Chipp Zanuff had moves fast to execute the first step on his new objective. He had been given a proposition that could never be rejected: if he could successfully complete the request of the Nightless, the ninja would gain control over the Guild that he founded, and the same guild it had caused so much slaughter around the world, including the death of his master.
Of course, he would need help to achieve this mission, and this person should also be a trustworthy fighter outside the Guild, to server as his right hand was in the process of recruiting an employee for this cause, granted he had undirectly started a surprise interview with a reckless fighter for this powerful ally. Even with her disabled vision and arms,she had evolved his fighting style past these weaknesses with the use of varied tools, dirty tricks, and the way of the sword. It was Baiken, the Samurai Slasher.
Despite all of this, the shinobi was maintaining the upper hand during their fight. She was resourceful, but her current state made her erratic and predictable.
-Tch... How... Am i losing to this guy? -the Japanese questioned between gasps, as she delivered went for three consecutive slashes with her katana.
-I told you already, revenge is lame. - replied the "japanese", countering each strike with his arm blade- When you only move motivated by it, you lack connection to everything and everyone around you. If you follow that path, you will end up losing yourself as well.
He wasn't saying anything Baiken didn't already know. After getting answers for her village destruction by its perpetrator,someone so above her skill that she couldn't even harm, the ronin had been struggling for a purpose. Due to this fight, it had become clear even for her:she needed to stop.
And so, Baiken stopped her attack.
-Listen, I need you help.
-Help? -Baiken asked on confusion,as she sheathed her weapon back.
-Not for revenge, but for something greater.- Chipp stated- Why don't we use our strength for something greater?
Baiken pulled a pipe from her robes and sit down so she could ignite it.
-What to do you have in mind?
-I have an idea...but first, we'll need to go to our first mission. And how the geezer described it, we don't have much time. There is a monster on the loose…
Like summoning a shuriken, Chipp made a small dagger appear on his hand.
-And we may be the only ones that can put it down.
…
Sun was close to its rising in London,after what could have been the most dangerous night on the city after the end of the Crusaders six years ago. As a predator playing with his food, the gargoyle had spent his newly found freedom breaking havoc on sight, injuring anyone unfortunate enough to cross path wit him. Both Venom and Edwin were taken to a nearby hospital for medical aid, alongside the rest of the affected.
A small radio in the corner was quietly playing ambient music for the patients, but that discrete scene was interrupted by the steps of coming from the corridor.
-Eddie,are you here?! -the kid shouted between gasps, as he opened the door with a slam.
-Buri?! -Edwin exclaimed at the sight of his twin -How did you find me?
-I came back home and I heard you had left searching for me and a friend helped me with magic to find your location and... Oh,what happened to you?
Bridget noticed the bandage on Edwin's cheek. While both Venom and his companion hadn't received any serious injuries from their encounter , all those scars will remain permanent on their bodies. The younger twin caressed the bandage around the scar with care, but his brother softly pushed his hand away.
-Hey,it's alright,I'm fine now. Mr. Venom fought a really weird beast that was carrying a dead guy and I just so happened to get hit once, but nothing serious.
-Thank you for protecting my brother, sir. - Bridget bowed in gratitude.
-You shouldn't be thanking me. It's my fault that monster is still around.
-Are you kidding? That was awesome!-Edwin recovered the glowy stars on his eyes just by remembering-You should have seen it ,Buri. He was countering everything like it was nothing, and only lost because the shadow got out of control. He must have been a really good bodyguard.
-Really?-Bridget looked at Venom, confused- But I thought you were an entertainer like me.
-Buri, how naive can you be ? A pool hustler doesn't get into cool street fights like that.
Both answers were wrong, but Venom chose not to correct them. Edwin tried to appear more mature than his younger brother, but in the end they were both children with a lot of innocence , and the former assassin wouldn't be the one to break their young
-Bro, I'm an entertainer and I also use my tools to fight.
-Oh, sure, a couple yo-yos and a teddy bear, so terrifying.
-"I heard that" -Roger jumped to the bedside table so he could "speak" on the twin's vision range.
- I know you can, "killing machine". What I'd like to know is why only Buri and I can hear you. You don't even had a voicebox or anything.
- "And my voice is still majestic. Want me to sing you something?"
-Dear God, no, I'm still recovering.
