We jumped down the long slide, riding lower and lower. Occasionally, we'd slow ourselves down by holding the walls. Wouldn't want to splatter now. Every once in a while, we'd come across sensors, probably motion detectors. Candra probably deactivated them. Eventually, we reached the end, a hatch with a glowing light in the seams. I gently pushed it open and looked inside. A large open room came into focus. Everything was white and sterile. The room itself smelled like a hospital... sickeningly clean. I stepped in and looked around, checking for any enemies. The room seemed empty except for the door in front of me. I walked to the left door and looked through its opening. Many complex and strange machines whirled and buzzed; the room seemed to be some sort of testing area. A few terrariums dotted the corners, but I couldn't tell what was inside. Hida followed behind me, gently touching my back, indicating that she wasn't going to stray. I slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside. Another two doors came into view, one to the left and another in front. We snuck to the left one and looked through the window. The room was dark, but I could make out a few cages. I focused my hearing and could make out what sounded like rattling.
"This won't have what we're looking for," Hida whispered. I nodded as we moved on. The next door led to a long corridor. The clanking of heels and boots let me know that there were people inside. I felt Hida's hand tense up a little, so I took her hand in mine, interlocking our fingers. She seemed to relax again as I looked back and gave her a confident smile. I slowly pushed the door open, stepping into the passageway. Hida followed behind, stepping as I did. I looked around at the corners (...no cameras, makes sense. Wouldn't want people hacking in and seeing what you're doing). Three doors led to different rooms in front of us. We snuck up to the first door and looked inside..." It's an office." I whisper to Hida. I looked to my left, trying to see if I could find what we were looking for. (If only we had a better description of what this thing looks like, maybe finding the blueprint would be easier.) I slowly opened the door and let us both in. We dashed around opening drawers everywhere, checking to see if we could find anything useful. The room was unnoticeably different from the rest of the lab. It had a soft green carpet and a long red wood table in the center, countless shelves dotting the walls. At the far end was a desk with a small laptop and a picture frame.
"Liam," Hida called
"You found it?"
"No, but look. This file... It's different." Indeed, it was metallic for one and had the demon head logo on the front. It was sealed by what looks like a padlock. Hida pulled out a hairpin and began to work on opening it. A loud click went off, and the book flipped open before use, in bold letters were written the words.
PROJECT PANDORA
"The hell is that supposed to mean?" The folder only had one page, and that page only had those words. We looked around, but nothing else was written. Hida quickly put it back, and we began our search once more. I walked to the front desk and started looking through the drawers. "Nothing...damn." I lifted my head and saw a picture of my mother and me on the desk. (This must be her office. She really is a part of all this.) I clenched my fist, then suddenly the door swung open and in he stepped. Silver hair shining in the fluorescent lights. He turned to look at me, his eyes narrowed, then he looked at Hida. He smiled gently, "You must be the infamous Phantom Dragons...silly name, but I've come to respect it." He said as he removed his glasses and unbuckled his shirt. "And managing to break in here of all places. Impressive, really." He rolled up his sleeves. And stepped towards us. "But the games end here, children. I would ask you to come quietly, but I doubt that will work. Besides, this would be way more fun." (Damn it, of all the people...it had to be dad.) He dashed at me with blinding speed. His fist came directly towards my face as I narrowly dodged it. Leaning back, I grabbed his palm and twisted it, wrapping my legs around his neck in an arm bar. He flexed his arm and pulled me towards a bookshelf, almost ramming my head into it. I quickly got off and kicked him in the jaw, landing on his desk in a combat-ready stance. He laughed loudly as blood ran down his arm from slamming it against the shelf. "Very good, very good. You fight properly, you remind me of my son." He swung his arm at me, splattering blood toward my eye. I just barely blocked it before feeling a sledgehammer drive through my chest, sending me flying towards the far wall. I twisted my body and landed on the wall feet first. I propelled myself towards him with a knee. He blocked it with his arm, and I twisted over him, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him down. I dug my nails into one of his pressure points, locking his legs and forcing him down. I flipped and got on top of him, pinning one arm with my leg, then started a volley of punches. "GEARS, GET OUT OF HERE! HE'S JUST TOYING WITH ME, YOU HAVE TO RUN!" I yelled in an altered voice so that he wouldn't recognise me. I couldn't take a second to look at her as I was too occupied punching father, even now he easily blocked everything I threw at him. He smiled, "You know me so well. Odd." He grabbed my arm, then pumped his chest up, sending me bouncing. He hooked his legs around my arms, then threw me off. I twisted and landed on my feet, then suddenly BOOM! A shot flew just past his head, just barely dodged it. I looked at Hida. In her hands was what looked like a crossbow: "I don't leave friends behind!" She yelled back at me, "We do this together." She looked at me with a stern face (looks like she noticed it too...I can't use my powers or else he'll figure me out.)
