FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Kieran approached the bomb carefully, holding a shield tome in his paw and casting the most powerful shield spell he could manage to help contain the explosion. Granted, with the disruptor acting more like an amplifier, his mystical arts were also amplified, making his shield speed ten times stronger than what he was capable of by himself.

Despite Avory's best efforts, he had been too late to stop the Disruptor from being reactivated. On top of that, the machine had been booby-trapped with explosives, set to go off the instant the Disruptor was shut off. He had managed to reverse its polarity, converting the device from a nullifier to an amplifier, enhancing the powers of the phoenixes and metagene humanoids - including that of Kieran, who presented the perfect opportunity to dispose of the bombs safely and swiftly.

With the spell in place, the cat then looked over his shoulder back to Avory and the others present in the room. “Alright, the shield's up! So where exactly is the power supply to this thing?" He called back to him.

“It's coming from the base's main grid," Red lightning replied walking over to a large transformer off to the side of the room along the catwalks. “This should shut off the power to this room and likely the whole floor. So I hope you're not scared of the dark."

“Uh, here's a better question.," Korban piped up. “Why not just keep the damn thing on? With this thing active, I feel like I can turn anything into sub-zero temperatures just by touching someone," he pointed out. “And on that note, why aren't you doing this? Aren't you supposed to be the tech and mechanical whiz here?"

“We don't want to risk the bombs going off," explained the avian. “If it goes do, it could damage the spherum core, and immortal or not, you won't survive that implosion. You will be as flat as a pancake and so would this side of the Rocky Mountains," Red Lightning advised. “I would rather we cut out as many risks as possible. I could take the bomb apart piece by piece, but that will take time and one simple slip up could ruin everything, so a controlled explosion is the safest option."

At that, Korban started to chuckle. “So basically yer telling me that, despite insisting that you had this all in the bag, you _still _needed help to stop this thing from going off." He said in an almost jovial manner. “I'm sorry, I thought you were supposed to be the all-knowing, all-powerful Red Lightning. _Nothing _was impossible to _you _of all people, _especially _since you're _so _well versed in this Mana bullshit you keep spouting on about." He further chided, his jovial tone quickly turning sour and sarcastic the longer he went on.

Avory did not entertain Korban's comments to give him what he wanted, knowing full well he could have disabled the bomb himself given enough time. Instead, he called over to Kieran calmly as he rasped the circuit breaker on the transformer, “Ready there with your shield?"

“Yea I'm good!" Kieran called. “You can shut it off any time!"

Korban scoffed and threw his arms up into the air. “Yea, I expected as much from someone like you. Ya know you fucked up, and you don't wanna admit that you did. Classic spoiled rich boy attitude…" He scathingly remarked. “Can't wait to see the day when all that bravado and arrogance comes to bite you in your shiny metal ass."

Kyle had finally heard enough. Korban only saw him coming out of the corner of his eye at the last second, giving the husky no time to react before the human's fist connected with his jaw. The husky was thrown off balance, and a kick to his shin sent him spiralling onto his backside. Angered, Korban started to reach for his pistols, but then came Kyle's booted foot on his chest and pushed him down to the floor.

It didn't stop Korban from drawing his pistols, but the glowering human looking down at him gave the husky pause as Kyle held him flat against the floor. "If you have nothing else to do besides yammering like a bratty teen," he said, in a tone both commanding and threatening. "Shut the fuck up. Men are trying to work."

The husky stared back up at Kyle after blinking the pain away from his jaw, slowly lowering his guns and scoffing angrily back at the human male. “Well forgive me fer trying to get a point across, Sarge," he said, scathingly.

"Kieran, I'm breaking the circuit in 3… 2… 1…" Red Lightning announced before pulling down the large leaver.

The loud hum of power and machinery failed and the lights went dark. A few seconds later. A flash of light washed the area for a split second as the bomb erupted in fire and smoke in a small ball held by Kieran's magic.

Kieran instinctively shielded himself when the initial blast lit up in front of him, though he lowered his guard when he saw his barrier held after it contained the explosion. “…Huh. It actually worked." He remarked. “For a second, I half expected for us all to go up in smoke."

“I seriously hope you are joking," Red Lightning replied as the room plunged back into darkness. He illuminated parts of his suit to help the others collect themselves. His eyes shone brighter to act as lights, as did the palms of his hands to act like torches, shining one onto Kieran and the other on the other two Ks.

"We are also done here. And when we are, you never have to see me again," Red Lightning commented, looking down at the husky underfoot. "Hell, you can probably leave now if you even wanted; you got what you came for. Money."

Korban sneered back at the Red Lightning. “Normally I would just take what I'm owed and leave," he growled, then shoved Kyle's foot off of his chest and shot back to his feet, dusting himself off and still leering at Avory. “But the job's still on. Some people need to get busted out, and Rex still has a bullet with his name on it. Until those quotas have been met, I ain't leavin'."

“Then let's put everything behind us and get moving." the Red mech replied, walking over and holding his hand out. “An hour or two longer; then you should never have to see me again."

Korban slapped his hand away with the back of his own in response. “Let's just keep moving. The others are probably waiting fer us to report in." He responded as he started asking past him, though not before whispering to him. “Just take what I said to heart, rich boy… You pull something like that again, and you might find yerself in over yer head with no way out and no one to bail you out…" He concluded as he walked past.

“Oye…" Kieran muttered under his breath after that exchange was finished. “Still a hot head despite changing his tone…"

“If I didn't get here sooner then the disrupter would have gone on longer and could have caused more harm." Avory replied walking out of the disrupter room and down the dark corridor along the metal grating, “I'm sorry I couldn't give you a suit to be as fast as me." he commented sarcastically. “This is Red Lightning and the three Ks. The bomb is disarmed and the amplifier powered down. How's everything going on your ends; is Rikyuu ok?"

"We're okay," Obsidian answered."No one has come after us since we took cover in the VTOL. Rikyuu is resting now."

"We're at the prison and started freeing some of the captives," _Ayane added. "_There are so many of them… Way more than we expected to- what the?!"

Ayane's sudden outburst made Red Lightning stiffen with alarm. “What happened?" He asked, giving her a pause to answer. “...Ayane?!"

“Sounds like shit's hitting the fan down there," Korban remarked, his expression growing serious. “How far are the prisons from here?"

“It's just below us," Red Lightning commented, as his walk turned into a sprint, emerging from the corridor and re-entering the common area in the lift lobby flanked by laboratories. “The top of the prison is just behind that wall, but it's a drop down." he commented, pointing towards the blank wall on the other end of the room, “If you don't like heights, take the lift down."

Korban scoffed and smirked at Red Lightning in response. “In case you didn't realize… I thrive off of danger." He remarked. “You think a fall's gonna stop me, you got another thing comin'."

“Then I'll clear the way for you" he replied before launching himself toaward the wall, folding his wings in and the rest of his limbs, crashing through the wall like a cannonball and tearing a great big hole for others to follow.

Red Lightning dove down from the height and saw the floors of the prison around him on his descent, and at the bottom, a downed fire phoenix and fox…

Volcan was turning over onto his side when Red Lightning landed, with Vinge and the other phoenixes, followed by Shiryu running over to check on him. He seemed unharmed, which was more than could be said for the fox lying sprawled out on the floor in a twisted position. His face still bore the crazed expression, but something about it also seemed… Pained, not just from the fall, but like he had been suffering from something far worse.

“Bro, are you okay?!" Lighris asked, sounding almost on the verge of panic.

“Yeah, I'm okay,' Volcan replied in a winded voice. “I landed on top of him - he broke my fall."

“What happened?" Vinge asked.

“I have no idea. He just… Lunged at me," Volcan replied.

Blue Lightning flew down beside her brother, stepping forth to look over the two of them, checking their health.

"He's wearing a ruined P.A.C.E uniform." Avelyn commented.

"Was it an ambush?" Red Lightning asked, reaching down to take hold of Volcan's arm and helping to stand him up, after Avelyn gave him the all-clear.

“I don't think so," replied Volcan. “The look on his face before he threw himself at me… It's like he was feral."

"Like you earlier, when you let loose?" Avelyn asked as she looked over the flattened fox.

“No, nothing like that," he replied with a shake of his head and then looked at the fox's body. “I was still _me, _but him? It's like there was no sense of reason left in him."

