CAL vs. DUTCH

(Heart of Darkness)

Figures in black and green camo were emerging all around Cal and Hilda, tightening the cage as they closed rank, their eyes glinting through their blood red goggles at the two Norma. Hilda gave a grunt trying to get free of the two holding her down, her eyes betraying the fear she tried to mask behind her gritted sneer. Though Cal frantically searched for any gaps in the circle, his focus kept going back to the man in the Roma coat who seemed to be in charge. 'He called me Subject Alpha' Cal thought. 'How does he know me?'

"Are you badly injured private Standall?" The leader asked the young soldier who held his hand across his wound.

"I'm good Commander." Jeffry winced heavily, the large gash from his lip to ear slowly closing back together from the Light of Mana. The leader's orange flame eyes shifted from Jeffry and back to Cal and began to clap in mock applause.

"Congratulations." His voice was hard as iron rasp and leisurely strolled towards Cal who was yanked up to his feet so they could talk face to face. "But I'm afraid this will be a very short reunion for us both." He bent down to Cal's eye level and adopted a firmer tone. "Now tell me where you were heading. Where is the dissident base you are in league with?"

"Who are you?" Cal demanded. "How do you know who I am?" Was this man a part of Trager's circle during the experiments on the Norma and his mother? It was the only thing Cal could think of that made sense. The man however gave a scowl and backhanded Cal across the face.

"Answer the question! Where are your allies outside of Arzenal hiding?" Cal didn't answer. "Fine. We'll get our answers one way or another. Check his vehicle!" Three of the soldiers approached the skyhook and began messing with the navigation console. Cal felt his stomach give a horrible lurch, dreading if they discovered Enderant Harbor's location. "Tell me where your associates are hiding."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Cal repeated though panic was causing his chest to constrict. "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. So do your worst. I'm not afraid of you." Several of the soldiers began to laugh.

"Have it your way then." The leader nodded to the two soldiers pinning down Hilda who lifted her up on her feet and twisted one of her arms tight around her back. Hilda's teeth clenched hard but she managed to hold in her scream. "You can keep being obstinate or we'll start cutting pieces off of HER instead." Jeffry approached Hilda and held a large combat knife across her cheek, her violet eyes wide in terror.

"Get away from her!" Cal yelled. He frantically struggled to break free but one of the soldiers grabbing on to him kneed him in the back and shoved him to the ground.

"Well it looks like Subject Alpha has a soft spot for the little slut." Jadis purred threateningly. "Maybe we should smash her head against a tree. You ever seen a watermelon explode after you hit it with a sledgehammer?" Jadis switched her attention to Cal, her horrible sadistic smile widening. "Or maybe we're threatening the wrong person. Maybe we should start with you first." Cal looked to them and decided to call their bluff.

"You all know who I am and where I come from right?!" Some of the soldiers looked to each other in confusion and Cal felt a reckless empowerment at getting these humans to doubt themselves. "You're not here to kill us. We're too important. Or else you would have done it already." By his master's side, Jadis's dog Winston gave a low growl.

"You hear this stupid boy?" Jadis cackled. "As if he thinks acting tough will save his skin! Like he thinks he can fight all of us on his own."

"Oh you don't know Subject Alpha as I do Lieutenant Jadis." The leader supposed with a cruel smirk. "I've watched footage of him fighting the DRAGONs. He has a great weakness in acting the hero, all because he pilots a Para-mail that can do magic tricks. Brave but stupid. I expected more but I guess in the end Gaz raised a complete imbecile. It's a shame all his sacrifices were for nothing in the end."

"What did you just say?!" Cal yelled. How on earth did this guy possibly know Gramps? "You don't know a damn thing!"

"Don't be so sure freak!" The leader spat. "The past has a funny way of catching up to those who screw others over." Cal felt the rage rise within him, a furious pounding in his ears drowning out the entire world. "Gaz should have left you behind when he abandoned his own kind. He at least would have lived longer if he did." The leader leaned forward, his face inches from Cal's. "The same thing will happen to you if you repeat his mistakes. The rest of your kind at Arzenal, you'll die protecting them and it won't make a damn difference in the end. You think you're something special? Piloting some fancy machine made by a dying breed of apes? They'll be the end of you. Just like you were the end for Gaz."

"SHUT YOUR MOU…" The stock of a gun pounded into Cal's abdomen and he doubled over as the wind was knocked out of him.

(Shallow Grove – Daniel Garavini)

"Cal!" Hilda shouted as she tried to kick her way free. "Leave him alone!" Just who were these humans and why was their leader calling Cal 'Subject Alpha?'

"How…how did you know Gramps…" Cal breathed hoarsely as the soldiers jerked him upright. "Your part of Trager's group, aren't you? That's why you haven't killed me. You're here to take me back to continue his dirty work." The leader grew a confused look.

"Continue his work? What are you talking about? They planned on killing you once they found out the freak of nature you are."

"We don't have time for this Commander Villson." The largest of the soldiers said to the leader. "Let's just take them to base and interrogate them there." Through her confusion, Hilda spotted Cal's eyes bulged slightly at the sound of the leader's name. Just who was this man? And why was he tormenting Cal like they had history when Cal didn't even know him?

"Not yet Sargent Brawl, I believe he's owned an explanation. Hold him up." Cal was forced to his feet again, looking like he was on the verge of puking from the blow to his abdomen while the leader leered at him with a ravenous glint in his orange eyes. "Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a young man whose family shipped him off to military school because unlike his genius younger brother, he was a complete disappointment. And it was hell for this young man. No matter how hard he tried, he would always fall behind his squad mates which made him an easy target. But there was one recruit who took pity on him. Someone big, strong, and larger than life."

"Gramps." Cal wheezed.

