Boris was in the room with Noire as she examined the pictures of Tema and Arion "have you worked out who the brat was that's stopped me twice now?"
"no...I don't. I keep thinking about it but...all I can think of is that was Tema that stopped you" said Noire biting her lip "However that just keeps bringing up questions such as, Why was he wearing the school uniform? How did he get here from Fantasia? Everything keeps coming up short"
"The problem is that brat can keep stopping us" Noire took a sly smile
"I think...we should deal with the problem directly. What we know is that Tema is used by Arion. I think...we need to ask this Arion a few questions"
In Greentown, it was a quiet morning with the sun shining in the clear blue sky. Arion was waiting outside a clothes in the main town "what's taking them so long?" just then Claire stepped out
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Alise that's your cue" Alise stepped out from the shop looking very nervous . She was wearing a new red dress. It was long-sleeved which fanned out slightly like a skirt to her legs. She wore brown boots and beige pants. She was red in the face
"so...how do I look Arion?" Arion was shying away
"it looks...really good on you. You look like just a normal girl here in Greentown"
"Oh Thank you" she said smiling "Are you sure you're alright helping me? Shouldn't you be in school"
"there's isn't any school" said Claire
Claire folded her arms "School has been cancelled until further noticed. And for that you can blame two things" said Claire "reason one being the absence of about over seventy percent of the students and two...yesterday's incident. Many of the teachers were pretty freaked out"
"yeah I know" said Arion "I tried passing it off as a live performance. Judging by the cheers the majority bought it but...it was scary for them. I'm just glad me and Zophia were there to help"
"I'm just glad no-one got hurt" said Alise
"well then shall we go to the park?" said Claire to which the three of them walked on.
They were walking along the street as Claire spoke with excitement "oh Arion, Alise. I beat the guardian last night so I can join you now"
"that's great Claire" said Alise "So we can continue the journey now"
"Alright...I'll open a portal" he was about to when the familiar sound of bells ringing alerted Claire
"oh...my favourite noise. You two wait here, I'll be back"she then ran off.
Alise watched her run to a parked white van "where is she going?" said Alise unaware of a parked van that came behind them "she looked pretty happy" the driver and passenger in black stepped out behind them
"She's just going to get her favourite treat that's all" said Arion as Claire waved over to them "oh she's coming back" she was walking to them with three ice cream cones but then stopped
"Arion behind you!" Claire shouted to which Arion turned round to see Alise restrained by a man but before he could even open his mouth he turned to his side to see a blunt object hit him in the head knocking him out.
Arion began to stir sometime later. The first thing he could feel was his head throbbing but as he tried to move his hands he couldn't. He opened his eyes and saw he was in a plain white room. He saw he was sitting in a wooden chair, with his hands tied behind him.
There was another chair in the room, and a sort of machine with screens and buttons and a door. "Dam...where are I? And...how long have I been out?" just then the door opened. A familiar bald man entered the room
"I was wondering when you were coming round" it was Boris
"Alise...what have you done with her?"
"relax...she's fine" he said sitting in the opposite chair "we're not interested in her, just in you" Arion tried to struggle "it won't much good. Even muscle man can't break out of that knot"
"who has to break it...when you can burn it" he pointed his finger upwards producing a small fire singing away at the rope
Boris clasped his hands together resting his thumbs under his chin "now...I have a few questions for you young man. I know you're name is Arion, you're fifteen and you attend Greenville school"
"that's kind of common knowledge" said Arion sarcastically
"We also know you're a regular player on the game Eternal Grand quest, assuming the hero Tema. Tema is a human warrior, now well known for his strength and power but also for his unique ability the soul enforce. I've also noticed your hair. The Arion I've seen had plain dark hair...not orange streaks. Now you're hero has that hair style...so why do you have the same?"