"Well, he's _gone _now. Wouldn't have survived that fall, even if you didn't land on top of him," Avelyn confirmed. "Must have gone mad, locked up like an animal for so long… Be careful with the rest."

With that, Volcan dusted himself off and let his eyes linger on the deceased vulpine for a moment. “Why do you suppose they had him locked up?" He asked. "If he was just crazy, why not just kill him?"

"Maybe he was rabid, and they didn't want him infecting anyone else," offered Lighris.

"Oh shit - can phoenixes get rabies?" Volcan asked, looking himself over for any open wounds the fox might have caused.

“Nah, I don't think that'd be the case." Korban piped up after he landed behind the others, with Kieran and Kyle stepping out of the lift to join them, catching the tail end of the conversation. “You really think an organization like this would employ someone that could compromise them?" He asked matter of factly, stepping closer to the deceased fox to take a look for himself.

He paused once he was within arms reach of it, sniffing the air a few times and twitching his ear before he suddenly turned to Volcan. “Burn the body," he practically commanded him.

“What? Why-?" Volcan started to ask, but Korban cut him off.

“Stop asking questions, Flamie! _Burn the body!!" _He shouted at the Phoenix.

Everyone else, in the process of getting the cells opened, heard Korban shouting and turned to look at him, alarmed by the severity of his tone. Volcan, momentarily taken aback, eventually did as he was told albeit with some reluctance. He turned to the corpse, and cast a flame over it, setting it alight. It burned quickly, the fur catching, and the mangled armour offering no defense against the flames as they consumed the deceased fox.

“You mind explaining yourself?" Lighris demanded from the husky. “What the fuck was that about?"

Korban watched in silence as the body burned to a crisp, his expression grim for a bit before he answered. “That guy _reeked _of something not of this world. The scent I picked up from that body was something even worse than this whole P.A.C.E. Organization put together," Korban explained. “If I had to hazard a guess… That guy was possessed by something demonic in nature."

“Demonic possession?" Lighris started to ask, skeptical. “Come on, my species is one thing but-" He paused, as when Korban looked at him then, there was something in the husky's gaze that made even the brusque phoenix bite back his own words.

“…What's a demon?" Shiryu asked curiously.

“…The stuff of nightmares, kid," Korban answered, then looked to his partner. “Kitty. Get over here and do a quick cleanse of the body now that it's been charbroiled."

“Y-Yea, sure," Kieran answered, quickly trotting over and pulling out another time from his coat, flipping it open to the desired page and began casting a cleansing spell on the body. Four white runic symbols surrounded the corpse before coming together, lifting what could only be described as a dark miasma from the body.

Then the runes started shining brightly and in moments, the miasma was no more. The runes faded and Kieran then closed his spell book. “There. Evil aura vanquished." He stated.

Volcan let his gaze linger on Korban for a minute, even as the husky turned and walked away to join the others in opening the cells. Then, he turned to look at his brother. “He seemed pretty serious," he said.

“He definitely was," said Lighris. “That look on his face - no room for debate. He wasn't going to take any doubt."

Volcan looked back at Korban for another moment, then decided to leave it be. “Come on. Let's finish up in here," he said.

In time, the cells were opened and the prisoners filed down to the ground floor at the behest of their liberators. The sheer variety of races and ages of the people that had gathered was staggering - while Canada and the United States were both technically multicultural nations, it was still surprising to see so many different ethnicities as well as species. Asian, African, North American - including aboriginal, and Mexican ethnicities, evident by the accents of their voices and their species being types only found in those parts of the world.

One stood out from the others as it was harder to determine where he was from, as he refused to speak and he had no outstanding features. He was vulpine, that much was clear - a grey fox to be exact, with undertones of white. He was tall and lean, with slightly reddish-coloured eyes. The sockets of his eyes were gray, making the colour stand out all the more as it was a deeper shade than his fur.

On a whim, Volcan looked at the fox and shifted his gaze to infrared. What he saw surprised him, as the fox was as cold as a corpse. He blinked back to the regular spectrum and took a step back, bumping into Red Lightning who turned to regard him. The armour-clad raven saw the shocked expression on Volcan's face and followed his gaze to the quiet, stoic fox.

"What's wrong here, Volcan?"

Deciding showing was better than telling, Volcan spoke in a low voice. “Turn on your thermal vision, and look at that fox - the tall one, near the back, but don't make it too obvious."

Red Lightning did just that, and saw the dead cold corpse in front of him, but did not seem surprised after all he had experienced in the last two months. Still, it was something that stood out; the fox, despite standing as easily as the people around him, had no body temperature - rather, he was completely cold, like a body in a casket.

“You see it, cold as a corpse?" Volcan asked.

"Yes. Ice fox? Another demon? Zombie?" Red Lightning asked, a little sarcastically. "Although I'm picking no mana readings from him."

“He's a vampire," said Volcan. “I don't know how the heck P.A.C.E caught him but there's no doubt in my mind. We need to keep an eye on him - if he's been in here a while, he'll be starving."

"...Oh wonderful." He replied from inside of his suit. "Well I'm in here, and I'm not inviting him in. I also forgot my holy water and wooden stakes at home."

“What? What're you - oh," Volcan said, then despite himself, he let out a chuckle, pressing his middle and index finger to his forehead as he laughed. “They're not like you see in movies. Either way, we need to be careful."

“I think that's everyone," Tsumé piped in as she came over to join the two. “All of the other cells are empty. What now?"

“We get them to the garage," said Volcan. “They can take P.A.C.E's vehicles and get back to the city."

“Oh sure, a bunch of armoured cars rolling into town full of missing people is going to look so inconspicuous," the Earth Phoenix said dryly. “You have a plan B, by any chance?"

“Uh…" Volcan said, stupidly, and then looked at Avory, completely at a loss. The phoenix hadn't thought that far ahead.

“They will need to ditch the vehicles before town and walk in. Although with how malnourished most of them are, I doubt most will be fit enough to walk far, let alone be capable of driving themselves."

“We'll have to send escorts with them then," said Volcan, rubbing his chin in thought.

“…Here's a thought." Kieran piped up. “These guys all had homes or something close to that, right? Why don't we ask them where they're from, then Korban can pull up coordinates matching what they say, and I can portal them back to where they belong,"

“Can you transport this many?" Volcan asked, looking around the crowd. “There are five dozen people here."

“It'd take a while, but I could do it. I'd have to shut each portal down in order to open another to a new location, so I'd get a bit of a rest period in between." He explained.

“…I mean, it's something." Korban offered with a shrug. “It ain't perfect, but the way I see it, we don't have any other options that don't risk exposing you guys."

A new voice spoke up. “Perhaps I could be of help."

Volcan leapt nearly a foot into the air as he realized the voice was coming from right behind him. He stepped away, turning to the grey fox, who had - without making a sound or without any of them noticing even a flicker of movement, stepped over to listen in on their conversation.

Kieran turned quickly as well, a hand already on his holstered revolver ready to draw. “…How can you help?" He asked skeptically. “You practice the Mystical Arts too or something?"

“I know more about magic than you can imagine, young one," said the fox, “I am far older than my appearance would suggest." His gaze drifted down to Kieran's holstered revolver. “And if you know what I am, you know that mortal weapons alone are not enough to kill me. Be at ease - I do not intend to feed upon you." He raised his head, an air of regality and pride about him as he spoke. “But as fate would have it, I now find myself indebted to all of you. If you wish, I can help transport these people to their homes - simply provide me their locations, and so long as it is within this hemisphere, I can send them there. Then, we can consider ourselves even."

“…What's your angle?" Korban piped up, stepping up and motioning for Kieran to lower his hand from his weapon. “Aside from the whole 'debt' thing, what are you getting outta this by helping us…?"

“Beyond assuring your peace of mind that you will not have to be concerned about these captives when they are sent home," replied the vampiric fox. “I don't know how many personnel remain within this base, but I know you did not get them all yet. Least of all, the man in charge. Rest assured, he would not hesitate to use these people against you."

“That sounds more like a benefit for us rather than you," Volcan remarked.

“Is that a bad thing?" The fox asked, arching a brow at the phoenix.

“...I suppose not," Volcan admitted. “But like Korban said, there's something in it for you, isn't there?"

