[writing] Project Chaos - Chapter Eleven
May. 16th, 2010 12:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
djtenkuWord Count: 2827
Summary: Alarm. Control. Blackout.
“What?” Lang roared, nearly knocking over the leader of the Screamers. “What do you mean he’s gone?”
“It seems that someone has broken into the room,” the leader explained, calmly. “We have a silent alarm equipped, and it was tripped about fifteen minutes ago. There is a certain possibility that the intruders approached from the outside, and proceeded in. Given the distance from here to there, we can arrive at the point of engagement within eight minutes.”
The leader of the Black Wolves smiled in anticipation. “Are you absolutely sure that they are still there?”
The red Screamer nodded curtly. “We clocked six minutes from the elevator to the main floor. They won’t make it out.”
Now Lang was intrigued; he had to see the people who had managed to get this far. “Take me to them. Now.”
-
Rowan feinted another punch, lightly stepping back with his right foot and charged with a straight cross and suddenly added a fierce left jab. Kento managed to knock them away with his forearms and countered with a roundhouse. Rowan saw it coming and caught his outstretched leg, wrapping his arm around it before preparing to strike his knee as Kento started for the floor.
Kento arched his back and swing his free leg up in hope of hitting Rowan somewhere; he struck him on the chin, forcing him to let go. However, as he landed up right, a jab grazed his cheek; Kento caught Rowan’s arm and threw him to the ground. Before he could do anything else though, Rowan lashed out with his foot, hitting hit in the chest, knocking all of the wind out of him. Kento staggered back as Rowan got up and resumed his stance, shuffling more than usual and with a fiercer gaze.
He was amazed at his speed; had he been a little bit slower, the confrontation would have been over before it actually started. Rowan kept him at bay with his long reach and erratic and speedy movements, and he did not have any signs of slowing down at all.
Kento ducked under Rowan’s right jab that was aimed for his head and sprang forward, delivering a blow to his vunderable ribs that would have crippled anyone else; instead Rowan rolled with the motion, absorbing most of the sudden energy and brought down his sharp elbow to his back. Kento avoided the hiked knee, but landed awkwardly; his back popped as he sprang back up, something more than a relief than pain, but still winced. Something shimmery flashed in what little vision he had left in his right eye and caught the fist in his hand easily.
“You saw it,” Rowan said, matter-of-factly. “Not bad; I’m impressed.”
“What did you expect?” Kento asked, not bothering to turn to the sniper.
“Nothing less,” he answered with a smile. “I’m sorry to say though, that sparring is now over.”
-
“Alright sir,” Shin said as she peeked out of the door, “so far so good.” She glanced to Xander, who looked distraught more than ever.
“You must loathe me right now,” he said quietly, after sniffling.
“With all due respect, Mr. Xander, I do,” she said curtly. “However…everyone can be redeemed.”
Xander smiled ruefully. “Is that so? I would like to think that; even if I am, he’ll never forgive me. I did curse him with that condition after all.”
At least he’s not suicidal, she thought, turning back to the door. “Dr. Meeko is working on the cure,” Shin reassured him. “After that, we’ll get you out safely.”
It may be too late. They might know already… Xander turned away.
Footsteps echoed down the hall; three guards slowly inched down the foyer, glancing into each room, signaling clearance before moving to the next room. “Just great,” she muttered. “Mr. Xander, I’m going to need your full cooperation on this.” She waited on his long nod and continued, whispering. “There are three guards outside; I’ll distract them with this stun grenade when they get within range. As soon as it goes off, I want you to run as fast as you can.”
Xander blinked. “But what about you? They can withstand a little more than that.”
Shin waved him off. “I appreciate the concern.” She paused, giving him an onceover. “You can run, can you?”
“I’m surprised that damn brute didn’t break my ankles,” he said, “but I can.”
Shin pulled two grenades from the belt and glanced out again. “Get ready.” She threw both of them into the hall; they clattered and rolled until they rested near the guards' feet. Moments later, fragments shattered the glass doors and windows within range. "Go!" she bellowed.
Xander burst from the room, jumping over the unconscious forms; a hand shot out and almost grabbed his ankle but he was barely faster. He descended the stairs, hopping over some steps until he arrived at the slick floor of the lobby. He searched frantically for a spot as he heard shouts from both the kitchen and the other wing. Xander entered the lounge area and slithered behind the couch.
Shin exited the room, readying her M9; one of the guards sprang back up and charged, as if nothing happened. He must’ve been further back… He fired his weapon – a grey M16 in semi bursts as she feinted a left, avoiding the spray; two bullets struck the guard in the neck, felling him.
