HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Somewhat back in the groove of things, but at the same time not not really. Hopefully things get back to normal, but to make it up here is a chapter for the New Year! Enjoy!
Gargoyles belongs to Disney/Greg Weisman
Chelsea and Cody belong to me!
A loud bull horn of a ship echoed under the Brooklyn Bridge. Cars and trucks ran up and down over the bridge as the sky became warm. The evening soon became dusk as the sun slowly descended down to the horizon behind the buildings. The tranquil sea seemed to be at peace with no disturbance or threat.
But that was only the surface.
Blanketed under the sand in the dark depths, was the cybernetic gargoyle… Coldstone.
The being himself laid dormant since he sacrificed his own life to save what was left of his former clan of Castle Wyvern. He himself thought was dead, beyond helpless in his new body, but his cyberbiotic mind was hard at work.
Both eyes, one normal and the other deep red, seemed lifeless, but a spark broke through. His mind felt like it was being aroused by an unknown source. He could even hear himself but couldn't understand what it was saying.
As his mind was hard at work, images began to form in his mind. Long lost memories distracted him from the outside world. How he, along with a beautiful dark rouge brown gargoyle with long golden hair, were holding in each arms and kissing in utter most passion. Then it faded into darkness.
His mind revealed his mate, who was weeping in utter grief, but she wasn't alone. His rookery brother, Goliath, brought her into his arms, comforting her as much as he can. The gargoyle who soon became Coldstone, saw this and grew bitter jealous of the affection. Behind him, another gargoyle made him believe that his brother was going to take his mate away. In jealous rage, he attacked his brother, knocking them both off the castle battlements.
As his memories continued to distract him, his physical self became active. His metal wings opened out, sending the cyborg out of the water, and into the peach-colored sky. He hovered where he was, his eye scanner blinking as he was locked onto a building in the distance.
"Repairs complete," Coldstone spoke with no emotion, as if his mental conscious wasn't there. "Instantiating new program parameters."
The Golden Cup was known for being a top leading manufacturer of all technology. Robotics, cybernetics, even top-notch computer security, they were considered the pride of all research. Even beating their close competitors in their field of study.
In one of the laboratories, researchers were continuing to make science. One testing out a robotic hand while the other was using a laser that went through three steel boards. Security guards were on guard, occasionally watching science coming alive as they walked.
Unknown to them, they were about to have an unwelcome guest.
Coldstone busted through one of the top floor windows of the research lab. Glass shattered as everyone ran for cover. Security came through as they fired their guns at the monstrous creature in front of them, but it proved useless.
The cyber-gargoyle looked like he didn't feel the bullets as they were ricocheted off of him. He shoved the guards away, making his way deeper into the facility.
Cody's mind was in a blank as he looked down below. Seeing cars passing in opposite directions, and people walking on the sidewalks without a care. The new gargoyle gulped as he felt his stomach twist. He turned his back away from below.
It had been a few weeks since he was turned into a gargoyle, and so far, it was a lot to process. Not only he is no longer the man he was, but he also has to deal with no longer seeing the sun and leave his old life behind. It wasn't a good life, but it was a life he had been living for as long as he could remember.
Living with the clan, it wasn't so bad. At the beginning, he was still awkward of living with six gargoyles, and felt sort of an outsider. Which he felt before. Not that the others were treating him weird, but he was a cumbersome man-gargoyle to talk to. In other words, he can't start a good conversation if he could try. As a gargoyle, he can't even go out and about…unless he could use his new wings like the rest of the clan.
Speaking of wings, he was dreading the thought of another gliding lesson…
"Uh, I don't think I can do this." Cody mumbled.
"Sure you can." Chelsea reassured him, standing at the edge of the door. She came next to him and leaned against the railing with him. "It would be just like last time you tried."
Cody didn't look convinced. "Except the last time I tried, I fell like a rock."
The female cringed, recalling what happened. A few nights ago, he basically jumped before the wind could pick him up and dropped down to the streets below. It took both Brooklyn and Broadway to catch him before he could make a dent on the pavement. It left the new gargoyle with a few emotional scars.
"It was because your wings didn't catch the air." She advised.
Cody gave Chelsea a weird look. "Is that supposed to make me feel better? Because it's not."
Chelsea rolled her shoulders, her wings flexing behind her as she looked up at the night sky.
"Okay," she muttered, somewhat annoyed at Cody's paranoid personality. "Maybe you weren't ready, but now you know."
Cody gave a wry nod. "Right."
There was loud chirping heard in the clocktower, along with a grunt and a bark. The duo turned at the open door and saw a small tan and brown creature running up toward Cody. He picked up the small critter at ease, and his eyes widened.
"Walter!" Cody gapped his mouth as his pet ferret chirped in his claws. Its black beady eyes were staring at him as his body was shaking vigorously.
"He escaped again?" Chelsea shook her head. She looked at Cody weird. "How many times is that now?"
"That's the fourth time this week." Cody gave the ferret a non-threatening glare. "Walter, how many times have I told you not to breakout of your cage?"
The bandit themed rodent tilted his head as if he were confused. He chirped a couple of times as if he were having a conversation with his owner.
Cody rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah, you were supposed to run around tonight but I can't leave you with five gargoyles and…ugh." He scrunched his eye ridges then turned to Chelsea. "What's Bronx again?"
"A gargoyle beast."
"Gargoyle version of a dog right?"
She shrugged casually. "Pretty much."