Arion had to think for a moment "it was hair dyed" he lied "Nothing wrong with wanting to pretend to be more like your hero" Boris monitored his face
"No...I supposed there isn't" said Boris believing him "For the last few days, you...well your hero Tema...has been rather annoying in our exterior" the rope binding Arions' hands began to break apart "And reports have come in of a boy in reality wielding the same power as your hero" the rope was almost loose with only a couple of strands left
Arion was down to the last strand of rope "Now...the lad who is the red speed demon, and the brat who stopped me yesterday are both Tema, that much we can guess" said Boris as he leaned forward "so...since you're the one controlling him...how did you bring him here to reality?" the ropes finally broke leaving Arion's hands free "so...what's your answer"
"here's my answer" Arion swung a hand, knocking Boris off his chair, into the wall knocking him out.
Arion panted shaking his hand "huh...huh...dam. I shouldn't have hit him so hard. I haven't got a clue where I am right now, and I could've done with directions. Still before I go, I might as well search him...he have taken something from me anyway" he searched inside his pockets "well...he's got my phone - thank you - a coffee coupon, some mints and this"
Arion pulled out a white card with a single black stripe and the number five on it "a...security card. Well...it's better than nothing and" he pulled out a white memory stick "another memory drive...it might tell what's going on back at home" he peeked out the doorway to see he was in a white polished corridor "well...just close the door and...go" he ran down the corridor careful of other workers.
Arion was coming to a large hallway with many workers going about their business "A Factory or some sort? And just how many people work here? I might be strong but...I'd rather not plough through innocents...if they are innocent. I need a disguise or something" he then saw a lone worker, in a hard hat and white lab coat, coming down towards him. The worker was looking over some notes on a clipboard when he saw a hand peep around the corner. As he approached closer Arion grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him out of the way.
Arion held him in the air, pinning him to the wall "right...now unless you want to become mush, you'd better start talking"
"Yes, yes alright" said the worker rather afraid
"A girl with blonde hair was brought in today...where is she?"
"I...I don't know"
"let me try that again"
Arion opened his palm to produce lightning "now...where would she be?"
"Ahh...alright, alright. Look I don't which room...All I know is she'll probably be two floors up... but you need level 5 access. That's all I know...just drop the lightning" Arion let down his hand
"alright" he let go "now...I'm really sorry"
"For what?" Arion punched the worked fairly hard in the gut which knocked him out.
Arion began walking as casual as could. He was wearing the lab coat and hard hat from the worker he had knocked out, which were a bit baggy, and hoped no-one would recognize him. He made it to one of the lifts and waited patiently until it arrived. Arion stepped inside with several others and quickly pressed the number 5 as he stood in the back. Floor by floor the workers walked out until only Arion remained.
The lift doors opened to a three way corridor. Each of the three hallways looked the same "I wish I knew where she was" he then heard a voice down to his left
"No...let me go" it was Alise
"will you hold still?" said an annoyed male voice
"Alise...I'm coming"
Arion ran to the sound of her voice arriving at a T-junction "now where?" he turned to the left and saw Alise being pulled along by 4 men in black suits "Hey let go of her" they turned to him with Alise happy
"Arion...you're okay" she said very relieved
"hey...How he get here? Capture him" the men drew metallic batons and walked towards him
"perhaps you didn't hear me?" he clenched his hands "Let...her" then a surging blue and lightning aura rose all around him "GO" the men suddenly recoiled out of fear as Arion ran at them.
Arion ran towards the first man who tried to attack him but Arion simply ducked underneath and elbowed the man into the wall. The second man also tried to attack but Arion simply evaded him and punched him into the wall. The two remaining began to panic and attacked Arion together but he dashed forward pressing his palms into their guts before blasting them into the wall at the far-end with an energy blast.
Alise was a little dazed from the men flying past her but quickly shrugged it off and saw Arion. She quickly ran to him with tears in her eyes "Arion!" she ran into him hugging him tight crying. Arion gently patted her back
"there, there. It's alright" said Arion gently
"They didn't hurt you did they?" Arion pushed her back
"no see...I'm fine. How about you?"
