Struggle of Powers II (IC/Still Accepting)

[Jake the Sage]

Mr. Smith had turned his attention back to Zack, a grin on his face as he raised both fists up, “So boy . . . got a few more in you?”

 

“All soldiers are to keep their aims steady on the Supers,” Ike stated, the company drawing their weapons and aimed with precision at Anne, Seiko, and Lora’s heads. Seiko clenched his fists, worried that at any moment the Leader of Gamma Squad would order them to be shot. Looking over at Lora Seiko could see that both women were motioning as stealthily as they could to each other. Then Lora looked at Seiko. Her smile was all he needed to know that they had a chance.

 

Maybe not the best of chances, but still a chance.

 

Seiko gave Anne a slow nod to let her know he was ready. “Hey! I have a quick question for you idiots!”

 

“What?”

 

“Idiot! Don't talk to the enemy!”

 

“Just funking move!” Lora shouted jumping up back, every soldier’s gun suddenly shifting from the three of them to just her. With the weapons off of him Seiko smirked, charging forward. The soldiers closest to him swung their rifles away from Lora back onto him. The blasts of plasma crashed against Anne’s force field. Anne had managed to summon two force fields to protect her friends- one in the form of a bubble around Lora as soldiers pelted her with gunfire, while the other remained in front of Seiko as he gained enough energy to make his fists do serious damage when it impacted.

 

And impact it did.

 

Anne’s shield had remained in front of Seiko until she had to regrettably dissipate it to protect herself; the soldiers were well trained, instantly figuring out the source of the force fields. In their training to take out the most hazardous enemy first, the soldiers had begun to shoot at Anne’s now singular force field. This, naturally, had left Lora and Seiko to counter with their own brand of violence. Rolling into Anne’s bubble Lora threw both arms out so her energy struck multiple soldiers in the chest. Seiko on the other hand swung high impact fists one after another into the soldiers, sending the ones his managed to hit flying through the air.

 

Despite their combined assault and the fact they were up against humans, and some androids, the end result was that they had managed to disarm five soldiers, injure three more, and destroy a single android. The final show of the ineffectiveness of their assault was Ike.

 

Having watched the attack the mechanical behemoth walked forward, took a direct hit from Seiko, then proceeded to plant him face first into the ground. The gears in Ike’s hands loosened, releasing Seiko’s ankle from his grip while his head turned completely around to look at Anne and Lora. Both had their mouths’ open, stunned the android from five years ago was still as powerful as they had remembered.

 

“Not this funking time!” Lora shouted and curled both hands behind her back, charging a more powerful shot of energy to hopefully take out the android. Instead the shield around them broke with the resounding noise of shattered glass when an energy beam shot from Ike’s middle eye, knocking both girls on their backs. With incredible speed Ike charged forward, slamming both fists down on a newly reformed shield, already cracking it. From the shield Lora swung an uppercut, knocking Ike back inches before a swing to the head did nothing. Luckily a shield saved her ribs from a blow to the back when Ike’s body spun in unnatural ways.

 

Landing Lora rolled out of the way of gunfire as the soldiers took their shots at him, running while Anne put a shield around herself to defend herself from Ike’s blows. Jumping over one gunshot Lora ducked behind a large boulder, “Seiko! Damn it don’t be dead yet!”

 

---

 

“Seems like they’re having fun,” Mr. Smith mused grinding his heel into Zack’s hand before he gave the younger man a sharp kick to the side. Zack had proven he was talented, but it hadn’t been anything that Mr. Smith wasn’t already much more experienced in . . . or had seen before. Instead Mr. Smith had been toying with Zack, giving him free shots when he felt like it and punishing the other human whenever an attack had been poorly thought out.

 

The end result was Zack bruised and covered in small scars from his own weapons being turned on him while Mr. Smith had a few nicks here and there from attacks he had let land, though some were in fact from attacks he genuinely hadn’t seen coming.

 

Either way Mr. Smith was having his fun toying with Zack. Taking out the pistol he had holstered at the beginning of the fight Mr. Smith twirled it around on one finger before shooting very close to Zack’s head, “Come on now, don’t tell me that’s all you’ve got!”

 

An attack from behind knocked Mr. Smith to the ground then the attacker wrenched the gun away from him and managed to land another blow that sent him flying into some of the soldiers who were shooting at Seiko.

 

“Give him a break,” Koya said, stripped of his Western Armor, “He just ran all yesterday and quite a bit today too.”

[Sploda]

Mr. Smith had turned his attention back to Zack, a grin on his face as he raised both fists up, “So boy . . . got a few more in you?”

 

“All soldiers are to keep their aims steady on the Supers,” Ike stated, the company drawing their weapons and aimed with precision at Anne, Seiko, and Lora’s heads. Zack did his best to place himself between Anne and a few of the guns, but his overall situation wasn't looking good.

 

Okay, wasn't expecting the whole android thing. Outnumbered, outgunned, little chance of escape...next time I let Koya move first.

 

Zack began to survey the situation, looking for any opening he could get. He didn't have to wait long for it to arrive.

 

"Hey...quick question for you idiots!" Seiko yelled out to the group, their weapons still drawn to them.

 

"Huh? What is it?"

 

"Idiot! Don't talk to the enemy!"