"Such a loyal friend, how very kind of her. Though you can't escape, the door is locked." He laughed, he rushed at me once more, throwing a flurry of punches my way. I blocked a few before Hida took another shot. He caught it and threw it back at her leg, driving it into her thigh. The distraction was enough, though, I twisted and heel kicked him in the diaphragm. He jumped back and knelt down, coughing blood. He got up once more and readied himself. "You kids are full of surprises."
"Phantom Lord. I have a plan, but you have to put all your faith in me." Said Hida.
I laughed and got in a stance, "Always!" I glanced her way and saw her pull out a bag and start taking her bow apart. My eyes widened as I rushed to my father. (I don't stand a chance in direct combat, she knows that...yet that's what she needs... alright Hida, my life's in your hands). I swung a high kick as he easily dodged and counted by punching my liver. The blow sent shocks up my spine, but I quickly recovered and threw another punch at him, then another and another. He blocked them all, then shoved me back, his eyes darted towards Hida, but I quickly threw another punch towards his jaw. He refocused and weaved back, giving me a nasty uppercut. As my body lifted up, I saw the world become a blur. I looked to my side and saw Hida rushing at him with...something (she's ready!) I snapped back to reality, feeling the gravity around me. I grabbed his shoulders as he turned to face me, but couldn't take his eyes off of Hida. I headbutted him as Hida dove and clapped something around his leg. I landed on my feet and then dashed back along with Hida. We both stood away from him as I looked down at his feet...a bear trap around his ankle. He laughed aloud then looked at Hida, "This the best you could do, a minor inconvenience...a trifle."
"No... A knockout." Suddenly, an arrow shot out towards his chin. The trap was still a bow. He dodged back just in time, but I was waiting. He moved his head to the left, to my fist, meeting him halfway. I put everything into that punch, rattling his brain, forcing him unconscious. He slumped over and fell to the ground. Fell to the floor before rushing to Hida. "Come on, we gotta move. He'll wake up real soon," I whispered to her.
"What, you punched his lights out, no way he's getting up until morning." She responded.
"Shhhhhh, trust me, we've only got twenty minutes. Even if we disturb him, he'll get up, and he won't toy with me this time. We don't want that." We ran to the door and pushed it open. "Wait...he didn't even lock it," Hida whispered irritably.
"Figures." I chuckle. We turned the corner, rushing around, door to door, ducking and avoiding security until eventually we reached a set of double doors. I slowly pushed them open, looking inside as I did so. The room itself was relatively small, no tools or furniture, just pure sterile white, except for the long hundred-meter corridor with what looked like red TV screens on the walls, floors, and ceiling. We stepped forward and looked deep in at the end was what looked like a glass case. Hida and I looked at each other and nodded. She took out what looked like a toy car and then placed it on the ground. She then clicked a button on its hood, and it went zooming into the corridor. As it did so, multiple lasers aimed at it, and suddenly, a bullet shot right through the car, destroying it.
"Well, at least it wasn't me," I said jokingly.
"Maybe your disk can make the trip." She extended her hand to me as I placed a disk in her palm. She then took out what looked like a mini sling shot but it looked roided out. It had gears at the sides coiling the sling and adding tension. She pulled it back with ease and placed my disk in the pouch. She planted it on the ground and took the shot. A loud BOOM went off as it flew, 10 meters, 20 meters, 30 meters, then a gun shot. The disc was destroyed.
"My gosh, that disc was moving at almost 300 km per hour. I don't know if we can get through, maybe we should ask Candra."
"No...I can make it."
"How, you saw those guns, they're accurate as hell."
"RTS mode." I turned to her and gave her a devilish grin. She turned her face, confused. "R...T...S?" She asked.
"The...the ability I used to remember? The tournament."
"Ooooh, you mean Ashy-man mode?"
"The hell you calling ashy... forget it. Anyway, it should work, I think." I looked down the hall at the glass case... It's far, really far.
"The slings' fire speed was about 300km/h. It took 0.36 seconds for it to respond to the disk. If you're going to make it, you need to be moving at 1,028 km/h."