Shin nabbed the rifle and some rounds as she raced by. By now the shouts were getting louder; she jumped high, mindful of her head and a guard was in her path. She brought him down as she planted her boots to his chest and heard a loud snap as she landed directly on him. Shin entered the lobby and threw a frag pipe in the other direction, silencing some of the shouts that originated from the kitchen. Where the hell did he go? “Mr. Xander?” she called as she entered the lounge area.
Shin saw the weapons president peek over the couch briefly before a stray bullet grazed her cheek; she opened fire on the perpetrators near the opening to the wing, cutting down at least four until stopping. She waited for any more sounds, but nothing else came, and refreshed the clip as Xander ran over to her.
“Are you alright?” he asked as he looked at the damage in amazement.
Shin thumbed the gaze, wiping away the thin trail of blood. “Just a scratch,” she replied nonchalantly. “Where’s the door?”
“Right over there,” he replied, pointing west.
The cherry haired woman shoulder the rifle and opened the door, welcomed by darkness, swirling masses of snow, that arctic blast of wind. “Holy shit,” she exclaimed. She glanced back and noticed the nearly broken man visibly trembling; he was certainly ill-equipped in clothing. Shin unbuttoned her jacket and gave it to him. “It’s a little small,” she said, “but it can withstand quiet a bit, and so can I. Besides, it’s probably about twenty below. Don’t want you to become a popscile…”
Xander frowned slightly. He was still amazed at her composure, and truth-be-told, he was envious. Something ringing caught his attention and he looked at her questionably. “What’s that sound?”
“Screamers,” she said grimly. “They’re coming this way.”
-
Two blips showed up on each of the Screamers’ visors and automatically zoomed in at the two figures leaving the building. “Sir! Visual indicates the targets at 2 o’clock!”
“Three pursuit them,” Lang said, “three stay with me.”
The lead Screamer – marked with a red skull instead of white – stepped out and picked out two. Automatically, they became enshrouded in stealth camouflage, becoming more than distorted light in the darkness, and activated the small sleek pods on their forearms. They emitted a charging whine; the two looked at their leader as he commanded to use full power.
He had a score to settle.
-
“C’mon, we have to keep moving!” Shin called after the straggling Xander, who was starting to become a black shadow in the blizzard.
His words were nearly lost in the fierce wind, but somehow it carried. “I can’t go on! It’s too much!” He doubled over from the sudden spasm of pain and nearly collapsed. Blood started to seep and freeze over his wounds.
Shin heard the feeble call and trailed back quickly. She stooped and tucked her arm under his and slowly raised him up, She grimaced as she brushed her fingers against a deep cut. She glanced up at him; he was fading quickly. “Hold on! Do you know where I could find any medicine?”
Xander muttered something incoherently, and finally said, “The sub-buildings. You should see some connectors attached to the main building up ahead. There are no guards there…”
“Just stay with me,” she said as she started to move. She supported him, trying to keep him at least on a subconscious state, and occasionally jarring him awake. The high frequency noise soon waned and she sighed in relief; in the darkness she saw the aforementioned connectors – a mass and bulky shape along with the grey shadow that towered. “We’re almost there,” she announced. “Just a bit more to –“
Before she could react though, a sudden force threw her backwards, taking the weapons president with her as she tumbled, followed by a high pitched roar. No, not now! She thought as she sat up. Xander was now unconscious. Her vision was scrambled and her ears were still ringing as she got up, unshouldering the M16. There was no telling how many were out now, and they were unbearably close.
Shin fired a burst at the sight of a blurred figure charging her, preparing for another subsonic bullet. One of the rounds caught its shoulder, dispelling the cloaking device, and also electricuting the Screamer. Shin glanced to the left as one tried to approach Xander, dodging a bullet; she shattered the visor’s glass, causing the Screamer to totter back. That was almost too easy…
A bullet from the darkness struck her in the side, through her armor and exited somewhere else. Shin howled as she met the icy ground, grasping at her wound. She immediately got back up though, and scooped up Xander, and headed for the sub-building. Another bullet caught her, this time in her thigh. She buckled slightly and fired blindly into the night until she got to the door. With ease, she jarred it open and entered; closing it with her injured leg.
Her vision and balance threatened to give out on her as she ran deep into the building. She did saw the medicine room but bypassed, cutting corners. There had to be some place that even they wouldn’t think of going in. Surprisingly, she found it, and kicked in the door. She diligently set Xander down on the marble floor, and turned to head back to the first-aid room. Her exhaustion caught up with her, and Shin collapsed.
-
“What’s your status?”
The smooth voice of the lead Screamer replied. “Visual confirmation states that the hostage was traveling with one of the intruders; the intruder has sustained moderate damages, however we have sustained damage as well – only minimal. Should we extract the hostage and take the intruder?”
