Akko and Diana stood on the bridge, watching as Hunter and Amanda brought the ship into the atmosphere. Zenigata, Lupin, Goemon, Jigen, and Fujiko watched as the stars faded out, leaving the cloudy, dark blue atmosphere.
Hannah was plotting the coordinates for the temple as Barbara and Constanze were checking over the blasters and weapons that the ship had. Akko and Diana made sure that everyone was well-equipped. Especially since they figured that Achyls would not give up that easily.
Amanda and Hunter flew the ship towards some marshland near Boca Raton. The ground was soft and the air was humid, but that did not bother our heroes. Neither were the mosquitoes as it bit our heroes.
Wrecker, Hannah, and Barbara were swatting the bugs away from them, cursing under their breath.
"Out of all the places, why did it have to be in a place full of humidity and bugs," Hannah complained.
"Well, think of this as a part of the Jedi trials. Patience is key," Akko said optimistically.
"I don't think that the Jedi ever thought of coming to Florida as a part of their training," Barbara said.
"Well, our situation is more unique in a way. We are explorers and adventurers," Akko said, "Similar to Indiana Jones."
"Indiana Jones?" Hunter asked, looking at Echo and Tech. They both just shrugged as they never heard of that character before.
"A movie character from the same guy who created your universe. It is pretty much about this treasure hunter and archeologist called Indiana Jones. He searches for artifacts that have some supernatural element to them and makes sure that hands of evil don't get their hands on them," Akko explained, "Actually Captain Solo looks a lot like Indy."
"Wait, Harrison Ford is in another George Lucas film?" Lupin asked.
"Yeah, I am pretty sure the movie comes out in a few years. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Did really well at the box office and the sequels also did pretty well," Akko said.
"This movie as you put it sounds very interesting," Omega asked.
"Yeah, probably after this adventure I can tell you some of the stories about him," Akko said.
The group continued their hike towards the church, as the city came into view. Walking past street corners, stores, and stands, people stared at the group as some of them were looking at Echo, who they inferred as being a cosplayer while other people stared at Lupin and Zenigata, surprised to see the gentlemen thief and the ICPO agent are working together.
The group ignored everyone's stares as they came upon the church. The church looked gigantic as it towered over the group. Everybody stared at it , taking in the beauty and the supernatural aura surrounding it.
Diana took out the book and flipped through the pages. She found the page she needed to find as Diana read it. "To those who are in search of the Staff of Light and Dark, look for where the messiah lies."
"Well, what are we waiting for let's go," Akko said.
"Wait," Diana said, "It gives us a warning here. It says, "The Staff will judge you not only by your goals, but by your character. Fail this test and you will cease to exist as your corrupt soul will be trapped in the pearl."
Everyone gulped as they realized if they do not pass this test, what will happen to them. "Well, good thing that we are doing this for good," Amanda said.
The group entered the church as they approached the altar. On the altar, stood a statue of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Omega jumped in fright as she never seen anything as brutal as a crucifixion.
"Jesus Christ," Amanda said, "The Messiah."
As they walked towards the altar, they were stopped by a priest. "May I help you, my children?" the priest asked.
"Yes, father. You see my friends here do not really know about your belief and are quite interested in learning it," Akko lied.
"What?" Wrecker asked.
"You see, my friends are not from this land. They are from somewhere far away," Akko continued.
"I see my child. Well, my children, come with me and I will teach you about our belief," the priest said as he took Wrecker by the hand and lead him to the office.
The rest of the clones followed as Hunter and Echo smiled at Akko's quick thinking.
Once the priest was out of ear shot, Akko said, "I do feel bad that I lied to a priest. But it is for the greater good."
Looking at the cross, the witches were examining it, seeing anything that might be out of place. They could not see anything different. The witches, thieves, and inspector looked around the altar. Opening up where the sacramental wine is placed, Lotte was moving the wine a bit. As she moved the wines, Lotte heard a click. The podium moved as everyone turned to see the hidden stairwell.
"Hidden Stairwell, neat," Amanda said as the girls, thieves, and inspector walked towards the stairwell.