The fox scoffed. “What, you think I will find these people later and feed upon them?" He asked, managing to keep any trace of offense out of his tone. “You don't need to tell me their exact places of origin- only the cities they are from. What they will do from there will be up to them - many of them have been in this place as long as I have. Some, longer."

“There is a girl in here I'm pretty sure was born in here," Blue Lightning piped up.

“You refer to the young cat girl, and her mother on the third level?" The vampire asked. “Yes, I had overheard that woman was indeed pregnant when she was brought in. They have been here for three years, if memory serves."

“And you?" Volcan asked.

“I was captured on October seventh, year of your lord two thousand and fourteen," replied the fox.

“It's April now, two thousand and sixteen," Volcan clarified. “So, a little over a year and a half."

“How do you know about the pregnant mother then?" Red Lightning then asked.

“The guards talk. They think I can't hear them," the vampire replied with a smile. “My senses are keener than they realize. Being a vulpine and a vampire, they are that much keener."

Korban kept eying the vulpine skeptically as he continued his explanation. His terms didn't seem all too bad, but part of him still felt there was something more he had to gain from this. He let out an exasperated sigh as he turned to Volcan. “Your call. What say you?"

“I don't see many alternatives," the phoenix admitted, turning to look at Red Lightning to see what he thought.

The mech stayed motionless for a moment, almost as if he had turned off before replying, “It's the best option we have" he replied before looking over at the fox, reaching out with a robotic hand, “We're glad to make your acquaintance, mister…?"

“Lucien Dalca," the fox replied, finally introducing himself, reaching out his hand to grasp the armoured avian's.

“Nice name" Avory replied with his synthetic voice, “Sounds cool."

Lucien didn't immediately let go of the hand, looking down at it with an expression of consideration, before rolling his eyes back up. “...So, there is someone in there," he said, letting go of the hand. “A fine piece of engineering."

“Why, thank you" Avory smiled inside his armour to himself, “Very hard work, but it's worth it to help others."

“I am sure," Lucien replied, tucking his hands behind his back. “I will wait until you need me. Once we send these people to their homelands, I shall then be on my way."

“You aren't going to teleport yourself home?" Volcan asked.

“I do not know where I am," the vampire admitted, reluctantly. “And they burned my house to the ground when they captured me, so there is nothing to return to. I will find my own way, but I cannot leave until it is nightfall."

“So you can't go out into the sun?" Red Lightning asked curiously, “What about inviting people into your home? And the running water and sucking blood?"

Lucien arched a brow as he looked at him. “The myth is that I must be invited into someone's home, not that I invite them into mine," he corrected. “Also that is only a myth, as is the inability to cross running water. But the sun, yes - it is deadly to me."

“Wooden stake to the heart?" Volcan asked, indulging his own curiousity

“Now who wouldn't die from that?" The vampire asked flatly.

“You have to suck people's blood though?" Red Lightning asked again.

“Yes," he replied. “They have given me medical blood to live on since bringing me here, and only once a month - enough for me to survive, but not enough for me to regain all of my strength, else I could have escaped by now."

“Do you need some?" Volcan asked, without a hint of wariness. His casual demeanour earned the phoenix a surprised look from all the others around him. “What? He said they were keeping him weak," the phoenix pointed out. “We need him."

“Indeed I do," Lucien admitted, nodding. He looked up to the top level. “They keep food for the prisoners in a cooler, on the top floor - that is usually where they rolled the cart from. I assume the blood they provided for me is there as well."

“Alright," said Volcan. “We'll send someone up to get it. How much do you need?"

“Four bags of blood should be enough," he replied. “If there is more, by all means."

“Okay, Kieran, you and Red Lightning start profiling the prisoners - find out where they're all from," said Volcan. “ Tsumé and I will get supplies from the top level. Korban, keep a lookout for trouble," he leaned over. “And watch our friend here. Just in case," he whispered.

“I can hear you," Lucien stated flatly.

“Hey, cut him some slack. He's got every right to be wary, Dracula." Korban returned irritably. “You gave us yer word, but in my books that only goes so far. You want our trust, you earn it with your actions. _Especially _from me…"

Lucien looked at him, his red eyes as cold as his skin as he met the husky's gaze. “You need only trust me until these people are safely home," he said. “After that, my debt to you is repaid, and I will leave you unharmed to go my own way. Out there in the world, though?" He smiled, letting his fangs show. “Well, let fate be the judge of that."

“Oookay," Tsumé said, turning on her heel and starting for the stairs, the feathers on her neck standing on end.

“Nah, I think he's cool," Red Lightning replied, looking between Lucien and Korban, reaching out to pat the vampiric fox on the shoulder with his heavy metal hand reassuringly.

“Of course _you'd _think that…" Korban remarked, rolling his eyes. “Shit, you really _are _a kid…"

“Can I remind everyone that Rex is still here in that lab? We need to capture him," Red Lightning then turned everyone's attention back.

“Has he tried to come out yet?" Volcan asked.

“No. I've been keeping an eye on that camera. So either he's got an escape route out back, or he's still in there."

Volcan grimaced at that, turning his gaze to the floor as he pondered the situation. “...Why hasn't he tried to leave?" He asked, not directing the question at anyone in particular. “He could have tried for the garage by now."

“It could be that he's just hiding, waiting until we leave." Blue Lightning replied. “Keeping off the grid as he knows we've infiltrated their cameras and systems."

“Either way, some of us need to go into that lab and find out if he's still here," Red Lightning replied, looking over at Korban. “I know you've got a bullet for him already."

“That I do," Korban remarked. “Then again, someone else has their blade anxious to be dipped in his blood too." He remarked, casting a glance back at Vinge.

“Well, maybe you two can both go, and share him" Avory suggested.

“We should approach him together," said Volcan, looking over at Vinge, still watching over the prisoners dutifully. “He hasn't tried to escape - Kyle said he's old but you'd think he'd still attempt it. I'm willing to bet he still has a card to play. Either way, we cannot let him leave this base."

“Well then let's go find this old prick and put him outta his misery," Korban stated impatiently.

In a short while. Volcan and Tsumé rolled a cart out from the upper level, which had indeed led to a storage room. Volcan had to stay out of the cooler, trusting Tsumé to find the blood they needed to bring to Dalca, and grabbed other food items from the shelf in the pantry. They brought the cart to an elevator, took it down to the ground floor and began to distribute the items to the prisoners. They gave five bags of medical blood to Dalca, one more than he had requested, and the vampire went to a lone corner to drink it without unnerving the other prisoners with the sight - it was unclear how many knew what Dalca was - if any of them did, so he thought it better than to risk worrying them.

The group had parted, with half staying to watch the prisoners while the rest went up to the laboratory where Rex was hiding, keeping an eye on the door in case the old man attempted to escape. Those who stayed - Kieran, Korban, Volcan, Red Lightning and Ayane - finished getting the information they needed from the former captives, who asked to be sent to their old homes or to the locations of relatives that might be able to take them in until they could start their lives over again. There were a few homeless people among the mix, who only asked to be sent to major cities where there were a few people who knew them. There was only so much they could do for them otherwise.

Forming the people into lines, Kieran, aided by Lucien Dalca, began opening portals to send the people where they wished to go. Ayane and Avory used the profiles they had built for each prisoner, as well as mapping applications to show to the teleporters in case they didn't know where they meant. Soon, all of the prisoners - sans Dalca himself, were gone, and the prison was quiet.

“So now I take my leave of you," said Dalca. “Consider my debt to you, repaid."

Volcan nodded to the vampire. “For what it's worth, thank you for your help."

“It will likely not happen again, young phoenix. Nonetheless, you are welcome," he replied, giving a slight bow, and turned away to head for the stairs.

“Do you need any of us to show you the way out?" Volcan asked.

“I will find my own way," Dalca assured him. “Good luck dealing with the old man. Be cautious - he is far more cunning than you think."

With that, the vampire ascended the stairs and left the five below to stare after him. “Alright, we're done here," said Volcan. “Let's go take down the big man."

“Right," Red Lightning agreed as they all started marching towards the stairs and headed down. The Lightnings lead the way, having seen Jacob Rex last on the cameras. Blue Lightning came up alongside him - more out of an instinct to talk to her brother, and spoke aloud to let the others hear her.