"Eventually the two became best friends. And thanks to the support from his friend, the once weak and pathetic young man grew stronger, smarter, and even began to think he might actually be worth a damn." As he spoke, the leader's face lit up with a cruel satisfaction. "The other recruits who once bullied him began to fear him as he and his friend rose to the top of their class. Finally, they graduated and for many years worked as elite security for the wealthiest and most prestigious families in the world until they were assigned to a top-secret research facility that dealt with…well, Norma that were even more disposable than the trash at Arzenal. Unfit to even die fighting DRAGONs, the only thing they were good for was to give birth to a healthy human baby by the name of…" He paused as his sadistic smirk broadened. "…Subject Alpha."

"Don't ever talk about my mother like that, you bastard!" Cal yelled.

"Don't listen to him Cal!" Hilda called out to him. For her trouble, Hilda received a crack across her face.

"You speak when spoken to, so keep your mouth shut." Jadis warned. Hilda's heart thumped louder against her ribs by just looking at the woman who ruined Zola's life. If it weren't for the soldiers holding on to her, she would have gouged the woman's eyes out.

"As it turns out," the leader continued, "one of the top scientists at the facility just happened to be the favored younger brother. Aside from his friend, the young man's brother was the only one who treated him like he was worthy of something." The man paused, composing himself as if recalling something he had suppressed for years. "But one day, his best friend fell into a great depression after his wife bore a Norma child that died shortly after its birth. Oh he tried to bring his friend back since he was there for him all those years ago. Just like a fool would." The man's face twisted and darkened. "But after Subject Alpha was born and was in fact a male Norma, the lost and depressed friend betrayed his colleagues, his own kind, and most of all his best friend. Because of his actions, the younger brother Donnie perished in the fire while the older brother ended up in the hospital and wasn't expected to live." Cal's jaw slackened, gaping slightly as if he had just grasped something. "He fought against all odds, pushing past the limits any human has gone, gaining power no other human has even dreamed of achieving. But he never gave up on finding the truth of where his former best friend ran off with the Male Norma." A look of insanity came over his orange eyes and the leader gave a bitter laugh. "And finally, after 18 long years, he found them. In a small cabin on a remote island. The male Norma got away but at least I got my revenge against the one I once called brother." Hilda could only watch helplessly as Cal's entire body trembled; the color drained from his face as he sunk to his knees.

It all hit Cal like a ton of bricks, his body too numb with shock and disgust to even move. Gramps had told Jill, Jasmine and Maggie that man had died. Even the report Momoka had read concluded that. But there was no way to deny it. This man before him was Dutch Villson. Gramp's former best friend.

"All this time…" Cal murmured weakly "…I've been searching for answers why Gramps died, I thought it was all my fault…only to find out he was betrayed…by a friend?"

"Betrayed!" Dutch seethed dangerously looking completely deranged. "The only one who was betrayed was me! Gaz, my best friend, my brother, abandoned me and left me for dead. He got my younger brother killed and for what? An abomination like you!"

"Screw you!" Hilda shouted at the top of her lungs. "If you had half as much guts as Cal you'd…" and Hilda was cut off by another slap to the face

"Last warning!" Jadis threatened. A hatred such as he had never known before coursed through Cal like poison, filling his body until it felt ready to explode.

"It…it…was…you! You killed…Gramps!" said Cal through constricted breaths, his bared teeth clenched so tightly the words came out in a powerful, vengeful muffle. "You…you monster! You're gonna…pay for that!"

"Aw did it love him?" Jadis mocked, the rest of the soldiers laughing along. "Did it think a human could possibly love a Norma? How revolting."

"Commander what are we waiting for?" Jeffry interrupted. "Let's just get them back to base. We only need their vehicle to find the terrorists' hideout!"

"No let's kill them now. They've killed humans so it's time to put them down." One soldier suggested and most of the others murmured in agreement.

"No, we take them in alive." Dutch ordered. "But we'll get the information we need out of them once I'm done with Subject Alpha."

"Why's that!" Cal goaded. "What's the matter, gone soft? Afraid to get your pretty clothes dirty, you COWARD!" The rest of the soldiers had stopped laughing.

"Cal!" Hilda hissed. "Shut up!"

"HE KILLED GRAMPS!" Cal roared as a sudden surge of adrenaline coursed through him and Cal broke free of the two soldiers restraining him to lunge forwards. He didn't care that he was outnumbered. Or that Dutch had the advantage of both size and experience. All Cal knew was that he wanted to hurt Dutch as badly as possible and that he didn't care how much he got hurt in return.

Perhaps it was the shock of Cal doing something so unexpected, but Dutch didn't react in time. The knuckles of Cal's right hand collided with the side of Dutch's head while his left arm fastened around Dutch's neck. They wrestled in the middle of the group with Dutch trying to pry himself loose, but Cal's grip tightened and continued to blindly punch whatever part of Dutch he could find until one soldier overcame his initial shock and came from behind to lock his arm around Cal's neck, trying to pry him from Dutch. Cal bit down hard, drawing blood, and the soldier gave a yelp of pain when Hilda's foot swung in out of nowhere, knocking him aside. When one of the soldiers holding onto Hilda had released her to help his commander, she had judo flipped his ally right into Jadis.

"Cal come on!" Hilda yelled. But Cal barely registered her voice as he continued his attack on Dutch until suddenly, Dutch's hand shone with the Light of Mana and waved towards the ground, kicking up a cloud of dirt and debris into Cal's face. The distraction was just enough to make Cal loosen his grip enough for Dutch to thrust his elbow against Cal's sternum and knock them apart. With Cal stunned, it was now Dutch's turn to go on the offensive, his fists striking and pounding in precise blows that left Cal unable to counter until with a final uppercut, Cal was sent flying into the scrub.

"You're fast, I'll grant you that." Dutch grinned, wiping the blood from his lip. "But you're still just a greenskin." Now that the initial fury had passed, Cal heard a whistle followed by the soft pounding of gigantic paws and heavy panting as he looked up to see Jadis's dog Winston trotting up to him. Memories of when Starr turned rabid flashed before his eyes and he tried blindly to scramble away when the huge dog pounced on top of him, its teeth sinking into the back of his jacket.

