A/N: Team PASM is enjoying their holiday at Elizabeth Akimura's house. Patrick certainly had an interesting conversation with Elizabeth. But things are about to get intense. Zovaal's Message has been found and now Mashika must carry it. But what is it he wants her to do?
Chapter 26: A Dying Wish Part I - The Mission
"I love you, Miss Bellamy."
"And I love you too, Brett."
Brett and Jasmine lean in face to face for a kiss, but Jasmine puts a hand in between him and turns away.
"But I can't. We cannot be together."
"Of course, we can. Our love is strong."
"But we cannot. I am a Princess of the Atlesian Royal Family, and you're Captain of the Mistral Army. We are destined to be enemies."
"Destiny is not for the world to make. It is for ours to make. I will endure a thousand and one Grimm Invasions if I knew you were on the other side waiting for me."
"Oh, Brett."
"Oh, Jasmine."
There's a lot of crying going on. Two days passed on their little vacation, and Selena suggested watching a movie. A movie her mother once started in. And she can't help but cry as she watches it.
"Oh Brett, why must you torment her like this?" Selena says.
"But Edward was her first love, and it's like she said, they are enemies. They can't be together." Marlene says followed by blowing her nose into a tissue.
Even Akira is crying her eyes out. "I have faced powerful Grimms and elite swordsmen and tough Kendo Opponents. Who knew the movie would bring me down."
Rayla gasps in between her sobs as she offers a tissue box to the other girls. "Ti...Tissues, Mistresses?"
Patrick is just sitting in his sit arms crossed, groaning in annoyance. "This is just pathetic. At least tell me you two aren't bothered by this sappy nonsense." Much to his disappointment, Patrick sees Peter and Earnest are also captivated by this movie by crying. "Oh, good grief." Patrick gets out of his seat and starts leaving.
"Where...Where are mew going, Pet-rick?" Clawdia asks, crying.
"To the kitchen, so I can find a knife and stab my eyes out." He says. Patrick walks down the hallways of this mansion, muttering under his breath in frustration. "Romance Comedy Movie, bah...Why did I agree to go along with it? Makes me wish I'd gone with Mashika and her little drinking contest instead."
"Master Patrick." Patrick stops and turns to find Lumiére approaching him. "There you are. Lady Elizabeth wishes to see you."
Normally Patrick would feel uncomfortable with Elizabeth wanting to see him, especially since they haven't spoken since the night before Christmas. But given his only other choice is that tormenting Romance Comedy movie he decides to go along with seeing Elizabeth without hesitation. Patrick follows Lumiére to Elizabeth's room.
When they have arrived, Elizabeth is in the room. "Lady Elizabeth, I have brought Master Patrick as requested."
Patrick sees Elizabeth, but she isn't alone. He notices that she has a guest in the room, one he is most surprised to see. "Instructor Mashika?"
Mashika smiles. "Hello, Patrick. I see you are doing well, Love."
"Thank you, Lumiére. Would you give us some privacy please?" Elizabeth asks.
"Of course, milady." Lumiére bows before he leaves the room, closing the door behind him.
"What's this all about?" Patrick asks.
Elizabeth turns her attention to Mashika. "I'd like to know that as well."
"Okay." Mashika tells Patrick and Elizabeth her story. As Patrick knows, he informed her of discovering the corpse of Zovaal the Dragon Beast. After her drinking contest on Christmas Eve, she had received information on the whereabouts of his home and goes to investigate. As she looks she finds his computer, she mentioned that the password to it was the same as his final message: Marina, and it leads Mashika to believe what he's trying to tell his founders is within. "I found a file called 'Dying Wish'. It was a bit odd but I took a look inside, and found this."
Mashika takes out her Scroll and plays the video message.
"Hello there, bearer of the message. As you may have known, I am Zovaal Sapphire. You have also known me as 'The Dragon Beast' At least I was." Zovaal coughs before he further speaks. "If you are watching this, then that means you've figured out my death message. I'm hoping a professional Huntsman or Huntress is watching this, but there is something I must ask of you to do for me. Something important. Long ago, I've lost someone important to me. And recently, I have learned that she has been abducted." A map shows with a red dot located on it. "I learned where they have her held captive. At this very location." The video returns to Zovaal, who coughs again before continuing. "Even knowing the odds are completely against me, I had no other choice but to pursuit. Even I predict I will die in the process. When I do, and I deliver my final message, that means I have failed to complete my mission. Please, I beg of you, Huntsman or Huntress, finish my mission, and save my Shining Star."