"....is...is that even possible?"
"You tell me flash. I mean, in the past, you used this ability in combat, right?"
"Ya...I guess."
"Combat speed and running speed are vastly different. So.... maybe....?"
"Ya...but even if I get there, I'd have to stop moving and turn around. Who's to say it won't shoot me then?" I thought of Hisashi, an image of what happened to him after the tournament flashed through my brain.(I would let that happen again.)
"...either way, it needs to be done." I took a deep breath and walked to the door, getting into a running stance. My hands on their tips and back straight, hips up. I took a deep breath. Letting energy flow from my spine to the rest of my body. (Break apart, break it all. Space each atom out, but never... never forget your shape.)
Electricity zipped around me like panicking ants. I looked ahead at my goal (one shot...one chance). I stepped forward with all my strength, putting everything into my first stride. When I move like this, I'm not actually running, my brain can't process the speed to run properly, so I actually dive horizontally...one...big....step. Everything turned into a blur as I was launched forward with inhuman speed. Suddenly, colours slowly separated as I got closer to the box (I'm going too far, I'll hit the wall) I twisted and stepped on the ground trying to slow myself. As I looked down, I could see the atoms that are my foot were scattering. I slowly pulled them back, but too many were lost. I tripled and began to tumble down, rolling towards the back wall. I quickly deactivated RTS mode and lay there. Blood poured out from my elbows, back, and right foot. I looked down at my foot... nothing...no toes left. My heart began to pump fast, but I took a deep breath the looked up, my prize. I inched up the wall, pushing through the shocks of pain as I removed the glass case and looked inside. A small silver canister, no bigger than an air tank. It had an almost radioactive look to it. Thick metal plating and a strange nozzle. It was large, almost alien looking but somehow I understand how to use it. (So this is some sort of chemical weapon, huh? I'm sure Vesta and Yato can figure it out.) Then I saw it, a red label on the side. (Anti-chisamiso gas).
Suddenly, alarms went off, the hall turned green, then dark. "I think the gun shut down. They wouldn't risk shooting this. Hida, toss something." She threw a wrench in, but no gunfire. I immediately started limping towards her, but crumbled to the floor. She rushed to my side and lifted me up. My body was on fire from the pain, each step like wading through water. We could hear footsteps coming our way as we reached the corridor. I looked back and saw eight security guards coming our way. One immediately threw a fireball out way, so Hida ducked with me and took out a grenade. She pulled the pin and threw it towards the guards, exploding in a puff of gas. They all started coughing violently and wheezing. Hida then pulled me to the shoot.
"You go first. I'll use my powers to get up, down worry." I said as I pain shot through me.
"L-Liam?" She said as her voice shook.
"What?" She was pointing behind me. As I turned, I saw it, a tall, beautiful woman in a black outfit and tactical gear....mother.
"Shit..." I muttered.
"Indeed." She said furiously, her crimson eyes burning my soul. "What do you think you're doing?
"Hida, run." She was about to protest, but I gave her a stern look. She quietened and began climbing. I turned again as she stepped forward, just then I turned the canister to her and aimed at her.
"Do you even know what that does?" She asked smuggly.
"Do you?"
"Yes...now had it over Liam. I'll only ask once."
My determination wavered a little as I looked at her, then I saw it, sweat... she's afraid... probably of whatever this thing is. Anti-chisamiso gas...
"It will remove your abilities?"
She stopped, then looked me in the eyes, her crimson burning my red. "Yes. Now hand it over, this isn't a joke."
I stepped back and aimed once more. "Is it permanent?"
She looked at me again, then smiled. "What, planning on crippling your mother? It's not permanent. It's only active for about a day." Realising that she's not being serious, I angrily yelled, "IS IT PERMANENT, BE SERIOUS!" She stepped back and looked me in the eyes, and with a straight face, she then said. "No, Liam, it's not permanent. It's only for a few minutes. You're not crippling me today." I sighed with relief as she turned her head in confusion.
"Thank God...I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself." I turned it on and sprayed her down; the gas covered her as I quickly dashed and smacked her over the head with the canister. I then rushed to the shoot and started climbing for dear life. I pushed through the pain, the yelling, the emotions, all of it with only one hope. To get this to Hisashi. I saw it, a rope dropping to me. I held on and was pulled to the top quickly. I slowly claimed out and was given a huge hug by Hida.
