Chapter Text
SHIRO had become accustomed to awakening in sudden dreamlike states –perhaps too much so, as when he first comes to and feels himself floating in water, his initial reaction is not wonder or confusion, but…
SHIRO:
…ah geez, fighting while wet is going to suck.
Except after a little bit of time, the things he is used to –cryptic messages, vague death threats, and most of all the sense of dejavu don’t appear. It’s just SHIRO and what seems to be a mile and miles of water in a room that’s simultaneously cramped and spacious. Where exactly is he? Where exactly was he? Wasn’t he doing something important before waking up here? SHIRO’s head pounds suddenly filled with unwanted thoughts and questions, and he stands up which is a bad idea apparently, as the room violently swings as he does so. SHIRO suddenly feels out of place, his body too big, too wide, too much for him to handle. When he stumbles forward, the room shifts and moves with him, the sloshing of water filling his subconscious as he makes his way forward in the endless abyss, slithering forward like an abscess cut from a sore or pus flowing from a punctured rash. Where is he going? Why is he going there? All these are questions that surprisingly enough don’t occur to him to ask. Rather, the simple process of moving forward is enough. Just moving, moving, moving, moving…
SHIRO:
I gotta stay alive, I gotta keep moving….
SHIRO ponders only momentarily why he had specifically said “stay alive” opposed to well, anything else. Not like there’s anything else here that could hurt him much less kill him so why is he concerned about that? On that note how long had he even been here? Hours? Days? Months? Years? Her certainly doesn’t feel like he’s been here too long, at least not long enough to be worried about starving or anything that comes along with it. It’s then that SHIRO realizes he’s having an out of body experience. It’s a strange thing to realize that one isn’t themselves, so describing it is difficult for him.
SHIRO:
It’s like….if my whole existence is a phantom limb –not quite sure if it’s there, but well aware of the possibility that it could be, even if I’m looking right at it –my existence with proof that it isn’t where it usually is, or where it should be.
It’s then he feels a twitch, and then sudden disabling calm. What if the entire time, his existence was the part of him that needed to be amputated? What if he is just the itch to his body that’ll slowly go away after it gets used to his absence?
SHIRO can feel himself floating away from his body still sloshing through the waters –but now he looks down from above –the water is black, filthy and the walls surrounding his enclosure pulsate and squirm as if they’re alive.
SHIRO:
No…NO!! I DON’T WANT TO DISAPPEAR!!
Even if he’s nothing more than severed nerve endings, he has a right to be here! He’ll fight to be here, he’ll go through whatever it takes to retain his right to exist –even if, even if….
He’s not sure what exactly he exists for.
DYNA allows surprise to overtake her for just a moment which is all SHIRO needs to lunge upon her before he’s completely risen from his knee, the jump made from a strange angle. DYNA uses this to her advantage and dives out of the way as SHIRO careens carelessly at her and lands on his side. DYNA turns toward HARUMO who has NITROS over his shoulder unconscious, and SHIRO who is willing a bomb into existence, unsure which one she should prioritize –most likely HARUMO’s intention.
DYNA:
Damn! I can’t….I can’t choose…
SHIRO lunges forth, the bomb formed –a red mass of pure explosive energy. DYNA doesn’t need precognitive abilities to know this bomb will end her if it hits, or if she’s in the vicinity when he uses it which coincidentally makes her crisis of priority much easier.
DYNA:
I’ve got to stop him from using that bomb or we’re all fragged…!
DYNA gulps down the rest of her hesitation and rushes at SHIRO, grabbing his arm and forcing him down.
DYNA:
Sorry, Shiro, but I’m going to need for you to put that bomb away. There are techniques to defuse them using will, but Ms. Merciless hasn’t quite gotten to that part of the curriculum. As long as it stays in your hand, it shouldn’t go off but…
She glances upward to see if HARUMO will react to this, but as she figured he’s gone.
DYNA:
That jerk wanted Nitros the whole time, but why?
SHIRO struggles under her requiring her full attention. One thing their upbringing had afforded them is the ability to not only bomb with the best of them, but hand to hand combat techniques to disarm enemies who are too tough to bomb. Of course DYNA prides herself on being a little better at it than her brother, but now isn’t the time to bra---okay, maybe just a little.
DYNA:
Damn, am I awesome.
Allowing that moment of levity to pass, what should she do now? She eyes SHIRO’s outstretched hand gripping the object of mass explosion before them and for a moment thinks of snatching it from him and dealing with it herself, but this is merely a stopgap measure. To do that, she’d have to release SHIRO, and there would be nothing stopping him from simply making another –rinse, lather, explode. No, what she should figure out first of all is---
A bomb explodes behind her and she winces in instinctual surprise. Oh right, they are in the middle of a littles skirmish aren’t they?