"Hold him Winston!" Jadis barked. The Dog began to thrash Cal around as though he was a rag doll and with a surge of panic, he felt his inner jacket pocket with the two files inside begin to rip. In a mixed blessing, half a dozen soldiers grabbed onto Cal and pinned him down before the files could be dislodged. Jadis called Winston back and from the corner of his eye, Cal saw Hilda still fighting as she grappled with one soldier over his rifle. Hilda drove her knee into her opponent's crotch, who gave a pig-like squeal of agony as a second soldier came rushing over and Hilda smacked the butt of the rifle into his face. The first though winded still would not let go of his rifle, and amid their struggle, the back of his foot collided with a rock and they both fell backwards with Hilda on top. She reached around to his belt and pulled out his knife to stab him when with a loud bang, the knife sprang out of Hilda's grasp. Across the clearing, Jeffry had finished healing his wound, now resembled a long fleshy scar and had managed to take the shot in time. Two more soldiers took the opportunity to restrain Hilda once again, but not before she got in another kick to the soldier on the ground for good measure.

"You alright Dutch?" Jadis asked.

"Yeah," Dutch growled and kicked Cal so hard in the mouth one of his teeth chipped. "It's my fault for letting my guard down. You know, my orders were to bring you in alive, but HE didn't say I had to bring you in intact. Jeffery, take one of her ears!" Hilda kicked and wriggled in the two soldiers' grip but was slammed against a tree, her arms pinned to the sides as Jeffry approached her brandishing his blade.

"Get off her you bastards! GET OFF!" Cal bellowed, struggling wildly in the soldier's grip. "Touch her and I swear I'll tear you all apart!"

"Get off me!" Hilda shrieked. Jeffry however looked hesitant.

"What are you doing private?" Jadis commanded. "You have your orders."

"I…I…this doesn't feel right." Jeffry admitted. With a sneer of disgust, Jadis pushed him aside and brandished her own blade.

"Then get out of the way you little worm. I'll do it myself!" Jadis faced Hilda with a sadistic pleasurable grin and pulled her right ear hard as she positioned the knife right under her lobe.

"Nooooo!" Hilda was screaming; Cal was yelling; and then suddenly there was a deafening bang and a blinding flash that left everyone disoriented. With his ears ringing, Cal felt the soldiers release him as he came to his senses and saw that the clearing had erupted into chaos. Bullets and arrows were flying all around overhead and the soldiers were scrambling in a desperate bid for cover. Something warm ran across his face and he looked up to see two of the soldiers that had been holding him lying in a pool of their own blood.

(State of Emergency – Code Geass)

"Targets left side, left side!" He heard one soldier shout over the gunfire echoing across the forest. Cal crawled low, jerking his head around desperately searching for Hilda, but his eyes were still dazed from the flash. He squinted his eyes and could just make out thirty feet away red hair dancing like fire. Hilda was being used as a human shield as she flung her arms around madly, clawing at the soldier's face that was protected by his tactical mask. Adrenaline once more surged through Cal as he leapt to his feet, oblivious to the bullets shooting around him as he snatched his knife from the ground and in one swift movement, plunged it through the soldier's goggles, into his eye, and up into his brain. Seizing Hilda by the collar of her dress, Cal dragged her forwards, barely knowing where he was headed. Hilda looked just as dazed as he did but there was no time for rest. Cal quickly glanced back to where the skyhook was and saw Mana barriers scattered between them. As Norma they could break through them no problem but doing so would alert their enemies to their location. Between that and the sudden surprise attack, they had no other choice.

"RUN!" He yelled to Hilda as they made a beeline into the forest. The sound of bullets whooshed above their heads as chunks and splinters of wood thundered down upon them. A soldier lunged forwards from behind a tree and Cal elbowed him hard in the face. Behind them they heard yelling and shouting, followed by death cries and more explosions but they did not dare look back.

Someone dove on top of Duch as they both fell onto the leaf strewn forest floor. His head throbbed and as his hearing returned to him, the roar of gunfire was shaking the entire forest. His vision came into focus again and who should he see but his protégé Jeffry by his side, a Mana barrier manifested on top of them. "Report!" Dutch ordered.

"Terrorists, about 30 yards away to the west!" Jeffry shouted as bullets continued to ricochet off his barrier.

"Subject Alpha and the Norma!? WHERE ARE THEY!"

"I don't know! I lost them when that stun grenade went off!"

Dutch cursed as he looked around frantically. Through the chaos, around 150 yards away two figures were sprinting away before they vanished into the cover of the forest. "Give me cover! Jadis with me!" Jeffry lowered his barrier and Dutch raised his own as he took off after the targets with Jadis right behind him.

"Winston, sic 'em boy!" Jadis screeched as the large cream-colored dog streaked ahead of them, barking wildly. 'I will not fail again.' Dutch vowed. He would not let Subject Alpha get away a second time.

(Gundam Build Fighters try – Chinkon no Kane)

As the battle continued to echo behind her, Cal and Hilda sprinted as fast as they could up the mountainside, their clothes snagging on low slung branches and brambles, whipping and scratching Hilda's exposed legs so badly they bled. And with her injuries still not fully healed she could barely keep pace with Cal.

"Cal the dog!" Hilda cried. Cal looked back just as Jadi's dog burst through the undergrowth and scrambled up the slope. A second later, Dutch and Jadis emerged as well, aiming their weapons right at them.

"Duck!" He yelled. Hilda and Cal threw themselves against the slope as something flew overhead and twin taser darts lodged in a tree just ahead of them. They frantically tried to stand back up as behind them, Winston continued to paw his way up to them, his bulk and the rough terrain the only thing keeping him from overtaking them.