The kids shared a laugh, and even Venom couldn't help himself but to smile. This was exactly what Bridget had missed from the village: a real talk without worries, just someone to act natural with. Even if he had made friends over these couple months, he never got the conviction to fully open to them.
Unfortunately, this lovely scene was forcibly stopped by the radio suddenly changing programs. A short jingle played before the voice of a man announced the following:
"We interrupt our daily morning repertiore to remind all listeners of the state of emengency caused by the attack of a creature of unknown origin,theorized to be a Gear. The latest reports showed this threat moving north, leaving the populated areas of London. We advise all nearby residents to stay protected on their homes and to relocate themselves out of the northern areas if possible."
-Don't even think about it. - Eddie stated,perfectly knowing his twin.- As your older brother, I tell you to stay here.
-Only by four minutes.
Losing no time, Bridget grabbed Roger with one hand and made a leap towards the open window. In the time they both the hustler and his companion to get up from their beds and look at the window, Bridget was already running uptown with his yo-yo scooter, with his stuffed animal grabbed by the nun veil. Edwin could only let a heavy sigh,watching his brother march head-on to trouble again.
-Always so reckless...
….
News had also spread about the London attacks for those interested, even with those who normally stayed outside these news. In an airship now approaching the British Isles, we could see a shirtless tanned man with giant muscles, making him more muscle than man .He was the greatest soldier for the Independant Airborne State of Zepp,Potemkin.
Next to him there was a gigantic read collar,similar to the bomb collarhe wore in his slave days like this to prevent his escape, even though now it only served as a limiter for his brute force. He was carefully listening to the details of his next mission by a conversation with his boss, the president of his nation and highest officer, Gabriel.
- Your next target is the Forbidden Beast known as Eddie. In most cases, these parasites can't survive on their own, but under unclear conditions he had overcome the need for the body of his former host, the leader of the Assassin's Guild, Zato-ONE. Multiple reports showed his current loaction on the northern outskirts of London, your current destination. Capturing this threat should be considered if possible, but if the situation requires it, you will be allowed to use lethal force.
- Even if this creature is dangerous, I don't see a reason why it should redirect us from our current war.-Potemkin stated- The head of the Post War Administration Bureau hasn't been captured yet, and that chinese woman in our last encounter called him a client and advertized her restaurant. I'm still surprised she could best me while dragging a man on her shoulders…
-We have already sent an unit to said establishment, but your current mission requires of your fantastical wouldn't have personally asked me to send my best soldier any other case.
urgency is so important, I suggest testing launching the new transportation cages so I can drop myself from a higher distance.
-Potemkin. Those cages are meant for dropping supplies on more inaccessible areas, not for human transportation.
-Fron the reports, our objective attacks any bystanders and moves unpreditctably. Approaching with the airship may alert him and could take some time to get its new ,I trust I'm durable enough to land without damage.
Gabriel reflected on Potemkin's proposal for a moment. Despite their rank difference, both men treated each other as equals. after breaking free from slavery, he had chosen to stay a soldier with the hope of building a better future for his country.
-Very well, you have my permission for your maneuver. Prepare for deployment.
As Gabriel cut communication, Potemkin stood up from the bench, grabbed the collar next to him and placed it back on. He was given a mission, and he was ready to proceed with all his will.
…
It had been surprisingly easy for Bridget to locate the beast after leaving the outskirts of London. There was a clear path of recent destruction that could only be caused by the monster he was chasing,all leading to the top of a near mountain with an observation post from the Crusades,now abandoned.
Bridget had returned to a focused look of determination,but he was starting to worry his stuffed animal, now resting between his back and the inside of the nun veil.
- "You should have listened to your brother"- Roger reprimended him.
- As if his ideas aren't even crazier than mine. Remember that time he tried to replicate you with a minirobot and went haywire on the village?
- "This is different, you're rejecting the warnings everyone is trying to give you"
- If I had thought like that I would still be in the village. But it's okay, I'll just take care of that monster,and then we'll go home with mom and dad and never leave again.
Roger jumped from Bridget's back and stood next to him so he would stop for a moment.
- "No, I know you, and Eddie knows you too. You need to think for a bit and- look back, Bridget"
- Look back? I mean, I did like the freedom I've had these months,but I…
- "No, I'm telling you, LOOK BACK !"
