Chapter 11: Fight As One
He never hated his phone more than at that moment.
It was pressed up against his ear so tightly that the heat from the internal battery was right up against it.
The team was quiet, concerned as they watched him pace up and down the command center. The moment he had been allowed to leave the Med Bay, he grabbed it to call Mila.
"I should've done it." Sparx whispered to Nova as they watched Chiro walk by them, once more. "I was just so worried I-'
"It's not your fault." Nova whispered back. "Who could've predicted this?"
Chiro closed his eyes, listening to the ringing.
This wasn't normal.
"You got Mila!" Her voice cheerfully called out as the phone went to voicemail. "Sorry if you missed me, leave me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!"
He let out a frustrated growl as he pulled the phone away, hanging up before dialing again.
This wasn't right.
His heart sank with each ring.
"Maybe her phone is dead?" Otto suggested. "She might've forgotten to charge it."
Chiro shook his head.
"No, that never happens. She hasn't forgotten to charge it in seven years…" His voice cracked a little. "Mila, please, just pick it up…"
His breath hitched in his throat.
Was this what he put her through?
His heart sank as he thought back to that first night.
How she was crying, running through the outskirts, looking for him.
The way she looked at him like he might disappear again.
I'm so sorry…
I'm so sorry, Mila…
Please, just pick up the phone…
Please…
"Please…" He pleaded. "Please…"
"You got Mila-!"
Chiro let out a frustrated yell, throwing his phone towards the wall opposite to him.
Antauri winced, stopping its momentum seconds before it slammed into the wall.
The boy ran both his hands through his hair, shaking his head.
"Something's wrong. I can feel it. She'd never do this… She's NEVER like this. NEVER!"
Chiro looked up, his eyes glassy.
"I… I need to go. I need to go home!"
"We get that." Nova got up. "Let us go too, make sure she's alright."
"Yes and perhaps, if it is a mechanical error, we can at least provide an alternate method to reach her." Gibson offered. "It would be much more effective than that."
Chiro nodded, starting for his own elevator.
Sparx grabbed his arm, before he could.
"Hey, it's gonna be okay."
"I… I hope so…"
oooooo
Chiro yelped as he tried to hold on for dear life.
When the monkeys said they'd go along too, he didn't expect them to use their rocket packs to carry him.
Shuggazoom was so far down below, his heart leaped into his throat.
Maybe if he was the one in control of his ascent he'd have enjoyed it but the only thing his mind kept conjuring up was how fast he'd become one with the pavement if someone slipped or lost their grip.
"There." He pointed out the store, the second he saw it.
"Hang on!"
The second his feet hit the pavement, he was rushing for the door, stopping short.
The door to the shop was made up of a large glass pane door with the logo for "Hanamura Botanicals" etched into it, with flowers and leaves surrounding it.
It was completely shattered now, the pieces crunching under his feet.
Chiro's breath hitched in his throat as he started to run inside, only to be pulled away.
"Hey!"
Antauri squeezed his arm.
"We go in together."
Chiro bit his lip before nodding, reluctantly allowing them to go ahead of him as he followed suit…
The inside of the shop was worse.
Chiro's heart nearly stopped as he turned around slowly.
All around him, flowers in vases and display cases were dead. Shriveled up, dried, or decayed as they drooped or covered the floor.
The glass on the display cases were gone. He couldn't tell which was the door, the cases or the dozens of broken pots and vases at this point.
All he could think about was how did it get this bad so fast?
He was only gone for a few hours!
It was so quiet. The only noise being from the glass under their feet as they ventured further inside.
Sparx looked down, his eyes widening as his stomach lurched.
There were bloody handprints on the floor.
He nudged Gibson quietly, pointing to it.
Gibson frowned, nudging Chiro along before he could get a good look at it.
"Mila!" He called, hurrying towards the backroom, brushing him away. "Mila! Come on, this isn't funny!"
Nova hurried after him, her hands transforming at the ready.
This wasn't right.
"Mila… Where are you…" His breath hitched, swallowing hard. "Sis, come on…"
She wasn't anywhere… The backroom was dark, the lightbulbs shattered. He opened the secondary door to the greenhouse…
And was hit instantly with a wave of nausea.
Something had been here.
He could barely see anything.
