Chapter 42. Unravel
Poch stretched as he and Loona entered their room in the hotel base. "Welp, I'm beat." He said, heading for the drawer, picking out a red shirt and green shorts
"You wanna get a pizza for tonight?" Loona suggested, heading to the couch.
"Yeah sure. Since I got my daggers back we can do pickup." He said changing out his clothes.
"Ok, the usual?" She said getting her phone out.
"Yeah." He took a look at his armor clothing, seeing the rips and cuts. "Jeez, glad I got spares, Alto really ripped this."
"Speaking off," She looked at him with some concern, "You dont think hes gonna jump right in when he sees you got your daggers back is he?"
"I don't know, but I doubt it. He did say he wasn't supposed to be there."
"Still what if he brings that collar again? You won't be able to use your Shadow Demons."
"I don't think he will." He set the ripped clothes down onto the dresser. "He wanted a fair fight after all, didn't even use his Light Angels when we last fought, or that phase ability." He came up to her.
"Why was he so fixated on you?" She asked, letting him up on her lap.
"I'm guessing cause I sword? He was interested in how I fight."
"Sounds like an admirer."
"Not one I'd want, especially if he can't get my name right."
"What he call you?"
"He…kept calling me Arnello. Really bothered me."
"That bothered you?"
"Alot."
"Why? It technically is your name."
"I know but…it's just…Arnello feels like…a different me."
"What do you mean?"
"It's…" He leaned back on her, attempting to find the right words. "When I lost my memories and became Poch it was like…a new life…Arnello is my real name but…it's not who I am…that weird?"
"Kinda but, it makes sense, but what about your dad? He's no doubt gonna call you Arnello still."
"I know, but I'm hoping he'll grow to call me Poch. By the way, Tania text the place?"
"No not yet, she said she'll text tomorrow about it."
"Alright…you call for pizza?"
"Oh right, sorry." She dialed up the pizza place.
"Hyup!" Joe placed the bail of hay on the truck. "Thanks for helping me with this."
"You're welcome." Echo said, directing Dawn to gather a few bails, sending it to the truck while he himself took up a bit.
"Heh, having these powers is real handy. If you ever think of retiring I'd gladly hire you as a farm hand."
"Heh, I'll consider that."
Joe watched as Dawn placed the stacks of hay on his truck. "Hah, and thank you little missy." He joked. He paused when he saw the shadow demon turn its gaze on him. "Hm?" He couldn't help but look in its eyes, feeling as though it was looking at him.
Dawn's eyes squinted slightly and her cheeks rose as if she were smiling. "You're welcome." The voice of a young cherry girl spoke.
"What the-!?" Joe was taken by total surprise. "Did you just…talk!?"
"What!?" Echo shot back, dropping what he was holding, and rushing to Jow. "She spoke!?
"Y-yeah." A flabbergasted Joe spoke.
Echo wasted no time, turning to Dawn, grasping her arms, looking at her pleadingly. "Dawn! Dawn, can you hear me!?"
"..." Dawn's gaze was placed on her owner.
"Dawn!" Echo tightened his grip, almost wanting to shake her.
"...Pa…"
"Ah!" His face loosened, awe replacing the dread.
"...Papa." She gained that smiling expression, her eyes showing life, looking happily at her dad.
"Dawn!" He gained a wide smile. "My daughter! You responded!" He teared up, feeling a wave of joy, but as soon as it came it quickly left.
"Pa-...pa." The life in her eyes were quickly going away and her smile faltered.
"Dawn!? Dawn!" Echo shook and pleaded again.
"..." Dawn looked at him, emotionless, without a hint of soul.
"Damnit!" He huffed, letting go in anger. "Just when I, ugh!" He growled, clenching his fist. Joe came up to Echo, placing his hand on his arm in an attempt to calm him down. Echo looked towards him, seeing his face that showed compassion and understanding. He took a deep breath, calming down. "I'm ok." He looked up to the shadow demon, gaining a hint of sadness, sighing and dismissing her.
"Wanna take a break?" Joe asked.
"...That'd be nice." He gave a weak smile.
Joe set the mug of coffee in front of Echo, the two now sitting in the dining room.
"Thank you." Echo told him, taking a sip.
"No problem." Joe sat across from him.
"Sorry if I…snapped there."
"It's fine, you didn't snap at me, plus I get it, I'd be the same if that was my little pumpkin spice. Feelings like that are just part of being a father."
"Thanks for understanding." He grined, taking a sip of his Joe.