DYNA:
Oh, of all the rotten….
She narrows her eyes and kicks SHIRO, which seems to surprise him even in his frenzied state.
DYNA:
Hurts, right? There’s plenty freaking more where that came from if you don’t get your act together! The way my brother went on and on about you, I thought you were some sort of hero, but you get into drugs just once, and completely fall apart like some b-list movie star!
The bombers under the influence of golden lumber towards them, as DYNA’s voice takes on a tone of understandable worry.
DYNA:
They’ve got Nitros, Shiro! We’ve got to save him, but we can’t do that unless we’re able to save ourselves….please, I know you’re in there, and got a whole lot of issues of your own, but you’ve got to fight it….you’ve got to be the hero my brother believed in.
She sighs deeply, standing up and gazing at him with eyes clear –full of resolution.
DYNA:
This is my show of faith. You can do it, Shiro…!
Like a whip in the air, SHIRO turns with alarming speed, and throws the power bomb as DYNA closes her eyes, apparently resigning to her fate. As she imagined, the explosion is immense, --the golden multiplying SHIRO’s already immense power by two fold. The shockwave after the explosion is deafening, sending debris flying in around them, dust and fragments of earth rising in the air as a gigantic cloud of that seemingly blocks out the sun above drenching everyone in darkness, and obscuring everyone from view –making it impossible to tell if anything survived the blast.
Opening theme: As long as I am me….
Is it because I am me, that I know powerlessness and loneliness?
If I were someone else, would I still have experienced misfortune?
Would shooting stars in the sky and the moon in the skies look different from another’s point of view?
The dreams and wishes I’ve embraced hard enough to break –would they still be as meaningful?
The little things; my height complex, stubbornness, and how I wear my heart on my sleeve,
Are all a part of me. Light at times, heavy at others, but never more than I can shoulder.
I know I face forward only because I don’t want others to see these tears of frustration,
And I run forward --I’m too stubborn and prideful to give up, because until the end I will be me.
Tripping and falling along the way only means I have a new starting point to begin.
The soil I kick up as I run is the only time I’ll stop and smell the flowers.
As long as I am me, even if others snicker under their breath, I won’t stop, and won’t be stopped.
Episode 21: Golden Gratitude.
DECKER leans into a phone receiver, his eyebrow notched upward in an attempt to seem incredulous, while badly masking his genuine feelings toward a tidbit of news he had just received –something he eloquently sums up with….
DECKER:
The holy space Pegasus are you tryin’ to tell me?!
DECKER is still in the same room that he had met SHIRO and the siblings in, leaning against the wall with a cellphone to the side of his face. It had only been a few hours since he had given them the info that had led to their unfortunate run-in, but to him it had been an eternity of waiting and stress for Decker. After all, he knows the twins’ reputation, and their likelihood to use their skills on their enemies. Here in the ‘shore, it’s all about looking out for oneself, so he doesn’t necessarily feel bad in regard to what he had done, cause hey, business is business. Though there’s that whole niggling feeling of the follow up –when the follow up is left to others the propensity for failure is that much more likely. Still, these people are supposed to be pros so what in the Pegasus’s merciful universe were they trying to say to him right now?
DECKER:
You told me this’d be handled and I’d be “richly compensated”! So why the hell is your slip up my problem?!
On the other end of this call is the lady who had sent HARUMO to deal with the kids. She toys with a small golden charm on her phone as DECKER rants at her until he’s done.
LADY:
Decker, Decker, Decker. You might walk the walk, but you clearly don’t talk the talk.
DECKER frowns and stares into the phone.
DECKER:
Excuse me?
LADY:
Business ventures are an adventure, and when it comes to adventures the only thing one can expect are unforeseen circumstances cropping up and making things more….interesting.
DECKER:
Yo, I am not liking where you’re taking this, Doña.
LADY:
If there’s anyone who shouldn’t be enjoying this situation, it should be me, no? You didn’t tell me that their little friend is a walking ammunitions factory.
DECKER:
How was I supposed to know that? For one thing, I wasn’t even aware they were coming until today, and Dyna neglected to mention they were bringing a friend!
DECKER’s face is flushed with realization.
DECKER:
Thinking.
That female asshole left me in the dark on purpose! If I had known about him when she called, she knew I would have looked him up for info and then….
DECKER begins to sweat, and as if she has clairvoyant abilities the LADY smirks on her end of the line and purrs to DECKER…
LADY:
It seems the playa got played –which means this situation is mostly your doing to yourself, no?
DECKER:
….listen, I can explain….
