Arc 2 - Chapter 51: Electricity

(Libertatem 1, 59 / 5:45AM)

“Hey Hope … are you related to that girl?”

While Fred did the finishing touches to his bomb, it left Luke and Hope to stall in the hallway. Along with Johnny, Elizabeth, and Jack analyzing the damage of the hole, the three were quaked with frustration.

They had one job, one duty, and they failed. Letting her escape, the three talked quietly while Luke and Hope chatted.

“Like I said, I don’t remember that much…”

“Like nothing at all? Do you remember at least some memories from when you were five?”

“I could only remember past the age of 9. Below that … It’s like … a blank page.”

Luke rubbed his chin with one of his fingers. Cleaving off batches of dead skin, he then lowered his eyes down to the floor. Making him look like he was lost in thought, he tried to connect some of the pieces of a foreign puzzle … but he didn’t know where to start.

—It’s clear that the girl knows Hope … but Hope doesn’t. Come to think of it…

He recalled half a day prior, when he and his group were ambushed at the bar. Fighting for their lives, fighting liches that were past friends from long ago, it made him remember the lich who honed bats.

Same as Ryan, both were beast-humans who were oddly close to one another. Making him question whether Ryan had known him, nobody recalled that name or any memories of him.

—There was that horse-human. I forgot his name, but he knew ours. How can I connect two similar pieces to a large puzzle?

But before he could think any further, Luke twitched at a simple scream of a green light.

Quickly placing his eyes on Fred, he saw him straighten his back and crack his neck. Letting out a sly grin, he sleeved sweat from his forehead with his shirt.

“Can’t believe I did it…”

In front of all six of them, was a metal canister shaped like a football.

Holding down the water vapor within, it was a means to trap all the high pressurized steam into one bomb. Its sharp edges poking out from the corners, it left Fred to carefully hold it with hands.

Letting the bomb rest on his right arm, he found the metallic canister to be relatively light. Like a baby, he cradled it all the while his eyes focused on Luke and everyone else. Keeping in mind the button, if the button was ever pushed …

“I hope Gwen’s doing fine.” Said Luke, who rubbed his chin with one of his hands.

“I’m more or less hopeful that this bomb is fine. Gwen is the least I’m worried about.”

“I know, but sometimes I feel like she just rushes into things… you know.”

With all of them ready, they pinned their eyes on the water bomb that Fred held. Lowering down his hand, Luke placed one of his hands into his pocket, while his other rested on his side.

As for Jack, he furrowed his left brow.

“We’re carrying this thing all the way up to the Zirardge tower?”

“Yep.”

“And everyone is retreating toward the tower? Just like you planned?”

“Also a yep.”

“Perfect …”

All six of them soon turned toward the hole Mia made, a hole that trickled down batches of metal debris. The early morning still blackened by reddish clouds, a sense of dread began to harbor his skin.

Swaying his head back and forth, he didn’t let the thought of her sparkle his brain. Pinning his eyes toward the staircase, he straightened his back and cleared his throat.

“We came what we needed to, so I guess this makes this task a success … ish?”

“I guess. Man, it's weird seeing you as a leader.”

“I know … I pretty much winged the speech for the counterattack …”

“From where I was at, you seemed fine. Heck, everyone around me thought you spoke great.” Said Johnny.

Feeling his neck plaster with sweat, Luke placed his right hand onto the collar of his jacket. Fanning it two to three times, some of his fingers collected the bits of sweat. But before he knew it, he pushed his legs forward, and squeezed his calves with every step he took.

“Alright, let’s head to the van. We shouldn’t waste any more time here.”

Fast forward…

“Good thing the tower is only a few minutes away.”

Plowing through the downtown streets, was a brown van. Paving away chunks of debris, it splattered all throughout the sidewalk and asphalt it lay bare.

Jack let his eyes glance at his surroundings. Glass shards sprawled out, he was lucky that the van’s wheels were bulletproof. Keeping his hands locked on the wheel, his fingers gripped the leather tightly.

With Luke to his right, Hope, Johnny, Fred, and Elizabeth were in back.

