Splitting Up

LAIR

WED. JAN. 1

4:30 AM

"How are we doing on that wanted list" Shiro inquires

"We are still at the top of the list" Gideon replies with a wry smile

Shiro shrieks. [What's with that face]

"So now we got a name too huh, Black Sword Order? Who on earth came up with that ridiculous name?" Ace questions with a glare towards Gideon who announced it.

"Why are you looking at me like that? It's not like I made up the name..."

"Heard it was the police that came up with it" Melanie mentions.

"Well, if it's what they are calling us, I say let's just keep it. It's better than having to stress ourselves trying to make one" Shiro suggests.

"Agreed. Moreover, it's not like we can do anything about it anyway" remarks Zarx.

"Time's running out guys, let's get ready" Gavin calls out from a sofa with a yawn.

"Yeah, let's get going".

They all move to their various dressing compartments leaving behind Gideon who is going to carry out his tasks from the lair to contact Mr Kemper.

"Kemper here" Mr Kemper's voice booms through the speaker

"Gideon here, sir we are ready to go"

"There's been a change of plans. Melanie won't go with the team today."

"Why is that sir?"

"I got your guy to talk. He says there's a camp closer to shore housing a tunnel entrance which leads to a deserted island. I believe whoever we are dealing with, that's where their base of operation is."

"Melanie would rendezvous with her covert team Alight to secure that entrance. I will send her the coordinates. She will receive her orders once she's with her team meanwhile, the rest of you will continue as planned."

"Yes sir"

"Good luck on your mission"

"Thank you, sir, you too". Beep! the call disconnects.

MOMENTS LATER

The team begins to exit their various compartments and gather around.

"You guys look so cool in those outfits, except you Zarx, I hate that armor" Gideon says causing the others to giggle.

"Thanks Gideon, I appreciate it a lot" Zarx laughs.

"Looks like you all got upgrades" he adds

"Yeah, better go prepared right?"

"Yeah, right but not all of you are going. Melanie is staying"

"Gideon, what are you talking about?" Melanie inquires.

"I contacted Mr Kemper..."

"Ugh! I should have known!" She fumes

"Hey relax, it's not what you think okay. Have a little trust. Geeez"

"Speak clearly Gideon" Zarx entreats

"Huuhhh! he said he got our guy to talk"

"The one from yesterday?"

"Yeah, from what he got, there seems to be a camp close to the shore with an entrance connecting to an unknown deserted island. He suspects that's their main operating base. So Melanie will go to the camp with Alsight to secure the entrance"

"Alsight?? What's that?"

"My covert team. Looks like we are splitting up" she says indifferently

"Rightly so. You've all heard. Melanie won't be with us but the mission hasn't changed. The rest of us will go in, shutdown Lynch Tower and go support her if necessary"

"Gideon, I want eyes around the tower and surrounding areas. Also, do constant checks for any anomalies city wide"

"Okay boss but what about Melanie? Doesn't she need any assistance from me?"

"I believe she has her ways"

"Of cause I do"

"As we all know, they would definitely be expecting us considering we busted some of their major operating centers. So let's make every move count"

"Ace you use one bike, Gavin and Shiro use the other. Melanie...".

"Melanie's ride is already here" Gideon cuts in.

"Alright see you guys when I get back and... don't lose"

"We won't. See you"

She smiles and runs out quickly.

Zarx walks up to Ace who has already mounted his bike. "Here" he says handing a pair of bracelets.

"Thanks, but couldn't that have waited till the mission was over?"

"Those aren't just any bracelets, they are gauntlets, activated neurally"

"Oh…oh well… thanks, again"

"Yeah, I don't want you hurting yourself again" Ace smiles.

"Alright, let's head out" the two bikes speed out with Zarx running behind.

"Let's check out that upgrade now. See if they can catch up to me"

<Rex's upgrade: Hermes>

Two wings appear on his feet and helmet giving a purple glow. He dashes past the two cycles leaving behind a purple blur.