 

A few more of the soldiers gave Seiko attention as well, Zack quickly noting them as the ones most likely to be human. Seiko smirked and tilted his neck to the side, popping it some before finally speaking. "Any of you know what happens when an object in motion hits an immovable object?"

 

“Just funking move!” Lora shouted jumping up back, every soldier’s gun suddenly shifting from the three of them to just her.

 

As the soldiers were distracted Zack dashed and took a slash at Mr. Smith. The deft dodge gave Zack all the warning he needed to know that his opponent wasn't so easy to distract. Zack did his best to press the attack, leading primarily with his daggers. The results were lackluster in their entirety, as Mr. Smith was easily able to keep up with Zack blocking by grabbing his elbows or outright dodging some of the attacks. The western leader never dropped his smug facial expression either.

 

He's toying with me...

 

Zack grimaced as Mr. Smith twirled Zack's right dagger, cutting him on the wrist without removing the blade from his hands. The past few minutes had been a poor exchange of blows. The end result was Zack bruised and covered in small scars from his own weapons being turned on him while Mr. Smith had a few nicks here and there from attacks he had let land, though some were in fact from attacks he genuinely hadn’t seen coming, which Zack attributed to lady luck favoring her momentary champion.

 

Zack took a swift kick to the gut, which Mr. Smith quickly followed up with an elbow to the back, forcing Zack to his knees, hunched forward, hands still gripping his blades. Sunny's words echoed in Zack's head; "Drop your weapon in a fight and you're as good as dust!"

 

“Seems like they’re having fun,” Mr. Smith mused grinding his heel into Zack’s hand before he gave the younger man a sharp kick to the side. Zack took the pain, and attempted to stand before being kicked again and forced back to his previous position. His opponent clearly outclassed him in training and experience. What can I do!?

 

Either way Mr. Smith was having his fun toying with Zack. Taking out the pistol he had holstered at the beginning of the fight Mr. Smith twirled it around on one finger before shooting very close to Zack’s head, “Come on now, don’t tell me that’s all you’ve got!”

 

Zack lifted his head to look at Mr. Smith. Rather than the pain Mr. Smith had expected, Zack looked at him with a grin. Mr. Smith's eyes narrowed as Zack mouthed a single word.

 

"Surprise."

 

An attack from behind knocked Mr. Smith to the ground then the attacker wrenched the gun away from him and managed to land another blow that sent him flying into some of the soldiers who were shooting at Seiko.

 

“Give him a break,” Koya said, stripped of his Western Armor, “He just ran all yesterday and quite a bit today too.”

 

"Drank a bit last night too..." Zack groaned as he muscled his way to his feet. He stood next to Koya and watched as Mr. Smith attempted to stand from admist the chaos. Surveying the scene Seiko, Lora, and Anne had done some damage, but it was all a moot point as Ike managed to single handedly turn the situation around and was currently attempting to batter through Anne's defenses. Zack refocused on Mr. Smith who was now once again standing.

 

"Guess it's time to dance, round 2." Zack mumbled as he put his blades away. He took up a new stance, hopefully ready to face this opponent despite the damage he had taken.

[Super Chaos Sonic]

“Just funking move!”

 

"Really Lora? You know that's my thing! I gotta say it!!"

 

Seiko rushed towards the soldiers, as his fists impacted the soldier...and it was quite the impact. He watched as it did a somewhat of a bowling ball effect as he hit one as he was launched into a few others.

 

"Ha! That was an amazing punch!" Seiko laughed, admiring his handiwork, as he noticed that Anne was being attacked now, his own shield down. He glanced at Lora and knew she was going to say that Anne was alright for the moment. There were still quite a number of soldiers...and they needed to be dealt with.

 

He rushed again, sliding beneath a soldier before grabbing his ankle, flipping him upward and launched him by a punch to the gut towards Lora. "Lora!" he whistled, as he got Lora's attention. "Batter up!!" he laughed, wanting Lora to knock the now hurled soldier which flew towards her.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

At the end, they injured three soldiers, unarmed five, and destroy one single android. And now...Ike joined the fray...

 

Seiko was busy dealing with another soldier, when he quickly shifted his attention towards the behemoth. "Well...look who finally joined the party!" he snickered, before he jumped back some, before he sent a powerful punch at Ike: a direct hit. But, unfortunately, it didn't phase the android. "Well...this is new..." he said, before he was slammed face first into the ground.

 

He began to groan in pain as he felt Ike letting go of his ankle...most likely turning his attention toward Lora and Anne. He tried to get up, only managing to see Lora and Anne moving away from Ike after they struck at him. His attention was turned from him...good. He made his way to get off the ground, dodging a few shots, only to have the gunfire cease as he saw a soldier being flung at them...courtesy of Koya. T-Thanks... he thought as he hid behind an opposite boulder.

 

“Seiko! Damn it don’t be dead yet!”

 

"W-What? You insult me, Lora!" Seiko yelled back, gritting his teeth. "I-I can go for a few more rounds!" In truth, he doubted he could. Ike did a number with that attack and he wondered how much more he could take. Though...the fact that another person, rather android, was stronger than him...still excited him.

[Jake the Sage]

An attack from behind knocked Mr. Smith to the ground, the attacker then wrenched the gun away from him and managed to land another blow that sent him flying into some of the soldiers who were shooting at Seiko.

 

“Give him a break,” Koya said, stripped of his Western Armor, “He just ran all yesterday and quite a bit today too.”

