~Raze's Journey;Director's Cut Chapter 18~
~Sitting Around;Sifting Through Memories~
He heard a faint sigh, "Brother…" He raises his hand toward the sound, but it becomes more distorted as he gets closer, "Bro! Ther!" He saw her hand, but the distance between him and her had exponentially grown, "KEN!" She shouted as her hand was pulled under.
Ken's eyes widened as a scream erupted from his throat, "KIRA!" But he sounded hoarse, looking around for something to drink. The boy saw nothing but barren wastelands surrounding him. The world seemed to grow taller as he noticeably sunk into the ground. Gritting his teeth as tears budded, he began to get dragged down by the sand beneath.
Trying to grasp for anything, he struggled as another scream turned into a cry, "SISTER! PLEASE!" Ken's hands were bloody once more as he scraped them raw on the sand, "NO! HELP ME!" The sand covered him, making his cries muffled and the world turned to black.
Two angular eyes lit up the darkness as Ken saw the face of Xeno. The machine rushed toward the young saiyan. Ken braced himself, but nothing happened and as he opened his eyes he saw his sister hanging limply from the robot's remaining limb, "KIRA! NO!" His sadness turned to a mindless rage as he ripped out of the sand, intent to murder this monster. Instead of managing to do anything, Ken flew straight through, unable to do much more but watch as her body was let go of. It crumpled to the floor.
"AGH!" Ken screamed gripping his head and scraping his hair out, enduring this torture as another eye gleamed in the distance. He turned to see Sushig looking over him. A disappointed look graced his face.
"MAKE IT STOP! GO AWAY!" He exclaimed as the two surrounded him.
Ken awoke with a gasp of shock and in a cold sweat. Literally flipping off the top of the bed. Landing on the floor, he rolled until His back hit the wall. Ken held his head in pain as the nightmare replayed in his head. He shook a little until Time-Turner walked in.
"Oh? You're awake? Good. I made a spot of tea." He said, moving the tray over with his cane before setting it down on the table next to the bed.
Ken picked himself up and arched his eyes in disbelief, "Do you not remember what happened?" He asked Time-Turner who nodded.
"Of course I remember. It'd be too hard to forget. Trunks beat you very easily." Time-Turner looked over his tea set while Ken blushed in embarrassment, "It was quite the sight." He finished, swiping his hand over the tea set, urging Ken to get some.
Ken was tempted by the drink, but he shook his head quickly enough, "What about Kira and Raze?!" He pointed at the old man who just chuckled, "H- Hey! Don't laugh! I need to know what happened. I've gotta protect them!" He exclaimed indignantly, but he was waved off by Time-Turner.
"Even if you wanted to protect them…" He dropped a few sugarcubes in his glass, "They're far out of your reach. Best thing to do for now, is to sit back and wait." He poured the tea water over the sugar and began to mix it up.
Ken relaxed his stance and walked over to get some tea for himself, "What about that guy with the sword?" He asked, pouring the tea over a tiny bit of sugar.
Time-Turner rolled his eyes, "I already gave him some tea." After saying that, Ken gave him a look of disbelief to which Time-Turner sighed, "Oh, don't you criticize me for that. This could have gone much worse. I'm glad Chronoa sent him of all people." He said chidingly.
Ken backed down, sipping his tea, "So, we really are just sitting and waiting?" He wanted to truly confirm that and Time-Turner nodded.
"We don't have any choice, boy. So, how did it feel to get chopped by a god?" He asked the half saiyan who reached for the back of his own neck. Rubbing the spot, Ken grimaced.
"Not that good. Also, god? Metaphorically, right?" Ken asked to which he earned a chuckle from the old man.
"No, quite literally. Don't think too hard about it." Time-Turner smirked before continuing, "Honestly, I was considered a god in my prime too. Not in power per se, but in the acts I've committed." Turning away from the child he added, "It's not that I'm proud of them… Some people just can't take an answer when it's directly in front of them and they just need a little push." He remembered his darkest day, recalling the favors he called in. Now, that was a rush.