He and Chelsea entered back into the clocktower. Both of them made a right as they walked up a small set of steps toward Cody's 'room.' Settling, he changed out of his robe into something more comfortable. He was able to put a gray tank top on along with a pair of mucus green shorts. He even made holes where his wings and tail could live freely with no problem. While he was living in the clocktower, Elisa would drop off his things from his apartment, and he moved it at the upper levels of the clocktower where there was a landing he could have his own space to settle. By things, mostly photographs, his laptop, Walter's cage, a matress (which Broadway and Goliath had to transfer), as well as a cushion chair. It wasn't much, but Cody was beginning to settle down nicely.
Meanwhile, at the main level of the clans' home, Elisa pulled herself into the clocktower. The detective had a headset in her clutch, which a certain tech wizard gargoyle seemed to noticed as he walked down to meet her.
"Elisa," Lexington beamed at the headset. "Is that what I think it is?"
"Yep, my partner just got the call." She announced as she tossed the headset to the olive gargoyle.
As soon as the olive gargoyle was on view, he caught the headset with ease. His bright smile clearly shown what he was feeling.
"Are they testing it out?" he asked.
"That's right."
"Excellent." He said in awe as he slipped the headset onto his head.
Goliath, who had followed the small gargoyle, seemed intrigued of what they're talking about.
"Testing?" the leader asked.
"It's called 'RECAP'. Reconnaissance Emergency Cyber Automated Probe." Lexington explained.
"It's just a machine for dealing with high-risk situations." Elisa added as she put her earpiece on.
"Just a machine?" the olive gargoyle laughed. "Just the latest in robotics technology hooked to virtual reality."
"Virtual Reality?" the lavender gargoyle asked.
"It's kind of like a video game."
Both Lexington and Goliath looked up and saw Cody and Chelsea coming up to them.
"It's like your seeing this whole new world through something like…say a pair of goggles, and your exploring it in the comforts of home. For the police, far away from the danger." Cody added.
"Ah." That made the leader nod with understanding.
"In other words, it's the next big thing to being here." everyone turned to Elisa. "Come on." She started stepping down the ladder and exited the clocktower.
"Hmm, it does seem quite fascinating." Goliath added as he turned to Lexington. "Perhaps I'll join you?"
"The more the merrier," The small gargoyle beamed. He turned to the two azure gargoyles. "You want to come?"
Cody gulped. "I wish," he looked behind his wings that were relaxed. "But I still need to get used to these things. Don't want to fall like last time."
"Which is why," Chelsea crept behind him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, which he slightly jumped at her touch. She gave a cheeky grin. "We should continue with your gliding lessons?"
"Uh…" Cody just gave Chelsea an unsure look and itched his forehead. "Yeah, I guess…"
Back at the Golden Cup, alarms blared as Coldstone crept through the corridors of the building. He easily took out security guards that fired at him with no worry until he found what he was looking for.
Large metal double doors were in front of him along with two extra guards that looked at the metal gargoyle with shock. Before they could fire, Coldstone fired his laser, making the humans run for cover. In the process creating a huge hole in the center of the doors. He strode past the guards that were unconscious and entered the room.
His scanners took him toward the main computer server room. He scanned each server until he found the one he was looking for. He brought his arm forward, and a thin metal rod poked out. He plugged it in a port, electricity danced around his arm as he felt so much information being consumed by him.
"Downloading all relevant files," Coldstone spoke out loud.
As he unplugged, the electricity did not fade; in fact, it was growing over his upper arm to his head. He grunted as he felt his body going haywire. His head feeling like it was about to explode. Like a flash, his subconscious regained full control.
"Where am I?" he asked out loud. He looked at his surroundings. His red eye blinking in alarm. "How did I come here?"
His only answer was a bright flash of light, making him shield his eyes. More guards came in, aiming their weapons at the cybernetic gargoyle. As they opened fired, Coldstone snarled in defense, running toward a computer terminal.
He pulled it out of its hinges like it was made of nothing. Bright blue sparks flickered all around it as he hurled it toward the guards. During this, none of the guards got…severely injured.
Outside the Golden Cup, it was a madhouse. Not only the police had showed, but also ambulances and any other emergency vehicle were flashing there flashing lights at the front entrance. Both medic and EMT were helping workers out of the building. While they were doing that, the police were doing there job.
Coming out of a large van, Matt was holding a large remote control that was connected to a futuristic visor he placed on his face. Elisa watched him with a questioning look.
"Matt, are you sure you know what your doing?"
The said detective scoffed. "I didn't spend six months reading manuals for nothing."
That made Elisa roll her eyes.
"Besides, it's easy." Matt added, bringing her attention back to him. "The virtual reality hookup transmits directly to this visor. I see everything RECAP does."
Just as he said that a small little robot, RECAP, rolled out of the van. Like a kid playing with a toy car, Matt maneuvered the little robot (with somewhat difficulty) toward the main building.
"I just hope you handle that vacuum cleaner better than a squad car." Elisa remarked.
"How would you know?" Matt argued. "You never let me drive."
"I have my reasons." Elisa looked at Matt's difficulty of maneuvering the probe as proof.
Through the visor, Matt could see what RECAP was seeing. He could see deserted hallways as well as damage the unseen intruder made. He brought the robot to the server room, where he could see someone flipping a large terminal.
"This is the police," Matt spoke through RECAP. "Stay where you are."
Coldstone, who was trying to find a way to escape, saw the little robot rolling toward him with a growl.
"What creature is this?" he asked in astonish and advanced toward the robot.
When he was almost upon it, RECAP fired a grenade and it hit Coldstone square in the chest. It hit him but bounced off and clear gas seeped out of the grenade. The cyber gargoyle looked like he wasn't fazed and turned to the probe with a snarl.
"Why did you bring me here only to attack me!"
Matt realized this situation only got worse as he tried to maneuver RECAP away from the cybernetic gargoyle. He pressed another button, which said 'Activate Tazer'.