“Do you actually trust that vampire?" she asked.

“No, I did not. But I didn't consider him an enemy either. I would have rather he felt trusted than not," her brother revealed.

“I wish we didn't have to trust him either," Volcan admitted. “But we didn't have much choice. We couldn't protect those people and deal with Rex at the same time." He rolled his eyes, casting a sidelong look at Korban who walked beside him. “Korban's not going to let me hear the end of this, I know it…"

“Well, he will if he keeps to what he said and leaves us all alone," Red Lightning replied, looking back over at the husky for assurance.

“…I am many things, rich boy. A liar ain't one of 'em," Korban remarked off-handedly. “Let's just finish this job and be done with it."

Making their way through several corridors, with nothing but the gray steel walls to see on their trek, they made it to the doors of the lab where the rest of their team waited. They had all taken positions on either side of the door, out of its radius but still where they could watch it.

“He still hasn't come out?" Volcan asked.

“No. And I checked the lock," Kyle replied, not taking his eyes off the door. “It's not even sealed. It's like he _wants _us to come in…"

“If this didn't stink of a trap already it sure does now," Lighris remarked from his position opposite Kyle.

“Well, two should go in to trigger the trap, and then the rest can come in to assist after it's been sprung." Red Lightning suggested.

“Is that wise?" Volcan asked. “He's clearly confident enough that whatever he's plotting will protect him from all of us."

“At the risk of sounding arrogant… You got a better plan?" Kieran asked pointedly.

“We'll go in first," Blue Lightning agreed with her brother.

“Be careful," Volcan cautioned. “We have no idea what he has planned."

“We'll keep the feed open, so you can hear what's going on." Red Lightning confirmed.

With that, the twins stepped forward, the door opening as Kyle pressed the button on the panel beside it allowing them to step inside. The door remained open behind them, without the cliche of locking them in.

Half of the room was lit, and in the illuminated half there sat an elderly human male in a chair, leaning on a cane and watching the pair as they entered. He had balded with age, most of his hair having fallen out over the years, with a full beard that covered much of his face. He wore a lab coat, with a black shirt and dress pants underneath, a gold watch around his left wrist, and what looked to be an old marital band around the ring finger of that same hand. His eyes, light brown, studied the two as they approached.

“Near perfect articulation," he said, referring to their armour. “I estimate that armour only restricts your movement by three percent, yes? The most advanced body armour today, aside from yours, easily hinders twenty percent of movement." He took his hands off his cane and clapped his hands together in slow applause. “Marvelous work, Lightnings. You are masters of the craft."

“Enough with the games, Jacob Rex," Red Lightning cut in. “We weren't even after you at first - it was Chapman. But you made yourself known and you brought us here under your own volition."

“Put your hands up and come quietly; make it quicker and easier for us and yourself by turning yourself in." Blue Lightning followed up, “And trust me, it's a better option than what some of your other enemies would do with you."

“You would deny a fellow scientist a chance to test his greatest achievement?" Rex asked, a confident smile on his face as he folded his hands across his cane again, making no move to stand up. “Tell me, what did you think of my Cyber Soldiers?"

“Ugly and repulsive," Blue Lightning replied.

“And what's with the morning stars? Was finger articulation too difficult for you? Too hung up on that twenty percent?" Red Lightning mocked.

“I made them for combat," replied Rex. “They were a necessary step - I couldn't quite capture the full motion needed, requiring me to use cybernetics instead of building a full automaton. Fortunately, the cloning technology I received from… Well, let's call him an old friend, was quite useful for testing my advancements in the field. What you have faced was my crowning achievement… Until today."

From the sleeve of his coat, a metal cylinder fell into his hand, and he pressed a button on it. Behind him, there was the sound of a mechanical whirring, and two red glowing spheres appeared in the darkness as the sound grew louder. Instinctively, the Lightnings took a step back as the two spheres - eyes - rose higher from the floor. A thunderous step, and from the darkness walked a humanoid form. At first they thought it was another Cyber Soldier, and at first, it certainly resembled one until it was revealed.

It was a Cyber, but nothing like the ones they had seen. Its human body - what little was visible, had red skin, as if it was sunburned badly. The head was now protected not only by the metal mask but a domed helmet that covered all but the eyes. One of its thick arms ended in a morning star like the ones they had already seen, but the other arm ended in a tri-barreled minigun, with an under-barrel tube that they could tell was likely a grenade launcher. Over its shoulders rose two additional limbs - thin, multi-jointed mechanical arms, ending in sharp blades, that glinted in the light.

“Cyber Soldier Mark II," said Rex. “Equipped with my most advanced combat AI to date. I hope he is to your liking." He then stood up from his chair and stepped aside as the monstrous cyborg began to walk faster, making a beeline straight for the twins.

“Only second iteration?" Red Lightning asked as he prepared himself for battle.

“We're on our Lightning eights." Blue Lightning confirmed.

Both thrust into the air in the high ceiling laboratory going opposing ways around the behemoth behind it; scanning the body all the while, absorbing as much data as they could for their targeting systems and weak point analysis.

“Did you get all that?" Avelyn called back privately to the team behind the door. “This thing has a minigun and blades too, F-Y-I."

“We heard! We're coming in!" Volcan returned, and the others began to hurry into the room as the new cyber soldier attacked.

From the very start, they learned what new weapons this one had besides the guns and arms. As it swung its semi-organic arm, the spiked fist detached, remaining linked to the body by a chain as it swung backhanded. The attack was unexpected, going in an overhead arch and managing to catch Red Lightning by his leg, sending him into a spin.

“That's a flail! The morning star is now a flail" Avory shouted to everyone over the coms as he caught himself on the far wall, crouching on it horizontally as he watched the chain recall the spiked ball back; before launching off the wall, back to fly around the room to observe and analyze the beast. “No easy target to hit the CPU this time – it has a big armoured helmet."

Avelyn's gaze drew back over to the doctor, walking away from the fight. She flew near and decided to blast him with an electrical discharge to incapacitate him. The elderly man crumbled to the floor from the jolt, falling hard onto his hands and knees and gritting his teeth against the pain.

The first to reach the cyborg this time was Pavan, who flew in a circle around the mechanized behemoth, yelling taunts and flying across its vision deliberately to get its attention. It paid no heed to his taunts, seemingly having already acquired priority targets in the Lightnings as it spun up its automatic weapon to aim Blue. Volcan got there first, seizing the arm and forcing it aside as it began to fire, the roar of the gun made that much louder by the acoustics of the chamber.

The cyborg shifted targets, ceasing firing its gun and retracting its flail and raising it once more as a mace to bring down on Volcan. Ayane threw herself into the path, catching the arm before it could smash Volcan, the servos of her armour whining loudly as they fought against the strength of the cyborg.

Shiryu came in next while Ayane held the Cyber Soldier's arm at bay, roaring ferally as he tackled into it to make it stumble, then wound back his arm and conjured another Tornado Drill along his arm and thrust it as hard as he could into the Cyber Soldier's flank, trying to bore its way into and through its body. Surprisingly, the flesh proved extremely resilient, his Tornado Drill causing little more than surface damage as it tore away only one layer of skin before the cyborg brought up its leg and slammed its knee into his abdomen; Shiryu was sent hurtling through the air. Vinge, passing below him, hurriedly cast his powers at the floor below, forming a snow bank that helped break Shiryu's fall when he came down - though the fall was still jarring to the large dragon.

He lay there, dazed somewhat, but still able to continue fighting once he cleared the stars circling his head. As he recovered, the two bounty hunters moved in around the soldier's flanks. Kieran took aim with his revolver and empowered it with a corrosive spell so that his rounds could eat through its body more easily, while Korban channelled his ice powers into his pistols and took aim at the cyber's head. They both unleashed their salvos, with Kieran emptying his entire cylinder of acidic rounds into the beast, while Korban discharged twin ice shots that barrelled around each other before impacting the beast's head. Rather than shattering though, the two rounds rebounded away from it in separate directions, travelling until they hit separate walls and ricocheting off of those, slamming back into the cyber's head from two different angles.