"No...I'm okay"
"Good let's get out of here"
As they ran to the lifts the doors suddenly opened. They quickly ran back down and peeked round the corner to see a lone woman walking out "yes, yes what? What do you mean the boy has escaped!? Right..." she took out a card, put through a card-reader which made a steel shutter drop down over lifts.
The woman spoke back "I've locked down access to level 5" the woman began to walk away "we have to make sure that he isn't found" Arion waited until her footsteps couldn't be heard and snuck back to the elevator. He pressed the button
"Nope...not working" said Arion
"Arion she used a card to lock it"
"well...I have this card" he said pulling out the card from Boris "all right"
Arion put the card through and the shutters were released "that's great it worked"
"Wait Arion...didn't that lady said there was a second person here" said Alise
"well...now that you mention it"
"can we save him...or her?" Arion looked at her face
"yeah all right" he put the card back through sealing the lifts "come on let's look but let me scout ahead. So which way"
"hmm...how about...right" with Arion in-front he went right from the lifts and down the hallway.
As the two snuck around they passed many rooms but each were empty. Arion also noted the lack of security "why is it so badly unguarded up here? I don't like this"
"what do you mean?" asked Alise
"if that lady went through so much trouble to seal the lifts...there must be something important up here besides you" she turned red "no wait...sorry...that came out dumb"
"no...I thought it was rather sweet" Arion's face went redder than a beetroot "Arion there's voices up ahead"
Arion peeked round the next corner and saw two more guys in black round a corner in-front of a large double steel door
"How long do we have to keep this guy here anyway?" moaned one
"Beats me. You'd think if this guy was so strong...they would place more security"
"There must be someone strong behind that door" said Alise
"All right leave it to me" she nodded as Arion went round the corner "hey guys" they looked at him suspiciously as he approached them
"What are you doing here?"
"Just to ask a question" with a quick movement he knocked them both out with one punch "why do you all wear black?"
Alise came out "aren't you meant to ask that when they're awake?"
"I'm only curious. There's more than one colour. Well...time to try the door"
"Arion...there's another one of those...card slots?" he pointed to one on the right of the door
"alright...let's see if this card works" he slotted the card through to heat a clicking sound "I guess that means it worked"
The two went through the doors which made them gasp. The room was rather empty...except for a fairly aged man in his fifties bound, wearing only a short sleeve shirt and pants, to an upright chair. He had a head of white hair with a moustache. The man looked beaten and tired as he stood there slump completely restrained at his arms and legs, waist, torso and neck.
Alise went up to the man while Arion pondered "Alise is he alright?"
"yes...although there're many bruises" said Alise "He's being here a while" Arion looked at him
"Judging by all of his restraints...they didn't want him escaping" Arion walked up to him "hey...excuse me...sir" the man began stirring "Sir...can you hear me?" he opened his eyes
"oh...are you the new interrogators?" he observed them "no...your hearts carry no malice. What are you two doing here? I can't imagine you aren't exploring"
"we were captured like you" replied Arion "Come on let's get you out. Alise look for a button or something" she looked round and saw a big green button on the back
"how about this one?"
"no idea. It's not like he can get any worse" she pressed the button.
Within a moment all of the man's restraints retracted freeing him. Arion helped the man down who was a bit unsteady "there you go...steady" the man stood up but still a bit shaky "hey...are you alright?"
"I thank thee for your concerns" said the man "My body is just unsteady from lack of movement. I have been restrained for a good period of time"
"How long...is long?"
"I lost track of the dates but...at least a year's passing"
Alise looked upset "you've been captured here for over a year"
"Yes I have. I thank thee both for your assistance. May I ask how you title yourselves?"
"title ourselves?" said Arion "oh you mean our names. My name's Arion. Don't mind the clothes I'm in disguise" the man nodded "and this is Alise" she bowed a little "and may I ask your name?"
"You can call me Arthur. Now...how do we proceed?"