The robot fired a taser, which hit its target on point. The robotic gargoyle exclaimed in pain, but it was short lived. Coldstone ripped the taser off, then aimed his gun at the machine. With a blast, RECAP's vision went black.
Matt howled in pain, ripping the visor off his face from the electric shock. As he did, a blast was heard and the sound of something falling filled everyone's ears. They heard a crash to their right, and saw RECAP turned into burning piece of scrap metal.
Unknown to them, from a large hole a few stories up, Coldstone went to the edge of the hole with one thing on his mind.
"Freedom!" As he said that, he activated his jet packs and left the Golden Cup without a second thought.
Down below, Matt and Elisa saw the robot fly away. One was in awe while the other had goosebumps. On a rooftop across from the Golden Cup, Goliath and Lexington saw everything from the beginning. Including the part of seeing Coldstone flying.
"Hey," Lexington said in realization. "Was that Coldstone?"
"My rookery brother…?" Goliath gasped. "Alive? But how?"
"I thought he fell in the river under the Brooklyn bridge."
"It doesn't matter what happened." Goliath unfurled his wings and jumped on the ledge. "We must follow him!"
Goliath jumped first, followed closely by Lexington. The two gargoyles followed after Coldstone, until they found him perched on a rooftop overlooking the bay. The leader took noticed he was as if he were thinking about something. As he landed, his movements did not go unnoticed.
Coldstone, still riled up from the Golden Cup, turned to the lavender gargoyle and went to attack him. The cyborg slammed Goliath down, and was about to take the punch, only for him to recognize who was under him.
"Goliath?" he nearly jumped when he felt a claw gently take his own. He turned to find Lexington holding him.
"And-?"
"They call me Lexington now." The olive gargoyle introduced.
The cyborg relaxed, then helped Goliath to his feet. He looked between the two.
"What are you doing here?"
"We were about to ask you the same question." Lexington replied.
The cyber-gargoyle paused. "I…" He turned away and looked over at the Hudson River. "I don't know. I remember…waking up in that building, but before that…nothing." He slouched his shoulders. "I feel…lost."
"It will come in time brother." Goliath advised, placing a claw on his rookery brother's shoulder. He turned the cyber gargoyle around. "The important thing is, you are alive."
Coldstone looked at Goliath with surprise. Before he could say anything, Goliath turned and was preparing to glide off.
"Come," the leader invited. "It is time you rejoin your clan."
Coldstone's worries sort of melted away when he mentioned the word clan. The clan…his family. He had not seen them since…he couldn't remember how long. It felt like an oblivion. Seeing his rookery brother gesturing him to follow him, he knew it is time. Time for him to live again with what clan he has left.
Goliath and Lexington jumped first, there leather wings picking up the wind as they flew forward. Coldstone though powered up his jet-packs as he followed them through the night.
As they glided, Lexington had something on his mind, and was a little skeptical about it. As much he was happy that a member of his former clan was alive, he recalled that he and Goliath were…not the best of terms. He narrowed his eyes, then flew closer to Goliath.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Lexington asked. "He hasn't aways been your friend. To invite him into our home, into our clan…"
"Without trust, there can be no clan." Was all Goliath told him as he went forward.
The olive gargoyle didn't say anything as he followed his leader. As Goliath and Lex took lead, the cyber-biotic gargoyle followed behind close.
"That's it Cody! You're doing great!"
Chelsea flew next to the new gargoyle who looked as he was concentrating in the air. After convincing Cody a few times that his lesson will be completely different than the last one, Cody finally agreed to give it another shot.
Much to his chagrin...
While Chelsea was moving around him at ease, Cody stayed in one spot. His wings twitching that made him wobble but didn't fall.
As he glided, he gave a few grunts. A light gust blew over him, making him go down for a second. He flipped his now mangled hair out of his eyes as he looked forward.
"How do you guys survive this wind?"
"Lots of practice." The female looked forward, seeing the clocktower coming toward them. She grinned. "Okay Cody, almost time to land."
Cody felt his body froze as he turned to his sister with dread. "Land?!" he piped.
Chelsea turned to him with a reassuring look. "Don't worry, it's just like what we practiced. You just-"
"I don't know how!" Cody grunted as he felt an updraft, making him bounce upward. His wings shaking as his whole body shaken in panic.
"Cody, hold your body still!" She ordered, seeing Cody's wings flexing and trying to catch the wind, but they couldn't.
"I-I can't move!" he tried to move forward, only his wings to bank forward at great speed toward the clocktower. The older gargoyle yelped as he tried flapping his wings, only for him to speed forward. "Chelsea!"
Chelsea gasped. She banked down, then dove quickly after the other gargoyle.
"Where are the breaks on these things?!" Cody exclaimed ahead of her, his wings flapping every second toward the tower.
Chelsea looked forward with wide eyes. The clocktower door was open, but someone was standing in Cody's aim, not even noticing he was coming.
"Broadway! Get out of the way!"
The said gargoyle turned toward her voice, only to be caught in the crossfire. Cody slammed headfirst against Broadway, and both grunted into the clocktower with a bang, crash, constant 'ows', and even gasps from the other gargoyles. Chelsea cringed from hearing the grunts, then quickly landed on the railing, and ran in the tower.
"Cody! Broadway! You okay?" she slid to a stop on top of the stairs.
Her only answer was a couple of groans. Chelsea leaned down to see Broadway laid belly flat on the ground and his wings spread out over him. He groaned as he lifted up to his knees. The potbelly turned his head to look up at her.
"Never better…Landed on something soft."
"Yeah…me."
Broadway looked down and scrambled to his feet. Cody laid belly flat on the stone flooring. He moaned, clearly exhausted from the flight, and was starting to form a few bruises. He rolled on his back, but stayed there when he felt his wings pulsed. He looked up and saw a tan claw coming toward him.