"Just keep running!" Cal urged Hilda on. "Look out!" To their right, a huge tree was engulfed in the green light of Mana, the bottom crunching and splintering as it fell with a thunderous crash. Two smaller trees were caught in its fall and Cal and Hilda's path was suddenly blocked off by the wall of wood that was nearly as high as their shoulders. A sudden roaring bark was the only warning Cal had as he turned just as Winston leapt at him. The huge dog's front paws hit Cal square in the chest and they both fell backwards. Cal felt Winston's hot rancid breath on his face, but the impact had carried it too far and it rolled off him. Feeling as though his ribs were broken, Cal tried to stand up just in time for the dog to make another lunge. This time for Hilda. Ignoring the pain in his chest, Cal lunged and locked his arms tight around its neck as they rolled around the ground until Winston thrashed its head and kicked at Cal's chest with its back legs and managed to break free. Cal fell back again and was barely able to catch Winston by the scruff of his neck as he lunged once more at him, growling and drooling as it closed in on his throat.

CRACK!

A sudden explosion of wood and Winston yelped in shock and pain. While he was distracted with Cal, Hilda had come back around and smashed a large tree branch over the dog's head. Winston half collapsed and Cal capitalized on the moment to throw it off him and down the slope. They watched as the dog pin-balled through the trees, past Dutch and Jadis who held her arms out to catch the dog, only to fly past her and impale itself on a jagged branch of a fallen log.

"WINSTON!" Jadis screamed as the dog screamed and spasmed in its death throes. "YOU DIRTY LITTLE BEASTS I'LL KILL YOU BOTH!"

"Come on!" Hilda panted as though struggling to breathe, her face was chalk white mixed with blue as she took Cal by the hand and climbed over the fallen trees.

Finally, the ground levelled out beneath them as Cal and Hilda reached the summit. The relatively flatter terrain made it easier to run but Hilda could hear their pursuers still chasing them, Jadis screaming bloody murder that would have unnerved even Commander Jill. At least the thicker cover from the denser growth helped provide cover from the taser darts. On the other hand, Hilda's injuries were starting to catch up to her and she was now struggling to keep up with Cal.

"Hilda come on, you gotta keep moving!" he begged, yanking her after him.

"I can't…breathe…" Hilda wheezed weekly.

"Just go. Get out of here." Cal glowered at her and released her hand.

"Cal wha…what are you doing?!"

"Go, I'll hold them off." Cal told her as he tried to yank Hilda's grip from his arm. "Just keep running and don't look back, it's me they're after not you."

"No!" Hilda half shouted, causing a fresh dagger to erupt in her side. "We get out or we die together!" Before they could argue further, a sudden blast caused them both to jump out of their skin as a few meters to their right, a large chunk of a tree erupted in splinters.

"Lieutenant stand down!" They heard Dutch shout to Jadis. In her hands, Jadis was reloading a sawn-off double barrel shotgun, her eyes practically glowing with rage. Cal and Hilda were forced to dive out of the way as she fired again, and Hilda fell behind a patch of tall grass. Cal was nowhere in sight, and she prayed that he had fallen somewhere else. Dutch meanwhile, used his Mana to rip Jadis's gun from her hands.

"Lieutenant I won't tell you again! We take them in alive!" But Dutch's words fell on deaf ears as Jadis shoved him aside and sprinted towards where she had last seen her prey standing. As she drew her knife and angrily waved it through the underbrush, Hilda sprawled down, flattening herself to the ground as she could, holding her breath in the hopes Jadis would give up.

"Found you!" Jadis coldly sang as she turned and charged straight for Hilda. She was less than a yard away when Cal suddenly dashed in out of nowhere and tackled Jadis to the ground. They landed with Jadis on top, her knife inches from his throat and slowly pushing the point towards his Adam's Apple. "Die you contemptible freak!" Despite her pain and exhaustion, Hilda found a second determined wind as she picked up a large rock and bounced it across Jadis' face and heard her nose break. Jadis fell backwards with a screech of pain and lost her footing over a ledge, falling 10 feet down before rolling and crashing down a long ridge and coming to rest against a tree.

"Look out!" Cal pushed Hilda out of the way as Dutch came hurtling over and tackled Cal to the ground. Hilda stumbled slightly, her dress tangled in vines and brambles, and could only watch as Cal and Dutch went tumbling down the same ridge and past the unconscious form of Jadis before clinging onto whatever tree they could grab onto in time to stop themselves. "Run Hilda! Get out of here!" Cal yelled up to her as he began punching at Dutch who blocked every strike and countered with a kick to Cal's abdomen, sending him flying backwards further down.

"Stay where you are Norma!" Hilda's head snapped around and saw it was Jeffry. Somehow, he had escaped the ambush and was holding a net gun aimed right at her. With no other choice, Hilda turned and skidded down the hill towards where Cal and Dutch were locked in combat.

(A Fearsome Foe – Dragon Ball Super)

Catching himself Cal rolled over and scrambled to his feet as he started tossing rocks by the handful at Dutch who easily deflected them with the Light of Mana with an almost lazy flick of his arm. "Fighting me from a distance won't help you boy!" he shouted. "You haven't got the nerve to face me man to man!"

"FIGHT ME!" Cal screamed at him. "FIGHT BACK YOU COWARD!"

"What did you call me freak!" shouted Dutch. "Gaz never gave me or Donnie a fair chance that day! What would you call him?!" The anger came bursting to the surface as Cal roared in fury and bolted headfirst at the man who killed his Gramps.

"Very stupid boy!" Dutch mocked as he extended his hand and with the Light of Mana, ripped a bolder half his size and sent it hurtling towards Cal who dove out of the way just in time. Cal in return grabbed a large branch and swung it over Dutch's head who formed a Mana shield to protect himself. But just as Cal hoped, defending against the makeshift club distracted Dutch enough for Cal to break through the Mana shield and drive his fist into Dutch's stomach, making him vomit up a mouthful of saliva.

"Unlike you I don't need Mana to fight." Cal smirked as he renewed his assault. The sudden blow to his gut had thrown Dutch off of balance and now, Cal was able to land a few hits on him. "What's the matter Dutch? Not so easy to fight one on one? Couldn't face Gramps by yourself so you sent your men to wound him first you gutless coward!"

