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N/A
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After this bold statement Michael stands and begins looking around for the scrap of the drop pod the creature had come out of.
"Wait are you serious?"
Rose asked as he began walking towards the stairs to city hall where he saw Prowler already examining the wreckage with a clean up group.
"If we don't respond to their actions they'll think we've either lost already or are weak enough for another strike."
As Micheal and Rose reached the rumble they too would look around the wreckage until Prowler called out to him.
"Boss! There's something over here!"
Michael would immediately head over to where Prowler was standing. He stared at the ripped off door to the pod and once Mike approached him he saw something attached to the interior side.
"Why's this here...?" He asked. As Micheal responded with a raised eyebrow.
"Where have I seen this before..?"
•••••••••
Yuri
•••••••••
Even when the chaos above seemed to have come to a close we couldn't be freed from the sound of the residents panicking and running around the area as they were loud even through the door.
We kept in contact with Hara about what the situation was since her duty was to keep us in the bunkers and stay with the people.
"So they're at it again huh..."
Natsuki said as she leaned against the door to the room with the rest of us sitting around and staring back at Hara who stood there as the center of attention.
"With what information I could gather from a panicking baby that is I.Q yes. Nexus has droppd a bioweapon into our base."
"Bioweapon?" Monika asked.
"Well yes, this creature is not your average infected-"
She says as she taps away at her tablet before turning it towards me, the rest of the girls follow to see what it was.
"This being was created via mutation of the previous virus and is even geared with equipment specifically made for something of it's size."
We see pictures or rather screen captures of CCTV footage of a massive headless monster being chained onto multiple vehicles. The entire area around it seemed like an entire war had gone out.
"This...this is similar to the creature that we encountered at the restaurant."
"But this seems more...advanced and bigger."
Monika and I quickly give out our speculation as Hara retracts her device and lowers it.
"Wait you've seen one of these things before?"
"More like got attacked by one. The thing was under their control and-"
Suddenly a knock on the door grabs our attention as Natsuki jumped away from it. We would have opened it immediately of the knocking wasn't so loudly violent.
Hara turned around and reached behind her back to retrieve her pistol as the rest of us stand.
Natsuki would go up to the door again and look through the hole before yanking open the door with a little gasp.
"Mike?!"
The door swung open to reveal Michael standing out there, bloodied from head to toe as he walked inside.
"Jesus Christ! What happened?!"
Hara yelled as Monika and I rush over to him. He pulled his hands up to stop us from getting closer.
"I'm fine I'm fine! This ain't my blood."
The room fell silent for a split second as Monika jumped back and Sayori began snickering.
"Ew ew ew ew!"
"Ugh...what's the situation out there?"
Hara asked as Mike sighed and began rubbing his back, I looked down to notice he was holding a long object in his other hand that was covered up by a black cloth.
"Under control. The things dead but now we're under an even bigger threat to worry about."
He suddenly turned to me and stepped forward.
"But before that.."
He raised the object towards me as I hesitantly took it and looked back at him, he had a rather neutral look on his face while I finally undo the wrapping and slip off the cloth.
"How.."
It was the only word I could mumble as I stared at what seems to be my katana in my hands.
Still stained by old dry blood but in perfect condition.
"Found this thing strapped in the container of that thing, I knew I recognized this old thing."
"Wait why would they have Yuri's sword and why give it to us...?"
Natsuki asked as my joy of retrieving it soon faded. It was indeed suspicious of them to just send something like this with a behemoth like that-
"Wait what's that?"
Monika pointed at the pommel of the blade as I turn it over to see a small round metal object attacked to it...it looked like a disk and it had a small bulb on it too.
Michael takes the katana from my hand and examines the little device for himself.
"It...looks like a microphone."
He tapped the object as it suddenly beeped and the light on it started flickering until-
"It has come to my attention that I am not taking you animals seriously enough-"
The voice of a woman emits from the device as most of us stepped back from the sword not knowing what to expect next.