LADY:
Oh, no need. I managed to get something out of our little exchange, so I’m in quite a benevolent mood.
DECKER:
F—for real?
He exhales in relief.
LADY:
Yes. Besides that, I don’t believe in punishing my people for mistakes –positive reinforcement goes so much further.
DECKER is confused by this, as the LADY grins –a dark, sinister one showing lots of teeth as she reclines in her chair.
LADY:
Check the couch cushion. I’ve left you something for your troubles there.
DECKER frowns at this, but goes to the couch as instructed.
DECKER:
Yooo, I’ve seen movies. This had better not be some sorta trap –more like, how did you get something in this room without me knowing?
LADY:
Oh, I have my ways. In my position it pays to have your hands in as many places as possible.
DECKER thinks of the fortunate –and unfortunate implications her words have and shudders as he pulls the couch cushion out and finds a small white box. Decker opens it and his eyes widen upon seeing what’s inside.
LADY:
Consider it a gift from me.
DECKER:
Yooooo, I don’t think I----
LADY:
You don’t think you’ll need it? I beg to differ. I’m sure your little friends –if they have any common sense at all will figure out what you did and be on their way to visit you.
DECKER freezes in place at this.
LADY:
As I said, I don’t believe in punishing failure, but I somehow doubt your friends will be quite as forgiving.
DECKER:
Ma'am?!
LADY:
So long Decker. Do take care.
She hangs up and right on cue –or well several electrically charged moments of silence later, the door flies off its hinges and across the room, DECKER barely avoiding being smashed by it by side-stepping quickly. When he waves away the dust angrily awakened from its slumber by the noise and movement, he finds himself face to face with a very displeased DYNA.
DECKER:
Hey.
DYNA:
Quietly.
Hi.
DECKER stands up and smirks.
DECKER:
I’m assuming you didn’t come back to hang out, did you?
DYNA’s eyes widen in fury and she charges at DECKER who side steps again.
DYNA:
You sold us out, ass!!
DECKER:
You could look at it that way, or you could try expanding your point of view.
DYNA leans forward as if she’s about to attempt another lunge, but remains in place.
DECKER:
Yeah, I sold you out, but I doubt you’d ever understand why –especially if this is your reaction. They say you can take the tiger out of the jungle but blah, blah, and whatever but they’re wrong. Look at you Dyna, you’re base trash through and through. If you were still down here in the ‘shore, you and I would punch each other a bit, realize business is business and move on with our lives. That’s how we’ve always handled things.
DYNA:
Yeah? Well all that changed when you lead those insane assholes to my brother and got my friend hurt. If you think that’s something I can just walk off, then you’re crazier than the people hopped up on golden. Decker, you made a choice to do this –to work with them despite what they’re doing and---
DECKER surprises DYNA by stomping forward and stopping inches from her face.
DECKER:
Don’t you dare talk to me about choices when you don’t get anything! We’re not like you and your brother who can get into the base –scholarship or otherwise! The best we can hope for is a life of mediocrity, or worse!
DYNA stands firm and shakes her head.
DYNA:
Of course we’d understand, Decker! We went to the base because we wanted out of this life!
DECKER:
And good for you managing to get out of here! But so many of us are stuck behind, Dyna. So many of us can’t make it to a better place, and even if we could, we’d never survive! All we know is this –making ends meet in any way possible!
DECKER clenches his fist, closes his eyes and trembles slightly.
DECKER:
I did what I had to do, and took Valora up on her offer! At least working with her I wasn’t struggling to survive anymore!
DYNA:
So that’s the name of the lady behind this huh? Thanks for the info. However, you know we don’t take kindly to liars, so…
DYNA rears back and before DECKER can react, her fist is saying hello to his face in the loudest and most painful way possible, causing DECKER to stumble backwards over the fallen door and land with a “whump” on his shin.
DECKER:
Ouch! What the hell….!?
DYNA:
Little bro might have forgiven you and gone on his way, but unfortunately for you, I am not him.
DECKER:
DYNA, WAIT!
She grins as she leans back and nails him with a clean right jab so hard that DECKER is decked out on the floor, the white box from the lady bouncing harmlessly away as his hand hits the floor. DYNA straightens herself out and flips DECKER the bird.
DYNA:
You’re not even worth wasting bombs on, loser.
What DYNA doesn’t notice is from the white box rolls a little vial similar to the one HARUMO used on SHIRO, and it’s empty....
DYNA:
Now I’d better get back to Shiro and figure out where to find this Doña Valora….
She thinks back to the incident earlier where SHIRO under golden’s influence had tossed a bomb at her. DYNA had been ready to accept that SHIRO was gone and she had been the one to free him to do whatever he wants, but to her surprise as the bomb flies into the air, SHIRO in labored breath had spoken to her….