 

“Drank a bit last night too,” Zack groaned getting to his feet. He stood next to Koya and watched as Mr. Smith attempted to stand admits the chaos. For a moment he surveyed around him before he refocused on Mr. Smith. Now once again standing the Leader of Alpha Squadron popped his neck and spat some blood out, the smile finally gone from his face.

 

“Guess it's time to dance again,” Zack mumbled as he put his blades away. He took up a new stance, hopefully ready to face this opponent despite the damage he had taken. Koya shuffled up next to Zack, his hands held up and ready to defend himself against Mr. Smith. “You just had to go running in without anything resembling a plan, didn’t you?”

 

---

 

“Seiko! Damn it don’t be dead yet!”

 

“What!? Stop joking, Lora!” Seiko yelled back through gritted teeth as the boulder he had ducked behind was slowly whittled away by gunfire, “I can go for a few more rounds!”

 

“Glad to hear,” Lora shouted from her spot, not bothering to peek out to see if the soldiers were advancing or not. Taking a deep, pain filled breath Lora calmed her nerves as best she could. “Anne, can you bubble Seiko and me so we can flank that hunk of metal?”

 

“Yeah,” Anne nodded, “But I don’t think my force fields are strong enough to stop a real hit from him. So I can’t protect you from him, just the soldiers.”

 

“Good enough.” Lora got to her feet, crouched and ready to run the moment the bubble appeared around her. If she knew Seiko the moment the bubble appeared around him as well he’d go right back to attacking without any hesitation.

 

The bubble appeared and with it Lora shot out from behind the boulder towards Ike. The plasma shots bounced off of the transparent surface of the bubble, but unlike last time each shot was causing small fractures to appear. Fist reared back Lora shouted a warning at Seiko as she swung at Ike’s face, “Don’t let him hit you!”

 

---

 

“I said try to hit him at least,” Koya stated annoyed and with one of Zack’s daggers buried in his side. Instead of turning the tide all Koya’s arrival seems to have done was allow him to join in getting beat down. It also might have been that now Mr. Smith was no longer holding back, each blow they threw at him missed or redirected back on them. Mr. Smith was inhuman in the most human ways, dealing with an energy slinging Super with no problem and another human.

 

Now Mr. Smith was shooting at them with two guns, peppering them with precise shots; Koya had already suffered a shot that went clear through his right hand, while Zack had been given a bullet to the leg. Reloading the gun Mr. Smith readied to fire another shot as Ike managed to connect a blow to the back of Seiko’s head, knocking the other Super down into the ground. The concussive blast given was shielded by Anne, yet the shield didn’t last any.

 

Lying beside a very beaten Lora Anne could barely keep her hand raised as Ike turned back to her. Shoulder Cannon lowered and aimed at Anne, Koya flew his fingers to the hidden earpiece that had managed to remain in place during the entire battle, “funk! Now!”

 

Koya had been expecting the rest of his group to spring up from the spots he had ordered them to wait at, having ordered them to only intervene when it was certain they’d be unable to win or escape on their own, and give them enough time for everyone to run away. Instead the cavalry they received was from Ike’s own troops instead. Without warning the android soldiers turned on their human counterparts, shooting them dead before turning on both Mr. Smith and Ike. The shots weren’t enough to seriously injure Ike’s heavy armor, but it did succeed in having him turn his Shoulder Cannon on them instead of Anne; Mr. Smith on the other hand was shot in multiple places, but like his partner nothing that was a killing blow.

 

“Well,” Mr. Smith began spitting out some blood as the smoke dissipated, “The funk was that?”

 

“John Smith . . . an outside force is interfering with my motor functions,” Ike stated as he was forced against his programming to turn to face his ally. Mr. Smith chuckled hearing this and looked up at a nearby hill, “People all day today . . .”

 

“Stand down John,” Kallen ordered holding her mechanical arm out, exerting as much control over Ike as she could as well as the remaining android soldiers left. The truth was that she had no way to control Ike forever. Cautiously walking closer she smirked at her former ally as he sat covered in blood on the ground, “I am going to let Ike go . . . and then both of you are going to leave . . . understand?”

 

“Preparing Full Scale Plasma Mortar, Blast Range Recued to 4 Miles,” Ike announced. Bursting out into a laugh John Smith shook his head, “And blow the chance to take out an old fling and her sick group of freaks?”

 

Revealing a remote detonator Mr. Smith grinned as he pressed the button, “Glory to the West, death to Supers.”

 

---

 

All either Zack or Seiko could remember was a bright light forming in the middle of Ike’s chest mixed with everyone’s shouts. Now both were inside someplace with a stone rooftop and no noise other than the low buzzing of the uncovered light bulbs dangling above them. Their wounds had been treated, dressed, and beyond being incredibly sore neither one of them was in a lot of pain.

[Super Chaos Sonic]

At the moment, a sudden bubble appeared around Seiko as he smiled. "Thanks Anne..." he said to himself as he quickly moved from behind the boulder at the same time, and rushed towards Ike as well.

 

“Don’t let him hit you!”

 

"Y-Yeah...duly noted!" Seiko nodded as he reared back and sent a powerful punch towards Ike's mid-section. D-Did I get him?