"If you've survived long enough to retrieve this toy of yours I will assume you've managed to neutralize my little gift. Truth be told I am rather impressed of how difficult you rebels are being for my men but I'm afraid I do not have time to play with you any longer."
The voice was very sassy but at the same time professional...a British accent, her tone was strangely calming, followed by a few laughs in between words.
"You know exactly what I want from you and I don't care how much I have to do to get it, I'm coming for you Michael and I will not stop until that little town of yours is reduced to ashes!"
We're left standing there seemingly speechless as Micheal takes off the small device from my sword then hands it back to me.
Looking back at Hara he would squeeze the object in his hand and rush out the door with her following him.
"Mike!"
Monika called out to him but both him and Hara pace out of sight immediately.
"You know I'm done trying to get an explanation from people anymore. Screw this I'm going to my room."
Natsuki would shrug and do as she says, stepping out of the room after the two left, she heads for her room seemingly not having a care in the world.
I believe she's finally been fed up of being left clueless.
•••••••••••••
Natsuki
•••••••••••••
When I walk a good distance out of sight from the girls I turn back and look around before bolting it for Michael, trying to find here him and Hara went.
Through the waves of people I managed to catch a glimpse of him pacing down a double door that was seemingly hidden from everyone the public eye.
Using the crowd as coverage I managed to slip past the eyes of any guards around and ran for the door. It was already closing behind them and I quickly react by slipping off my shoe and kick it at the doors as it wedged itself between the two.
I'd peek in before actually entering and see the two climbing a set of stairs and with the speed they're going at I might just lose them.
Slipping my shoe back on I follow them just one floor down of where they are. This massive flight of stairs leads all the way up to the surface..
"Is this a backup for whenever the elevators aren't running?"
I whisper to myself as I reach the top and follow them out into the open. I keep a good distance between myself and them by following them down the road and ducking behind alley ways whenever I got the chance.
But in my attempts to stay hidden I couldn't really get close enough to listen on what they were saying to each other.
"Ahem."
"Ah-!"
While I was peering out from an alley, a voice from behind scared the life out of me.
Azazel stood there with her arms crossed...how did I not hear her?!
"U-umm hey there!"
"Survivors are not supposed to be out here during a lock down."
"I'm just out for-"
"Nor be spying."
I gulp as her unamused face doesn't change and only increases the pressure I feel on my head.
"Look I'm just tired of all these fucking secrets. If Mike nor you guys will tell me what's going on then I'll just find out myself."
"None of this is your business."
She suddenly reaches for my arm but I jump back.
"He's my friend."
"That's not enough to be intruding on things this serious."
She tries again but this time I smack her hand away.
She steps back and stares at me with eyes clearly showing she's getting annoyed.
"You're going back or I will gladly drag you along..."
Her charges at me were more faster and violent now. I tried running away but she was blocking the end of the alley now because of me jumping away.
"Try me!"
I yell and immediately duck and roll from between her legs. Probably the only time I'll ever be thankful for my size.
She suddenly grabbed me by my collar and tried pulling me but in a panic I yanked myself away and kicked her.
And of course I kick her with the one leg with metal casing. She stumbles back clenching her stomach.
"Oh my God...! I'm sorry I didn't-"
"Oh ho ho! That's it..."
She growled before I could give an explanation and charged at me again but only this time she was actually trying to punch me.
I was barely dodging any of her hits as her knuckle nearly scratched my cheek. I was begin backed up to the dead end of the alley and that was the point where I started fighting back.
"What the hell is your problem?!"
"You four have been nothing but a thorn in our cause the moment you entered this facility-"
I'm no ninja but even I have enough experience on getting my hands bloody to know how to defend myself and so I do.
She hasn't used her guns which she obviously has on her so she doesn't have any intention of killing me...but she's delaying me...! I'm going to lose my chances if I don't get over this-
As she threw another punch at me I dive to the left and grab the lid off a trash can and smack it against her head.