They descended into the dark cavern, with the witches using their wands to cast a light spell. The cavern was dark and humid as the witches guided Lupin and his gang through it. They were passing through cave drawings and pictograms. Akko stopped and stared at one of the drawings. This drawing was of a figure, with a mask covering his face and black robes.
Jigen looked at what the young witch saw and asked, "Who is that?"
"Darth Nihilus, Lord of Hunger," Akko said, "He was an infamous Sith Lord during the Jedi Civil War."
Jigen gulps as he can imagine why Nihilus could be infamous.
The group continued deeper into the cavern as the witches felt the force becoming more vibrant. The witches did not know how this was happening as they searched around the caverns finding the source of the force.
"Do you guys feel that?" Hannah asked.
"No," Lupin said, confused.
"I do, it's as if something is calling out to us," Akko said.
The girls walked towards the source of the force as if they were in a trance. Lupin tried to grab Akko's arm, but the young Japanese witch slipped away from him. The girls followed the flow of the force as Lupin, Zenigata, Goemon, Jigen, and Fujiko followed them, worried.
In a hypnotic state, the witches walked further into the cavern, feeling the walls around them. Using their wands and the force, the witches lit up the entire cavern as it shimmered with the crystals. Lupin and his gang all stared in awe at the sight of the crystals as the witches picked up some of the smaller crystals off the ground.
"Kyber crystals," Akko said, in her hypnotic state, "With these crystals we are able to tune it with the force."
"Lupin, do you know how much money we can make off of this?" Fujiko asked.
"Yes, but I don't think angering the girls are a smart idea," Lupin said.
"Right, the thief is. Use these crystals for greed you must not for it can lead to death and destruction," a voice said in thin air.
The witches got out of their hypnotic state as everyone was looking around for the source of that voice. The witches laid their eyes on a small green troll-like creature.
"Master Yoda," the witches greeted with a bow.
"Trust in the force you did, brought everyone together I see," Yoda said, "Always curious to see what one must do for the power of good."
"So who are you?" Lupin asked.
"Just a friend and a guide," Yoda said.
"A friend you say. You entrust these young girls to find this book and staff for your kind?" Zenigata asked, "Why did you come after all that these girls were dealing with?"
"This was not my path to follow. Their destiny these girls discovered, know who they truly are, they do," Yoda answered.
"This was the test you mentioned," Akko said.
"Yes, my child. Rare your kind was, last of it you guys are ," Yoda said.
"We are the last of our kind?" Diana asked.
"Yes my child, corrupted Achyls is, stop she must be," Yoda said.
"But how? Akko and I barely survived our first encounter, and Lupin and his gang cannot do any harm to her," Diana asked.
"Trust in your abilities you must. Use the Staff, you must. For the staff knows your mission and understand who you girls truly are," Yoda said.
"Are we close to finding the staff?" Lotte asked.
"Know the answer you do, felt it you have," Yoda answered.
"These kyber crystals, they are guiding us to the staff?" Amanda asked.
"Understands the crystals you do, very unique for this planet," Yoda said, "Attracted to the force, the staff is. These crystals are a beacon to them. Follow where the force is alive for then you will discover the Staff and the treasure behind it."
Yoda lifted his hand as the crystals levitated around the group. Lupin, Jigen, Goemon, Fujiko, and Zenigata stared in awe as the crystals started to illuminate. The witches watched as the Jedi Master disappeared within the brightness of the crystals. Taking out their crystals, the witches used it further into the caves, to the exact location of where the staff is hidden.
As the crystals illuminated brightly with the strength of the force, the girls looked up to see a tomb filled with treasures. The thieves and inspector recognized few of these artifacts as Fujiko ran up in excitement, pushing through the witches. The witches looked on as they approached the tomb carefully. Looking through each artifact, Diana examined it carefully, seeing as some of these treasures are more outwardly.
"Something wrong, miss?" Zenigata asked.
"This right here belonged to the Wookies of Kashyyyk," Diana said as she pointed to a ritual staff she was holding, "And that club there belongs to the Tusken Raiders of Tatooine."