—The very last push…

Luke’s left cheek prickled with heat, leaving him to turn toward his right. Seeing bits of light, her fiery infernos, he shuddered at the thought of it exploding…

Not only him, but Johnny too glanced at the beast’s light being shown. His eyes darkened, he kept his voice cool but not cold.

“Looks like she’s having fun…”

“Hey Fred, what time would she reach the water facility?”

“Judging from her walking speed, I would say … 30 minutes; max.”

Luke began to tap his heel on the floor, and clasped both his hands together. Feeling the pressure soon swell on his shoulders, he hunched his head forward an inch.

—I hope we’re the last group to reach the tower.

Jack glanced at Luke’s nervousness, which pushed him to straighten his back while he drove. Shaking his head, he let his eyes drop onto a radio box, a box that sat in the middle between him and Jack.

“I’m going to check the channels.”

Grabbing the radio box with his left hand, he brought it onto his lap like a pet wolf. Feeling the stainless steel cool his fingers, he turned one of the knobs, which unleashed a scornful static to burden his ears.

Luckily for them, the static was only short-lived.

“Come in! This is Lieutenant Kuzo! Come in!”

“This is Luke Fenix sir, we hear you loud and clear.”

“Perfect. What’s the status of that water bomb?”

“Fred successfully melded it, sir. We’re on our way toward the tower.”

“Roger. We will be waiting for your arrival.”

Luke and everyone else kept their eyes on the flames. Fastening his tapping on the floor, the metal of the radio box began to chip, and his eyes darkened.

Jack noticed Luke’s anxiety, leaving him to softly sigh at his worry. And as for Hope, she spoke out from the back, her hands clasped together over her thighs.

“We could do this Luke, I know we can.” Said Hope.

“It’s not that I’m nervous about myself … I’m just nervous about—”

“Gwen? You’re actually nervous about Gwen?” Questioned Jack.

“W-Well…”

“Come on man, when did you steal my pessimism?”

Luke ceased his tapping, and turned his head toward Jack. Loosening his grip on the radio, he straightened his back and felt his lips quiver.

His eyes averted to his boots that were lavished in leather. Having no darkness be dressed in his eyes, his hesitation only lingered, as he traced the lining of cracks that sprawled on his boots.

“We’ll be fine. The bomb’s safe, everyone is waiting for us, so that means the plan is still moving forward.”

“Alright … alright. Thanks Jack, thanks Hope, I guess I was a bit worried for nothing.”

But unbeknownst to them, they all forgot that the Lieutenant was still in the room with them. Hearing everything from the radio box, or rather from the transmission, the Lieutenant softly chuckled to himself at the young soldiers’ words. As the smell of smoke began to plow into the ventilation, they could even taste the gunpowder and ash.

“P-Permission to speak sir?”

“By all means.”

“Who’s waiting for us at the tower?”

From the other end of the transmission, the camera was pinned onto the Lieutenant. Standing near glass shards, he had his right hand wielding a radio box, while his left gripped a small mic. Having it raised to the front of his mouth, he glanced up toward the top, but saw only orange clouds.

“Everyone who helped with stalling the monster. The two groups that dealt with civilian evacuation are arriving at the military complex, just as ordered. But we’re missing one.”

“Who?”

From the other end, Luke and the others leaned their heads closer to the box. All their ears perked up, all of their senses flaring, some of their temples corroded with sweat.

Their souls locked in place, they strain their footwear with tightened toes and heels. Until … they heard his words.

—“I believe we’re missing the woman soldier with freckles. The childish one.”—

________________________________________________________________________

(Libertatem 1, 59 / 3:59AM)

Right after Luke’s speech…

“Can I talk with you Luke?”

“Yeah of course.”

Everyone that stalled on the asphalt began to pile into the trucks or jeeps. Having assigned tasks, having a mission to fulfill, everyone had a clear goal as to what they are doing.

And seeing that he was busy talking with Gwen, Hope let her blue eyes glow. Seeing Gwen wrap her right arm around his neck, Luke had his head hunched forward.

“Didn’t know you had it in you. You’re probably a better commander or leader than me.”