Though the shot was impressive, the helmet still held. As for Kieran's acidic bullets, the skin and the metal helm resisted the corrosive substance that had splashed over its body. Even when Kyle joined the two and added his firepower to the onslaught, the high-velocity rounds of his rifle may as well have been a bean shooter against the thick helmet. Volcan let out a yelp as he was lifted off the floor, the Cyber Soldier bringing its weapon around an arc both to fling the phoenix off, and aim at the three shooters.

"Mother- MOVE!!" Kyle shouted, breaking away and making a mad dash across the room, trying to keep ahead of the minigun.

Kieran quickly started strafing around the cyborg as it began opening fire, activating a shield spell just in case stray bullets managed to clip him as he moved. He then tried activating a fire spell from a different book once he had a moment to stop and focus, creating a huge swath of red hot flames from the tome in his paw that barreled into its back and forced its attention on him.

With its back turned, Korban then moved in, holstering his guns and pulling his sword off his back and hurling it point first into the soldier's back. He then leapt up onto it and used the sword as a springboard to gain some extra air, then called the blade back into its paw once he was at the peak of his jump and swung the sword down as he began to fall, letting gravity take hold to help increase the striking power of his falling slash.

The sword came down upon his intended target - the head. But even the seemingly enchanted blade failed to cut through, its edge bouncing off the domed helmet though leaving a visible dent in it. One of the skinny mechanical arms on its back shifted and snapped like the tail of a scorpion at Korban led by its metal spike.

“Oh fuck!!" He hollered, quickly bringing the flat of his sword in front of him just in time. He blocked the strike, but the force of the impact sent him careening toward the opposite wall, making him grunt in pain as he slammed into it before falling to one knee on the ground after he landed. “Fuuuuck, that's gonna smart later…."

Seeing that their attempts to breach the helmet were failing, Tsumé and Vinge took a different approach when they rushed in, both having the same idea. Under cover from Lighris who struck the cyborg with lightning bolts, the Earth Phoenix dropped to the floor as she ran in, sliding past Ayane who was still grappling with the cyborg to deny it the use of its flail and then between its legs. She rose behind it, turning and aiming at its back, toward the base of the neck. She emptied the full magazine of her Uzi into it, but to no visible effect; the rounds lacked the velocity to breach the skin.

One of the skinny arms struck at her, and she failed to avoid it. The spike stuck into her leg, making her scream and lose her footing. She fell onto her back, clutching her leg. The cyborg turned to aim its gun at her, but Red Lightning reached her first, flying down and grabbing her in the nick of time to carry her out of harm's way.

Vinge took to the air, attempting to follow Tsumé's idea and circle to go for the neck. He formed an ice shield over one of his arms, using it to block one of the mechanically powered spikes as it struck at him. He landed on the cyborg's back, griping on with his talons, and like Tsumé tried to use his Uzi to penetrate the skin, firing point-blank into the neck. The attempt caused little more than welts and close-proximity burns, ultimately resulting in superficial damage. The other mechanical arm swung around and swatted Vinge off, though he managed to land safely on his own.

Volcan, recovering from being thrown, stood up and took a moment to consider their options. They knew where the processing unit was, but getting to it was another matter - its armour was too thick, and it was well protected. He had an idea though, but he needed time.

"Hey, guys! I've got a plan!" He called. "Try to take out those arms on its back!"

"Already on it!" Red Lightning barked as he and Blue Lightning returned to circle the air above the Cyber, having placed Tsumé down in a place of safety. The two Lightnings were gathering speed flying in opposite directions before coming down quickly onto the back of the monster, grappling the arms on its back and trusting away quicker; yanking the Cyber back and causing it to stumble, but both eventually prying the thin mechanical arms off of the body.

"There's your opening, bro!" Lighris called, casting another Lightning bolt at the cyborg's body. "Hey, over here trash can!" He shouted, trying to buy Volcan the time he needed.

Volcan strode around beside the cyborg until he was behind it, and then jumped, landing on its back and digging his nails into its neck to keep from being thrown off as it fought the others. It swung wildly, finally throwing off Ayane and launching its flail again to swing at the Lightnings who had damaged it. The motion threw Volcan off its back as well, and he landed a short distance away on his feet, cursing.

The Lightnings dodged, carrying the cybernetic arms, both analyzing the ends of them to check the circuit for any clues. "We can drain away its power!" Red Lightning announced.

"Do it! I think I know what Volcan's planning!" Lighris called, switching to his shotgun. "Do anything it takes to slow this thing down!'

"We'll keep it busy!" Pavan added as he flew across the cyborg's line of sight, shooting it multiple times in the face in an attempt to provoke it.

"I've got this!" Blue Lightning called as she flew to the cyber's back once again, and locked herself in place with an arm wrapped around its neck and her legs wrapped around its waist, her thighs clamped down as hard as her body and suit would allow.

She gripped onto the exposed circuitry left by one of the snapped-off mechanical arms and quickly began the process of draining its power.

Ayane caught on. _"Make this thing use up more of its power until its fuel cell runs out!" _She called.

"Watch the birdy ya big pile of junk!" Pavan taunted the cyborg, still taking potshots and making it swing its flail in vain trying to hit the speedy Wind Phoenix. "Nyah nyah!"

With its attention on Pavan, Shiryu stepped back into the fray once again, roaring as he reared back his arm for another Tornado Drill and slammed it into the cyborg's stomach, but even then, he didn't stop there. When his attack connected, he started clawing at the opponent with wild abandon, tearing away bits of its flesh and trying to dig its way into the metal endoskeleton within to try and cause even further damage.

Korban then rushed in from behind, having recovered from the damage he sustained from being thrown against the wall. He slid between its legs once he was close enough, swinging his massive blade at its ankles in an attempt to cause it to buckle while the Windragon kept up his savage assault.

Kieran then made his next move, coming down from above with his blade pointed downward. He angled his sword in a way so that it managed to slip past the gap in the cyborg's helmet that made up for its eye holes, sinking the edge right into its optical sensor before pulling it out and jumping away before it could try and swipe him off. One of the eyes flickered behind the visor, showing that Kieran had scored a hit.

It extended its flail once more and started to swing it at Kieran but Ayane was there first, seizing the chain and stopping it from finishing its swing as she pulled the chain. It started to lift its gun arm, but Vinge stepped in, casting ice and snow over the weapon to freeze it and stop the barrels from spinning up, jamming the gun. Tsumé, still on the floor where Red Lightning left her, reached out as much as she could with her powers, trying to summon any amount of rock or vegetation she could use. Eventually, she received results, as a stone spike shot up from the floor, breaking through the steel and burying itself in the underside of the cyborg's thigh, causing sparks to fly and electricity to crackle as the leg suffered severe damage.

Red Lightning saw what she was trying to do and decided to thrust down beside her once again, this time clawing at the metal floor panels beside her and peeling it off. He reached for one of his two remaining cannon balls and blasted it through the cabling and floor below. From there, he pulled up the floor panel and the cables, exposing the rock of the mountainside underneath.

"You think you can work with that?" He looked up at Tsumé on the floor beside him.

"Maybe. Give me a moment," she said.

The cyborg was starting to slow, but it was still putting up a fight, attempting to pull its chained flail free from Ayane's grasp, but its movement was severely hindered by the stone spike in its leg. As it tried to pull away, another spike erupted from the exposed earth it buried itself in the other leg, anchoring the cybernetic monster where it stood. It tried to swing its frozen gun at Shiryu but the Wind Dragon saw the swing coming and avoided it, ducking low to let the swing fly over his head before he went for the arm itself, the vulnerable elbow in sight.

He sized the arm, and with all of his strength and a wild roar, he yanked the minigun clean off of the rest of the cyborg's arm, robbing it of its long-range capabilities, then using that same weapon, he swing it clean across the cyborg's face twice before lifting it over his head and bringing it down as hard as he could onto its head.

"Gah!!" Avelyn winced inside the suit as she felt the impact from Shiryu's thrashing through her arm around the cyber's head. Her arm got a bit trapped in the process. She squawked in pain as she continued to draw power.

"Your suit is starting to overload! You need to swap out!" Red Lightning called.

"I Can't! My arm is stuck!" She cried out.

"Hang on!" Volcan called, jumping onto the back of the cyborg once again, landing partly on top of Blue Lightning in the process.

Tsumé, to help, sent her power into the earth opening Avory had made for her once again, and two more stone spikes shot out, embedding themselves into the sides of the cyborg, stopping it from turning its body and giving Volcan the chance to climb to where he needed to reach the head.

