Continued from here.
Chapter Three
"Flash Point"
"..."
Once everyone had been gathered at the rendezvous point, the rest of the hostages recovered along with the equipment stolen from everyone by Umbrella being returned, Kyoko would stand in front of everyone, taking an authoritative stand as she'd make her statement, intending to lead the group and keep them unified, unlike before.
Of those still knocked out, Commander Shepard was first to awake. Her eyes fluttered open and she groggily shrugged out of the grip of those that had been supporting her. She needed a moment to gather herself, but it didn't take long for the woman to listen to a quick explanation and know exactly what was up. She was a woman of action, after all.
"I'll help you manage here, Captain-Commander."
She gave Kieran a reassuring nod before barking out orders like the seasoned commander she was. One would find it hard to believe she'd just spent a significant time unconscious with how she herded the group.
"Get into formation and put those who can't fight in the middle! Once we rush those doors, there's no telling what will hit us."
"Okay, everyone. I don't know what Umbrella has planned for us, why we were brought here, or where Ilona is, but we don't have time to stand around and think over it. Not while she might be getting tortured or having her power exploited somewhere else," the young woman said, turning around and beginning to walk, leading the group forward towards the end of the hall.
"Be ready for anything. This all... seems too easy. They have to be setting up some sort of trap somewhere to spring onto us," she would continue warily.
"Might I remind you, I couldn't get past the door that leads outside this hall, and it doesn't look like any of the guards in here had the means to open the door. It's been hermetically sealed to keep people like us from getting out," Ocelot would speak up, following her and the rest of the group,
"Whatever they want us here for, maybe they wanted us to hope that we were getting out, tricking us into thinking we could get out of here with something that a guard would have had on them."
Without stopping or wavering, Kyoko replied in turn, eyes filled with determination.
"What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? The answer is quite simply... one party has to surrender. And I won't ever surrender."
With that, the group would continue navigating their way through the empty hall, the effects of the mist slowly but surely wearing off as everyone would slowly manage to get their powers back, before they would be stopped by the aforementioned, unlockable door that stood in their way. Even from a quick glance, it was easy to assume that the door was a sturdy one, and even though everyone's powers had been returning slowly, no one was in a state of getting through it.
Except one person.
Not even a knob or any buttons to open the door with.
Ritsuko would sigh, pocketing her hands as they'd all come to a stop, looking at Kyoko with some irritation.
"Alright, then, leader. How do you propose we get past this ordeal? Or did you not consider the reality when making such a cool little speech?"
"I'm not a reckless person, Ms. Akagi. I'm aware of what I said, and I stand by it. After all, there's always a way past the unbeatable. If we don't have a way past this, we'll make a way. Wouldn't you agree... Tohno, was it?" Kyoko would respond, glancing over at Shiki.
"..."
Shiki had already been in the process of removing his glasses when Kyoko would pose a question to him. The young man would give Kyoko a nod, drawing his knife, the only item of value that had been put in the Storage Room, later recovered, when everyone had been captured by Umbrella.
"Way ahead of you."
Pocketing his glasses now, his eyes, once a dull grey, were filled with a vibrant indigo. His pupils shone with an ironic light that indicated life. For his eyes were the very essence of death.
Though nothing seemed to change from everyone else's point of view, the world shifted for Shiki. Everything and everyone, from his perspective, had changed. Red, pulsating lines and dots formed all over his vision. Lines and points that, when traced or stabbed, fulfilled the "death" that they symbolized, no matter how powerful they might be on the outside. With these eyes, an artillery tank could be downed with nothing more than a writing pen, if not one's own fingers.
The indestructible door was no exception to the fate of death.
Without missing a beat, Shiki dashed towards the door and swung his knife at the door repeatedly. From everyone else's point of view, it looked like he was randomly scratching at the door with his knife, and one might even call him crazy for expecting something to happen if they weren't aware of his power. Yet, sure enough...
Before long, the door fell apart piece by piece, exactly by the patterns that Shiki had cut it apart with. Each piece of the door would fall to the ground with loud thuds, the entire door itself likely having been hundreds of not thousands of pounds. With a breath, the young man would take out his glasses and put them on again, shaking his head briefly, as if to shake away the lines he had seen before.
"Well, then... We should get going. Shall we?"
"Good work," Kyoko simply said with a nod, before moving forward as suggested, Shiki and Len following her when she would move past them.
However... Even for those anticipating a trap somewhere along the line, no one would be able to anticipate what had been waiting for them in the very next room...
The room beyond was nothing special. Just a blank room with metallic grey walls that was just about big enough to fit the entire group. In fact, its size seemed so perfect, that Shepard quickly felt something was wrong.