"...If…" He was contemplating on asking what question he was thinking, swishing the mug around with an uncertain look.
"Hm?" Echo looked at him curiously.
"If…ya don't mind me asking…what was…she like?"
Echo lowered his mug, looking at the black liquid quietly.
"Y-you don't have to answer, I shouldn't have asked." Joe said, feeling dumb for asking.
"..." Echo's mouth slightly curled in a somber smile. "She was…a mischievous little girl…she liked to make silly pranks on me and her mother…they were always…obvious but…we would always fall for it just to make her life…she'd jump out and yell Gotcha! every time." He chuckled. "They were harmless, usually just your typical childish pie in the face but…she tried to be unique and…I could see her being an engineer with all she tried. She only pranked her friends or family and, believe it or not, loved broccoli and Autumn found that funny, a kid liking vegetables…she'd joke with her, asking if I hypnotized her and get this, Dawn actually said I did and gave me such a devilish smile." He let out a laugh, remembering that moment.
"Hah, sounds like another prank."
"It was one of her best ones…Yknow…we had here before I graduated from highschool…she was born a few days after we got married…she was the perfect honeymoon gift…" He teared up a little, seeing a vision of her in his coffee.
Joe looked at him sadly and decided to add about his daughter. "Y'know Millie was our third child and when we had her…I knew she'd be a wild one."
"How'd you figure?" Echo wiped off his tears.
"She'd laugh whenever I'd chop something or get excited whenever she saw a fight, sometimes nearly jumping in…when she got older she'd fight her older brother and boy was she a biter then."
"I can imagine." Echo giggled.
"Yeah, it was like she was born to be a killing badass…and you have no idea the sense of pride that gave me." He smiled earnestly. "Especially now that she's working with you all in fighting angels…I braged the hell about her when I was next at the bar after finding that out."
"Hehe, no one could blame you."
"And no one did, but boy were the guys jealous." He sighed, leaning back. "..." His smile dropped slightly. "Y'know…I bet…our daughters would've gotten along great."
"...I'd like to think so to…Mozhno tol'ko nadeyat'sya i mechtat."
"What's that mean?"
"One can only hope and dream….and I do hope…"
"...I hope too." Joe rose a mug.
"...Thank you." He cheered, clanking his mug with his.
Shelly, Ilas, and Millie were in the human world having had Greg take them to a shooting range in the city. Shelly took out a case from the trunk when they arrived, hoisting it over her shoulders.
"Seeya uncle Greg!" Ilas waved at Greg.
"Have fun girls!" Greg drove off.
"So now you gonna tell us what's in the case?" Millie asked Shelly.
"I'm guessing guns since we're going to the shooting range." Ilas theorized.
"Yep, but they aren't ya normal guns." Shelly answered.
"Are they…Exterminator guns?"
"Wait, then isn't it a bad idea to come here for that?" Millie said.
"Yeah won't that cause some issues."
Shelly flashed a smirk. "Oh don't worry about that. Cmon!" She ushered them to follow.
Ilas and Millie looked amongst the other with some confusion before following her in. They entered the gun range and went straight to the counter. It looked like your typical gun range with guns strewn around for renting or buying, there were also a few knives that Millie took some interest in.
"Welcome to the Silver Shots, how can I help ya?" Said a woman at the desk.
"I'd like a vip room please." Shelly told her.
"Got a membership card."
"I have an E card."
The front desk lady seemed slightly interested. She grabbed an LED light from her counter. "Symbol please." Shelly brought her right hand out, letting her shine the light on the back. She revealed her Exterminator symbol, in turn causing the same symbol to shine on the desk ladies hand. They both stopped showing their symbols and she placed the light away. "Are your friends D, H, or E?"
"One's an H, the other is a D."
Millie and Ilas looked at eachother confused again before shrugging it off.
"Alright," She typed on her computer, "how long?"
"Eh I'd say…two hours."
"Ok, that'll be…30 upfront and 10 for every extra hour."
"Sweet!" She took out her card and scanned it on the receiver.
A small red card came out from the back of the monitor. "Room three."
"Thanks!" She took the card. "Cmon girls!" She led Millie and Ilas to the back door, the trio heading in. Before them was a long hallway with several doors, each with numbers, on the right, the faint sound of gunfire being heard from some with an even fainter sound of banter and laughter. The left side was barren with just red strips straight across from each door.
"Whatd you mean by D and H?" Millie asked.