Amanda walked through the treasure, picking a golden bowl up. "This looks like it is from Naboo," Amanda said.
"This here belongs to the Mayans of Mesoamerica," Hannah said.
"This looks like Ancient Egyptian pottery," Barbara said.
"These Witching Guardians were explorers," Diana said, "They wanted to better understand the cultures around them, educate themselves on every being out there."
While some of the witches, Zenigata, Jigen, and Lupin admired the artifacts in the tomb, Akko walked up to a coffin. Opening it revealed a skeleton with bugs scattering about. The skeleton was in pristine condition considering the coffin was air-locked. That was until Akko opened it as the oxygen quickly deteriorated the skeleton into bones and dust.
Akko stared in horror at the quick deterioration of the skeleton. Looking around the coffin, Akko saw that the skeleton had a tight grasp of a staff with a black pearl at the top. The staff was tall as Akko noticed the material was made of a branch that she recognized was from a similar tree to the Jennifer Memorial tree at her school. Akko took the staff from the coffin and held it up in the air to all the witches, thieves, and Inspector to see.
The staff glowed a spectral glow as rays of light penetrated through the witches' hearts. The witches' eyes rolled back as they entered into a realm that none of them were familiar with. The realm was all white, with no walls, ground, or sky.
"Diana, where are we?" Hannah asked.
"I…I don't know," Diana said as she looked around the area.
"You are within the pearl of the Staff," a voice ranged out.
"Within the pearl of the Staff? Wait, does that mean we are dead?" Akko asked.
A shape appeared in front of them as a ghostly figure approached the witches. The girls gasp in realization as they see that the ghostly figure was none other than Beatrix Cavendish. The figure chuckled at Akko's question.
"Not yet, my young witch. The staff senses the good in all of you. Your goals are noble and brave," Beatrix answered.
"So why are we in the Staff then?" Hannah asked.
"You guys are the last of your kind and therefore the rightful owners of the Staff of Light and Dark. I blessed thee with the powers of the Staff and the Liber Mundrom, as not only witches nor Jedis, but as Guardians. In your time, you are considered the New Nine Old Witches. A title that I and many before had held. But now you will hold the title of Guardians as you are the first witches in a long time to travel between worlds and dimensions," Beatrix explained.
A staff then appeared in her hands as the gem on the top of the staff glowed a bright hue. Waving the staff around, Beatrix enchanted a spell. "Temporis, spatii, vitae, mortis, boni, mali, lucis, obscuri, amoris, odii. Custodes, veneficae, et Jedi eris. Omnes linguas intelligite et omnes culturas intelligite. Iam plene factus es custos veneficae," Beatrix recited.
The hue swallowed the witches in whole as Beatrix slammed the staff onto the ground. The next thing the witches knew was that they were back in the cavern, with Zenigata, Lupin, Goemon, and Jigen looking worried.
"You girls okay?" Lupin asked.
"Yeah, I think," Akko said, scratching her head.
"It looked like you girls were in a daze again, although you were mumbling some words. All of you really," Jigen said, "Some pretty freaky stuff if you asked me."
"Did the staff judge you girls?" Goemon asked.
"It has, we were bestowed with the powers it held. With the staff, we are able to do good in the galaxy," Diana said, "And put this horrific war to an end."
The witches nodded in agreement. Akko felt her communicator buzzing as she picked it up. "Hunter, what's the matter?" Akko asked.
"You guys need to come up right now, we have company," Hunter said as everyone heard blaster fired coming from the communicator before it cut off.
"Shit, Achylls had found us," Akko said, as she unholstered her blaster from her belt.
Everyone followed suit as they, with Akko, ran back towards the church.
The group ran up the hidden stairs, towards the brightly lit church. Akko saw that Wrecker and Echo were moving the benches towards the doors and windows, barricading them, while Hunter and Tech were looking out the window. The group jog towards them, hiding behind the walls.
"Where's the Father?" Akko asked.
"He took some people and went hiding somewhere," Hunter said.