SHIRO:
H—Hang on.
DYNA:
S—Shiro? Is that you?
SHIRO wills a wind bomb and gestures to DYNA to get closer.
SHIRO:
I—I can at least get us away from the blast radius of that thing….after that you’ll have to figure out something on your own.
DYNA ‘s face is softened by surprise at first, but she soon regains her resolve and nods.
DYNA:
Yeah, I got it.
SHIRO:
Here we go.
The wind bomb explodes and SHIRO grabs DYNA as both of them are blown away from the radius of the bomb and the resulting shockwave. Unbeknownst to the two however, HARUMO is far enough away to not have been affected by the explosion, but close enough to make out DYNA escaping with a collapsed SHIRO. After that, DYNA had brought SHIRO back to The Liars Club to get her revenge against DECKER and left him on a bed in the basement to rest as the golden works its way through his system. Little do either of them know that the entirety of the store is under Doña Valora’s watchful eye. Creeping downstairs is the old man owner who had welcomed them in, something in his hand as he comes closer to SHIRO’s sleeping form.
OWNER:
Nothing personal kid, but I can’t have Doña Valora breathing down my back ---I’ve got my livelihood to consider.
He steps forward to SHIRO with zipties, ready to restrain him for delivery to her, but a blast from the upper level stops him in his tracks.
OWNER:
What the hell is going on up there?
Another explosion rocks the floor making him stumble.
OWNER:
That stupid kid must have done something….
He glances at SHIRO and then back upstairs before deciding what’s in front of him is more important. Unfortunately for him, as he reaches down to tie SHIRO’s arms together, the latter reaches up and grabs his arm.
OWNER:
What the…?!
SHIRO yawns and sits upright.
SHIRO:
If this is that famous ‘shore hospitality, then I can see why you guys have problems keeping tourists.
OWNER:
There’s no way you should be up! It can’t be…!!
SHIRO:
--And why would you say that old coot? Is it because you know something about how I was dosed with Golden, and the withdrawal should have me out for a while?
The owner’s eyebrows rise but he remains silent.
SHIRO:
Clearly you’re getting your information from someone, but y’know what? I don’t care. The truth is, I’m feeling pretty good, which means in a moment you’re about to feel pretty bad.
The owner struggles against SHIRO who smirks and wills a wind bomb in his free hand.
SHIRO:
I’m gonna need for you to go over there for a while. No hard feelings, ‘kay?
He gently pushes the wind bomb at the owner who goes flying across the room, slams hard into the wall and falls to the floor in a crumpled heap. SHIRO breathes a sigh and turns to the ghostly form of ZONIHA who he acknowledges with a weary nod.
ZONIHA:
You’re welcome.
SHIRO:
“Purifying light”? More like “Detoxifying”. Who would have thought your powers could be used like that?
ZONIHA:
Please, you haven’t seen an eighth of my powers, sauropod brain. It’d just be unfortunate if you died, so I had to step in for a moment.
SHIRO:
You sound very, very anime trope-ish. You sure I shouldn’t have called Baelfael here?
ZONIHA:
You quote anime tropes to me again, and before you finish you would have already die—
ZONIIHA glowers at him.
SHIRO:
I didn’t say anything.
ZONIHA flicks him in the forehead as a petulant show of aggression before fading away. SHIRO rubs his forehead for a moment until another explosion rocking the basement clues him into the seriousness of the current situation.
SHIRO:
Crap, Dyna might be in trouble…!
He dashes up the stairs as quickly as he can, back to the room where he, NITROS and DYNA had met with DECKER, and finds that the hall has been torched and parts blown apart by bombs.
SHIRO:
DYNA! You okay?! Where are---
Suddenly DECKER lunges at him, his eyes unfocused and clothes tattered. SHIRO isn’t ready to defend himself, futilely raising his arm as defense until DYNA another bomb lands in front of him blowing him away. DECKER latches onto the wall like a creature unhinged, and roars, as DYNA jumps into the fray standing between him and SHIRO.
SHIRO:
What’s going on here?!
DYNA:
Somehow this loser got his hands on some golden –and it must be particularly potent stuff…!
SHIRO:
Lucky for us, this guy was more about the hustle than training, huh. You need me to step in?
DYNA:
Nah, I was just about to finish up before you came. Give me a min, okay?
SHIRO nods and leans against the wall.
DECKER roars and leaps forward at DYNA who –with one hand outstretched smacks him in midair, bringing him down to leg level, and in another quick movement dropkicks him into the ground where she grinds her heel into his head.
DYNA:
Go to sleep, and stay asleep.
SHIRO:
Feeling better champ?