 

Unfortunately, his answer was met by a blow to the back of the head by Ike. He fell on the ground, almost motionless, coughing up some blood as he laid there on the ground...not moving. He could hear the shouts and yells of the people around him, and struggled to get up. His eyes drifted along the battlefield, his vision somewhat blurry but he could still make things out.

 

Seiko watched as he wasn't the only one to fall. Ike had done too much damage to Lora, knocking her off her feet and towards Anne. She was scared...beyond scared, from his perspective. He struggled even more, gritting his teeth as he tried to fight through the pain. D-Damnit...c'mon body...MOVE!!! he thought, watching as Ike had his shoulder cannon aimed at her....

 

"AGH!!!"

 

The injured man heard this and turned his vision, only seeing Ike's own human soldiers...dying at the hands of the androids. He whispered under his breath a small thankful prayer as he just watched this new chaos brew. The shoulder cannon was no longer on Anne, so she could be safe. A sigh escaped his lips as he continued to struggle to get up.

 

“Stand down John, I am going to let Ike go . . . and then both of you are going to leave . . . understand?”

 

Seiko couldn't make much out of what was spoken to Kallen in response, due to his concentration of getting up. He could hear John Smith laughing, before mumbling something...and after he finally got up, Seiko was only met with a bright light forming in Ike's chest...before...nothing...

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Seiko was out of it...only waking to the sounds of a low buzzing noise from uncovered lightbulbs dangling above him. He felt sore...really sore. His wounds were bandaged and he was dressed...but the stone rooftop of the building made the scenery look dreary and bland all at the same time.

 

He slowly turned his head and noticed Zack laying on a bed a ways away from him. W-What...what happened...? he thought with a loud groan, holding his head as he slowly sat up. The young man began to try and recount the events that befell him...

 

Leaving the North... Making it to that town.... Stopping by the inn... Lora's blow up and Anne telling me the reasons why she's like that... and then... Seiko stopped as he sighed. That's right...those Raiders...damn, I got beat badly...

 

He looked around the room again, to see if there were signs of Lora and Anne, to his dismay...there were none. Seiko sighed as slowly got up from his bed, trying to stabilize himself, seeing Zack still unconscious. He began to try his best to walk out of the room, but try as he might, he couldn't shake this strange feeling he had. Was it vertigo...? He wasn't for sure...

 

One thing he was sure of, was the fact that no one else, save Zack, was in that room. What of Koya? Kallen? Anne? Lora? Seiko had only one thing on his mind, as he leaned up against the doorway, keeping his balance as he walked out of the room: G-Gotta...find...the others...

[Sploda]

“I said try to hit him at least,” Koya stated annoyed and with one of Zack’s daggers buried in his side. Instead of turning the tide all Koya’s arrival seems to have done was allow him to join in getting beat down. It also might have been that now Mr. Smith was no longer holding back, each blow they threw at him missed or redirected back on them. Mr. Smith was inhuman in the most human ways, dealing with an energy slinging Super with no problem and another human.

 

"Not my fault he suddenly went for a weapon I put away!" Zack yelled back as he narrow blocked a pushing kick with both arms. Zack came to the conclusion long ago that Mr. Smith had been toying with him. but to be beaten this soundly.

 

Now Mr. Smith was shooting at them with two guns, peppering them with precise shots; Koya had already suffered a shot that went clear through his right hand, while Zack had been given a bullet to the leg. Zack used sheer force of will to keep from collapsing onto one knee. He narrowed his eyes as he saw Mr. Smith reloading for another shot.

 

At a time like this, I could REALLY used an alleyway and a chocolate bar!

 

Zack turned his eyesight just beyond what was in front of him in time to see Ike aim his Shoulder cannon at Lora and Anne. Zack was just about to throw a few darts at the behemoth when Koya flew his fingers to the hidden earpiece that had managed to remain in place during the entire battle, “funk! Now!”

 

Zack was bewildered as he watched the android soldiers turn on their human counterparts, shooting them dead before turning on both Mr. Smith and Ike. The shots weren’t enough to seriously injure Ike’s heavy armor, but it did succeed in having him turn his Shoulder Cannon on them instead of Anne. Zack refocused on Mr. Smith, who unlike Ike, took damage from being shot in multiple places, but yet still, like his partner nothing that was a killing blow.

 

“Well,” Mr. Smith began spitting out some blood as the smoke dissipated, “The funk was that?”

 

"That... was lady luck, jabroni..." Zack managed to gasp out as he finally gave in and collapsed onto his knee. He didn't really hear Ike's comment as he focused in on his leg. He dug his finger into the would and as quickly as he could pulled the bullet out. It hurt like hell, but he'd rather have it out now than deal with lasting damage later.

 

Zack tuned back into the action just in time to hear Mr. Smith's final words.

 

“Glory to the West, death to Supers.”

 

After that all Zack saw was a blinding light erupt from Ike's chest. Zack did the only thing he could and laid himself flat on the ground, hoping to minimize any damage he would take. A few seconds later there was a bright flash and then darkness.

 

 

Feels like I've been drinkin' 4 bottles of Jessie's homebrew...

 

Zack groaned to himself as he slowly turned his head upwards, only to be rewarded with an annoying overhead light. He attempted to cover his eyes, but found this took a great deal of effort. He looked down and soon discovered why. Aside from the soreness, Zack's arm had been somewhat haphazardly bandaged to the bed. He moaned as he rose up and undid the sloppy bandage work.