“To be honest, I think Miles is better suited for that…”

“Hey come on now. Remember what I said? Use that voice.”

“Yeah I know…”

Despite the air being drenched in despair, she continued to smile without falter.

Loosening her arm, she let it drop down to her side, making Luke’s head straight again. Taking a small step to his left, Luke decided to glance at his friends, and saw them brimming with impatience. But right before he would leave, Gwen tapped one of her fingers onto her chin, and pushed up a smirk.

“Hmm … aren’t you forgetting someone? I don’t recall having a dedicated order to fulfill.”

“Wait … Oh shoot! I completely forgot about you!”

“Hahaha, don’t worry. I think I know what I’ll do.”

“R-Really? T-Then what do you have in mind?”

Gwen raised one of her hands up to the air, and heard a small crack ripple her back. Relieving her bones from stress, she yawned, and continued to stretch until she lowered her hand. And upon sticking out her thumb, she pointed to herself, and resumed her smug smirk.

“I’ll be the one to take that big girl on!”

“Then that means you’ll be the one to carry the water bomb.”

“Hey, I’m the only one who can do it. Unless you can sprout out wings or fly, then—”

“No thanks! You got this! I’ll support your duty fully!”

Glimming a beam of sweat from one of his temples, he let out a nervous laugh filled with low esteem. Scratching the back of his head, he softly turned his head toward the beast unleashing flames.

His nervousness slowly ceasing, a tinge of frustration began to boil from the edges of his heart. Trying to keep his composure, he tightened the hold on his hair.

—I mean … I can’t fly. I could dodge with my blessing, but that’s pretty much it. There’s no way I could beat that monster…

But what he can do is fulfill the task he assigned himself with.

Turning his attention back to Gwen, he let go of his hair that he tormented at. Trying to make himself look normal, he didn’t want to let his own timid nature be exposed. Balling his other hand, he kept his knuckles crackled the more he stared at Gwen.

And as their eyes met, they locked in.

“Me and the others won’t let you down. I’ll promise you that.”

“Oh I know you won’t.”

Both commander and soldier making eye contact, both couldn’t break apart the very irises they saw. Red and brown couldn’t break apart upon the windows to their souls.

—Because I want to be your bestest soldier.

—So we could all go to Paradise together.

________________________________________________________________________

(Libertatem 1, 59 / 5:25AM)

‘Almost there…’

The metal crackled the longer she ran, leaving her body to strain the air that squirmed. Running straight through a linear hallway, her throat parched as sweat lingered on the sides of her nose.

Beneath her, was an electrical output building on the south side of the city. Being the source of Lagefor’s power, and despite being a building that infuses with electricity, there were no lights guiding her.

‘It’s dark…’

The more she ran, the more she felt her vision shudder into black. Closing her eyes, she allowed all of her skin to glow. Feeling her calves burn, and her thighs to strain, she began to motion her arms in a flapping motion.

But squinting her eyes, she noticed a small door closing the gap, a blue door that held a metal lock. Widening her eyes, she let out a sigh of relief, and began to pull her arms back.

‘Finally!’

Once she was only a few meters away, she thrusted her arms forward, and carried the strength and wind of the stale air. Her body hunched, the tips of her knuckles caressed the metal.

Breaking free—no…

The door flew like a ballistic missile.

The wind around it screaming a banshee warcry, it then landed on the cold marble floor like a sled. Skiing through, it didn’t stop until it slammed onto the other end of the room.

“So this is it?”

Walking out of the mile long hallway, Gwen found herself in a herculean sized room. Stacks of pillars scattering the underground, it held up the electrical building up above. No window to display light, darkness creeped the roof, the walls, and especially the pillars. From the storage of the transformer to the roof, was a long line of rubber that acted as insulators. Looking like it connected power from the transformers, to the surface, it pushed her to smile.

And in the center of the room, was a large harbor of transformer cables. Blinking a bastion of red and green lights, it led Gwen to scratch her chin.

“This place is huge … I hope the city still has enough power for me.”

If she had the power to harbor light, then electricity was a lifesource for her. Feeling the air thicken with black, she glanced all around her. She could feel the presence of another being … a being of immense power.