Volcan reached around, pulling the cyborg's head back to try to get Avelyn's metal arm free. Eventually, the head pulled back enough to her to pull her arm out.

"Thanks, hot stuffs" Avelyn said.

Volcan hung off the cyborg's shoulder while Avelyn got clear and took off back into the air. The cyborg was still moving, but it was much slower now; the stone spikes buried in its flanks held it in place, and it didn't seem to have the strength to break them anymore.

"Alright, time to end this," said Volcan, pulling himself back onto the head of the cyborg and reaching around to the front of its face, grabbing the rim of the helmet. The cyborg reared back, trying to throw him off, but he held on stubbornly until he managed to plant his feet onto its back.

He pulled the helmet as hard as he could. It didn't bend much at first, but as blood surged into Volcan's arms and caused his muscles to swell with the effort, it eventually came loose with a snap as he broke the visor off and was sent hurtling off its back, hitting the floor hard behind it. He sat up, somewhat dazed, but with only one thing on his mind.

"Kill that fucking thing!" He practically roared.

Korban, Kieran and Kyle emptied their weapons at the cyborg's head. Its skull, however vulnerable without the helmet, was still standing up to their guns, and likewise to ice projectiles Vinge threw at it. Korban was fed up with the stubborn machine, and reached for his sword. Red Lightning likewise brought his own blade to bear, both of them having the same idea.

"Let's do as the French did to the rich." Red Lightning commented, standing beside the husky, tapping his katana against the thicker blade.

“Fer once, I can get behind that," Korban remarked, smirking. “Appropriate analogy too." He added before they both jumped toward either side of the cyber soldier, blades reared back and ready to swing.

The best could hardly process what was going on as the black coated husky and the red mech avian came at it, flying either side if its head and swinging their inside arms towards it.

A light scraping sound echoed out as the two blades met in the middle and sliced through the skull like scissors, severing the upper half of the head clean off and toppling it back into Volcan's lap as he lay on the floor, staring with a mix of disgust and amazement at the exposed circuitry of the cyborg's brain.

The two sword bearers landed further behind Volcan, both catching each other's eye as they turned around inwards to see the decapitated monster behind them, stopped motionless in his tracks.

Red Lightning raised his empty fist to Korban, who glanced back at him for a moment before he rolled his eyes to the side and decided to roll with it, lifting his own fist for a reluctant fist bump.

"Now that, I like to see," the phoenix remarked, before kicking the cyborg's head away from him with a shudder. "Good teamwork."

“Let's not make a big deal about it," Korban remarked. “We won. Let's leave it at that."

Red Lightning walked over to the side of the room which was shadowed in darkness, illuminating it with his suit's lights and focusing it on an old bearded man laying on his front on the floor, paralyzed. The red-suited avian gently kicked him over to face upright, his face contorted still from the shock he received before.

"I gave you the choice. But you refused it. Now I will leave you to my friends who will like some final words," he commented before moving to stand behind him, above the head and illuminating the human. "He's still alive. The paralysis won't hold forever."

"Not like he can outrun us," Lighris scoffed. "Look at this guy. He's a bag of bones- he couldn't outrun a tortoise."

"Even so. I think only one person here has the right to decide what happens to him," said Volcan. "The one he's made suffer longer than all of us put together." He looked over his shoulder and called out to Vinge.

The ice phoenix came forward, the others parting for him as he approached. Pure hatred was clear as day on his face, his gaze fixed upon the old man lying on the floor. Rex looked up at him, studying him, but his face betrayed no fear of the young ice phoenix or any recognition.

"They speak as if I should know you," he stated.

"You took someone from me when I was a child," Vinge retorted.

"Do you have the slightest idea how little that narrows it down?" Rex asked in a tone so glib, he might as well have said he did not care to know the answer.

"Where is my father?" Vinge demanded, his fists tightening and the air growing colder around him as he grew angrier.

Volcan looked at Lighris. "Shit… there wasn't one in the prison."

"No there wasn't," Lighris replied.

Then there seemed to be some recognition on Rex's face. "Another ice phoenix, like yourself?" He asked. "Ah yes, I remember now. The first of your kind we ever captured. A valuable test subject, in the development of my Disruptor." He scoffed. "But, well… Even elementals are not eternal when under so much strain."

The words hit Vinge hard, and in a flash his sword was in his hand, pressing the tip of the blade into Rex's throat. His eyes glowed like two LED lights, bright enough to illuminate Rex's face with their glow, and by now the air had grown so cold that everyone could see their breath, waiting for the moment Rex's head rolled across the floor…

But the moment didn't come. After a long, tense pause, Vinge drew back his sword, much to everyone's surprise.

"Vinge?" Tsumé asked.

"Look at him," he said, the glow leaving his eyes. "No fear… Only triumph. He's neither afraid to die nor sees this as a defeat." He returned his sword to its scabbard, an audible click heard as it fell into place. "He wants me to kill him… He has reached the pinnacle of his achievements; he's ready to meet his end, as he gets to die in absolute triumph. I refuse to let him die with such satisfaction to accompany him to hell."

With that, Vinge turned and walked away. "And it will not bring my father back…" he added barely above a whisper.

Kieran watched Vinge walk away with a mixed expression on his face, surprised that he wouldn't take this opportunity to avenge his father, and yet… he understood why he wouldn't give Rex the satisfaction of a quick death. Just as he was about to speak up though, Shiryu stomped forward, towering over the decrepit old man with his claws brandished, a hateful look in his eyes as he loomed over Rex.

“...My Dad and I did nothing to you and your people…" He growled in a low tone. “We were just minding our own business. We weren't doing anything wrong. Why did you attack us when we weren't even around other people?" He demanded.

"My men thought they had found a family of wind phoenixes," he answered. "You share many of their characteristics. But imagine their surprise when they found a pair of dragons instead, with the same powers as we have seen in a completely separate species. Such a fascinating find; how could we pass it up?" He added with a grin and looked at Pavan. "Especially when the last one got away."

This time it was Pavan's turn to go rigid with anger, but Shiryu's growl stole away any words Pavan might have had to say. He looked ready to tear the old man apart, his rage radiating in the growing wind that was being generated around him.

“...I should rip you apart… just like I did that freaky robot guy…" He growled, his entire body trembling as he struggled to contain his anger. He looked just about ready to snap when he slowly lifted his head and let out a long sigh, the current around him dying down until there was nothing but a gentle breeze. “...But if I did that… I'd be giving you exactly what you want. I may not be smart, but I know enough to understand that killing you won't do anything… So just like with what the icebird said, I'm not gonna give you what you want…"

With that, he took a few steps back, still glaring hatefully at Jacob, but for the most part, he was calm, letting the others decide his fate.

“...So what do we do with him then?" Kieran asked after a brief silence. “Vinge won't kill him, and the big ass dragon won't do it either."

“If he wants us to kill him… then I say we give him a big fat cock block on that easy way out," Korban remarked abrasively. “How does the rest of yer miserable life locked away in a maximum security prison sound to you, old man?"

"How do we get him to one without exposing ourselves though?" Tsumé asked, before Rex could answer.

"I got just the thing," Ayane chimed in. Even through the external speaker of her armour, they could hear her voice dripping with satisfaction. "I was digging through the archives we downloaded and I found something quite interesting. Have a look."

Korban's wrist terminal, as well as the heads-up displays in the Lightning Armours, suddenly both received a file transfer, opening a window to reveal a military personnel file on a much younger Jacob Rex. A U.S Military sanctioned scientist in research and development, it read, disbarred when exposed for unethical experimentation on United States soldiers, as well as captive Vietnamese soldiers during the Vietnam War, many of which were not approved by the American chain of command or by the government. In addition to inhumane experimentation, unsanctioned research and kidnapping, he had been sentenced to life in prison only to escape a year later. He had been wanted by the CIA, Interpol and FBI ever since.

“You son of a bitch!" Kyle suddenly roared after reading the article over Korban's shoulder, making the husky wince as the angry soldier's voice boomed in his ear. “You performed experiments on prisoners of war and your own people?!"

“It was my first time discovering the phenomenon known as the metagene - something previously only thought to be fictional - that can appear in practically anyone," said Rex. “When I learned more about it, I had to know more, had to find ways to harness and awaken the power it offers. I began to discover more people bearing the gene. So, I continued my work."