"Don't call me that!" Dutch shouted as he punched wildly. Cal maneuvered around Dutch's attacks and managed to get in a hit in the small of Dutch's back who snapped back wildly and managed to score a lucky hit against Cal's cheek bone that made his head start spinning. Cal gritted his teeth through the pain and kept his footing the best he could. With Dutch having the advantage of experience he knew he'd have to fight dirty. Dutch threw another punch and Cal ducked as he pushed forward, his shoulder shoving his opponent back against a row of thorn bushes. Suddenly, a glimpse of red hair streaked past him down the hill about forty yards away with that Jeffry guy stumbling after Hilda. Taking up the same branch Dutch had knocked out of his hands, Cal went after him, cracking the branch over his shin. Jeffry fell with a loud crash, his net launcher ripped from his hands, but he quickly recovered and turned to face Cal.

"This is for my father!" Jeffry shouted as he bolted at Cal who slid sideways to avoid Jeffry slashing at him with his blade. Cal kicked the knife from Jeffry's hand, but Jeffry jumped at him, sending them both crashing into a cluster of rocks. With both bleeding and bruised, Jeffry roundhouse kicked at Cal who caught it and slammed his elbow down hard into Jeffry's calf sending him kneeling before driving his knee into Jeffry's face. With his opponent stunned, Cal took the chance to come from behind Jeffry and wrapped his arms tight around his waist to heave Jeffry off the ground. "Total in Ersha!" Cal shouted, using all the strength he could muster to suplex Jeffery behind him, the impact knocking the breath out of him as he gasped hoarsely on the ground.

"Cal hurry!" Hilda called from further down the ridge where she stood next to a ledge that swept upwards and dived down into a sheer drop like a ski jump. Cal picked up Jeffry's blade and made a run towards her when from out of nowhere, something hit Cal so hard across the face he was knocked off his feet again and against a nearby tree. "Oh my god Cal!" He heard Hilda scream in sheer panic along with heavy objects breaking and cracking near him. Cal groped for the blade, blinking blood out of his eyes, managing to make out through his blurred and dizzy vision a figure levitating rocks into the air and launching them towards him. Cal's hand brushed over something hard, Jeffrey's net launcher, and he aimed, taking a quick shot at Dutch who leapt behind a tree. But before Cal could run, he was cut off by the same huge soldier from before.

"Keep him there Brawl!" Dutch yelled as he and Jeffry caught up and all three surrounded Cal. Looking around for another weapon Cal settled with a large thick branch as the three men circled him like a pack of wolves. Jeffry charged first and leapt back again as Cal started swinging. Dutch however wasn't so lucky as the impact of the branch to the side of his head sent him keeling over backwards as the branch snapped in two. Unfortunately for Cal, Jeffry took that chance to leap forward, striking Cal across the face. He stumbled from the blow and felt an enormous hand grab his head to lift him off his feet like he was a child. On instinct, Cal thrust his elbow backwards into Brawl's nose, but the blow didn't seem to even faze Brawl who promptly slammed Cal face first into the ground. Winded and dizzy with blood pouring out of both nostrils, Cal saw with a surge of terror Jadis who had regained consciousness along with three other soldiers were running down the hill after Hilda. Cal jumped up ready to go after them when a searing pain flared across the back of his right shoulder. Cal clutched his shoulder; his hand full of blood as he turned to see Jeffery holding his blade which he had just now slashed across Cal's chest. Cal jumped back and barely avoided a third slash to his chest again and managed to catch Jeffry's outstretched arm before driving his elbow into Jeffry's forearm. A wet crack cut through the air like a gunshot and Jeffery fell to the ground, screaming in pain as he clutched his broken arm. Cal had just turned to try and chase after Hilda when Dutch suddenly came from behind to lock him in a full Nellson.

"Brawl take him down!" Dutch ordered. The large man moved in as Cal brought up his legs and kicked, pushing off the hulking soldier and successfully shoving both him and Dutch over to be sent tumbling down the hill once again.

(Silence)

Hilda skidded to a halt and clung to a tree to stop herself from slipping over the ledge before her that overlooked a 40-foot drop into a void of treetops. She looked back to where she had run and saw Cal now locked in combat with the young soldier who had been chasing her. Cal made short work of her pursuer and she yelled for him to hurry when Dutch sent a barrage of rocks and bits of wood hurtling at Cal. One collided hard with his face and she thought for that instant the blow had killed him. "Oh my god Cal!" Hilda shrieked. "Hold on, I'm coming!" Hilda raced towards Cal as he was surrounded by Dutch, Jeffry, and a third larger man, but to her horror Jadis had regained consciousness and was beelining towards her along with three other soldiers. She had no choice. If she didn't get out of there, then Cal would be too distracted trying to rescue her rather than to save himself. 'Cal I'll come back for you I swear!' Hilda promised as she scurried along the ledge and down a flatter stretch of land, hoping to lose them in the thick of the forest.

"You won't get away!" Jadis screamed. "When I get my hands on you, you'll wish you were never born!" A sudden movement caught her eye and terror tore at Hilda's heart seeing Cal and Dutch rolling down the ridge and only gaining speed. Too late, Hilda saw they were heading straight towards the ledge and before she could scream a warning, both of them went flying over the ledge into the treetops below.

"CAL NOOOOO!" Hilda shrieked. Where was he? He couldn't be dead right? After all, he survived at Arzenal, how could he let a little fall kill him!

"Get her! I want her ass on a silver platter!" Jadis barked as she and the two soldiers flanked left and right behind Hilda. She would be no use to Cal if she got trapped. All she could do was hope his luck would hold out like it usually did. 'Cal you asshole, please don't leave me. I need you.'

The world turned upside down in a chaos of leaves and shattering tree limbs as Cal and Dutch crashed through the treetops and slammed into the ground below. With the wind knocked out of them both, the two sworn enemies lay unmoving amidst the leaves and debris. Gradually, feeling some consciousness Cal weakly tried to move. His entire body ached, and his joints felt like they had been coated in cement. It was a miracle if he hadn't broken anything, let alone survived. Weakly, he turned his head and saw Dutch lying a short distance away. His fancy coat and business suit were torn to shreds and his body was covered in shallow cuts. Cal winced as his entire body began to sting and he realized he probably just as in bad shape as Dutch. He forced himself to move and though he felt like he had been chewed up by a DRAGON, to his relief nothing seemed to be broken.