"You alright lad?" Hudson asked as he lent a claw.
The blue gargoyle took the elders claw and was brought to his feet. He dusted himself off.
"Besides having the worst experience of gliding a second time, along with new bruises forming in spots I never thought could form," Cody pointed out, bringing attention to the rest of the clan around him. "I'll live."
He twisted his back, then felt a crack in his spine. He sighed then looked at his wings, in which they fanned for a second the moment he looked at them. He shook his head.
"Okay," He turned back as he gestured to them. "These things are killers."
"Well," Broadway shrugged his shoulders. "At least you're okay."
Cody made a weird face. "You laid flat on top of me."
"It's better than being dead." Brooklyn teased, coming next to his rookery brother. "Believe me."
"Hey!" the potbelly turned to the hothead with a glare.
Cody felt his cheeks go warm as he rubbed his neck. "I guess..."
"Don't worry Cody, you'll get it eventually." Chelsea came down the stairs and stood next to Brooklyn. "Since you're still new at this, your wings will be like paper for a while."
"How long did it take you?"
"Uh?" the female glanced at Brooklyn and Broadway, then looked up as she muttered numbers as she counted. "Almost…20 years. 15 for learning combat."
Cody raised an eye-ridge. He looked up and down at her as if inspecting her. "You sure?"
"Yeah." She nodded casually, then looked at him weird. "Why?"
"Wait," Cody twisted his eye ridges and pointed at her. "How old are you again?"
Just as Chelsea was about to speak, she covered her mouth. Her eyes popped for a second. She turned to the others, in which the three were confused.
"I forgot to tell him." She piped.
"Tell me what?"
The rest of the group turned to Cody who looked beyond confused. Chelsea turned to Hudson. The older gargoyle was still confused at her silence, then realized what she wanted him to do.
He turned to Cody. "You see, gargoyles don't age like humans lad. When we turn to stone at dawn, our aging process stops until nightfall."
Cody looked up as he thought himself. He blinked as he pointed toward him. "You only age half of a whole 24 hours?"
"Yep." Brooklyn nodded with a smirk.
"Meaning…" the new gargoyle turned back at Chelsea with somewhat dread. "How old are you really?"
Chelsea rubbed the back of her neck as she chuckled nervously. She made a nervous smile at him. "Thirty-six."
Silence slithered in the room. Cody's eyes popped out of his skull as his body grew cold. "Thirty…six?" A second later, he rolled his eyes back and dropped down on the ground with a thump. The rest of the clan stared down at him with wide eyes.
Broadway pointed down at him weird. "Did he just…?"
Brooklyn stepped forward and used his tail to poke Cody on the shoulder. The blue gargoyle didn't wake, looking like a rag doll. The hothead turned to the others. "He fainted."
Chelsea held the bridge of her nose. "Oh swell..."
They all looked down, seeing that Cody was still flat out on the ground unconscious. Bronx walked past the gargoyles and brought his head down next to Cody's. He sniffed his head, then instantly started lapping him on the gargoyles cheek. The gargoyle moaned with annoyance, automatically swatting the beast away. Blinking, his dazed eyes saw four blobs of the gargoyles stare down at him.
"Uh," He blinked a few times until his senses came back to him. He looked between all four of them, then his eyes turned to something above them. They widened and quickly became normal. He muttered something quietly, then his eyes rolled back to unconsciousness.
Everyone looked at him weird.
"What did he say?" Brooklyn turned to the others.
Chelsea's ears perked when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around, and her eyes instantly widened. "Coldstone."
The others followed her direction, seeing Goliath and Lexington enter the clocktower, but they weren't alone. A shadow formed under the archway; the sound of robotic limbs echoed in the clocktower as the form revealed to be Coldstone. As the cyber gargoyle came closer, the rest of the clan stood close together. Bronx snarled in front of his comrades as Lexington joined them. The only one who wasn't wary was Hudson.
"Welcome home lad." The mentor greeted the cyber gargoyle.
"Ah mentor," Coldstone clasped the old gargoyle's claw. "It does my heart good to see you've survived." He turned to the others. "It's good to see that you all survived." His expression went down as his voice went shallow. "But there is only one other I've missed more... I-"
Before he could say anymore, his mind went into a blank. His mechanical red eye blinked, making the clan look at him in confusion.
Goliath took a cautious step. "Brother, are you alright?"
Before the leader could touch him, Coldstone shook his head and looked at his surroundings. His face clearly showing complete confusion.
"Where am I?" he asked, his voice somewhat airy. He turned to Goliath, a look a recognition quickly changed to relief. "Goliath? My leader?"
Now it was Goliath's turn to be confused. "Do you not recognize me brother?"
Coldstone blinked. "Brother? Can you not see I'm your-" He stopped as he looked hesitant. "My voice…its different."
He took a step back, and found himself in the TV area.
"What is this place?" he demanded with somewhat panic. "This is not the castle!"
Goliath, who was the only gargoyle brave enough to confront the distraught gargoyle, stepped forward. "I told you brother; this is our home."
"Why do you keep calling me-"
Just then, Coldstone caught a glimpse of his reflection on the TV. When he saw himself, he let out a chilling scream, then scurried past the leader.
"What are you doing? Stop!" Goliath took off after the cyber gargoyle.
Coldstone activated his jets and exited out of the clocktower in haste. Goliath and Hudson ran behind and took off after him. Everyone else just stood where they are as they saw the two leave.
"What was that all about?" Brooklyn asked after a moment.
"Beats me." Broadway shrugged.
"Maybe he's having trouble with change?" Chelsea suggested.