Arion looked a bit nervous "well...I don't know we haven't worked that part out. Through the front door I guess. Can you walk?" Arthur tried walking but his legs were stiff making him unsteady "I'll take that as a sort of no" Alise grabbed his arm and put it over her shoulder
"I'll support you Arthur" said Alise "Arion you lead"
"Alright come on let's go" said Arion gesturing them through but as Arthur stepped through the doorway loud alarms pierced the air "dam...come on let's go"
The three were round the corner from the lifts with Arion checking the area. He gestured them forwards to the sealed lifts. Arion pulled out his card and put it through the reader unsealing the lifts. He then pressed the button "alright all we have to do is wait for the lift to arrive"
"Sir Arion...an evil is behind us" said Arthur drawing Arion's attention to a woman accompanied by armed men armed with machine guns. The woman, was wearing a long purple jacket which thrilled out like a skirt while her long dark-purple plaited hair draped over her chest. She also wore tights and high-heeled black shoes
The lady wagged her finger "I wouldn't be doing that if I were you" she walked with an air of confidence and maturity "now, now. You've been a naughty boy Arion. Stealing a workers clothes so could you...kindly return them?" Arion peeked behind him to see the number on the lift reading three
"alright...here" Arion said as he threw off the coat and threw it to her "I'm keeping the hard hat though"
"Why have you got something to hide?"
"If I do...what's it got to do with you?" he peeked back to see the number reading four "now tell me...why have you captured us and who are you?"
"Well...why you're here is none of concern. My name...well...It wouldn't hurt. My name is Noire the...president of this fine institute"
The humming of the lift became louder as Noire stepped forward "now...I'm afraid...you're going to have to come with me or...these kind men will deal with you" the lift opened to which the men prepared their weapons "now...I wouldn't think about it"
"Sir Arion step back" Arion saw Arthur thrust his hand out causing a gust of wind to blow knocking over all the men "now inside the elevation system" all three stepped inside while Arion pressed the lowest number as Noire got up
"No" she ran toward the lift as it closed "no" the lift closed "dam..." she pulled out a walkie-talkie "attention, Intruder alert, Intruder alert. Two kids and project Alpha are escaping in the lifts. DO not let them escape" she rushed off to the adjacent lift and pressed the button "they won't get away"
Arion, Alise and Arthur was descending in the lift as they overheard the whole conversation. Arion was sighing "jeez...she really doesn't want us to leave" he turned to Arthur "especially you. How did you do that before? You're no ordinary person are you?
"well...I may not have the pleasure of youth as you do but...I have learnt how to defend one's self. You don't have to worry about my health or physique. My body is slowly responding"
"that's good because...judging by that call...they aren't going to make this easy on us"
As the lift opened they stepped out to the rather empty hallway "this is the ground floor...look the entrance is just over there" he said pointing to the doors at the far end where light seeped in "come on let's go" within a couple of steps many guards in black stormed out from the hallways. At the front all were armed with electric batons while the back were armed with weapons. "hmm how about getting back" the lifts sealed behind him "in?"
The three turned round to the army of foes before them but their attention turned to right as the lift doors opened to show Noire almost waltzing out "now, now...don't do anything hasty. We can't afford to have accidents can we...especially to the girl there" this touched a nerve "now...I know the old man can look after himself, and maybe you can too but...you're little girl is so fragile...who knows the dangers she could be...I don't know...faced with"
Arion's hand clenched "so...what are you saying...Noire?"
"oh...just give it up" said Noire "or...I can't...guarantee her...complete safety" Arthur noted his rising anger
"I can feel it...a great power rising through him. If this...witch keeps going...she's going to set off a raging inferno. Lady Alise...be prepared" he whispered to her "Your friend...is about to unleash his fury" she nodded
Noire kept speaking as he walked towards him "now, now...control yourself. It wouldn't do any good to lose your temper."
"I don't care what you do to me" Arion said now having difficulty holding back "you leave her alone. I dread to think what you would've done to her if I hadn't broke out"
"oh...see that's the thing. She would've have just made a fine addition to our...many residents"
"Residents...what do you mean?" she covered her mouth
"oops I said too much. Now...once we capture you and...your elderly friend. Your lady is going to...willingly participate as an...experiment" Arion's anger soared "now...you are a pretty thing aren't you...we'll have to fix that" just then she felt a strong gust of wind blowing her backwards coming from Arion
"I am going to say this once" he said looking at her through angry eyes "Leave. Her. ALONE!!!" he became surrounded once more by a surging blue aura.