“Work?!" Kyle demanded. “You turned your countrymen and innocent people alike into test subjects!"

"Let's not forget, taking receipt of illegal weapons," Red Lightning reminded, "and to make sure nothing gets out about you guys, we should wipe his mind and bar him from his memories of anything magical or mana related."

"We'll then take him in," Avelyn agreed, "so the police won't be questioning your involvement."

“Ya hear that, old man?" Korban remarked with a cheeky smirk. “It's curtains fer you _and _this whole operation you got goin."

“You really think so?" Rex asked. “Even if you erase my memory, do you really think my men won't go on? Tell me, did you even find my son or Commander One?"

The question caught them off guard and brought another chuckle to Rex when they could not offer an answer. “Exactly… You may take me, and have wiped out my men. But even without me, P.A.C.E will go on. All my son needs are our resources to begin anew, and you will never find him."

It occurred to the group then, why Rex was not concerned with his death, because even without him the work he had dedicated his life to would continue. No wonder he was not afraid...

“Except your son won't have those resources," Vinge put in, turning back to face the old man with a smirk on his face.

Finally, Rex lost his smile, his eyes fixing upon the ice phoenix. “What are you talking about?"

“Didn't you hear Ayane?" Vinge asked. “The archival footage she just gave out? Where do you think we got that?" He watched as Rex's face paled and his eyes widened with realization. “Yes, doctor. From your own servers. Our tech masters here," he gestured to the Lightnings and Ayane. “Already cracked your security - it was the first thing they did when we broke in here. All of your research is ours now."

“And," Volcan added, gesturing to Korban with a big grin on his face. “Show him."

“With pleasure," Korban answered with as big a shit-eating grin on his face as Volcan had. He lifted his wrist terminal and showed Jacob a screen displaying all of the elderly man's funding and bank accounts.

They all read zero on each one…

“Yeah, so, yer son made one big mistake when he called upon my services. He didn't take into account what happens when clients try to screw me outta my pay," Korban stated. “So, I decided to take what I'm owed, plus interest. That means everything you have, yer main accounts, yer offshores, yer retirement funds, 401K, all that shit? It's mine now."

“...This can't be…" Rex said in defiance, somehow finding the strength to stand even without the aid of his cane. “So many layers of security protected all of my research and all of our funding! You couldn't have taken it all - it's impossible!"

“The proof's all here, prof," Korban answered. “Oh, and don't worry 'bout little Junior. I'll make sure to save the bullet I intended to use on you fer him when I find him. That way you can relish in the grief of outliving yer own son fer the rest of yer sad, miserable life."

He then leaned close to Rex, his grin turning into a scowl. “So take this as a lesson, you old fuck… Never fuck with a bounty hunter by taking what he's owed," he concluded, hocking a loogie right in his face before stepping back to rejoin the others. “Right. I've said my bit. He's all yours, boys and gals."

“Your organization is finished, Rex," Volcan stated with finality. “And we're sending you right back where you belong."

With that, they cuffed the human and started making their way out of the laboratory. Volcan brought up the rear, looking briefly around the room before he started to follow the others. He paused briefly, when a throbbing pain lanced through his mind, making him bring his hand up to rub his head. The pain was fleeting, though, and he shrugged it off and kept walking before anyone noticed.

With the defeated Jacob Rex in tow, the group returned to the hangar bay to reunite with Rikyuu and Obsidian. The former, having had enough time to rest, was able to walk on his own again but he still looked haggard and desperately in need of sleep. They filled the two in on everything that had happened below.

“Man… I'm sorry I couldn't be there to back you up," said Rikyuu. “It sounds like you guys really could have used my help."

“Eh, we pulled it off," said Lighris. “For Volcan, quite literally. You should've seen him ripping that helmet off that cyborg."

Volcan shrugged. “It seemed our best chance to kill that thing," he said. “Either way it didn't die easily."

“So is it over then?" Obsidian asked, hopeful. “Is P.A.C.E finished?"

“As far as we're concerned, P.A.C.E. is nuthin' but a pipe dream now," Korban remarked confidently. “Their leader is taken down, we've seized their assets and froze their income… It's gonna take them years to even begin to recover from this setback."

“If they will even try," Tsumé put in. “Even if Rex's punk kid were to attempt he'll be building it from the ground up, and he doesn't have daddy's connections or influence to pull it off."

“Speaking of which, are we able to go around and wipe the minds of those that are here, and chuck them out?" Red Lightning asked the purple dragoness.

“Even with all of the ones we killed, it'll take me a while but, yes - I can do it," said Obsidian. “But where do we send them after that?"

“Might be quicker if I power up the amplifier again for you," he suggested, “As for where; I have a few ideas…"

“Oh yea? Where's that, a deserted island out in the middle of the ocean?" Korban asked in jest.

“That or a field trip in the Rockies; make them all think they are all friends out camping together." Red Lightning suggested, “that way we don't have to take them far."

“A field trip??" Shiryu sidedly piped up, his ears wiggling in excitement. “That sounds fun! When are we going?"

“…Dude, are you for real?" Kieran asked, flabbergasted.

“…I kinda gathered you weren't playing with a full deck of cards, kid, but… Seriously?" Korban asked, blinking a few times.

Red Lightning looked back over to Obsidian. “I'll join you on the rounds around the base." Red Lightning assured. “Best to be safe than sorry. But we also want to make sure to make Rex forget too, before we turn him over to the police."

“Not just the police," said Obsidian, shaking her head. “We have to get him over the border. The warrants for him won't extend up here in Canada. We have to make sure the American police find him - word will eventually reach the FBI and they'll take him to a more secure location." She looked at Rex. “As for his knowledge of us, that gets more complicated."

“I'm well aware. But can you do the same thing you did for Sam White here?" Red Lightning asked.

“Rex is far older than Sam White - his brain might not be able to take the strain," said Obsidian. “Removing that many memories could have consequences I can't predict."

“Why should that matter?" Korban piped up. “The bastard's done some pretty disgusting shit throughout his lifetime. If he doesn't deserve to be killed, then he can stand being a vegetable fer all I care."

“That, I actually agree with," Red Lightning sided with Korban.

“But still. That feels… Wrong. Even if he's scum, it's still taking everything from him," returned Obsidian.

Volcan moved up beside her, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Only you can do this, Obsidian. It's your choice," he stated. “I stand with your decision regardless of what it is."

Obsidian looked at Volcan, appreciating his support. She looked briefly at Korban and Red Lightning as well - even though she couldn't see Red Lightning's face she knew what he was thinking. Then she looked at Vinge, whose expression was as unreadable as always, but she knew he shared Volcan's sentiment. He'd had Rex's life in his hands a short time ago, and he had chosen not to take the path of vengeance. Still, that didn't mean Rex was no longer a threat.

She struggled with her decision a moment longer, but soon she understood there was only one choice to make.

With that, Obsidian approached the captive Jacob Rex, who looked up at her spitefully. “My only regret is that I could not find more of you for my work," he said.

“You won't remember that regret in a moment," she said, her eyes shining as she placed her hand on his head. “This is where your road ends, doctor."

Rex opened his mouth as if to protest, but then his jaw fell slack open, hanging there as someone had just told him a shocking piece of news. His eyes glazed over, slowly losing their focus, and his head lolled side-to-side like he was on a swinging carnival ride and couldn't quite make his neck stay straight. Obsidian pulled her hand back, and he slumped. Drool dripped from his mouth, and a low groan escaped his throat.

“Is he…?" Volcan started to ask.

“Still alive," she said. “But in technological terms, I cut a few wires. The body lives, but the man is gone."

“And if his son finds him, it will serve him as a warning," Avory bade within his suit of armour.

“He can't come back from this?" Volcan asked.

“The brain, in theory, could heal over time," said Obsidian. “But he's old enough now I think he will die of natural causes long before that can happen."

“Then it's over," said Volcan. “For real this time… P.A.C.E is finished."

Obsidian nodded. “Alright… There's more for me to do," she said, looking at Red Lightning. “Show me where the other captives are, and I'll see what I can do."

Red Lightning nodded to the dragoness before turning to Kieran, “Are you able to hang back with us just for security, and so you can teleport us as soon as we're done?"