"What… What happened here?" He nearly tripped over a fallen shelving unit. "How did it get this bad?"
"Chiro… I don't think she's here…"
"Then where?" He turned around. "We had security systems, why didn't they go off!? Why didn't the cops show up!? If it got broken into… If…" His eyes widened.
What if she got hurt?
What if someone…
No…
In the main area of the store, Antauri wandered around, trying to get some sort of impression…
He closed his eyes, reaching out with his senses…
His hand brushed against the wall…
It took a moment… before he saw it clearly.
Mila's panicked breathing and her screams.
"AUGH!"
Her head slammed into the wall as the pain surged through his own head as she slid down to the floor.
He could taste copper in his mouth.
There was a darker presence all around him.
"No… Please…"
The phone started ringing.
"Antauri."
He snapped out of it, looking over at Sparx.
He was pointing to the wall he had been touching.
A smear of blood decorated the wall high above them.
"What'd you see?" He narrowed his eyes. "Relate back to this?"
"She was thrown up there…" He rubbed the back of his head. "She's injured but I didn't…" He frowned. "Her life didn't end here. She's still very much alive, she's just… gone."
"Missing… Likely taken by whoever did this." Gibson noted. "However, judging from all of this… She fought. She didn't go down without creating a problem for whomever abducted her."
Otto's tail curled up around him, wrapping his arms around himself.
He hated finding scenes like this.
Give him an enemy to fight, or someone to rescue, that was easier… It wasn't easy by any means, but it was better than getting there after…
"Sis!?"
Chiro's voice echoed through the building. They caught a glimpse of him as he bolted up the stairs towards the apartment.
The door was still locked.
He took a deep breath before digging through his pockets for his house key.
"Chiro!"
"Hey!"
Antauri motioned for silence, following him up the stairs, keeping quiet.
Chiro fumbled for the keys as they dropped to the floor with a quiet clatter.
The boy stared down at them before he let out a yell, kicking the door as hard as he could.
BANG!
Antauri grimaced, taking a step backwards.
"Chiro…" He took his hand. "She isn't here. Going in there won't solve anything. Look around you."
Chiro followed Antauri's gaze down the staircase.
The glass was everywhere but the stairs or the stairwell.
"She… She never made it up here… Did she?"
"No… An ability I possess allows me to sense what happens at a scene after the fact… I saw your sister." Antauri furrowed his brow. "She fought. She fought with everything she had… but she didn't perish here."
Chiro let out a long sigh, running his hands through his hair.
"She's not…" His voice cracked as he swallowed hard, trying to keep it together. "She's not…"
"No. She's alive."
"Then… Then I need to find her. We need to-" Chiro started rushing down the stairs. "We need to get a move on, get back to base… Otto! Can you track her translator!?"
"I… I can try-"
All around them the temperature dropped rapidly, turning their breath to vapor.
Outside, an army of engines roared to life,as the streets filled with a sickly green fog.
The team's fur stood on edge as they got into position.
"We ran out of time." Sparx muttered. "Great…"
Otto took a shaky breath, to steady himself.
"We don't have time for this." Gibson growled.
Through the windows, motorcycles whirred by, all manned by soldiers made of sickly green bone, their bodies made up of black ooze given shape. Their bikes were made up of the same bone.
Foot soldiers lumbered after them, their arms transforming into massive weapons as the citizens in the streets screamed.
Chiro's chest clenched as his blood ran cold.
The fog settled at their feet.
He looked around, feeling around gingerly…
His hands came around a wooden handle, lifting it up.
It was the old broom his sister had insisted on keeping around. The brush had been broken off, revealing the long nail at the end.
"She fought like Hell." He murmured. "My turn."
With that, the HyperForce ran out into the streets of Shuggazoom, weapons at the ready.
The formless horde was all around them, flooding the streets…
Yet…
The focus wasn't on the citizens.
For the team, flashes of battles long past echoed through their minds. Of formless that happily chased and attacked the public.
For them to be patiently waiting… watching them as they moved into the street.
It was unsettling.
It was quiet…
It was so quiet.
"Is this normal?" Chiro asked, brandishing his weapon.
"Absolutely not!" Gibson scoffed.
The fog grew thicker, blinding them momentarily before it began to swirl,as a harsh wind blew through the area.
Shadows began to swirl up around them as the fog formed a portal on the ground.