His hands trembled with the cup, making the tea inside ripple. The endorphin rush of remembrance took hold while Ken witnessed this. He backed up slightly, Time-Turner returned to the forefront of his mind in that second. His eyes widened, "Sorry. It's hard not to…" He scratched his beard, trying to find the words before pointing upward with his index finger, "Hard not to feel some sort of trepidation from that time period." He finished as Ken nervously nodded.
"I see?" Ken said before taking another sip of tea. His thoughts were all over the place at this moment, hoping to see that Raze would return with his sister in tow safely.
~Kiryu and Rekas~
Kiryu fiddled with the controls of the ship, it shifted forward, side to side, and even backwards at times. Rekas looked on in amazement, knowing he wouldn't be able to do any of this himself. Though, something was bothering the yellow bird as he pondered on the idea. Kiryu grunted in frustration as the bothersome movements got to him.
"Ummm… Sir? Are you sure that you indubitably know how to move this ship?" He asked the boy who shifted a glare over his shoulder.
"It's been a while since I was on a flight simulator. Give me some time." He said through gritted teeth as the ship lurched forward sending Rekas smacking into the wall.
That little bit of slapstick made Kiryu grin as Rekas picked himself up, "You truly are quite the jester." He said as Kiryu grinned.
"Maybe you should learn to fly properly. Chi control is only a lesson away, Old Bird." He said mockingly as Rekas rolled his eyes.
Shaking his head, Rekas's thoughts ran wild, 'Is everyone of them going to be like this? First Brass, then this kid? So much for trying to help people…' Oh, who was he kidding? Rekas would help anyone in need. He had been there when the Mistress opened the orphanage after all. She meant the world to him.
'What would she do in this situation?' Of course he wouldn't get that answer as the ship began to fly into the sky and in the right direction which was a bonus!
This fanfare would be followed by an excited gasp, "Got it!" Then another smack would be heard directly below them.
"Ow! That hurt!" Cloud shouted from the ladder. His head sporting a new bump on it thanks to Kiryu's flight "skills".
"You'll grow into it!" Kiryu shouted back to his buddy who he felt scowl even from down below.
Rekas sighed, "Well? Are we going or what?" He asked Kiryu who scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Oh… Which way?" Kiryu asked him to which Rekas facepalmed.
"My bad sir… Let me give you a feather." Rekas said as Kiryu frowned.
"You mean a hand?" He asked the bird again.
"Same difference. Different day." Rekas pointed in the direction they needed to go.
Pushing forward on the controls, Kiryu threw the ship forward. Below, the grass spread out beneath them sending various bugs flying out from their perch. Still, it was making progress regardless.
"Yes, just keep going this way and we'll make it in a decent amount of time." Rekas said jovially, pointing in a north-west direction.
~In the med room~
Rubbing his head and walking back to the healing pod, Cloud cursed to himself while continuing to watch over Brass, 'Man, he really took a beating. He should be glad that whoever did this must've held back… He would have died.' He thought, staring at the different bubbles messing about.
Cloud felt a chill down his spine. Seeing these injuries on Brass had quite the effect on him. Closing his eyes, he turned away, 'Man… Just how long ago was this?' A memory would surface from the depths of the boy's mind. One that made him hate himself from the darkest pits of his soul.
As it came into residual consciousness, the young Saiyan looked at a man who was strapped to many different machines. He wasn't confused, but Cloud was frightened.
"I'm sorry." The woman said, tears in her eyes to the younger looking Cloud.
"Father…" He uttered as the woman reached for him, but he wouldn't allow a comforting touch. Shrugging her off, the young child got closer to the bed as reality began to set in. Having only been brought here a few minutes beforehand. He was already sure why this had happened. Being left in a separate room and being told sweet nothings about how it would all be ok. That meant nothing to the boy.
