Summer Days *48*

Lauren opened a portal in the middle of a field beside the cabin. Everyone stood around it, mentally and physically preparing themselves for what was to come."Once we start, there is no turning back." Leon said."Maybe this isn't such a good idea...", Tifa bit her lower lip nervously."We are outnumbered...", Cid said as an afterthought.Gabe shrugged, "Make a decision. We don't care what you choose we're just the firepower.""No." You said firmly and everyone turned to you."Guys we have to do this." Ven added. He nodded towards you so you continued."We CAN do this. So what we're outnumbered and they're stronger then us?"Ven scratched the back of his neck and mumbled, "Some pep talk."You shot him a glare, "But we have something they don't. We have heart. We're fighting for something we love. For people we care about. For a place we call home."Everyone's eyes were focused on you. You shuffled your feet thinking about a certain voice you haven't heard in a long time. Marlene probably gave up on you considering it seemed you couldn't do anything but get in trouble. But those two words of hers still echoed in your mind."Someone once told me that all you really need is to believe in yourself." You mumbled looking back up at them. Lauren smiled at you. Big C gave you a huge pat on the back that rattled every bone in your body and threatened to knock you off your feet."Couldn't have said it better myself kid. Now you guys ready for real?" A wave of agreement washed over everybody."Suit up time?" Jacob asked. Melanie nodded. They set down their gear and held in their hands the metal folded up suit. Each of them slid a metal piece across it in some fashion then held it to their chest."Armor Mode 2." Melanie, Jacob and Stephanie said."Armor Mode 4." Gabriel said.They held the bar to their chest as it began to grow out again, once it wrapped around their torso and they didn't have to hold it anymore they released the bar and held out their arms so the armor could unfold completely.The helmet came up last again just like before, the last thing to happen was the tinted glass sliding down to cover their faces.Melanie's suit looked a lot like Stephanie's except Melanie's suit was black.Gabriel suit had formed different then before. Rather then covering everything except his elbows and knees this time he had even less armor.The armor plates were gone and now it looked like it just outlined his body. His arms and hands were shielded completely but from his elbow up the only metal was on the outside of his arm connecting to his shoulder. His torso, neck and crotch were covered along with all of his backside but now the only metal on his legs ran on the outside if his leg so it looked like a brace. His knees were covered this time, they were the only thing completely covered on his legs, and he had on metal boots that connected to the metal running along the outside of his legs."How many different suits can you guys wear??" Ven asked in a surprised tone."This is Mode 4, for speed. There are 5 modes in total. Standard, Speed, Strength, Stealth, and Shield. They are wearing Mode 2 which is Standard." Gabe explained."You know if Doc heard you explaining everything to him she'd make you run suicides for a week straight." Jacob said, you couldn't see his face but his tone sounded playful."Suicides aren't that hard." Ven shrugged."Ours are." Stephanie shuddered."Enough. Focus Team. Stay on Channel 3, if it goes down or is corrupted switch to 8." Melanie said packing up her gear, a pistol connected to her waist along with a hunting knife and on her back was a weapon that looked like Jacob's."How does your stuff stick to you?" You asked watching them put their gear on. It all seemed to just stick to them."Magnetic force. Our stuff is made special to be attracted to our suits." Jacob answered."What did I just say? No more questions, stay on COM channels only now." Melanie shot at him.Lauren nodded at everyone, "Cody and I will meet up with you guys at the rendezvous point as soon as we can. Good luck guys." Time had run out. It was now time to face the growing problem. Lauren's portal had put you on the outskirts of town where Xemnas's house was. It was still some walk away because she didn't want to just drop you in the middle of the war zone.You couldn't tell what time of day it was because the sky was a deep red with black cloud's scattered across the sky. No sun or moon could be seen at all.You couldn't hear the discussion being made between the TITANS, but Melanie made a signal with her hands sending Jacob to the front of the group, Stephanie and Gabriel on either side of everybody and her in the back. They surrounded you, Cloud, Tifa, Auron, Cid, Leon, and Ven.Melanie gave Cloud a nod which he returned and everyone began to move forwards toward Xemnas's house. The area around his house was eerily calm and quiet. Nothing moved and nothing made a sound. You were in the front quad area of his house and still hadn't seen a single heartless or controlled minion.Everyone stopped a few feet from his porch. The TITANS talked over their COM channel. Eventually Melanie and Jacob pushed everyone a little farther back as Stephanie and Gabriel walked up to the door quietly.They had their