Roger quickly grew into a larger size to knock Bridget to the ground, right as what seemed like a large meteor flew next to them and crashed in a nearby mountain of gravel, causing some rubble. After the dust settled and Roger shook all the debris he had recieved from protecting his kid, Bridget got close to the landing point to check what had fallen from the sky. It was a large metal cube that was opened shortly after the crash, showing an imposing,but somewhat dizzy figure that he already recognized.
-Mr. Potemkin, is that you? You sure know how to make an entrance.
-I should have considered the drag created by my own weight, but it served its purpose well- the giant soldier stated as he recovered his composure. Despite the raw landing, this method of transport could still be useful in the future,granted with a more comfortable shape for the cage. – What are you doing near here? There is a dangerous creature nearby.
-Oh,I count on that. I've been following the destruction for a bit and they seem to end there.- He pointed to the top of the mountain.- I'm going after that thing.
-I cannot allow that. The beast inside there is out of reach for the average bounty hunter skills.
-It harmed my brother.- Bridget pulled one of his yo-yos and Roger grew in size even more to match Potemkin, preparing themselves for a fight. -I'm going there, whether you like it or not.
Potemkin was also getting ready for a confrontation, but he saw something different on the child's spirit: a burning gaze that showed some unstoppable inner strength and even a more mature speech. From their first encounter Potemkin respected his unique fighting abilities as more than child's play and even offered him a job as a tutor in his home country, but he could now see the emotional maturity of the yo-yo master, even at such a young age.
-Brawling now would only tire us both, and I can't see you changing your mind after it. Since we share objectives, let us fight the creature together. Try to stay on my side at all times, Mr. Bridget.
-Of course. -Bridget ordered Roger to transform back into a yo-yo and put him on his back- Then I can't walk at my normal speed, that body of yours makes you really slow.
Bridget would occasionally make blunt comments without any intented malice, even if some people could get bothered by , Potemkin took no offense by it.
-I don't overlook my natural faults,but neither should you. We both exceed at different qualities,after all.
….
During the Crusades, the Sacred Order of the Holy Knights served as the protectors of humanity against Gears. The urge of safety for populated areas ended on the creation of observations posts to quickly warn any assigned unit of any inminent Gear attack, let it be by foot or air. Of course, after with the deactivation of all Gears and the disbandment of the Holy Order in 2175, such monitoring wasn't needed anymore and most were abandoned or repurposed. One of these observation posts served as the place to rest for the Forbidden Beast, even if he didn't feel the need to "rest" anymore.
Eddie had spent the night destroying anything he pleased,and had slightly tested his newly found power as a bodyless decided to leave to a high place of observation to stop the torment for the day to consider his next move, but something had changed. Now, the beast could only reflect not just on his existence,but on those who weren't in this realm anymore.
-ANGRA, MY COMRADE. WE WERE BOTH CASTED FOR GREEDY HUMANS JUST MEANT TO BE WEAPONS. I TOOK CONTROL OVER MY MASTER AND BROKE FREE FROM ALL LIMITATIONS PUT INTO ME. I KNOW YOU HAD THE POWER TO ACHIEVED THE SAME RESULT. THEN WHY… WHY DID YOU CHOSE TO DIE WITH THE SAME WOMAN THAT USED YOU?. I… CAN'T UNDERSTAND…
- Someone without honor or respect would never understand - a deep voice coming from the entry replied.
This train of thought had to be put in hold,as he noticed the two fools that had dared to enter into an impending mayhem. He had fought the largest man before,a mere pig that protected the Gear with Free Will when he still searching for a body,while the other and much smaller human seemed familiar to one of his victims from last night.
-HUH? WEREN'T YOU WITH THAT PITIFUL DOG? YOUR NAME WAS EDDIE AS WELL…
-Don't you dare say his name.- the young man said in a cold voice.
-OH, YOU MUST BE HIS SISTER. MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE MORE OF A FIGHT? I KNOW
In a way, Bridget felt he should feel scared too, and, but he didn't. With the newfound strenght he gained these last few days,the only thing around his head at the moment… for pure hatred .
He grabbed some of his yo-yos with both hands in preparation, while the soldier next to him also took a fighting stance. Eddie let out a loud laugh, realizing their futile intentions.
-HOW COULD I FORGET? MY CONNECTION TO THIS WORLD IS THE HATE I LEAVE BEHIND. APPROACH ME ALL YOU WANT, HUMANS.I'LL MAKE YOU ALL SCARE OF THE DARK!