"Akko, look!" Lotte said.
Akko looked outside and saw that they were completely surrounded by soldiers wearing some hooded garbs with coloring that one can describe is as black as the night and as red as the blood that flows through their body.
"Jesus Christ," Amanda muttered under her breath.
"How many you figure?" Akko asked.
"About a hundred or so," Tech answered.
"General Kagari, General Cavendish, I know you can hear me," Achyls shouted, "I know you have found the Staff. Surrender it now and you and your friends may leave in peace."
"And if we refuse?" Akko asked.
"Then you and your friends will be shown no mercy," Achyls answered.
"Yeah, I still think you are one crazy witch," Akko said, "I'd rather see you burn in hell than give you the staff."
"So be it, if you want to protect these non magical beings, you will die with them," Achyls said as she turned her back and signaled the soldiers to raise their weapons at the church.
"What's the plan, kid?" Lupin asked.
"We have to repel the attack somehow," Akko said, "Inspector, how long do you think it will take to get reinforcements here?"
"I need to find a radio, but I will say give about 20 to 30 minutes, I can get some officers here," Zenigata answered.
"I saw a communicator in the Priest's office," Echo said.
"Ok, you and Zenigata go and call 911, while the rest of us fight against Achlys' men," Akko said.
"I will go too," Goemon said, as he unsheathed his sword, "I feel that will be the best way to feed my blade."
"Ok, well, may the force be with you guys," Akko said.
"Same to you as well, General," Echo said, as he took Zenigata nad Goemon and lead them to the communicator.
Akko turned around, her blaster pistol in hand and went behind cover. "Remember, one shot, one kill. Don't waste ammo we don't have and…may the force and the nine old witches be with us," she said, taking a deep breath with the last sentence.
Pulling the trigger on her pistol, the first blaster bolt struck one of the mercenaries down, killing him in the process. The ferocious battle had begun, with bullets, red blaster bolts, and explosions whizzing past the girls and soldiers. Shouts were heard from both sides, as the church slowly got demolished. Screams were heard from down the street and sidewalks as civilians were running away from the battle.
"Akko, there are innocents caught in the crossfires!" Diana shouted over the blasterfire.
"Kuso, Amanda, you, Hannah, Lotte, Tech, and Omega go and rescue them. We will keep the soldiers occupied," Akko ordered.
"Yes ma'am," Amanda said, as she led her group towards a side door.
There, Bravo Group flanked the mercenaries, shooting at them. The mercenaries were caught by surprise as half of the group directed the firepower at the team. As the group got behind cover, Amanda said, "Ok, we have to make sure all the civilians are at a safe distance. We all are running into no man's land, so we have to make sure we save as many lives as we can. Now let's all be heroes."
Everyone nodded as Amanda, Hannah, and Tech took out a second blaster from their holsters. Entering into the fray, the group fired off their weapons, killing some of the mercs. Amanda saw a wounded man, hiding behind rubble. Running up to the man, the witch knelt down, holding her hand out.
"Come with me, if you want to live," Amanda said to the frightened man.
The man, feeling her protective aura around her, took the witch's hand and allowed her to lead him to safety. Amanda carried the man, dodging gunfire, to a safe distance. Running back behind cover, Amanda saw Lotte and Hannah helping out an older couple away from the gunfire. She also saw Tech carrying an unconscious woman, with Omega carrying a crying four year old. Amanda assumed that it was the woman's child. Amanda then landed on a young kid, ten years old the witch guess, in a fetal position crying. Getting out of cover, Amanda made a mad dash towards the kid, picking him up. Amanda then made a mad dash back behind cover then towards a safer distance.
As she was running, she felt like something has struck her leg, as blood was coming out of a to ignore the pain, Amanda pushed through, finally making it a safe distance. Putting the kid down, Amanda try to calm the kid down.
"It's okay, it's okay, everything is okay," Amanda said as she started to feel woozy, "Everything is o…k…."