As she falls to the side I hit her again before she could slip back up. Knocking her unconscious as the hit made her head hit the floor hard.
I drop the lid and stand there..
"Oh no..."
I only now realize what just went down and how this situation would look bad for me.
"Oh God oh no....uhhh!"
I just beat down a leader out in the streets! Huh...I beat down a leader-
No! That's bad...! They're going to kick me out cus of this-!
I slowly begin backing away but then notice a black metal ladder leading upwards on an apartment building.
Okay... I've quite literally gone too far to back out now, I need answers and if this is what it takes to get them then yeah..
I huff before jogging towards the ladder and begin my climb. This thing leads all the way to the top of the building...I can use the roof as a good vantage point to look around for Mike if I haven't lost him already...
And knowing what I.Q does, all the traffic cams on the road would be under his eye so the streets are no good.
Once I reach the roof I look off the edge in the direction of the main road and see nothing but trash and one or two trucks.
Looking down the direction of where the road was leading I spot two people on the far side walking away. Squinting, I could make out at least one of them and notice it's Mike.
Now having a lead I had to follow them but that meant I jump from building to building to do so. Lucky the gaps between them were either not so big or had the excuse of shades and planks I could put down to use as bridges..
But holy shit this is scary no matter what....!
•••••••••••••
Michael
•••••••••••••
"Michael..!"
We're heading back to the barracks or rather making a run for it as Hara keeps pestering me for an answer.
"What the hell was that transmission Goliath!? Who was she?! How did she know you?!"
"Hara!"
I turn and snap at her with my finger slowly rising as I continue.
"Just...-! Hold on a minute. I need to find Rose.."
"What?! Just tell me what's going on already! I thought we had all the info needed on Nexus. Then what-"
"Get back to the bunker."
"No I'm not! You're going to stay here and tell me what I don't know!"
I step up to her and with pressing teeth whisper to her.
"You have your orders..."
Returning a deadly glare of her own she turns around letting her hair whip me in the face before stomping back down the path from where we came from.
I turn and continue on to the barracks.
"Wolf, come in."
"What's up, Boss?"
"Where are you right now?"
"Just finished up dropping the wounded at the hospital. Why?"
"Come to the barracks, my room. Now."
"Oh my Michael~ I knew you were bold but please. I'm on duty-"
"Now!!"
"Jesus! Okay okay..."
A while later I stay put on my bed in my room waiting for Rose to finally show up as I stare at the door and twiddle my thumbs.
"Okay I'm here."
She says after opening the door and upon looking at me she immediately closes up behind her and leans against the door.
"Damn you seriously are a wreck. What the hell happened?"
"That sword we found with the pod."
"The one you said was your friend Yuri's, yeah?"
"It had recorded message."
"..."
"And?"
I stand up from my bed and running both my hands through my hair.
"She knows Rose.."
"Knows what Mike?!"
I give her that knowing look again until it clicks to her.
"Wait...how?!"
"I don't know...but she knew who I was...and she says she's coming for the last component.."
"Of the...cure?"
"What else would it be?"
Soon Rose begins to absorb the tension in the air and begin reflecting my panic, placing her hand over her mouth she began pacing around the room.
"What do we do...? We need to hit them hard!"
"Thought you were against that idea wolf."
"We are not risking it Mike! There is no other way!"
"There isn't...?"
"..."
"No you can't be serious!"
Rose finally steps up to me and grabs hold my collar with both hands.
Few days earlier
In the meeting room again we sat there awaiting I.Q and Rose to come forward with whatever they have to offer us with yesterday's mission.
The two stand on the opposite end of the long table and soon turn to the rest of us.
"Okay...listen up!"
As Rose says this I.Q swipes left on his tablet and soon an audio recording begins to play on the speakers on the top corners of the room.
"Now you're going to tell me all I need to know or I'll blow your toes off one.by.one"
"Like hell you-"
*Bang*
"AHHHHH!!"