Noire had to retreat before the rising aura around Arion "what is...what is happening? Don't just stand there get him" three of the men rushed forward but Arion simply swung a kick sending all three flying away in the wall. As he turned round two more came jumping at him but Arthur stepped in-front of them, grabbed their legs and slammed them together.
"Sir Arion. You have to calm yourself..." he was breathing angrily "you have a maiden to protect"
Arion looked at Alise, who wore a worried expression, and took a deep breath regaining his composure "there you go. It is fine to fight on one's behalf but don't let anger cloud your mind"
"sorry about that. Thanks" said Arion. Arthur nodded as Arion released the aura "if I had carried on I would've worn myself out. Okay...just one moment" he put his hands together and separated them to producing a thick stream of lightning much to Noire's belief
"this isn't Arion...it's Tema" said Noire to herself "How is that possible? We checked his home and he wasn't in" Arion then let loose the lightning which mildly shocked all the guards.
The lightning didn't hurt them but it did fry all of their weapons making them explode. Arthur looked on at Arion impressed "very good. You took out their small hand cannons"
"Yes I know" said Arion "and with that out of the way, let's go" Arion clenched his hands and brought back out the aura "this power builds over time and I can disperse it when I want. It doesn't last long but it doesn't drain my stamina"
"That is a useful power. Lady Alise stay behind us as we take out this miscreants" Alise nodded "Are you ready for combat?"
"yeah" he said to the nervous guards "well come on then" they all charged at once. From Noire's perspective all she could see were guards flying through the air
"how can this be? This has to be Arion...but...it can't at the same time" she grabbed a baton "I guess I'll have to do it myself"
Arion and Arthur had just finished with the last guard when Arthur fell forward to one knee. Alise helped him back up "Arthur are you alright?"
"I am sorry to say my long stay in captivity has render my body unconditioned"
"don't worry" said Arion "once you have exercised your body a bit you'll be fine. Come on let's go"
"On no you don't" said Noire swinging the baton at his head but Arion had caught it with his hand "what?"
"Even if that had hit it I do have a hard hat on here" he gently pushed her back to the ground "now...I was taught not to harm a lady...but...keep going and I'll make an exception
"How can this be? How do you have all this power?"
"you're a smart woman. You figure it out" he grabbed Arthur's other arm "come on let's go" he walked out of the building.
Arion stepped out into what looked like a car park. He searched round for the front gate "alright...over there" the two walked him to the gate "Don't worry Arthur once we get to the road we can get away"
"I can only give my thanks for the co-operation" said Arthur as Noire came out the door and quickly pulled out a walkie-talkie
"Deploy the giant fiend now. I don't care do it now" as the three approached the gate a large Fiend dropped in-front pulling an arm back
"Look out" Arion pushed the two out of the way as the fiend swung his fist sending Arion tumbling along the ground.
Alise and Arthur stood up and looked at Arion on the ground "Arion...Arion?"
"do not worry Lady Alise" said Arthur "Sir Arion is unharmed" Noire simply smiled as she walked over
"what are you talking about?" said Noire smugly "An ordinary human couldn't take that" Arion was starting to get up "Just...what is he?" as Arion got up his hard hat was crooked
"Did anyone get the license plate of that punch?"
As he stood his hat fell off which made Noire stutter "just...how...but...who?" Arion rubbed his head
"well...the secret is out" said Arion looking at the large fiend "well...now to deal with ugly" he pointed his palm up, clenched his arm over the sword and changed into his red hooded jumper and jogging bottoms. Noire watched as he stretched out two hands forming a sword in each one "at least they aren't batons"
"The orange and dark hair and all the powers of Tema means...he isn't using the hero...he is the hero"