The woman could only listen and see, "I'm sorry, Father! It's my fault!" He'd been silent for days on end. Barely eating and wanting nothing more than to see his parents. Yet, he'd already known his mother wouldn't see him for she never would be able to again. The woman standing next to him would raise a hand to her mouth in shock, but he wouldn't stop because he had gotten one of his final wishes. He could recount the tale to the only person who would ever hear him.
The fight was his fault, that much he knew, "I'm a horrible son! I got you into this!" He indicated the machines that barely kept his father in the world of the living. His own expression was falling by the second as he went into detail.
~Just a week ago~
Cloud watched as three men played poker around the table, "Looks fishy to me… Are you telling me that two guys will show up and pay for this kid?" One of the younger men asked, fiddling with his cards anxiously.
"Yeah. It's a wondrous prospect. Who knew child trafficking was such a lucrative business?" The other at the table said with a chuckle, looking particularly confident in himself.
"Eh… I don't think we should have bothered. That kid was such a loud mouth though…" The third man trailed off, not looking so confident and still trying to hide his cards by placing them all facedown on the table.
Looking up at the other two, the third looked a little frustrated, "We should probably kill him and get it over with." He said as the second man shook his head.
"Why in the hell would we do that, Plakert? Give up free money for something so worthless? Hell, I don't think this kid has anyone looking for him." He turned to Cloud who turned away, staying silent, "Shit, he doesn't even speak anymore. I guess the beating we gave him was worth as much as his pride. Heh." He snickered at the little child.
"I guess that is a good observation of things as they are, Halberd. I'm just suggesting an idea that keeps prying eyes from looking into missing youths." He said, gritting his teeth at the first man, "Besides, it was Yuto's idea after all. What did you say those two names were again?" He asked Yuto who wouldn't stop fiddling with his cards.
"Don't care… Nobody insults me and gets away with it. I don't care how old or young… I'll put them in their place." Yuto said, glaring at Plakert.
Halberd grinned, "Perhaps you should focus on putting in place a poker face." He put a stack of chips forward, "Bet on those Sushig and Tisho fellas to be here any moment to alleviate us of our problem child as it were." He finished, shifting his grin into a smirk as he awaited the other two to make a move.
Cloud grunted in pain, softly though to avoid attention. Blood dripped down the side of his face and his leg was completely mangled. Still, he tried to resist giving them more to say about him. His eyes were filled with fear yet his mind was staying calm in the face of pain. His dad had told him to stay courageous in the face of all odds, but Cloud overstepped his bounds this time. This group of three had insulted his father's livelihood.
He was part of the local police force on the planet he lived on. At least, one of the cities on said planet anyway. He had once served in the military in the events that happened about seven years prior. A man that was admired especially by his son. Cloud, having heard these insults, decided to open his mouth and he had been alone to pay the ultimate price. He hoped his Dad would save him, but hearing these monster's speak. It just broke his spirit more than anything.
Gritting his teeth, he avoided looking up at the three as they threw their cards on the table, "HA! I knew it! You two are so bad at this game!" Halberd said, raking in the chips while the other two shook their heads in disbelief.
"I swear you're just cheating us." Yuto said, looking over the deck of cards as Halberd shrugged.
"Don't hate the player, hate the game. You're just bad at it." He said, hoping to earn some more scowls and of course he did.
Plakert's scowl was more pronounced, "Sure… Alright. How much longer do you think they'll take? This is honestly killing me." He took a look at the kid, "Well, not more than it's hurting him, but still." He brushed his hand as a knock on the door was heard.
"Not checking it." Halberd said as Yuto confirmed as much, making Plakert sigh.
"Alright… Alright. I got it. This better be them though." Right as he opened the door, the wall next to it collapsed. Plakert was slammed in the face by a strong right hook. The force of which sent him plummeting through the wall immediately opposite of him.
"I see! You've got my kid, right?" Said the big hulking man, who'd just laid waste to Plakert with no problem.