"Wait, let's leave some back, just in case--"
The woman was cut off by the booming sound of some kind of explosion. A gust of hot air blew those who lingered in the hallway forward, flinging them into the room ahead. The entrance that had been cut open by Shiki was covered by a heavy metal shutter, as if it had been expected of him to have cut through the first door.
"Shiki, can you--!" Makoto began to cry, but he was drowned out by a loud droning sound. Panels in the wall lowered to reveal that the source of the sound were a number of fans that began pumping a mist into the room. There was no time to do anything, as the lingering effects of the fog from outside ensured full exposure to this second round of mist. Not only would those with powers feel it all slip away, but even the most mundane of the group would feel their entire body beginning to shut down. One could barely hold their eyes open as...
More panels in the wall slid open to reveal what appeared to be flamethrowers. They covered every wall of the room, nozzles flickering with flame, ready to burn the group alive.
"Damn it!"
"S-Somebody..."
"Not now... not now...!"
The heat was almost impossible to bear, and they flames had yet to even start up. It was only a matter of time now.
... If not for what could only be divine intervention, anyway. Visible streaks of bright electricity flashed from above, coursing down through the walls to shut off both the fans and the flamethrowers. They receded into the wall and the room instantly became cooler as a result.
The divine electricity wasn't done yet, for it then danced around the room, jumping through the fog to dissipate it. It seemed to reinvigorate everyone it passed, removing them of their grogginess and allowing them once again to access their powers.
Once the fog was gone, there was a great cry from a woman in the group.
Channeling lightning between her hands, one might think it was Morrigan who had saved them, but the more observant would know she had still been unconscious when the electricity had shut off the fans.
Morrigan shot the built up magic forward, slamming it into the shutter at the opposite side of the room. It collapsed and was blown backward by the blast, revealing a new hallway beyond.
The mage let out a heavy sigh before she spoke.
"Whatever the source of that miraculous recovery, let's not dawdle in this death trap of a room." Shepard quickly agreed and began ushering the group into the next hallway. It wasn't until they came to what appeared to be an empty common room that they stopped once again.
"What is our purpose here?" Morrigan asked no one in particular.
"To die? To suffer? I may have only just awoken, but I have to question their motives. 'Twould have been far easier to kill us when they had the chance."
"I don't really care," Kieran said with some degree of annoyance.
"We just need to get Ilona and get out of here."
"There could be more trapped... not just Ilona. Other Coalition members."
"Hold on, someone mind telling me what's the plan once we save her? You still arguing what to do with her?"
"Uh... well--"
"Ritsuko's not laying a hand on her, that's for sure."
"This is hardly the time for that! And besides, what would you have me do, let even more people die while you deliberately let power like that go unchecked?!" Ritsuko would snap at Kieran irritably, facing his direction with an angry expression on her face.
"Do I really have to remind you all that three people died when she lost control, and we were lucky it was only three! But next time, it could be six, and then thirty, and then three hundred! That blood would be on your hands, and unless you turn away from the gravity of the situation, I doubt you would be able to handle that burden on your shoulders."
Practically sliding in between Kieran and Ritsuko, the latter of the two marching right over to his direction, Kyoko would give the older woman a fiery look, the blonde stopping in her tracks as the two of them would practically stare each other down for an uncomfortable moment, before Kyoko would speak her piece.
"She is under our protection. And it will remain that way for as long as we deem it necessary."
Hardly fazed by Kyoko's bravado, Ritsuko would clash with the Ultimate Detective, looking down at her like a child.
"So confident in your power... But a lot of things have changed since you've been gone, Miss Kirigiri. I'm afraid that if we can't reach a compromise that yields a satisfactory result... then we cannot continue to cooperate together."
"And just what might you be suggesting?"
"I think you can figure that one out, detective. Or should your friend Naegi spell it out to you? You seem to understand words better when he says them, after all. One could almost think..."
Makoto looked helplessly between the two women, realizing he had to say something to quell the growing tension. Now that the danger had passed, it seemed everyone was reverting back to their earlier tension.
"K-Kyoko... I understand how you feel, but we can't make such claims. Once Ilona is saved, then we can continue this discussion."
"I think it's very clear both you and Ritsuko plan to whisk her away once this is over," Kieran said gruffly, stepping forward so that he was staring defiantly at Makoto.
"There won't be a discussion, because why would you both? I don't think I should help you here."
Makoto looked back at his friend with some degree of hurt evident on his face.
"... You don't want to work together? We're in the enemy stronghold. We're in danger."