But then he realized with a surge of panic that made his heart sink into the bottom of his stomach that the files belonging to his mother and Subject BETA had been ripped from his jacket pocket during the fall. The blow was gut wrenching. All the questions he still had; the answers were forever lost to him. But that did not matter in this moment. For now, he'd settle on finishing the man who had taken everything from him. Dutch was already shakily trying to get up and despite Cal's own agony, the fire within him had not diminished. He wanted nothing more in that moment than to end this man here and now. 'You'll pay for what you did to Gramps.' He vowed using all the strength he had to force himself to his feet. 'I'll avenge Gramps if it's the last thing I do!'

Kneeling on the ground, his body wracked with pain, Dutch stared down at his right arm that was hanging limply from dislocation. 'This is nothing!" Dutch vowed, ignoring the pain as he channeled his Mana throughout his body. 'An arm is a small price to pay instead of failing a second time!' Clutching his right bicep as his left hand lit emerald-green, Dutch clenched his teeth together and concentrated. With a soft pop, Dutch's agonized howl rang through the forest. Once healed enough to move, Dutch took a few deep breaths to center himself and flexed his arm when he heard footsteps approaching from behind. Dutch looked over his shoulder and sneered in annoyance and disgust at the sight of a bloody, filthy and battered Subject Alpha shambling towards him. "You're more trouble than I imagined. But I've swatted bigger insects than you."

"Yeah well," Subject Alpha panted as he wiped the blood from his mouth, "You'll find out I'm one stubborn asshole."

"God you are just like Gaz." Dutch sniggered shaking his head. "Never giving up and pushing forwards despite the odds, just like that night. It makes me sick just to look at you!"

"You're right Dutch I am just like him." Subject Alpha smirked. "And if he saw me now, he'd be proud of who I am. Too bad your parents can't say the same." Dutch couldn't believe the audacity. This Norma was speaking as if he actually was superior to him

"Why?! Because you pick fights you can't win? I'm sure that made all his sacrifices worth it." Dutch took in a deep breath before he threw aside his tattered jacket and undid his ripped tie. "You've been a thorn in my side all my life. I've waited for this, for a long, long time."

(Berserker Drums)

A tense silence filled the air as the male Norma also removed his leather jacket and t-shirt, exposing his muscular torso and the many scars he bore from battle along with all the fresh cuts and bruises. Dutch spotted the red glint on the male Norma's left wrist and recognized the bracelet he wore from 10 years ago. The same one used for the machine those apes made to copy the Ragna-mail. 'So that's what they're planning.' He realized. One way or another, he had to put an end to this now. At that moment, rain began to fall from the sky and both fighters stared each other down.

"That night Gramps died; I swore I would make the ones responsible for his death pay." Subject Alpha announced. "And I swear I'll start with you!"

"Don't make promises you can't keep, little boy!" Dutch hissed as he undid his top shirt buttons. "Whatever suffering you THINK you've endured is nothing but a trifle compared to mine! I was there when you were born. And ever since that moment when the doctor's Mana broke and revealed you to be a Male Norma, it appalled me that something like you would be allowed to even be born into this world!" His eyes turned to wild slits, his face full of resentment and rage as they never broke eye contact. "I don't know what Gaz saw in you, killing my brother for a freak of nature. And ever since, I have devoted my life to finding you again. And now, I'm going to do what I should have done, 19 years ago!" Dutch rolled up his sleeves.

"You want me?! Come and get me, you murderer!" Subject Alpha challenged as he brought up his scrapped and bloody knuckles. Dutch assumed his own fighting stance. His mission was to bring Subject Alpha to Master Embryo alive but not before he taught the little freak his proper place. Across the rain-soaked woods their eyes never locked off each other's, blue stared into orange, both daring the other to make the first move. Finally, a bolt of lightning streaked the length of the dark grey sky and they both charged, their savage roars lost in the thunder.

"ABOMINATION!"

"MOTHER FUCKER!"

Weaving between the trees, Hilda desperately tried to find her way back to the place Cal had fallen, but she was getting further away with no sense of direction. Even worse, the sudden rain had turned everything slippery and deadly. Hilda tripped many times in the mud, her bare feet finding no grip and forcing her to grab onto nearby trees to stop herself from falling down the hillside. All the while, she could hear Jadis and her men catching up to her.

"Freeze Norma!" A large soldier appeared from behind a tree, pointing his pistol at Hilda while in his other hand he brandished a pair of handcuffs.

"Don't let her escape Corporal!" Hilda heard Jadis behind her. She and her men would be upon her at any second. As she was still injured, Hilda knew it was unlikely she could move fast enough to evade his shot and take him down. But what other option did she have?

As he began to approach her, Hilda stared down the barrel of the gun and suddenly the soldier's eyes weren't on her. He was looking at something up the hill behind Jadis. Hilda didn't know what was going on, but she took her chance and lunged at him.

Seizing his wrist and twisting his arm into a joint lock, Hilda forced him to drop his pistol before swinging her leg into his stomach. But before she could pick up her new weapon, a knee planted into her back to send her face first into the mud. Before she could right herself, she felt two pairs of powerful hands push her down into the mud. A hand roughly grabbed her chin and pulled her up to meet Jadis who's horrible yellow eyes stared into Hilda's soul.

"You killed my precious Winston you little slut!" Jadis seethed. Hilda spat in her face and Jadis wiped it off without a trace of emotion. "I don't care what Dutch says. You're going to die long and slow. Rip her clothes off! I'm taking her skin as a trophy!" Hilda felt large hands all over her, ripping and tearing at the remnants of her clothes as Hilda screamed when a body landed heavily on top of her, pinning her beneath its bulk. A new round of gunfire erupted and Jadis was yelling in pain. Blood splatted on Hilda's face as another body fell when she spotted a figure through the undergrowth aiming a bow and coming towards her fast. This was it, her end. This person would put an arrow right between her eyes. 'I'm sorry Cal. I'm so sorry.'

