AN: Fifteen chapters in and not even one review? If you people want this story to get better or something, I do need the feedback. We're getting closer and closer to the end, so is just one review really too much to ask?
People go on with their own business. They focus on what's ahead of them and just go on with their day. None of them really think about what's going on around them...or under them. Underneath the city in the sewers was actually a strange current of water. The current was actually moving on it's own, moving independently. It is rather strange, but stranger things have happened in this city. Meanwhile, Salamander and his team were on their patrol routes. At the moment, Salamander was scouting the city with Nova Ray and listen to someone's barking.
"These vigilantes think they can just come around and ruin the lives of good people! They think they can do whatever they want! These menaces even recruited the street punk known as Cobra from the Oracion Seis! I always knew they couldn't be trusted, and this is all because of Salamander! He's been a menace since day one!"
"Doesn't that jerk, Mailer, ever shut up?" Ray questioned. "I can't believe you're sending photos to that guy to use as ammunition against us?"
"It pays well, easy job, and it's a small price to pay." Salamander said. "I'm still hoping to get a good shot that will prove him wrong."
"You might need more than just a photo." Ray complained.
"Just stop worrying about him." Salamander said. That was when he heard his phone went off and saw it was a message from his girlfriend. "Lucy telling me she got another A. I knew she would."
"Things between you and her are going well? You think you're going to marry her? You two have been together for a long time." Ray teased.
"Oh... Well... I mean, she wants to get a degree with a decent job first." Salamander said, but he has thought about it. "Speaking of which, what about you and Yukino? Things good between you two?"
"Well, it's a little difficult with the new hero life." Ray said. "I hate that I have to cancel on her when there's an emergency going on, so I try to make up for it. Last time, we spent hours together and treated her to stargazing. She always liked astrology."
"Lucy likes astrology too." Salamander said. That's when a bright idea came to him. "Dude! We should so double date! Sounds like they have a few things in common! That way, the two of them will have someone to keep them company if we have to bail!" Ray thought that over for a moment.
"Love it and want to do it." Ray said as he liked the idea. Looking forward to that, they were alerted by the communicators this time. "Yeah?" He said when he answered it. "Happened again?"
...
The Airship
The team has been working on another case. There have been a series of robberies and whoever did it was skilled. They didn't leave behind anything and there were no clues that indicated who it was.
"Another lab was struck. This time, they took a bottle of magnesium chloride." Jellal said. "Added to the other two robberies, samples of phosphorus and sodium sulfur."
"And yet no money was taken from any of those places." Cobra said. "What sort of egghead robs labs and steals stuff like that?"
"A very good question, Cobra." Jellal said.
"Whoever is doing this isn't interested in money, but they need that stuff for something." Shadow said. "That could mean we're dealing with a scientist."
"That's what I've been thinking." Jellal said. "The criminal left no clues, but it looks like we caught a break this time. There was something different about this robbery."
"What would that be?" Legion question.
"This time reports are saying that there might have been more than one culprit in this latest one." Jellal said. "I took a look at the crime scene for evidence or clues...and I found this." He held out a test tube.
"A test tube? Groundbreaking." Ray mocked.
"No, airhead. I think he means what's inside." Steel said. All of them looked and saw piece of a green material.
"It's lizard skin. At least...it looks like it. It's synthetic, fake skin." Jellal said.
"Hold on. You think it's a scientist with fake lizard skin?" Salamander said as he thought that sounded familiar and soon learned why. "Oh no! Not her!"
...
The Sewers
"Yes, yes, yes! It's all coming along perfectly!" Down in the sewers was actually a lab that someone built. It was the perfect cover for...Daphne. A crazy scientist lady that has conduct experiments and contraptions that many did not approve of. One of them were robotic lizard-like soldiers that do her bidding. "It's almost in place."
"Is it?" It would seem that she's not alone either. "That machine of yours isn't as effective anymore. My body is becoming more and more unstable. I could barely keep it together and had to call your creepy lizards to help me out with the last one. Are you sure this machine of yours will solidify my body to become stable and I won't break apart so easily?"
"Not to worry. No, no, no." Daphne said. "The machine up until now has been a temporary solution, but the components you have brought me will mixed in and make your body solid and stable again."
"It better or else the last thing I'm going to do is drown you." Daphne didn't like the sound of that and could see her little friend was serious.
"Well, you don't look so good now. Maybe you should stay in the machine." Daphne said. "I only need one more piece and I can send my lizardmen to go get it."
"This better work. I'm tired of coming apart." Daphne surely didn't want that. Her friend did just what Daphne said as she entered a body-size glass capsule and Daphne caused some sort of liquid to fill it up.
"Boys! Get me the last piece I need!" Daphne ordered. "While you're at it, get me something good to eat. I've been at work at this for so long that I'm starving." Whatever it is Daphne and her mysterious partner are planning, it looks like the finishing touches are almost done.