The monkeys pushed Chiro behind them.
"Something's coming!"
"Get ready!"
A form floated up from the portal…
A woman, in a long flowing black gown, her skin a sickly gray, her hair hanging around her waist, tangled and disheveled. She smiled as she floated above the team.
"Hello, Simians…" She sneered, her eyes glowing brightly.
"And who are YOU supposed to be!?" Nova growled. "I think I'd have remembered you!"
The woman's smile grew, holding her head up high.
"I am known as Valina, the Skull Witch." She explained, snapping her fingers as all around them, the formless got into position.
Some revved up their engines in preparation for the charge.
Others, larger more lumbering masses, readied their weapons.
"Tch…" Chiro narrowed his eyes. "I don't have time to deal with this."
"Oh?" Valina laughed. "Like you didn't have time to be home?"
A chill went up his spine, as his heart sank.
No…
Please don't tell me…
Please…
"Let's play a little game! The Skeleton King wants to see what he can do… If you can get to me, you get a prize!" She grinned wickedly.
"And what kind of prize would we want from you!?" Sparx growled.
Valina smiled, snapping her fingers.
The portal glowed as twisted thorny vines made of shadows appeared, pulling something up towards it.
Her head broke through first, tilted forward… a head of dark black hair, that as the tendrils traveled up revealed a woman in a long denim vest, a black t-shirt with a crescent moon on it and dark tights… Her clothing was shredded. Her body was covered in cuts and bruises.
Her black combat boots were caked in red.
Their blood ran cold as it hit them what they were looking at.
"MILA!" Chiro cried out.
Mila was unconscious, her arms tied above her head as Valina pulled her head backwards so they could get a good look at her face.
A trail of blood ran down the front of her face and the corners of her mouth, mixing with the red lipstick she always wore. Her piercings on the left side of her head were missing, the other side barely hanging on.
"You can have this pathetic husk of a human back." Valina looked down at her. "She put up quite a fight, the naughty little thing. If she would've just been cooperative, I wouldn't have had to break her."
Chiro's eyes stung, as he looked up at his sister.
"No…"
"LEAVE THE GIRL OUT OF THIS!" Antauri called out. "She has nothing to do with this!"
The others exchanged a concerned gaze.
This was an entirely different situation now.
We have a hostage…
An army…
And a kid who has a broomstick…
Sparx narrowed his eyes.
This isn't going to be an easy fight by any means.
Valina chuckled, raising an eyebrow.
"You're adorable, if you think I'm going to give up my one bargaining chip." Valina snapped her fingers
Mila was raised higher until she was right beside Valina, her legs swinging idly.
Her head fell forward again, as her hair shielded her face.
"The rules of the game are simple… Survive and get the girl back, or die trying. Good luck!"
With that, Valina soared upwards, her shadowy vines, dragging Mila along like a puppet on her strings.
Chiro's heart raced in his chest, as a low growl built in his throat, the grip on his weapon tightening.
"Battle…" She snapped her fingers. "BEGIN!"
All around them, the formless lunged forward.
"GET DOWN!" Nova grabbed Chiro, pulling him away as one slammed its massive blade into the ground where he had just been standing.
His sneakers slid on the pavement as he tried to get his footing anew.
"That's it!" She growled, lunging upwards, bringing both of her fists together.
It had been far too long.
She thrust her hands downward, focusing as a jolt of energy coursed through her.
"LADY TOMAHAWK!"
The ground shook and rumbled under the sheer force, making the formless stumble as rubble shot forward, piercing through their bodies. They imploded moments later.
She smirked, the warm energy coursing through her hands… an all too familiar feeling swelling in her chest.
Chiro's eyes were wide, looking at the carnage before him and back at Nova.
"That was… AMAZING! Nova, how did you do that!?"
"Oh trust me, we'll teach you all this and more-AT YOUR BACK!"
Chiro whirled around, using the broomstick to block an attack as the formless forced him backwards, making him bump into Nova.
She wrapped her tail around his waist.
"Don't be mad!"
"Huh-"
Nova flung him upward.
Chiro yelped as he soared above the fight before he got an idea.
Think back to that moment…
"HYAH!"
He rolled into the momentum as he descended back down towards the fight. He reared his arm back, throwing the broomstick, nail-end first.