DYNA wipes away some soot from her forehead and nods smiling.
DYNA:
I’m feeling pretty good, but I’ll be doing a whole lot better once we find Nitros.
SHIRO:
Ditto.
***
SHIRO pokes DECKER in the face as DYNA puts the finishing touches on using the owner’s zip ties to keep them both tied up.
SHIRO:
I doubt we’ll get any info out of either of them at this point.
DYNA:
That’s my feeling too. Though at least I got the name of the next ass on our list to kick; Valora.
SHIRO:
That’s a really flowery name for a drug lord.
DYNA:
Someone doesn’t pay attention to history –it’s actually the name of a demi-goddess of war.
SHIRO whistles.
SHIRO:
Now that’s what I expect out of my drug kingpins…or queenpins. Not that this makes her any easier to find, mind you.
DYNA nods in acknowledgement.
DYNA:
There might be one person we can ask, though I really didn’t wanna talk to him if I could avoid it.
SHIRO:
Someone else you have bad blood with?
DYNA:
Less that, and more he’s supposed to be on the down low. Like really down low.
SHIRO:
How low are we talking?
DYNA:
Like, uhhhhh, six feet under?
SHIRO’s brow furrows at this and he eyes DYNA.
SHIRO:
Just so you know, I might be in a frustratingly-friend-zone’d relationship with someone who’s helped me talk to ghosts before, but that was wholly unintentional, and she’s more into zombies than ghosts –although I’m still not sure of the distinction to be honest.
It’s DYNA turn to shoot SHIRO a look.
DYNA:
First, you have got to put out a book about your life, because with everything you’ve seemingly been through, it’d be a great read. Second, he’s not actually dead, just really good at faking it hence why I didn’t want to involve him if I could avoid it.
SHIRO:
Oh, well….that’s different. Though if he’s supposed to be dead, how do you know about him?
DYNA:
Us Tigers have our ways. Though, he did swear us to secrecy but desperate times call for desperate measures. You up for another ride?
SHIRO:
Lead the way. What about these guys?
DYNA:
Let ‘em rot….is what I’d say, but I’ll contact the base once we’re done here. I didn’t want to involve them either, but things are getting sharply above our not-pay grade.
SHIRO:
Good call. Let’s go.
***
SHIRO and DYNA go far east enough that the Shore is a distant destination, and they’re in what seems to resemble a fairly decent neighborhood. Soon they find themselves in a suburban district –specifically a house with a lawn that looks like it could have come out of “Your house will never look this good” magazine. DYNA had rented a two seater hovercycle using their base credentials which is what they pull up in as they arrive at a particular house. They walk to the door, and DYNA sheepishly knocks on it—a tell that she really is apprehensive about being here, but as she said the time calls for it. In a few moments, a man –top heavy with thick legs opens the door. He is human with dark green hair and dark brown eyes, clad in a loud tropical-print button up shirt. He glances down at the two bombers for a few moments before frowning and extending his hand into his hand a gesture for them to come in. Once they enter, he pats them both down –needless since they can will their weapons, but who are they to argue if it makes him feel better? Before nodding satisfied and snapping his finger which DYNA takes as permission to speak.
DYNA:
H—Hey Calox, um…how’s death?
CALOX humorlessly laughs and shakes his head.
CALOX:
It was going pretty great until you showed up at my door, mini tiger.
DYNA:
Hahah, sorry. I really am, but we’re in a jam and need information.
CALOX nods his head in SHIRO’s direction.
CALOX:
Who’s he? Don’t tell me you’ve swung all the way back?
DYNA:
W-wh—oh, no, no. It’s not like that, he’s just here helping. See, we came to deal with the golden problem.
SHIRO:
Shiro, pleased to meet you Calox. I’m assuming since you know Dyna and are not asking about her brother, that you already know what’s going on?
CALOX smirks.
CALOX:
Perceptive. Yeah, I know about golden--though I faked my death to get out of that nasty business.
DYNA:
Then if you know about Nitros you know about Valora?
CALOX:
That I do. She showed up out of nowhere one day after I “retired” and united the streets in a big way. It’s actually a little impressive that she managed to do in a few months what took me years. Back in the day it was about honor and bonds, but now it seems all you need is a bit of cash. Though these are still my mean streets, so I privy myself to all kinds of info.
DYNA:
Do you know where she is, Calox? We need to get Nitros back!
SHIRO:
Actually, before we get to that –do you know why she’d want him in particular? She had her choice of the three of us and only went for him.