Halberd lifted his arm, pointing lazily with the back of his thumb toward the on death's door looking body of a child sitting in a cage, "Yeah, he's barely still here. You must be Longstrong! The pathetic officer we spoke about recently. I've been wanting to see you and-" He had no time to continue as Longstrong jumped him without restraint. Yuto reacted quickly and Longstrong stopped as one of his fingers was cut off. Leaping backward, the officer gripped his hand.
Yuto frowned, "Smart. You would definitely have died there. How did you track us down?" He asked Longstrong who wrapped up the finger to prevent the bleeding.
"You left an entire alleyway of evidence. Cloud! Are you okay?!" He asked his son who was unable to answer as he was more than likely going into shock from his injuries. Longstrong's eyes widened, "I'll break you guys in half, I won't let you walk ever again." He yelled as Halberd stood up.
Halberd grunted, "Sure… I was about to say the same." He walked toward Longstrong, "Let's settle this old man. Then I can feel better about selling your child when we're done." Yuto watched Halberd from a short distance.
"Be careful, Halberd. We may have underestimated our "Dear Friend" here." Yuto said, frowning once a loud crack was heard to the side.
"HEY! The fuck was that about?!" Plakert roared, his aura blazing up as particles of dust and dirt filled the air, "Halberd, let's just kill him!" He shouted to his friend who nodded in agreement.
Longstrong grinned, "Let's go then! Show me a good time!"
That fight wasn't something worth reliving for the boy, Cloud had probably hidden it from himself deep within his subconscious. The aftermath would stick with him though. Three dead bodies lay in the road. Buildings had been torn apart in the resulting battle. Craters and residual energy sparked across the area. One child, battered and broken, crawled to the fourth body, Longstrong's was riddled with holes and large slash wounds. Yet, he'd picked up the victory.
"Father… Fa-" In that moment, Cloud had fallen out while his Father was long gone. Hand in hand, Father to Son. That's how they had ended up here. Cloud had been able to be thrown in a healing pod, but his father was unable to be resuscitated due to the shape he was in beforehand. Longstrong had only recovered to a point where he was stuck in a coma. Then it happened. Two weeks would pass.
Cloud had been told to leave the hospital and that it was so they could do some tests on his father. He respectfully agreed with a nod, taking one look at his father before going not realizing it would be his last time. Now, sitting on a bench outside, he waited for one of the doctors to come out and let him know to return. A sound of footsteps were drawing toward Cloud who turned to see two strange looking individuals. One looked angered by something while the other seemed rather passive.
They held a device up, looking at it and then back to him. Cloud was confused, who were these individuals? He clutched the paper in his hands. A story about the incident that put his father in the hospital. Cloud hadn't been able to read it at least not without tearing up as the end came about.
"Sushig, it's him. That kid is the one we were promised." The taller one said as Sushig nodded slowly.
"That's true, Tisho. Guess we'll have to apprehend him. Shame, thought one would get away." Sushig said, clearly thinking of something else to do.
Tisho shook his head at his partner, "Let's get this over with." Stepping toward Cloud, he grinned menacingly.
"Just stay still kid. It'll be over soon." Sushig said from the back end, but Cloud took a single look at Tisho and finally realized he was in danger. Then he remembered hearing their names from the people that put his father into a coma. Widening his eyes, he jumped away from Tisho. However, Cloud felt as though he hadn't moved an inch. His eyes saw just out of his peripheral vision that Sushig was still standing there.
Tisho then grabbed Cloud, chopping him in the neck as the paper fell out of his grip. Tisho noticed this and quickly picked it up, "I see… Looks like we got one survivor. I'll take care of it stealthily." Tisho said while Sushig stood idly by.
"N- No! L- Leave my D- Dad alone!" Cloud struggled, but as his eyes closed and the darkness took hold. He felt that he'd never see his father again.
Opening his eyes, he found himself still inside the capsule ship and that Brass was still very much alive inside the tank. Cloud reached up to his own face, feeling wetness. His own tears had begun to drop to the floor. Slumping to the ground and sitting back, Cloud felt the irrational fear that perhaps his new life could be threatened and taken from him as well.