...
That Night
While the others are off looking for their culprit, Sting and Natsu went ahead with their double date. The two of them stood outside a restaurant with them looking a little fancy. They just needed their dates to show.
"A lady scientist that talks a lot and has a thing for lizards? What kind of kooky villains live in this city?" Sting questioned.
"Daphne might be nutty, but she can be a problem." Natsu said. "She actually partnered with END for a while. I always did wonder what happened to her, but it's time to stop talking." He looked down the street and saw Lucy walking in with her looking as stunning as usual. That was when a taxi arrived and Yukino showed up. "There's my lovely lady!" He said as he hugged Lucy with Sting helping Yukino out of the car. "Lucy, I don't think you've officially met Sting and his girlfriend Yukino."
"A pleasure." Lucy said as they shook hands.
"It's nice to meet you." Yukino said.
"Natsu told me a lot about you." Sting said.
"And he's told me a bit about you." Lucy said as she winked at him with Sting wondering what that was until he glared at Natsu.
"I'll explain later." Natsu said.
"What are you all talking about?" Yukino asked since she didn't know that Natsu was Salamander.
"I'll try to explain later. Let's just go eat." Sting said. The four of them went on inside and tried to enjoy the dinner with the guys hoping they aren't called into action. Things were going rather well so far as all four of them were having a good time.
"So, how long have you been together?" Yukino asked.
"For years." Lucy said. "In fact, I lived next door to Natsu and his brother during the time I lived with my Aunt Anna. What about you two?"
"Yukino and I go way back ourselves." Sting said. "One day we went out to a club with a few friends and the two of just danced together. Ever since that happened, something in me just click and I thought I just had to be with Yukino. One of the best decisions I made."
"Only it was more adorable than how it sounded. Do you remember what happened after?" Yukino teased with Sting getting a little flustered.
"That's suppose to be just between us." Sting said with Yukino laughing. It looked like everything was going well. However, it was ruined when Natsu's and Sting's communicators were alerting them of trouble.
"Uh... Excuse me. This might be important." Natsu said as he got up from the table and went somewhere he could talk in private. "What is it?"
"Another robbery is in process. One is a lab, but another is a restaurant." Jellal said. "You and Sting are the closest, but if you're a little occupied with your dates, I can send someone else." Natsu knew he couldn't because it was the right thing to do, but it was tempting to stay.
"What the hell?!" That idea went out the window when a lot of people at the restaurant saw a lizardman run past the window with food. Sting and the girls saw it too and knew the guys would have to leave.
"No... We'll handle it." Natsu groaned and ended the call. Natsu hurried back to the table with them stunned at what they saw. "Hey, I'm really sorry. That was...my boss at Weekly Source. He needs me to get some photos of what's happening."
"Yeah, and...I'm suppose to help him out." Sting said. "I'm really sorry, Yukino. We'll be back as soon as we can. In the meantime, you two can keep each other company. Stay and enjoy dinner." He said as the two of them left some money for them and hurried out of there.
"They were right. We seem to have a few things in common, like how they both need to take off during a date." Lucy said.
"Happens to you too? What now?" Yukino questioned.
"Well, this time we don't have to eat alone." Lucy said as she planned on staying to enjoy dinner and Yukino liked the sound of that.
...
The Lizardman
The lizardman with food carried it and went on down to the sewers. Salamander and Nova Ray followed after the thing and saw where it went. They knew following it would lead them to Daphne.
"The sewers? Gross." Nova Ray complained. "I swear whoever this lady is, I'm going to make her pay for messing our double date."
"Let's go." Salamander said as the two of them dived into the sewers and chased after the thing. What neither of them knew was that someone was following them. Salamander and Nova Ray made their way through the sewers and tried to follow after that thing. The two of them treaded carefully until they could hear something. As Salamander told Nova Ray to hush, the two of them took a look and saw Daphne was right there with her little lab.
"Oh yes, yes, yes! This tastes so good!" Daphne said as she was eating some wieners. Now that they have her, the two of them made their move.
"Daphne!" Salamander called as the two of them jumped out and gave her a good scare that she nearly chocked.
"Salamander!" Daphne said. "I would say that it is nice to see you, but it usually isn't for me. You and your nosey friend here should know better than to sneak around at my little lab. What is up with that?"
"Is she seriously asking that?" Nova Ray questioned.
"Whatever it is you're up to..." Salamander stopped when he saw what it is she has been working on and couldn't believe who was in there. "Is that...Juvia?!" He questioned, but took a good look at her. "No... That's Lady Aqua, isn't it?! Just what are you up to this time, you whacky scientist?!"
"Lady Aqua? Remind me on what villain that is." Nova said.
"Lady Aqua was once Juvia Lockser, but she was cured of her powers." Salamander said. "However, the crazy scientist before us was able to make a clone of her called Lady Aqua. Every time I think I'm rid of her, she keeps coming back. So what is all of this?"