(Shingeki no Kyojin – Attack on Titan)

Cal leaped back, avoiding a heavy punch that whooshed past his face so fast he didn't see it coming until the last moment. He ducked beneath another punch that skimmed his hair and realized something about Dutch's movements had changed. Was it possible for a human to move this fast? Cal was so focused on Dutch's fists he failed to anticipate a crushing roundhouse that slammed into his ribs. The resulting blow sent Cal skidding across the ground as Dutch rushed at him, his fists encased in the light of Mana and Cal realized what was happening. Dutch was using his Mana to enhance his combat abilities.

Dutch jabbed his fist forward and Cal blocked it with his arm. The impact made his entire body scream in pain and before he could react, Dutch's other fist struck Cal right in the eye. Cal held his arms over his face as a barrage of fists struck every part of his upper body. Every blow was like getting hit with a baseball bat. Dutch was too fast for him to counter like this. He'd just have to power through so Cal launched forward, his forehead smashing into the bridge of Dutch's nose. Blood exploded from Dutch's face as he fell back, clutching his shattered nose and Cal capitalized, managing to land a few blows until Dutch suddenly snapped sideways and drove his knee into Cal's stomach, sending him flying back. Cal's legs shook as he coughed up blood. He was running on fumes while Dutch, thanks to his Mana, still looked like he wasn't about to run out anytime soon.

"Did you…think…that would…work?" Dutch slurred as he fixed his broken nose back into place. "Don't think just because Gaz taught you those moves that you have a chance. I've been doing this before you were born."

"Shut up and fight!" Cal gasped before they both charged each other again. Cal landed the first blow and Dutch paid him back with interest. Somehow, Cal managed to push through the pain and elbowed Dutch in the jaw when Dutch grabbed Cal's head and slammed him face first into his knee before grabbing Cal under the arms and throwing him aside. With his head swimming and his vision spinning, Cal tried to stand but all his strength was drained, and he finally collapsed out of pure exhaustion. His face pressed against the earth as blood trickled from his nose and mouth leaving a small puddle under his face.

Everything was going dark like he was about to fall asleep until a gleaming white light brought him back to a semi-conscious state. "Well, your guard needs more working on than I thought." A calm solid voice sighed. "I wish I could tell you it gets easier kiddo. But I'd be lying. But remember, Hilda still needs you. They all do back at Arzenal." Cal lifted his head to see a figure standing in the light before him. And not just any figure but Gramps. "I didn't raise you to quit that easily, right?" Gramps extended his hand and Cal felt himself get back to his feet as he stood tall. "That's my boy." He heard Gramps' voice as the image of the man who raised him was replaced by that of Dutch who raised his Mana charged fists.

"You don't know when to quit do you?" Dutch snarled. "Don't think taking a beating will save your little girlfriend." Cal spat out a mouthful of blood.

"I made a promise." Cal smirked as he raised his own fists. "That I will protect those who are counting on me. Gramps taught me to always keep my word. Even if that means killing you first."

"Well then come then. Let's see how much his lessons were actually worth." Dutch dared him.

Cal uttered an inarticulate yell of rage and charged at Dutch, the man he now hated more than anything in this world.

They had hoped their flash grenades would be enough to disorient all the enemy soldiers at once, giving them enough time to ambush them and retrieve the two Norma. But unfortunately, their recent streak of bad luck held firm and the entire forest erupted into chaos as the enemy unit began shooting wildly in every direction.

"Lucas keep your head down!" Lucia screamed at her brother who barely avoided getting hit by a stray bullet.

"We need to push through. We have to get the Norma away from the enemy!" Lucas shouted back as Dolton rushed over.

"Stay behind me!" the tech ordered as he formed a Mana barrier which all three took cover behind. Their human members of the retrieval squad raised their own Mana barriers for their Norma and Ancient Folk allies and hunkered down while the three leaders edged along the perimeter. "Do you see the Norma anywhere?!"

"There they are!" Lucas pointed and Lucia spotted two figures disappearing into the woods to the south. The two Norma had somehow got away but both leaders of the enemy squad had also seen them and were in pursuit. "It's him!" Lucas snarled, drawing his sword.

"Who are you talking about? Lucas what are you doing?!" Lucia yelled, unable to keep him from running off after them. Lucia and Dolton followed after and hoped the team could handle the rest without them. Unfortunately, several soldiers had joined the chase and were trying to circle around. At the foot of a steep hill, they passed by the carcass of a large dog impaled on a broken branch of a log. After clambering up the slope and climbing over a barrier of fallen trees they finally reached the top of the hill in time to see the enemy vanish into the growth on the opposite side of the summit.

"That way!" Lucas directed down a steep slope to the left where three humans were fighting the male Norma while another group of four ran down the hill after the female. Finally, Lucia noticed the Roma coat the one in charge was wearing and her heart skipped a beat from shock and dread. It was the man who killed their father, Zolton. "Lucas wait!" She called out as her brother charged ahead and clambered down the hill.

Before their eyes, the fight between the male Norma and the humans continued down the slope until both him and their father's killer plunged over a ledge and into the canopy below. His two underlings ran to the ledge and Lucia's eyes widened at the one with a broken arm. She'd never forget those golden curls and turquoise eyes. Not after what he did.

"Traitor!" Lucia yelled, notching, and letting loose an arrow at Jeffry. Once, twice, thrice; but every shot was deflected off his raised Mana barrier as he retreated further back along with his soldier, bullets pelting at their Mana shields. "Coward!" she yelled as Finn and a few other members of their squad finally caught up.

"The enemy's retreated." Finn reported. "But they've double backed and will come across the other side if they meet up with the others."

"Just keep them at bay if they return." Dolton ordered. He and Lucia reached the ledge where the male Norma and the human had tumbled down the mountain face. From what he could see, a few branches had broken so hopefully that could have slowed their fall enough to survive.