"Nah, I don't think so." Lexington shook his head. "I think there's something wrong inside his head."
Broadway crossed his eye ridges. "You think or you know?"
"I know so," The olive gargoyle hummed with thought "and I think I know how to find out. Come on."
Before the young four could leave, a groan made them turn behind. Still laid out on the ground, Cody slowly lifted his back and rubbed his temple. He moaned but felt like someone was watching him. He looked up and saw the others stare at him.
"Uh," Cody gulped as a light blush formed on his cheeks. "What'd I miss?"
Coldstone felt his mind grow restless as he flew over the ocean. For some reason he is not sure where he's going but he didn't care. He just wanted to get away. Goliath and Hudson were not that far behind and were keeping up with the cybernetic gargoyle.
As Coldstone flew over Ellis Island, his red eye blinked, and his body froze once again. Doing that, caused him to dropped headfirst toward the island. He crashed headfirst in front of the building, and his pursuers landed not that long ago. Coldstone slowly sat up, his red eye blinked again as he formed a chilling smile on his face.
"What's wrong brother?" Goliath asked.
Coldstone slowly lifted to his talons. His smile not going away. "Why nothing...brother."
Before Goliath could step forward, Hudson took him by the claw. "Lad, I wouldn't go near him." He looked at the mechanical creature in front of him. "Something is not right."
Instead of listening to him, Goliath stepped forward, gesturing that he wasn't a threat.
"It's alright brother," the leader whispered. "I trust you."
"Really?" Coldstone smile formed a sneering smirk. "Then you're a fool."
Before Goliath could think, Coldstone activated his laser, and hit the lavender gargoyle straight in the chest. Crashing him against a flagpole. Hudson quickly went to his side to help him to his feet, but another shot made them take cover.
"You would betray my trust brother?" the leader demanded.
"Like I said before," Coldstone sneered, firing another shot at the duo. "You were a fool to extend it."
"Then you leave us no choice."
Proving his point, Goliath and Hudson's eyes glowed as they prowled toward the cyber creature.
Back at the Golden Cup, an investigation was being commenced. As the police and medics continued their work, Elisa and Matt examined the large hole in the servers room door that was left by Coldstone. Speaking of Coldstone, Matt was having a hunch.
"I telling you Elisa, that creature I saw was just like the monster we saw in Times Square last winter." He insisted. He put his hand on the curve of the hole, but soon regretted it as it was still hot. He held his breath before he could exclaim in pain. He looked back at his partner. "Cities crawling with them."
Elisa shook her head. She was about to talk to her partner about his constant theories when a voice picked up through her earpiece.
"Elisa? Its Lex."
The detective turned to her partner. "Hey Matt. I'll clean up here. Why don't you go finish our statements so we can call it a night.
"Sounds like a plan." Matt nodded, then went to work on those statements.
Once he was out of earshot, Elisa turned her back away to answer her earpiece.
"What's up Lex?"
Outside on a parallel building of the Golden Cup, the four young gargoyles stood together as Lexington was wearing his headset.
"The creature your looking for is Coldstone." Lexington stated.
"Yeah I guessed as much." Elisa's voice could be heard from everyone. "Witnesses said he tried to steal data from Golden Cups' files, but he took something along with it."
As Elisa started explaining, the group listened carefully.
"They were filled of government defense specs for top secret weaponry, but it wasn't the only thing Coldstone stole. They were protected with a powerful new computer virus, which is capable of wiping any unfamiliar program it infects."
Lexington gasped, realizing that Coldstone is in more trouble than he thought.
"That explains a lot," he said, then thought of something. "Listen Elisa, I'm gonna need a favor."
"What do you need?"
"Do you still have RECAP?"
Back on Ellis Island, Goliath Hudson and Coldstone were in somewhat of a standstill. Goliath and Hudson were circling him, trying to find some sort of weakness from the robotic gargoyle.
In an instant, both gargoyles locked eyes on one another. Goliath snarled, then jumped forward. Coldstone fired his laser, but Hudson used his sword to disarm it. The lavender gargoyle was able to tackle down, sending Coldstone into one of the columns of the building.
When he lifted up, Coldstone's red eye blinked, and recognition was seen in his eyes. As well as confusion.
"G-Goliath," he breathed. "Why do you attack me?"
The leader narrowed his eyes as Hudson brought his sword in front.
"He's playing us for fools." Hudson stated.
Coldstone laid a claw over his forehead. A small hint of pain throbbed as memories were dark. "I…I must have blacked out at our new home."
"You remember nothing?" Goliath asked.
"I-ah," Coldstone gently massaged his face. "My head…throbbing."
His eye blinked again, he became ferocious and armed. "I will destroy you!"
His eye blinked once more, his body slouched in a gesture of peace. "I will not fight you my leader. I-"
He blinked again. "Off with your head!"
He blinked one more time. "You're all I have left-YOU ARE A FOOL!"
Coldstone collapsed in front of the duo. Goliath and Hudson were confused at this but didn't dare go to him. They saw him giving them both a gesture of plea.
"Help me…please." Coldstone pleaded.
Before he could say anything else, he clutched his head as if he were getting a migraine. He writhed in pain as he rolled on the ground. He was hearing…voices? They were telling him separate things that he couldn't understand.
"Leave me alone…get out of my head…"
Coldstone eyes popped out of his skull. "SILENCE!"
Back with the young quartet group, they were gliding near the Statue of Liberty as they were looking for their clan-mates. So far, they haven't found a clue as to where they are.
Chelsea made a snort. "We're getting nowhere."
"How are we supposed to find them?" As Brooklyn asked that, lasers could be heard.
Broadway turned to his right and pointed forward. "Three guesses."
