The Shadow Chasers

Chapter 14

"Now!" Sam said emphatically, and fired to melt the ring.

Clover melted the dagger simultaneously with her shot. Alex hit and melted the base of the mirror, but quickly flew in with her staff to shatter the mirror itself.

"Bad luck for you!" she called out determinedly.

Kaito's eyes went wide with shock. The endlessly reproducing Shadows that had managed to nearly escape up the shaft to the first floor faded from reality. All other Shadows vanished as well, ending with the one that had enveloped Kaito. He lay on the floor, unconscious but still breathing.

Those remaining Personas present were dismissed, and all weapons were put away or lowered.

"We... did it," Mitsuru said, a look of relief washing over her face. She breathed out a sigh, slumped in exhaustion, and made eye contact with the others, including Sam.

"Yes!" Sam exclaimed, followed by expressions of victory from everyone else.

Aigis looked down intensely at Kaito and lifted him up over her shoulder. "Time to go," she said.

"Got that right. I've had enough of this place!" Clover replied, as she, Sam, and Alex ignited their jetpacks. The others assented, illuminated by Aigis's and Labrys's headlamps.

"I don't think I can do that wind trick back up," Yukari informed the others.

"That's okay," Mitsuru replied. "Sam, Clover, Alex, Labrys- can you give us a lift back up?" she inquired, indicating Yukari, Akihiko, Junpei, Koromaru, and herself.

"Of course," Alex replied.

She flew over to Mitsuru, grabbed her firmly under the armpits and lifted off with her to the shaft. Aigis flew behind her with Kaito, lighting the way. Clover grabbed Yukari in the same way Alex had used, and flew up after Aigis. Sam decided she could lift Koromaru, who she cradled in her arms. He looked up to her in appreciation, illuminated by Labrys's headlamp. Labrys held Akihiko and flew to illuminate those before her.

"Be right back fer ya, Junpei!" Labrys called over her shoulder.

"Alright! Guess I'm last..." he muttered back, and took a seat on a chunk of concrete in the dark.

Soon everyone was back on the ground level on the cannery. Labrys made another trip to retrieve a grateful Junpei who insisted he wasn't upset at being left for last.

Jerry, flanked by two WOOHP agents had entered the building moments ago, summoned by Clover's use of her X-Powder's distress button before dropping down the shaft. The agents took Kaito from Aigis, and Jerry nodded in appreciation to them as the unconscious man was cuffed and carried off.

"Well done everyone. My, what a group here," Jerry remarked at the eclectic people and animal standing beside the spies. "Ah, I'm Jerry, head of the World Organization of Human Protection. Thank you for helping my agents in the field," he added, looking to them appreciatively.

"Good to meet you, I'm Mitsuru. We actually offered to let them skip the battle we just had, but their help was invaluable," an exhausted Mitsuru replied, indicating Sam, Alex, and Clover.

"Thanks. Oh, and Jerry's the best boss ever. He helped make this all happen," Alex said in a matter-of-fact way. Jerry smiled humbly in response.

"So what's going to happen to Kaito?" Sam asked, looking to Mitsuru and Jerry.

"We'll take him to WOOHP to make sure all traces of Shadows are out of him," Jerry replied. "I've already contacted local authorities, and they agree a WOOHP holding cell is the best security for him, just in case," he added.

Clover looked to Mitsuru. "Now that it's over, you don't have any other dangerous stuff in that police station someone else might want to steal?" she asked.

"I don't believe so," Mitsuru replied, looking a bit embarrassed. "I never knew those relics could be used like that... and assumed no one would be able to steal from the police," she added.

Clover hesitated until the remaining earring translator processed what she heard. "It's cool. I understand," Clover replied.

Mitsuru gave a thoughtful look to her and the other WOOHP agents.

"But I'll sort through the rest of the relics first chance I get, and will have anything else questionable destroyed," she said, looking around the large group. "Thank you, everyone," she said, and bowed to Jerry.

Soon everyone was in good spirits congratulating each other as they left the building.

A/N: Thanks for reading another chapter.   Please vote and comment if enjoyed it!