Chapter Eight: Dire Situation

The crew, now reunited with Satomi and Mikoto, arranged a meeting with Haru. Haru arranged for them to meet at a cross road. When she arrives, Haru brought other officers with her from the SAT, each driving a different black car. The entire crew, plus their children, were taken to a police station. When there, Haru escorted them to a private room to speak. "First order of business" Haru says to them, "these massive releases of Endoindustria is a threat to the environment. A severe and immediate threat, as it's already killing crops and livestock alike".

"The endo can choke out life" Siran says. "That much, we already know".

"Well" Haru continues, "these phenomena-".

"Endo-Streams" Siran interrupts. "There was this strange man I've met, went by the name of Laurence, and he called them Endo-Streams".

"Then you're not going to be too surprised by the next part of this briefing" Haru says in surprise.

"Briefing?" Alex asks. "Then this is a mission?".

Haru folds her hands together and says "Look, I'm not going to tell you that The Six Guns need to reactivate. However, I want to put all cards on the table, just in case. Large amounts of endo seems like the thing that'd be right up your alley, and that's the primary reason we need you. However, you say you've already met this strange man?".

"Have you met this man too?" Siran asks.

"If it's the same person" Haru says, "although, they didn't go by the same name when here. In fact, it's rather a strange situation that I'm also not able to take up with my superiors".

"Then there's a reason number two on why you need specifically us?" Zia asks.

"During the war" Haru says, "you guys did us a great service. Breaking that treaty with Omnia would've screwed us in several ways, if we were the ones to start a war. Repairing relations with neighboring countries would've been much harder. However, when The Six Guns were the ones to interfere with a deal that nobody in Japan wanted to take part in, and caused The Ly'Lum to break the treaty instead, we naturally felt indebted. That's why we helped so much".

"Makes sense" Alex says.

"Well, we paid our debts" Haru says. "So you can't say there's anything that's still owed".

"Get to the point" Vivi says.

"So, this strange man" Haru says, "and the reason I can't take it up with one of my superiors, is because he poses as one of my superiors. I've never heard of him before, but he showed up one day and had all of our military pull away from the island that is now one big pile of steaming endo-whatever bullshit! The two have to be connected. How much about that man do you know?".

"Not enough" Siran says.

"We haven't had contact with this man sense the Endo-Stream began" Haru says. "As well as, the alias he went by while infiltrating our military was Daisuke Yamamoto. He had security clearance and all of the classifications of a brigadier general. This man appeared as if he were born and raised in Japan, but I have a feeling he's learned some way to disguise himself".

"Shapeshifting Magic" Siran says. "I've seen him use it before my very eyes. It must be the same person".

"Lately" Haru continues, "I've heard mention of this General Yamamoto guy returning to HQ for detail. I want help finding the link between this man, and this phenomenon. Of course, I'll be joining you for this. You'll need my clearance to speak to the higher ups, after all".

"Your whole squad?" Rose asks. "But won't so many people investigating the same instance arouse suspicion?".

"Just me" Haru says. "I'm the only one joining you for this". Haru turns around to face her squad and says "and that's an order". Haru looks back at the former Six Guns and says "And you let me worry about arousing suspicion. I'll have that taken care of".

"Then, where and when do we begin?" Siran asks.

"Tomorrow morning" Haru says, "at approximately 0900 hours. That's when Yamamoto will be within vicinity. For now, I want to familiarize your crew with this Endoindustria phenomena". Haru turns to look directly at Satomi and Mikoto, then says "And you two have a show to prepare for".

"You're pretty sneaky, Haru" Satomi says. "So there was a reason you suggested this day for the concert!".

"Keep people all around the country busy" Haru says. "If we're lucky, people on shore will be focused on your show too. The less eyes that see us go to that island, the better. Now let's get moving. This job stays off the books. Nobody but us get to know, got it?".

"Right" Mikoto says.

"R-right..." Siran agrees.

Mikoto and Satomi met up with their band to prepare for the show, as Haru and the rest of the crew goes near the island and waits for their opportunity to move in without being noticed. Satomi and Mikoto also took Carl, Dana and Silas with them to the show, just in case it would've gotten dangerous. As the sun begins to set, and the concert finally starts, the crew moves in by boat to the island. "I'm looking forward to examining this phenomena" Holly says. "If we can meet with this Laurence or... Yamamoto guy, capturing him would be optimal as well".

"Don't know if you remember that Laurence guy, Holly" Siran says, "but anything involving him is unpleasant".

"Yamamoto is a strange character" Haru says. "As well as, I have a suspicion that I've seen him cast magic without a charm. I've seen him cast magic, but I haven't seen a charm tattooed on his body. Either it's well hidden, or he's much more suspicious than I first thought".

"Definitely sounds like our guy" Zia says. "If Laurence really is here, then it raises many more questions too".

"Like what?" Rose asks.

"Well, he was just in Seeira yesterday" Siran adds.

"Do you think he just moves fast?" Vivi asks.

"Well, it's not like he can be in two places at once" Blake says, then pauses. "... right?".

"No" Siran says. "There definitely shouldn't be".

The crew arrives on a remote island called Hachijo. It was far off shore from the mainland, and all of the people there seemed to have been evacuated. Deep into the southeastern side of the island, there was a shallow crater. When Holly used a digital scan spell to create a virtual window that reveals Endoindustria, they could see a giant amount of endo spewing upwards from the ground. The sheer amount of endo was frightening. They spent a while staring at it and coming up with theories on how such a thing could've started. However, none of them could agree on what was causing this. "It's definitely not natural" Holly says. "Someone or something has to be causing it, so it's not just some disaster that occurs. Endoindustria has not been known to act like this. There's more endo here than there was at Dead Crater or in Omnium Guild. It shows no signs of slowing down either".