That made the others turn, and red blasts could be seen from the island. As well as the cry of torture.
Coldstone exclaimed as he felt his head spinning faster and faster. The pain becoming greater as the voices grew louder. Trying to silent it out, his cannon fired constant lasers everywhere, making Goliath and Hudson take cover. The cyber gargoyle activated his jets, the lasers continued as he yelled in agony.
Before he could do more damage, Broadway slammed headfirst against Coldstones' side, and both plummeted down on the roof of the building. Not far behind, Brooklyn Lexington and Chelsea landed around the two.
Broadway winced, rubbing his head. "Ah…my head…"
"Well why did you slam headfirst?" Chelsea lightly chastised.
The potbelly blushed out of embarrassment. "I thought it was a good idea."
Chelsea rolled her eyes as Brooklyn shook his head good naturally. Lexington ignored them as he stepped closer to Coldstone. He plugged the visor cord in the robotic creatures neck. The cyborg was muttering words in which everyone heard.
"Please…" He muttered. "I beg you…be quiet…"
Everyone around him looked at him weird.
"Who is he talking to?" Brooklyn muttered.
"Somehow," the group turned to see Goliath and Hudson join them on the roof. The lavender gargoyle looked down at the fallen gargoyle before him. "He is being tortured within."
"And the only way to save him," Lexington stated. "someone has to go inside to do it."
"Where is it-where is it." Matt muttered as he teared through RECAP's van.
Not too far, Elisa heard her partner somewhat throwing things and was somewhat amused of his actions; however, she was worried that he may do something…imprudent.
"What's the matter partner?" she asked, secretly grinning that she knew the answer.
"RECAP's visor and hookup are gone!" the redhead exclaimed.
"Maybe someone took them back to the station."
Matt scoffed. "Without telling me first. I don't think so." As he said that, Matt pulled out a small tracker from his coat pocket.
"But not to worry," he advised. "RECAP comes complete with a homing beacon, and I wouldn't be surprised it leads right to our creature."
As Matt pressed the button, a lump formed in Elisa's throat, and she had to gulp hard to get rid of it. If Matt's tracker is looking for the visor-
Then her friends are in danger.
After Lexington plugged the visor against Coldstones plug, Goliath wasted no time in putting it on.
"This isn't a good idea," Lexington insisted. "I'm best qualified to go."
"Which is exactly why I need you watching the equipment," Goliath stated. "In case there's trouble."
As Lexington went to the controls, Chelsea stepped forward. She placed a claw on his shoulder.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked unsure. "I mean, this whole virtual thing is bigger than what we've dealt before."
She saw Goliath's nostrils flare for a second as he inhaled, then exhaled with a light growl. He turned to face her as if he were looking right up at her.
"I lost my brother not once but twice," Goliath replied. His grimace softened. "I will not lose him a third time."
Chelsea gave a nod of understanding, her face still showing concern, but she didn't say anything. She then stepped back to join the others.
Lexington went to a small box with a button that was connected to the VR hookup. He pressed it, and it activated the machine. Everyone watched with equal shock as a bright blue light pulsated around Coldstone and Goliath. Neither of them reacted at the sudden change.
What they didn't know, was what was going on in both of their minds.
Goliath blinked, shaking his head to get his bearings together. He shook his head one more time as he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He looked like he was standing in twilight colored tile that stretched as far he could see, and he saw what looked like Castle Wyvern in the far distance.
"What is this?" he muttered.
As he asked that, the ground beneath him shook. Bright beams of white shot out as the cracks below exploded to reveal a large orange swirling abyss, and from that abyss slithered out weird robotic appendages. The appendages rose up and destroyed anything in their path from to floor to the castle that laid in the distance. As they grabbed stone, they slowly descended back into the large wormhole.
Suddenly, a long bridge appeared out of nowhere, giving Goliath easy access to walk over the wormhole. He stepped onto it, occasionally looking down below, then stared up toward the castle.
The castle looked just like the original Castle Wyvern he knew long ago, but he felt no life coming from it. Not dead, but dormant. Upon closer inspection on one of the taller towers, he could see…more gargoyles!
Three gargoyles; one female and two males stood on the corridors in their fearless poses that would protect Castle Wyvern from enemies. Seeing their faces and distinct poses, Goliath instantly recognized them.
They were three of his rookery siblings!
Lightning flashed and a few bolts flashed over the castle. One larger one, actually struck the castle, but it didn't cause damage. Instead, it brought a visitor, and not what the lavender gargoyle expected.
"Welcome Goliath," the fourth visitor, Xanatos, greeted on top of the battlements. "Surely you didn't expect to explore Coldstone's mind without my permission."
Goliath instantly snarled as he saw the man. "Xanatos…"
The human shook his finger. "No. I'm merely a computer program designed by him."
"What is happening here?!"
"Coldstone is a descendant of science and sorcery," The program explained in Xanatos' voice. "The magical energy has merged with the cybernetic system that make up his mind. My primary directive was to enslave Coldstone to Xanatos' will, but the computer virus has stopped me."
It gestured Goliath out toward the long appendages that were eating the castle. "As you can see, it is slowly devouring everything in its path."
As he finished, the appendages busted through the floor mere inches from Goliath. He barely managed to dodge them.
"Careful,"
Goliath turned and Xanatos' program was next to his right.
"You may be next." It warned.
The gargoyle went to jump to it, but it disappeared before he hit the ground. As he went to his feet, stone cracking was heard, but it wasn't from the virus. He looked up and saw the three gargoyles breaking free of their stone prison. One of the gargoyles, an exact replica of Coldstone, collapsed out of complete exhaustion. His brother, a mucus green gargoyle with royal blue membrane wings, went to his side.