 

Zack took a slow look around, he was alone in the room. Apparently this had only happened recently though as he saw a fairly messy bed next to him and the door was still open.

 

Ten bucks says it was either Lora or Seiko I was rooming with...

 

Zack turned himself to the side of the bed and let his feet touch the floor. He felt stiff, and not entirely there just yet. He also hadn't seen any trace of his equipment. On the nearby stand he found his trusty bandana though. He slowly picked it up and wrapped it around his left wrist. After doing so he looked towards the door again.

 

"I wonder where the others are."

[Jake the Sage]

Seiko was sore . . . really sore despite the fact his wounds had been bandaged and he was currently in bed. Yet instead of the soft, soothing colors of a hospital or ward, Seiko’s eyes were greeted by the dreary scenery of the stone ceiling.

 

Once out of his bed, Seiko tried to stabilize himself, and then began to try his best to walk out of the room. With each step towards the door his stomach felt like it was sinking deeper, giving weird sensation all over. His body tingled and there was a wince of pain every so often, but none of those seemed to be the cause of what was bothering the Super. “I need to find the others,” Seiko thought leaning up against the doorway.

 

Hours ticked by before Zack finally groaned himself awake. Slowly he turned his head upwards, only to be rewarded with an annoying overhead light. Zack attempted to cover his eyes, but found that his arm had been somewhat haphazardly bandaged to the bed. He moaned as he rose up and undid the sloppy bandage work.

 

The bandage redone Zack took a slow look around the room. He was alone, though apparently this had only happened recently as he saw a fairly messy bed next to him and the door was still open. “Ten bucks says it was either Lora or Seiko I was rooming with,” Zack turned himself to the side of the bed and let his feet touch the floor. He felt stiff, and not entirely there just yet. He also hadn't seen any trace of his equipment; on a nearby stand he found his trusty bandana though. He slowly picked it up and wrapped it around his left wrist. After doing so he looked towards the door again, “I wonder where the others are.”

 

The door handle jiggled for a moment. The jiggling ceased for a moment before it resumed with fervor, culminating in the door being kicked in by a very aggravated blonde. Setting her foot back to the ground Sarah saw that Zack was awake and sighed, resting a hand on the first pair of normal jeans Zack could remember seeing her wear, “Oh good you’re up. I thought the boss was going to throw you out if he had to wait another week for you to get your ass up.”

 

---

 

Elsewhere

 

Seiko had amazingly managed to find not a single soul in his search throughout the complex. Every so often he would hear what might be voices talking in the distance, but by the time he reached where they were supposed to be coming from the persons had seemingly vanished into thin air.

 

“I told you I don’t need to be quarantined!” Lora’s voice shouted out from down the hall, followed quickly by Kallen’s response, “That’s not up for debate Lora, you are staying here. By Ran if we hadn’t gotten you here in time you know what would’ve happened!”

 

“I could’ve handled it.”

 

“And what about Anne?” Kallen asked almost accusingly.

[Super Chaos Sonic]

World

 

It seemed like Seiko was walking down the halls aimlessly for hours, but to his dismay, not a single soul was to be seen in the complex. Oh sure, he heard the occasional voices coming but try as he might to reach them, when he did...they seemed to disappear. His fist began to clench as he kept walking beside the wall. He was almost on the verge of giving up.

 

W-Where...where are they? he began to contemplate. Thoughts began to race around as he kept his struggle to move forward. Were Lora and the others captured? Or where they... O-Oh god...please no... Seiko halted in his tracks, his mind thinking upon the latter of his thoughts. Did that blast...kill Lora and the others? Was he and Zack all that survived? These thoughts made Seiko grief even more, as his sore body began to ache even more. His fist clenched tighter as he shut his eyes tightly...hoping this was all but a dream...

 

“I told you I don’t need to be quarantined!”

 

Seiko's eyes shot open as he heard this familiar voice shout from another room. His face began to light up as he kept moving towards the room where Lora's voice was heard.

 

“That’s not up for debate Lora, you are staying here. By Ran if we hadn’t gotten you here in time you know what would’ve happened!”

“I could’ve handled it.”

“And what about Anne?”

 

He slowly made it to the room, as Kallen asked his question. He stood in the doorway of the room, just looking at the two individuals, letting out a sigh of relief. "T-There you guys are..." he started, still leaning against the door frame to prop him up. "T-Thought you guys were...well..."

[Sploda]

Zack jumped a bit when the door handle began to move. He was even more surprised when after a second failed attempt to open what looked like a simple door, the person on the other side decided to blow the door away with a powerful kick. All of Zack's initial shock disappeared the moment he saw Sarah, immediately understanding the series of events. Zack took a moment to size up her appearance, noticing the distinct lack of armor.

 

So they DO wear casual clothing.

 

“Oh good you’re up. I thought the boss was going to throw you out if he had to wait another week for you to get your ass up.”

 

Oh I hope she is kidding...

 

Unsure of the overall situation, Zack stretched his back a bit. "It'd be poor leadership to just throw someone away, especially someone who knows what I know."

 

Zack took a peek behind Sarah to see if anyone was with her to stave off the incoming bout of boredom he felt. He was disappointed to see that she was alone, until he realized he could mess with Sarah.

 

"I think you were just worried about me and wanted an excuse to check on me, you don't have to li-" Zack cut himself off as he saw Sarah start cracking her knuckles with an agitated look on her face.