"Alright Gideon, call it" Zarx says.

"Okay, this is gonna be fun!" exclaims and puts on a pair of glasses, pops his knuckles and continues "You've got patrol cars heading towards street B4, B3 is all clear"

They move towards street B3 just in time to avoid the cops and disappear in a distance.

LYNCH TOWER 5:00 AM

A purple blur dashes around the tower taking out every guard on site then proceeds to launch a heavy punch at the front door, busting the ballast door wide open in an instant. The team enters the tower except for Silent Samurai.

The interior looks like a huge cylinder were extracted from it. One could see the uppermost floor from the ground floor. The walls are glazed with what looks like hourglass sand and exquisite text on its wall like an ancient spell.

Their forceful entrance triggers an alarm and they are soon surrounded from all sides, up and down. A man all dressed in dark blue emerges through the crowd of henchmen on the third floor and stares down at them.

"Well, well, looks what we have here. The Black Sword Order, is it?" he spouts.

"Oh, you know us" Rex taunts.

"Of course, we know you I mean, who doesn't. You are famous. The boss said to be on guard, that you would show up eventually. Guess the boss was right"

"And who is this boss that you speak of?"

"Well, that's a topic for discussion another time. Looks like you are a man down. Hmm, oh make that two. I heard one of you was shot in the shoulder and in the legs." He pauses for a laugh. "Who knew gun wounds could be that severe?" he ridicules.

"Well that person said to tell you that, that person would be paying you a visit when that person gets better"

"Oh, you are smarter than I thought, I would give you that"

"Well… thank you"

"You know you can trust me with that person's gender right? I mean it's not a big deal"

"Well, trust runs both ways so, you tell me the gender of the boss, I tell you the gender of that person"

"Well…"

"Hey big guy, enough chit-chat already" Death Stalker snaps.

"Come on, I was having some fun" Rex whispers.

"This is no time for fun" Hammer Fist says.

"You guys are boring"

"…well I was kind of wondering about that. Kill them all".

At the same moment

Silent Samurai cuts his way through the glass on the building at the stair leading to the fourth floor and destroys the signal jammer there as Gideon stated its probability of being there.

As the man in dark blue makes his way upstairs, Silent Samurai drops from above and knocks him out. "Maybe you haven't been told, but you talk too much" he says and secures his hands and feet and leaves him there with a cloth in his mouth.

As the henchmen are about to open fire, Rex's helmet extends to cover his entire face and blasts smoke all around. Guns start blazing all around. An android points a gun at Silent Samurai as he makes his way to the top. It loses an arm in the process and is sent flying down. Rex jumps and tears it midair as he makes his way to the fifth floor.

S.S.H.Q.

5:24 AM

Mr Kemper is standing face to face with the android imposter who is about to go out due to the commotion caused by Kemper's men.

"You..." says the imposter.

"Yes... me. Did you think you would get away with this?"

"Maybe you and your friend shouldn't have poked your noses where they didn't belong. His death is on your head" it says pointing at Kemper.

"What is it that you people want? Why destroy this city? What is your purpose for doing all this?"

"Our purpose? When the city turns vile, it needs to be destroyed before it can be rebuilt again"

"What do you mean?"

"Go down memory lane, then you would understand"

"Arrrhhh!" Kemper roars "I don't even know why I'm talking to a damn machine" he roars on and dashes forward quickly with a heavy hook which is countered and returned with a straight punch to the sternum and a kick which sends him crashing down dazzled.

He shakes his head and stands back up. He runs towards the android, jumps and wrapping his leg around its neck, hurls it to the ground and removing his gun from the holster follows up with a series of gunshots to the chest and face.

It stands as he runs out of bullets. It tears off its clothes and skin, revealing its bare metal chest with bullet dents. "Is that all you got? I thought you were better than this?" the imposter taunts.

"I'm just getting started" Kemper replies "NAT activate" he says and moving forward, punches it then follows with another which it counters and flies a terrifying kick towards him.