"TAKE THAT!"
SHING!
SPLAT!
He rolled into the landing, popping back up on his feet.
"Got ya! How do you like that!?" He looked up at Valina with a glare. "Not so tough are you!?"
A shadow loomed over him.
The others were too busy with their own foes to realize it.
Chiro picked up his weapon, thrusting it forward as the formless' arm came down…
It pierced its chest just as its arm transformed into a massive mallet, striking Chiro HARD as it flung him far away from it.
The boy cried out as he was sent flying back, right into the brick wall behind him, his head bouncing off of it with a CRACK!
"AUGH!"
He was dazed as he slid downward, red decorating the wall where his head had collided.
Holy Shuggazoom did that HURT.
"CHIRO!"
Otto and Gibson exchanged a look, growling building in their throats.
Otto's hands transformed into whirling green saws, his eyes taking on a green glow as he began to spin.
The wind picked up around him as it became swirling green energy.
"WHIRLING DESTRUCTO SAWS!"
He disappeared as a green whirlwind appeared instead, the blades hidden within it as he flew forwards, shredding through the foe before him.
Gibson rushed over to Chiro's side, getting in front of him, his drills drawn at the ready.
"Are you okay?"
He groaned, his head in his hand, as a headache bloomed in the back of his head. He felt it as it came away damp.
"No."
Otto's whirlwind blew by them again as enemies loomed overhead.
"I GOT YOUR BACKS!"
Gibson heaved a sigh of relief before hurrying over to Chiro, examining his head.
He grimaced, noting a rather large cut on his head.
"Hold still. This is going to sting a bit."
"Huh-"
He focused as a green gel shot out of his drill, landing on the injury.
"Yowch!" Chiro yelped, trying to move back. "Gibson, knock it off, I need to fight-"
In a moment it faded away, as did the injury. He rubbed the back of his head.
"Whoa…"
"Only for superficial cuts, anything worse we'd need more." Gibson confirmed, before pushing him away as he thrust his other arm forward, the drill whirring.
Right into the center of a Formless Sentry. It exploded as they ducked to avoid the debris.
"I get the feeling she's trying to get us with numbers." Chiro muttered.
"The odds are high. Formless aren't usually pushovers like this… What's her plan?"
Chiro looked up, his heart sinking as he focused on Valina and Mila.
"Do you think we'll get her back?" He asked, his voice shaky, as he got back to his feet.
His body screamed at him to rest, even for a second longer but he was already grabbing up his weapon.
Gibson narrowed his eyes.
"We're going to do everything we can."
Chiro nodded, looking around him.
Wave after wave flooded the streets with bone and black ooze… skulls, with soulless eyes that stared right into his very core.
His heart skipped a beat.
This isn't like the Sun Riders…
He swallowed hard.
This is real…
"What are we gonna do…?"
Gibson got in front of him as Otto hurried over as well so Chiro was between them.
"We're going to keep you safe so you can save your sister." Otto promised. "Just count on us."
He smiled a little.
"You guys…"
"Now, time for some impromptu lessons."
"Really?"
"No time like the present!" Otto grinned.
"AAAAHHHH!"
He quickly pulled Chiro lower as Sparx flew over their heads.
Sparx activated his rocket pack, keeping afloat, panting as he aimed his magnets.
"HEY, ANTAURI, HOW ABOUT DON'T DO THAT AGAIN!?" He yelled across the battlefield. "I ALMOST WENT THROUGH THAT WINDOW!"
Antauri growled, barely dodging a blade aimed at his head.
"Sparx, save the frivolity for later!"
Sparx scrunched up his nose.
"He calls THROWING ME frivolity! Can you hear this guy?"
Nova pulled him down by his tail as a blast of fire rained down from above them.
They looked up, seeing Valina had aimed her fingertip right at them.
"Sparx, I'll kick his butt later for you. Deal?"
He grinned.
"A lady fighting for her man, I like it!"
Nova rolled her eyes, before throwing a punch.
"DUCK!"
He ducked down as Nova knocked the head off the formless above them.
He stared at it, swallowing hard.
"Yeah, that was kinda hot."
"Thanks, Maverick." She smirked.
Sparx sputtered.
"DON'T YOU DARE START USING THAT!"
"Sorry, can't be helped-At your back!"