CALOX:
Oh that’s an easy one. Pyromancer bodyguards are a rare lot. Convincing one is hard since they can just lay waste to anyone they don’t like, and birthing one is like flipping a coin and waiting three to six years to see if powers manifest and you get lucky. However when you combine a mind altering substance like Golden and get yourself a Guinea pig then…
DYNA:
She took Nitros to be her muscle?!
CALOX:
‘Fraid so.
He pokes into his shirt pocket and flicks DYNA a sheet of paper.
CALOX:
As you tigers don’t go anywhere on your own, once I heard Nitros had been snatched I figured you’d be here sooner or later, so I had the good lady’s address sent over. I’m out of the business, but what she’s about makes me wish I wasn’t so I could deal with her myself. Lady is a menace in to the neighborhood and I don’t mean it in a charming 50’s sorta way. People have died dosing on golden, and anyone who gets in her way gets wrecked. The guys in the Galeforce hood are no more after they dared step to her. I thought I could protect people by becoming a gangster but all it did was show me just how powerless I am…..but you two are different. You can make a difference. Go rip her a new one, tiger.
DYNA:
Damn straight we will.
SHIRO:
I assume that we’re not being offered cookies and tea because you expect this to be a short meeting, yeah?
CALOX:
Yeah, can’t be seen talking to old contacts after all. You get it, right?
DYNA nods.
DYNA:
Yeah, you’ve been a big help. Thanks Calox.
The two of them shake hands, and soon SHIRO and DYNA are on their way to Doña Valora’s hideout which to their surprise is a garage close to Sunnyday.
DYNA:
I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this is very…quaint.
They step inside through a side door and find that the inside of the garage is very new, metallic and formidable.
SHIRO:
Dryly.
Is this better?
DYNA shoots him a glare.
SHIRO:
We’ve gotta be ready for what’s up next Dyna. You heard what Calox said….they brought Nitros on board because they want extra muscle and have the means of “convincing” him to see their cause.
He turns to her, his eyes steely.
SHIRO:
Are you ready for the very likely possibility that we’ll have to fight him?
DYNA:
Of course not! How can anyone ever be ready for something like that?
SHIRO regards DYNA for a moment.
DYNA:
But, I know my brother and he’d want us to take down these scumbags and retake the ‘shore –and that I’m always ready to fight for.
SHIRO:
Good answer. Let’s do this.
SHIRO uses a concentrated –so that it doesn’t melt everything around them –Earth Bomb to blow their way through the floor of the garage followed by a wind bomb on the floor below to cushion their fall. Upon reaching the bottom they find themselves surrounded by more metallic walls and a straight almost crystalline path ahead. DYNA gazes around in wonder at all she’s seeing and remarks…
DYNA:
I had heard the legends about what goes on below Sunnyday but I thought it was monsters and things that go bump in the night, not drug manufacturing.
SHIRO:
Honestly I find the latter being true more relieving than the former.
DYNA:
Yeah, same.
They share a grin before cautiously making their way down the path before them. Once they arrive in the next room, they are surprised…or well, not surprised to find HARUMO standing arms crossed and eyes closed in the room alone.
SHIRO:
And I’d assume it’s you we have to thank for the warm welcome we got in The Liars Club?
HARUMO opens one eye, his expression grim.
SHIRO:
Grinning.
I’ll take that as a yes.
DYNA:
Shiro—what about…
SHIRO:
Go ahead to Nitros, Dyna. I believe this guy and I have a bit of unfinished business.
HARUMO:
Oh? And what makes you say that?
SHIRO:
I gotta repay you for the acid trip. Sadly I don’t carry change, so you’ll have to accept my coupon for one free asswupping.
HARUMO:
I’m afraid that coupon –along with your life is expired.
SHIRO:
To Dyna.
Go.
DYNA looks unsure, but nods at SHIRO and makes a dash for the door –an action HARUMO seems intent on preventing, until SHIRO side steps in with one swift movement, and willing a fire bomb blasts HARUMO in the side knocking him off balance allowing DYNA to head further down the hall.
SHIRO:
Now that she’s gone, how about you and I talk about your coupon acceptance policy?
As the smoke clears, SHIRO is shocked to see that HARUMO is definitely not what he presents himself to be. Rather than being a large human, he is an alien of unknown species –two more arms appear from the tattered part of his suit, and his eyes are yellow and catlike.
SHIRO:
Is someone ashamed of their background?
HARUMO:
M’lady prefers I look as non-descript as possible. However, since you’ve exposed me, I suppose I have no choice.
HARUMO runs toward SHIRO his arms flexing. SHIRO manages to grab two pairs, but the other two punch him in the gut and face respectively, and in a swift movement toss him across the room.
HARUMO:
You’ll forgive me if your receipt is illegible after this.
SHIRO leaps up, and with a dab prepares a thunder bomb.