The video ends. "Shining Star? Who is that?" Patrick asks.
"I wondered about that myself, but I remember the photos I saw in the house. He was married to a woman. He must be referring to her. I also believe 'Marina' is her name." Mashika says.
"So why did you come here?" Patrick asks.
"Because of this." Mashika replays the video and pauses it to the map. "See that location on the map." Mashika points at the red dot. "That's where I was taken. When THEY Abducted me."
The word 'They' alarms Elizabeth and Patrick. "You don't mean...The Abduction Agency!?"
"That's impossible. They would never reuse their abandoned bases and locations." Patrick says. "Besides, I find it hard to believe it could be them. The Schnee Sisters are their current target. They won't bother with other pray."
"What you say may be true, Love. But not all think the same as the leader, no matter how loyal." Mashika says. "You've always wanted to fight the Agency, so I came here to get you."
"You always told me I should not live a life of vengeance." Patrick says.
"What we are doing isn't vengeance." Mashika gets close to Patrick's face. "It's the duty of a Huntsman and Huntress to protect the innocent. We go in, find his wife, and get out."
"All right. We just need transportation to get there." Patrick says.
"I'll call Ronald. He's my Chief of Security and has an Airship." Elizabeth says.
With everything planned and set, Patrick returns to his friends. Tonight when everyone's asleep, Patrick will sneak out and meet with Mashika and Roland by the courtyard. Nighttime comes and everyone is asleep in bed. Patrick opens his eyes, and he looks to see Earnest and Peter are soundly asleep. Even Earnest is out cold from Peter's snoring.
Patrick sneaks out of bed, he quietly puts on his Dust Bracers, silently thanking he thought ahead on bringing these, and then out sneaks of the room. He makes his way through the hallways until he exits the door in the foyer. Mashika is at the front of the stairs looking up to the sky. Patrick approaches her from behind, Mashika turns to see him. "Right on time." Mashika grabs Patrick's Quiver of Arrows and Blades. "I thought you might need this, Love."
"I will." Patrick equips his quiver. "Any chance you've brought the Flamethrowers?"
"Afraid not, but I brought this." Mashika then grabs a suitcase and opens it, revealing some Dust Crystals. "Just in case things get hairy."
An Airship arrives, it lands in the center of the courtyard. Patrick and Mashika approach it as the pilot jumps out of it. "Hello there, you must be Mashika Kirei and Patrick Aki."
Mashika shakes hands with Ronald. "Indeed, and you must be our pilot Ronald."
"Yes. Shall we get going?" Ronald asks. Patrick and Mashika get on board, Roland starts up the airship and it takes off. "We should be at our destination in about an hour. Get comfortable, you two."
During the whole trip, Patrick wanted to sit in silence, but Mashika just goes and asks him how he is doing in Elizabeth's mansion. Patrick doesn't say much about his stay at her place. He especially leaves out the gift his team gave him. He knows he'll never the end of it when he softens. Patrick does ask her one thing.
"Zovaal said he use to be 'The Dragon Beast'. I even heard Rin and the other citizens were talking about it. What happened?" Patrick asks.
Mashika explains the story to Patrick. 20 Years ago, Zovaal went on a mission, nobody knows what it was, some say it was so dangerous it was a suicide mission. Yet he took on the mission, and it cost him everything. Zovaal was critically injured, his body was broken to where he can barely stand on his own. Not even his Aura could heal him. He was forced into retirement and he suffered a life-changing event that drove him into a miserable state. Some say he forced someone who didn't want to fight at all into becoming his student to become his legacy, and was very harsh with them.
"Did anyone speak with this student of his?" Patrick asks.
"Nobody knows. As far as anybody knows it's just a rumor. It's hard to tell if it's true or not. But the way he behaves, especially in the interviews, confirms he's defiantly in deep depression." Mashika says.
"I can only imagine, a Legend Huntsman living a 20-year life with no purpose." Patrick says. "Must be a heavy toll for him."
"We're arriving at the drop zone." Ronald tells them.
Patrick and Mashika prepare themselves. The airship flies past a dock station, when they fly past it, Patrick and Mashika jump right out diving straight into a forest. They dive from high in the sky. Mashika is grabbing hold of Patrick from behind, when they are halfway from the drop zone, Patrick activates his Dust Bracers, filling them with fire dust. Legs straight down, the bracers burst flames that help slow down his falling. Then lands on his feet.
