I sat back in my chair and started to get myself ready. I adjusted my combat boots and the items on my belt. With Donum being gone, I had to really consider my inventory. I only had one more thing of tear gas, and two scatter ball bombs. I needed to make them count. It would be so easy to just rob the police...But that's not who we are. Then again I am letting Penelope hack into their system and essentially manipulate them.
"Just don't think about it, Stryder." I mumbled.
I took out my phone and looked over my texts to Zack. He hadn't replied to anything yet, and it was just about show time.
What could that idiot be doing? I set my tools down and started to call him.
"Yo! You reached that hot guy you've been dreaming about! Leave me a brief message, and I probably won't call back! DING!"
His phone went straight to voicemail? I wonder if something happened between him and his dad?
"Stryder, everythings ready." Leo announced.
He walked into the living room and Penelope was right behind him. She was busy typing something on her smart watch.
"I've taken control of the main communication line. I've only shifted the patrol routes slightly. So no one should raise a brow. We have a wide range of areas covered. Has Zack arrived yet?" Penelope asked.
I shook my head.
"It seems like he won't show." I sighed.
"So, let's have a similar unit to last time." Leo suggested. "Wiz and I can take Zack's route."
I blinked a few times. Wiz and I? Did he just volunteer!?
"Oh yeah! And Jack can take his place!" Penelope suggested, and I immediately shook my head.
"Protecting the home base is the most important role. I'll take the route to Zack's house. I'll see if I can talk to him, while the rest of you focus on the mission at hand." I said.
Boop! Boop! Boop! Boop!
Penelope's wrist watch started to go off. She looked horrified at it and started to quickly type on her screen.
"We just lost all but one drone!" Penelope shrieked.
"What!?" I yelled.
"Time for Magica!" Wiz cheered from the kitchen.
"I hate to agree with the idiot. But he's right, let's head out." Leo turned toward Penelope. "Do you have a visual of the assailant?"
"O-oh yeah!" She squeaked.
"Alright, so Wiz and I will head that way. Stryder you hurry and see if Zack is available." Leo said.
I nodded.
"Fair plan, be careful. It's probably Gopher boy and Matter change girl." I said and grabbed the hoodie I've chosen for the day."Let me know if anything changes!"
I moved the hood over my head and headed out.
...
I leaped from rooftop to rooftop. Letting the air entangle itself with me as I rushed to his place. It wasn't long before I was out of roof and I was just a street or two away. I climbed down and ran the rest of the way.
"Stryder, you're not gonna believe it! But there's someone down here controlling the leaves!" Penelope shrieked into the mic.
I stopped in my tracks. That had to be Joe!
"Listen, I'm on my way!" I said and turned around.
"No you idiot! Get Zack!" Leo yelled back into the mic. "We're gonna need him! This isn't Joe, and there's another. He must've hired more people. The other one can spin like a wheel and rocket himself around!"
What!? Did he just spend today buying new recruit's!?
"Right! I'll try and hurry." I called out.
"If things get too intense, I'm coming. No matter what." Jack replied.
"Right." I mumbled. "If you do, please. Take them out of the city first."
"I'll make sure they're fine, just focus on the mission at hand, hero boy." Jack said into the mic.
"Right!" I called back and started running.
So Joe hired new people and they took out the drones. He probably hired as many as he can. At how quick it was he probably knows somebody who's commissioning gifted.
"Hey! If at all possible try to capture one of them!" I called out to the mic. "I have reason to believe they have connections to something that can help us out."
"Ha ha! This guy's Magica is cool! I wanna try and make the leaves move too!" Wiz cheered into the mic.
I turned the corner and started down to Zack's complex.
"Is the forest alive!?" Leo yelled, like he accidentally tapped the mic.
I don't even want to know...
Soon I came up to Zack's building, and all the warmth drained from my body. The building was gone. The entire row of buildings was nothing but ash!
"Zack.." I mumbled.
I ran over to the burnt remains and dropped to my knees. It was still warm, and I could even see embers in the wood.
"Penelope! Were there any reports of a fire?" I asked.
It took a few minutes, but she replied.
"No! Why!? Is there a fire happening? Should I dispatch some officers?" She asked.