Amanda fell on the floor hard. Hannah, bringing an injured man to a side of a building, saw her friend fainting. Running to her frantically, Hannah saw her friend bleeding profusely on her leg. Tearing a piece of her sleeve, Hannah made an improvise bandage for her friend. She wrapped it around her wound, as Hannah reached for her communicator.
"Akko, Amanda has been shot in the leg. She is losing a lot of blood right now," Hannah said.
Hannah heard some silence as Akko yelled in anger, cursing in Japanese. "You can't bring her back here, just in case we might be overrun," Akko said, "Let me see if Pops called in the calvary."
Akko pressed a few buttons on her communicator. "Hey Echo, have if you made it to the radio?" she asked.
Echo was firing his blaster at some of the mercenaries who were flanking their way to the left of the church. Goemon was in front of the group, using his blade to deflect some of the bullets away from the group. Zenigata was in the middle of trying to flip to the right station on the radio.
"We have made it, but we hit a little snag," Echo said, "Some of these mercenaries are trying to flank us on the left."
"Shit, Amanda got shot. She needs immediate medical attention, asap," Akko said.
"Inspector, were you able to get the communicator to work?" Echo asked.
"Working on it," Zenigata said, as he was trying to adjust the knobs on the radio.
The Inspector was happy when he heard the voice of a young woman on the other end. "911, what's your emergencey?" the young woman asked.
"This is Inspector Zenigata of Interpol needing backup at the old St. Mark's Orthodox Church. There has been a shooting, with many wounded civilians, a few of them very fatal," the Inspector announced.
"Can you describe to me the assilant, Inspector?" the operator asked.
"Not assilant, assilants, there are more than one. Mercenaries, just bring back up now!" Zenigata shouted, "Before anymore innoncent people get hurt."
"We will, eta will be about 45 minutes to an hour," the operator said.
"We don't have an hour, my team and I are having an hard enough time fending the attackers off. One of them got shot and is in critical conditon, and the others are not doing so well," the Inspector said frantically.
"There is nothing we can do sir, that is the quickest we can send a squadron of police cars to your area in urgency," the Operator said, "May God speed for you and your friends."
The radio went dead as Zenigata looked on in defeat. He turned to the cyborg clone and said, "Reinforcements are coming in about 45 minutes to an hour."
Echo nodded as he reached for his communicator and repeated what the Inspector said.
"45 minutes to an hour! We are going to be dead by then. Innoncent lives are going to be in vain," Akko shouted.
"That is the best they can do," Zenigata said.
Akko took a breath and said, "You did fine, Inspector, thank you."
She then turned to Tech and asked, "How far is the closet medbay?"
"About 30 minutes east," Tech answered as he was looking through his AR goggles.
Akko stared for a moment, tears in her eyes. "Kuso," is all she said as she reached for her communicator, "Hannah, are you still there?"
"I am," Hannah answered.
"Calvary will be a while. So here is what you have to do. You have to carry Amanda to the closests hospital, which is 30 minutes due east. You have to run, run as fast as you can. Run like hell until you reached that damn hospital and Amanda is in stable condition," Akko said.
"Yes, ma'am," Hannah said as she pick her friend up, "We are going to bring you home Amanda, one way or another."
Hannah began her long run towards the closets hospital, carrying Amanda on her back. Amanda was breathing faintly, but at least breathing which made Hannah grateful. Once they reached the hospital, she ran towards the reception.
"Help, my friend has been shot and she is in critical condition," Hannah said, tears in her eyes.
"Oh my god, what happened?" a nurse asked as she grabbed the young girl.
"There is a shooting at the church down the street. My friend was helping a young kid out of danger when she was shot in the leg!" Hannah said frantically, "She is breathing frantically. Please help."
"We will, just have a seat in the waiting room. We will make sure your friends gets all the help she needs," the nurse said as another nurse brought in a bed to lay the wounded girl on.
"Thank…thank you," Hannah said in through her tears. She then whispered, "May the force be with you Amanda."
The battle between the mercenaries and our heroes was dragging on as the mercenaries numbers was slowly dwindlling. Jigen and Lupin was diminshing their ammo steadly. The church was filled with bullet holes as Zenigata, Goemon, and Echo made it back to the church. Tech and Omega followed behind as they hid behind a wall.