Patrick and Mashika run through the forest towards the direction of the docks. At the edge, they climb a tree to get a good look at the base. Mashika looks through binoculars. "Let's see what we're dealing with here." Mashika sees people patrolling with guns and blades. Half a dozen people in groups in four different places. Two guards in each watchtower. But there's one thing she sees that makes her hand the binoculars to Patrick. "Take a look at the flag."
Patrick takes the binoculars and looks. "That brand..." The flag on it is a picture of a woman in exposed clothing with a subducing look with rose-red lips, a beauty mark, blonde hair, one blue eye with the other eye winking. But there's also a blue rose with thorn vines wrapped around her arms. "The Agency." Patrick's hands quiver with rage.
"Yes but look, the rose and the vines. That's not their brand." Mashika says.
"You're right. I've been tracking the Agency for the past fours, and their brand is the same as always." Patrick says. "They must be former members. Deserters or Forsaken."
"We'll worry about their faction later, let's get to work." Mashika says. "Can you see where our objective is?"
Patrick hands the binoculars back. "Let me see." Patrick focuses his vision as he activates his Semblance. His X-Ray vision allows him to see through all the buildings down at the docks. Patrick focuses his vision on one of them. "I see something...In the warehouse. It looks like a person, but it's too far away to make out anything."
"Well, it's a start. Let's go, and remember it's a stealth mission. We cannot be spotted." Mashika says.
"They don't call me the Shadow Hunter for nothing, Kirei." Patrick says.
Patrick and Mashika climb down the hill. When they arrived, they sneak in from the ocean. The cold water is most uncomfortable for the cold-sensitive Shadow Hunter. They are only up to their shoulders when they submerge below the docks. They hear the sounds of footsteps above and stand still, and listen in on the conversation.
"He's got guts, I'll give him that." The first voice says.
"Not so much of a 'Dragon Beast' anymore. He had it coming invading our base just to take the slut." The second voice says. "He probably just wanted all the fun to himself."
There's silence as they leave the docks. Patrick and Mashika exchange looks, curious about the commentary about Zovaal and this woman they speak disgustingly of. They move to the ladder, Patrick climbs up with only his head slightly sticking out. He searches around for any alert threats. No guards or searchlights nearby.
Patrick signals for Mashika and they come up and quickly move. They sneak through the guards in ally paths. When they find themselves trapped, they hide behind the crates. They listen to the conversations they speak of as they walked. "I feel nervous about all this, what if he survived and alerted the authorities?"
"Please, the wound we gave him was fatal. He'd be dead before he even reached land." The fourth voice says.
"I suppose you're right, but he's still tough even for an old injured coot." The third voice says.
Patrick and Mashika know that is true, he lasted all the way to the land. His 'Marina' message is proof of it. Once the close is clear, they head out. Patrick and Mashika get closer to the warehouse. Only now there's another obstacle in their way. They hide behind a large crane where they see two guards standing, their backs towards Patrick and Mashika, in place at the path to the warehouse.
Patrick uses his scope vision to get a better view of the situation. There's no other path and the guards aren't moving. He turns back to Mashika and speaks in sign language.
'THEY AREN'T MOVING AND I SEE NO OTHER WAY.' He says.
Mashika responds in sign language. 'IF WE GO ROOFTOP, THE SEARCH TOWERS WILL SPOT US.'
Patrick rubs his chin thinking, looking around. Then it hits him. Patrick picks up a pebble by their feet. He smirks at Mashika tossing it in his hand. Patrick takes out his Bowblades, loads it with the pebble, and fires it at one of the guards, at the back of the head.
"Ow!" The guard who got hit puts his hand on the back of his head, then looks at the guard next to him. "What did you do that for?"
"Did what?" The second guard asks.
"Don't play dumb, you slapped me on the back of the head!" The first guard says.
"Oh, come on, you're being ridiculous. Just keep an eye out for any intruders." The second guard says.
Patrick loads another pebble onto his bow and fires, but this time he hits the second guard's head.
"Ow!" The second guard looks at the first one. "Oh, that's real mature."
"What are you talking about?" The first guard asks.
"You hit me on the head. All because you thought I hit you, isn't it?" The second guard says.
"I didn't do it. I'm offended you'd accuse me of such a childish act." The first guard says. "And if I did I'd only do it because you had some fun with the bitch behind my back!"