"Lucas stop, you'll get yourself killed." Lucia called as Lucas found a part of the slope that was less steep.

"No! That bastard's going to pay for what he did to our father, our people and Harper!" Lucas roared as he skidded down the ledge.

"Lucas can take care of himself. Let's go after the Norma then we'll come back." Dolton urged. The two of them ran in the adjacent direction. Luckily, it was starting to rain which left easy to follow tracks in the mud. A girl's scream cut through the air as they rounded a corner and came across a horrifying sight. Two soldiers had pinned down the female Norma and were tearing her clothes off while their leader, a tall woman with silver hair, readied a knife. Lucia quickly notched an arrow and managed to nail the leader right in the shoulder. Lucia aimed a second arrow but missed as the tall woman raised a shield and fled into the woods. Dolton and Finn meanwhile drew their guns and quickly shot the two holding down the Norma, their lifeless bodies collapsing on top of her.

"Hey are you okay?!" Lucia asked as she knelt down beside the Norma. She had long red hair that came undone during the assault, the top half of her dress was torn to shreds and her bra had snapped, leaving her half naked. Together, Dolton and Finn pulled the soldier's bodies off of her. "Hey talk to me, you're safe now."

"Get away from me!" She screeched, covering her arms over her half naked frame. "Who are you people?"

"Don't worry we're not going to hurt you." Lucia explained, trying to keep her tone reassuring. "We're friends of Arzenal. We were sent to get you and the male Norma away from here." The Norma looked as though she didn't believe her, and she flinched seeing the guys looking at her.

"Turn around!" Lucia snapped as she shot the men filthy looks and laid her jacket around the Norma's shoulders. "My name is Lucia." She introduced. "What's your name?"

"Hilda." She answered stiffly. Lucia already knew her name from her file, but she hoped to get off with a good start in building trust. "Where's Cal!" Hilda worried. "He fell down the mountain! Have you found him?"

"Lucia we need to go!" Dolton persisted. "The enemy could come back any second."

"Let's head back!" Lucia agreed. "We need to find Lucas. He went after the male Norma. Can you walk?" Hilda nodded as they all ran back the way they came. 'Cal just hold on I'm coming.' Hilda prayed.

(Through our Paths may Diverge – Goblin Slayer)

Utterly exhausted, battered and bloodied beyond his measure, Cal still did not give up. Every blow pushed himself beyond his limits as he struck back with what little strength he had left. Both were in very bad shape, their bloody and bruised faces barely resembling their looks from twenty minutes ago. Except Dutch kept using his Mana to heal his wounds.

"You can't keep this up forever." Dutch exhaled, clutching his bruised ribs. "And this time, you haven't got Gaz to save you now."

"Yeah and you don't have your stooges to come save you." Cal wheezed. "You coward!"

"DON'T…" screamed Dutch as he suddenly leapt forward and tackled full force against Cal, the sudden force of the impact was the last straw and Cal's legs finally gave way as they to fell rolling to the ground and as he looked up Dutch's face was suddenly demented, inhuman, "…CALL ME COWARD!" Cal weakly pummeled Dutch's back but the older man got his hands around Cal's neck and began to squeeze. "Can't talk so proud now can you!?" Dutch breathed with satisfaction. "Yes…that's it! I should have done this the moment you were born!"

Cal's vision began to fade in a mix of black and red splotches. This was it. He had nothing left. He had failed to kill the man who had taken Gramps from him. And now he was going to die here, far from home, and away from everyone he had left.

'Jill…Jasmine…Maggie…Scarlett…Salia…Ersha…Rosalie…Chris…Miranda…Ange…Hilda…I'm sorry.' Already he could feel his heartbeat slowing and before him, Dutch's insane visage faded away to be replaced by those he lost. Gramps, Starr, Coco, his mother, Zola, and Naomi. 'Well, at least I'll get to see all of you again.' Time seemed to stretch on forever as Cal awaited his end when suddenly, the pressure was released, and Cal took a heaving gasp.

Through the haze of the rain and his still blurred vision, Cal saw someone else was fighting Dutch. Someone in a black coat who slashed at Dutch with a longsword and managed to carve a long gash up his face. As he faded away, Cal watched them retreat into the forest as he finally gave in, his last sight a head of red hair rushing towards him.

Her lungs heaving for breath, Hilda raced to keep up with the people that had just saved her when a young man who looked like he could be Lucia's double emerged from the wood. "What happened Lucas?" Lucia worried.

"He got away." Lucas seethed, kicking a tree in frustration. "I had him, but he used his Mana to trap me before retreating. He's gone now."

"Don't worry about it. We'll get him next time." Lucia promised and as Hilda got closer, she saw behind them a body lying motionless on the ground.

"Cal!" She yelled as she raced up to him. "Cal speak to me. Come on wake up! Please don't be dead!" She began to shake him before Lucia gently pulled her back so Dolton could check his pulse."

"It's okay." Dolton assured her. "He's just passed out. He's taken one hell of a beating though." It was indeed a horrid sight to behold. Cal's entire face and body was cut, bruised, and covered in blood.

"We need to get him out of here and to a doctor." Lucia urged. "We need to get them both out of here."

"Team Hammerhead have the skyhooks brought over immediately." Lucas radioed in. "We've retrieved the two passengers. Get a medical kit ready asap." Hilda looked at Lucas and swore for just a second he looked at Cal with contempt, his eyes locked onto Cal's ruby gemmed bracelet for half a second before turning away.

"It's okay we're going to take you somewhere safe." Lucia said gently to Hilda, putting her hands on her shoulders. "I promise Cal is going to be just fine." Seconds later, ten large black vehicles the same identical to Cal's flew in over the trees and landed next to them. One of them had a large trailer hooked on to the back.

"Both of you on board!" Lucas ordered. "Move out." An emergency stretcher was carried out of the trailer and Hilda walked alongside Cal as they carried him inside.

"Where…where are we going." Hilda asked as the door closed and she felt the vehicle start to lift of the ground.

"To the Enderant Harbor." Lucas answered. "You're both needed there for what's to come."