Operation Typhoon

"Heh, looks like Misuna had some use left after all," General Hernamidos walked into the mall lobby above the SHRIKE's underground base. "At long last, the SHRIKE will fall, and Calice will learn to mess with me!"

As Reaper Squad commandos and crusader droids walked across the dead rebels, Kumiciel met with the General. "All soldiers outside have been eliminated. "All that's left is the underground base."

"Nicely done, Corporal Liyan," Hernamidos nodded. "It's time to begin Operation Typhoon!"

Kumiciel checked his beeping wrist gear. "Fanghui's calling again."

"Ignore him. He can't punish us if we pulverize the SHRIKE. I'm going to bust in the front while you and Zentroid drill in from the back. You know what to do with Misuna."

***

The Vulpi children cried as the ground above rumbled. From the medical room, Isrina's group watched the SHRIKE soldiers run about. As the German Shepherds barked hysterically, the rebels loaded their weapons and struggled to calm the panicked people.

"What's going on? Did the Federation find us?" Niode hugged Tetsuyin in fear.

The group heard Fujima direct their squadrons. "Blue group is with General Covinski to the entrance. The rest are with me to get the civilians down the lower level for Psyinen's extraction."

"There you all are," Covinski ran to Isrina's group. "Hernamidos found our base, and I need your help holding him off while Sergeant Misshia brings everyone to the lower level."

"Sure, but how will we evacuate through the lower floor?" Rahim asked.

"Master Psyinen's portals are a big help in keeping everyone alive. It will be easier for her to transport them all at once."

"Oh, yikes," Oreic folded his fingers together.

"With rivers of regret, I'm afraid Master Psyinen made... a temporary leave," Master Seniel mumbled.

"What?" Covinski grabbed his white hair in frustration. "She left? Right at the time, we need her?"

"She will be back though," Oreic sweated.

"When exactly?"

"Well, Master Psyinen is quick in her missions, so I'd say she will be back in about half an hour."

Covinski rubbed his hands on his sweaty face. "You sure Psyinen will be back in 30 minutes?"

Master Oreic nodded. "Knowing how speedy Psyinen is, I'm certain."

"So we can still hold Hernamidos for some time, but I'm worried that Psyinen won't return in time to save everyone."

"But you have us," Isrina said. "We fought Hernamidos before. We can help your men fight him!"

"Alright. Which of you has the most experience with Hernamidos?"

"Isrina, Oreic, and I," Rahim loaded his shotgun.

"Good. The rest of you will assist Sergeant Misshia in leading the other civilians to the lower level."

The SHRIKE soldiers ran across the dark subway, facing their guns at the sealed entrance. They spread out across the walls in preparation to flank the incoming enemies. As Covinski, Isrina, Oreic, and Rahim joined the troops, laser blades carved the edges of the metal doors.

When the blades finished cutting, the rectangular doors were kicked across the rocky halls by a huge metal foot. The new megachasmoids marched in and opened fire with their quadruple-blaster arms. The SHRIKE rebels fired at the droids' heavy armor.

"Enbu Fenix! Burn away all unrighteousness!" Master Oreic played his saxophone, summoning his phoenix to strike the megachasmoids.

The phoenix exploded onto the megachasmoids, but their mercury armor resisted the superpower.

"Nice try, but I'm afraid this is where you all go bye-bye!" Hernamidos walked in front, giving the SHRIKE a thumbs down.

Reaper Squad commandos and crusader droids charged at the SHRIKE soldiers. While Covinski helped the rebels keep the Federation troops at bay, Isrina, Oreic, and Rahim had a standoff with Hernamidos. The evil General started the duel by chucking cigarette bombs at the trio. Oreic defended Isrina as Rahim dashed up close and threw shurikens at Hernamidos.

Hernamidos blocked with his cape and used his wrist gear to blast a flamethrower at Rahim. As Rahim took off his burnt cape, Oreic threw his fiery bo staff at the General. Hernamidos drew his pistols and combined them into a long cannon that blew up the projectile into smoke that covered the entire arena.

"Avian Form: Kingfisher's Axe!" Isrina jumped over the smoke in a downswing kick over Hernamidos' head.

"Ow!" The King of the Reaper Squad felt his nose bleed from the impact. "Not bad, but a loser will always be a loser!"

Hernamidos quick-drew his protonet crossbow that caught Isrina in an electrifying net. As Rahim cut Isrina free, Hernamidos threw arsenic needles at them. Oreic spun his saxophone bo staff into a heat shield to defend Isrina and Rahim.

"Thanks to my little insider among you, all of you are going to die!" Hernamidos grinned at Isrina. "Come here, red bird. Jinhai misses you! Bwahahaha!"

"Avian Form: Woodpecker Beak Strikes!" Isrina roared in fury as she repeatedly palm-stuck against Hernamidos' wrist blades. "Avian Form: Cardinal's Talon!"

The King of the Reaper Squad soared on his jet shoes to dodge Isrina's helicopter kick before blasting his flamethrower at the trio.

***

Calice saw Fermato and SHRIKE rebels escorting the Vulpi across the hallway. Some were carrying unconscious kids trapped in the Syanic Earth.

"We're scared, Calice!" Myia, Dyiva, and Verdun huddled to her in fear.

"Kiddos, it's going to be okay," Calice hugged the Vulpi kids.

"Boba Girl!" Nashura found Calice while Naphthien carried Shien. "We're taking everyone to the lower levels!"

"Where's Misuna?" Fermato looked around. "She's been in that darn bathroom for quite a while!"