hand on a doorknob and stood to the side.Melanie and Jacob stood in front of everyone and had their larger weapons at the ready. A moment later Gabriel and Stephanie slung open the door, peeling off to join Melanie and Jacob, and the flood ensued.Countless of heartless poured out of the doorway spilling onto the front lawn. The TITANS fired round after round into the mass of heartless, the bullets seemed never ending. Cloud, Leon, Auron, Cid, Ven, and Tifa fought back the few heartless they missed.You although were still weaponless and the others wouldn't let a single heartless get to you anyways.After some time all the heartless were gone, their bodies faded away as they were killed vanishing to never return. Melanie waved her hand forward. Everyone filed into the house cautiously."Follow me." Cloud said as he walked forward.You passed familiar hallways, recognizing most from the dinner party that seemed like years ago. Cloud halted to a stop. You glanced around him and gulped. There stood Sora, Riku, Zexion, Demyx, Angeal, Terra, and Reno.All wore dead expressions and stood rigid, their eyes with the eerie yellow ring dug into you. Jacob and Gabriel who took lead raised their weapons but Cloud and Leon pushed them down."Don't." Leon said with a tone of worry in his voice as he stared at his younger brother."They're friends." Cloud added."They don't look to friendly." Gabriel muttered, saying something aloud for the first time since you arrived.Sora held not only his keyblade but Ven's keyblade as well. "Well there's my weapon." Ven smirked and clapped his hands together.Angeal was holding not only his own buster blade but Cloud's as well. One in each hand."How can he fight with both?" You asked considering you couldn't even hold one with both hands like they do."Their readings are off the chart. Mel are you scanning this??" Jacob asked."Sheesh what are these people on?" Gabriel added."Their readings were saved. Analyze later. Remember no harm, they are civilians." Melanie ordered. That's when they charged. Demyx and Zexion were taken down by Gabriel in a swift swoop of his arm quickly and easily. He was fast, just like his profile said. He had managed to knock them both out cold in a matter of seconds, he was a blur as he moved.Cloud took on Angeal dodging the slash of both blades. Angeal waved them around like they were play swords and weighed nothing. Ven took on Riku with a smirk mocking him at every chance he got even though he knew well enough Riku wouldn't reply.Leon was head on head versus his brother. He remained on defense, avoiding offense altogether. Tifa fought against Reno, but in the end Stephanie took Reno down coming to Tifa's aide.Jacob got Angeal from behind since Angeal was so focused on Cloud. Melanie fought against Terra and managed to bring him down after a brief fight.Ven punched Riku in the jaw but it didn't even phase Riku. Riku turned to slash at Ven but Gabriel threw his arm down blocking the attack where the metal was. He then knocked Riku out using a pressure point.Now the only conscious person was Sora, who was still attacking Leon. Auron snuck up behind Sora and used a pressure point to make Sora fall to his knees unconscious like the others. Ven walked over and picked up his keyblade brushing it off with his hand. Cloud did the same with his weapon."What do we do with them now?" Ven asked."We can't just leave them here." Tifa said.You jumped at the sound of her voice startling Leon and Cid who stood beside you. "What [Name]?" Cid asked curiously."Let me try something...", You mumbled.You focused all your energy to open a portal like Lauren did instead of just poofing around like you normally do.No luck.."Here hang on." Jacob said setting his hand on your shoulder.You sighed in frustration. It looked like Jacob was probably talking to someone through his helmet and after a moment a portal appeared."It'll take them to the cabin." He said. One by one everyone helped get each person into the portal until no more remained and the portal disappeared."Let's keep moving." Cloud said.The halls seemed to drag on forever and every time you and the group reached a corner the TITANs would have to check to make sure there wasn't a ambush on the other side waiting for them."He was to know we're here." Ven muttered.Cid shushed him as everyone continued to move forward."Of course he does. You make quite an entrance." The group spun on their heels to face the sound of the voice.Kadaj.He smirked and stood between his two brothers. Yazoo was still under control."Nice of you to come to us, it saves us the trouble of having to find you." He chuckled out.Jacob raised his weapon pointing it at Kadaj."They aren't friendlies right?" He asked.Cloud shook his head, "Far from it.""I wouldn't do that if I were you." Kadaj replied before a trigger could be pulled.Loz pulled someone from an empty doorway and dragged them to stand in front of him. He clutched her arm tightly as she cried out in pain."Namine!" You yelled.They smirked, Yazoo remained stone faced, at your gush of emotion.The TITANS lowered their guns."Keep moving." Gabriel said as he set his gun to his waist and pulled out his sword.He turned his sword in a flash of brilliant light."Me and Jack got