"All the civilians are all out of harms way," Omega said, as she looked around, "What happened to Amanda and Hannah?"
"Amanda been shot, Hannah had to take her to the closet hospital," Akko said as she fired her pistol aimlessly.
Omega just stared in shock as did not expect one of the witches to get injured.
"We need to figure out a plan to get the hell out of here," Jigen said.
At the moment the gunfire stopped as Achylls stepped in front of the firing squad. "Witches, you and I both know that this can't go on any longer, surrender now and we will give you a quick and painless death," Achylls said.
Akko, Diana, Hunter, and Lupin looked at each other tiredly. Akko was thinking and knew that there was no end to this. Amanda was in a hospital with a bullet wound, civilains are injured, and the area has stinked with death.
"Listen, you guys, go underground and find a way to escape. I will hold them off so go," Akko said.
"What are you talking about, kid? We will not leave you here to die," Lupin said.
Akko took the staff and held it tightly in her hand. "Achylls is after the staff, not any of you guys. I will fight her off as much as I can. You guys go and retreat back towards the ship. There you must request backup, police, military, Interpol, shit even the rebels. We must not let Achylls win," Akko ordered.
"I am going to stay and fight with you, kid," Lupin said.
"I will too," Hunter said.
"I am not going to let you face Achylls alone," Diana said.
"Okay, the rest of us will request reinforcements. Good luck and may Godspeed," Zenigata said.
"And let the force be with you," Barbara said.
The group divided into two as Lupin, Diana, Akko, and Hunter prepared their final stand. The second group went underground, back towards the ship. Our four heroes checked their pockets and equipment. They had two hand grenades, one thermal detonator, one stun grenade, one shock grenade, and four or five handgun ammo.
As soon as the Bravo group was out of the church, Akko shouted, "Achylls, you still there?"
"I am still here, Ms. Kagari," Achylls answered back.
"I have a question for you," Akko said.
"Go ahead," Achylls said.
"How would you be able to use the staff if the staff has imprinted onto my friends and I? You do know that someone who has not imprinted with the staff will face a horrific consequences," Akko asked.
"I have my ways," Achylls said.
"So you don't know, gotcha," Akko said.
"I do know," Achylls answered.
"It sounds like you are pretty unsure. Tell me, why would you go to all this trouble where in the end, you will just disintegrate into fine dust," Akko said.
The witches, thief, and clone heard silence as Akko chuckled. "You know you will disintegrate right, since your mission is not a one of good, but of evil, right?" Akko asked.
There was still silence, as Akko signaled Hunter to go up onto the roof. Hunter obliged as he crawled his way towards the ladder to the roof. Lupin and Diana watched as Achylls face turned bright red with fury in her eyes. The Guardian raised her hand and violently pushed the church doors open. She walked with a furious stride as the mercenaries backed her up, aiming their weapons at the witches and thief. The witches and thief threw their weapons to the ground, raising their hands up.
"Do you know how much you annoyed me, you…you…you cockroach?" Achylls said, with venom in her voice.
"Not really no," Akko said innocently, "All I know is that you are as insane as you are deranged. You know that staff won't work without our imprint."
"Yes, but I can have you or your girlfriend here do it for me," Achylls said.
"And how do you know we will do what you tell us to do?" Diana asked.
"You will see, my love. Guards take them to my ship!" Achylls ordered as the mercenaries did as they were told.
The mercenaries pushed our heroes out of the church and towards a ship of some kind. The ship was nicely done on both the inside and out, with a huge frame to it and weapons and shields attached to it. While the guards were not paying attention, Akko activated her tracking beacon, allowing both the Bravo team and Hunter to see where the Alpha team went. Hunter watched on the roof, hidden, as General Kagari, Cavendish, and the thief got on board the ship. Hunter crept down the stairs and towards the ship. Making sure no one was watching, Hunter snuck up into the landing gears, into the cargo hold of the ship. There, he took out his blasters and prepared himself for the long fight ahead.