"Well, it would seem the trace DNA I have of the girl that makes Lady Aqua is starting to...expire. It's not becoming a valuable source anymore." Daphne said. "That's also a problem for Lady Aqua. She is beginning to break apart and the molecular structure is becoming unstable. That's why I had her and my lizards steal the components I need to help make her body stable and she will remain in one piece."
"The components that were stolen... They're the same stuff found in the human body!" Nova Ray said as he got it.
"That's also why we couldn't find anything before. Lady Aqua can turn her body into water and just easily slip through places." Salamander said.
"Right, right, right!" Daphne said. "Now that I have a final piece, it's all set!" She said as she activated her machine and the capsule inside Lady Aqua was filling and changing color to help solidify her body. "And now you're too late!"
"We'll see about that!" Salamander said as he charged right at her to attack, but that was when a series of Daphne's lizards got in the way.
"What is it with her and these things?" Nova Ray questioned.
"Don't know, don't care!" Salamander said as he had a flaming fist and smashed it right in one's head and knocked it off. "Remember that they're mechanical! They're still a type of machine! Hold nothing back!"
"Sweet!" Nova Ray said as he fought back and shot at a couple. One tried jumping at him, but he blasted it and blew it to pieces. One tried slashing at Salamander, but he avoided each attack and kicked it right in the head. The two of them kept attacking those things and beat them rather easily.
"You need to get better toys, Daphne." Salamander said with her getting a little scared.
"Well, we just might make it back to our dates after all." Nova Ray claimed.
"Hold on! Time out! Are you two really going to attack an unarmed lovely lady like me?!" Daphne said.
"Uh... Yes." Nova Ray said as he held out his hand to fight another shot.
"Lady Aqua! Time to get up! You're suppose to be my bodyguard!" Daphne called, but Lady Aqua looked like she was in a deep sleep. Nova Ray was about to shoot, but then he was surprised by getting kicked in the back. Salamander looked and he was surprised to see Zero was there.
"Zero?! What are you doing here?!" Salamander questioned.
"I found someone that I think might be able to use." Zero said. "That means I need you and your little friend out of the way." Zero swung his arm and knocked Salamander out of his way. Nova Ray tried to get back up and tried blasting Zero, but he ducked down. He grabbed a hold of Ray by the arm and threw him into the wall. Salamander got back up and tried to hit him, but Zero deflected his arm and drove his fist right into the gut and knocked the wind right out of him. He tossed aside Salamander and turned to Daphne.
"You came here for me? Thank you, flattered, but I'm actually a little scared of you." Daphne said.
"Not you." Zero said as he knocked her out of the way as well. The one he really wanted was Lady Aqua. What he did was actually take the contraption she was in and was able to pull it right out of the wall. "This one has great power and intrigues me."
"Hold it..." Salamander said as he got back up to try and stop him. He was going to keep attacking until a flock of ravens came out of nowhere and tried attacking him. Salamander tried to shake them away, but they soon left on their own and Zero was gone with Lady Aqua.
"Urgh... My head... What happened?" Ray questioned.
"It was Zero. He just took Lady Aqua. Those ravens had to have been Dark Raven." Salamander said. "We might have gotten Daphne, but he took the more dangerous villain. This is bad."
...
Zero
Zero succeeded in taking another villain. Once he was away from the heroes, he put the case down and opened it up like there was no problem to worry about. As soon as he did that, Lady Aqua began to wake up and stood up from it.
"What is this? What's going on?" Lady Aqua questioned. "Who are you?"
"Me? I could be your new little friend." Zero said, but his new friend could be a serious nightmare for Salamander and the others.
...
The Restaurant
"That was weird." Sting said. After making sure Daphne went to jail, they had the others be aware of Zero and are trying to find him now. That meant that the two of them could get back to their dates. "What do you think Zero is planning? He now has Dark Raven, possibly Fall, and now he just took Lady Aqua."
"No clue." Natsu said. "Either way, we're going to get him. We just need to be able to stop him. Right now, I'm a little more worried about our girlfriends and hoping they're not upset with us."
"Quick, do I smell like sewer?" Sting asked, but Natsu was not sniffing him. Both of them made it back and were surprised to see their girlfriends still there and were rather happy with how they were smiling laughing.
"Hey! Look who made it back!" Lucy said.
"Are you two okay? You've been gone for a while." Yukino said.
"Yeah. Sorry about that. It looks like this double date was a good idea. You two seem to be having a lot of fun." Natsu said.
"It certainly was. Yukino told me some very amusing "stories" about Sting." Lucy said.
"As did Lucy about Natsu." Yukino said with both of them laughing. The way they were acting had both of them feel a little anxious now.
"Why do I suddenly feel nervous about this?" Natsu questioned.
"What have we done?" Sting questioned as it seemed like they made their own powerful force that would be used against them.