this." You could hear the smirk in his tone."BCB power on 100%." He called out, Jacob followed suite. Cloud, Leon, Tifa, Auron, Cid, Ven, Melanie, Stephanie and you turned to continue down the hall but were stopped quickly by a group of heartless flooding into the hallway.With them was Roxas, Yuffie, Xion, Olette, Hayner, Pence, and Aerith."Aww man." Ven groaned.Kadaj laughed madly before the fight began. Melanie and Stephanie were handling the heartless. Ven began to fight his own brother, Cloud took Hayner, Pence charged at Cid, Auron was blocking random attacks thrown by Yuffie, Tifa fought off Aerith cautiously, Leon had Xion to go against leaving Olette to charge at you.Olette threw attacks and punches at you which you dodged to the best of your ability. One attack she threw caught you right in the side sending you flying into wall.You rolled to your feet trying to catch your breath while still avoiding Olette's attack and as much as you needed to, you just couldn't bring yourself to attack Olette back.Leon, after setting an unconscious Xion against the wall, ran over and grabbed Olette from behind lifting her into the air.Olette kicked and yelled trying to free herself but Stephanie who was nearby hit her in a pressure point knocking her out. Leon set Olette by Xion. Hayner, Pence, Aerith, and Yuffie were also now unconscious leaving only Roxas who was putting up quite a fight."Come on Rox! We're trying to help you!" Ven yelled throwing his keyblade at Roxas who blocked it with one of his own keyblades.Roxas turned to slice Cloud who was nearest to him with his keyblades when a flying figure hit Roxas head on sending him flying back down the hall."Jack!" Stephanie yelled.Gabriel now fought alone since Yazoo had just thrown Jacob down the hallway. Gabriel fell to his back dodging a swipe of the sword from Kadaj and kicked Yazoo's feet from underneath him sending him to the ground.Gabe then rolled onto his knees as Kadaj dug his sword into the floor where Gabe was just laying.A gunshot was heard, Stephanie had fired from down the hallway hitting Loz right in his left shoulder. Loz cried out and released Namine. Gabriel rushed forward and wrapped himself around Namine shielding her from the three silver haired guys.At this moment Yazoo shot his gun from the ground multiple times. The bullets hit Gabriel on the back of his helmet, his lower back, his shoulder and one managed to hit the back of his knee dead on.Melanie fired her weapon hitting Kadaj in the hand where he held his weapon. She raced forward and punched him in the jaw sending him flying back, sprawling onto the ground.She kicked Yazoo in the chest making him rebound of the wall leaving only Loz now. Loz took off down the hall and Stephanie took off after him."You ok?" Gabriel asked releasing Namine.Namine looked up at him and nodded slowly, "Y-Yes T-Thank you.""Damage Report Gabe?" Melanie asked.He gave her a thumbs up, "BCB down to less then 25% but I'm still ok."She nodded. You turned and raced towards where Roxas was.Jacob stood over him, his helmet was off and he looked frantic."Call for help Mel!" He called out.Pale faced Roxas lay on the ground unconscious, blood seeped from his mouth and you could see blood start to soak trough his shirt. His chest rose and fell weakly, his breath was ragged and strained.Melanie ran over."Roxas please no, you have to get up Roxas!" Ven yelled.Cloud stared at his brother willing him to move."We need you here now." Mel barked, "Same coordinates as the ones TITAN 974, 973 and 972 used." The glass of her helmet rolled down."Call Lauren Jack, we need a portal." Melanie ordered after she finished her call.He nodded and put back on his helmet."Help me get them." Gabriel told Leon and Cid.The three of them started to carry over the others towards where Roxas laid. A portal opened and Cloud and Melanie helped get Roxas through it carefully. Leon, Cid and Gabe started to carry the others in. After everyone was through and everyone else had made it back the portal disappeared."Got him." Stephanie called out walking towards the group, then added as an afterthought,"Is that kid ok?" Melanie nodded, "He will be. Hanna is on her way to help.""Cloud...", You began but he shook his head."Let's find Xemnas." He growled and marched on followed by everyone else.Cloud led you down a flight of stairs and around a few more corners until you reached the office area. Down here the halls weren't laboratory white but rather a gothic style hall with rich red carpets an walls with black and gold borders. Ahead of you was two large dark wooden doors that you assumed led to his office, but it wasn't the doors that caught your eye but rather what stood in front of it.Sephiroth and Rufus stood in front of the doors and around them were more heartless along with Zack and Axel."Congratulations. I didn't think you'd make it this far." Rufus clapped with a smirk on his face.You stared at Sephiroth who now had a burn scar from the bottom of his cheek down his neck and most likely on his side too but his clothes covered it."You won't make it any farther though." Sephiroth said in a dark tone."Wanna bet?" Ven asked."We came this far didn't we?" Tifa frowned.Sephiroth and Rufus both smiled grimly, "Attack."