 

Quickly changing the subject to a less trivial note, "I'm okay, and I'll be fine. Believe it or not, I've been through worse scraps than that. Only thing really special about this one is that it was the first time I was getting paid to fight the odds."

 

Zack then faced the door, and jabbed his thumb over to the unoccupied bed. "So, who was and where is my roomie?"

[Jake the Sage]

“Oh good you’re up. I thought the boss was going to throw you out if he had to wait another week for you to get your ass up.”

 

Sarah grinned seeing Zack’s face fall, unsure if she was telling the truth or not. When he had determined that she was lying, Zack stretched, “It’d be poor leadership to just throw someone away, especially someone who knows what I know.”

 

“Never said that you were going to be alive when we threw you out,” Sarah said showing Zack that she was armed with a long hunting knife, grinning. Instead of getting the reaction that she wanted Zack instead looked behind her to see if she was alone, and then spoke up, “I think you were just worried about me and wanted an excuse to check on me, you don't have to li-”

 

Zack cut himself off when Sarah cracked her knuckles with an agitated look on her face, quickly changing the subject to a less trivial note, “I'm okay, and I'll be fine. Believe it or not, I've been through worse scraps than that.”

 

“Yeah I doubt that,” Sarah interrupted leaning against the door frame, arms crossed. She puffed out some loose strands of hair out of her face then looked back over at Zack, “I’ll have to admit, you got more balls than I thought you did, running in like you did. That or you’re one crazy mother funker with a death wish just begging to be granted.”

 

Sarah pushed herself off the door frame and walked over to Zack, lightly punching him in his good arm. “But, Hell, you aren’t the only one. Those kids we had to look for are probably just as crazy. Then again . . . we’re all a little mad here.”

 

“So,” Zack began when Sarah finished talking, jabbing his thumb over to the unoccupied bed, “Who was and where is my roomie?”

 

Sarah looked up at the unoccupied bed and shrugged, “Well after you both weren’t about to die we put you and the other kid in here to sleep. As for where the kid ran off too . . . Hell if I know! I’m not a babysitter.”

 

---

 

Seiko had pressed his ear against the door to eavesdrop on the conversation. When he decided to make his presence known he slowly opened the door and walked inside, sighing in relief, “There you guys are . . .  I thought you guys . . .”

 

Seiko’s words died as the appearance two figures in the room dawned on him. Kallen, an astounding General of the North that he had never seen so much as get a scratch was covered from head to toe in wounds and her mechanical arm was disturbingly absent; beside her was a giant suit of armor, covered in fresh marks and gashes that undoubtedly had been added in the previous fight. The armor was attached to a giant machine via large tubes. Beyond Kallen and the suit of armor, which was probably Lora, was a bed behind a thick glass wall.

 

Behind that glass wall, covered in countless wires and a mask covering her face was Anne.

 

“Seiko what are you doing here!?” Kallen asked turning from the suit of armor and reaching out for him with her remaining arm. Grabbing hold of his shoulder Kallen turned the stunned Super around and began to lead him out of the room as the armor stood and motioned for her to stop, Lora’s synthesized voice echoing out of it, “Kallen he’s going to find out sooner or later.”

 

“Yes, but he can’t be in here right now,” Kallen snapped back shoving Seiko out of the room and shutting the door as the bound armor strained against the makeshift shackles holding her down. From inside the room Lora’s synthesized voice screamed out in aggravation.

 

“Seiko, are you alright?”

 

---

 

After Sarah explained that she had no idea where Seiko had ran off to, noting that she really didn’t care, she led Zack to where Koya was recovering. In his own room, Koya was bandaged up as much as anyone else, his wounds still recovering, and had a few guests with him; one was a woman who had both arms and everything below the waist replaced by machines while the other woman had four dots on her forehead in a diamond shape.

 

Koya introduced both of them; the prior was named Alisa and was a renegade cyborg from the West while the other was Yaming, though at her insistence Koya would let her explain her own history at her leisure. When greetings were out of the way Koya filled Zack in on what had happened after Ike’s chest bomb went off.

 

Revealing a remote detonator Mr. Smith grinned as he pressed the button, “Glory to the West, death to Supers.”

 

The brilliant ball of light flashed outwards, engulfing the entire group in the massive amount of radiation and other harmful fallout meant to kill many different kinds of Supers. Each could feel their skin burning, smoldering and bubbling from the intense heat that accompanied the blast; those who weren’t Supers fell first, while weaker Supers dropped sooner afterwards. Before many lost consciousness and perished from the suicidal attack the range of the blast dramatically decreased down to just around Ike, Anne on both knees with her arms wrapped around the Leader of Gamma Squadron. Anne’s painful screams could be heard even above the sound of the blast.

 

“Damn it!” Kallen shouted to herself thrusting the mechanical arm out to try and dislodge something . . . anything . . . inside Ike’s chest to force the blast to stop or send him skyrocketing. But the small amount of time spent in the radiation had fried her arm. It was useless and could be barely held up. Koya slammed one hand against the ground and tried to get to his feet. He could manipulate energy, syphon off the energy and save Anne, but before he could take the role Lora had snatched it from him. Close enough to the radiation-filled bubble, Lora took what she could and more, draining the blast of all it could give.

 

The blast was averted. No one died.