"Can't we skip this part-"
"Shhhh~!"
"FUCK!! OKAY...! Agh...God...!"
"Talk."
"The company is trying to build an army out of the people it experiments on! I don't know what for, I just capture them for her!"
"Her?"
"Some woman -static- runs the joint. She's been using the virus to turn normal people into super soldiers. She uses the survivors as experiments and us as the scavengers."
"Why would she need you if she's building an army of her own?"
"Cus none of the beasts she makes are easy to control! They need more muscle to keep them under her ropes..."
"...And-"
"And also needs a back up plan.."
"What?"
"You asked about the people we've been capturing, nothing more-"
"Well I changed my mind~ Now keep going or you'll be going back to your leaders in a trash bag."
A little while of silence goes by and then a loud thud which was similar to a piece of metal hitting something soft.
"HNGH! She's trying to make a cure..!!"
"What- Ugh...you mean a vaccine right?!"
"No no no! I've heard some people talk about it...! About somehow turning people back from those rotting meat sacs..! They're just missing a main component...I got no clue on what it is.."
"Why would she need a cure if her army is literally built by those things?"
"I don't know...but my best guess is to make sure her ass stays safe from her own creations.."
"Huh.."
Silence falls again until we hear the clank of a rifle followed by-
"Wait wait wait! You wanted info-!! I gave you i-"
*BANG*
"Ehhh I didn't like it."
End of transmission.
Present
"She's been looking for the cure...I don't know how she found out but now she wants it from us."
"You're not going to give up everything we've built just to give her what she wants Mike!"
"What choice to we have?!"
"We fight!"
Rose pushed me back as I fell half way onto the bed. There was a raging fire in her eye for reasons I couldn't indicate...
"We have to tell the team.."
I whispered.
"I-...yeah. I don't know how they'll take it but we can't keep secrets from them.."
"Especially what we have in our possession.."
••••••••••
N/A
••••••••••
Rose stared at the young man sit there and dwell in his thoughts before offering her hand to him.
Michael looked up and took it as she pulled him off the bed. The two stare at each other...a knowing fear in their eyes but also a sign of hope.
Nodding to each other the exit the room to take the next difficult step they have for the rest of the day...
...
Unaware of the pink ball of hair peaking in just outside the open window to Michael's room.
Natsuki sat there on the ground with both her hands on her mouth as she heard the door to the room close.
She stood up with a look of disbelief plastered onto her face. Looking back into the room and then at her shaking hands she ran away.
"What...no..he-.."
She let those words slip through her teeth as she ran back to the bunkers. Not caring for who spotted her or how much attention she was directing towards herself.
After a while of Jogging Natsuki managed to slip back into the bunker the same route she came out of.
To her luck no one inside saw her go out or in but it was until her room she discovered that wasn't so true.
Sweating and heavily panting against the door to her room she opened it to see Monika and Sayori inside who took notice to her immediately.
"Natsuki!!"
"Where have you been?!"
The two yelled as they yanked her inside the room and shut the door.
"We looked everywhere for you! Did you sneak out?!"
As Monika asked, Natsuki slumped down onto her bed and took a heavy sigh before falling onto it. Not paying any mind to the two girls screaming at her.
She stared at the ceiling fan, watching it rotate and the through the blades of the fan the sounds of Michael and Rose's voice echoed in her mind..
A cure...? In the possession of Ascension and they're keeping it a secret?
Through the rants and worried remarks of the girls Natsuki heard the click of her door again as the three look back to see Hara standing there.
"Have any of you seen Azazel?"
Only one thing came to Natsuki's mind.
'Oh fuck...'
••••••••••••••••••••••
Sorry this one was a bit shorter than the rest. I've been REALLY busy this time around because of uni and all. I've also fairly started learning to code ddlc so that's fun :0
But that doesn't mean I'm letting go of this project. I intend to finish it and more, the only change would be bigger gaps between posts.
More updates along the way~
Peace Out~!
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