“No,” Lang said. “Leave them be for now. The intruder would be dead within a couple of hours anyway. Regroup and head for the HC building.”
-
For a moment, Kento felt sick to his stomach as he dodged a hook, and immediately became tired. That and the cracked – if not broken – rib Rowan caused when he faked a left and changed to a right cross at the last second. He couldn’t exactly roll it off, as another fist was heading his way, mid-range. Kento snapped away the incoming hand and decked Rowan with an instep punch between his eyes, causing his head to throw back, and assaulting with an elbow jab to his gut.
Rowan stepped back, nearly doubling over. Blood leaked freely from his nose, and his vision swam. Vertigo was on the rise again. He managed to keep his rhythm up until now and his stance was set. But now, he didn’t have anything left and it enraged him. He had no clear advantage either; Kento had matched him equally; with speed and strength. To his surprise, he was also patient, and promptly wore him down.
Kento saw the glazed look in Rowan’s eyes and knew he was up to something. He prepared the medicine, tucking it in his left hand, and signaled to start again.
Rowan charged and as soon as he got within range, Kento feinted right, pivoting on his heel and wrapped his arm around the stunned sniper’s neck tightly, and prepared the pen. However, Rowan thrashed, striking him right where he cracked his rib.
Despite his withstanding of pain, Kento had enough and jammed the pen straight into Rowan’s back and pushed off, distancing himself.
“What the hell did you do to me?” Rowan demanded as he felt something slithering up his back. Not before long, his whole body screamed in pain all at once as the creeping motion made its way to his brain and festered. He emitted an inhuman sound as he dropped to his knees, grabbing his head. The ringing started to intensify, and eventually paralyzed and consumed him.
“Easy, I gave you some medicine,” Kento replied, after Rowan became unconscious. “You were past due to begin with.” He started to say something else, but decided to drop it.
He hobbled out and into the dark hall, trying to contain Shin, but to his dismay and concern, there was no answer. He knew something was wrong. He called the plane, and Michael answered. +What happened?+
Kento gritted his teeth, summoning up the strength not to make a smart remark. “Rowan had an episode,” he said, “but I got him under control. Knocked the hell out of me though.”
+What did you do to him?+ Meeko asked, voice barely a whisper.
“To simply put, I knocked the hell out of him,” he said flatly as he entered the elevator. “I think we broke some things in the process, but other than that, he’s fine. I…just didn’t expect him to hit so damn hard though.”
+You can continue though, right?+
Kento grimaced. “I’ve been in far worse shape than this. I’m worried about Shin though. She took Mr. Xander with her to the armory. She should’ve been there by now, at least, but her radio isn’t working.”
Static started to cut in, and before he knew it, the link was cut off. Not now… There was no distinctive pitch in the air, strangely, but the hair on the back of his neck rose quickly.
Kento clenched his bruised hands; he had no weapons save a few pipe grenades. A little more exercise wouldn’t hurt at all, he thought.
He stepped out cautiously moments after the doors slid open. Shattered glass laid everywhere, along with a body at the end of the hall. His footsteps crunched any remaining shards of glass; he gazed into each room, but nothing was totally out of the ordinary. Kento heard a small click and before he could react, something latched on to his back and delivered a jolt of electricity, paralyzing him. He tried turning but a wave of low frequency assaulted his senses, throwing his equilibrium off and threatening to blackout from it. A high-pitched wail made him deaf and nearly blind for several seconds.
Black clad figures suddenly appeared, surrounding him in a tight circle, pointing their weapons at him. Screamers. Two grabbed his arms and clamped down, locking his shoulders. But what he also saw he did not expect to see, ever.
A tall, hefty man with a tiger skin draped over himself looked at Kento with amusement. His black eyes burned with intensity but all the while dull. The fighter from two nights ago; the one he almost had a chance to challenge.
Xiong Lang.
“Well, well, well, look who has been causing Cain,” Lang said. “You’re the last person I expected to be here. Too bad you won’t be here long after I finish with you.”
Kento still wasn’t able to speak but managed to mouth a few foul words, angering Lang. The guards that surrounded him backed away quickly as he made a brisk pace towards him. Within a second as Kento stood up, Lang drove his fist into his solar plexus, canceling out any other pain he had. He struggled to gather air but he couldn’t – Lang’s fist was still driving home.
“But,” the leader of the Black Wolves added in a low voice, “I won’t kill you just yet, no. We’re gonna have a little fun first.” He pulled back and Kento crashed to the ground, gasping for air, though completely incapacitated. He turned and then said, “Take him to the main building and get Taka. And bring my brass knuckles.”