Sparx cried out as a blade slashed through his jacket, grazing him, as he stumbled to the side.
"Augh…" He gripped his side.
Nova hurried to steady him.
"You okay?"
Sparx grimaced.
"Just… really pissed off."
All around the two, static built up in the air making their fur stand on end, as it gathered around Sparx.
He pointed one hand upward as it transformed into a magnet, a glowing orb of pure electricity formed within.
"MAGNO BALL BLAZER!" He cried out as it shot forward.
Antauri flew upwards as it barely missed him, right through several formless at once.
"Sparx, are you alright?"
"Go and kick that witch's butt got it?"
He nodded, looking up at Valina.
There was one chance he had.
But if I get this wrong…
Chiro looked up, spotting Antauri.
He followed his gaze to where he was looking…
Just in time to see Valina grab Mila's hair, turning her head down towards the fight.
"Can't you see? They're taking their sweet time! Seems they don't want you back. Who could blame them?" She sneered. "It's not like she's useful to your plight! A weak human girl…"
Chiro growled.
"SHUT UP!"
Antauri narrowed his eyes.
"Do I have permission?"
Chiro nodded, pointing at Valina with his weapon.
"TAKE THE SHOT!"
Antauri nodded, flying right at Valina as energy coursed through his body.
A warmth built up through his chest to his throat.
He took a deep breath.
"MONKEY MIND SCREAM!"
His voice faded into a haunting wail as a massive wave of energy built up with the sound shot forward, its siren song flying right for them.
Valina sneered.
"Not too fast."
She swung her hand to the side…
Bringing Mila right in front of her.
The team's blood ran cold.
"NO!"
The attack hit as Mila's body was stunned, twitching as she let out a loud scream, her senses returning to her anew.
"AAAAAAAUUUGH!"
No…
Guilt surged through Antauri.
This was what he had been afraid of.
It didn't hurt any less to watch it happen.
No… A mistake…
Chiro gasped.
"MILA!"
His blood ran cold.
His sister was looking down at them, wide awake now.
Her body twitched as she tried to get control of it again.
"So you are useful." Valina grabbed her hair, forcing her head back.
Mila cried out.
"LEGGO! PUT ME DOWN!"
Valina leaned in close.
"I guess the wrong ones died that night!"
Chiro growled, his eyes taking on a bright green hue.
His heart was racing, he was seeing red…
It was one thing to attack him.
It was another to put his sister in harm's way and say that.
"I said…"
He threw aside his weapon.
"SHUT UP!"
There was a warmth that flooded his system as energy began to surge around him in a net.
In an instant, it enveloped him in a bright green light.
He was laying on the ground, cold but his sister was there. She was leaning over him..
Why was she crying?
"Ichi! Oh thank Goddess!" She screamed, sobbing as she hugged him tightly. "You're alive… Oh thank Goddess…"
She's always worried about me…
It was like he was free falling.
"What do you want to protect?" A voice echoed in his ear…
It was so familiar and yet so distant…
But he knew his answer.
"There's only one thing I want to protect…"
His clothing changed in an instant. His t-shirt and jeans shifted into a white uniform, with navy buttons, his hands becoming covered by dark blue gloves, with orange accents. A belt with the HyperForce's emblem snapped around his waist, as his hair became messier, falling into his eyes.
A green glow overcame his eyes as the energy formed around his face, taking the shape of a mask with orange stripes.
He dropped downwards as the energy around him faded as he landed, the last of it becoming a long orange scarf that he wrapped around his neck.
Valina's eyes widened in horror.
"NO!"
My Lord said his powers weren't active…
He was just a weak human!
Mila's eyes widened as she realized what she was looking at.
"Ichi.." She mumbled.
This is real…
A small grin came to her face, tears coming to her eyes.
He did it… He really did it!
"THAT'S MY BOY!"
The HyperForce was stunned as they looked at Chiro, pride swelling up in their chests.
They dropped into offensive stances, all around him.
"On your signal Chiro." Antauri looked up at him. "And I'm sorry."
"No need. She played dirty." He grabbed up the broomstick off the ground.
He focused as electricity crackled around it.
He spun it above his head as the broomstick was transformed in a burst of light, a long blade replacing the nail as the broom itself became a long orange and white staff.
"HYPERFORCE! GO!"