Hearing footsteps approach rapidly made Cloud hop backwards, but as the newcomer landed. He relaxed, Kiryu was now walking toward him.
"Hey, what's going on?" Kiryu asked, expecting silence.
"N- Nothing. Just thinking." Cloud said, turning back Brass.
Kiryu wasn't an idiot. He noticed the tears immediately, but considering how his friend was. He'd drop bringing it up for now. Instead he chose to look over Brass. Moving closer to the machine's main screen. He found that his vitals were actually stabilizing.
"Looks like he'll have another two or three hours there. Most of his major injuries were healed." Kiryu stated which made Cloud take a heavy sigh of relief.
Cloud smiled, "That's a weight off my shoulders." He said cheerfully as Kiryu decided to interject.
"By the way, we've landed now. You should see this orphanage. It's pretty nice." Kiryu said, patting his buddy on the shoulder, "Of course if you'd rather wait on Brass to heal. Then that's up to you." He said as Cloud nodded.
"I'll stay with Brass till he's out then. Thanks for letting me know about everything Kiryu." He thanked his friend who gave him a thumbs up.
"No prob." Cloud watched as Kiryu left the room, turning back to Brass.
'I wonder how Raze, Ken, and Kira are doing.' He thought, sitting back down to try and process why he had walked through that memory again.
~In the woods of the northeast~
A shadow rushed through the bushes or at least tried to, until it inevitably hit the ground. Looking back at the root, the being grew frustrated at it. There's no way to be this unlucky when your life was on the line. The person reached up, a spark was offset and suddenly it was gone.
Just a bit behind were three individuals who looked really angry, "How the hell did she get away?! I thought you had her Zap!" He said, looking at his partner who shook his head.
"Shut your mouth, Rat. I don't need your weakness rubbing off on me." He said gruffly while trying to locate whoever had just been nearby.
The one in the middle spoke up, "Both of you should stay quiet. We don't have time for ill conceived notions. Our target is close. I know it." The voice was unmistakably grim and put the other two in their place.
"R- Right Bat…" Zap said, falling a little behind.
Rat tried to save his own rep, "Y- Yeah… Zap's just strugglin back here." But that notion didn't last once Bat turned to look at him.
"Tell me, who allowed her to escape again?!" Bat yelled at them causing the other two to look at one another.
"That's right. You two literally had her trapped in the home. Both of you couldn't kill an insect if it was stuck to a fly trap." He said, shaking his head and continuing his search, "The more time we waste, the more we'll hear from Strife. He expects us to succeed. So, we will." Bat stated as he gave them a motion to fan out and search the area.
"With the injury you gave to Lyral, she won't be able to go much further. With one arm, she's not casting any spells." Bat said, walking through the bushes, making sure to examine each one with his scope.
Zap made his way from the right of Bat while Rat took the left. Lyral had heard them from her location just a few hundred feet from where they searched. She was tearing up, realizing that the meager magic she'd used probably wouldn't keep them at bay for long. Invisibility couldn't get rid of body temperature. The one in the middle had a powerful scope he'd used to get to her in the first place and multiple times no matter what trick she pulled.
Right now, Lyral could only stay down and bleed, but she had hope. Thanks to her sudden connection with Kira earlier. Maybe she had summoned help. Perhaps all was not lost. Though, they'd have to get to her and she wasn't sure if they could.
'Please! Bring me somebody! Any miracle!' She prayed as the footsteps got closer. Her heart was practically beating a few thousand beats per second.
"So, you didn't escape…" His voice was closer.
Bat stood above her location, "Time to pass on. You did give it your best…" Raising his hand, a powerful energy seared out of it and then he shoved it down into the bush. Of course, Bat hadn't had the opportunity to do much else when his arm had been stopped entirely.
"I've got business with you." Is all Bat heard before being slugged hard in the face.
~End of Chapter~