"Yeah, if anything Millie's a b size." Ilas said with a smirk.
"Ye-" In that moment she got what she said and glared at her. "Hey! I'm a C at least!" She consciously covered her chest.
"We're going to room four right?" She headed to said room.
"Hey, dont ignore me!"
"Here we are." Ilas stood in front of the door, noticing the keypad. "Shelly, what's the-?"
"Not there." Shelly said, being across the door at the red strip. She checked if the coast was clear before forming a halberd and drawing a circle in the center, numbers appearing where she drew it. She typed in the numbers on her card and placed it on the display that appeared. There was a beep and the red strip extended out, opening up like a door. "Cmon cmon!" Shelly gestured them in.
Ilas and Millie looked with awe and followed her inside, entering an elevator.
"What is this?" Ilas asked, the door closing automatically behind them.
"The elevator." Shelly said, pressing the down button.
"To what?"
"The special V.I.P room." She reverted into her hellhound form. "You can change back by the way." She said to Millie.
"I can?" Millie said in surprise and some confusion.
"Yeah, it's fine."
Millie turned back to her demon self. "Shelly where are-" The door opened, "-...we…" Both her and Ilas looked into the room.
On the left there was a table with two large couches laying perpendicular around it with a vending machine behind it and a shute next to them, the other side having a fountain for various drinks. On the table was a console with a tablet attached to it, the console having a speaker and next to it being a phone. On the other side were empty shelves that were able to retract into the wall panels, the center having a keypad for selection, below it being a desk. There were no booths for the gun area but there were adjustable sliders, made to be able to hold clips and weapons, that could be moved around, the gun area being giant, big enough to hold a boss angel, the spot before it being only half the height.
"Whoa…" Ilas and Millie awed in unison.
"Welcome to the V.I.P. room for the Silver Shot's, the Exterminator version!" Shelly announced, walking in.
"The Exterminator version?" Ilas questioned.
"Yeah. It's a private lounge specifically for Exterminators both active and retired." She headed to the rails, setting her case on the table. "It's got a vending machine for snacks, a chute for food delivery, a gun rack where you can rent various types of guns, and not the normal kind, and coolest part." She waved her hand in front of the gun range at the counter, bringing up two holo screens. She dragged and dropped an icon from one screen onto the other, resulting in the appearance of a holographic angel in the range. "Tada!"
"A holodeck! Like Star Trek!" Ilas marveled.
"Star Trek?" Millie questioned.
"You dont know Star Trek!?" Ilas and Shelly gawked in surprise.
"Never heard of it." Millie shrugged.
"I mean, I guess it's more a surprise that you had heard of it through Moxxie at least." Ilas commented.
"Yeah, that would be his kind of show."
"You think so?" Millie said in genuine interest.
"Mhm, try showing it to him." Shelly set a few more basic Angels on the range before opening her case. "Alright let's test this baby out first." She took out a semi automatic single barrel shotgun. It was short, the barrel being about as long as her forearm and the handle was tilted by 45 degrees. The color of it was black with a red pump, inscriptions being laced on it and the muzzle along its small triangle cut holes. The gun sight had a flippable lens and a ball point switch on both sides. It wasn't very decorated, the inscriptions being its only noticeable thing.
"Oh, testing out some new weapons?" Ilas asked, looking in the box.
"Yeah, Gen and his assistant made them."
"I thought Gen was more of an accessory type?"
"He's branching out now." She loaded up the shotgun and took aim with one hand. She took a shot, hitting the one angel on the right of the four angel group. There wasn't much of a spread so it took the entire brunt of the shot to its chest, knocking back into the one behind it, managing to push it back and cause it to trip while the first one fell. "Nice." The inscriptions on the pump lit up and it moved back, reloading itself in one swift move, readying her next shot which she took, taking the next six shots on the other three, paying attention to a few things. "Hm." She set it down and took out her phone. "Rate of fire is pretty standard with about one nearly every two seconds." She noted.
Millie took a look at the holo angels rising back up. "So those are like…illusions right?"
"Technically. You can place any kind on any spot in the range and shoot them as much as you want. Cool part," She brought up the display again and brought out another window, "you can even affect their behavior and it shows you statistics about your recent shots."
"Nice! And you're saying this is an Exterminator training lounge?"
"No, it's a Vip room for Exterminators. It's not officially a part of the corps, but it has support from it. There are plenty of places like this, even in restaurants, for Exterminators who wanna just unwind without worrying about their human timer, especially those that retired and the early retirees that need work."