SHIRO:
I usually lose ‘em in the wash anyway, so it’s fine.
DYNA has rushed into the next room where NITROS sits in a metallic chair, his face down, and Valora strokes his cheek lovingly.
DYNA:
Back up off of him, lady!
VALORA:
Ah, and you must be the sister who got away, hmm? In all honesty I wanted to have all three of you as a collection, but I doubt Harumo will leave much of your little friend left –he can get rowdy when he’s in a mood, and he’s been in one ever since you escaped.
DYNA:
As long as he doesn’t cheat and drug him up again, I’d put my money on Shiro in that fight. More importantly, why are you doing this? Why are you on our block slinging drugs, Doña Valora?!
VALORA seems genuinely confused at DYNA’s question.
VALORA:
Why did you leave here and go to the base, child?
DYNA:
Growling.
Don’t answer my question with a question, dammit.
VALORA:
But this is oh so relevant you see. I do what I do because I can, and in some ways I must. I came upon the formula for Golden by happenstance, and it would be foolish to let it go to waste just because of a few ethical concerns.
DYNA:
Snarling.
You call people’s deaths –families being ripped apart “a few ethical concerns?”
VALORA:
They’d no sooner care if it was me pushing up daises, would they not? That’s the problem with life, it’s so unceremoniously easy to begin and end in the same vein. With golden I’ve managed to end a power vacuum between gangs, make money and test the hidden potential of bombers –I’d say I’m doing quite well for myself. The problem is there are many jealous of what I have and want to take it from me…and just like you treasure your peace, I treasure my belongings.
She snaps a finger and NITROS rises slowly, surely to his feet.
VALORA:
I had been looking for someone like your brother for some time now….young, malleable, and powerful. I had all but given up until he walked right into my open palm. Now not only do I have a body guard but one to test out the ultimate golden….
NITROS lifts his head and gazes blankly at his sister, his empty eyes unnerving her. VALORA’s smile –the maleficent one showing her teeth creeps along her face like a serpent as she speaks.
VALORA:
A golden that not only enhances the abilities of bombers –but makes them subservient. I’d ask if you’d join me, but I’ll be honest, I really just want to take my new toy out for a spin.
She leans in close to NITROS and whispers.
VALORA:
You be a good boy Nitros and do as I tell you –your sister is in my way….so she’ll need to be annihilated. You do understand, don’t you?
NITROS’s eyes flicker golden as he nods.
VALORA:
Good….now go.
NITROS dashes forward at DYNA, fire screaming down his arms and appearing on his fists as he swings at her, the air before him filled with angry flame. DYNA ducks under this initial blow and leaps back, tossing a bomb. NITROS surprises her by jettisoning himself upward using pure fire as afterburners. He rams DYNA in her stomach like a missile and the two careen into a nearby wall where he corrects his angle and drags her along the length before letting go and preparing to finish her off with a flame punch. She creates a bomb, just as his fist connects –the explosion separating them. DYNA wipes her face and looks up as NITROS heads toward her again, his movements leaving no openings –he is an efficient killer.
Nothing like the brother she knows.
DYNA wills another bomb and throws it as far she can, aiming for VALORA but NITROS simply turns, “pumps” a huge fire shuriken, and tosses it at the bomb dissolving it in raging flames that fly into the celling and explode in brilliance. VALORA’s laugh echoes through the room ransacking DYNA’s consciousness. What can she do now? Wait….something had clicked with SHIRO, right? What if she could do that again? She begins to call NITROS’s name, but….he is upon her and….she….
Sees into his eyes, eyes that are sorry for everything, eyes that regret being caught, regret getting her involved, eyes that want to stop this but cannot –most of all eyes that words cannot reach –not past the golden sheen of pure power.
DYNA:
Nitros….!
He stops in front of her and fire explodes from his palm. It’s all DYNA can do to keep from being burned to a cinder by dodging quickly, but her arm is still painfully charred by the attack, and she lands hard on her side doubled over in pain.
VALORA:
Burn bright my supernova!
NITROS strides over to her, calm, collected with a sense of purpose –and that is to kill his blood family. DYNA can barely move her burnt arm, but the other is still functioning just fine. She wills a bomb hidden from her brother’s view and when he’s close enough rams it into his face, the fire setting it off and sending him flying backward. VALORA seems surprised by this as she should be. There’s no way NITROS didn’t see that coming, but the truly shocking thing is….DYNA wasn’t expecting this to work.
DYNA:
Thinking.
He should have easily been able to avoid that…so why….
Then it clicks, snapping into her like a whip upon her back. NITROS can’t stop completely but he can slow it down. He’s taking easily telegraphed attacks in an effort for her to stop him before he ends her…
DYNA’s eyes well up with tears.