"A wise observation" an unknown voice from behind calls out. "However, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to forget everything you've seen here. This Endo-Stream is in good hands".

As the crew turns around, they see two people. "General Yamamoto..." Haru says. "What a pleasant surprise...".

"Captain Nakamura" Yamamoto says, "since when were you given the clearance to hold an investigation?".

"Since when were you a part of this military?" Haru asks. "I don't remember ever hearing about you, nor your existence. I know you're a fake... and who's the one next to you?".

The man next to Yamamoto was a brawny white man, wearing black and gray robes. "I believe the same old story won't work with these ones" he says.

"Dolos" Yamamoto says, "I didn't ask for your input". Yamamoto looks back at the crew and says "And what if I'm not really in the military? What if I am a spy? What are you going to do about it when I have hostages?".

"Hostages?" Siran asks.

"Hm?" Yamamoto ask while he looks at Siran. "Oh? Ohhhhh! Why, I never thought you'd exist in this world too!".

"Still think that's Laurence?" Zia asks.

"Is it not the same guy?" Vivi asks.

"This could be worse if there's even more of these strange people" Haru says.

"You don't happen to also go by the name of Laurence, do you?" Siran asks.

"What a strange question" Yamamoto says as he slowly walks closer to Siran. "But, what's more strange, is that you're both here".

"Both?" Zia asks.

"I guess it would be more strange if you knew" Yamamoto says. "Inari, you dumb, useless thing... especially you, Ishmael".

"There's that name again!" Siran says. "Who is Ishmael!?".

"Inari?" Zia asks.

"The better question would be: who are my hostages?" Yamamoto asks. "I know you came here with more people. Those people aren't here right now... do you want to do the math?".

"Silas!" Zia panics.

"Ah!" Yamamoto says as he quickly raises his hand in a signal to tell them to stop. "No sudden movements. I thought it had to be you Ishmael, if anybody, who managed to get involved with Naris. I mean- of course it had to be. You're the single worst thing that's happened to... well... everything".

"Gah- not this talk again!" Siran says. "If you have complaints, please wait in line. I really don't care. Release our children, or else".

"Or else what?" Dolos asks. "You're no challenge. However, we've brought people who will be weak enough to go down to your level".

Yamamoto snaps his fingers and a large group of people come out of hiding. They were all wearing black robes covered with Kevlar armor for the chest, shoulders, thighs, shins, feet, forearms and a Kevlar helmet complete with a jet black acrylic visor, shaped like a dome that covers the entire front of their face. Their uniforms also had several tubes filled with black stuff... pure Endoindustria. In their acrylic masks, they each have a respirator. They all came out to the open without a weapon drawn, and stood at attention at Yamamoto's command. "Friends of yours?" Ying asks Haru.

"Never seen a uniform like that in my life" Haru says. "Not in our military, or any other one I've seen".

"These are Hunters" Yamamoto says. "My Hunters... of course, I'm no leader of any Hunter group. I'm a collector, of sorts".

"The hell you mean?" Blake asks. "Since when do Hunters work directly under the military?".

"They don't" Haru says. "He's not military".

"And I'm not a Hunter either" Yamamoto says as his appearances suddenly changes. Dolos looked like he was pulling endo out of Yamamoto's body, and forcing his appearance to change. Yamamoto changes into a tall and burly white man with long red hair and red eyes. "These Hunters are my play things... now, entertain me, Ishmael".

"Who the hell are you?" Siran asks. "And who is this Ishmael people keep telling me about?".

"Curious..." Dolos says. "Another knows about Ishmael that isn't us?".

"Someone from Valhalla, without a doubt" Yamamoto says.

"Who are you people!?" Siran demands.

"If you survive..." Yamamoto says as he and Dolos start to disappear into thin air, "then maybe I'll be in a bad enough mood to tell you".

All of the Hunters suddenly move in synchronicity. They all shift from standing at attention, to a fighting stance without a weapon. "I don't have time for this shit!" Zia says as the ground around her starts to rumble and crack. Zia's sclera started to grow a deep jet black, as her body fills up with pure endo.

"Don't resist, and this will be painless" a Hunter in the middle of the group says.

"You..." Zia says as she points at the Hunter that just spoke. "You're going to be the first one I kill...".

"... Zia?" Rose asks, suddenly getting worried.

"Threaten my friends... my husband, and my children!?" Zia asks as she grows more angry, and a cloud of endo swirling around her feet.

"Did she just list her favorite people from least to greatest?" Finn asks. Rose then elbows Finn in the side to make him shut up. "Ow! Okay, geez!".

"Clench your teeth..." Zia says without taking her glare off of the Hunter. Suddenly, Zia seems to vanish. In Zia's eyes, the world around her slowed to nearly a complete stop, as she dashed forward with enough speed to break the sound barrier. She charges into the Hunter, punching him in the gut so hard, that he flies at a great speed, and didn't show any signs of hitting the ground anytime soon. As the Hunter flew, Zia created a reactive endo dagger in her hand, the same shape as her brother's old dagger, and dashes at the same Hunter. As he flew, Zia moved quickly like a bolt of lightening, slashing and stabbing the Hunter with her blade at the speed of sound over and over. Zia finally stopped moving as all of the Hunter's cuts from her dagger begin to glow with a white light. After the Hunter flew far enough away, Zia snaps her finger, and the traces of reactive endo in the Hunter's body glow brighter and brighter until he explodes and vanishes in a cloud of bright white and pink mist. "Which one of you are next?" Zia asks.