"Allow me to help you brother." The gargoyle said as he brought an arm of comfort.
The female gargoyle, a peach color with rose red double membranes, jumped off her perch and glided down toward her brother.
"Goliath!" she exclaimed.
"Rookery sister…" Goliath let out. She lands, then he brought her in his arms. "How can this be?"
The female took a second to embrace her brother, then realize that they are in a dire trouble. He gently pushed Goliath off of her.
"Coldstone's created from pieces of different gargoyles," she quickly stated as she clasped her claws together. "Now all our souls are trapped inside."
As Goliath and his sister were talking, Coldstone and his other brother were watching everything from above. The brother went to Coldstones' ear and muttered more words of lie.
"See how she took to Goliath's side so quickly. He is starting to steal your love away from you. It was the same a thousand years ago."
Seconds later, Xanatos' program appeared next to him to bring more poison in the mix.
"And now, once again, they have betrayed your trust."
Coldstone thought of this as he was beginning to believe what he was seeing. Seeing his brother close with his beloved, jealousy coursed through his veins as he made his decision. With a roar, he launched himself off the tower, diving towards Goliath and his beloved.
The lavender gargoyle saw his brother coming as he pushed his sister away, then was pushed down in the light abyss of the virus. Thinking quickly, he opened his wings to spin himself, then grabbed the castle wall. He used his claws and talons to climb but grunted as one of the virus tentacles grabbed a hold of him. He struggled to keep his grip on the wall as he felt more of them grab a hold of them, dragging him toward the endless wormhole below.
Back in the real world, Goliath and Coldstone seemed to be in silent agony with the halo of energy still pulsing around them. All the others could do was wait and wonder what is going on.
"What's happening to them?" Broadway asked.
Lexington shook his head. "I wish I knew."
"I know sorcery when I see it," Hudson indicated "and this is the darkest kind."
"Lex, can you hear me?" Elisa's voice called out through the olive gargoyles headpiece.
"Yeah, what is it?"
"You guys need to get out of Ellis Island fast. I'm on a police boat heading there right now." the detective explained. "Matt's tracking the VR visor and I couldn't stop him. He's called in a SWAT team. They're all heading your way."
Lexington looked out, instantly seeing three police boats speeding down on the horizon of the bay, including the same number of helicopters. He turned back to his leader.
"Goliath, we got to make tracks." As he was about to take the visor off, an electrical shock sent the olive gargoyle flying back. Chelsea jumped behind and caught him, the process making them skid on the ground. Brooklyn and Broadway ran to their side and helped them to their feet.
"Lex, you okay?" Chelsea looked down at her younger brother.
"Yeah," Lexington nodded, then looked forward with a bitter look. "But we're not going anywhere for now."
Hudson turned toward the bay with a plan in mind. "Then we'll have to buy them some time."
While the rest of the clan were planning a strategy, Goliath was still being tormented from within…
Back inside Coldstone's mind, Goliath struggled to climb the castle tower as the virus continued trapping it in its grasp. His efforts for hanging on were pulling through as he was almost to the top, but it was short lived by his rookery brother.
Coldstone suddenly launched at him with a snarl, sending him back down toward the viral abyss. Coming from behind the gray gargoyle, the female jumped down, grabbing ahold of Goliath's arm in the end. She flapped her exotic wings, struggling to free Goliath from the virus. She quickly grabbed the grated castle gate, then looked at her surroundings.
She saw that the castle was wasted away with only a few parts of it still intact. The parts that looked intact looked like pieces of floating ruins than an entire castle. At the corner of her eye, she turned, only for the virus beginning to wrap around her and Goliath, then began pulling them down. As she was keeping grip on the gate and her brother, Coldstone landed on the gate above her. She didn't have to see his face of jealousy as he spoke.
"Do you think me blind?" he asked with malice. "I know why you've come to his defense."
The female looked up to her love. "My love for you is eternal, and Goliath is not your enemy, but your brother and true friend." She then turned to her other brother, who was watching everything from the top corridors of the tower.
"He has deceived you. He has sought to turn you against Goliath as he tried to do a thousand years ago. Try to remember." She pleaded.
Coldstone clutched his forehead as memories were sprouting, but they weren't clear.
"My…my memories are clouded." He looked down at the female with a glare. "Why should I trust you?"
"If you can't trust me…" the female's glare softened. "Then trust your heart."
Before the gargoyle could think what she meant, more virus appendages grabbed Goliath, trying to break the female's grip from him. The female looked up at her love, her dark eyes showing innocence. It's those eyes that Coldstone made realize her true feelings.
He remembers her undying love to him over the years, her loyalty, and he pushed her away when he thought she betrayed him with his rookery brother. The brother who still loved him even after a millennium apart. His brother…his true friend.
Suddenly, Goliaths' grip slipped out from his sisters, and was now falling toward the bottomless abyss. Before he could go any further, a gray claw clasped his wrist. The leader's eyes widened at his brother, the grayish blue gargoyle looked down at him, but not in fear nor anger.
It was forgiveness.
Coldstone hoisted Goliath onto the castle gate, then both of them climbed up with the female gargoyle. The leader looked between the two with narrow eyes.
"Both of our enemies have conspired together for control of this mind." He said. "We must hurry."
"Too late!"
The gargoyles surroundings began to shake as the castle twisted and morphed. The grated gate turned into a green claw as it grasped the female gargoyle around her waist. The other two watched helplessly as the entire castle merged with the evil brother, his body growing as the castle depleted into nothing.
He looked to be a close resemblance of Coldstones' physical body with the wings and chest plate. The Xanatos program appeared out of nowhere and merged with the evil brother. Now they were one…
The brother gave a wicked sneer as he brought the female closer to him. His eyes turned seeing his brothers charging toward, but he took them down with a single move. He picked up their limped bodies in his other claw as he brought the female to him.