"That was one time! Get over it!" The second guard says.
The both of them return to their guard duties. Patrick shoots another peddle at the first guard, which finally puts him over the edge. "Oh, that's it!" The first guard tackles the other one, sending each other off of their posts. Patrick and Mashika take advantage of the situation and rush in.
Patrick and Mashika are close to the warehouse. They look past the corner of the building to see only three guards in front of the entrance. Mashika nods at Patrick, and Patrick uses his X-Ray vision. He peers at the warehouse, focusing his vision, then quietly gasps.
Mashika covers Patrick's mouth before he can get a word out, even though he wouldn't. Mashika turns Patrick to face her with a concerned look. 'THERE'S A WOMAN INSIDE. BUT SOMETHING'S WRONG.'
'WHAT IS IT?' Mashika asks.
Patrick hesitates before further speaking. 'I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WHAT I THINK IT IS. WE NEED TO GET IN THERE NOW.'
Mashika looks past the corner to the warehouse. She looks for a way to get in and found it. Mashika looks all around them to find something, then picks up a rock. Mashika aims and throws the rock over the guards. The rock smashes against a metal crate, alerting the guards.
"What was that!?" One of them asks.
"Let's go check it out." The second guard says.
All three of them leave their posts to check out that noise. Patrick and Mashika hurry into the Warehouse. The inside of the warehouse is dark. Patrick uses his Night Vision to look around. He heads towards a wall, Patrick tells Mashika this is the direction where he saw the girl. They look around to find no door, so Patrick decides to feel around. Patrick feels his hand sink in as he presses on part of the wall and then a door slides open.
Patrick and Mashika walk in. Mashika finds a lantern and turns it on. The room is small, and at the end of it is a woman with long blue hair, chained to the wall in the nude.
"There she is." Patrick says.
Patrick approaches the girl when Mashika stays behind looking disappointed. "Hold on. This isn't her."
"What do you mean?" Patrick asks.
"This isn't Zovaal's Wife." Mashika says. "She's young and has long hair, and her hair wasn't blue."
"Rather she is or isn't, there's something serious going on. Let me look." Patrick observes the girl, closely to her face. What he notices is her whole body is flailing slightly and is sweating like crazy, and breathing heavily and rapidly. Patrick puts a hand on her forehead. Burning hot. "High Fever." He opens one of her eyelids to look at her amber eyes. "Dilated eyes." He closes the girl's eye, then puts a hand on her neck. Crazed pulses. "Intense Pulses." and continues observing her. "Sweating. Heavy Breathing." The girl matters in her sleep, stuff about some things that Patrick doesn't want to hear. "Uncontrollable desire...Oh no. It's just as I feared." Patrick turns to Mashika before answering. "Lover's Poison."
Mashika's eyes shot wide open upon hearing that. "Lover's Poison? ...But, I never had those kinds of symptoms."
"That was only because you were..." Patrick clears his throat before further speaking. "Treated and it kept you in the 2nd stage before you took the antidote." Patrick looks back at the girl. "What's she's going through, it's the 4th and final stage. We need to get her out of here."
"Okay, it's serious, I can see that. But we came here to find Marina. That was Zovaal's final wish." Mashika says.
"We don't have time to argue about this." Patrick says. "Time is of the essence. If we don't hurry, she will die!"
Mashika doesn't say anything. She realizes that Patrick is right. Patrick gives Mashika a lock pick and tells her to uncuff the girl. As she does, Patrick takes out his Scroll and starts texting.
"What are you doing?" Mashika asks.
"Texting Elizabeth." Patrick says. "If we're gonna save her, I must recreate the antidote."
"Are you sure you can do it?" Mashika asks.
"Honestly, I don't think so. I only did it once and I was only 7. But we don't have any other choice." Patrick says.
Just to their luck, the door slides open. Patrick and Mashika are startled by the sound. Two guards are walking in unaware of what is happening until they stepped in. "What the!? Hey!"
Patrick tackles the two guards, knocking back one of them and punching the other one right in the face, knocking him out. The first guard comes at him from behind, Patrick draws out one of his swords to block the attack, jabs him in the stomach, and sweep-kicks him by the feet.
Nothing happens after taking out those two. "Let's hope nobody notices." Mashika says.
Suddenly, a loud alarm blares. Patrick takes a look at the guard's Scrolls, and have noticed that one of them has sent out an alert signal. "I'm gonna guess: They've noticed!"