"I'm okay, I'm....I'm...I." I stumbled and fell. Hisashi picked me up and dragged me elsewhere. I could hear fighting as I saw countless knocked-out bodies everywhere. I caught a glimpse of her, Vesta, fighting off Sif. I tried to get up and help, but Hida pulled me away. We eventually got to the garage as I saw an army of people packing paintings away.
"T...the paintings, no point," I said weakly.
"We do, only the main branch knows about this place. We need a distraction for the police when they eventually get here." Hisashi answered quickly. "Hida, go... I'll see you at my place."
"What about Liam?" She asked.
"Don't worry about him, I'll keep him with me now, GO!"
"Please, stay safe, okay?" Hida gave me a quick hug and then dashed off. A few minutes went by as chaos rained in the background. It sounded like a war...our people should be gone though, so I wonder who's still fighting? Soon, they packed the Canister in a car, then closed off the last few vans. "Perfect. Now for the final part...we need a fall guy. Liam, you're up."
"Whaa...what do you mean?" Hisashi walked up to me, then kicked me across the face, drilling his foot into my jaw and causing me to spit blood. The shock sent my mind into a knot of barbed wire. I slowly turned and looked at Hisashi..."s... something hit me, I...I think we n....need....Hisashi, run." Then again, another kick to my stomach, my vision went white as I lay down, coughing.
"Damn...you really can't tell what's going on, can you?" He smiled as he laughed. I could hear them, the others he brought, laughing. I looked up and I saw her, Gamer, and a few others.
"H...is...ashi... be...hind you. W...watch out..." My voice was barely a whisper.
"Still can't make sense of what's happening, huh...shame. Greetings, Liam Kara-no-goki, names Ash Deomont, leader of The Peacekeepers."
"Hi...sashi...why?" My voice squeaked as I stifled my tears.
"It's not your fault you're an abomination, but we are what our parents make us. It's too bad, really. I kinda liked having a younger brother." He walked away casually, stepping on my fingers as he did, then he reached the Van and pulled out a submachine gun. I pulled myself up and slowly started crawling away, dragging blood as I did. (I have to get away, I have to warn the others. I need to protect them, that's when I saw it. Two people were running down the hall towards me. My mother and my dad, my father threw something at Hisashi as he slid by me, holding on to me. He covered us with an old bronze shield as some of the bullets passed through. Hisashi stopped as he watched us.
"Liam, I knew it was you. That trick with the bow... clever, Hida was it...smart girl she is...I like her." His voice was raspy and hoarse.
"Dad?" I finally looked him over, knives and cuts all over him, he'd been fighting...but when...I didn't do that to him.
"Ah, Idris Argent, I'm surprised you survived our little ambush. Then I'm guessing your wife survived too?"
Suddenly, a woman dropped from the sky, attempting to cut his head off, but he dodged backwards. She dashed in for another attack, but Gamer came in for an attack. She jumped and landed behind me, panting with exhaustion. She looked beaten up, too, but not as badly. Hisashi's men pulled out what looked like a bomb. "As much as I'd love to stay and chat, I have places to be." Hisashi turned to two of his men and said. "Make sure they stay here and your family's debts are paid." They nervously exchanged looks, then nodded as the truck drove off and the bomb was armed. They all opened fire, keeping us pinned.
"We need to get him out of here." She said softly. I looked at her stomach, and a large gash of blood was dripping from her.
"M... mother, you."
"Not now, Liam, mother's got you. You won't die here...not while I breathe. I can teleport him."
"Good idea." My father said quickly as he readied his shield. "It's a question of value, so think carefully, my love."
Hisashi sighed as he reloaded his clip. My mother touched me and smiled, "I'm sorry I wasn't kinder to you, I'm sorry I didn't spend time with you, but most of all...I'm sorry you were born from me. That's probably the cruelest thing I've ever done...monsters can't be mothers. She kissed my forehead, and then I began to glow. Countless bullets passed through, hitting them both, but they didn't falter.
"Stay strong, Liam, even if we're not there...we love you. You and your brother." My father smiled at me.
Suddenly, I was elsewhere, sitting in a glass case at our house. I broke out, falling to the ground in a heap of blood and agony. I looked up, "Mother's sword? That's what she traded?" The realisation hits me once more...." Oh my god... Hisashi...he...I...my...." I quickly ran to the window, trying to get back to the gallery, then BOOM! The ground shook violently as a small dark cloud floated over the city. Just under there were my parents...all i could do...was watch.