Which made her stop her walk.

“Hello? Anyone home? I know you're out there.”

A bead of sweat rolled down from her button nose, but she stalled her hands in her pockets. Pushing out a sly smirk, she made herself look cocky, although her face said otherwise.

“I said hellooooo? You can stop with the—”

—“We’ve been expecting you Gwen.”—

An old voice froze her body.

Arching her head straight, she glanced across every corner of the colossal sized room. Her earwax being loosened, her hearing doubled from the last syllables of his words.

After a few seconds, she finally laid eyes on a man wearing a gray hoodie.

“Hmm…”

Gwen couldn’t decipher his looks, as the young man wore a hoodie. His hands inside of his jacket, and black sneakers squeezing the surface of the marble, he had his head tilted downward.

Of course, Gwen cleaved out a small chuckle.

“Didn’t know you had that deep of a voice~”

The young man’s body trembled, and he hunched his body forward with quivering hands. Looking like he was holding something, it was clearly given once he raised one of his hands up to his face.

“What do you think you’re laughing for!? I may be dumb, but I’m an idiot!”

“I have no words for you…”

The air swelled with ice, leaving her to glance around once again. Along with sweat dripping from her temples, she strained the floor with the butt of her boots.

Her face stiffened, she glanced back toward the young man. Still trying to contain his laughter, he had one of his hands pressed onto his knee.

“For such a young man, you sure know how to make a creepy voice. Have you ever gotten into voice acting?”

“He’s not me you idiot!”

Gwen turned her head in back of her.

Standing dozens of meters away, was none other than an old man wearing a white robe. Wearing sandals, having wrinkles, it sagged down from his cheeks up to his forehead.

She clasped both of her hands together, and pursed her lips to unleash a simple ‘ooh’ of curiosity.

“Wow! You look so colorful! Where did you get that hair? From the dollar store?”

“Excuse me!? You think I have a wig!? She thinks I have a wig …”

His wrinkled face let go, leaving him to grumble and groan like a little kid. Letting a small puff of air come out his nose, he relaxed his body tenfold from the slight anger he was indulged in.

Turning his attention toward the young man, he then pushed both of his hands and arms into his sleeves on opposite ends. Making him look like a villager in a survival game, he tilted his head up.

“Jason, please kill her. She’s pissing me off so bad.”

“As you wish.”

Walking off toward one of the pillars, it looked as if he was trying to keep his composure in check. Once he was submerged into the darkness, Gwen couldn’t tell whether he leaned or hid behind it. Making him more mysterious than he already is, another bastion of ice plunged her ears.

“This time … go all out.”

“Copy.”

Jason extended both of his hands outward, and had his palms facing the ceiling. His stance unwavering, his feet glued to the floor. Tilting her head to the right, she gifted him the simplicity of a smirk, a sign of cockiness and overconfidence.

“Awww … look at the little curse user~ So what? I guess you’re similar to Kenichi right?”

“Kenichi is nowhere near my level…”

Black flames embered from the surface of his knuckles.

Having his body be etched in the stench of death, he personified the reaper himself. The air unable to warm, as the heat of the black flames was imaginary, her own body started to dim.

Which made Gwen glance at the transformers in back of her.

‘Even if I don’t reach the transformers, I could still beat him fair and square.’

Walking toward Gwen maliciously, his black sneakers didn’t utter any decibel. Continuing to glance at the transformers, she felt a faint whisper … a whisper of an old man …

‘But right now, I don’t have time for games.’

Instantly spinning her body around, she pushed her heels off the ground, and leaped through the air. Her hair swaying, the air crumbled around her as she flew. With everything becoming one with the wind, she honed all of her eyes on those transformers.

“Now come here—”

In less than two seconds, her fingers brushed against the sizzled metal.

Light was bestowed across every crevice of the gargantuan room. With Jason and Lazaros partially blinded by the light, both of them had their heads turned away. Unwilling to burn their irises, Lazaros especially kept his body hidden, as his body was still submerged in the darkness.

‘Do your best Jason.’