"There are early retirees?" Ilas stated.
"Well yeah, you didn't expect everyone to go all the way through with this? Some quit halfway through after losing a friend or limb, it's kinda to be expected, but it's not like they can go back to normal life. Humans in sown in demon skin, remember?" As she was talking she changed up the lineup of angels to the ones with shields.
"That sounds rough."
"It is what it is."
"Hey, how come we didn't come here for a girls night?" Millie asked.
"Well for one, you gotta pay, two you'd still need to come in through the front as a human since you can't just gate here, magic reasons, and three free food."
"ACHOO!" Poch sneezed.
"Plus not a place you wanna get caught sounding like a bear on." Ilas said with a mischievous smile.
"Hey! I don't snore like a bear!" Millie defended.
"Yeah…it sounds more like a lion." Shelly added.
Millie growled. "Y'know what, lions are proud creatures, so I'll take it as a compliment."
"If you want." Shelly took aim at the shield angels, pressing and holding the trigger. The pump started to jack but no shots were fired. the barrel gaining a red hue and emanating steam at the fourth jack. After the sixth pump she let go and a huge concentrated blast escaped the tip, knocking back the guarding shields. The recoil pushed her arm and shoulder back. She rubbed and rolled her shoulder through the discomfort. "That's some big recoil." She grunted, bringing up the statistics display. "Oh nice amount of damage! You girls wanna try?" She glanced back at her two spectators.
"Can we!?" Millie and Ilas said excitedly.
"Yeah, these aren't real angels so you can bring the pain!" She grabbed a second shotgun out of the case. "Here." She flipped both around to grab them by the barrel, cringing and dropping the one she was using due to the heat of the barrel. "Hot!" She waved and blew her hand. "Might wanna let that one cool." The demon and human grabbed the offered weapons and rushed to the booth, but Shelly gave one final warning before they could start. "Uh, be careful though, especially you Ilas, those were made for an Exterminator so definitely don't use the charged shot."
"Ok! How do we bring up the-" Ilas swiped in front of her. "Oh, that's easy."
"You can even set bosses!" Millie said, bouncing on her heels, looking through the catalog. She chose the lion boss.
"Going big, huh?" Shelly chuckled, taking out a silver red rifle.
"I've always wanted to shoot these assholes!" She grabbed the barrel and cringed, quickly pulling her hand away. "Ouch!"
"Told you to let it cool. Dax and Gen haven't made a cooling system yet."
"Sorry…wait, Dax?" She wiped her head around at her in a mix of confusion and surprise.
"Heh, yep."
Flashback to when Solis and Shelly visited Dax.
"Why don't you ask him." Gen smirked, facing back at his assistant. "Hey, come over here, assistant."
The assistant placed down his pencil, rose up, and came over to them. He unlocked his mask and opened up the face plate. Once Solis and Shelly's eyes hit that face their mouths fell open and they were dumbfounded.
"Dax!?" Shelly exclaimed.
"Hey Shell." Dax smiled and waved.
"YOU'RE Gen's new assistant!?" Solis added.
"Yep! Called him a while ago for a visit and showed him some of my works!"
"I was impressed," Gen continued, "we got to talking, and now he's my new assistant." He patted Dax's shoulder. "He even convinced me to go from accessories to full on weapon crafting!"
"No way…" Shelly said in disbelief.
Dax approached his sister. "I may not be a fighter like you, but I sure can craft, and with how things have been with you and these Crusaders, I'd feel alot better if you used something I atleast help make. Best part, if I'm working with Gen then I'm out of danger."
"I-...you're gonna be working with Gen…" Shelly was processing.
"Mhm." Dax nodded.
"Making weapons…"
"Mostly for you guys, yeah."
"..." Shelly placed a wide smile on her face and embraced Dax in a hug. "That's so AWESOME!" She said overjoyed, forgetting to mind her Exterminator strength.
"Th-...thanks…Shell…" Dax struggled to say, feeling his bones start to crack.
"Uh, babe, might wanna tone down your dads side in you and let go before you break his spine." Solis suggested.
"Oh, whoops!" Shelly let go, Dax nearly slumping to the ground.
"Jeez, and I thought that time dad hugged me when I came back from summer camp was bad." Dax tried to straighten out his bent spine.
"Sorry."
"It's fine."
"We do have some things we'd like you to test run if you don't mind." Gen brought out a case.
"Whatever feedback you can give will help, especially on the shot guns, which I want you to use with Le-armes in close range mode."
