"Yes…but I'm hungry."
"Well we can't have that." She shook her head and walked over to where rations had been left out for people to pick at as needed. She found one that was marked with a symbol she knew he'd appreciate. "How about some fish?"
"Yay!" He happily started to much on the fish she handed to him. She sat down and looked over at Mirajean.
"Mira, do you think you can help with something?"
"What Lucy?" She asked. Laxus, Freed and Bixlow were out doing a sweep of the neighborhood because of the fear of the hybrids. Evergreen was sitting with Lisanna and Elfman while Eve showed them something on a screen.
"I overheard some militants; before everything went down with the Blue Pegasus trio."
"What did you hear?" Mira's eyes widened drastically.
"That Mard Geer is telling militants and others that the draconics were sent here by Fairy Tail." Happy's mouth fell open and his eyes widened. Mirajean's face paled and she lifted a hand to her mouth. "With the hybrids; things are going to get trickier. Can you try to find survivors; and convince them that the Guild isn't the enemy?"
"Of course." She stood up. "I'll get with Freed as soon as he gets back and…"
"I was thinking…" Lucy took a deep breath and looked at the girl. "That it might be better if you, Lisanna and Elfman went…"
"Alone?" Mirajean asked softly.
"Unfortunately the Thunder Legion are all otherworldly. Trying to convince people that the Guild is friendly might be harder with them around."
"I guess that makes sense." She swallowed and looked over at her siblings. If she had been asked to go by herself she definitely would have. But bringing her siblings along too; scared her. Even with all of their training; she didn't want to put them in harms way. But she also couldn't put out of her mind that Lucy asking her something meant she had thought it over a lot.
"May I interrupt?" Habiki asked and the trio looked up.
"We pass for people from this planet at first glance, do we not?" He asked and the two women shared a look and then they nodded. "What if one of us went along?"
"Laxus said once we got the hybrids taken care of; you all needed to return to your guild."
"I know that's what he said." Habiki sighed and put his hands on the table. He turned and looked at Lucy with deep sincerity in his eyes. "But I need to make amends for how we met…why we came here."
"Risking your life isn't needed. You all have helped with the reconnaissance efforts."
"Please…let me ask them at least." Habiki asked and Lucy looked at Mirajean who nodded at her.
"He'll ask his two…and I'll ask my siblings." Mira turned and walked over to them, the weight in her stomach heavy.
"Hey…can I talk to my siblings for a moment?" She asked and tilted her head. Eve nodded and Evergreen watched the trio of siblings walk away and into the office for privacy. She crossed her arms over her chest and watched as Ren and Eve joined Habiki in a quiet discussion. Natsu, Gray and Loke were talking to Wendy about something. She got up and looked around. She saw Lucy cuddling Happy and frowned as she crossed her arms. She stalked over.
"What's going on?"
"Just a question I asked Mira." Lucy deflected and scratched Happy's head until he purred around the fish in his mouth.
"I don't buy it. Try again." Evergreen put her hands on her hips.
"It doesn't concern you, so don't worry." Lucy said and looked up at her, and Evergreen took a step back. There was a bright glint in Lucy's eyes; and she felt power rolling off of her. Laxus had warned her that Zodiacrians were unbelievably strong; but she didn't believe it. But right in that moment, she did. She'd thought everything going on around Lucy had been just pomp and circumstance; due to the rarity of her kind. Sure the Zodiac Guards were powerful but she hadn't realized that it truly was matched by the power Lucy held.
"Fine." She turned and returned to her seat and sat down. But she kept an eye on the Strauss siblings. When they came out; they all looked somber. Elfman's frame was hunched; which she had learned meant he was not happy. Mira nodded at Lucy and Habiki lifted his head and nodded as well. Evergreen discretely pulled out her comm device and sent a message to Laxus warning him that Lucy was up to something involving the six people in question. She'd let him deal with Lucy. While he respected her; she also knew that he had a soft spot for the siblings—especially Mirajean.
An alarm went off, making Lucy jump off of the table, tucking Happy under her arm as she neared the control system. Eve was beside her quickly as was Natsu.
"The hybrids just broke through the first two defenses!"
"Where?" Gray asked and started to stretch.
"To the north east." Lucy said and highlighted the location on the screen. They looked at the screen with bated breath.
"They're through the third barrier and aren't slowing down." Eve swore and Lucy set Happy down. She turned and looked at Natsu who nodded and pulled her close. Everyone watched as he kissed her; hard and fast before turning and running towards the opening and then jumping out. Gray and Wendy shared a confused look before Gray followed his lead to the outside world. Loke walked over and looked at Lucy.
"You are here on your own accord; do what you want." Lucy said before he could open his mouth. "You may be a Zodiac Guard; but until you trust me; I won't ask you to fight at my request."
"Good to know." He said and flashed out of sight. She took a deep breath and shook her head.
"Ren, Habiki, get to your stations. We need to slow down the hybrids." Eve called out. The trio situated themselves around the controls and Lucy stepped back and then turned to Happy.
"Did Alfie show you the recordings?"
"Yes…but the growls were just growls." He said and looked up at her.
"I was afraid of that." She said and looked back at the screen.
"Lucy?" Laxus asked as he appeared at the entrace and she sighed.
"Mard Geer's improved his monstrosities. Taken away even less of their ability to think; turning them into even drastically more dangerous creatures. Mutating and manipulating them. Making them as close to brainless as possible while maintaining control over them."
"But your question to Happy?" Evergreen asked and Lucy shrugged.
"If they developed a language then there might be a chance to get them to stop fighting for Mard Geer…" She shrugged and they all nodded.
"Natsu has reached them." Eve called out and Lucy bit her lip as he appeared on the screen. The draconic-hybrids spotted him quickly and spat acid at him. He leapt and rolled out of the way, swinging his feet at them; his fire surprising them. He jumped up and ran, jumping high and bringing down his Dragon Wing attack. While it wounded them; it didn't kill any of them.
"They're tougher than usual ones too." Bixlow swore and cupped Lisanna's shoulder as she shuddered.
"Gray's there!" Wendy cried spotting him coming down on a Snow Ape made of ice. Again, his attack wounded but didn't kill.
"Eve!" Habiki called out and the smaller blonde nodded.
"Archive Magic!" He shouted and light engulfed him as his fingers flew over a keyboard of light.
"Archive Magic?" Lucy asked and Freed nodded.
"It allows someone to store infinite knowledge."
"Oooo." She wondered how that would help in this instance. Suddenly Natsu and Gray started to glow and they attacked. These attacks were different. More powerful than before. As the flame and ice settled around the street; the hybrids lay motionless on the ground. Eve gasped as the light faded. Lucy braced him as he started to sway on his feet.
"Thanks." He moaned and shook his head. "I've never had to reach out that far to transfer knowledge."
"You shouldn't have pushed that hard." She scolded carefully. He shook his head but didn't respond. She looked back at the screen. Natsu and Gray had approached carefully and were scanning the creatures. No signs of life. She let out the breath she'd been holding.
"That's good news for once today." Elfman muttered and everyone nodded. Something on the screen caught Lucy's eye.
"Natsu!" She screamed, hating that her warning wouldn't reach him as she watched a surprise hybrid leap out at him.