DYNA:
You’ve given up….you want me to stop you before you kill me.
NITROS stands up again and strolls forward his movement ragged his breathing gets funny for moment like ragged cries for help. DYNA remembers it –how he’d go on and on about SHIRO –how awesome he is, how his advice had landed them a hit on their teacher and how he had wanted him to come and help them solve the problem in their hometown. Yet all of that doesn’t matter now –if he could give his sister a future, he’d give up all of that in a heartbeat –his heartbeat.
VALORA:
What is this?! What’s going on!?
DYNA:
Crying.
Nitros, please, don’t do this….don’t give up….
NITROS keeps coming, silently, like a man on death row who has accepted his fate. What kind of hell must he be in to realize what he’s doing and be unable to do anything about it? This is all DYNA can think of --rather than herself as a literal do or die situation makes its way toward her.
DYNA:
Nitros…please….
NITROS:
Quietly…
I’m sorry.
Suddenly the body of HARUMO lands in the room with a resounding thud, two of his arms twitching uncontrollably, as his eyes roll back into his head. SHIRO strides in, holding his arm and dragging one leg, as he moves.
SHIRO:
Idiot thought he’d drug me again? Well, let’s see how Golden works on non-bombers, dumbass.
He looks up and sees the sibling tragedy unfolding before his eyes, and although he doesn’t quite understand everything, he gets a gist.
SHIRO:
That’s how it is huh?
He steps over HARUMO and stands some distance away from the group.
SHIRO:
Nitros, don’t be a dummy.
Everyone pauses at this, dumbfounded.
SHIRO:
Your sister told me about it –how you think I’m hot stuff or whatever? Well guess what? I’m not. I’m as screwed up and broken as they come. I ain’t gonna go into details, but some of the stuff I’ve seen…that I’ve done would make what you’re experiencing now seem like easy mode on a video game made for stupid kids. The thing is, it’s not what I’ve done that means anything in particular….
NITROS looks up at SHIRO, a semblance of the old him in his golden hued eyes –the latter reflected in a golden –almost angelic light, dimming by the second.
SHIRO:
I won’t even say something dumb like “I never give up.” It’s just –if someone asked me what it is that scares me most in life –it’s not dying or whatever it’s regret.
He looks NITROS in the eye.
SHIRO:
And regret isn’t just mine, but others. What kind of life do you think your sister will have after this….what kind of life will you have?
All of a sudden it makes sense.
Everything about SHIRO, and himself.
It’s at that point that NITROS remembers that he set foot into Class Zero because he didn’t want to live a life of regret anywhere else.
Suddenly everything is clear and NITROS is able to focus on his bodily functions, flicking them off one at a time like lights left on all night long.
NITROS:
It’s time to rest.
NITROS smiles at SHIRO and DYNA who he kneels to, stroking her hair until he finally falls into her lap, asleep.
VALORA is at a loss for words at this development, but has the presence of mind to start running. A shame that SHIRO is a step ahead of her, and throws a dud as hard as he can with his good arm at the back of her head knocking her out.
SHIRO:
Yeah, no. You get to atone for your crimes, sister.
He sidles over to NITROS and DYNA, the latter who bows her head down to the former so that their foreheads touch gently.
SHIRO:
Is he….
DYNA:
He’ll be fine. T—Thank you Shiro.
SHIRO:
Don’t mention it. I’m definitely not the guy who deserves to be the target of hero worship, so I had intended on setting him right eventually –guess later became now.
DYNA:
Yeah…I’ll call the base in a bit. We’ll have a hell of a time explaining everything, but arresting this group should get us out of any serious trouble, maybe.
SHIRO:
Meh, I’m used to being the cause of and solution to trouble. We’ll worry about it later –for now…
SHIRO falls flat on his back and stares up at the celling.
SHIRO:
I think I’ll soak in some of that Scarlet Shore air that I’ve heard so much about.
DYNA blinks in surprise before gracing SHIRO with a serene smile and taking her brother’s hand .
Ending Song: Passionate Orbit
Say, did you know, that heart beating in your chest…
Is a gift from the depths of this wide universe?
When we are born our guardian star breathes a silent prayer to the galaxy,
And in the break between dusk and morn, dyed silver-black hues it ends up in our hands.
As we experience our lives and are touched by the gentle but rusted hands of time,
Colors born from daily life drip from this gift from the galaxy yearning to be shared –to take orbit.
So when the time comes and your little universe yearns to orbit another’s –don’t be frightened.
Just clasp your hands together, and let those feelings bubble to the surface and become a star.
For each time two hearts intertwine and orbit one another,
A little more of the universe is filled with color.