“Yea, I can wait." Kieran answered. “Now that the job's done, there's really no hurry to be on our way. Besides… I'm kinda liking being around you guys."

“Oh?" Blue Lightning sounded surprised listening in.

Red Lightning chuckled, “Well I will admit that despite the issues we've had," he started, turning his gaze from Kieran to Korban, “I would say we did make a good team; it was a pleasure working with you both. And I am sure we will celebrate well and give you two a good send off." the red mech avian smiled beneath his mask, “Drinks are on me tonight at the bar."

“Yea? Hope you got some deep pockets on ya, cause I know how to hold my liquor." Korban warned the Red Lightning.

“For putting up with me, you can drink as much as you like, Korban." He assured him, “you've earned it."

“Hmph… I'll take yer word for it." The husky returned, even showing a slight smirk as he accepted his offer.

“Well let's get going then" Red Lightning turned to Kieran and Obsidian. “We'll see you all back at the bar. I'm sure Ordagova is all worried about you."

~~~~~

When the group touched down outside of Shiryu's home, no one was really surprised to see his father running out of the house and approaching them. Having not seen any of these people before, seeing his son arriving with a group of complete strangers was a shock, and as he and his son embraced one another, he held him away from the others in a protective manner.

“Where have you been??" Ranshiro practically bellowed at Shiryu after they pulled apart. “When I awoke to see you missing, I feared you had been taken by whatever was attacking us!"

“I-I did what you said, Dad. I flew away as fast as I could, but as I did I ran into those guys over there." He explained, gesturing to his new friends behind him. “They saved me from the bad guys, and then came back to save you. They said you were…incap… incaptated…?"

“Incapacitated." His father corrected.

“Yeah, that." The younger dragon stated. “Anyway… They then left to go after the guys that tried to attack us, and…" He looked away slightly. “I… went after them…"

“You WHAT??" Ranshiro bellowed both in shock and anger.

“I-I couldn't just sit by, Dad!" The younger dragon shot back, his ears wilted back from his father's outburst. “T-They tried to take you away from me, and I wanted to help them take down those mean guys!"

“You could have been captured! Worse, you could have been killed!!" The elder Wind Dragon exclaimed. “You should have stayed put, Shiryu! Putting yourself in harm's way like that risks exposing our kind to the world! We are a breed of dragon that isn't supposed to exist!"

“W-Well, those bird guys are phoenixes! Aren't they also supposed to not exist either??" Shiryu countered, which made Ranshiro pause and turn his gaze away from his son to the others, studying the four avians as they waited.

Sensing it was his turn to speak, one of them came forward. “Your son speaks the truth," the red and gold avian stated, and as a demonstration, he held out his arm and formed a fireball above his open palm, letting it linger for a moment before snuffing it out in his hand. “The men who attacked you won't trouble you again. They're finished."

“...You're certain?" The larger dragon asked firmly. “I find it hard to believe a group of such young individuals managed to take them down, empowered or not."

Volcan nodded. “I understand your skepticism. It's a long story, but we had plenty of help from very capable individuals," he said, smiling light-heartedly. “My name is Volcan," and he went on to introduce the other phoenixes - minus Tsumé since she wasn't there. “There are more of us; some stayed back to finish clearing out the enemy's base, and a couple of others were hurt in the fighting that ensued, including our fifth Phoenix, Tsumé."

“The men who attacked you were a paramilitary unit under the command of a rogue operation known as the P.A.C.E Directive," Vinge stepped forward to explain. “They were science radicals that worked in the shadows, capturing people like us for study, and seeking ways to harness our powers for themselves. That is why they attacked you."

“Apparently, they thought you guys were like me," Pavan chimed in, jerking a thumb at himself. “Seems at the elemental level, we're kinda kinfolk!"

“Pavan, don't make it weird," Lighris growled at the younger phoenix.

“...Be that as it may," Ranshiro answered, still staring down at the group of young individuals before him. “While I am grateful for you all making sure we will never be targeted again, I do not approve of you letting my son become involved in this little vigilante group you've formed." He added sternly. “You should have sent him back when he wanted to become involved."

“I understand, sir, and I take full responsibility - the call was mine," Volcan said, putting a hand on his chest as he spoke. “We couldn't risk sending him home by himself, knowing P.A.C.E was in the area, so we took him with us." He then added, solemnly. “For what it's worth, your son _did _save my life in that place."

An awkward silence fell upon them for a while, until Shiryu finally decided to speak up as he stepped in between Volcan and his father. “...Dad, you once told me that the biggest problem in this world is that no one helps each other." He stated, making the elder dragon flinch slightly. “These guys… they helped us. I didn't ask for their help, but they helped anyway. I wanted to help them take those mean guys down because it felt right." Shiryu continued. “They're all good people, Dad… Can we at least be friends with them?"

Ranshiro looked down at his son with a mixed expression of both concern, and pride all at once. The protective part of him felt the need to deny his son any exposure to the outside world, and yet at the same time… He couldn't help but feel proud of his son for choosing what he felt was right and using his power for what he deemed the right cause. Eventually, he let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his snout with his claw.

“I… Suppose we owe these younglings that much." He eventually conceded, opening his eyes and allowing a soft smile to cross his features. “Very well, then. You are welcome to visit our homestead at your leisure… and," he looked down at his son. “You can visit your friends whenever we aren't working on your lessons."

Shiryu beamed instantly after hearing that, his golden eyes twinkling brightly as he started jumping around joyously, like a child who had just received an unforgettable gift. “Yaayy!!" He exclaimed happily, then quickly jumped up and hugged his father tightly. “Thanks, Dad! You're the best!!"

As the pair had their moment, Vinge felt something stirring within him then. A mix of emotions that he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a long time; he couldn't even put a name to them at first. But seeing Shiryu and his father sharing that happy moment reminded Vinge briefly of his father, and he felt a tear creep into his eye at the thought.

Vinge stepped forward then, approaching Ranshiro and looking between him and Shiryu as the two dragons looked at him in turn, wondering what he wanted. “...When I was a child, P.A.C.E took my father from me, and I have come to know in recent events that I will never see him again," he said, unable to hide the sadness in his voice. “It is… Uplifting, that I played my part in stopping the same thing from happening to another family." He looked up at Ranshiro when he said this.

Ranshiro nodded softly back to Vinge, slowly placing his son back on his feet as he addressed the ice phoenix. “You have my condolences, young one. I pray that he may rest in peace knowing that he left behind a noble soul such as yours…"

“I will strive to continue living up to that, sir," he said, bowing his head. “Though I do not know where to begin. I think the days of my sword in battle are over, now that P.A.C.E is defeated."

At that, Ranshiro shook his head slowly. “I've been in this world for a long time… and in that time, I've come to understand that peace eventually stagnates, and conflict will once again rise to disturb that peace. When that time comes, I can assure you that your blade will be needed once again."

Vinge considered Ranshiro's wise words, sensing that he knew what he was talking about. He answered the dragon only with a nod, and a silent promise that he would be ready if that time should come.

“Volcan," Lighris spoke. “We should probably get going if we want to get home before nightfall."

Volcan looked back at her, nodding in understanding before looking back at the dragons. “It's time for us to be heading home," he said. “We'll check in with you from time to time if you like. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

“I will be sure to keep that in mind," Ranshiro answered with a nod.

“Bye, you guys!" Shiryu called as he waved at his newfound friends. “Can't wait to see you all again!"

“Take care of yourself, Shiryu," said Volcan as he turned to leave, followed by Vinge and Lighris, but Pavan lagged behind.

“When I come back, show me that Tornado Drill thing you did to those cyborgs!" Pavan added. “I gotta learn how to do that one!" He started to barrage them with questions until Lighris plucked the wind phoenix off his feet and practically dragged him away.

“Sometimes I feel like Obsidian and I are the only adults in this little group," Lighris grumbled.

With that, the five of them took flight once again, returning to where they had left the VTOL and their other friends, including Tsumé being tended to by Avelyn, now out of her armour, and Rikyuu asleep in the corner. With that, they resumed their journey back home to Unity Falls, with Volcan in particular eager to see someone in particular. But they still had one thing to do before they could do that, and it involved the vegetative man in the back of the craft…

To be concluded...