"And maybe the last thing they expect is for us to split up. Makoto, I trust you enough to be safe without me, so this isn't me saying I want you to get hurt. I would just rather, that when we acquire Ilona... that you and Ritsuko not be there. Anyone who agrees with me... join the Captain-Commander's side!"
Kieran stepped away to one side of the room, waiting for those sympathetic to his values follow through. Makoto stared at him, recognizing the reality of the situation. With his shoulders set straight, he defiantly moved to stand at the other side of the room, opposite Kieran.
"So be it."
Cosmo looked at Makoto, then to Kieran. Shaking his head, Cosmo made his way to Makoto's side.
"It sadden Cosmo that it comes to this. Makoto is right. Cosmo is with him."
Morrigan let out a sigh.
"I don't desire to get in the middle of your petty squabbles, however..." The woman stepped toward Kieran, deciding to take his side.
"There's no debate that Ilona is special. Unique magic such as hers... should not be stored away."
Without a word, Kyoko stepped from in front of Kieran to over at his side. Other members stood uncomfortably still at first, before their decisions were made. Shiki and Len also stepped to Kieran's and Kyoko's side, while Ocelot wordlessly sided with Makoto and Ritsuko. One by one, the group began to split, dividing into two groups.
Carissa furrowed her brow, crossing her arms as she'd look somewhat disapprovingly at Morrigan, her ally and fellow MEU representative.
"Honestly... Are we not above this? I refuse to allow this group to separate! This is hardly the time to--"
"Strategically, I think splitting up is a more sound tactic," Ocelot would interject,
"We can cover more ground while looking for Ilona, divide our forces evenly as to not become too vulnerable, and in the event that one group is captured, the other is at least still out there and able to act," he added, crossing his arms, before clearing his throat, looking at Kieran and the others that took his side somewhat judgmentally, before speaking again,
"And besides... We maintain better cooperation within the group that way."
Carissa grit her teeth, conflicted by Ocelot's words, before complying and walking over to Makoto's side, looking at Morrigan.
"I'm... sorry, Morrigan, but that power is too dangerous to even risk letting free. You saw what it did to the headquarters..."
Looking at the rest of those who had yet to choose, Ritsuko cleared her throat.
"Well? What about the rest of you? Whose side are you on then?"
There was no third party to form. No neutrality to declare. The intense glares of others waited eagerly for sides to be chosen in order for progress to be made.
Who do you choose to side with?
Cast List
@Gummi Bunnies as
Add and Elesis (Elsword)
@DBZ7 as
Anna (Fire Emblem)
@Nater Taters as
Artyom Chyornyj (Metro)
@Jeremi as
Bekka and Red Tornado (DC Comics)
@Wren as
Bradley Martin Holland (OC)
@CrunchyCHEEZIT as
Deoxys (Pokemon)
@Archwar as
Doomguy (Doom)
@Crimson Spartan as
Erron Black (Mortal Kombat)
@dark as
Jak (Jak and Daxter)
@Krieg as
Jon Snow (Game of Thrones)
@Ringmaster as
Lucifer Anghelscu and Saber Alter (Murder Series / Type-Moon)
@Crow as
Maki Kido and Madoka Karasuma (Idolmaster OC)
@Atomyk as
Makoto Naegi (Danganronpa)
@Mason Moretti as
Mason Moretti (OC)
@darnerdemons as
Miko Wanijima (Air Gear OC)
@Chewy Rabbits as
Nemo and Astaroth (Murder Series)
@Raven as
Piper Wright (Fallout)
@Klutzy Ninja Kitty as
Princess Ilona of Arendelle (Murder Series) and
Train Heatnet (Black Cat)
@C.T. as
Qrow Branwen (RWBY)
@BarrenThin as
Reinhardt Wilhelm and
Genji Shimada (Overwatch)
@Minerva as
Robin Aquilus and Corrin (Fire Emblem)
@york as
Ruby Rose and Zwei (RWBY)
@Kaykay as
Sakuya Izayoi and
Remilia Scarlet (Touhou Project)
@LuckycoolHawk9 as
Scott McCall and Stiles Stilinski (Teen Wolf)
@Yun Lee as
Shi-Long Lang (Ace Attorney)
@pubbbb as
Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama (Mob Psycho 100)
@Verite as
Shiki Tohno and
Len (Type-Moon)
@The Tactician as
Shizuo Heiwajima (Durarara!!)
@Takumi as
Toboe (Wolf's Rain)
@Yang Lee as
Uncle Iroh (Avatar)
@Hospes as
Weiss Schnee and
Winter Schnee (RWBY)
@Josh M as
Wynne (Dragon Age)
@Sen as
Zen (Mystic Messenger)
@Bomb as
Zidane Tribal and Bibi Ornitier (Final Fantasy IX)