 

Before both Anne and Lora passed out, the red headed moron drained as much of the radiation from her friend’s body, desperately trying to save herself from her own choice.

 

It wasn’t long afterwards that Ike rebooted, the blast having not been as suicidal as they had imagined, and retreated with John Smith when more of the Rebellion arrived. They were most likely back in the West now, informing their leader of the encounter.

 

“Lora and Anne are quarantined right now,” Yaming said, resting a sympathetic hand on Zack’s own, “They won’t die, but they’ve been exposed to a lot of radiation and need some time to recover.”

[Sploda]

“They won’t die, but they’ve been exposed to a lot of radiation and need some time to recover.”

 

Zack barely registered Yaming's voice. All he could do was playback the events in his head, looking for a way he could've prevented it and still helped them escape. No matter how hard he looked at the situation though, he kept coming back to the same conclusion.

 

It's my fault.

 

Zack held his usual comically aloof persona together with all the willpower he could muster. "Well, if nothing else I can cross 'getting blown up' off my bucket list."

 

Zack chuckled to himself for a bit before giving a long sigh. He looked at those gathered around for a moment. "Well, I guess since several of us are still recovering, I'll go back to my room and rest a bit more. I won't be asleep, so let me know if I'm needed. Saints above know I need something to keep me from being bored."

 

Zack excused himself after promising to hear Yaming and Alisa's stories at a later time. He made to go back to his room, but got curious as he passed a long hallway. Preferring to not succumb to boredom, Zack followed the hallway, making a mental note to head back to him room in a moment. As he reached the end he saw Kallen, missing her mechanical arm, shoving what appeared to be a still dazed Seiko out of a room.

 

“Seiko, are you alright?”

 

"He can't possibly be worse off than you, Lora and Anne." Zack said in monotone as he approached. Zack guessed by Kallen's protective posturing that he knew who was behind the door. Zack held back his emotions for now, knowing that they wouldn't do anyone any good.

 

Grabbing Seiko gently by the shoulder with his good arm, Zack began to pull him away from Kallen. "I'll take him back to our room and get us both a little more rest."

 

As Zack turned to escort Seiko back to the room he looked over his shoulder at Kallen. "I'm sorry. Please tell them both that."

 

Zack continued down the hall, eager to get away from the evidence of his crime.

[Super Chaos Sonic]

“Seiko what are you doing here!?”

 

Seiko was speechless, no words forming at all as he just stood there in a daze. Kallen was covered from head to toe in severe gashes and wounds and this armor...was this...Lora? Beyond that he could saw Anne covered in wires and a mask on her face. Before he knew it, he was already out of the room being face to face with Kallen.

 

“Seiko, are you alright?”

 

Words tried to form when he heard Kallen speak, but they wouldn't be released from his mouth. W-What was that...w-w-was that...because of me? he thought, his face turning a bit pale from the sheer thought.

 

"He can't possibly be worse off than you, Lora and Anne."

 

Seiko turned and saw that Zack, finally awake, roamed down the hall towards them. He felt Zack's hand on his shoulder as he started trying to escort him back to their room, but he pulled back a bit. "K-Kallen...w-what..." he started. "W-What the hell is going on? D-Don't lie to me either...what the hell...did I just see in there? WHAT HAPPENED?!"

[Sploda]

"K-Kallen...w-what..." he started. "W-What the hell is going on? D-Don't lie to me either...what the hell...did I just see in there? WHAT HAPPENED?!"

 

"Seiko, Calm down!" Zack exclaimed as he did his best to restrain the Super with his good arm. All he managed was to keep him from leaping on top of Kallen. "Seiko, you need to stay calm. I can explain some things as we get back to the room. Kallen is just as tired as we are, so let her rest."

 

Kallen sighed in defeat as Seiko finally stopped groping at the door behind her. "Zack you can barely walk yourself. I'll go with you guys to make sure you make it to your room."

 

"Do you want us to get back to our room, or do you want to join us in ou-"

 

"Finish that sentence and you're a dead man."

 

"Yes, ma'am." Zack lowered his head defeated again. Why is it that none of these girls can take a joke?

 

As the trio moved down the hall, Zack slowly explained to Seiko how things went down. "Apparently the bright light we saw before we passed out was a sort of radiation bomb. It was designed to kill Supers, so it was probably meant to take down even fast healers. Anyway, I was apparently one of the first to pass out, being a normal person and all. You mustn't have been that far behind me, and I'd guess it was your proximity to the bomb that did it."

 

Zack stopped as the reached a small set of stairs, and he painfully moved himself up the steps, assisting Seiko as needed. Once they reached the top he resumed his summary.

 

"Anne saved us all though. She created a force field to contain the radiation at her own expense. Lora didn't like that idea and so she siphoned off as much radiation as she could. When all was said and done, our team was in bad shape and those two were in serious condition. I don't know how we got to this facility, but we all made it. I've already visited some of the others, and everyone is healing well enough."

 

Zack, Seiko, and Kallen finally reached the room they had awoken in. Zack guided Seiko in and to a bed, gently sitting him down before finishing his tale. "Anne and Lora will recover according to Koya and the others, they just need time. So lets give them some and rest up ourselves, okay bud?"

 

Zack patted him on the shoulder as Kallen stood in the doorway. Zack really wanted to make another joke, but figured he'd better play it safe this time.