"Why?" Shelly tilted her head.
"For something else I'm working on, and a theory."
"Hm…Alright!" She took the case. "I'll write my report when all is done!"
"Want me to help?" Solis asked.
"Actually, I got something I want you to try, you, Blitzo, and Mox." Dax asked, taking out another, smaller case. "This should atleast make stunning them a lot easier but I want y'all to test it first to work out any kinks."
"Oh cool! We'll send our report directly to you, craftmaster!"
"Oh knock it off," Dax chuckled while rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm the one that makes it, he designs, so I'M the Craftmaster." Gen protested.
"Yeah, I'm the designmaster. If I had his magic then I'd be a craftmaster and he'd be the assistant."
"Don't make me cut your pay."
"You get paid?" Shelly asked.
"Pft, he aint an intern, course he's getting paid. Whaddya take me for?"
"So your brother designed these? Awesome!" Millie complimented, blowing the barrel of her shotgun.
"Any other demons in the corps hiring?" Ilas asked.
"Not that I know of, why?" Shelly looked to Ilas curiously.
"Well, I'm trying to get a better job cause I hate doing retail, and since I know about all this stuff and since Dax is working with them I'm thinking why not, sounds better than retail."
"Well, I think this place is hiring. Facilities like this do hire humans and if you already know about the corps I think they give benefits."
"Cool, any gym type deals for Tom? He could be a personal trainer for some demons."
"I…doubt that but you could ask Stolas."
"YEEP!" Millie flew back after taking a shot. Her barrel was a bit steamy, implying she charged it.
"You used a charge shot didn't ya?"
"Yeah. Thought I could handle a small one." She chuckled nervously.
Stolas and Blitzo were sitting on the couch in Poch's place, currently watching Hell-a-novela, and eating some fried sushi and spicy deer kabobs.
"Whoo!" Stolas waved his tongue after eating a piece of a kabob, drinking some grape juice.
"Stop eating it if it's too hot." Blitzo chastised.
"I can't help it, it's spicy but so good!" He said taking another bite.
"Alejandro, why must you go!?" Said the female imp in the show.
"Gabriella! Before we go on with our lives together, there are things I must first fix!" Said the macho Imp next to here.
"What do you mean?" Asked Gabriella.
"My sweet! I've made so many mistakes in my past,"
Blitzo had his attention grabbed by that remark.
"I've done things that I'm not proud of…and…I ran from them."
His expression twinged with that, as if feeling the same guilt that Alejandro did.
"Those mistakes are something I can no longer ignore…I can no longer run from them!"
Blitzo tensed up, gripping his legs tighter.
Stolas noticed. "Blitzy?"
"Im," Blitzo raised up, "gonna see if Poch's got any wine hidden somewhere, I mean he doesn't drink but maybe he got some for Loona." He was about to walk off but Stolas grabbed his arm.
"Darling," He paused the show, "what's wrong?"
"I-its nothing really." He tried to smile it off.
Stolas wasn't buying it, pulling him in, holding him close, rubbing his chest, nuzzling him compassionately. "You can talk to me, Blitzo."
Blitzo tried to keep his composure but it melted away, his face frowning in guilt and some pain but finding some comfort in Stolas' embrace. "...You know I've done some shitty things in the past…"
"..." Stolas did not respond, letting him talk.
"Like with Verosika…my sister…some friend's …even you…I would've been ok with us just being…fuck buddies with…nothing attatched…with using you….but…if it wasnt for Mox and Poch…I probably would've ended up…fucking everything else up and…running away again from how I feel….I…needed to face those things and…I didnt regret it…but…now I cant help but think about my past fuck ups…"
"You think you're still running from those?"
"...Yeah…I haven't really faced those mistakes…and…it's shitty of me not to…I…I want to fix that…but I don't know how."
"...Does it scare you?"
"...A little…"
"...Blitzo…you know you're not alone right?"
"...I know." He held his hand.
"Whenever you figure out how you wish to face this past, I'll be right here for you."
"I know…thanks." He smiled leaning back.
End.
Next chapter. Untangle
A/N three things. One the idea of Millie being a snorer was the idea of violet120 from Twitter.
Two. Along with the posting of this chapter a new story shall be up…its called Before the Extermination and it'll be about the teams lives before becoming Exterminators and going to hell.
Three. The Helluva Exterminator discord is still up and could use more people, dm me if you wanna join, its the best place to get teasers and updates