"Something must have happened! She doesn't know about the attack!" Calice sweated. "I'll look for her!"

After Calice zoomed off with her lightning speed, the lights flickered into darkness as something giggled.

"Weee! It's time to play!" A bright PC screen displayed a necrotic smiley face. "I can feel your organs wriggling inside of me! Hehehe!"

Screams of terror filled the subway as Zentroid grappled the Vulpi children with his tentacles, devouring them with his three-mandible abdomen. Sergeant Misshia and the SHRIKE soldiers turned on their pistol lights, firing at the dark creature that took pleasure in their suffering.

"Protect the people!" Sergeant Misshia yelled. "Men! Don't just stand there! Shoot it down!"

"Levian Exedra! Bring forth the waters of hope!" Master Seniel played her guzheng.

She summoned her twin-headed water serpent that breathed waterspouts at Zentroid, protecting the refugees.

"What little weaklings. Listen to that shrieking! Am I too vicious? Oh, how delicious!" Zentroid chased Niode and Tetsuyin who carried Mivangeline and Lansen to safety. "Toodle-oo, sacks of organs! Let's play a game. It's called slurping intestines!"

"God help us!" The Shuruukos cried as Zentroid's three tongues grabbed them.

Naphthien whipped her chain claw to pluck Zentrroid's tongues off while Nashura helped carry Shien away.

"Hehehe! I'm not allowed to kill the baby Niang, but that's okay!" Zentroid stretched his long crooked neck towards Nashura. "I can still drag his kidneys out! Time for a pow-wow!"

Fermato chucked his cello at Zentroid before his tentacles could hurt Nashura and Shien. Echelus morphed and kicked the nasty creature back as the Vultau master drew his bows to cut Zentroid's PC head. Naphthien signaled Nashura to take Shien away as she stayed with Fermato, Seniel, and the SHRIKE.

"What fun! What fun! Making you twist and squirm!" Zentroid's broken PC oozed with blood, displaying a glitchy fanged grin. "Cry all you want! I'll just enjoy it!"

***

"That noise," Misuna heard Zentroid's chortles from afar. "That's Zentroid. Kumiciel's here to save me!"

She ran across the brick arches of the subway to look for Kumiciel.

"Hey, babe!" A familiar commando with spiraling goggles shot a SHRIKE soldier down.

Misuna jumped onto him with a big hug as Kumiciel took off his helmet. "Kumiciel, I was so scared. I didn't want to be left alone."

"I know," Kumiciel stroked her orange hair. "But I'm here for you! It's going to be alright!"

Misuna buried her face in Kumiciel's chest. "We can be together again."

"Of course. I missed you so much," Kumiciel sniffed.

"Aiya! Glad I didn't hit anything this time!" Calice zoomed next to a faraway pillar. "She wasn't in the bathroom. Where could Misuna be? Huh?"

She saw Kumiciel and Misuna hugging each other behind the pillared arches while Fermato slashed his bows against Zentroid's tentacles.

"I did my part. Will Hernamidos take me back?" Misuna asked.

Kumiciel cried and nodded. "You've done a great service for us. Now rest easy, forever."

"What do you mean?"

"Misuna, babe, I-I love you, but I'm so sorry."

Kumiciel quickly drew a knife at Misuna's neck.

"No!" Calice zapped Kumiciel unconscious.

"W-what happened?" Misuna looked at the knife Kumiciel held. "He loved me! Why would he do that?"

"Misuna! You're so dumb!" Calice shook her. "This man doesn't care about you, and you still run to him?"

"But he promised me once I helped..."

Levian Exedra spiraled in a whirlpool drill that sent Zentroid flying. The catastrophe drenched Misuna and Calice with rainfall.

"What?" Calice pushed Misuna down a puddle. "You made a deal with Kumiciel? So that's what this whole attack is about? Just to go back to your toxic, manipulative boyfriend?"

"I-it's not like that!"

"See that?" Calice pointed at Zentroid slicing his claws against Naphthien's. "You want that thing to eat Myia, Dyiva, and Verdun?"

"I-I didn't mean to! I was lonely!"

"Lonely my ass! Then, stay alone! Don't go chasing toxic relationships!"

"Hi! Hi!" Psyinen's voice sounded as a portal opened.

Levian Exedra coiled around Zentroid's long neck to trap him while the SHRIKE scrambled the civilians in from the carnage.

"Calice! You found Misuna!" Master Fermato chucked them into the portal. "Come on! Into the music dimension!"

***

Rahim fired his shotgun at the airborne Hernamidos that chucked cigarette bombs across the arena. The King of the Reaper Squad aimed his shoes at Oreic, firing the hidden dart launcher. Oreic rolled away as Isrina jumped off the wall onto Hernamidos.

"Avian Form: Osprey's Hook!" Isrina coiled her leg around Hernamidos' neck, throwing him onto the ceiling.

Hernamidos faceplanted on the rocky floor as his jet shoes lost power.

"Avian Form: Great Titmouse Strike!" Isrina aimed a finishing palm strike at his head.

"I don't think so!" The King of the Reaper Squad grabbed her arm, pressing onto his wrist gear to shock her with high voltage. "Bwahaha! I knew you'd try to finish me off, you predictable red birdie!"

A blue portal opened above Hernamidos. Psyinen landed on top of him with a loud thud.

"Hi! Get in, everyone!" Psyinen wagged her blue Vulpi tail. "Fasten your seatbelts into the Archkaos!"