 

If I hadn't jumped into that group we could've moved as a team. I can't prove that it would've been better, but forcing Anne to do that to save us...

 

Zack didn't know how to feel. His gut told him he had done the right thing, but everything he had seen and done argued against that. He just wanted someone to tell him he had done the right thing in trying to help. 

[Super Chaos Sonic]

Seiko tried his best to fight Zack's attempt to keep him from Kallen, and to no avail did it work. He clenched his fist and was forced down the hall by way of Zack and Kallen. His mind was still in sorts of confusion at what he had seen in the room...

 

"I want...a-an answer damnit..." Seiko quickly said, looking at Zack then at Kallen. "W-What happened...?"

 

"Apparently the bright light we saw before we passed out was a sort of radiation bomb. It was designed to kill Supers, so it was probably meant to take down even fast healers. Anyway, I was apparently one of the first to pass out, being a normal person and all. You mustn't have been that far behind me, and I'd guess it was your proximity to the bomb that did it."

 

A radiation bomb? Designed to kill Supers?! This thought overwhelmed the young Super as he shook his head slightly. That sounded almost impossible to be true. Who would even have the equipment and even know how to create something like this? Seiko's thoughts were put at a pause for a moment as he saw they arrived before a series of stairs.

 

"Need some help?"

 

Seiko looked at Zack and grumbled some under his breath. "I'm not an invalid..." he spoke, before sighing and allowing Zack to assist him in walking up the stairs. "Unbelievable...to need help to get up a flight of damn stairs..." he grumbled with a sigh. Once they arrived at the top, Zack continued.

 

"Anne saved us all though. She created a force field to contain the radiation at her own expense. Lora didn't like that idea and so she siphoned off as much radiation as she could. When all was said and done, our team was in bad shape and those two were in serious condition. I don't know how we got to this facility, but we all made it. I've already visited some of the others, and everyone is healing well enough."

 

"A-Anne and Lora...saved us?" Seiko asked weakly, watching as the image of the room Kallen was in flashing in his mind once again. He shuddered and shook it off, cursing under his breath, not being able to help them out when they needed it.

 

"Anne and Lora will recover according to Koya and the others, they just need time. So lets give them some and rest up ourselves, okay bud?"

 

Seiko was guided to the bed he awoke from as he watched Kallen just stand in the doorway. He shook his head some before sighing. "I-I suppose your right..." he said, before acknowledging Kallen. "Kallen...who...would even make something like that...bomb to destroy Supers? W-Who in their right mind...hates us that much?"

[Jake the Sage]

“Anne and Lora . . . saved us?” Seiko asked stunned, his mind wandering to what he had seen in the room Kallen had been in. He shuddered feeling cold and uneasy at the mental image, cursing under his breath, “Damn it I should’ve been able to do something . . . I dunno . . . more . . .”

 

Zack wanted to make another joke, lighten up the mood the only way he knew how, but figured he'd better play it safe this time. He felt that he had done the right thing, but with what Kallen had told him, he wasn’t as sure as he would like to be; he really needed someone to tell him he had done the right thing. “If I hadn't jumped into that group we could've moved as a team. I can't prove that it would've been better, but forcing Anne to do that to save us . . .”

 

“You did more than enough Seiko,” Kallen commented from her position in the doorframe, her eyes shifting slightly to look at Zack, “Both of you did.”

 

“I-Is Anne going to . . .” Seiko hardly could bring himself to ask the question, his mind now playing the scenario in his mind on a constant repeat. Zack huffed and shook his head, “Anne and Lora will recover according to Koya and the others. They just need time. So let’s give them some and rest up ourselves, okay bud?”

 

Seiko shook his head some before letting out a relieved sigh. His nerves were shot, but now he didn’t have to worry about having gotten his two best friends killed. “I suppose you’re right.”

 

Slowly lowering himself onto the edge of the bed, the Super flinched with every minute amount of pain that shot up through his back and, honestly, his entire body. After a particularly strong wave of pain an idea came to mind. A radiation bomb designed to kill Supers? It sounded impossible, but he had witnessed it, however briefly, so it did indeed exist. “Something like that can’t be easy to build,” Seiko thought to himself. Looking back up at Kallen, who thankfully hadn’t left yet, Seiko asked, “Kallen?”

 

“Don’t worry,” Kallen said with a surprisingly soft smile, her only hand protectively covering where the mechanical arm would attach, “Lora is already awake and being, well, Lora. Anne is still asleep but that because of the medication. Give her a couple days and everyone-”

 

“That’s not what I wanted to ask,” Seiko interrupted, “I wanted to know . . . I mean . . . a bomb like that can’t be easy to build, right? Who would . . . could make something like that? A bomb . . . for the sole purpose of killing Supers! Who in their right mind hates us . . . that much!?”

 

Kallen sighed and looked away. For a moment she silently stood in the doorway, rubbing where her missing arm met metal, and then finally answered. Her tone was shallow, slow, and filled with remorse, “The original plans were drafted by a Western scientist. His name was Oscar Safford. The Western government threatened his wife and daughter to force him to work for them. When someone else made a breakthrough in focusing the Plasma-Wave into armaments he was put on that instead and his daughter was made . . . to participate . . .”

 

Kallen stopped, her hand gripping the lost arm tighter. “I thought the project was scrapped. I . . . honestly thought even Serizawa wouldn’t go that far . . .”