"Well I-"
I stopped talking as I noticed something white in the distance. It looked like paper. How was it perfectly fine in this mix of fire and ash!? I got up and ran over to it. It was held under a rock near the entrance.
"Stryder? Is everything okay?" Penelope asked.
"No, but you should send a few officers this way." I replied and grabbed the note.
My body shivered as I gazed over the dark red streaks and ash fingertips that stained the paper.
'If you answer your mic after reading this. Zack dies. Take it out and drop it. Then come alone to the abandoned factory or else. He'll pay the price.'
My heart started to pound against my chest, and I could barely keep my thoughts in line. I balled my fist as I tried to calm my rage. My knuckles popped and blood ran down my palm. I hadn't even noticed I pierced my skin. Then I took my ear piece out and dropped it to the floor.
He didn't even say Annual. Does that mean that she's...? No! Don't think like that. There fine, there both fine. I turned around and started walking. With every step something shattered beneath my feet. I know I didn't have super strength anymore, but I couldn't tell.
Soon my walking turned to running, and I ran as fast as I could. No! No! No! I'm going to save them! They're going to be okay!
It wasn't long before I got to the old factory. Without hesitation I leaped and dropped kicked the door down. I quickly shot up and noticed the only light in this place was coming from the back of the building. Which helped illuminate the hordes of red steel gang members. They all turned toward me, and rushed at me.
You're all gonna regret this.
I activated my eyes and dashed in at the closest person to me. They came in and raised their hand, it shone silver and soon his fingers shifted into long sharp blades. He slashed at me and I easily dodged him. I moved to his side and grabbed his wrist, and spun him around. He screamed and I slammed him into a standing pipe, then I reeled my arm back and with all my might. Punched the back of his head and dented it into the pipe.
Footsteps sounded off close behind, I turned around and saw a man coming in at me with a knife. I dodged by side stepping him. He stumbled some but still wildly slashed at my throat. I stepped back and dodged another slash and my foot tapped a lead pipe. He slashed again for my throat and I dodged by ducking down. Then I grabbed the pipe and swung it up at him with all I had.
A loud crack rang out through the factory as I shattered his jaw. He dropped down seemingly out cold. Before I could celebrate a bullet quickly pierced my shoulder. I groaned and leaped away behind some machinery.
No way! No way I'm being stopped! No way you're scaring me! You all are going to pay!
I jumped out from the machine and threw the pipe at the first person I saw. They managed to jump away and I dashed at her. She staggered and opened her mouth toward me, and I watched steam leak from her lips. I moved away from her face and a huge rush of scalding water blasted out. Just barely missing my face.
I kept forward and she quickly tried to raise her gun. However, I was too quick and I held her hand down, making her shoot the floor. Then a loud pop sounded off from behind and something hot burned through my thigh. Crap! Someone else is shooting! The woman I held wailed in pain and I yanked us both aside behind some machines.
I yanked the gun from her and clocked it back. She went to open her mouth but I immediately shot her knee cap. Which made her gasp and scream in agony. Then I reeled my leg back and punted her jaw, sending her flying back into the open.
Then I ran off, hiding behind the machinery. Making my way toward the back.
That must be where they're hiding them. I clocked the gun back and reached back for my sword. I saw the members running desperately looking for me, I needed to take them down. This is the base, and Zacks at the end. Even if I get in there, I'll easily get ambushed. I haven't seen Joe yet either. Maybe he's not here. I'm sure he would've appeared by now.
I glanced back at everyone scattered about. It looked like there were at least twenty. Plus from the last two people, anyone of them could be gifted. I took a breath. If I can just defeat everyone here, I'll have a clear path in and out. Water girl can't walk, and the other two are knocked out. I took a breath and gripped my blade harder.
But how likely is it that I can get through everyone without killing them? They're just grunts, following that sadist! I don't want to...No, this is war. They killed the cashier, they attacked innocent people. And they abducted Zack, and did who knows what with Annual.
If I'm going to stop this, if I'm going to save them. I have to look at everyone here as an enemy. No matter what or who they are. Prioritize saving Zack and Annual.
I stepped out from the machine and activated my eyes.
"This, is war."