"Merge with me dear sister," he proclaimed. "Then we can finally be together as I knew we were meant to be."
Back in the real world, the rest of the clan were making time for their leader who was still in Virtual Reality. All three of the helicopters were losing control because of Brooklyn Broadway and Chelsea. They all grabbed the feet of the choppers and used their weight along with their wings to make the pilots lose control of their aircrafts. Hudson on the other hand went after one of the boats. He hanged on from behind and used his sword as a rudder to force the boat back and forth. The driver, Matt was having a hard time with the controls.
"What's going on?!" the man exclaimed.
Elisa gave a knowing smile as she shrugged up at him.
Over at Lexington, he was watching the ships and copters having a hard time. They're distracted…for now. But for how long? He turned back to Goliath's form still imprisoned by the headpiece and Coldstone. He wished he could do more in helping, but all he can do is sit and wait.
"I don't know how long they can do this," he whispered. "Come on Goliath."
The soul of the blonde female struggled in the evil brother's hold. No matter how hard he tried, she had not said a word in any of his pleas.
"Why do still fight me my love?" the brother questioned. "You and I are destined to be together for eternity."
The female rumbled. "I will choose who I love." She showed her fangs, then took a hard bite in her prisoners' claw.
The large gargoyle screeched in pain, the process releasing both she as well as Goliath and Coldstone. The three circling around the large one like butterflies getting away from a net. As they've distracted him, the evil brother didn't notice the virus tendrils slithering their way to the gargoyles legs…until too late.
The brother grunted as the virus coiled around him, binding him around his wrists. They began to pull him down below.
"Stop!" he exclaimed. "This body is mine to command."
Coldstone's growls were heard as he swooped down toward his enemies face. "Not anymore."
A single punch, the brother lost his footing off the floating island.
"NO!" His body was pulled down toward the bright endless abyss below. Never to be seen again…
The three gargoyles landed on the bridge that had been made in the beginning. Safe from the evil brother, the three looked around to see the virus continued its endless destruction.
Coldstone turned to Goliath. "You must return to your body brother! Before the vortex consumes everything!"
"But what about you?" The leader let out through the wind.
The female stepped next to Coldstone. "We are finally together," she turned to him with a loving smile "that is all that matters."
"If we can stop the virus…so be it." Coldstone looked down toward his love. His smile bloomed as he saw her curved lips. "If we fail…" He took her claw without a second thought. "We will still be united for all time."
Before he could say anymore, a shadow encased them, and a virus tentacle swooped down toward them.
"Run Goliath!" Coldstone exclaimed as he jumped in the air with his love.
The virus snapped the bridge in half, almost blocking Goliath's way of escape. The large gargoyle ran on all fours, away from the destruction of the virus. His eyes caught the swirling purple clouds that seemed to create a portal up ahead of him.
Before he could jump in it, he turned back to see his brother and sister gliding away from the virus. A part of him feels he may never see them again, but the other part told him that he will see them again. He will help them return to his clan. Nodding to himself, he ran toward the light that was in front of him, then jumped into the portal. His conscious returning toward reality.
Back in the real world, the police ships and helicopters were coming closer.
"We can't hold them back anymore." Brooklyn declared with somewhat fear.
As the clan landed, they turned to the SWAT lights just about to reach them. Even with the clan trying to hold them back, they were still heading toward Ellis Island.
"Then we must leave."
Everyone turned, seeing Goliath lifting to his feet. He took the visor off of him as he ripped the VR hookup out of Coldstone. As he lifted his brother in his arms, he and the rest of the clan took their leave just seconds before Matt and Elisa joined on the roof.
"We're right on top of it!" Matt practically called out in manic. "Time to see this thing up close."
As his light flashed the ground, it found the visor, but also what-
"Looks like a rat to me." Elisa commented in a bit of a tease.
"What?!" Matt eyes blew up at the thought of missing another chance to see his monster. For him it was a fallout, but for Elisa it was relief.
After the incident with RECAP as well as the police finding the missing visor at the Statue of Liberty, it was returned to its original owner…Xanatos Enterprises.
"Our robotics division confiscated the remains of RECAP from the police." Owen explained. He set the VR hookup and the visor on the millionaire's desk. "Easily accomplished, considering we supplied it to them in the first place. Coldstone provided the perfect cover for your robotic probe."
"Yeah well," Xanatos took the remote part, then turned his attention to his desktop "pity we had to sacrifice him." He typed in a few keys, and a whole line of codes took over his screen. "Still, RECAP was able to download the computer virus program through the taser line."
"That may be true, but he didn't download the defense specs." The assistant pointed out.
"True, but you're only seeing the surface." Xanatos told him. "This virus is one of the deadliest weapons I know of, powerful to nearly destroy…the mighty Coldstone."
At the clocktower, the clan returned with Coldstone, who is now in some kind of stasis coma. The moment Cody saw them, he wanted to ask what happened, but decided against it from seeing Goliath's grim look. The said gargoyle placed his brother in the center of the main room as the rest of the clan gathered around.
"Someday, I trust you will find your way back my brother," Goliath gulped a breath "…my sister, and when you do, I want you to be among friends."
Inside Coldstone's mind, the two trapped souls were gliding claw to claw in the florid sky. Tendrils of the virus swirled under neath them, but they seemed to not care. For they knew they're together…for as long as endless time.
Wow...its nice to write again. So yeah, the Manhattan clan are going through a few changes, but they'll get though it. They've dealt worse than before. Cody though...heh, he'll be like a chicken with his head cut off, but he won't be alone. We'll see him more as the chapters go on.